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  • Title: Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Anthony Dawson

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-528-5

    Copyright Anthony Dawson. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Anthony Dawson
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Tragedie of Macbeth. 149
    He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause
    Within the belt of Rule.
    Ang. Now do's he feele
    2195His secret Murthers sticking on his hands,
    Now minutely Reuolts vpbraid his Faith-breach:
    Those he commands, moue onely in command,
    Nothing in loue: Now do's he feele his Title
    Hang loose about him, like a Giants Robe
    2200Vpon a dwarfish Theefe.
    Ment. Who then shall blame
    His pester'd Senses to recoyle, and start,
    When all that is within him, do's condemne
    It selfe, for being there.
    2205Cath. Well, march we on,
    To giue Obedience, where 'tis truly ow'd:
    Meet we the Med'cine of the sickly Weale,
    And with him poure we in our Countries purge,
    Each drop of vs.
    2210Lenox. Or so much as it needes,
    To dew the Soueraigne Flower, and drowne the Weeds:
    Make we our March towards Birnan. Exeunt marching.


    Scaena Tertia.


    Enter Macbeth, Doctor, and Attendants.

    2215Macb. Bring me no more Reports, let them flye all:
    Till Byrnane wood remoue to Dunsinane,
    I cannot taint with Feare. What's the Boy Malcolme?
    Was he not borne of woman? The Spirits that know
    All mortall Consequences, haue pronounc'd me thus:
    2220Feare not Macbeth, no man that's borne of woman
    Shall ere haue power vpon thee. Then fly false Thanes,
    And mingle with the English Epicures,
    The minde I sway by, and the heart I beare,
    Shall neuer sagge with doubt, nor shake with feare.
    2225 Enter Seruant.
    The diuell damne thee blacke, thou cream-fac'd Loone:
    Where got'st thou that Goose-looke.
    Ser. There is ten thousand.
    Macb. Geese Villaine?
    2230Ser. Souldiers Sir.
    Macb. Go pricke thy face, and ouer-red thy feare
    Thou Lilly-liuer'd Boy. What Soldiers, Patch?
    Death of thy Soule, those Linnen cheekes of thine
    Are Counsailers to feare. What Soldiers Whay-face?
    2235Ser. The English Force, so please you.
    Macb. Take thy face hence. Seyton, I am sick at hart,
    When I behold: Seyton, I say, this push
    Will cheere me euer, or dis-eate me now.
    I haue liu'd long enough: my way of life
    2240Is falne into the Seare, the yellow Leafe,
    And that which should accompany Old-Age,
    As Honor, Loue, Obedience, Troopes of Friends,
    I must not looke to haue: but in their steed,
    Curses, not lowd but deepe, Mouth-honor, breath
    2245Which the poore heart would faine deny, and dare not.
    Seyton?
    Enter Seyton.
    Sey. What's your gracious pleasure?
    Macb. What Newes more?
    2250Sey. All is confirm'd my Lord, which was reported.
    Macb. Ile fight, till from my bones, my flesh be hackt.

    Giue me my Armor.
    Seyt. 'Tis not needed yet.
    Macb. Ile put it on:
    2255Send out moe Horses, skirre the Country round,
    Hang those that talke of Feare. Giue me mine Armor:
    How do's your Patient, Doctor?
    Doct. Not so sicke my Lord,
    As she is troubled with thicke-comming Fancies
    2260That keepe her from her rest.
    Macb. Cure of that:
    Can'st thou not Minister to a minde diseas'd,
    Plucke from the Memory a rooted Sorrow,
    Raze out the written troubles of the Braine,
    2265And with some sweet Obliuious Antidote
    Cleanse the stufft bosome, of that perillous stuffe
    Which weighes vpon the heart?
    Doct. Therein the Patient
    Must minister to himselfe.
    2270Macb. Throw Physicke to the Dogs, Ile none of it.
    Come, put mine Armour on: giue me my Staffe:
    Seyton, send out: Doctor, the Thanes flye from me:
    Come sir, dispatch. If thou could'st Doctor, cast
    The Water of my Land, finde her Disease,
    2275And purge it to a sound and pristiue Health,
    I would applaud thee to the very Eccho,
    That should applaud againe. Pull't off I say,
    What Rubarb, Cyme, or what Purgatiue drugge
    Would scowre these English hence: hear'st yu of them?
    2280Doct. I my good Lord: your Royall Preparation
    Makes vs heare something.
    Macb. Bring it after me:
    I will not be affraid of Death and Bane,
    Till Birnane Forrest come to Dunsinane.
    2285Doct. Were I from Dunsinane away, and cleere,
    Profit againe should hardly draw me heere. Exeunt


    Scena Quarta.


    Drum and Colours. Enter Malcolme, Seyward, Macduffe,
    Seywards Sonne, Menteth, Cathnes, Angus,
    2290and Soldiers Marching.

    Malc. Cosins, I hope the dayes are neere at hand
    That Chambers will be safe.
    Ment. We doubt it nothing.
    Syew. What wood is this before vs?
    2295Ment. The wood of Birnane.
    Malc, Let euery Souldier hew him downe a Bough,
    And bear't before him, thereby shall we shadow
    The numbers of our Hoast, and make discouery
    Erre in report of vs.
    2300Sold. It shall be done.
    Syw. We learne no other, but the confident Tyrant
    Keepes still in Dunsinane, and will indure
    Our setting downe befor't.
    Malc. 'Tis his maine hope:
    2305For where there is aduantage to be giuen,
    Both more and lesse haue giuen him the Reuolt,
    And none serue with him, but constrained things,
    Whose hearts are absent too.
    Macd. Let our iust Censures
    2310Attend the true euent, and put we on
    nn3 Industrious
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