Enter MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS, 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 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 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:
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 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 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? 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. LENNOX Or so much as it needs, To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds.
Make we our march towards Birnam.