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; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part, List, list, O list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love, 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 should'st thou be than the fat weed Would'st thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear : Rankly abus'd: but know, thou noble youth, Ham. O, my prophetick soul! my uncle • Display. Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, (O wicked wit, and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!) won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming virtuous queen: O, Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity, That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage; and to decline Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine! But, soft! methinks, I scent the morning air; Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatch'd * : Scab, scurf. Leprous. • Bereft. 5 Without having received the Sacrament. Unappointed, unprepared. Without extreme unction. Let not the royal bed of Denmark be Adieu, adieu, adieu! remember me. [Exit. Ham. O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell?-O fye! - Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, 8 I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, 9 All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! I have sworn 't. Hor. [Within.] My lord, my lord, Hor. [Within.] Heaven secure him › Head. 9 Sayings, sentences. I Memorandum book. So be it! Ham. Mar. [Within.] Illo, ho, ho, my lord! 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. Nor I, my lord. Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven. Mar. Ham. How say you then: would heart of man once think it? 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. Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave, To tell us this. Ham. Why, right; you are in 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; For every man hath business, and desire, Such as it is, and, for my own poor part, Look you, I will go pray. Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily; yes, 'Faith, heartily. Hor. There's no offence, my lord. Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Hora tio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, Give me one poor request. Hor. We will. What is 't, my lord? Ham. Upon my sword. Mar. We have sworn, my lord, already Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Ha, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there, true-penny? Come on,-you hear this fellow in the cellarage, Consent to swear. Hor. Propose the oath, my lord. Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Hic & ubique? then we'll shift our ground: Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword: Swear by my sword: Never to speak of this that you have heard. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear by this sword. Ham. Well said, old mole! can'st work i' the earth so fast? 2 Here and every where. |