Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 6 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

  Original Text

 Translated Text

  Source: Folger Shakespeare Library

Drum and Colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and
their army, with boughs.

MALCOLM
Now near enough. Your leafy screens throw down
And show like those you are.—You, worthy uncle,
Shall with my cousin, your right noble son,
Lead our first battle. Worthy Macduff and we
Shall take upon ’s what else remains to do, 5
According to our order.

SIWARD Fare you well.
Do we but find the tyrant’s power tonight,
Let us be beaten if we cannot fight.

MACDUFF
Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, 10
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.

They exit.
Alarums continued.

Malcolm, Siward and Macduff land their army (covered with branches from Birnam Wood) outside Dunsinane, where they drop their tree branches so they can head into battle. . Siward will lead the battle with his son, and Malcolm and Macduff will take the rear and manage everything else. 

The alarms sound, and the battle for Scotland begins. Rumble!