Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

So excellent a king; that was, to this,
Hyperion to a satyr: (47) so loving to my mother,
That he might not beteem (48) the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown

By what it fed on.49 And yet, within a month,-
Let me not think on't;-Frailty, thy name is

woman!

A little month; or ere those shoes were old,
With which she follow'd my poor father's body,
Like Niobe, all tears;-why she, even she,-
O heaven! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,
Would have mourn'd longer,-married with my
uncle,

My father's brother; but no more like my father,
Than I to Hercules: Within a month;
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
She married :-O most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not, nor it cannot come to, good;

But break, my heart: for I must hold my tongue!

Enter HORATIO, BARNARDO, and MARCELLUS.

HOR. Hail to your lordship!

HAM.

I am glad to see you well:

Horatio, or I do forget myself.

a

HOR. The same, my lord, and your poor servant

ever.

HAM. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you.

* Discourse of reason] Faculty of discussing and reasoning. See Tr. & Cr. II. 2, Hect. & infra IV. 4. Haml.

b I'll change that name with you] myself upon an exact level with.

Reciprocally use: I'll put

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?— Marcellus?

MAR. My good lord,

HAM. I am very glad to see you; good even,

sir.

(50)

But what, in faith,a make you" from Wittenberg? HOR. A truant disposition, good my lord.

HAM. I would not hear your enemy say so; Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, To make it truster of your own report Against yourself: I know, you are no truant. But what is your affair in Elsinore? We'll teach you to drink deep, ere you depart. HOR. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. HAM. I pray thee, do not. mock me, fellowstudent;

I think, it was to see my mother's wedding.

HOR. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. HAM. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral bak'd meats (51)

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
Would I had met my dearest foe (52) in heaven
Ere I had ever seen that day, Horatio!—
My father, Methinks, I see my father.

HOR. My lord?

-

HAM. In my mind's eye, (53) Horatio.

Where,

HOR. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. HAM. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.

HOR. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

in faith] Faithfully and honestly, in pure and simple verity. b But what make you] Is your object? Are you doing. See M. W. of W. IV. 2. Mrs. Page.

goodly king] See "goodliest," H. VIII. IV. 2. 3 Gent.

HAM. Saw! who?

HOR. My lord, the king your father.

HAM.

The king my father!
HOR. Season your admiration for a while"
With an attent ear; till I may deliver,

Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
This marvel to you.

НАМ.

For God's love, let me hear.

HOR. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch,

In the dead waste (5) and middle of the night,
Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father,
Arm'd at all points (55) exactly, cap-à-pé,

Appears before them, and, with solemn march,
Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd,
By their oppress'd and fear-surprized eyes,
Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, be-
still'd

[ocr errors]

Almost to jelly with the act of fear,(56)

Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me
In dreadful secrecy impart they did;

And I with them, the third night kept the watch:
Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time,
Form of the thing, each word made true and good,
The apparition comes: I knew your father;
These hands are not more like.

НАМ.

But where was this?

MAR. My lord, upon the platform where we

watch'd.

HAM. Did you not speak to it? (57)

HOR.

My lord, I did;

But answer made it none: yet once, methought, It lifted up its head, and did address

& Season your admiration for a while

With an attent ear] By close attention qualify or restrain

the expression of your astonishment.

baddress] Make ready. See M. N. Dr. V. 1. Phil.

Itself to motion, like as it would speak:

But, even then, the morning cock crew loud; (5) And at the sound it shrunk in haste away,

And vanish'd from our sight.

HAM.

'Tis very strange.

HOR. As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; And we did think it writ down" in our duty, To let you know of it.

HAM. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night?

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

ALL. My lord, from head to foot.

HAM.

His face?

HOR. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver

HAM. What, look'd he frowningly?

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Very like,

HOR. It would have much amaz'd you.

HAM.

Very like: Stay'd it long?

HOR. While one with moderate haste might

tell a hundred.

MAR. BER. Longer, longer.

• writ down] Prescribed by.

C

HOR. Not when I saw it.

* grissl'd, 4to.

Нам.

His beard was grizly?* no.

HOR. It was, as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silver'd. (60)

HAM.

I will watch to-night;

Perchance, 'twill walk again.

HOR.

I warrant, it will. HAM. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight, tenable, Let it be treble* in your silence still; And whatsoever else shall hap to-night, Give it an understanding, but no tongue; I will requite your loves: So, fare you well: Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, I'll visit

4to.

ALL.

you.

(61)

Our duty to your honour. HAM. Your loves, as mine to you: Farewell. [Exeunt HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BER

NARDO.

My father's spirit in arms! all is not well;
I doubt some foul play: 'would, the night were

come!

Till then sit still, my soul: Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's [Exit.

eyes.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA.

LAER. My necessaries are embark'd; farewell: And, sister, as the winds give benefit,"

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
« ZurückWeiter »