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Hath made thee hard in 't. Why should'st thou | me, thou mightst have hit upon it here: The com

hate men?

They never flatter'd thee: What hast thou given?
If thou will curse, thy father, that poor rag,
Must be thy subject; who, in spite, put stuff
To some she beggar, and compounded thee
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence! be gone!
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave, and flatterer.
Apem. Art thou proud yet?
Tim.

Ay, that I am not thee.
Apem. I, that I was no prodigal.
Tim.
I, that I am one now;
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.-
That the whole life of Athens were in this!
Thus would I eat it.
[Eating a root.
Apem.
Here; I will mend thy feast.
[Offering him something.
Tim. First mend my company, take away thyself.
Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of
thine.

Tim. 'T is not well mended so, it is but botch'd; If not, I would it were.

Apem. What would'st thou have to Athens? Tim. Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have. Apem. Here is no use for gold. Tim. The best and truest: For here it sleeps, and does no hired harm. Apem. Where ly'st o' nights, Timon? Tim. Under that 's above me. Where feed'st thou o' days, Apemantus? Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it.

Tim. 'Would poison were obedient, and knew my Apem. Where would'st thou send it? [mind! Tim. To sauce thy dishes. Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends: When thou wast in thy gilt, and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity; in thy rags thou knowest none, but art despised for the contrary. There's a medlar for thee, eat it.

Tim. On what I hate I feed not. Apem. Dost hate a medlar? Tim. Ay, though it look like thee. Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?

Tim. Who, without those means thou talk'st of, didst thou ever know beloved?

Apem. Myself.

Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to keep a dog.

Apem. What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers?

Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the things themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?

Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men. Tim. Would'st thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts? Apem. Ay, Timon.

Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee: if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when, peradventure, thou wert accused by the ass if thou wert the ass, thy dulness would torment thee; and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life: all thy safety were remotion; and thy defence, absence. What beast couldst thou be, that were not subject to a beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest| not thy loss in transformation?

Apem. If thou couldst please me with speaking to

monwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts. Tim. How! has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?

Apem. Yonder comes a poet and a painter: The plague of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and give way: When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again.

Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog, than Apemantus.

Apem. Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
Tim. Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon.
Apem. A plague on thee, thou art too bad to curse.
Tim. All villains that do stand by thee are pure.
Apem. There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.
Tim. If I name thee.-

I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.
Apem. I would my tongue could rot them off!
Tim. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog!
Choler does kill me, that thou art alive;
I swoon to see thee.
Apem.
Tim.

'Would thou wouldst burst!
Away,

Thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose
A stone by thee.
[Throws a stone at him.
Apem. Beast! Tim. Slave! Apem. Toad!
Tim.
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
[Apemantus retreats backward, as going.
I am sick of this false world; and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon 't.
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy grave-stone daily: make thine epitaph,
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.
O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce
[Looking on the gold.
'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler
Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!
Thou ever young, fresh, lov'd, and delicate wooer,
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god,
That solder'st close impossibilities, [tongue,
And mak'st them kiss! that speak'st with every
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts!
Think, thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue
Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!
Арет.

'Would 't were so :-
But not till I am dead!-I'll say, thou hast gold:
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.
Tim.
Throng'd to? Apem. Ay.

Tim. Thy back, I prithee.
Apem.

Live, and love thy misery! Tim. Long live so, and so die !-I am quit. [Exit Apemantus. More things like men?-Eat, Timon, and abhor them.

Enter Banditti.

1 Ban. Where should he have this gold? It is some poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder: The mere want of gold, and the falling from of his friends, drove him into this melancholy. 2 Ban. It is noised he hath a mass of treasure. 3 Ban. Let us make the assay upon him. If he care not for 't, he will supply us easily: If he covetously reserve it, how shall 's get it?

do want.

