A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 7 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter Macbeth. MACBETH | Macbeth appears on stage and compares himself to a bear in a bear-baiting contest. Bear-baiting is a blood sport that involves chaining a bear to a stake and setting a pack of dogs on it. So Macbeth is feeling pretty trapped, but still—who could exist that wasn't "of woman born"? |
Enter young Siward. YOUNG SIWARD What is thy name? 5 MACBETH Thou ’lt be afraid to hear it. YOUNG SIWARD MACBETH My name’s Macbeth. YOUNG SIWARD MACBETH No, nor more fearful. YOUNG SIWARD They fight, and young Siward is slain. | Young Siward enters, tells Macbeth he's worse than the devil, and...quickly dies. |
MACBETH Thou wast born of 15 He exits. | Macbeth talks some evil smack over the dead body, to the effect of "your swords and weapons can't touch me because you're of woman born." |
Alarums. Enter Macduff. MACDUFF He exits. Alarums. | Macduff runs on stage looking for Macbeth and screams for the evil tyrant Macbeth to come out and show his ugly face. Macduff is hot to kill Macbeth with his own sword because he'll likely be haunted by the ghosts of his wife and kids if he doesn't. He begs "fortune" to let him find Macbeth so he can stab him in the guts. |
Enter Malcolm and Siward. SIWARD MALCOLM We have met with foes SIWARD Enter, sir, the castle. They exit. Alarum. | Siward and Malcolm note that Macbeth's castle has basically been surrendered without a fight. They're winning battles with little effort, mainly because the people they're fighting aren't really trying. Even Macbeth's soldiers hate him. So. Many. Enemies. |