Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Alarum within. Enter King Duncan, Malcolm,
Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding
Captain. DUNCAN
What bloody man is that? He can report,
As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
The newest state. MALCOLM This is the sergeant
Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought 5
’Gainst my captivity.—Hail, brave friend!
Say to the King the knowledge of the broil
As thou didst leave it. | Duncan (the King of Scotland), his two sons (Malcolm and Donalbain), and Lennox (a Scottish nobleman) hang out with their attendants at a military camp in Scotland. King Duncan's forces have been busy fighting against the King of Norway and the traitor, Macdonwald. A wounded Captain arrives, fresh from the field, where he fought to help Duncan's son, Malcolm, escape capture. What's the news? |
CAPTAIN Doubtful it stood,
As two spent swimmers that do cling together 10
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald
(Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him) from the Western Isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied; 15
And Fortune, on his damnèd quarrel smiling,
Showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak;
For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution, 20
Like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;
Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops,
And fixed his head upon our battlements. 25 | Well, says the Captain, the battle was going south fast until brave Macbeth fought through the "swarm" of enemy soldiers and disemboweled the traitorous Macdonwald. |
DUNCAN
O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman! CAPTAIN
As whence the sun ’gins his reflection
Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break,
So from that spring whence comfort seemed to
come 30
Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark:
No sooner justice had, with valor armed,
Compelled these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbished arms and new supplies of men, 35
Began a fresh assault. | There's some gab about Macbeth's great courage in the face of seemingly impossible adversity and the Captain continues his story: after Macbeth spilled Macdonwald's guts all over the ground, the battle flared up again when the "Norwegian Lord" brought new men to the field. |
DUNCAN
Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and
Banquo? CAPTAIN
Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
If I say sooth, I must report they were 40
As cannons overcharged with double cracks,
So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell— 45
But I am faint. My gashes cry for help. | But even this didn't daunt Macbeth and Banquo, who just redoubled their efforts. Oh, but could someone get the Captain a surgeon? He's kind of bleeding all over the place. |
DUNCAN
So well thy words become thee as thy wounds:
They smack of honor both.—Go, get him surgeons. The Captain is led off by Attendants. Enter Ross and Angus. Who comes here? MALCOLM The worthy Thane of Ross. 50 LENNOX
What a haste looks through his eyes!
So should he look that seems to speak things
strange. ROSS God save the King. DUNCAN Whence cam’st thou, worthy thane? 55 ROSS From Fife, great king,
Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky
And fan our people cold.
Norway himself, with terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, 60
The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict,
Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm,
Curbing his lavish spirit. And to conclude, 65
The victory fell on us. DUNCAN Great happiness! | Of course, of course. Duncan sends the Captain to see a medic and the Thane of Ross arrives from another battle, where Macbeth was also kicking serious butt. (He's referring to Macbeth when he says "Bellona's bridegroom." Bellona was the Roman goddess of war.) |
ROSS That now Sweno,
The Norways’ king, craves composition.
Nor would we deign him burial of his men 70
Till he disbursèd at Saint Colme’s Inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use. | Now Sweno, Norway's king, won't be allowed to bury his men until he hands over ten thousand dollars to the Scots. |
DUNCAN
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present
death, 75
And with his former title greet Macbeth. ROSS I’ll see it done. DUNCAN
What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. They exit. | Duncan then proclaims the traitorous Thane of Cawdor will be executed, and Macbeth, responsible for the victory, shall have his title. Ross is sent to announce the news to Macbeth. |