3 Ban. True; for he bears it not about him, 't is 1 Ban. Is not this he? [hid. Banditti. Where? 2 Ban. 'T is his description. 3 Ban. He; I know him. Banditti. Save thee, Timon. Tim. Now, thieves? Banditti. Soldiers, not thieves. Tim. Both too; and women's sons. Banditti. We are not thieves, but men that much [meat. Tim. Your greatest want is you want much of Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots; Within this mile break forth a hundred springs: The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips; The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush Lays her full mess before you. Want? why want? 1 Ban. We cannot live on grass, on berries, water, As beasts, and birds, and fishes. Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds, and

[fishes;

You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con,
That you are thieves profess'd; that you work not
In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,
Here's gold: Go, suck the subtle blood of the grape,
Till the high fever seeth your blood to froth,
And so 'scape hanging. Trust not the physician
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
More than you rob. Take wealth and lives together;
Do villainy, do, since you protest to do 't,
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery :
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea: the moon 's an arrant thief,
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun :
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,
That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen
From general excrement: each thing's a thief,
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves: away;
Rob one another. There's more gold: Cut throats;
All that you meet are thieves: To Athens go;
Break open shops; nothing can you steal,
But thieves do lose it: Steal not less, for this
I give you; and gold confound you howsoever:
Amen.
[Timon retires to his cave.
3 Ban. He has almost charmed me from my pro-
fession, by persuading me to it.

1 Ban. 'Tis in the malice of mankind, that he thus advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery. 2 Ban. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over my trade.

1 Ban. Let us first see peace in Athens: There is no time so miserable but a man may be true. [Exeunt Banditti.

Enter Flavius.
Flav. O you gods!
Is yon despis'd and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd!
What an alteration of honour has
Desperate want made!

What viler thing upon the earth, than friends,
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends:
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
When man was wish'd to love his enemies:
Grant, I may ever love, and rather woo

Methinks, thou art more honest now than wise;
For by oppressing and betraying me,
Thou might'st have sooner got another service:
For many so arrive at second masters,
Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true,
(For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure,)
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,

If not a usuring kindness; and as rich men deal gifts,
Expecting in return twenty for one?

Flav. No, my most worthy master, in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas, are plac'd too late;
You should have fear'd false times, when you did
Suspect still comes where an estate is least. [feast:
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,
Care of your food and living: and, believe it,
My most honour'd lord,

For any benefit that points to me,
Either in hope, or present, I'd exchange
For this one wish, That you had power and wealth
To requite me, by making rich yourself.
Tim. Look thee, 't is so !-Thou singly honest man,
Here, take:-the gods out of my misery
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich, and happy:
But thus condition'd: Thou shalt build from men;
Hate all, curse all: show charity to none:
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone,
Ere thou relieve the beggar: give to dogs
What thou deny'st to men; let prisons swallow them,
Debts wither them to nothing: Be men like blasted
woods,

And may diseases lick up their false bloods!
And so, farewell, and thrive.

Flav. O, let me stay, and comfort you, my master.
Tim. If thou hat'st curses

Stay not; fly, whilst thou art bless'd and free; Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee. [Exeunt severally.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Before Timon's Cave.

Enter Poet and Painter; Timon behind, unseen. Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.

Poet. What 's to be thought of him? Does the rumour hold for true, that he 's so full of gold? Pain. Certain : Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and

Those that would mischief me, than those that do! Timandra had gold of him: he likewise enriched

He has caught me in his eye: I will present
My honest grief unto him; and, as my lord,
Still serve him with my life.-My dearest master!
Timon comes forward from his cave.
Tim. Away! what art thou?
Flav.

Have you forgot me, sir? Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men; Then, if thou grant'st thou 'it a man, I have forgot Flav. An honest poor servant of yours. [thee. Tim. Then I know thee not.

I ne'er had honest man about me; ay, all
I kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains.
Flav. The gods are witness,

Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord, than mine eyes for you.
Tim. What, dost thou weep?-Come nearer :-
then I love thee,

Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankind; whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping:
Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with
weeping!

Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord,
To accept my grief, and, whilst this poor wealth lasts,
To entertain me as your steward still.

