MACBETH, a DOCTOR, and attendants enter.
MACBETH
Don't bring me any more reports. I don't care if all the thanes desert me. Until Birnam Wood gets up and moves to Dunsinane, I won't be affected by fear. What's the boy Malcolm? Wasn't he born from a woman? The spirits that know the future have told me this: "Don't be afraid, Macbeth. No man born from a woman will ever defeat you." So get out of here, disloyal thanes, and join the weak and decadent English! My mind and courage will never falter with doubt or shake with fear.
A SERVANT enters.
May the devil turn you black, you white-faced fool! Why do you look like a frightened goose?
SERVANT
There are ten thousand—
MACBETH
Geese, you idiot?
SERVANT
Soldiers, sir.
MACBETH
Go pinch your cheeks and bring some color back into your face, you cowardly boy. What soldiers, fool? Curse you! That pale face of yours will frighten the others as well. What soldiers, milk-face?
SERVANT
The English army, sir.
MACBETH
Get out of my sight.
The SERVANT exits.
Seyton!—I'm sick at heart when I see—Seyton, come here!—This battle will either secure my reign forever or else topple me from the throne. I have lived long enough. The course of my life is beginning to wither and fall away, like a yellowing leaf in autumn. The things that should go along with old age, like honor, love, obedience, and loyal friends, I cannot hope to have. Instead, I have passionate but quietly whispered curses, people who honor me with their words but not in their hearts, and lingering life, which my heart would gladly end, though I can't bring myself to do it. Seyton!
SEYTON enters.
SEYTON
What do you want?
MACBETH
Is there more news?
SEYTON
All the rumors have been confirmed.
MACBETH
I'll fight until they hack the flesh off my bones. Give me my armor.
SEYTON
You don't need it yet.
MACBETH
I'll put it on anyway. Send out more cavalry. Scour the whole country and hang anyone spreading fear. Give me my armor. (to the DOCTOR) How is my wife, doctor?
DOCTOR
She is not sick, my lord, but she is troubled with endless visions that keep her from sleeping.
MACBETH
Cure her of that. Can't you treat a diseased mind? Take away her memory of sorrow? Use some drug to erase the troubling thoughts from her brain and ease her heart?.
DOCTOR
For that kind of relief, the patient must heal herself.
MACBETH
Medicine is for the dogs. I won't have anything to do with it. (to SEYTON) Come, put my armor on me. Give me my lance. Seyton, send out the soldiers. (to the DOCTOR) Doctor, the thanes are running away from me. (to SEYTON) Come on, sir, hurry. (to the DOCTOR) Can you figure out what's wrong with my country? If you can diagnose its disease by examining its urine, and bring it back to health, I will praise you to the ends of the Earth, where the sound will echo back so you can hear the applause again.—(to SEYTON) Pull it off, I tell you. (to the DOCTOR) What drug would purge the English from this country? Have you heard of any?
DOCTOR
Yes, my good lord. Your preparation for war sounds like something.
MACBETH
(to SEYTON) Bring the armor and follow me. I will not be afraid of death and destruction until Birnam forest picks itself up and moves to Dunsinane.
DOCTOR
(to himself) I wish I were far away from Dunsinane. You couldn't pay me to come back here.
They exit.