Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Anthony Dawson
Not Peer Reviewed

Macbeth (Folio 1, 1623)

Scena Secunda.
Drum and Colours. Enter Menteth, Cathnes,
2175Angus, Lenox, Soldiers.
Ment. The English powre is neere, led on by Malcolm,
His Vnkle Seyward, and the good Macduff.
Reuenges burne in them: for their deere causes
Would to the bleeding, and the grim Alarme
2180Excite the mortified man.
Ang. Neere Byrnan wood
Shall we well meet them, that way are they comming.
Cath. Who knowes if Donalbane be with his brother?
Len. For certaine Sir, he is not: I haue a File
2185Of all the Gentry; there is Seywards Sonne,
And many vnruffe youths, that euen now
Protest their first of Manhood.
Ment. What do's the Tyrant.
Cath. Great Dunsinane he strongly Fortifies:
2190Some say hee's mad: Others, that lesser hate him,
Do call it valiant Fury, but for certaine
He
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.