When yond same star that's westward from the pole The bell then beating one, Enter Ghost. Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Bernardo. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Marcellus. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. 42 Bernardo. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio. Horatio. Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder. Bernardo. It would be spoke to. Marcellus. Question it, Horatio. Horatio. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak! Marcellus. It is offended. Bernardo. See, it stalks away! Horatio. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! Marcellus. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. 50 [Exit Ghost. Ber. How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you on 't? Horatio. Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Marcellus. Is it not like the king? Horatio. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; 'Tis strange. 60 Mar. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work I know not; But, in the gross and scope of my opinion, This bodes some strange eruption to our state. 71 Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this same strict and most observant watch So nightly toils the subject of the land, And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, And foreign mart for implements of war; Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Does not divide the Sunday from the week; What might be toward, that this sweaty haste Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day: Who is 't that can inform me? Horatio. That can I; Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprise 80 90 That hath a stomach in 't: which is no other- But to recover of us, by strong hand The source of this our watch and the chief head Bernardo. I think it be no other but e'en so: Horatio. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye. The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead Re-enter Ghost. But soft, behold! lo, where it comes again! 100 IIO 120 I'll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion! If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, That may to thee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me: If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, Speak of it stay, and speak! [Cock crows.] Stop it, Marcellus. Marcellus. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? Horatio. Do, if it will not stand. 140 We do it wrong, being so majestical, For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. Bernardo. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. Horatio. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Marcellus. It faded on the crowing of the cock. 150 160 And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, Horatio. So have I heard and do in part believe it. Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill: Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him: 170 Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? Marcellus. Let's do 't, I pray; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most conveniently. SCENE II. A room of state in the castle. [Exeunt. Enter the KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone Or thinking by our late dear brother's death To our most valiant brother. So much for him. ΙΟ 20 1 |