Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ham. Murder? Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know 't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation, or the thoughts of love, And duller should'st thou be, than the fat weed That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Would'st thou not stir in this: now, Hamlet, hear. Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, Now wears his crown. Ham. O, my prophetic soul! my uncle! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, But, soft! methinks, I scent the morning air: Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatch d: No reckoning made, but sent to my account Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me. Ham. O, all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? — O fie ! — Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, But bear me stiffly up! Remember thee? Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat In this distracted globe. Remember thee? [Exit. Yea, from the table of my memory I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! [Writing. Heaven secure him! Hor. [Within.] Illo, ho, ho, my lord! Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come. Enter HORATIO and MARcellus. Mar. How is 't, my noble lord? Hor. What news, my lord? Ham. How say you, then; would heart of man once think it? But you'll be secret. Hor. Mar. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Ham. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark, But he's an arrant knave. Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. Ham. Why, right; you are i' the right; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part: You, as your business and desire shall point you, Such as it is; and, for mine own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray. Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily; yes, 'Faith, heartily. Hor. There's no offence, my lord. Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick,' but there is, Horatio, For your desire to know what is between us, Give me one poor request. Hor. What is 't my lord, we will. Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night. Ham. Hor. Nay, but swear 't. In faith, My lord, not I. Mar. Nor I, my lord, in faith. Ham. Upon my sword. We have sworn, my lord, already. Mar. Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Ha, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there, true penny? you hear this fellow in the cellarage, Consent to swear. Hor. Propose the oath, my lord. Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Hic et ubique? then, we'll shift our ground. — Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword: Never to speak of this that you have heard, Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Well said, old mole! can'st work i' the earth so fast? A worthy pioneer! - Once more remove, good friends. Hor. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange! Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come; Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on, That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, would;' Or, "If we list to speak;" or, "We could, an if we or, "There be, an if they might;" Or such ambiguous giving out, to note So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you: And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do, t'express his love and friending to you, |