Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, That hath a stomach in't: which is no other Ber. I think it be no other but e'en so: Hor. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye. In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets: As, stars with trains of fire, and dews of blood, Disasters in the sun; and the moist star, Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands, Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse: And even the like precurse of fierce events As harbingers preceding still the fates, And prologue to the omen coming on Have heaven and earth together demonstrated Unto our climature and countrymen. But, soft, behold! lo, where it comes again! Re-enter Ghost. I'll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion! If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, If there be any good thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, [Cock crows. Speak of it: stay, and speak! - Stop it, Marcellus. Ber. Hor. Mar. "Tis gone! "Tis here! "Tis here! [Exit Ghost We do it wrong, being so majestical, For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill: Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A room of state in the castle. Enter the King, Queen, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants. King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green; and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe; Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, Lost by his father, with all bands of law, To our most valiant brother. So much for him. His further gait herein; in that the levies, To business with the king, more than the scope Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. Cor. Vol. In that and all things will we show our duty. [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius. And now, You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, And lose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, Laer. Dread my lord, Your leave and favour to return to France; From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, Yet now, I must confess, that duty done, My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius? By laboursome petition; and, at last, King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine, But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son, Ham. [aside] A little more than kin, and less than kind. King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Ham. Not so, my lord; I am too much i' the sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not for ever with thy vailèd lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st 'tis common, - all that live must die, Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. If it be, Ham. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not "seems." "Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath, Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief, King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, your father lost a father; That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound, In filial obligation, for some term To do obsequious sorrow: but to perséver In obstinate condolement, is a course Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief: |