Act 1 — Scene II. A camp near Forres.[3680]
Reading edition
Scene II. A camp near Forres.[3680]
Alarum within. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.[3681]
Dun. What bloody man is that? He can report,[3682] As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state. Mal. This is the sergeant[3683] Who like a good and hardy soldier fought[3683][3684] 'Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend![3684][3685] 5 Say to the king the knowledge of the broil[3686] As thou didst leave it. Ser. Doubtful it stood;[3687] As two spent swimmers, that do cling together[3688] And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald—[3689] Worthy to be a rebel, for to that 10 The multiplying villanies of nature[3690] Do swarm upon him—from the western isles Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;[3691] And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,[3692] Show'd like a rebel's whore: but all's too weak:[3693] 15 For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name— Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,[3694] Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage[3695][3696] Till he faced the slave;[3695][3697] 20 Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,[3698] Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,[3699] And fix'd his head upon our battlements. Dun. O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman! Ser. As whence the sun 'gins his reflection[3700] 25 Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break,[3701] So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark:[3702] No sooner justice had, with valour arm'd, Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,[3703] 30 But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage, With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men,[3704] Began a fresh assault. Dun. Dismay'd not this[3705] Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?[3705][3706] Ser. Yes;[3707] As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.[3707] 35 If I say sooth, I must report they were As cannons overcharged with double cracks;[3708] So they[3709] Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:[3710] Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,[3711] 40 Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell—[3712][3713] But I am faint; my gashes cry for help.[3712] Dun. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;[3714] They smack of honour both. Go get him surgeons.[3715] 45
[Exit Sergeant, attended.
Who comes here?[3716]
Enter Ross.
Mal. The worthy thane of Ross. Len. What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look[3717][3718] That seems to speak things strange.[3718][3719] Ross. God save the king! Dun. Whence camest thou, worthy thane? Ross. From Fife, great king; Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky[3720] 50 And fan our people cold.[3721] Norway himself, with terrible numbers,[3721][3722] Assisted by that most disloyal traitor The thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict;[3723] Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof, 55 Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm,[3724] Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude,[3725] The victory fell on us. Dun. Great happiness! Ross. That now[3726] 60 Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition;[3726][3727] Nor would we deign him burial of his men Till he disbursed, at Saint Colme's inch,[3728] Ten thousand dollars to our general use. Dun. No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive 65 Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,[3729] And with his former title greet Macbeth.[3730] Ross. I'll see it done. Dun. What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
[Exeunt.