Page 44 - Macbeth Modern Translation

‘Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!’ the head cried. ‘Beware Macduff: beware
the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.’ It faded and disappeared.

‘Whatever you are, thanks for the warning. You’ve guessed my fear
accurately. But just another word.’

‘He will not be commanded. Here’s another, More potent than the first.’

A blood-smeared child began to take shape. ‘Macbeth! Macbeth!
Macbeth!’

‘I’m listening.’

‘Be bloody, bold and resolute: laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of
woman born Shall harm Macbeth.’

He disappeared.

‘Then live, Macduff: why do I need to fear you? And yet I’ll make doubly sure.
You won’t live.’

A child sat before him. It had a crown on its head and a branch of a tree in
its hand.

‘What’s this, looking like a prince? And wearing a crown?

‘Listen, but speak not to’t.’

The apparition looked up into Macbeth’s eyes.

‘Be lion-mettled, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquished be,
Until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.’

He was gone on the last word.

‘That’s impossible. Trees can’t walk. Birnam wood will never come to the
castle at Dunsinane! What wonderful prophesies. Excellent.’ He threw his
head back and laughed. ‘Dead enemies, don’t rise out of your graves until
Birnam wood walks. That means King Macbeth will live the natural length of
his life, only giving it up to old age. Excellent! And yet -’ Macbeth looked

about for the invisible witches. ‘My heart aches to know one thing: tell me – if
your magic extends that far – will Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom?’

The voices came all at once: ‘Seek to know no more.’

‘I must know! If you deny me this then let an eternal curse fall on you! I want
to know! I have to know!

‘Show!’

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