Page:Macbeth (1918) Yale.djvu/15

Macbeth, I. ii

Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,

But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,

With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men

Began a fresh assault.

Dun. Dismay'd not this

Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?

Serg. Yes;

As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.

If I say sooth, I must report they were

As cannons overcharg'd with double cracks; so they

Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:

Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,

Or memorize another Golgotha,

I cannot tell—

But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.

Dun. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;

They smack of honour both. Go, get him surgeons.

[Exit Sergeant, attended.]

Who comes here?

Mal. The worthy Thane of Ross.

Len. What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look

That seems to speak things strange.

Ross. God save the king!

Dun. Whence cam'st thou, worthy thane?

Ross. From Fife, great king;

Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky

And fan our people cold. Norway himself,

 31 surveying vantage: watching his opportunity

36 sooth: truth

37 cracks: explosions

40 Except: unless

reeking: steaming

41 Cf. n.

45 smack: have a flavor

46 Thane; cf. n.

50 flout: insult; cf. n.

51 Norway: the king of Norway

