Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men 32
Began a fresh assault.
Dun. Dismay'd not this
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
Serg. Yes;
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.
If I say sooth, I must report they were 36
As cannons overcharg'd with double cracks; so they
Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,
Or memorize another Golgotha, 41
I cannot tell—
But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.
Dun. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds; 44
They smack of honour both. Go, get him surgeons.
[Exit Sergeant, attended.]
Enter Ross and Angus.
Who comes here?
Mal. The worthy Thane of Ross.
Len. What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look
That seems to speak things strange.
Ross. God save the king! 48
Dun. Whence cam'st thou, worthy thane?
Ross. From Fife, great king;
Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky
And fan our people cold. Norway himself,
31 surveying vantage: watching his opportunity
36 sooth: truth
37 cracks: explosions
40 Except: unless
reeking: steaming
41 Cf. n.
45 smack: have a flavor
46 Thane; cf. n.
50 flout: insult; cf. n.
51 Norway: the king of Norway
