So excellent a king: that was to this,
Hyperion to a fatyr: fo loving to my mother,
That he might not let e'en the winds of heaven
Vifit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Muft I remember? why, fhe would hang on him,
As if encreafe of appetite had

grown By what it fed on: and yet, within a month,— Let me not think on't ;- -Frailty, thy name i

woman!

A little month; or ere those shoes were old,
With which the follow'd my poor father's body,
Like Niobe, all tears :-why fhe, even fhe,-
O heaven! a beast, that wants discourse of reafon,
Would have mourn'd longer,-marry'd with my

uncle,

my father

My father's brother; but no more like
Than I to Hercules: Within a month
Ere yet the falt of moft unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her gauled eyes,
She marry'd.O most wicked speed, to post
With fuch dexterity to incestuous fheets!
It is not, nor it cannot come to good:
But break my heart; for I must hold my tongue!

Enter HORATIO, BERNARDO, and Marcellus.
Hor. Hail to your lordship!

Ham. I am glad to fee you

well:

Horatio, or I do forget myself?

Hor. The fame, my lord, and your poor fervant

ever.

Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name

with you.

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?Marcellus ?

Mar

Mar. My good lord,

Ham. I am very glad to see you; good even, fir. But what in faith, make you from Wittenberg! Hor. A truant difpofition, good my lord. Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so; Nor fhall you do mine ear that violence. To make it truster of your own report Against yourfelf: know you are no truant. But what is your affair in Elfineur

We'll teach you to drink deep, ere you depart.
Hor. My lord, I came to fee your father's funeral.
Ham. I pray thee,do not mock me,fellow-student.
I think, it was to fee my mother's wedding.
Hor. Indeed, my lord it follow'd hard upon.
Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral bak'd

meats

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven,
Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!-
My father; methinks, I fee my father.
Hor. O where my lord?

Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio.

Hor. I faw him once, he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I fhall not look upon his like again.

Hor. My lord, I think I faw him yesternight. Ham. Saw? who?

Hor. My lord, the king your father.

Ham. The king my father!

Hor. Seafon your admiration for a while With an attent ear; 'till I may deliver, Upon the witness of these gentlemen,

This marvel to you.

Ham. For heaven's love, let me hear.
B 2

Hor.

Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,

In the dead waste and middle of the night,
Been thus encountered. A figure like your father,
Arm'd at all points, exactly, cap-á-pé,

Appears before them, and, with folemn march,
Goes flow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd,
By their oppreft and fear-furprized eyes,

Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distill'd
Almoft to jelly with the act of fear,
Stand dumb and speak not to him.

This to me In dreadful fecrefy impart they did;

And I with them, the third night, kept the watch: Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes: I knew your father; Thefe hands are not more like.

Ham. But where was this?

Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we Ham. Did you not speak to it?

Hor. My lord, I did;

[watch'd.

But answer made it none: yet once, methought,

It lifted up its head, and did addrefs

Itself to motion, like as it would speak :

But, even then, the morning cock crew loud?
And at the found it fhrunk in hafte away,
And vanish'd from our fight.

Ham.' is very strange.

Hor. As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; And we did think it writ down in our duty, To let you know of it.

Ham. Indeed, indeed, firs, but this troubles me Hold you the watch to-night?

All. We do, my lord.

Ham.

Ham. Arm'd, fay you?

All. Arm'd, my lord.

Ham. From top to toe?

All. My lord, from head to foot.
Ham. Then faw you not his face?

Hor. O yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.
Ham. What, look'd he frowningly?

Hor. A countenance more

In forrow than in anger.

Ham. Pale, or red?

Hor. Nay, very pale.

Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you?

Hor. Moft constantly.

Ham. I would, I had been there.
Hor. It would have much amaz'd you.
Ham. Very like,

Very like Stay'd it long?

Hor. While one with moderate hafte

Might tell a hundred.

Both. Longer, longer.

Hor. Not when I faw it..

Ham. His beard was grizzl'd? no?
Hor. It was as I have feen it in his life.
A fable filver'd.

Ham. I will watch to-night;
Perchance, 'till walk again.

Hor. I warrant, it will.

Ham. If it affume my noble father's perfon,
I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape,
And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
If you have hitherto conceal'd this fight,
Let it be tenable in your filence ftill;
And whatsoever elfe fhall hap to-night,
Give it an understanding, but no tongue;
B 3

I will

I will requite your loves: fo fare you well:
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,
I'll vifit
you.

All. Our duty to your honour.

Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: Farewell.

[Exeunt.

My father's fpirit in arms! all is not well; I doubt fome foul play: 'would the night were come! 'Till then fit ftill, my foul: Foul deeds will rife, (Though all the earth o'erwhelm them) to men's

eyes.

[Exit.

SCENE III. An Apartment in POLONIUS' house.

Enter LAERTES, and OPHELIA.

Laer. My neceffaries are embark'd; farewell: And, fifter, as the winds give benefit,

And convoy is affiftant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.

Oph. Do you doubt that?

Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood;

A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, fweet not lafting,
The perfume and fuppliance of a minute;
No more.

Oph. No more but fo?

Laer. Think it no more:

For nature, crefcent, does dot grow alone
In thews, and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,
The inward fervice of the mind and foul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps, he loves you now;
And now no foil, nor cautel, doth befmirch
The virtue of his will: but you must fear,