MACBETH 5.8

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MACBETH 5.8

Another part of the field.

[Enter MACBETH]

MACBETH Why should I play the Roman fool, and die

On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes

Do better upon them.

[Enter MACDUFF]

MACDUFF Turn, hell-hound, turn!

MACBETH Of all men else I have avoided thee: 5

But get thee back; my soul is too much charged

With blood of thine already.

MACDUFF I have no words:

My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain

Than terms can give thee out! 10

[They fight]

MACBETH Thou losest labour:

As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air

With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed:

Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;

I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, 15

To one of woman born.

MACDUFF Despair thy charm;

And let the angel whom thou still hast served

Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb

Untimely ripp'd. 20

MACBETH Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,

For it hath cow'd my better part of man!

And be these juggling fiends no more believed,

That palter with us in a double sense;

That keep the word of promise to our ear, 25

And break it to our hope. I'll not fight with thee.

MACDUFF Then yield thee, coward,

And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:

We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are,

Painted on a pole, and underwrit, 30

'Here may you see the tyrant.'

MACBETH I will not yield,

To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,

And to be baited with the rabble's curse.

Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, 35

And thou opposed, being of no woman born,

Yet I will try the last. Before my body

I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,

And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'

[Exeunt, fighting. Alarums]

[Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours,

MALCOLM, SIWARD, ROSS, the other Thanes, and Soldiers]

MALCOLM I would the friends we miss were safe arrived. 40

SIWARD Some must go off: and yet, by these I see,

So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

MALCOLM Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

ROSS Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt:

He only lived but till he was a man; 45

The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd

In the unshrinking station where he fought,

But like a man he died.

SIWARD Then he is dead?

ROSS Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow 50

Must not be measured by his worth, for then

It hath no end.

SIWARD Had he his hurts before?

ROSS Ay, on the front.

SIWARD Why then, God's soldier be he!

Had I as many sons as I have hairs,

I would not wish them to a fairer death: 55

And so, his knell is knoll'd.

MALCOLM He's worth more sorrow,

And that I'll spend for him.

SIWARD He's worth no more

They say he parted well, and paid his score: 60

And so, God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.

[Re-enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH's head]

MACDUFF Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands

The usurper's cursed head: the time is free:

I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,

That speak my salutation in their minds; 65

Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:

Hail, King of Scotland!

ALL Hail, King of Scotland!

[Flourish]

MALCOLM We shall not spend a large expense of time

Before we reckon with your several loves, 70

And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,

Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland

In such an honour named. What's more to do,

Which would be planted newly with the time,

As calling home our exiled friends abroad 75

That fled the snares of watchful tyranny;

Producing forth the cruel ministers

Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,

Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands

Took off her life; this, and what needful else 80

That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,

We will perform in measure, time and place:

So, thanks to all at once and to each one,

Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.

[Flourish. Exeunt]

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MACBETH		Why should I play the Roman fool, and die
		On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes
		Do better upon them.
		[Enter MACDUFF]

MACBETH	Of all men else I have avoided thee:	5
	But get thee back; my soul is too much charged
	With blood of thine already.

MACDUFF	I have no words:
	My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain
	Than terms can give thee out!	10
	[They fight]

MACBETH	Thou losest labour:
	As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
	With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed:
	Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
	I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,	15
	To one of woman born.

MACDUFF	Despair thy charm;
	And let the angel whom thou still hast served
	Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
	Untimely ripp'd.	20

MACBETH	Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
	For it hath cow'd my better part of man!
	And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
	That palter with us in a double sense;
	That keep the word of promise to our ear,	25
	And break it to our hope. I'll not fight with thee.

MACDUFF	Then yield thee, coward,
	And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:
	We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are,
	Painted on a pole, and underwrit,	30
	'Here may you see the tyrant.'

MACBETH	I will not yield,
	To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
	And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
	Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane,	35
	And thou opposed, being of no woman born,
	Yet I will try the last. Before my body
	I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,
	And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'
	[Exeunt, fighting. Alarums]
	[Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours,
	MALCOLM, SIWARD, ROSS, the other Thanes, and Soldiers]

SIWARD		Some must go off: and yet, by these I see,
		So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

ROSS	Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt:
	He only lived but till he was a man;	45
	The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd
	In the unshrinking station where he fought,
	But like a man he died.

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ROSS	Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow	50
	Must not be measured by his worth, for then
	It hath no end.

SIWARD	Why then, God's soldier be he!
	Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
	I would not wish them to a fairer death:	55
	And so, his knell is knoll'd.

SIWARD	He's worth no more
	They say he parted well, and paid his score:	60
	And so, God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.
	[Re-enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH's head]

MACDUFF	Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands
	The usurper's cursed head: the time is free:
	I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,
	That speak my salutation in their minds;	65
	Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
	Hail, King of Scotland!

MALCOLM	We shall not spend a large expense of time
	Before we reckon with your several loves,	70
	And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,
	Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
	In such an honour named. What's more to do,
	Which would be planted newly with the time,
	As calling home our exiled friends abroad	75
	That fled the snares of watchful tyranny;
	Producing forth the cruel ministers
	Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,
	Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands
	Took off her life; this, and what needful else	80
	That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,
	We will perform in measure, time and place:
	So, thanks to all at once and to each one,
	Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.
	[Flourish. Exeunt]