And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down The triumph of his pledge. Hor. Ham. Ay, marry, is 't : Is it a custom? But to my mind,—though I am native here, And to the manner born,-it is a custom 11 More honoured in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel, east and west Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations: They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes 20 From our achievements, though performed at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. That for some vicious mole of nature in them, 31 Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason; Shall in the general censure take corruption Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damned, 40 Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked, or charitable, 'Thou com'st in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, Why thy canónised bones, hearsed in death, Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? 50 Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do? [The Ghost beckons. Hor. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Look, with what courteous action 61 It waves you to a more removéd ground: But do not go with it. Hor. No, by no means. Ham. It will not speak: then will I follow it. Hor. Do not, my lord Ham. fear? Why, what should be the I do not set my life at a pin's fee; And, for my soul, what can it do to that, It waves me forth again :-I'll follow it. Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason 70 That looks so many fathoms to the sea Ham. It waves me still go on, I'll follow And makes each petty artery in this body [The Ghost beckons. Still am I called.-Unhand me, gentlemen,— [Breaking from them. By Heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me: I say, away! -Go on, I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghost and HAMLET. Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Let's follow; 't is not fit thus to obey him. Hor. Have after. To what issue will this SCENE V.-A more remote Part of the Platform. Enter Ghost and HAMLET. Ham. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further. Ghost. Mark me. Ham. Ghost. I will. My hour is almost come When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. Alas, poor ghost! Ghost. Pity me not; but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak, I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ham. What? Ghost. I am thy father's spirit; Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, 10 Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word |