Banquet Gossip/Lennox (Act 3, Scene 6)

Lennox who was a guest at Macbeth’s banquet is speaking to another Lord. Lennox, sarcastically, says how Macbeth was for King Duncan only after he killed him (‘The gracious Duncan was pitted of Macbeth: marry he was dead’). 

Lennox ridicules Macbeth’s version of events: Banquo died because he took a walk in the dark and Fleance must have killed him because he ran away.  Wasn’t it terrible for Malcolm and Donalbain to kill their father.  Macbeth felt terrible about Duncan’s murder which is why he had to kill the only two possible witnesses.  If Malcolm, Donalbain and Fleance were under Macbeths control he’d certainly teach them how to kill a father.

Lennox says because Macduff failed to show up for Macbeth’s banquet he is in disgrace.  The other Lord says that Malcolm is with King Edward the Confessor of England and that Macduff will soon be joining him.  They will ask the king to send forces to free Scotland and that Macbeth now prepares for war.

The other Lord confirms that Macbeth did send for Macduff but Macduff told the messenger that sir, I will not go.  The messenger then turned his back on Macduff.  Lennox hopes that Macduff took this as a warning and that an angel from Macduff is sent to the English King to come to Scotland quickly.