Oph. And hath given Countenance to his Speech, my Lord, With almost all the Vows of Heaven, Pol. Ay, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I do know You must not take for Fire. For this time, Daughter, your Entreatments at a higher rate, Than a command to Parley. For Lord Hamlet, As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet: [Exeunt. SCENE 111. The Platform before the Palace. Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. Ham. The Air bites fhrewdly; it is Hor. It is a nipping and an eager Air. Ham. What hour now? very cold. Hor. I think it lacks of twelve. Mar. No, it has ftruck. Hor. I heard it not: Then it draws near the Seafon, Wherein the Spirit held his wont to walk. [Noife of warlike Musick within. What does this mean, my Lord? Ham. The King doth wake to Night, and takes his rowse, Keeps waffel, and the fwaggering upfpring reels, And as he drains his draughts of Rhenifh down, The Kettle Drum and Trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his Pledge. Hor. Hor. Is it a Cuftom? Ham. Ay marry is't: But to my Mind, though I am native here, More honour'd in the breach, than the obfervance Hor. Look, my Lord, it comes. Ham. Angels and Minifters of Grace defend us! Be thou a Spirit of Health, or Goblin damn'd, Bring with thee Airs from Heaven, or blafts from Hell, Be thy Events wicked or charitable, Thou com'ft in fuch a queftionable shape, That I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet, With Thoughts beyond the reaches of our Souls? [Ghoft beckons Hamlet. Mar. Look with what courteous A&ion It wafts you to a more removed Ground: But do not go with it. Hor. No, by no means. [Holding Hamlet. Ham. It will not fpeak; then will I follow it. Hor. Do not, my Lord. Ham. Why, what should be the fear? I do not fet my Life at a Pins fee; And for my Soul, what can it do to that? It waves me forth again. I'll follow it Hor. What if it tempt you toward the Flood, my Lord? Or to the dreadful Summit of the Cliff, That beetles o'er his bafe into the Sea, And there affume fome other horrible Form, Which might deprive your Sovereignty of Reason, Ham. It wafts me ftill: Go on, I'll follow thee---- Ham. Hold off, your Hand. Hor. Be rul'd, you fhall not go. Ham. My Fate crics out, And makes each petty Artery in this Body, As hardy as the Nemean Lion's Nerve : Still am I call'd? Unhand me, Gentlemen---[Breaking from them. By Heav'n I'll make a Ghost of him that letts me. I lay away go on I'll follow thee [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. Hor. He waxes defperate with Imagination. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. Enter Ghoft and Hamlet. [Exeunt. Ham. Where wilt thou lead me? (peak; I'll go no further. Ghoft. Mark me. Ham. I will. Ghoft. My hour is almoft come, When I to fulphurous and tormenting Flames Muft render up my felf. Ham. Alas poor Ghost, Ghoft. Pity me not, but lend thy ferious hearing To what I fhall unfold. Ham. Speak, I am bound to hear. Ghoft. So art thou to Revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ghoft. I am thy Father's Spirit; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the Night, Till the foul Crimes done in my Days of Nature, I I could a Tale unfold, whofe lightest word Would harrow up thy Soul, freeze thy young Blood, To ears of Flesh and Blood; lift Hamlet! oh lift! Ham. Oh Heaven! Ghost. Revenge his foul and moft unnatural Murther. Ghost. Murther moft foul, as in the beft it is; But this moft foul, ftrange, and unnatural. Ham. Hafte me to know it, that I with Wings as fwift As Meditation, or the Thoughts of Love May sweep to my Revenge. Ghost. I find thee apt ; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat Weed Wouldst thou not ftir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: Rankly abus'd: But know, thou noble Youth, Ham. O my Prophetick Soul; mine Uncle? So So luft, though to a radiant Angel link'd, Moft Lazar-like, with vile and loathsome cruft, Thus was I, fleeping, by a Brother's Hand, Of Life, of Crown, and Queen at once dispatcht; No reckoning made, but fent to my Account [Exit. Ham. Oh all you Hoft of Heaven! Oh Earth! what elfe? And fhall I couple Hell? Oh fie! hold my Heart And you my Sinews, grow not inftant Old; But bear me ftiffly up; remember thee Ay, |