Macbeth

Act 5, Scene 7

Alarums. Enter MACBETH

Trumpets and the noise of battle. MACBETH enters.

MACBETH

They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly,

But, bearlike, I must fight the course. What’s he

That was not born of woman? Such a one

Am I to fear, or none.

MACBETH

They have me tied to a stake. I can’t run away. I have to stand and fight, like a bear.Where’s the man who wasn’t born from a woman? He’s the only one I’m afraid of, nobody else.

Enter YOUNG SIWARD

YOUNG SIWARD enters.

YOUNG SIWARD

What is thy name?

YOUNG SIWARD

What’s your name?

MACBETH

Thou ’lt be afraid to hear it.

MACBETH

You’ll be afraid to hear it.

YOUNG SIWARD

No, though thou call’st thyself a hotter name

Than any is in hell.

YOUNG SIWARD

No I won’t, even if you were one of the worst demons in hell.

MACBETH

My name’s Macbeth.

MACBETH

My name’s Macbeth.

YOUNG SIWARD

The devil himself could not pronounce a title

More hateful to mine ear.

YOUNG SIWARD

The devil himself couldn’t say a name I hate more.

MACBETH

No, nor more fearful.

MACBETH

No, nor could the devil’s name be more frightening.

YOUNG SIWARD

Thou liest, abhorrèd tyrant. With my sword

I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st.

YOUNG SIWARD

You lie, you disgusting tyrant. I’ll prove with my sword that I’m not scared of you.

They fight and YOUNG SIWARD is slain

They fight and YOUNG SIWARD is killed.

MACBETH

Thou wast born of woman.

But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,

Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.

MACBETH

You were born from a woman. Swords don’t frighten me. I laugh at any weapon used by a man who was born from a woman.

Exit

MACBETH exits.

Alarums. Enter MACDUFF

Trumpets and battle sounds. MACDUFF enters.

MACDUFF

That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!

If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine,

My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.

I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms

Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth,

Or else my sword with an unbattered edge

I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be;

By this great clatter, one of the greatest note

Seems bruited. Let me find him, Fortune,

And more I beg not.

MACDUFF

The noise is coming from over there. Tyrant, show your face! If someone other than me kills you, the ghosts of my wife and children will haunt me forever. I can’t be bothered to fight these lame soldiers who only fight for money. I’ll either fight you, Macbeth, or else I’ll put down my sword unused. You must be over there. By the great noise, it sounds like one of the highest-ranking men is being announced. I hope I find him! I ask for nothing more than that.

Exit. Alarums

MACDUFF exits. More battle noises.

Enter MALCOLM and SIWARD

MALCOLM and old SIWARD enter.

SIWARD

This way, my lord. The castle’s gently rendered.

The tyrant’s people on both sides do fight,

The noble thanes do bravely in the war,

The day almost itself professes yours,

And little is to do.

SIWARD

Come this way, my lord. The castle has been surrendered without a fight. Macbeth’s soldiers are fighting on both sides. Our noblemen are battling bravely. The victory is almost yours, and it seems like there’s not much left to do.

MALCOLM

We have met with foes

That strike beside us.

MALCOLM

Our enemies fight as if they’re trying not to hurt us.

SIWARD

Enter, sir, the castle.

SIWARD

Sir, enter the castle.

Exeunt. Alarums

They exit. Battle noises continue.