Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Mar. How is 't, my noble lord? What news, my lord? Ham. O wonderful! Hor. Ham. Good my lord, tell it. No; You will reveal it. Nor I, my lord. Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven. Mar. Ham. How say you then; would heart of man once think it? But you'll be secret, Hor. Mar. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Ham. There's ne'er a villain, dwelling in all Denmark, But he's an arrant knave. Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave, To tell us this. Ham. Why, right; you are in the right; For every man hath business, and desire, Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily; yes, 'Faith, heartily. Hor. There's no offence, my lord. Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you: As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Hor. We will. What is 't, my lord? Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night. Hor. Mar. My lord, we will not. Ham. Hor. My lord, not I. Mar. Nay, but swear't. In faith, Nor I, my lord, in faith. Ham. Upon my sword." Mar. We have sworn, my lord, already. Ham. Ha, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellar age, Consent to swear. Hor. Propose the oath, my lord. Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Hic et ubique! then we'll shift our ground: Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword: Never to speak of this that you have heard. Ham. Well said, old mole! canst work i' the earth so fast? A worthy pioneer!-Once more remove, good friends. Hor. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange! Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Here, as before, never, so help you mercy! That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As, Well, well, we know ;-or, We could, an if we would;-or, If we list to speak;-or, There be, an if they might ; Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me :-This not to do, swear; So grace and mercy at your most need help you! Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So, gentle men, With all my love I do commend me to you: May do, to express his love and friending to you, God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together; And still your fingers on your lips, I pray. ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE I. A Room in Polonius' House. Pol. Give him this money, and these notes, Rey. I will, my lord. Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Before you visit him, to make inquiry Of his behaviour. Rey. My lord, I did intend it. Pol. Marry, well said: very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris; And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense; and finding, By this encompassment and drift of question, That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it: Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him; As thus, I know his father, and his friends, Pol. And, in part, him;-but, you may say, not well: But, if't be he I mean, he's very wild ; Rey. As, gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing: You may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him. Pol. 'Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge. You must not put another scandal on him, That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly, That they may seem the taints of liberty; A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault. But, my good lord, Ay, my lord, Pol. Wherefore should you do this? Rey. Rey. I would know that. Pol. Your party in converse, him you would sound, Rey. Pol. And then, sir, does he this,-He doesWhat was I about to say ?-By the mass, I was about to say something:-Where did I leave? Rey. At, closes in the consequence. Pol. At, closes in the consequence,-Ay, marry; He closes with you thus:-I know the gentleman; I saw him yesterday, or t'other day, Or then, or then; with such, or such; and, as you say, There was he gaming; there o'ertook in his rouse; There falling out at tennis: or, perchance, I saw him enter such a house of sale (Videlicet, a brothel), or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth: Shall you my son: You have me, have you not? Pol. God be wi' you; fare you well. Rey. Good my lord, Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself. Pol. And let him ply his musick. Rey. I shall, my lord. Rey. Well, my lord, [Exit. Enter OPHELIA. Pol. Farewell!-How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! Pol. With what, in the name of heaven? To speak of horrors,-he comes before me. Oph. My lord, I do not know; But, truly, I do fear it. |