Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 2

A Camp near Forres.

  1. [Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Soldier.]
  2. Duncan
  3. 13 What bloody man is that? He can report,
  4. 14 As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
  5. 15 The newest state.
  6. Malcolm
  7. 16 This is the sergeant
  8. 17 Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought
  9. 18 'Gainst my captivity.—Hail, brave friend!
  10. 19 Say to the king the knowledge of the broil
  11. 20 As thou didst leave it.
  12. Soldier
  13. 21 Doubtful it stood;
  14. 22 As two spent swimmers that do cling together
  15. 23 And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald,—
  16. 24 Worthy to be a rebel,—for to that
  17. 25 The multiplying villainies of nature
  18. 26 Do swarm upon him,—from the Western isles
  19. 27 Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
  20. 28 And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,
  21. 29 Show'd like a rebel's whore. But all's too weak;
  22. 30 For brave Macbeth,—well he deserves that name,—
  23. 31 Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,
  24. 32 Which smok'd with bloody execution,
  25. 33 Like valor's minion,
  26. 34 Carv'd out his passag tTill he fac'd the slave;
  27. 35 And ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
  28. 36 Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,
  29. 37 And fix'd his head upon our battlements.
  30. Duncan
  31. 38 O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!
  32. Soldier
  33. 39 As whence the sun 'gins his reflection
  34. 40 Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break;
  35. 41 So from that spring, whence comfort seem'd to come
  36. 42 Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:
  37. 43 No sooner justice had, with valor arm'd,
  38. 44 Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
  39. 45 But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
  40. 46 With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men,
  41. 47 Began a fresh assault.
  42. Duncan
  43. 48 Dismay'd not this
  44. 49 Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
  45. Soldier
  46. 50 Yes;
  47. 51 As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
  48. 52 If I say sooth, I must report they were
  49. 53 As cannons overcharg'd with double cracks;
  50. 54 So they
  51. 55 Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:
  52. 56 Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,
  53. 57 Or memorize another Golgotha,
  54. 58 I cannot tell:—
  55. 59 But I am faint; my gashes cry for help.
  56. Duncan
  57. 60 So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;
  58. 61 They smack of honor both.—Go, get him surgeons.
  59. [Exit Soldier, attended.]
  60. Duncan
  61. 62 Who comes here?
  62. Malcolm
  63. 63 The worthy Thane of Ross.
  64. Lennox
  65. 64 What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look
  66. 65 That seems to speak things strange.
  67. [Enter Ross.]
  68. Ross
  69. 66 God save the King!
  70. Duncan
  71. 67 Whence cam'st thou, worthy thane?
  72. Ross
  73. 68 From Fife, great king;
  74. 69 Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky
  75. 70 And fan our people cold.
  76. 71 Norway himself, with terrible numbers,
  77. 72 Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
  78. 73 The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict;
  79. 74 Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof,
  80. 75 Confronted him with self-comparisons,
  81. 76 Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm,
  82. 77 Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude,
  83. 78 The victory fell on us.
  84. Duncan
  85. 79 Great happiness!
  86. Ross
  87. 80 That now
  88. 81 Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition;
  89. 82 Nor would we deign him burial of his men
  90. 83 Till he disbursed, at Saint Colme's-inch,
  91. 84 Ten thousand dollars to our general use.
  92. Duncan
  93. 85 No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
  94. 86 Our bosom interest:—go pronounce his present death,
  95. 87 And with his former title greet Macbeth.
  96. Ross
  97. 88 I'll see it done.
  98. Duncan
  99. 89 What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
  100. [Exeunt.]