Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 2 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Drum and Colors. 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. 5 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 10 And many unrough youths that even now Protest their first of manhood. MENTEITH What does the tyrant?	A bunch of Scottish noblemen converge in the country near Dunsinane, where Macbeth keeps his castle. On their heels, heading for Birnam, is the English army, led by Malcolm, Malcom's Uncle Siward, and Macduff. Oh, and a bunch of young Scottish men have taken up arms with the English army. This is not looking good for Macbeth.
CAITHNESS Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies. Some say he’s mad; others that lesser hate him 15 Do call it valiant fury. But for certain He cannot buckle his distempered cause Within the belt of rule.	Some dude name Caithness informs the group that the tyrant King is hell-bent on protecting Dunsinane. Some people say he's crazy, others that don't hate him as much say he's brave because of his anger, but one thing's for sure: he's out of control.
ANGUS Now does he feel His secret murders sticking on his hands. 20 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. 25	Angus (Angus? Yep, Angus) says Macbeth has boxed himself into a corner. All of this murdering business is coming back to bite him. Hard. And the soldiers who are fighting for him? They're just taking orders. They don't like or believe in Macbeth at all.
MENTEITH Who, then, shall blame His pestered senses to recoil and start When all that is within him does condemn Itself for being there? CAITHNESS Well, march we on 30 To give obedience where ’tis truly owed. Meet we the med’cine 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 35 To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. Make we our march towards Birnam. They exit marching.	Finally, a guy named Menteith says it's understandable that Macbeth is acting so crazy. He's been so out of line that his own conscience is probably condemning him, too. Everyone agrees that Macbeth's a lousy king and needs to go. Getting rid of him is the only way to cleanse Scotland.