In filial obligation, for some term, To do obsequious sorrow. But to perséver Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief: Than that which dearest father bears his son, Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet; I pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, madam. King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply; Be as ourself in Denmark.-Madam, come; This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof No jocund health, that Denmark drinks to-day, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell; And the king's rouse the heaven shall bruit again, Respeaking earthly thunder. Come away. [Exeunt King, Queen, Lords, &c., POLONIUS, and LAERTES. Ham. O that this too, too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter. O God! O God! Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on't! O fie! 'tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed; things rank, and gross in nature, Possess it merely. That it should come to this! But two months dead!-nay, not so much, not two: Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother, By what it fed on. And yet, within a month,- O Heaven! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Ere the salt of most unrighteous tears But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue! Enter HORATIO, BERNARDO, and MARCELLUS. Hor. Hail to your lordship! Ham. I am glad to see you well; Horatio,or I do forget myself. Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?— Marcellus? Mar. My good lord, Ham. I am very glad to see you; good even, sir. Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so; Nor shall you do my ear that violence, Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student; I think it was to see my mother's wedding. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. 'Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven, Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio! Hor. My lord? Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Oh where, Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king, your father. Ham. The king, my father? Hor. Season your admiration for a while With an attent ear; till I may deliver, Upon the witness of these gentlemen, This marvel to you. Ham. For God's love, let me hear. In the dead waste and middle of the night, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distilled Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me And I, with them, the third night kept the watch; Ham. But where was this? Hor. My lord, upon the platform where we watched. Hor. Itself to motion, like as it would speak; Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true; And we did think it writ down in our duty, To let you know of it. Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night? Hor. O yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up. Ham. What, looked he frowningly? Hor. Nay, very pale. Hor. Most constantly. A countenance more Pale, or red? And fixed his eyes upon you? I would I had been there. Hor. It would have much amazed you. Very like. Staid it long? Very like, Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Mar. Ber. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzled? no? Hor. It was as I have seen it in his life, A sable silvered. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchance 'twill walk again. I warrant you it will. Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, Our duty to your honor. Ham. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell. [Exeunt HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO. My father's spirit in arms! all is not well; I doubt some foul play. 'Would the night were come! Till then sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. [Exit. SCENE III. A Room in Polonius's House. Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA. Laer. My necessaries are embarked; farewell. And, sister, as the winds give benefit, And convoy is assistant, do not sleep, But let me hear from you. Oph. A violet in the youth of primy nature, Oph. Laer. No more but so? Think it no more. For nature, crescent, does not grow alone Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now; And therefore must his choice be circumscribed Unto the voice and yielding of that body. Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it, As he in his particular act and place May give his saying deed; which is no further, Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain, |