Act 1, Scene 2
Alarm within. Enter DUNCAN, MALCOLM, DONALBAIN, LENNOX, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.
DUNCAN:
What bloody man*1 is that? He can report,
As seemeth (seems) by his plight (bad situation), of the revolt (rebellion)
The newest state (latest news).
Who is this bloody man? He can tell us
The latest news about the revolt.
Who’s this guy covered in blood (bloody soldier symbolizes war, chaos, disruption in Scotland*1) ? He can probably give us the latest update on the rebellion.
MALCOLM:
This is the sergeant (soldier, a low rank in the army)
Who like a good and hardy (strong) soldier fought
‘Gainst (against) my captivity (capture). Hail (to cheer, salute, or greet), brave friend!
Say to the king the knowledge (news) of the broil (battle)
As thou (you) didst (did) leave it.
This is the sergeant
Who fought bravely to save me from being captured. Hail, brave friend!
Tell the king what you know about the battle.
Hey, this is the soldier who fought so bravely to keep me from getting captured. You’re amazing, my friend! Please, tell the king everything you know about what happened in the battle.
SERGEANT:
Doubtful it stood (it was uncertain);
As two spent (exhausted) swimmers, that do cling (hold) together
And choke their art (drown). The merciless (cruel) Macdonwald—
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villanies (wicked acts) of nature
Do swarm (gather) upon him—from the western isles
Of kerns (lightly armed soldiers) and gallowglasses (heavily armed soldiers) is supplied (reinforced);
And fortune, on his damned quarrel (cause) smiling,
Show’d like a rebel’s whore: but all’s too weak:
The situation was unclear;
Like two exhausted swimmers who cling to each other
And end up drowning. The merciless Macdonwald—
A worthy rebel, for the many wicked deeds
That nature has piled upon him—from the western isles
Recruited foot soldiers and horsemen;
And fortune, smiling on his wicked cause,
Seemed like a rebel’s whore: but it was all too weak:
You know, it was such a confusing mess. Imagine two tired swimmers clinging to each other, and instead of helping, they both end up sinking. That’s how chaotic it was. And then there was this ruthless guy, Macdonwald. Seriously, he was such a rebel, with all these nasty deeds stacked up against him.
He managed to gather soldiers and horsemen from the western islands. At first, it looked like he was super lucky, like fortune was on his side, almost like she was flirting with him. But, honestly, his efforts just weren’t enough.
For brave Macbeth*2 (very well respected) —well he deserves that name (he’s well-known and admired) —
Disdaining (ignoring, disrespecting, or going against) fortune*3 (future or fate of God), with his brandish’d (waved) steel*4 (sword),
Which smoked with bloody execution*5 (killing),
Like valour’s minion (servant of bravery) carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave (villain);
Which ne’er (never) shook hands, nor bade (said) farewell to him,
Till he unseam’d (cut open) him from the nave (navel) to the chaps (jaws),
And fix’d his head upon our battlements (walls of the castle).
For brave Macbeth—he really deserves that name—
Ignoring fortune, with his brandished sword,
Which steamed with bloody execution,
Carved his way through the enemy
Until he faced the villain;
Who didn’t even shake hands or say goodbye,
Until Macbeth split him open from navel to jaw,
And stuck his head on our battlements.
Brave Macbeth—he totally deserves that name (established as a tragic hero*2 that’s further developed as we go through the play, and that is the journey the downfall of the tragic hero. This is the perfect start as the tragic hero). He didn’t care about the fate (God would have had a plan for everyone, especially at that time, but he went against God*3); he just went for it with his sword (as you might already know, he would change his future with his sword*4), which was dripping with blood (emphasizing the heat and his ferocity of battle. Is this foreshadowing other murders?*5). He cut through the enemy until he came face to face with the villain. And this guy didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. Macbeth split him open from his belly to his jaw and then stuck his head on our walls.
DUNCAN:
O valiant (brave) cousin! worthy gentleman!
O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!
Oh, my brave cousin! What a worthy gentleman!
SERGEANT:
As whence the sun ‘gins (begins) his reflection (shining)
Shipwrecking storms and direful (terrible) thunders break,
So from that spring whence comfort seem’d to come
Discomfort swells (grows). Mark, king of Scotland, mark:
Just as the sun starts to shine
Shipwrecking storms and terrible thunder can break out,
So from where comfort seemed to come,
Discomfort arose. Listen, King of Scotland, listen:
Just like how the sun can start shining but then crazy storms and thunder can suddenly hit, that’s exactly what happened. When it looked like things were getting better, trouble showed up instead. Listen up, King of Scotland, listen:
No sooner justice had with valour (courage) arm’d
Compell’d (forced) these skipping kerns (soldiers) to trust their heels (run away),
But the Norweyan lord surveying vantage (looking for an opportunity),
With furbish’d (polished) arms and new supplies of men
Began a fresh assault (attack).
No sooner had justice, armed with courage,
Compelled these Irish soldiers to run away,
Than the Norwegian king, taking advantage,
With fresh arms and new soldiers
Began a new attack.
As soon as justice, armed with courage, made those Irish soldiers run away, the Norwegian king saw his chance. He came at us with fresh weapons and new soldiers, starting a whole new attack.
DUNCAN:
Dismay’d not this
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
Didn’t this frighten
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
Weren’t Macbeth and Banquo scared by this?
SERGEANT:
Yes;
As sparrows frighten eagles, or the hare the lion.
If I say sooth (truth), I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks (explosions), so they
Doubly redoubled strokes (hits) upon the foe (enemy):
Except they meant to bathe in reeking (bloody) wounds,
Or memorise (create) another Golgotha (a famous site of crucifixion),
I cannot tell.
