SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle. FRANCISCO at his post. Ber. Who's there? Enter to him BERNARDO. Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself. Fran. Bernardo? Ber. He. 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. 10 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's there? Hor. Friends to this ground. Who hath relieved you? Give you good night. And liegemen to the Dane. O, farewell, honest soldier: Bernardo has my place. [Exit. Mar. Holla! Bernardo! Ber. Say, What, is Horatio there? A piece of him. Hor. Ber. Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us: With us to watch the minutes of this night; Sit down awhile; 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 The bell then beating one, Enter Ghost. 20 30 Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. Mar. Question it, Horatio. 41 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! 50 [Exit Ghost. Hor. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. 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 armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and jump 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, 60 69 Why this same strict and most observant watch So nightly toils the subject of the land, And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Hor. At least, the whisper goes so. That can I; Our last king, Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet- Did slay this Fortinblas; who, by a seal'd compact, Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands 80 90 Was gaged by our king; which had return'd To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras. Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there That hath a stomach in't; which is no other— 100 As it doth well appear unto our state- And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands Is the main motive of our preparations, The source of this our watch and the chief head 110 Comes armed through our watch; so like the king As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, Re-enter Ghost. I'll cross it, though it biast me. Stay, illusion! Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy country's fate, 120 130 [Cock crows. Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, Ber. Hor. Mar. 'Tis gone! 'Tis here! We do it wrong, being so majestical, For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. 140 'Tis here! [Exit Ghost. Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Hor. So have I heard and do in part believe it. 150 160 170 [Exeunt. |