HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK ACT I. SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO. Ber. Who's there? Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself. Ber. Long live the king! Fran. Bernardo ? Ber. He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Fran. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there ? Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Hor. Friends to this ground. And liegemen to the Dane. Fran. Give you good night. Who hath relieved you? Fran. Give you good night. Mar. Ber. What, is Horatio there? Hor. O, farewell, honest soldier : Bernardo has my place. Holla! Bernardo ! Say, A piece of him. Ber. Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Mar cellus. Mar. What, has this thing appeared again tonight? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us : With us to watch the minutes of this night; He may approve our eyes and speak to it. 20 Sit down awhile; 30 And let us once again assail your ears, Hor. Well, sit we down, 13. rivals, partners. 29. approve, confirm the evidence of. 40 And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Last night of all, When yond same star that's westward from the Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Enter Ghost. Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. Hor. Most like it harrows me with fear and Ber. It would be spoke to. Mar. Question it, Horatio. Hor. What art thou that usurp'st this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak! Mar. It is offended. Ber. See, it stalks away! [Exit Ghost. Hor. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy? 42. a scholar, i.e. one. 50 What think you on't? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king? Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. But in the gross and scope of my opinion, Why this same strict and most observant watch 60 70 And foreign mart for implements of war; Hor. That can I; At least the whisper goes so. him Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact, Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in 't; which is no other 74. mart, traffic. 87. by law and heraldry, by the code of chivalry as well as of civil law. 89. seized of, possessed of. 90. a moiety competent, an equivalent slice of territory. 91. gaged, pledged. 80 90 100 94. carriage of the article design'd, tenor of the agreement drawn up. 96. unimproved, not turned to account. Q1 has 'inapproved,' untried. 100. That hath a stomach in't, that promises adventure. |