Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Act 5 - Scene 4

Country near Birnam wood.

Malcolm : Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand [p]That chambers will be
safe.

Menteith : We doubt it nothing.

Siward : What wood is this before us?

Menteith : The wood of Birnam.

Malcolm : Let every soldier hew him down a bough [p]And bear't before him:
thereby shall we shadow [p]The numbers of our host and make
discovery [p]Err in report of us.

Soldiers : It shall be done.

Siward : We learn no other but the confident tyrant [p]Keeps still in
Dunsinane, and will endure [p]Our setting down before 't.

Malcolm : 'Tis his main hope: [p]For where there is advantage to be
given, [p]Both more and less have given him the revolt, [p]And none
serve with him but constrained things [p]Whose hearts are absent too.

Macduff : Let our just censures [p]Attend the true event, and put we
on [p]Industrious soldiership.

Siward : The time approaches [p]That will with due decision make us
know [p]What we shall say we have and what we owe. [p]Thoughts
speculative their unsure hopes relate, [p]But certain issue strokes
must arbitrate: [p]Towards which advance the war.

Previous: Act 5 - Scene 3

Next: Act 5 - Scene 5