SCENE V. A more remote Part of the Platform. Enter Ghost and HAMLET. Ham. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak, I'll go no further. Ghost. Mark me. My hour is almost come, Alas, poor ghost! When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. 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; Doomed for a certain term to walk the night; And, for the day, confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes, done in my days of nature, Are burned and purged away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, 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, And each particular hair to stand on end, 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. Ham. Haste me to know it; that I, with wings as swift As meditation, or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. I find thee apt; Ghost. That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear. Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, Ham. O my prophetic soul! my uncle! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, (O wicked wit, and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!) won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming virtuous queen. O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity, That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage; and to decline Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine! But virtue, as it never will be moved, 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, Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, No reckoning made, but sent to my account But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, Adieu, adieu, adieu! remember me. [Exit. 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 O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! [Writing. That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; Mar. [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? 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 in 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;For every man hath business, and desire, Such as it is,and, for my own poor part, Look you, I will 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. We will. What is't, my lord? Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night. Hor. Mar. My lord, we will not. Ham. Hor. My lord, not I. Mar. Nay, but swear't. In faith, Nor I, my lord, in faith. We have sworn, my lord, already. Ham. Upon my sword. Mar. Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Ha, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there, true penny? Come on, 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. Swear by my sword, Never to speak of this that you have heard. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear by his sword. Ham. Well said, old mole! Canst 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! That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As, Well, well, we know ;-or, We could, an if we would; -or, If we list to speak;-or, There be, an if they might; Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me.-This not to do, swear; So grace and mercy at your most need help you! 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, to express his love and befriending to you, [Exeunt. |