Tim. Had I a steward

So true, so just, and now so comfortable?
It almost turns my dangerous nature wild.
Let me behold thy face.-Surely, this man
Was born of woman.-

Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim
One honest man,-mistake me not,-but one;-
No more, I pray,-and he 's a steward.-
How fain would I have hated all mankind,
And thou redeem'st thyself: But all, save thee,
I fell with curses.

poor straggling soldiers with great quantity: 'Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum. Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends,

Pain. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore, 't is not amiss we tender our loves to him, in this supposed distress of his: it will show honestly in us; and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for, if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.

Poet. What have you now to present unto him? Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I will promise him an excellent piece.

Poet. I must serve him so too; tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.

Pain. Good as the best.

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With any size of words.

Tim. Let it go naked, men may see 't the better: You, that are honest, by being what you are, Make them best seen, and known. Pain.

He, and myself, Have travell'd in the great shower of your gifts, And sweetly felt it. Tim. Ay, you are honest men. Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service. Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no. [you? Both. What we can do, we 'll do, to do you service. Tim. You are honest men: You have heard that I have gold; [men. I am sure you have: speak truth: you 're honest Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but therefore Came not my friend, nor I. [feit Tim. Good honest men: Thou draw'st a counterBest in all Athens: thou art, indeed, the best; Thou counterfeit'st most lively. Pain. So, so, my lord. Tim. Even so, sir, as I say:-And, for thy fiction, [To the Poet. Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth, That thou art even natural in thine art.But, for all this, my honest-natur'd friends, I must needs say you have a little fault: Marry, 't is not monstrous in you; neither wish I You take much pains to mend. Both.

To make it known to us.

Tim.

Beseech your honour,

You'll take it ill.

Both. Most thankfully, my lord.
Tim.

Will you, indeed?
Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord.
Tim. There's never a one of you but trusts a
That mightily deceives you.
[knave,
Both.
Do we, my lord?
Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,
Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,
Keep in your bosom: yet remain assur'd,
That he's a made-up villain.

Nor I.

Pain. I know none such, my lord. Poet. Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold, Rid me these villains from your companies: Hang them, or stab them, drown thein in a draught, Confound them by some course, and come to me, I'll give you gold enough.

Both. Name them, my lord, let 's know them. Tim. You that way, and you this, but two in Each man apart, all single and alone, [company: Yet an arch-villain keeps him company. If where thou art, two villains shall not be, [To the Painter. Come not near him.-If thou wouldst not reside [To the Poet. But where one villain is, then him abandon.Hence! pack! there's gold, ye came for gold, ye

slaves.

You have work for me, there's payment: Hence!
You are an alchymist, make gold of that:-
Out, rascal dogs!

1 Sen.

[Exit, beating and driving them out

SCENE II.-The same.

Enter Flavius and Two Senators.

Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with
For he is set so only to himself,
[Timon;
That nothing but himself, which looks like man,
Is friendly with him.
Bring us to his cave:
It is our part, and promise to the Athenians
To speak with Timon. 2 Sen. At all times alike
Men are not still the same: 'T was time, and griefs,
That fram'd him thus: time, with his fairer hand,
Offering the fortunes of his former days,

The former man may make him: Bring us to him,
And chance it as it may.

Flav.

Here is his cave.

Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon!
Look out, and speak to friends: The Athenians,
By two of their most reverend senate, greet thee:
Speak to them, noble Timon.

Enter Timon.

Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn!-Speak, and be hang'd:

For each true word, a blister! and each false
Be as a caut'rising to the root o' the tongue,
Consuming it with speaking!
1 Sen.
Worthy Timon,-
Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.
2 Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.
Tim. I thank them; and would send them back
Could I but catch it for them.
[the plague,
I Sen.
O, forget
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The senators, with one consent of love,
Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought
On special dignities, which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing.
2 Sen.
They confess,
Toward thee, forgetfulness too general, gross:
Which now the public body,-which doth seldom
Play the recanter,-feeling in itself

A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal
Of its own fall, restraining aid to Timon;
And send forth us, to make their sorrow'd render,
Together with a recompense more fruitful
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram ;
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth,
As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,
And write in thee the figures of their love,
Ever to read them thine.

