Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprize That hath a stomach in 't: which is no other And terms compulsative, those 'foresaid lands 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 dooms-day 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 climatures and countrymen. Re-enter Ghost. But, soft! behold! lo, where it comes again! Stay, illusion! I'll cross it, though it blast me. If there be any good thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, [Cock crows. Stop it, Marcellus. Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? 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. Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. Break we our watch up; and, by my advice, Mar. Let's do 't, I pray; and I this morning know SCENE II. The Same. A Room of State. [Exeunt. Enter the King, Queen, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants. 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, Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone Lost by his father, with all bands of law, To business with the king, more than the scope Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. Cor. Vol. In that, and all things, will we show our duty. [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. And now, Laertes, what's the news with you? And lose your voice: what would'st thou beg, Laertes, Laer. My dread lord, Your leave and favour to return to France; From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, Yet now, I must confess, that duty done, My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius? By laboursome petition; and, at last, Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st, 't is common; all that live must die, Ham. Ay, Madam, it is common. Why seems it so particular with thee? If it be, [Aside. Ham. Seems, Madam! nay, it is; I know not seems. 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shows of grief, That can denote me truly: these, indeed, seem, For they are actions that a man might play; But I have that within, which passeth show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe. King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, your father lost a father; That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound In filial obligation, for some term, To do obsequious sorrow: but to persevere Of impious stubbornness; 't is unmanly grief: |