Fran. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. If Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Fran. Ber. Well, good night. Not a mouse stirring. 10 you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there? Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Ber. Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Marcel lus. 20 Mar. What, has this thing appear'd again tonight? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us: Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night; That if again this apparition come, He may approve our eyes and speak to it. Ber. Sit down awhile; 30 And let us once again assail your ears, Hor. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Last night of all, When yond same star that's westward from the pole Enter Ghost. Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. 41 Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. wonder. Ber. It would be spoke to. 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. 50 [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. Mar. Is it not like the king? Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armor he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, 'Tis strange. 60 Mar. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Ior. 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. 69 Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this same strict and most observant watch And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task What might be toward, that this sweaty haste Hor. At least, the whisper goes so. That can I; Our last king, Whose image even but now appear'd to us, 80 Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet- Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there For food and diet, to some enterprise 90 That hath a stomach in't; which is no other- And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands Is the main motive of our preparations, 100 The source of this our watch and the chief head Hor. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye. As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, 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, 111 120 130 [Cock crows. If thou art privy to thy country's fate, |