Keep fighting, countrymen! Keep your heads high!
Which of your bastards is giving up? Who will go with me? I'll proclaim my name throughout the battlefield. I am the son of Marcus Cato! I am an enemy to tyrants and a friend to my country. I am the son of Marcus Cato!
Oh look, Titinius, look, our own soldiers are running away! I've had to fight them. Even our flag-bearer was turning tail, so I killed the coward and took the flag from him.
Oh Cassius, Brutus gave the command too early for his troops to brake ranks and pursue the enemy. He had some success over Octavius, but he took it too eagerly. Now while his soldiers are off looting, we've been surrounded by Antony's forces.
Ride Messala, and give these instructions to the legions on the other side of our formation.
Let them begin the battle at once, for I can see that Octavius' troops are in low spirits, and with a sudden push we can defeat them. Ride on, Messala! Let them advance.
Now, Antony, everything is turning out as we had hoped. You said the enemy wouldn't come down into the valleys, but would stick to the hills and higher ground. That proves to be false. Their forces are nearby, and they intend to confront us at Philippi, entering into battle before we force it on them.
They’ve tied me to a stake. I can’t run away, I have to stand and fight it out like a bear tied up to fight with dogs. Where’s this person who wasn’t born from a woman? He’s the only one I need to be afraid of.
What’s your name?
You’d be afraid to hear it.
No I wouldn’t. Even if you were the most terrifying thing in hell.
We’re close enough now. Throw down your branches and show yourselves. Uncle, you and your worthy son will lead the first battalion in the attack. Macduff and I will direct the rest of the army according to our plans.
Farewell. If we find Macbeth’s forces tonight, we deserve to lose if we can’t put up a good fight.
Blow all our trumpets. Give the trumpets voice, these announcers of blood and death!
Hang our flags on the outer walls. Everyone’s screaming “The enemy’s coming!” Our castle’s more than strong enough to withstand a siege. They can camp there until they die of hunger and disease. If they were not reinforced with the soldiers who deserted me, I could have met them face to face and sent them packing back to England.
What’s that noise?
It’s women crying, my good lord.
Cousins, I hope the time is coming soon when we’ll be safe in our homes again.
We have no doubts.
Which forest is this one?
The forest of Birnam.
Order every soldier to cut down a branch and hold it in front of him while he marches. That way, it will be hard to tell how many of us there are. Macbeth’s reconnaissance won’t be able to get an accurate count.
Don’t bring me any more reports. Let all my men run away. Until Birnam Wood comes to the castle, I don’t have anything to be afraid of. Who cares about Malcolm? Didn’t a woman give birth to him? The spirits who know the future told me this: “Don’t be afraid, Macbeth. No man who was born from a woman shall ever be able to defeat you.” So run away, you disloyal lords, run away to the effiminate Englishmen! My mind and heart are forever free from doubt and fear.
The English soldiers are nearby, led by Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and good Macduff. They’re burning with revenge. Their reasons for revenge would stir even a dead man to fight.
We’ll meet them near Birnam Wood as they’re coming from that direction.
Does anyone know if Donalbain is with his brother?
