Lords, we here have writ to Fortenbrasse,

2.2207148Nephew to old Norway, who, impudent

2.3208149And bed-rid, scarcely hears of this his

2.4209150Nephew's purpose; and we here dispatch

2.5213151Young good Cornelia, and you, Voltemar,

2.6214152For bearers of these greetings to old

2.7153Norway, giving to you no further personal power

2.8216154To business with the King

2.9217155Than those related articles do show.

2.10218156Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.

In this and all things will we show our duty.

We doubt nothing. Heartily farewell.

2.13222159And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?

2.14223160You said you had a suit. What is't, Laertes?

My gracious lord, your favorable license,

2.16231.1162Now that the funeral rites are all performed,

2.17232163I may have leave to go again to France;

2.18232.1164For though the favor of your grace might stay me,

2.19232.2165Yet something is there whispers in my heart

2.20236166Which makes my mind and spirits bend all for France.

Have you your father's leave, Laertes?

He hath, my lord, wrung from me a forced grant,

2.23241169And I beseech you grant your highness'leave.

With all our heart, Laertes, fare thee well.

I in all love and duty take my leave.

And now, princely son Hamlet,

2.27246173What means these sad and melancholy moods?

2.28294174For your intent going to Wittenberg,

2.29296175We hold it most unmeet and unconvenient,

2.30296.1176Being the joy and half heart of your mother.

2.31297177Therefore let me entreat you stay in court,

2.32299178All Denmark's hope, our cousin and dearest son.

My lord, 'tis not the sable suit I wear,

2.34261180No, nor the tears that still stand in my eyes,

2.35262181Nor the distracted havior in the visage,

2.36263182Nor all together mixed with outward semblance,

2.37263.1183Is equal to the sorrow of my heart.

2.38263.2184Him have I lost I must of force forgo;

2.39267185These but the ornaments and suits of woe.

This shows a loving care in you, son Hamlet,

2.41271187But you must think your father lost a father,

2.42272188That father dead, lost his, and so shall be until the

2.43272.1189General ending. Therefore cease laments.

2.44283190It is a fault 'gainst heaven, fault 'gainst the dead,

2.45284191A fault 'gainst nature, and in reason's

2.46252192Common course most certain,

2.47193None lives on earth but he is born to die.

Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.

2.49301195Stay here with us, go not to Wittenberg.

I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

Spoke like a kind and a most loving son;

2.52308198And there's no health the King shall drink today

2.53309199But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell

2.54310200The rouse the King shall drink unto Prince Hamlet.

Oh, that this too much grieved and sallied flesh

2.56203Would melt to nothing, or that the universal

2.57313.1204Globe of heaven would turn all to a chaos!

2.58316205O God, within two months; no not two: married

2.59330206Mine uncle! Oh, let me not think of it,

2.60336207My father's brother, but no more like

2.61208My father than I to Hercules.

2.62337209Within two months, ere yet the salt of most

2.63338210Unrighteous tears had left their flushing

2.64334211In her gallèd eyes, she married. O God, a beast

2.65212Devoid of reason would not have made

2.66213Such speed! Frailty, thy name is Woman.

2.67327214Why, she would hang on him as if increase

2.68328215Of appetite had grown by what it looked on.

2.69340216Oh, wicked, wicked speed, to make such

2.70341217Dexterity to incestuous sheets,

2.71331218Ere yet the shoes were old,

2.72332219The which she followed my dead father's corse

2.73333220Like Niobe, all tears: married. Well, it is not,

2.74342221Nor it cannot come to good;

2.75343222But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

Health to your lordship!

I am very glad to see you, Horatio, or I much

2.78347226Forget myself.

The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.

O my good friend, I change that name with you.

2.81352229But what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?

2.82353230[To Marcellus.] Marcellus.

My good lord.

I am very glad to see you. Good even, sirs.

2.85362233 [To Horatio] But what is your affair in Elsinor?

2.86363234We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

A truant disposition, my good lord.

Nor shall you make me truster

2.89360237Of your own report against yourself.

2.90361238Sir, I know you are no truant.

2.91239But what is your affair in Elsinor?

My good lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

Oh, I prithee do not mock me, fellow student,

2.94366242I think it was to see my mother's wedding.

Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.

Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funeral baked meats

2.97369245Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

2.98370246Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven

2.99371247Ere ever I had seen that day, Horatio.

2.100372248O my father, my father! Methinks I see my father.

Where, my lord?

Why, in my mind's eye, Horatio.

I saw him once, he was a gallant king.

He was a man, take him for all in all,

2.105377253I shall not look upon his like again.

My lord, I think I saw him yesternight,

Saw, who?

My lord, the King your father.

Ha, ha, the King my father, kee you?

Ceasen your admiration for a while

2.111383259With an attentive ear, till I may deliver,

2.112384260Upon the witness of these gentlemen,

2.113385261This wonder to you.

For God's love, let me hear it.

Two nights together had these gentlemen,

2.116388264Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch,

2.117389265In the dead vast and middle of the night.

2.118390266Been thus encountered by a figure like your father,

2.119391267Armed to point, exactly cap-à-pie,

2.120392268Appears before them thrice, he walks

2.121394269Before their weak and fear-oppressèd eyes

2.122395270Within his truncheon's length,

2.123271While they, distilled almost to jelly

2.124396272With the act of fear, stands dumb

2.125397273And speak not to him. This to me

2.126398274In dreadful secrecy impart they did.

2.127399275And I with them the third night kept the watch,

2.128400276Where as they had delivered form of the thing.

401277Each part made true and good,

2.130402278The apparition comes. I knew your father,

2.131403279These hands are not more like.

'Tis very strange.

As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true,

2.134416282And we did think it right done

2.135283In our duty to let you know it.

Where was this?

My lord, upon the platform where we watched.

Did you not speak to it?

My lord, we did, but answer made it none.

2.140408288Yet once methought it was about to speak,

2.141409289And lifted up his head to motion,

2.142410290Like as he would speak, but even then

2.143411291The morning cock crew loud, and in all haste

2.144412292It shrunk in haste away, and vanished

2.145413293Our sight.

Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.

2.147419295Hold you the watch tonight?

We do, my lord.

Armed, say ye?

Armed, my good lord.

From top to toe?

My good lord, from head to foot.

Why then saw you not his face?

Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.

How looked he, frowningly?

A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

Pale, or red?

Nay, very pale.

And fixed his eyes upon you?

Most constantly.

I would I had been there.

It would 'a' much amazed you.

Yea, very like, very like. Stayed it long?

While one with moderate pace

2.165313Might tell a hundred.

Oh, longer, longer.

His beard was grizzled, no?

It was as I have seen it in his life,

2.169441317A sable silver.

I will watch tonight. Perchance 'twill walk again.

I warrant it will.

If it assume my noble father's person,

2.173445321I'll speak to it, if hell itself should gape

2.174446322And bid me hold my peace. Gentlemen,

2.175447323If you have hither concealed this sight,

2.176448324Let it be tenable in your silence still,

2.177449325And whatsoever else shall chance tonight,

2.178450326Give it an understanding but no tongue.

2.179451327I will requite your loves. So fare you well.

2.180452328Upon the platform 'twixt eleven and twelve

2.181453329I'll visit you.

Our duties to your honor.

Oh, your loves, your loves, as mine to you.

2.184332Farewell.--My father's spirit in arms!

2.185456333Well, all's not well. I doubt some foul play.

2.186457334Would the night were come!

2.187458335Till then, sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise,

2.188459336Though all the world o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.