You, as your business and desire shall point

you,

For every man hath business and desire,

Such as it is; and, for my own poor part,

I will go pray.

130

Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.

Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily;

Yes, 'faith, heartily.

Hor.

There's no offence, my lord.

Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is,

Horatio,

And much offence too.

here,

Touching this vision

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you:
For your desire to know what is between us,
O'ermaster't as you may. And now, good

friends,

As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Hor. What is 't, my lord? we will.

Ham. Never make known what you

to-night.

Hor., Mar. My lord, we will not.

140

have seen

Ham.

Hor.

My lord, not I.

Nay, but swear 't.

In faith,

Mar.

Nor I, my lord, in faith.

Hum. Upon my sword.

Mar.

We have sworn, my lord, already.

Ham. In deed, upon my sword, in deed.

Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear.

150

Ham. Ha, ha, boy! say'st thou so art thou there, true-penny?

Come on,-you hear this fellow in the cellarage,-Consent to swear.

Hor.

Propose the oath, my lord.

Ham. Never to speak of this that you have

seen,

Swear by my sword.

Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear.

Ham. Hic et ubique? then we'll shift our ground.

Come hither, gentlemen,

And lay your hands again upon my sword:

Never to speak of this that you have heard,
Swear by my sword.

Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear.

160

Ham. Well said, old mole! canst work i' the

earth so fast?

A worthy pioner !-Once more remove, good

friends.

Hor. O day and night, but this is wondrous

strange!

Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it wel

come.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

But come;

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,
How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself,—
As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet
To put an antick disposition on,-

170

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As, 'Well, well, we know;'-or, 'We could, an
if we would;'-—

Or, 'If we list to speak ;'-or, 'There be, an if they might ;'

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note

That you know aught of me :-this not to do, 180 So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear.

Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear.

Ham. Rest. rest, perturbéd spirit!-So, gentle

men,

With all my love I do commend me to you:

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is

May do to express his love and friending to you.

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go

in together;

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
The time is out of joint: O curséd spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!
Nay, come, let's go together.

190

[Exeunt

ACT II

SCENE L-A Room in the House of POLONIUS.

Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO.

Pol. Give him this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.

Rey. I will, my lord.

Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,

Before you visit him, to make inquiry

Of his behaviour.

Rey. My lord, I did intend it.

Pol. Marry, well said: very well said. Look

you, sir,

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;

And how, and who, what means, and where they

keep.

What company, at what expense; and finding, 10
By this encompassment and drift of question,
That they do know my son, come you more

nearer

Than your particular demands will touch it : Take you, as 't were, some distant knowledge of him,

As thus, I know his father, and his friends, And, in part, him:'-do you mark this, Rey naldo?

Rey. Ay, very well, my lord.

Pol.

and, in part, him; but,' you may say, 'not well:

But if 't be he I mean, he's very wild,

Addicted so and so;'-and there put on him 20 What forgeries you please, marry, none so

rank

As may dishonour him: take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips,
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

Rey.

As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, Quarrelling, drabbing: you may go so far. Key. My lord, that would dishonour him.

Pol. 'Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge.