Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief: As of a father: for let the world take note, Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet: [Exeunt all except Hamlet. Ham. O, that this too-too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Fie on't! O, fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Hyperion to a satyr: so loving to my mother, By what it fed on: and yet, within a month,— But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue! Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO. Ham. Horatio, or I do forget myself. I'm glad to see you well: 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'm very glad to see you.-Good even, sir. But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg? Hor. A truant disposition, good my lord. your enemy say so; Nor shall you do mine ear that violence We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart. Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. I shall not look upon his like again. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king your father. Ham. The king my father! Hor. Season your admiration for a while Ham. For God's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead vast(15) and middle of the night, Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father, Armed at point, exactly, cap-à-pé, Appears before them, and with solemn march Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distill'd(16) Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me And I with them the third night kept the watch: These hands are not more like. Ham. But where was this? Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. Itself to motion, like as it would speak: But even then the morning cock crew loud; 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? Mar. Ber. Ham. Arm'd, say you ? Ham. From top to toe? Mar. Ber. We do, my lord. 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. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. Hor. Most constantly. Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you? I would I had been there. Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. Ham. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long? Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Mar. Ber. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw 't. 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; I warrant it will. Perchance 'twill walk again. 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! Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. [Exit. SCENE III. The same. A room in POLONIUS' 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 Oph. you. Do you doubt that? Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood; A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, |