Macbeth: Act V, Scene 9

MAL.MALCOLM

I would the friends we miss were safe arriv’d.

SIW.SIWARD

Some must go off; and yet, by these I see,

So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

MAL.MALCOLM

Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

ROSSE.ROSSE

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier’s debt.

He only liv’d but till he was a man,

The which no sooner had his prowess confirm’d

In the unshrinking station where he fought,

But like a man he died.

SIW.SIWARD

Then he is dead?

ROSSE.ROSSE

Ay, and brought off the field. Your cause of sorrow

Must not be measur’d by his worth, for then

It hath no end.

SIW.SIWARD

Had he his hurts before?

ROSSE.ROSSE

Ay, on the front.

SIW.SIWARD

Why then. God’s soldier be he!

Had I as many sons as I have hairs,

I would not wish them to a fairer death.

And so his knell is knoll’d.

MAL.MALCOLM

He’s worth more sorrow,

And that I’ll spend for him.

SIW.SIWARD

He’s worth no more;

They say he parted well, and paid his score,

And so God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.

MACD.MACDUFF

Hail, King! For so thou art. Behold where stands

Th’ usurper’s cursed head: the time is free.

I see thee compass’d with thy kingdom’s pearl,

That speak my salutation in their minds;

Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:

Hail, King of Scotland!

ALL.

Hail, King of Scotland!

MAL.MALCOLM

We shall not spend a large expense of time

Before we reckon with your several loves,

And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,

Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland

In such an honor nam’d. What’s more to do,

Which would be planted newly with the time,

As calling home our exil’d friends abroad

That fled the snares of watchful tyranny,

Producing forth the cruel ministers

Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,

Who (as ’tis thought) by self and violent hands

Took off her life; this, and what needful else

That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,

We will perform in measure, time, and place.

So thanks to all at once and to each one,

Whom we invite to see us crown’d at Scone.