The Tragedy of Macbeth

Act V

Scene VIII

William Shakespeare


Another part of the field.

Alarums. Enter MACBETH

    MACBETH
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
Am I to fear, or none.

Enter YOUNG SIWARD

    YOUNG SIWARD
What is thy name?

    MACBETH
                Thou’lt be afraid to hear it.

    YOUNG SIWARD
No; though thou call’st thyself a hotter name
Than any is in hell.

    MACBETH
                My name’s Macbeth.

    YOUNG SIWARD
The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.

    MACBETH
                        No, nor more fearful.

    YOUNG SIWARD
Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword
I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st.

They fight and YOUNG SIWARD is slain

    MACBETH
                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

    MACDUFF
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 kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter’d edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be;
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, fortune!
And more I beg not.

[Exit. Alarums

Enter MALCOLM and old SIWARD

    SIWARD
This way, my lord;—the castle’s gently render’d:
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.

    MALOCOM
                        We have met with foes
That strike beside us.

    SIWARD
                            Enter, sir, the castle.

[Exeunt. Alarums


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