Tim.

You witch me in it;
Surprise me to the very brink of tears:
Lend me a fool's heart, and a woman's eyes,
And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.
1 Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us,
And of our Athens (thine and ours,) to take
The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,
Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name
Live with authority:-so soon we shall drive back
Of Alcibiades the approaches wild;
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace.
2 Sen.
And shakes his threat'ning sword
Against the walls of Athens.
I Sen.
Therefore, Timon.-
Tim. Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir: Thus,-
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,
And take our goodly aged men by the beards,
Giving our holy virgins to the stain

Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war;
Then, let him know,-and tell him, Timon speaks it
In pity of our aged, and our youth,

I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not,
And let him tak 't at worst; for their knives care not,
While you have throats to answer: for myself,
There's not a whittle in the unruly camp,
But I do prize it at my love, before
The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you
To the protection of the prosperous gods,

As thieves to keepers.
Flav.
Stay not, all's in vain.
Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph;
It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness
Of health, and living, now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough!

I Sen.
We speak in vain.
Tim. But yet I love my country, and am not
One that rejoices in the common wrack,
As common bruit doth put it.
I Sen.

That 's well spoke.
Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen,-
1 Sen. These words become your lips as they pass
through them.

2 Sen. And enter in our ears like great triumphers
In their applauding gates.
Tim.
Commend me to them;
And tell them, that, to ease them of their griefs,
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain [them:
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do
I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.
2 Sen. I like this well, he will return again.
Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close,
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it: Tell my friends,
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree,
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,
Come hither, ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself:-I pray you, do my greeting.
Flav. Trouble him no further, thus you still shall

find him.

Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Whom once a day with his embossed froth
The turbulent surge shall cover; thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.-
Lips, let sour words go by, and language end:
What is amiss, plague and infection mend!
Graves only be men's works; and death their gain!
Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign.
[Exit Timon.

1 Sen. His discontents are unremoveably
Coupled to nature.

2 Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us In our dear peril.

I Sen.

It requires swift foot.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The Walls of Athens.
Enter Two Senators, and a Messenger.
I Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd; are his files
As full as thy report?
Mess.
I have spoke the least;
Besides, his expedition promises
Present approach.

[Timon.

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SCENE V.-Before the walls of Athens.
Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades and Forces.
Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach.
[A parley sounded.

Enter Senators on the walls.

Till now you have gone on, and fill'd the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
The scope of justice; till now, myself, and such
As slept within the shadow of your power,
Have wander'd with our travers'd arms, and
breath'd

Our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush,
When crouching marrow, in the bearer strong,
Cries, of itsel, No more: now breathless wrong
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease;
And pursy in solence shall break his wind,
With fear, and horrid flight.
1 Sen.
Noble, and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power, or we had cause of fear,
We sent to thee; to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves
Above their quantity.
2 Sen. So did we woo

Transformed Timon to our city's love,
By humble message, and by promis'd means;
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

1 Sen.
These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have receiv'd your griefs: nor are they such
That these great towers, trophies, and schools
For private faults in them.
[should fall
2 Sen.
Nor are they living
Who were the motives that you first went out;
Shame that they wanted cunning, in excess,
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,
Into our city with thy banners spread:
By decimation, and a tithed death,
(If thy revenges hunger for that food,
Which nature loaths,) take thou the destin'd tenth;
And by the hazard of the spotted die,
Let die the spotted.
1 Sen.
All have not offended;
For those that were, it is not square to take,
On those that are, revenge: crimes, like lands,
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle, and those kin
Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd,
Approach the fold, and cull the infected forth,
But kill not altogether.
What thou wilt,
2 Sen.

2 Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not
Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;-Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile,
Whom, though in general part we were oppos'd,
Than hew to 't with thy sword.
Yet our old love made a particular force,
1 Sen.
And made us speak like friends:-this man was

From Alcibiades to Timon's cave
With letters of entreaty, which imported
His fellowship i' the cause against your city,
In part for his sake mov'd.

1 Sen.

Enter Senators from Timon.

