Ham. For God's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distill'd Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me And I with them the third night kept the watch: Form of the thing, each word made true and good, Ham. But where was this? Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. My lord, I did; But answer made it none: yet once, methought, It lifted up its head, and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak : But, even then, the morning cock crew loud; Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me; VOL. XI. Hold you the watch to-night? All. We do, my lord. Ham. Arm'd, say you? All. My lord, from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not His face? Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up. Hor. A countenance more In sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale, or red? Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you? Hor. Most 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 haste might tell a hundred. Mar. Ber. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzl'd? no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silver'd. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchance, 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant, it will. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, All. Our duty to your honour. Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: Farewell. [Exeunt HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO. My father's spirit in arms! all is not well; I doubt some foul play: 'would, the night were come ! Till then sit still, my soul: Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. [Exit. SCENE III.A room in POLONIUS' house. Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA. Laer. My necessaries are embark'd; farewell: And, sister, as the winds give benefit, And convoy is assistant, 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, Oph. No more but so? Laer. Think it no more: For nature, crescent, does not grow alone Carve for himself; for on his choice depends As he in his particular act and place May give his saying deed; which is no further, Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister; And in the morn and liquid dew of youth : Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven; Laer. O fear me not, I stay too long;—But here my father comes. Enter POLONIUS. A double blessing is a double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave. Pol. Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame; The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are staid for: There,-my blessing with you; [Laying his hand on LAERTES' head. And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, |