Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
How now, Horatio! You tremble and look pale: `
` Is not this something more than fantasy? `
` 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; `
` So frown'd he once when, in an angry parle, `
` He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. `
` 'Tis strange. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, `
` With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. `
` `
` Hor. `
` In what particular thought to work I know not; `
` But, in the gross and scope of my opinion, `
` This bodes some strange eruption to our state. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, `
` Why this same strict and most observant watch `
` So nightly toils the subject of the land; `
` And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, `
` And foreign mart for implements of war; `
` Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task `
` Does not divide the Sunday from the week; `
` What might be toward, that this sweaty haste `
` Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day: `
` Who is't that can inform me? `
` `
` Hor. `
` That can I; `
` At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, `
` Whose image even but now appear'd to us, `
` Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, `
` Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, `
` Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet,-- `
` For so this side of our known world esteem'd him,-- `
` Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact, `
` Well ratified by law and heraldry, `
` Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, `
` Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror: `
` Against the which, a moiety competent `
` Was gaged by our king; which had return'd `
` To the inheritance of Fortinbras, `
` Had he been vanquisher; as by the same cov'nant, `
` And carriage of the article design'd, `
` His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, `
` Of unimproved mettle hot and full, `
` Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, `
` Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, `
` For food and diet, to some enterprise `
` That hath a stomach in't; which is no other,-- `
` As it doth well appear unto our state,-- `
` But to recover of us, by strong hand, `
` And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands `
` So by his father lost: and this, I take it, `
` Is the main motive of our preparations, `
` The source of this our watch, and the chief head `
` Of this post-haste and romage in the land. `
` `
` Ber. `
` I think it be no other but e'en so: `
` Well may it sort, that this portentous figure `
` Comes armed through our watch; so like the king `
` That was and is the question of these wars. `
` `
` 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, `
` Speak to me: `
` If there be any good thing to be done, `
` That may to thee do ease, and, race to me, `
` Speak to me: `
` If thou art privy to thy country's fate, `
` Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, `
` O, speak! `
` 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, `
` [The cock crows.] `
` Speak of it:--stay, and speak!--Stop it, Marcellus! `
` `
` Mar. `
` Shall I strike at it with my partisan? `
` `
` Hor. `
` Do, if it will not stand. `
` `
` Ber. `
` 'Tis here! `
` `
` Hor. `
` 'Tis here! `
` `
` Mar. `
` 'Tis gone! `
` `
` [Exit Ghost.] `
` `
` We do it wrong, being so majestical, `
` To offer it the show of violence; `
` For it is, as the air, invulnerable, `
` And our vain blows malicious mockery. `
` `
` Ber. `
` It was about to speak, when the cock crew. `
` `
` Hor. `
` And then it started, like a guilty thing `
` Upon a fearful summons. I have heard `
` The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, `
` Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat `
` Awake the god of day; and at his warning, `
` Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, `
` The extravagant and erring spirit hies `
` To his confine: and of the truth herein `
` This present object made probation. `
` `
` Mar. `
` It faded on the crowing of the cock. `
` Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes `
` Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, `
` The bird of dawning singeth all night long; `
` And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad; `
` The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, `
` No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm; `
` So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. `
` `
` Hor. `
` So have I heard, and do in part believe it. `
` But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, `
` Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill: `
` Break we our watch up: and by my advice, `
` Let us impart what we have seen to-night `
` Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, `
` This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him: `
` Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, `
` As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? `
` `
` Mar. `
` Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know `
` Where we shall find him most conveniently. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene II. Elsinore. A room of state in the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter the King, Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Voltimand, `
` Cornelius, Lords, and Attendant.] `
` `
` 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 `
` That we with wisest sorrow think on him, `
` Together with remembrance of ourselves. `
` Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, `
` Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state, `
` Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,-- `
` With an auspicious and one dropping eye, `
` With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage, `
` In equal scale weighing delight and dole,-- `
` Taken to wife; nor have we herein barr'd `
` Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone `
` With this affair along:--or all, our thanks. `
` Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, `
