Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes The pith and marrow of our attribute. That for some vicious mole of nature in them, Shall in the general censure take corruption Hor. Look, my lord, it comes ! Enter Ghost. Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked, or charitable, Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws, Making night hideous; and we fools of nature, do? With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? To you alone. Mar. It wafts you to a more removed ground: Look, with what courteous action No, by no means. But do not go with it. Hor. Ham. It will not speak; then will I follow it. Hor. Do not, my lord. Ham. Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pin's fee; And, for my soul, what can it do to that, It waves me forth again ;-I'll follow it. Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff, Ham. It wafts me still.-Go on, I'll follow thee. Hold off your hand. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. Hor. Be ruled, you shall not go. My fate cries out, Ham. [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. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. Hor. Have after.-To what issue will this SCENE V.-A more remote part of the Platform. Enter Ghost and HAMLET. Ham. Where wilt thou lead me? speak, I'll 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, confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes, done in my days of nature, Are burnt 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, To ears of flesh and blood.-List, Hamlet, O list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love,— Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ham. Murder? Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; As meditation, or the thoughts of love, Ghost. I find thee apt; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this. hear: Now, Hamlet, 'Tis given out, that, sleeping in mine orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Den mark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life, Now wears his crown. Ham. O my prophetic soul! mine uncle! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, 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's air; Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, And in the porches of mine ears did pour |