HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. ACT I. SCENE I. Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle. FRANCISCO on his Post. Enter to him BArnardo. BAR. Who's there? FRAN. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold Yourself. BAR. Long live the king!" FRAN. BAR. Barnardo? He. (1) FRAN. You come most carefully upon your hour. BAR. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. FRAN. For this relief, much thanks: 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. a BAR. Have you had quiet guard? FRAN. Not a mouse stirring. me] i. e. me who am already on the watch, and have a right to demand the watch-word. STEEVENS. bunfold] Announce, make known. с Long live, &c.] The watch-word. B If BAR. Well, good night. you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. FRAN. I think, I hear them.-Stand, ho! Who is there? HOR. Friends to this ground. BAR. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Mar cellus. HOR. What, has this thing appear'd again tonight? BAR. I have seen nothing. MAR. Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy; Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us : With us, to watch the minutes of this night; (5) He may approve our eyes, and speak to it. a Approve our eyes] "To approove or confirme. Ratum habere aliquid." Baret's Alvearie, Fo. 1580. Approves the common liar." Ant. & Cl. I. 1. Dem. See Two G. of V. Prot. V. 4. Sit down awhile; HOR. Tush! tush! 'twill not appear. HOR. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Barnardo speak of this. BAR. Last night of all, When yon same star, that's westward from the pole, MAR. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Enter Ghost. BAR. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. MAR. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio." BAR. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Ho ratio. HOR. Most like:-it harrows me with fear, and wonder.(7) BAR. It would be spoke to. MAR. Speak to it, Horatio. HOR. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form What we have seen] We must here supply, "with," or "by relating." b Usurp'st this time of night] Abuses, uses against right, and the order of things. "He but usurp'd his life;" i, e. occupied it beyond, and out of its season. End of Lear. Pollax. O.C. In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak. MAR. It is offended. BAR. See! it stalks away. HOR. Stay; speak: speak I charge thee, speak. [Exit Ghost. MAR. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. BAR. HOW now, Horatio? you tremble, and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you of it? HOR. Before my God, I might not this believe, Without the sensible and true avoucha Of mine own eyes. MAR. Is it not like the king? HOR. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on, MAR. Thus, twice before, and just at this dead With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. But in the gross and scope of mine opinion, "I might not this believe, &c.] I could not: it had not been permitted me, &c. without the full and perfect evidence, &c. b In what particular thought to work] In what particular course to set my thoughts at work: in what particular train to direct the mind and exercise it in conjecture. gross and scope] Uoon the whole, and in a general view. MAR. Good now," sit down, and tell me, he that Why this same strict and most observant watch HOR. That can I; At least, the whisper goes so. Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, Was gaged by our king; which had return'd Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same cov'nant * deseigne, 4tos. de His fell to Hamlet: Now, sir, young Fortinbras, signe. 1623. Of unimproved mettle (13) hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, That hath a stomach in't: (14) which is no other Good now] In good time: à la bonne heure. An interjection, a gentle exclamation of intreaty.-Johns. Dict. As an adverb he interprets it, well. b mart] Marketing, exchange. |