With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! But break, my heart: for I must hold my tongue! Enter Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus. Hor. Hail to your lordship. Ham. I am glad to see you well: Horatio,-or I do forget myself. Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?Marcellus? Mar. My good lord, Ham. I am very glad to see you; good even, But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg? We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart. I think, it was to see my mother's wedding. Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. (1) It was anciently the custom to give a cold entertainment at a funeral. (2) Chiefest, Hor. My lord? Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Where, Hor. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Ham. Saw! who? Hor. My lord, the king your father. Ham. The king my father! Hor. Season your admiration for a while With an attent' ear; till I may deliver, Upon the witness of these gentlemen, This marvel to you. Ham. For God's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead waist and middle of the night, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, And I with them, the third night, kept the watch: Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes: I knew your father; These hands are not more like. Ham. But where was this? Hor. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. My lord, I did; But answer made it none: yet once, methought, (1) Attentive. It lifted up its head, and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak: Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honour'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? We do, my lord. Arm❜d, my lord. Ham. From top to toe? All. My lord, from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not His face? Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver! up. Ham. What, look'd he frowningly? Hor. Most constantly. I would, I had been there. Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. Ham. Very like Stay'd it long? Very like, Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Mar. Ber. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzled? no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silver'd. Ham. I will watch to-night; (1) 'hat part of the helmet which may be lifted up. Perchance, 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant, it will. 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; 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 honour. 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. Do you doubt that? Oph. A violet in the youth of primy nature, Oph. Laer. No more but so? Think it no more: For nature, crescent, does not grow alone (1) Increasing. In thews, and bulk; but, as this temple waxes, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it, Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister; Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, As watchman to my heart: But, good my brother, (1) Sinews. (6) Licentious. (2) Subtlety, deceit. (4) Believing. (5) Listen to (7) Most cautious. |