But I am faint (weak), my gashes (wounds) cry for help.
Yes;
As much as sparrows frighten eagles, or hares frighten lions.
If I’m telling the truth, I must say they were
Like cannons loaded with double charges, so they
Redoubled their attacks on the enemy:
Unless they meant to bathe in their wounds,
Or make another Golgotha,
I don’t know.
But I am faint, my wounds need help.
Yes, they were about as scared as eagles are of sparrows or lions are of rabbits. Honestly, they were like cannons with extra gunpowder—they just doubled their attacks on the enemy. Unless they were planning to bathe in their wounds or create another Golgotha, I don’t know what they were thinking. But I’m feeling faint; I need help with my wounds.
DUNCAN:
So well thy (your) words become thee (you) as thy wounds;
They smack (show) of honour both. Go get him surgeons (doctors).
Your words, like your wounds, honor you;
They both show your bravery. Go get him surgeons.
Your words suit you as well as your wounds do—they both show your honor. Someone, get this man some doctors.
The Captain is led of by Attendants
Who comes here?
Who comes here?
Enter ROSS and Angus.
MALCOLM:
The worthy thane (nobleman) of Ross.
The worthy thane of Ross.
The nobleman Ross.
LENNOX:
What a haste (hurry) looks through his eyes! So should he look
That seems to speak things strange (strange news).
He looks like he has urgent news. He should look like that
If he has something strange to report.
Look how hurried he looks! That’s exactly how someone should look when they have strange news to share.
ROSS:
God save the king!
God save the king!
DUNCAN:
Whence (where) camest (came) thou (you), worthy thane (a man who fought for the King, below a knight)?
Where did you come from, worthy thane?
ROSS:
From Fife (A county of Scotland), great king;
Where the Norweyan banners flout (mock) the sky
And fan our people cold. Norway himself,
With terrible numbers,
Assisted by that most disloyal (unfaithful) traitor
The thane of Cawdor, began a dismal (terrible) conflict (battle);
From Fife, great king;
Where the Norwegian banners mock the sky
And make our people cold. The king of Norway himself,
With a huge army,
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The thane of Cawdor, started a terrible battle;
From Fife, great king. The Norwegian flags were mocking us, and their presence made our people feel cold. Norway, with a huge army, teamed up with the traitor, the thane of Cawdor, and they started a terrible battle.
Till that Bellona’s bridegroom (a great warrior), lapp’d in proof (covered in armor),
Confronted him with self-comparisons (matched him equally),
Point against point rebellious, arm ‘gainst (against) arm.
Curbing (stopping) his lavish (excessive) spirit: and, to conclude,
The victory fell on us (we won).
Until Macbeth, covered in armor,
Confronted him with equal force,
Point for point, arm against arm.
Curbing his excessive spirit: and, to conclude,
The victory was ours.
Until this great warrior, covered in armor, faced him head-on, matching him equally, point for point, and arm against arm. He stopped his excessive spirit. And in the end, we won.
DUNCAN:
Great happiness!
Great happiness!
ROSS:
That now
Sweno, the Norways’ king, craves (begs for) composition (peace):
Nor would we deign (allow) him burial of his men
Till he disbursed (paid) at Saint Colme’s inch
Ten thousand dollars to our general use (fund).
Now
Sweno, the king of Norway, wants a treaty:
And we didn’t let him bury his men
Until he paid ten thousand dollars
To our general fund at Saint Colme’s Inch.
Now, Sweno, the king of Norway, is begging for peace. We wouldn’t even let him bury his men until he paid ten thousand dollars at Saint Colme’s Inch for our funds.
DUNCAN:
No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive (betray)
Our bosom interest (trust): go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth.
The thane of Cawdor will not deceive us anymore:
Go announce his immediate execution,
And greet Macbeth with his former title.
The thane of Cawdor won’t betray our trust anymore. Go announce his immediate execution and give his title to Macbeth.
ROSS:
I’ll see it done.
I’ll see it done.
DUNCAN:
What he hath (has) lost noble Macbeth hath won.
What the thane of Cawdor has lost, noble Macbeth has won.
They exit.
Insights of Act 1, Scene 2
Plots
- Introduction of Characters: This scene introduces King Duncan, his sons Malcolm and Donalbain, and other nobles like Lennox and Ross.
- Wounded Sergeant: The sergeant is a soldier who has fought bravely and is now wounded. He reports the latest news about the battle.
- Battle Report: The sergeant describes the chaotic battle against the rebels led by Macdonwald and the king of Norway. Despite the tough fight, Macbeth emerges as a hero, showing incredible bravery and skill.
- Praise for Macbeth: King Duncan praises Macbeth for his valor (great courage, especially in war) and courage.
- More Trouble: The sergeant explains that just when they thought they had won, the Norwegians launched a new attack.
- Arrival of Ross: Ross arrives with news that the king of Norway, helped by the traitor thane of Cawdor, started a terrible battle but was eventually defeated by Macbeth.
- Reward for Macbeth: Duncan decides to reward Macbeth by giving him the title “thane of Cawdor,” which previously belonged to the traitor.
Famous Expressions and Sayings
- “What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won” from Act 1, Scene 2: This line by Duncan highlights the transfer of the title from the traitor to the hero, a theme of just rewards and punishments.
- “The multiplying villanies of nature do swarm upon him” from Act 1, Scene 2: While less famous, this phrase illustrates Shakespeare’s use of vivid imagery to convey the evil nature of Macdonwald.
This scene showcases Macbeth’s heroism and sets up his rise in status, while also hinting at the political and military turmoil in Scotland.