Hi, y'all. This is my first piece of fan fiction I'm posting on here. It was originally an English assignment (like most other Shakespeare works), but I was so proud of it, I thought I'd post it on here and see how people liked it. In my Act Six, there are four scene, each one posted as an individual chapter.
PS: Yes, it's in Shakespearean. Yes, the language can be hard to understand. Yes, it's in play format, but that was what my English teacher wanted... so, yeah. I'll explain some of the more difficult parts at the end of each scene, via translations.
Enjoy...
Scene 1
[Malcolm's castle. Enter King Malcolm, Macduff, Doctor of Physic, and Gentlewoman.]
Malcolm. The fiendish queen is most deserving of her fate. A death by guilt and accompanied by madness. Such a noble facade covered Satan himself. The whole time, blindfolded was our sight, and t'wasn't till the ax fell that Malcolm realized murder was right under our noses (1). [To Doctor.]
The reason must be known. How did Atropos (2) choose to end this merciless soul?
Doctor. A knife hath done the dastardly deed, aided by the lady's own hands. Methinks guilt chewed her up, as mice do so with stolen crumbs of food. Seeing the universal life flowing out further disturbed her, and a scream was let out before the thread was fully cut.
Gentlewoman. Aye. A fortnight hath passed since the Lady was seen sleepwalking.
Doctor. Such odd rambling came out. Mine ears heard about our late beloved, King Duncan, and of Banquo and the thane of Fife's mistress.
Macduff. Macbeth, thou currish crook-pated pignut. 'Twas thee that ordered the lovely Fife stripped of her majestic beauty, 'twas thee that the Lady of Fife can justify to Almighty why her candle and that of a young boy burnt out so speedily (3).
Malcolm. Dispute it like a man, pray thee, Macduff. Justice hath been done unto these treacherous monsters. In peace sleeps Lady Macduff and her Boy, with the secure knowledge that Macduff hath slain the mighty and mad tyrant Macbeth.
Macduff. The fate of the devilish king and fiend like queen?
Malcolm. The lady should be blotted from our memory permanently. Fiendish she once was, a grave should suffice. What will be done with thy spoil of war, loyal Macduff?
Macduff. Let it and the rest (4) rot, where scavengers will feel fully satisfied. Leave him as a warning to all those with maddening ambition their fate for unneeded bloodshed.
Malcolm. Doctor, your patient waits in her chambers. [Exeunt Doctor and Gentlewoman.] We shall give her a grave, yes, but a humble one, marked with no indication of her identify in a past life. –Seyton! A favor, please! [Enter Seyton.] The goodly prince, Donalbain, hides in Ireland, in fear of his life. I implore you to seek out the prince. Use weariness, as trust in anyone escapes him (5). Evidence of the authenticity of thine words shall be contained in this message. [Hands Seyton a scroll.]
Godspeed, faithful servant.
Seyton. Your Majesty, I will personally see to't Prince Donalbain arrives home safely. You have my word that anything opposite of what His Majesty wants will have this lowly person ending his own life, with the knowledge of his own failure. [Exeunt.]
Malcolm. [to Macduff]Thanks be to your endless patience, loyalty, and courage in service to Scotland. But now, another matter must be looked into, that of your lovely castle, Fife.
Macduff. She hath waited patiently for a bath this long. Fife's cleansing can surely wait, Your Majesty?
Malcolm. As was said before, a great service to Scotland hath been done. Had Macduff not been so unwaveringly loyal and motivated, Satan (6) himself would've ruled, and his reign of carnage a dark spot on Scotland's history. The matter will no longer be discussed. Fife will be as good as new again, filled to the brim with servants, grace, and wonder before long. Guaranteed is the king's word. This is the least Scotland can do for its most loyal and courageous general.
Macduff. The praise does little to flatter Macduff, for he is a humble fellow. Yet, his memories and guilt must be banished, his memories of the past kindly, yet remorsefully stored away, as time goes in a circle. Those who see it that way see it happen if they do not learn (7). Now, let's away. Humility hard taught, and slips away when one turns the other way (8). [Exeunt Macduff and Malcolm.]
Translations (remember, only some of the more difficult parts):
(1) Such...noses = A worthy and respectful front hid the Devil himself. We were oblivious to any misdoings, and it wasn't until Macbeth was beheaded that I saw he was the one who murdered the king
(2) Atropos = One of the three Fates in Greek mythology. She was the one responsible for cutting the thread of life, or deciding when and how a person would die.
(3) stripped of...speedily = It was you that ordered my castle looted. You who ordered my wife and son be killed.
(4) it and the rest = Macduff refers to Macbeth's head and body.
(5) as...him = He is paranoid of others now that he is hiding in Ireland.
(6) Satan = Macbeth.
(7) Those...learn = Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
(8) Humility...way = Modesty is hard to learn, and can be forgotten when offered temptation.
OK, so that was Scene One. Probably not as long as the original "Macbeth," but if I did this as long as the original, people might get bored. Next scene will go up as soon as I can. Ciao!
