HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. ACT I. SCENE I.-ELSINORE. A Platform before the Castle. FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO. Ber. Who's there? Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. Fran. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Fran. Ber. Well, good-night. Not a mouse stirring. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them.-Stand, ho! Who is there? Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Hor. Friends to this ground. And liegemen to the Dane. O, farewell, honest soldier: Bernardo has my place. Give you good-night. [Exit. Mar. Holla! Bernardo! Ber. Say. What, is Horatio there? Hor. A piece of him. Ber. Welcome, Horatio:-welcome, good Marcellus. 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; And let us once again assail your ears, Hor. Sit down awhile; Well, sit we down, 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. Hor. Most like:--it harrows me with fear and wonder. 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! Mar. It is offended. Ber. See, it stalks away! Hor. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. [Exit Ghost. Ber. How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale: 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. Is it not like the king? Mar. Such was the very armour he had on 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and just at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Hor. 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. Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Hor. Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, Had he been vanquisher; as by the same cov'nant, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in't: which is no other,- And terms compulsative, those foresaid lands Is the main motive of our preparations, Ber. I think it be no other, but e'en so: The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead Re-enter Ghost. I'll cross it, though it blast me.-Stay, illusion! Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, [Cock crows. Speak of it:-stay, and speak!-Stop it, Marcellus For it is, as the air, invulnerable, Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know [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 To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature |