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Drum and colors. Enter MENTEITH,
CAITHNESS, ANGUS,
LENNOX, and soldiers
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MENTEITH, CAITHNESS,
ANGUS, LENNOX, and soldiers enter with
a drummer and flag.
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MENTEITH The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward and the good Macduff.
Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
5Excite the mortified man.
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MENTEITH The English army is near, led by Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and
the good Macduff. They burn for revenge. The wrongs they have
suffered would make dead men rise up and fight.
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ANGUS Near
Birnam Wood
Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.
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ANGUS We’ll meet them near Birnam Wood. They are coming that
way.
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CAITHNESS Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?
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CAITHNESS Does anyone know if Donalbain is with his brother?
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LENNOX For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file
Of all the gentry. There is Siward’s son,
10And many unrough youths that even now
Protest their first of manhood.
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LENNOX He is definitely not there, sir. I have a list of all the
important men. Siward’s son is there, as well as many boys
too young to have beards who will become men by joining in this
battle.
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MENTEITH What
does the tyrant?
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MENTEITH What is the tyrant Macbeth doing?
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CAITHNESS Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies.
Some say he’s mad, others that lesser hate him
Do call it valiant fury. But, for certain,
15He cannot buckle his distempered cause
Within the belt of rule.
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CAITHNESS He is fortifying his castle at Dunsinane with heavy defenses. Some
say he’s insane. Those who hate him less call it brave
anger. One thing is certain: he’s out of control.
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ANGUS Now
does he feel
His secret murders sticking on his hands.
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach.
Those he commands move only in command,
20Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title
Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.
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ANGUS Now Macbeth feels the blood of his murdered enemies sticking to
his hands. Now, rebel armies punish him every minute for his
treachery. The soldiers he commands are only following orders. They
don’t fight because they love Macbeth. Now he seems too
small to be a great king, like a midget trying to wear the robes of
a giant.
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