Act 5 — Scene III. Dunsinane. A room in the castle.[4542]
Reading edition
Scene III. Dunsinane. A room in the castle.[4542]
Enter Macbeth, Doctor, and Attendants.
Macb. Bring me no more reports; let them fly all: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane[4543] I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?[4544] Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know[4545] All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:[4546] 5 'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman Shall e'er have power upon thee.' Then fly, false thanes,[4547] And mingle with the English epicures: The mind I sway by and the heart I bear[4548] Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.[4549] 10
Enter a Servant.
The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon![4550] Where got'st thou that goose look?[4551] Serv. There is ten thousand—[4552] Macb. Geese, villain? Serv. Soldiers, sir. Macb. Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear, Thou lily-liver'd boy. What soldiers, patch? 15 Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?[4553] Serv. The English force, so please you. Macb. Take thy face hence. [Exit Servant.[4554] Seyton!—I am sick at heart,[4555][4556] When I behold—Seyton, I say!—This push[4555] 20 Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.[4557] I have lived long enough: my way of life[4558] Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, 25 I must not look to have; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.[4559] Seyton!
Enter Seyton.
Sey. What's your gracious pleasure?[4560] Macb. What news more?[4561] 30 Sey. All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported. Macb. I'll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hack'd.[4562] Give me my armour. Sey. 'Tis not needed yet. Macb. I'll put it on. Send out moe horses, skirr the country round;[4563] 35 Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour.[4564] How does your patient, doctor? Doct. Not so sick, my lord, As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies, That keep her from her rest. Macb. Cure her of that.[4565] Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,[4566] 40 Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain,[4567] And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff[4568] Which weighs upon the heart? Doct. Therein the patient 45 Must minister to himself.[4569] Macb. Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it. Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff.[4570] Seyton, send out. Doctor, the thanes fly from me. Come, sir, dispatch. If thou couldst, doctor, cast 50 The water of my land, find her disease And purge it to a sound and pristine health,[4571] I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again. Pull't off, I say. What rhubarb, cyme, or what purgative drug,[4572] 55 Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them? Doct. Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation Makes us hear something. Macb. Bring it after me. I will not be afraid of death and bane Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.[4573] 60 Doct. [Aside] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,[4574] Profit again should hardly draw me here. [Exeunt.[4575]