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HAMLET
SCENE Denmark.
ACT I SCENE I Elsinore. A
platform before the castle. [Francesco.
at his post. Enter to him Bernardo] Bernardo. Who's there? Francesco. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself. Bernardo. Long live the king! Francesco. Bernardo? Bernardo. He. Francesco.
You come most carefully upon your hour. Bernardo. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. Francesco. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold, And
I am sick at heart. Bernardo. Have you had quiet guard? Francesco.
Not a mouse stirring. Bernardo.Well, good night. If
you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The
rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Francesco.
I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there? [Enter
Horatio and Marcellus. ] Horatio Friends to this ground. Marcellus..And liegemen to the Dane. Francesco.
Give you good night. Marcellus...O, farewell, honest soldier: Who
hath relieved you? Francesco.
Bernardo has my place. Give
you good night. Bernardo.Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Marcellus. Marcellus...What, has this thing appear'd again to-night? Bernardo.I have seen nothing. Marcellus...Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And
will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, Horatio Tush, tush, 'twill not appear. Bernardo.Sit down awhile; And
let us once again assail your ears, That
are so fortified against our story What
we have two nights seen. Horatio Well, sit we down, And
let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Bernardo.Last night of all, When
yond 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,-- [Enter
Ghost] Marcellus..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. 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! [Exit
Ghost] Marcellus..'Tis gone, and will not answer. Bernardo.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; So
frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, He
smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. 'Tis strange. Marcellus.. Thus twice before, and jump at this
dead hour, With
martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Horatio 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. Marcellus..Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why
this same strict and most observant watch; 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; At
least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, Whose
image even but now appear'd to us, Was,
as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, …Dared
to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet-- Did
slay this Fortinbras; Now,
sir, young Fortinbras, …..Hath
in the skirts of Norway here and there Shark'd
up a list of lawless resolutes, …….to
recover of us, by strong hand …….those
foresaid lands, …………………………:
and this, I take it, Is
the main motive of our preparations, Bernardo.I think it be no other but e'en so: Well
may it sort that this portentous figure Comes
armed through our watch; so like the king That
was and is the question of these wars. Horatio A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye. In
the most high and palmy state of Rome, A
little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The
graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead Did
squeak and gibber in the Roman streets: And
even the like precurse of fierce events, Have
heaven and earth together demonstrated Unto
our climatures and countrymen.-- But
soft, behold! lo, where it comes again! [Re-enter
Ghost] I'll
cross it, though it blast me. -- Stay, illusion! If
thou hast any sound, or use of voice, 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: [Cock
crows] If
thou art privy to thy country's fate, Which,
happily, foreknowing may avoid, O, speak! 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! Stop it, Marcellus. Marcellus..Shall I strike at it with my partisan? Horatio Do, if it will not stand. Bernardo.'Tis here! HoratioTis here! Marcellus.. 'Tis gone! [Exit
Ghost] We
do it wrong, being so majestical, To
offer it the show of violence; 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, Doth
with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat Awake the god of day; and, at his warning, Whether
in sea or fire, in earth or air, The
extravagant and erring spirit hies To
his confine: Marcellus..It faded on the crowing of the cock. Some
say that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein
our Saviour's birth is celebrated, The
bird of dawning singeth all night long: And
then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad; The
nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, No
fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So
hallow'd and so gracious is the time. Horatio
So have I heard and do in part believe it. But,
look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks
o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill: Break
we our watch up; and by my advice, Let
us impart what we have seen to-night Unto
young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This
spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. Marcellus..Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know Where
we shall find him most conveniently. [Exeunt] |