Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Mar. It waves you to a more removed ground: Look, with what courteous action No, by no means. Ham. It will not speak; then I will follow it. Why, what should be the fear? Ham. It waves me forth again;-I'll follow it. Hor. What, if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff, That beetles o'er his base into the sea? And there assume some other horrible form, Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason, Ham. Go on, I'll follow thee. It waves me still: Mar. You shall not go, my lord. Hor. Be rul'd, you shall not go. Hold off your hands. My fate cries out, And makes each petty artery in this body [Ghost beckons. Still am I call'd;-unhand me, gentlemen; [Breaking from them. By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me :say, away-Go on, I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. Hor. Have after:-To what issue will this come? Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Hor. Heaven will direct it. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt. SCENE V. A more remote Part of the Platform. Re-enter GHOST and HAMLET. Ham. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no Ghost. Mark me. Ham. Ghost. [further. I will. My hour is almost come, Alas, poor ghost! When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak, I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ham. What? Ghost. I am thy father's spirit; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night; And, for the day, confin'd to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes, done in my days of nature, I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood; To ears of flesh and blood:-List, list, O list!- Ham. O heaven! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ham. Murder? Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know it; that I, with wings as swift As meditation, or the thoughts of love, I find thee apt; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this? Now, Hamlet, hear: Rankly abus'd: but know, thou noble youth, Ham. O, my prophetic soul! my uncle! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven; And prey on garbage. But, soft! methinks, I scent the morning air; Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatch'd: No reckoning made, but sent to my account Adieu, adieu, adieu! remember me. [Exit. Ham. O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell?-O fie!-Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; At least, I am sure, it may be so in Denmark: [Writing. So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; It is, Adieu, adieu! remember me. I have sworn't. Hor. [Within] My lord, my lord, Mar. Within] Lord Hamlet,- Ham. Heaven secure him! So be it! Mar. [Within] Illo, ho, ho, my lord! Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Mar. How is't, my noble lord? Hor. What news, my lord? Ham. O wonderful! Hor. Good, my lord, tell it. Ham. No; You will reveal it. Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven. Mar. Nor I, my lord. Ham. How say you then? would heart of man once But you'll be secret, Hor. Mar. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Ham. There's ne'er a villain, dwelling in all Denmark, But he's an arrant knave. [think it? |