Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/268

244 Now he saw the double meaning of the prophetic warning which had bade him fear only when Birnam wood should move to Dunsinane. The army of Macduff and Malcolm threw down the huge branches of the Birnam forest, with which they had concealed their moving hosts, and from behind their leafy screens stood revealed in immense force.

There was but a brief struggle. Macbeth was brave, but he could not fight against destiny. Fate is a spaniel; we cannot beat it from us. Before sunset the head of Macbeth was raised upon a pole above the walls of Dunsinane by the conquering hand of Macduff, and its stony eyes looked down upon the hosts of Malcolm as he passed through the castle gates, the crowned and rightful King of Scotland.