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  • Title: Macbeth: Modern (Modern)
  • Editor: Anthony Dawson
  • Coordinating editor: Michael Best
  • Research assistant: Katie Davion

    • 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    Not Peer Reviewed

    Modern (Modern)

    5.4
    Drum and colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, Siward's son, Menteith, Caithness, Angus, 2290and Soldiers, marching.
    Malcolm
    Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand
    That chambers will be safe.
    Menteith
    We doubt it nothing.
    Siward
    What wood is this before us?
    2295Menteith
    The Wood of Birnam.
    Malcolm
    Let every soldier hew him down a bough
    And bear't before him; thereby shall we shadow
    The numbers of our host and make discovery
    Err in report of us.
    2300Soldier
    It shall be done.
    Siward
    We learn no other but the confident tyrant
    Keeps still in Dunsinane and will endure
    Our setting down before't.
    Malcolm
    'Tis his main hope,
    2305For where there is advantage to be given,
    Both more and less have given him the revolt,
    And none serve with him but constrainèd things
    Whose hearts are absent too.
    Macduff
    Let our just censures
    2310Attend the true event and put we on
    Industrious soldiership.
    Siward
    The time approaches
    That will with due decision make us know
    What we shall say we have and what we owe.
    2315Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate,
    But certain issue strokes must arbitrate;
    Towards which advance the war.
    Exeunt, marching.
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