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10(3 Läsebok. N:o 92.
which was lying there to be fitted out for sea in all haste,
and got on board himself, in order to escapc from Macbeth.
In the meantime, Macbeth summoned the lady to
surrender the castle, and to deliver up her husband. But Lady
Macduff, who was a wise and brave woman, made many
excuses and delavs, until sbe knew that her husband was safely
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on board the ship, and sailed from the harbour. Then she
spoke boldy from the wall of the castle to the King, who
was standing before the gate still demanding entrance, with
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many threats of what he would do, if Macduff* was not given
up to him.
»Do you see», she said, »yon white sail upon the sea?
Yonder goes Macduff to the Court of England. You will
never see him again till he comes back with young Prince
Malcolm to pull you down from the throne, and to put you
to death. You will never be able to put your yoke, as you
threatened, on the Thane of Fife’s neck».
Some say that Macbeth was so much incensed at this
bold answer, that he and his guards attacked the castle and
took it, killing the brave lady and all whom they found
there. But others say, and I believe more truly, that the
king, seeing that the fortress of Ivennoway was very strong,
and that Macduff had escaped from him, and was embarked
for England, departed back to Dunsinane without attempting
to take the castle. The ruins of Kennoway are still to be
seen, and are called the Thane’s castle.
There reigned at that time in England a very good
King, called Edward the Confessor. I told you that Prince
Malcolm, the son of Duncan, was at his court, soliciting
assistance to recover the Scottish throne. The arrival of Macduff
greatly aided the success of his petition; for the English
King knew that Macduff was a brave and wise man. As he
assured Edward that the Scots were tired of the cruel
Macbeth, and would join Prince Malcolm if he were to return to
his country at the head of an army, the King ordered a
great warrior, called Siward, Earl of Northumberland, to enter
Scotland with a large force, and assist Prince Malcolm in the
recovery of his father’s crown.
Then it happened just as Macduff had said; for the
Scottish Thanes and nobles would not fight for ]Macbeth, but
joined Prince Malcolm and Macduff against him; so that at
length he shut himself up in his castle at Dunsinane, where
he thought himself safe, according to the old women’s
prophecy, until Birnam Wood should come against him. He
boasted of this to his followers, and encouraged them to make
a valiant defence, assuring them of certain victory. At this
time Malcolm and Macduff were come as far as Birnam Wood,
and lay encamped there with their army. The next morning,
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