And draw you into madness? think of it: Ham. It waves me still : Go on, I'll follow thee. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. And makes each petty artery in this body [Ghost beckons. Still am I call'd;—unhand me, gentlemen ; [Breaking from them. By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him, that lets me : I say, away :-Go on, I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghost and HAMLET. Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt. SCENE V. A more remote part of the Platform. Re-enter Ghost and HAMLET. Ham. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak, I'll go no further. Ghost. Mark me. Ham. I will. Ghost. My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. Alas, poor ghost! Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak, I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ham. What? Ghost. I am thy father's spirit; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night; And, for the day, confin'd to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes, done in my days of nature, I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part, Like quills upon the fretful porcupine: But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood:-List, list, O list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love,— Ham. O heaven! 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. ,Hum. Haste me to know it; that I, with wings as swift As meditation, or the thoughts of love, Ghost. I find thee apt; And duller should'st thou be than the fat weed Would'st thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out, that, sleeping in mine orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Rankly abus'd: but know, thou noble youth, Ham. O, my prophetick soul! my uncle! But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven; And prey on garbage. But, soft! methinks, I scent the morning air; Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatch'd: And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire: [Exit. Ham. O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell?-O fye!-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 I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain : Hor. [Within.] Heaven secure him! Ham. So be it! Mar. [Within.] Illo, ho, ho, my lord! [Writing. Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Mar. How is't, my noble lord? |