Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 7 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 7 of Macbeth from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Macbeth. MACBETH They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What’s he That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or none.	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 No, though thou call’st thyself a hotter name Than any is in hell. MACBETH My name’s Macbeth. YOUNG SIWARD The devil himself could not pronounce a title 10 More hateful to mine ear. MACBETH No, nor more fearful. YOUNG SIWARD Thou liest, abhorrèd tyrant. With my sword I’ll prove the lie thou speak’st. 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 woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished by man that’s of a woman born. 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 That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, 20 My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still. I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword with an unbattered edge I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; 25 By this great clatter, one of greatest note Seems bruited. Let me find him, Fortune, And more I beg not. 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 This way, my lord. The castle’s gently rendered. The tyrant’s people on both sides do fight, 30 The noble thanes do bravely in the war, The day almost itself professes yours, And little is to do. MALCOLM We have met with foes That strike beside us. 35 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.