Ghost. I am thy father's spirit, Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, And each particular hair to stand an end, But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love— Hamlet. O God! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther. Ghost. Murther most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Hamlet. Haste me to know 't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. I find thee apt; Ghost. Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown. Hamlet. My uncle! 10 20 20 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; And a most instant tetter bark'd about, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, ба 70 Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand. Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd; Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, E Unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd, No reckoning made, but sent to my account 80 90 [Exit. O earth! what Hold, hold, my heart; And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat 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 ; 100 [Writing 110 rating Horatio. [Within] Hillo, ho, ho, my lord! Hamlet. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Marcellus. How is 't, my noble lord? Horatio. Hamlet. O, wonderful! Horatio. Good my lord, tell it. What news, my lord? No; you will reveal it. Nor I, my lord. 120 Horatio. Not I, my lord, by heaven. Hamlet. How say you, then; would heart of man once think it? But you'll be secret? Horatio. Marcellus. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Hamlet. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave. Horatio. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. Hamlet. Why, right you are i' the right; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part: You, as your business and desire shall point you,— Such as it is ;—and for mine own poor part, 130 we could not find Horatio. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Hamlet. I'm sorry they offend you, heartily; Yes, faith, heartily. Horatio. There's no offence, my lord. Hamlet. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, Horatio. What is 't, my lord? we will. 140 Hamlet. Never make known what you have seen to-night. Horatio. My lord, we will not. Marcellus. Hamlet. Horatio. Nay, but swear 't. In faith, Hamlet. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost. [Beneath] Swear. Hamlet. Ah, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there, true Hamlet. Never to speak of this that you have seen. Swear by my sword. Ghost. [Beneath] Swear. Hamlet. Hic et ubique? then we 'll shift our ground.— Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword, |