PERSONS REPRESENTED. CLAUDIUS, king of Denmark. HAMLET, Son to the former, and nephew to the pre sent king. POLONIUS, lord chamberlain. HORATIO, friend to Hamlet. LAERTES, Son to Polonius. officers. MARCELLUS, REYNALDO, servant to Polonius. FORTINBRAS, prince of Norway. GERTRUDE, queen of Denmark, and mother of Hamlet. OPHELIA, daughter of Polonius. Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Gravediggers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Elsinore. HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle. FRANCISCO on his Post. Enter to him BERNARDO. He. Ber. Francisco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks; 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Fran. Not a mouse stirring. Ber. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals' of my watch, bid them make haste. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Fran. I think, I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there? A piece of him. Hor. Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Mar cellus. Hor. What, has this thing appear'd again tonight? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy; Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us; With us to watch the minutes of this night; 2 Sit down awhile; He may approve our eyes, and speak to it. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. I Partners. * Make good or establish. Ber. Last night of all, When yon same star, that's westward from the pole, Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself, The bell then beating one, Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Enter Ghost. Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Mar. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio. Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio. Hor. Most like:- it harrows me with fear, and wonder. Ber. It would be spoke to. Mar. Speak to 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 speak. Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it stalks away. [Exit Ghost. Hor. Stay, speak: speak I charge thee, speak. Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble, and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you of it? 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, 'Tis strange. 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 But, in the gross and scope of mine opinion, Why this same strict and most observant watch Hor. That can I; Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, s Sledged. 7 Just. 4 Dispute. 6 Polander, an inhabitant of Poland. |