HAMLET 1.1

Elsinore. A platform before the castle.

[FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO]

BERNARDO Who's there?

FRANCISCO Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.

BERNARDO Long live the king!

FRANCISCO Bernardo?

BERNARDO He. 5

FRANCISCO You come most carefully upon your hour.

BERNARDO 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.

FRANCISCO For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.

BERNARDO Have you had quiet guard? 10

FRANCISCO Not a mouse stirring.

BERNARDO Well, good night.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

FRANCISCO I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there? 15

[Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS]

HORATIO Friends to this ground.

MARCELLUS And liegemen to the Dane.

FRANCISCO Give you good night.

MARCELLUS O, farewell, honest soldier:

Who hath relieved you? 20

FRANCISCO Bernardo has my place.

Give you good night.

[Exit]

MARCELLUS Holla! Bernardo!

BERNARDO Say,

What, is Horatio there? 25

HORATIO A piece of him.

BERNARDO Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Marcellus.

MARCELLUS What, has this thing appear'd again to-night?

BERNARDO I have seen nothing.

MARCELLUS Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, 30

And will not let belief take hold of him

Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us:

Therefore I have entreated him along

With us to watch the minutes of this night;

That if again this apparition come, 35

He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

HORATIO Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.

BERNARDO Sit down awhile;

And let us once again assail your ears,

That are so fortified against our story 40

What we have two nights seen.

HORATIO Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

BERNARDO Last night of all,

When yond same star that's westward from the pole 45

Had made his course to illume that part of heaven

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,

The bell then beating one,--

[Enter Ghost]

MARCELLUS Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again!

BERNARDO In the same figure, like the king that's dead. 50

MARCELLUS Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.

BERNARDO Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.

HORATIO Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder.

BERNARDO It would be spoke to.

MARCELLUS Question it, Horatio. 55

HORATIO 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!

MARCELLUS It is offended. 60

BERNARDO See, it stalks away!

HORATIO Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak!

[Exit Ghost]

MARCELLUS 'Tis gone, and will not answer.

BERNARDO How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale:

Is not this something more than fantasy?

What think you on't? 65

HORATIO Before my God, I might not this believe

Without the sensible and true avouch

Of mine own eyes.

MARCELLUS Is it not like the king?

HORATIO As thou art to thyself:

Such was the very armour he had on 70

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.

MARCELLUS Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, 75

With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

HORATIO 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.

MARCELLUS Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, 80

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 85

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?

HORATIO That can I; 90

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,

Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet-- 95

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 seized of, to the conqueror: 100

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 covenant,

And carriage of the article design'd, 105

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 110

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, 115

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.

BERNARDO I think it be no other but e'en so:

Well may it sort that this portentous figure 120

Comes armed through our watch; so like the king

That was and is the question of these wars.

HORATIO 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, 125

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 130

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 135

Unto our climatures 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: 140

If there be any good thing to be done,

That may to thee do ease and grace to me,

Speak to me:

[Cock crows]

If thou art privy to thy country's fate,

Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, O, speak! 145

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,

Speak of it: stay, and speak! Stop it, Marcellus.

MARCELLUS Shall I strike at it with my partisan? 150

HORATIO Do, if it will not stand.

BERNARDO 'Tis here!

HORATIO 'Tis here!

MARCELLUS 'Tis gone!

[Exit Ghost]

We do it wrong, being so majestical, 155

To offer it the show of violence;

For it is, as the air, invulnerable,

And our vain blows malicious mockery.

BERNARDO It was about to speak, when the cock crew.

HORATIO And then it started like a guilty thing 160

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, 165

The extravagant and erring spirit hies

To his confine: and of the truth herein

This present object made probation.

MARCELLUS It faded on the crowing of the cock.

Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes 170

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,

The bird of dawning singeth all night long:

And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad;

The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, 175

So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.

HORATIO 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, 180

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? 185

MARCELLUS Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know

Where we shall find him most conveniently.

[Exeunt]

FRANCISCO		For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,
		And I am sick at heart.

BERNARDO		Well, good night.
		If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
		The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

FRANCISCO		I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there?	15
		[Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS]

MARCELLUS		O, farewell, honest soldier:
		Who hath relieved you?	20

MARCELLUS	Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,	30
	And will not let belief take hold of him
	Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us:
	Therefore I have entreated him along
	With us to watch the minutes of this night;
	That if again this apparition come,	35
	He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

BERNARDO	Sit down awhile;
	And let us once again assail your ears,
	That are so fortified against our story	40
	What we have two nights seen.

HORATIO		Well, sit we down,
		And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

BERNARDO	Last night of all,
	When yond same star that's westward from the pole	45
	Had made his course to illume that part of heaven
	Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
	The bell then beating one,--
	[Enter Ghost]

HORATIO		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!

HORATIO		Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak!
		[Exit Ghost]

BERNARDO	How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale:
	Is not this something more than fantasy?
	What think you on't?	65

HORATIO		Before my God, I might not this believe
		Without the sensible and true avouch
		Of mine own eyes.

HORATIO	As thou art to thyself:
	Such was the very armour he had on	70
	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.

MARCELLUS		Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,	75
		With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

HORATIO		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.

MARCELLUS	Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows,	80
	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	85
	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?

HORATIO	That can I;	90
	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,
	Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet--	95
	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 seized of, to the conqueror:	100
	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 covenant,
	And carriage of the article design'd,	105
	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	110
	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,	115
	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.

BERNARDO	I think it be no other but e'en so:
	Well may it sort that this portentous figure	120
	Comes armed through our watch; so like the king
	That was and is the question of these wars.

HORATIO	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,	125
	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	130
	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	135
	Unto our climatures 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:	140
	If there be any good thing to be done,
	That may to thee do ease and grace to me,
	Speak to me:
	[Cock crows]
	If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
	Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, O, speak!	145
	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,
	Speak of it: stay, and speak! Stop it, Marcellus.

MARCELLUS	'Tis gone!
	[Exit Ghost]
	We do it wrong, being so majestical,	155
	To offer it the show of violence;
	For it is, as the air, invulnerable,
	And our vain blows malicious mockery.

HORATIO	And then it started like a guilty thing	160
	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,	165
	The extravagant and erring spirit hies
	To his confine: and of the truth herein
	This present object made probation.

MARCELLUS	It faded on the crowing of the cock.
	Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes	170
	Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
	The bird of dawning singeth all night long:
	And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad;
	The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
	No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,	175
	So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.

HORATIO	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,	180
	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?	185

MARCELLUS		Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know
		Where we shall find him most conveniently.
		[Exeunt]