In dreadful secresy impart they did;

And I with them, the third night, kept the watch;

Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time,

Form of the thing, each word made true and

good,

The apparition comes. I knew your father;

These hands are not more like.

But answer made it none: yet once, methought,
It lifted up its head, and did address

Itself to motion, like as it would speak :

But, even then, the morning cock crew loud ;

And at the sound it shrunk in haste away,

And vanish'd from our sight.

Ham.

'Tis very strange.

Ho. As I do live, my honor'd lord, 'tis true :

And we did think it writ down in our duty

To let you know of it.

Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.

Hold you the watch to-night?

Ho. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver 1 up.

Ham. What, look'd he frowningiy
Ho.

A countenance more

Very like,

Ho. It would have much amazed you.
Ham.

Very like: stay'd it long?

Ho. While one with moderate haste might tell a

hundred.

Mar. Ber. Longer, longer.

Ho. Not when I saw it.

Ham.

His beard was grizzled? no?

Ho. It was, as I have seen it in his life,

A sable silver'd.

Ham.

I will watch to-night;

I warrant you, it will.

Perchance, 'twill walk again.
Ho.

Ham. If it assume my noble father's person,
I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape,
And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight,
Let it be tenable in your silence still;

That part of the helmet which protects the lower part of

the face, and may be lifted up.

And whatsoever else shall hap to-night,
Give it an understanding, but no tongue;
I will requite your loves: so, fare you well:
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,

I'll visit you.

All.

Our duty to your honor.

Ham. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.
[Exeunt Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo.

My father's spirit in arms! all is not well;
I doubt some foul play: would, the night were

come!

Till then, sit still, my soul! Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's

eyes.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A room in Polonius's house.

Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA.

Laer. My necessaries are embark'd; farewell :

And, sister, as the winds give benefit,

And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,

But let me hear from you.

Oph.

Do you doubt that?

Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor,

Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood;
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent; sweet, not lasting;
The perfume and suppliance of a minute:
No more.

Oph. No more but so?

Laer.

Think it no more;

For nature, crescent,1 does not grow alone
In thews and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps, he loves you now;
And now no soil nor cautel 3 doth besmirch 4
The virtue of his will: but you must fear,
His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;
For he himself is subject to his birth :
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself; for on his choice depends
The safety and the health of the whole state;
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body,

Whereof he is the head. Then if he says, he loves

you,

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it,
As he in his particular act and place

May give his saying deed; which is no farther,
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart; or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster'd 5 importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia; fear it, my dear sister;
And keep you in the rear of your affection,

Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest 1 maid is prodigal enough,
If she unmask her beauty to the moon :
Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes :
The canker galls the infants of the spring,
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed;
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then: best safety lies in fear:
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep As watchman to my heart: but, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven ; Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, And recks not his own read.2

Laer.

O, fear me not.

I stay too long; but here my father comes.

Enter POLONIUS.

A double blessing is a double grace;

Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

Po. Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for

shame:

The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,

And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with [laying his hand on Laertes's head.