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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    Not Peer Reviewed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. 151
    Seemes bruited. Let me finde him Fortune,
    2425And more I begge not. Exit. Alarums.

    Enter Malcolme and Seyward.

    Sey. This way my Lord, the Castles gently rendred:
    The Tyrants people, on both sides do fight,
    The Noble Thanes do brauely in the Warre,
    2430The day almost it selfe professes yours,
    And little is to do.
    Malc. We haue met with Foes
    That strike beside vs.
    Sey. Enter Sir, the Castle. Exeunt. Alarum
    2435 Enter Macbeth.
    Macb. Why should I play the Roman Foole, and dye
    On mine owne sword? whiles I see liues, the gashes
    Do better vpon them.
    Enter Macduffe.
    2440Macd. Turne Hell-hound, turne.
    Macb. Of all men else I haue auoyded thee:
    But get thee backe, my soule is too much charg'd
    With blood of thine already.
    Macd. I haue no words,
    2445My voice is in my Sword, thou bloodier Villaine
    Then tearmes can giue thee out. Fight: Alarum
    Macb. Thou loosest labour
    As easie may'st thou the intrenchant Ayre
    With thy keene Sword impresse, as make me bleed:
    2450Let fall thy blade on vulnerable Crests,
    I beare a charmed Life, which must not yeeld
    To one of woman borne.
    Macd. Dispaire thy Charme,
    And let the Angell whom thou still hast seru'd
    2455Tell thee, Macduffe was from his Mothers womb
    Vntimely ript.
    Macb. Accursed be that tongue that tels mee so;
    For it hath Cow'd my better part of man:
    And be these Iugling Fiends no more beleeu'd,
    2460That palter with vs in a double sence,
    That keepe the word of promise to our eare,
    And breake it to our hope. Ile not fight with thee.
    Macd. Then yeeld thee Coward,
    And liue to be the shew, and gaze o'th'time.
    2465Wee'l haue thee, as our rarer Monsters are
    Painted vpon a pole, and vnder-writ,
    Heere may you see the Tyrant.
    Macb. I will not yeeld
    To kisse the ground before young Malcolmes feet,
    2470And to be baited with the Rabbles curse.
    Though Byrnane wood be come to Dunsinane,
    And thou oppos'd, being of no woman borne,
    Yet I will try the last. Before my body,
    I throw my warlike Shield: Lay on Macduffe,
    2475And damn'd be him, that first cries hold, enough.
    Exeunt fighting. Alarums.


    Enter Fighting, and Macbeth slaine.

    Retreat, and Flourish. Enter with Drumme and Colours,
    Malcolm, Seyward, Rosse, Thanes, & Soldiers.
    2480Mal. I would the Friends we misse, were safe arriu'd.
    Sey. Some must go off: and yet by these I see,
    So great a day as this is cheapely bought.
    Mal. Macduffe is missing, and your Noble Sonne.
    Rosse. Your son my Lord, ha's paid a souldiers debt,
    2485He onely liu'd but till he was a man,
    The which no sooner had his Prowesse confirm'd
    In the vnshrinking station where he fought,
    But like a man he dy'de.
    Sey. Then he is dead?
    2490Rosse. I, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow
    Must not be measur'd by his worth, for then
    It hath no end.
    Sey. Had he his hurts before?
    Rosse. I, on the Front.
    2495Sey. Why then, Gods Soldier be he:
    Had I as many Sonnes, as I haue haires,
    I would not wish them to a fairer death:
    And so his Knell is knoll'd.
    Mal. Hee's worth more sorrow,
    2500And that Ile spend for him.
    Sey. He's worth no more,
    They say he parted well, and paid his score,
    And so God be with him. Here comes newer comfort.
    Enter Macduffe, with Macbeths head.
    2505Macd. Haile King, for so thou art.
    Behold where stands
    Th'Vsurpers cursed head: the time is free:
    I see thee compast with thy Kingdomes Pearle,
    That speake my salutation in their minds:
    2510Whose voyces I desire alowd with mine.
    Haile King of Scotland.
    All. Haile King of Scotland. Flourish.
    Mal. We shall not spend a large expence of time,
    Before we reckon with your seuerall loues,
    2515And make vs euen with you. My Thanes and Kinsmen
    Henceforth be Earles, the first that euer Scotland
    In such an Honor nam'd: What's more to do,
    Which would be planted newly with the time,
    As calling home our exil'd Friends abroad,
    2520That fled the Snares of watchfull Tyranny,
    Producing forth the cruell Ministers
    Of this dead Butcher, and his Fiend-like Queene;
    Who (as 'tis thought) by selfe and violent hands,
    Tooke off her life. This, and what needfull else
    2525That call's vpon vs, by the Grace of Grace,
    We will performe in measure, time, and place:
    So thankes to all at once, and to each one,
    Whom we inuite, to see vs Crown'd at Scone.
    Flourish. Exeunt Omnes.



    2530FINIS.


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