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

 

WOOD OF BIRHAM

ACT FIVE

SCENE FOUR

SUB ACT ONE

 

When Birnam Wood shall come to Dunsinane
Only an utter simpleton will strain
Their mind and fail to see what is going on.
Did not the trees consume the Drevlians,
The konung’s houses and the partisans?
Where have the cities of the Aztecs gone?

And you, young sapling, look so very brave
Before me, brandishing your leaf-trimmed glaive
And at arm’s length, a maple-leafed beret —
How cockily you strut, my green-curled page,
So swift to take revenge, to turn in rage.
Be calm! Each generation has its day.

After our old wood dies, your new wood grows
Though every now and then, a soft wind blows
Towards us, sighing sadly through the trees.
O scent of frankincense, O cloying must
Of immortality, of bones and dust —
Stench of corruption and anemones.

When all’s said, would it really be enough
To know the author of your end? MacDuff
Of whom the witches spoke? The bitter pill
Of Duncan’s regicide, written in blood?
Your spirit, caught between evil and good?
Or six acres of simple chlorophyll?

In September 2016, Christine De Luca, Jen Hadfield and Stewart Sanderson visited Russia to work with Grigory Kruzhkov, Lev Oborin and Marina Boroditskaya. During a residential workshop, using Shakespeare’s sonnets as a stepping-off point and exploring the linguistic and cultural contexts of their poetry, the poets translated the work of their counterparts into Russian, English and Shetlandic. The fruits appeared in Sonnets Exchange 2016 – 2017, which was published in 2017 to mark the visit of Kruzhkov, Oborin, and Boroditskaya to Scotland to complete the cultural exchange.

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/birnam-wood/

 

“I bid you welcome, Prince Malcolm.” It was Lennox who greeted the arrival of the prince and army that was mostly made up of the English army. The Juggernauts; numbering more than a dozen was seen there, with its huge dual cannons, and the heavy tracks gnawing at the lush greens of the Highlands. The English Infantries were there to support the Juggernauts; themselves heavily armed with weapons and supplies. The infantries were moved by the transport vehicles churning over the trodden paths of the Juggernauts. They halted at the edge of Birnam Wood.

“Good day, Lennox.” It was MacDuff who met the King’s ex-Adviser. “Prince Malcolm will be here shortly. He visits the village nearby.”

The newly arrived entourage was in the dressings of the battle fatigues with body armour. So were the local army there to meet them.

“Good day, Lennox. I am glad to see you.” It was the prince then. He approached the older figure and did a hug. “It has been a long time, Lennox.”

“Since the death of your father, the King.” Lennox said. “Welcome back to the glens, my prince.”

“Aye, it is nice to be back. I was at the village to meet the people. Some are happy to see me. Some frown at my associates but the English meant well. They will get me back my throne and then leave.”

“What a gratitude indeed.” Lennox smiled. He was studying the parade of the English and to be honest wary of their intentions. “We are here too for your quest.”

Lennox motioned to the rear of him. The Highlanders were there in strength; fifty over Man-Suits, and a few thousand Infantries and more will be joining in. They were gathered at the edge of the woods, and was facing the picturesque glen to the right. The breeze of the wind carried with it the pleasant scent of the highlands. 

“Nobles and Thanes to your call. We are all here.” Lennox smiled. Menteith and Caithness stood to the right of Lennox.

“Lord Siward of Northumbria and his son, Young Siward, MacDuff whom you met, and some nobles who had joined in the journey.” Malcolm introduced his entourage. The Lord stepped up and shook the hands of the local nobles.

Lord Siward was in his elderly age, but cut a firm figure in the battle fatigues, and his hand shake was firm for a man that age. Young Siward was a budding lad with the swath of red hair and wide smile.

“Kinsmen, I hope the time is near when people will be safe in their own bedrooms. Malcolm looked to the soldiers.

“We do not doubt it.” Menteith smiled. It was then Lord Siward make an enquiry,

“What forest is this ahead of us?” Lord Siward asked. “It is beautiful.”

“Birnam Wood, Lord Siward. We had taken over the area from MacBeth. He had declared the woods his won garden but now it belonged once more to the people.” Caithness said.

“It is a charming place.” Menteith replied.

“Charming looks.” Lord Siward was impressed. “I heard tales …….”

“To take a branch or leaves from Birnam Wood lent itself the luck of the woods. The woods will shield the army from its enemies.” Menteith cut in. “It may be true and we done it ourselves. We have a load for your army. We are allies and should share the goodness here.”

“Every soldier should hold a branch and hold it in front of him. By doing so, we will make it difficult for MacBeth's spies to get an accurate count of the number of soldiers in our army to report back to him.” Malcolm instructed the officers.

“It will be done.”

That evening, both armies camped there and held a feast before their battle the next day. The host were Lennox, and the Thanes who celebrated with the food and wine for their guests from the South. The sound of the Scottish instrument; the bagpipes sounded and the locals went into their dances.

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

O you take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

(The lyrics make mention of a longing to be reunited with a departed love on the “bonnie, bonnie” banks of Scotland’s largest loch.) https://www.google.com/search?q=the+bonnie+banks+o%27+loch+lomond+lyrics&oq=The+Bonnie+Banks+o%E2%80%99+Loch+Lomond&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgDEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyCQgBEC4YChiABDIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHjIICAUQABgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIICAgQABgWGB7SAQgxODMxajBqN6gCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

“It brings me the ache for my own home.” Lord Siward smiled.

“Aye, all that will soon be over once we routed MacBeth.” Lennox said.

“We have heard nothing other than that the overconfident MacBeth remains in Dunsinane and will let us lay siege to the castle.” Lord Siward looked at Malcolm.

“Dunsinane lies yonder. The tyrant had built a fortress there. It was rumoured that he had a fear for that hill. He had it fortified with a regiment of his men and a dozen Man-Suits. He had fortified the walls and build a series of moats.” Menteith reported.

“Nevertheless, we have reports of the weakness in the walls. MacBeth have not the loyalties of all the builders there.” Lennox added. “He is losing the trust of his men.”

“That is exactly what he wants. Whenever they have the chance, his Thanes, and common soldiers all desert him. No one serves in his army except men who are forced to, whose hearts are not in it.” Malcolm was delighted at the news.

“Let us not judge the situation until we see how it turns out. For now, let us just act like hard-working soldiers. We are best prepared for the unprepared moments.” MacDuff reminded the others.

“The time is quickly coming when we will know just what we have accomplished and what we still must do. Speculations only express our uncertain hopes. But we will only get certainty by going out and fighting, so let’s start this battle.” Lord Siward rallied the men.