And it must follow, as the night the day, 80 Laertes. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. Polonius. The time invites you; go, your servants tend. Laertes. Farewell, Ophelia; and remember well What I have said to you. Ophelia. 'Tis in my memory lock'd, 85 And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Laertes. Farewell. [Exit. Polonius. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? Ophelia. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. Polonius. Marry, well bethought: 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you; and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. And that in way of caution,-I must tell you, You do not understand yourself so clearly As it behoves my daughter and your honour. Ophelia. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. 90 35 95 100 Polonius. Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them ? 106 Ophelia. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Polonius. Marry, I'll teach you think yourself a baby, That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or, not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus,-you'll tender me a fool. Ophelia. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love 110 In honourable fashion. Polonius. Ay, fashion you may call it go to, go to. Ophelia. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Polonius. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, 116 When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows these blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat, extinct in both, Even in their promise, as it is a-making, You must not take for fire. From this time This is for all: I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, SCENE IV.-The Platform. Enter HAMLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS. Hamlet. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. 120 125 130 134 [Exeunt. Hamlet. Horatio. What hour now? I think it lacks of twelve. Marcellus. No, it is struck. Horatio. Indeed? I heard it not then it draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. [A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off, within. What does this mean, my lord? Hamlet. The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, 10 The triumph of his pledge. Horatio. Hamlet. Ay, marry, is't: Is it a custom ? But to my mind, though I am native here And to the manner born,—it is a custom 15 More honour'd in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations; They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase 20 From our achievements, though perform'd at height, So, oft it chances in particular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Horatio. Hamlet. Enter Ghost. Look, my lord, it comes. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, 30 35 40 Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Thou com'st in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Horatio. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Marcellus. H. Look, with what courteous action 60 It waves you to a more removed ground: But do not go with it. No, by no means. Horatio. Hamlet. Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pin's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. 65 Horatio. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my And draw you into madness? think of it; The very place puts toys of desperation, 75 Without more motive, into every brain Hamlet. It waves me still. Go on, I'll follow thee. Hamlet. Hold off your hands! 80 My fate cries out, Horatio. Be rul'd; you shall not go. And makes each petty artery in this body [Ghost beckons. 85 [Breaking from them. By heaven! I'll make a ghost of him that lets me : I say, away! Go on, I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghost and HAMLET. Horatio. He waxes desperate with imagination. Marcellus. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. Horatio. Have after. To what issue will this come? Marcellus. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Horatio. Heaven will direct it. Nay, let's follow him. 90 [Exeunt. Hamlet. SCENE V. Another Part of the Platform. further. Enter Ghost and HAMLET. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no My hour is almost come, Alas! poor ghost. When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Hamlet. Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Hamlet. Speak; I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ghost. I am thy father's spirit ; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, 5 10 And for the day confin'd to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, 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, To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O list! Hamlet. O God! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. 25 Hamlet. Murder ! Ghost. Murder 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. Ghost. 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: 30 |