The same. SCENE VII. Another part of the Plain. Enter MACBEth. Macb. They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course.-What's he, That was not born of woman? Such a one Yo. Siw. No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name Than any is in hell. Macb. My name's Macbeth. Yo. Siw. The devil himself could not pronounce a title More hateful to mine ear. Macb. No, nor more fearful. Yo. Siw. Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword prove the lie thou speak'st. I'll Macb. [They fight, and young Siward is slain. Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, 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. I cannot strike at wretched kernes, whose arms I sheathe agam undeeded. There thou should'st be; [Exit. Alarum. Enter MALCOLM and old SIWARD. Sr. This way, my lord;-the castle's gently render'd: The tyrant's people on both sides do fight; And little is to do. Macb. Why should I play the Roman fool, and die On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them. Macd. Re-enter MACDUFF. Turn, hell-hound, turn. Macb. Of all men else I have avoided thee: But get thee back, my soul is too much charg'd With blood of thine already. Macd. I have no words, * Seems bruited:] From bruit, Fr. To bruit is to report with clamour; to noise. My voice is in my sword; thou bloodier villain Macb. [They fight. Thou losest labour: As easy may'st thou the intrenchant air3 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 To one of woman born. Macd. Despair thy charm Macb. Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, And break it to our hope.-I'll not fight with thee. And live to be the show and gaze o'the time. Here may you see the tyrant. I'll not yield, Macb. I throw my warlike shield: lay on, Macduff; 3 As easy may'st thou the intrenchant air-] That is, air which cannot be cut. palter with us in a double sense ;] That shuffle with ambiguous expressions. Retreat. Flourish. Re-enter with Drum and Colours, MALCOLM, old SIWARD, ROSSE, LENOX, ANGUS, CATHNESS, MENTETH, and Soldiers. Mal. I would, the friends we miss were safe arriv'd. Siw. Some must go off; and yet, by these I see, So great a day as this is cheaply bought. Mal. Macduff is missing, and your noble son. Rosse. Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt: He only liv'd but till he was a man ; The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd Sir. Then he is dead? Rosse. Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow Must not be measur'd by his worth, for then It hath no end. Sir. Had he his hurts before? Why then, God's soldier be he! Rosse. Ay, on the front. Siw. Had I as many sons as I have hairs, I would not wish them to a fairer death: And so his knell is knoll'd. Mal. And that I'll spend for him. Sir. He's worth more sorrow, He's worth no more; They say, he parted well, and paid his score: Re-enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH'S Head on a Macd. Hail, king! for so thou art: Behold, where stands The usurper's cursed head: the time is free: All. 5 King of Scotland, hail! [Flourish. Mal. We shall not spend a large expence of time. Before we reckon with your several loves, And make us even with you. My thanes and kins men, Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland Of this dead butcher, and his fiend-like queen; [Flourish. Exeunt.“ 5 thy kingdom's pearl,] Thy kingdom's pearl means thy kingdom's wealth, or rather ornament. This play is deservedly celebrated for the propriety of its fictions, and solemnity, grandeur, and variety of its action; but it has no nice discriminations of character; the events are too great to admit the influence of particular dispositions, and the course of the action necessarily determines the conduct of the agents. The danger of ambition is well described; and I know not whether it may not be said, in defence of some parts which now seem improbable, that, in Shakspeare's time, it was necessary to warn credulity against vain and illusive predictions. The passions are directed to their true end. Lady Macbeth is merely detested; and though the courage of Macbeth preserves some esteem, yet every reader rejoices at his fall. JOHNSON. |