Soldier: 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.
Duncan: So well thy words become thee as thy wounds: They smack of honour both.—Go, get him surgeons.
Exit Captain, attended.
Enter Ross and Angus.
Who comes here?
Malcolm: The worthy Thane of Ross.
Lennox: What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look That seems to speak things strange.
Ross: God save the King!
Duncan: 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, with terrible numbers, Assisted by that most disloyal traitor, The Thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict; Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapp’d in proof, Confronted him with self-comparisons, Point against point, rebellious arm ’gainst arm, Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude, The victory fell on us.
Duncan: Great happiness!
Ross: That now Sweno, the Norways’ king, craves composition; Nor would we deign him burial of his men Till he disbursed at Saint Colme’s Inch Ten thousand dollars to our general use.
Duncan: No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, And with his former title greet Macbeth.
Ross: I’ll see it done.
Duncan: What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.
Exeunt.
Thunder. Enter the three Witches.
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