Alarum [1] within. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.
Duncan. What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight [2] , of the revolt The newest state
Mal. This is the sergeant Who, like a good and hardy soldier, fought 'Gainst my captivity [3] . Hail [4] , brave friend! Say to the king the knowledge of the broil [5] As thou didst leave it.
Ser. Doubtful it stood, As two spent swimmers, that do cling [6] together And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald Worthy to be a rebel, for to that The multiplying [7] villainies [8] of nature Do swarm upon him, from the western isles Of kerns [9] and gallowglasses is supplied;And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, Show'd like a rebel's whore [10] . But all's too weak,For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name, Disdaining [11] fortune, with his brandish'd [12] steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor's [13] minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave;Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade [14] farewell to him, Till he unseam [15] 'd him from the nave to the chaps, And fix'd his head upon our battlements
Duncan. O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman
Ser. As whence the sun 'gins his reflection Shipwrecking storms and direful [16] thunders break, So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come, Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark. No sooner justice had with valor arm'd, Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels, But the Norweyan lord surveying vantage, With furbish [17] 'd arms and new supplies of men, Began a fresh assault
Duncan. Dismay'd not this Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
Ser. Yes, As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, I must report they were As cannons overcharged with double cracks, So they Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe. Except they meant to bathe in reeking [18] wounds, Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell But I am faint, my gashes [19] cry for help
Duncan. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;They smack of honor both. Go get him surgeons. Exit Sergeant, attended Who comes here? Enter Ross.
Malcolm. The worthy thane [20] 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 camest thou, worthy thane?
Ross. From Fife, great king, Where the Norweyan banners flout [21] 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 [22] 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 [23] him burial of his men Till he disbursed [24] , 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 .
[1] alarum [əˈlεərəm] n. 〈英国古语、诗歌用语〉 紧急战斗号令(=alarm)
[2] plight [plait] n. 情况
[3] captivity [kæpˈtivəti] n. 监禁
[4] hail[heil] int. (表示欢呼、祝贺、致敬等)万岁!
[5] broil [brɔil] n. 骚动,混乱
[6] cling [kliŋ] v. 抱住
[7] multiplying [ˈmʌltiplaiiŋ] a. 乘法的
[8] villainy [ˈviləni] n. 邪恶
[9] kern [kə:n] n. 〈古语〉(中世纪爱尔兰或苏格兰的)轻装步兵
[10] whore [hɔ:] n. 荡妇
[11] distain [disˈtein] v. 败坏(名誉)
[12] brandish [ˈbrændiʃ] v. 挥舞(武器等)
[13] valour [ˈvælə] n. 英勇
[14] bade [bæd; beid] v. 命令(bid的一种过去式)
[15] unseam [ˌʌnˈsi:m] v. 扯开
[16] direful [ˈdaiəful] a. 可怕的
[17] furbish [ˈfə:biʃ] v. 磨光
[18] reek [ri:k] v. 发出……气味
[19] gash [ɡæʃ] n. (深长的)切口(或伤口)
[20] thane [θein] n. 大乡绅(介于伯爵和普通自由民之间)
[21] flout [ˈflaut] v. 藐视
[22] curb [kə:b] v. 抑止
[23] deign [dein] v. 恩赐
[24] disburse [disˈbə:s] v. 支付(钱)