The Highland Tale; The King Act Five Scene Two Sub Act One

 

NAY TO MACBETH

ACT FIVE

SCENE TWO

SUB ACT ONE

 

Tyranny ends with rebellion on the King. MacBeth was losing the alliance that he once craved. The nobles and Thanes are divided in their loyalty; with most towards the coming King named Malcolm.

“He is the right one to be King. Duncan had said it then.”

“The exiled prince returned home.”

There were also the ones who did not agree.

“The bonny lass brought the English to our land. My paddy if he is alive will not toast to that.”

“Who sides the English is as good as dead to me.”

Delight or sadness, the land was divided and all the fingers pointed to one; the King.

“He is a tyrant. He had ruled with the iron fist and killed many of our own.”

Gone was the praise to the once beloved General of the Highlands.

“I say we meet the English with our own force. We are to tell them that we are equally as strong.” It was the voice of the ex-Adviser, Lennox. He had changed his loyalty to the people then; as he had declared. He was in the gathering of the Thanes and nobles who were against MacBeth.

“Wee, I am not going to let them fight our war here.” One of the nobles voiced out. “We hold thousands too in the army.”

“I am no feartie (Coward in Scottish).” Another soldier called out.

“Neither am I cladhaire (Coward in Irish).” The one standing by the soldier called out.

“You are not of us.” One of the gathered who fought the Irish glared at the one who called out in Irish.

“I am, anyway half the blood. My mother is Irish.” The Irish half spoke. “But I lived here and pay my taxes too.”

“Say none to my cousin or I will have you ‘pog mo thoin’ (Scottish for ‘kiss my a…’) here.” The cousin of the Irish half defended his kin.

“Enough infighting, lads. We are gathered here to fight only one other named MacBeth.” Lennox cuts in. He then looked at two nobles who was near him. He knew they held the strength of three hundred soldiers and a dozen Man-Suits. Other nobles had arrived to reinforce the army to a strength of five thousand.

“Other Thanes are assembling their army to join us.” Lennox was told.

“We shall equal the English in strength soon.” Lennox looked to the gathered. “Menteith and Caithness, where is Malcom now?”

“The English army is near, led by Malcolm, his Uncle Siward of Northumbria, and the good MacDuff. The prince returned with force.” Menteith replied. “The desire for revenge burns in them. Their reasons for wanting revenge would cause even dead men to rise and rush to battle.”

“Aye!” The shouts went out.

“Dead they are not, but fierce to the cause in their hearts.” Another called put.

“Where do we march to?” One noble asked.

“We will meet them near Birnam Wood. That is the way they are coming.” Caithness voiced out. “Does anyone know if Donalbain is with his brother?”

“Sir, it is certain that he is not.” Lennox cut in. The Irish are not at war with them but the old disputes remained unresolved. “I have a list of all the important men. Lord Siward’s son is there, as well as many boys too young to even have beards who are ready to proclaim their manhood in battle.”

“They sent us lads. Indeed, we need to teach them how to fight.” Caithness voiced out. Both Menteith and Caithness are seasoned soldiers and led their own men into battles.

“What is the tyrant MacBeth doing?” Menteith asked.

“He is fortifying his castle at Dunsinane with strong defences. Some say he is insane. Those who hate him less call it noble fury. One thing is certain: he cannot control himself or his anger.” Caithness reported in.

“MacBeth feels the blood from his secret murders of the King to his hands.” Lennox voiced out to all. When the rebellion broke out, the words of the King’s misdeed surfaced and more was revealed by the survivals.

“Now, each minute, rebel armies punish his treachery. The soldiers that the man commands are just following orders. They do not want fight for him out of love. Now his Kingship seems to hang loosely on him, as if he is a dwarf trying to wearing the robes of a giant.”

“Who can blame him for acting twitchy and jumpy, when everything inside him condemns itself for what it’s done?” Menteith added.

“Well, we march on to give our loyalty to the man to whom it is truly owed. We go to meet Malcolm, who is the medicine that will cure our sick country. And with him we will pour out all our own blood to heal our nation.” Caithness voiced out.

“Or as much as we need to water the royal flower of Malcolm, and to drown the weed that is MacBeth. Let’s march to Birnam.” Lennox smiled.

The call of the drums heard in the hills roused the gathered.