Act V - Scene VI

[Dunsinane. Before the castle.]

Drum and colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their Army, with boughs.

MALCOLM:
Now near enough; your leavy 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,
According to our order.
SIWARD:
Fare you well.(5)
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,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.(10)

Exeunt. Alarums continued.

Act V - Scene VII
Act V - Scene V

Footnotes

  1. A "harbinger" is a thing or person who signals the approach of something else. Macduff says the the trumpets will speak and become their harbingers, announcing to Macbeth and others that his doom approaches.

    — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor

  2. Boughs are large branches from trees. These are from the Birnam Wood, used by Malcolm to hide the number of troops he has while simultaneously fulfilling part of the witches' prophesy that harm shall not come to Macbeth until the Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.

    — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor