Act V. Scene VII. Shakespeare, William. 1909-14. The Tragedy of Macbeth. The Harvard Classics

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William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Tragedy of Macbeth.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Act V

Scene VII


[The same] Enter MACBETH Macb. They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,
But, bear-like, I must fight the course. 1 What’s he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.	4

Enter young SIWARD Y. Siw. What is thy name?
Macb. Thou’lt be afraid to hear it.
Y. Siw. No; though thou call’st thyself a hotter name
Than any is in hell.	8
Macb. My name’s Macbeth.
Y. Siw. The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.
Macb. No, nor more fearful.	12
Y. Siw. Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword
I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st. They fight and young SIWARD is slain.
Macb. Thou wast born of woman.
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,	16
Brandish’d by man that’s of a woman born. Exit.

Alarums. Enter MACDUFF Macd. That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
If thou be’st slain and with no stroke of mine,
My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.	20
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, 2 whose arms
Are hir’d to bear their staves; either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbattered edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be;	24
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. 3 Let me find him, Fortune!
And more I beg not. Exit. Alarums.

Enter MALCOLM and old SIWARD Siw. This way, my lord; the castle’s gently rend’red: 4	28
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.	32
Mal. We have met with foes
That strike beside us. 5
Siw. Enter, sir, the castle. [Exeunt. Alarums.

Note 1. The attack of the dogs. [back]

Note 2. Light-armed foot-soldiers. [back]

Note 3. Announced. [back]

Note 4. Peaceably surrendered. [back]

Note 5. Over-confidence. [back]

CONTENTS · BOOK CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD · DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

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