Ber. Welcome, Horatio:-welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us: With us, to watch the minutes of this night; Ber. And let us once again assail your ears, 20 25 Sit down awhile; Well, sit we down, 30 And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Last night of all, When yon same star that's westward from the pole The bell then beating one,— Mar. Peace, break thee off; look where it comes again! Enter Ghost, armed. Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. 35 Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. 40 Mar. Question it, Horatio. Hor. 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! Ber. See, it stalks away! Hor. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. 45 [Exit Ghost. Ber. How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale: 50 Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you on't? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king? Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; So frown'd he once when, in an angry parle, 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and just at this dread hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. 55 60 Hor. In what particular thought to work I know not; But, in the gross and scope of my opinion, 65 This bodes some strange eruption to our state. 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, 70 And foreign mart for implements of war; Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task 75 Hor. That can I; Our last king, At least, the whisper goes so. 80 For so this side of our known world esteem'd him,— Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact, Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, 85 Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror: Against the which, a moiety competent Was gaged by our king; which had return'd To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; as by the same cov'nant, 90 His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, 95 That hath a stomach in't: which is no other,- And terms compulsative, those foresaid lands 100 The source of this our watch, and the chief head 105 Hor. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye. The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead But, soft, behold! lo, where it comes again! Re-enter Ghost. I'll cross it, though it blast me.—Stay, illusion! 125 Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, That may to thee do ease, and grace to me, Speak to me: If thou art privy to thy country's fate, 130 Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, 135 [Cock crows. Speak of it :-stay, and speak!-Stop it, Marcellus. And our vain blows malicious mockery. Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. 145 150 155 The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, 160 Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. 165 But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most conveniently. 170 [Exeunt. SCENE II.-ELSINORE. A Room of State in the Castle. Enter the KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants. King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green; and that it us befitted D To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature Or thinking by our late dear brother's death 5 ΙΟ 15 20 To our most valiant brother. So much for him.- 25 Thus much the business is :- Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. 30 35 Cor. and Vol. In that and all things will we show our duty. King. We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell. [Exeunt VOL. and COR And now, Laertes, what's the news with you? And lose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, 45 |