Act V, Scene 2

The country near Dunsinane.

[Drum and colours. Enter MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS,] [p]LENNOX, and Soldiers]

• 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 2210
  Excite the mortified man.

• Angus. Near Birnam wood
  Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.

• Caithness. Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?

• Lennox. For certain, sir, he is not: I have a file 2215
  Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son,
  And many unrough youths that even now
  Protest their first of manhood.

• Menteith. What does the tyrant?

• Caithness. Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies: 2220
  Some say he's mad; others that lesser hate him
  Do call it valiant fury: but, for certain,
  He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause
  Within the belt of rule.

• Angus. Now does he feel 2225
  His secret murders sticking on his hands;
  Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach;
  Those he commands move only in command,
  Nothing in love: now does he feel his title
  Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe 2230
  Upon a dwarfish thief.

• Menteith. Who then shall blame
  His pester'd senses to recoil and start,
  When all that is within him does condemn
  Itself for being there? 2235

• Caithness. Well, march we on,
  To give obedience where 'tis truly owed:
  Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal,
  And with him pour we in our country's purge
  Each drop of us. 2240

• Lennox. Or so much as it needs,
  To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds.
  Make we our march towards Birnam.

[Exeunt, marching]