Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Anthony Dawson
Not Peer Reviewed

Modern (Modern)

Drum and colors. Enter Menteith, Caithness, 2175Angus, Lennox, soldiers.
Menteith
The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward, and the good Macduff.
Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
2180Excite the mortified man.
Angus
Near Birnam Wood
Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.
Caithness
Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?
Lennox
For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file
2185Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son
And many unrough youths that even now
Protest their first of manhood.
Menteith
What does the tyrant?
Caithness
Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies.
2190Some say he's mad, others that lesser hate him
Do call it valiant fury, but for certain
He cannot buckle his distempered cause
Within the belt of rule.
Angus
Now does he feel
2195His secret murders sticking on his hands;
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach;
Those he commands move only in command,
Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title
Hang loose about him like a giant's robe
2200Upon a dwarfish thief.
Menteith
Who then shall blame
His pestered senses to recoil and start,
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there?
2205Caithness
Well, march we on
To give obedience where 'tis truly owed;
Meet we the med'cine of the sickly weal
And with him pour we in our country's purge,
Each drop of us.
2210Lennox
Or so much as it needs
To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds.
Make we our march towards Birnam.
Exeunt, marching.