Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: Anonymous
Editor: David Bevington
Not Peer Reviewed

Der bestrafte Brudermord (Fratricide Punished)

Horatio, Hamlet, Francisco
125Horatio
How is it, my noble lord? Why so terror-stricken? Have you perhaps been disturbed?
Hamlet
Why yes, Horatio, beyond all measure.
Horatio
Have you seen the ghost, my lord?
Hamlet
Indeed yes, I have seen it, and spoken with it too.
Horatio
O Heaven! this bodes something strange!
130Hamlet
He has revealed to me a horrible thing; therefore, I pray you, gentlemen, stand by me in a matter that calls for vengeance.
Horatio
Certainly you are assured of my loyalty; only explain it to me, my lord.
Fransisco
Your lordship cannot doubt of my aid also.
Hamlet
Gentlemen, before I make this matter known to you, you must swear an oath by your loyalty and honor.
Fransisco
Your lordship knows how much I love you, and how gladly I will lend my life if you wish to be revenged.
135Horatio
Offer us the oath; we will stand by you faithfully.
Hamlet
Then lay your finger on my sword. We swear!
Horatio and Fransisco
We swear.
Ghost
We swear.
Hamlet
What is this? Can there be an echo here, to give us back our words? Come, gentlemen, we will go to another spot. We swear.
140Ghost
We swear.
Hamlet
This means something strange! Come, once more; we will go to the other side. We swear.
Horatio and Fransisco
We swear.
Ghost
We swear.
Hamlet
Ha, what is this? Again: We swear.
145Horatio and Fransisco
We swear.
Ghost
We swear.
Hamlet
O! now I understand what it is. It appears that the spirit of my father is not pleased that I should make this matter known. Good friends, I pray you, leave me —tomorrow I shall reveal it all to you.
Horatio and Fransisco
Farewell, Your Highness!
[Exit Francisco.]
Hamlet
Come here, Horatio.
150Horatio
What is Your Highness' will?
Hamlet
Has the other fellow gone?
Horatio
Yes, he has gone.
Hamlet
I know, Horatio, thou hast at all times been true to me; therefore I shall reveal to thee what the ghost told me, namely, that my father died an unnatural death. My father, he who is now my father, has murdered him.
Horatio
O heavens! what do I hear!
155Hamlet
Thou know'st, Horatio, that my late father was accustomed to sleep an hour every day after dinner in his garden. Knowing this, the villain comes to my father and pours the juice of hebenon into his ear while he is asleep; so that through this strong poison, he immediately yields up the ghost. And this the accursed dog did to obtain the crown: but from this hour I will put on a feigned madness, and in this deceit I'll play my part so skilfully that surely I shall find an opportunity to avenge my father's death.
Horatio
My lord, if the matter stands thus, I shall offer you my loyal help.
Hamlet
Horatio, I will so revenge myself on this usurper, this adulterer, this murderer, that posterity shall speak of it to all eternity; now I shall go, and with dissembling wait upon him until I find an opportunity to execute my vengeance.
[Exeunt.]