` Holding a weak supposal of our worth, `
`
` Is not this something more than fantasy? `
` 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; `
` So frown'd he once when, in an angry parle, `
` He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. `
` 'Tis strange. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, `
` With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. `
` `
` Hor. `
` In what particular thought to work I know not; `
` But, in the gross and scope of my opinion, `
` This bodes some strange eruption to our state. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, `
` Why this same strict and most observant watch `
` So nightly toils the subject of the land; `
` And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, `
` And foreign mart for implements of war; `
` Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task `
` Does not divide the Sunday from the week; `
` What might be toward, that this sweaty haste `
` Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day: `
` Who is't that can inform me? `
` `
` Hor. `
` That can I; `
` At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, `
` Whose image even but now appear'd to us, `
` Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, `
` Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, `
` Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet,-- `
` For so this side of our known world esteem'd him,-- `
` Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact, `
` Well ratified by law and heraldry, `
` Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, `
` Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror: `
` Against the which, a moiety competent `
` Was gaged by our king; which had return'd `
` To the inheritance of Fortinbras, `
` Had he been vanquisher; as by the same cov'nant, `
` And carriage of the article design'd, `
` His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, `
` Of unimproved mettle hot and full, `
` Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, `
` Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, `
` For food and diet, to some enterprise `
` That hath a stomach in't; which is no other,-- `
` As it doth well appear unto our state,-- `
` But to recover of us, by strong hand, `
` And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands `
` So by his father lost: and this, I take it, `
` Is the main motive of our preparations, `
` The source of this our watch, and the chief head `
` Of this post-haste and romage in the land. `
` `
` Ber. `
` I think it be no other but e'en so: `
` Well may it sort, that this portentous figure `
` Comes armed through our watch; so like the king `
` That was and is the question of these wars. `
` `
` 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, `
` Speak to me: `
` If there be any good thing to be done, `
` That may to thee do ease, and, race to me, `
` Speak to me: `
` If thou art privy to thy country's fate, `
` Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, `
` O, speak! `
` 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, `
` [The cock crows.] `
` Speak of it:--stay, and speak!--Stop it, Marcellus! `
` `
` Mar. `
` Shall I strike at it with my partisan? `
` `
` Hor. `
` Do, if it will not stand. `
` `
` Ber. `
` 'Tis here! `
` `
` Hor. `
` 'Tis here! `
` `
` Mar. `
` 'Tis gone! `
` `
` [Exit Ghost.] `
` `
` We do it wrong, being so majestical, `
` To offer it the show of violence; `
` For it is, as the air, invulnerable, `
` And our vain blows malicious mockery. `
` `
` Ber. `
` It was about to speak, when the cock crew. `
` `
` Hor. `
` And then it started, like a guilty thing `
` Upon a fearful summons. I have heard `
` The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, `
` Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat `
` Awake the god of day; and at his warning, `
` Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, `
` The extravagant and erring spirit hies `
` To his confine: and of the truth herein `
` This present object made probation. `
` `
` Mar. `
` It faded on the crowing of the cock. `
` Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes `
` Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, `
` The bird of dawning singeth all night long; `
` And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad; `
` The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, `
` No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm; `
` So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. `
` `
` Hor. `
` So have I heard, and do in part believe it. `
` But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, `
` Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill: `
` Break we our watch up: and by my advice, `
` Let us impart what we have seen to-night `
` Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, `
` This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him: `
` Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, `
` As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? `
` `
` Mar. `
` Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know `
` Where we shall find him most conveniently. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene II. Elsinore. A room of state in the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter the King, Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Voltimand, `
` Cornelius, Lords, and Attendant.] `
` `
` 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 `
` That we with wisest sorrow think on him, `
` Together with remembrance of ourselves. `
` Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, `
` Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state, `
` Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,-- `
` With an auspicious and one dropping eye, `
` With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage, `
` In equal scale weighing delight and dole,-- `
` Taken to wife; nor have we herein barr'd `
` Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone `
` With this affair along:--or all, our thanks. `
` Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, `
` Holding a weak supposal of our worth, `
`