Enter Macbeth, ⌜the⌝ Doctor, and Attendants.MACBETH Bring me no more reports. Let them fly all. Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear. What’s the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know5 All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus: “Fear not, Macbeth. No man that’s born of woman Shall e’er have power upon thee.” Then fly, false thanes, And mingle with the English epicures.10 The mind I sway by and the heart I bear Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.Enter Servant. The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon! Where got’st thou that goose-look?SERVANT There is ten thousand—MACBETH 15Geese, villain?SERVANT Soldiers, sir.MACBETH Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear, Thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch? Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine20 Are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?SERVANT The English force, so please you.MACBETH Take thy face hence.⌜Servant exits.⌝ Seyton!—I am sick at heart When I behold—Seyton, I say!—This push
25 Will cheer me ever or ⌜disseat⌝ me now. I have lived long enough. My way of life Is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,30 I must not look to have, but in their stead Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not.— Seyton!Enter Seyton.SEYTON 35 What’s your gracious pleasure?MACBETH What news more?SEYTON All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported.MACBETH I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armor.SEYTON 40’Tis not needed yet.MACBETH I’ll put it on. Send out more horses. Skirr the country round. Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armor.—45 How does your patient, doctor?DOCTOR Not so sick, my lord, As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies That keep her from her rest.MACBETH Cure ⌜her⌝ of that.50 Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain, And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff55 Which weighs upon the heart?
DOCTOR Therein the patient Must minister to himself.MACBETH Throw physic to the dogs. I’ll none of it.— Come, put mine armor on. Give me my staff.⌜Attendants begin to arm him.⌝60 Seyton, send out.—Doctor, the thanes fly from me.— Come, sir, dispatch.—If thou couldst, doctor, cast The water of my land, find her disease, And purge it to a sound and pristine health,65 I would applaud thee to the very echo That should applaud again.—Pull ’t off, I say.— What rhubarb, senna, or what purgative drug Would scour these English hence? Hear’st thou of them?DOCTOR 70 Ay, my good lord. Your royal preparation Makes us hear something.MACBETH Bring it after me.— I will not be afraid of death and bane Till Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane.DOCTOR, ⌜aside⌝ 75 Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, Profit again should hardly draw me here.They exit.