[riding

Here come our brothers.
3 Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.
The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring
Doth choke the air with dust: In, and prepare;
Ours is the fall, I fear; our foes the snare. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-The Woods. Timon's Cave, and a
Tomb-stone seen.

Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon.
Sold. By all description this should be the place.
Who's here? speak, hoa!-No answer?-What is

this?

Set but thy foot
Against our rampir'd gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say thou 'lt enter friendly.
2 Sen.
Throw thy glove;

Or any token of thine honour else,
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress,
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.

Alcib.

Then there 's my glove;
Descend, and open your uncharged ports;
Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and,-to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning,-not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be render'd to your public laws,
'T is most nobly spoken,

At heaviest answer.
Both.

Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span;
Some beast-Read this. There does not live a man, Alcib. Descend, and keep your words.

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These will express in thee thy latter spirits:
Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,
Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our droplets
From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit [which
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye
On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead
Is noble Timon; of whose memory
And I will use the olive with my sword:
Hereafter more.-Bring me into your city,
Make war breed peace; make peace stint war;
Prescribe to other, as each other's leech.
Let our drums strike.

make each

[Exeunt.

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ACT I.

PERSONS REPRESENted.

Another courtier.
A Priest.

MARCELLUS, an officer.
BERNARDO, an officer.
FRANCISCO, a soldier.
REYNALDO, servant to Polonius.
A Captain.

An Ambassador.

Ghost of Hamlet's father.
FORTINBRAS, Prince of Nor-
way.

GERTRUDE, Queen of Denmark, und mother of Hamlet. OPHELIA, daughter of Polonius.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Grave-diggers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE.-ELSINORE,

SCENE I.-Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle.
Francisco on his post. Enter to him Bernardo.
Ber. Who's there?
Fran.

Yourself.

Nay, answer me: stand, and
[unfold
Ber. He.

Bernardo?

Ber. Long live the king!
Fran.
Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour.
Ber. 'T is now struck twelve; get thee to bed,
Francisco.

Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 't is bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard?
Fran.

Ber. Well, good night.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.
Ber. Last night of all,

When yon same star, that's westward from the pole,
Had made his course to illume that part of heaven
Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself,
The bell then beating one,-
[again!
Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes
Enter Ghost.

Ber. In the same figure, like the king that 's dead.
Mar. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio.
Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.
Hor. Most like:-it harrows me with fear, and
Ber. It would be spoke to.
[wonder.
Mar.
Question it, Horatio.

Not a mouse stirring. Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of
Together with that fair and warlike form [night,
In which the majesty of buried Denmark [speak.
Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee,
Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it stalks away.
Hor. Stay speak: speak! I charge thee, speak!
[Exit Ghost.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Fran. I think I hear them.-Stand! who is there?
Hor. Friends to this ground.

And liegemen to the Dane.

Mar.
Fran. Give you good night.
Mar.

Who hath reliev'd you?
Fran.

Mar. 'T is gone, and will not answer.
Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble, and look
Is not this something more than fantasy? [pale:
What think you on 't?

O, farewell, honest soldier:
Bernardo hath my place.
Give you good night.
[Exit Francisco.
Mar.
Holla Bernardo !
Ber. Say.
What, is Horatio there?
Such was the very armour he had on,
Hor.
A piece of him. [lus. When he the ambitious Norway combated;
Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcel- So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle,
Mar. What, has this thing appear'd again to- He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
Ber. I have seen nothing.
[night?'T is strange.

Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe,
Without the sensible and true avouch

Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king?
Hor. As thou art to thyself:

Mar. Horatio says, 't is but our fantasy;
And will not let belief take hold of him,
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us :
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us to watch the minutes of this night;
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes, and speak to it.
Hor. Tush! tush! 't will not appear.

Ber.

Sit down awhile;

[blocks in formation]

knows,

Why this same strict and most observant watch
So nightly toils the subject of the land?
And why such daily cast of brazen cannon,
And foreign mart for implements of war:
Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task
Well, sit we down Does not divide the Sunday from the week;

And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.

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