60 Why thy canónized bones, hearsed in death, 50 Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws, To cast thee up again. What may this mean, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? As if it some impartment did desire Mar. Look, with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground: But do not go with it. Hor. No, by no means. Ham. It will not speak; then will I follow it. 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, Being a thing immortal as itself? 93 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 base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form, 70 Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason Ham. Go on, I'll follow thee. It waves me still.. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. Hold off your hands! 80 My fate cries out, Hor. Be ruled; you shall not go. And makes each petty artery in this body [Ghost beckons Still am I called?— 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 come? 90 Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Hor. Heaven will direct it. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt SCENE V Another part of the Platform Enter Ghost and HAMLET Ham. Where wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. Alas, poor ghost! 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; Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, 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 combinèd locks to part And each particular hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine : To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! Ham. O God! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ham. Murder? Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift 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 That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Rankly abused; but know thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life 40 Now wears his crown. Ham. My uncle? O my prophetic soul! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, -O wicked wit and gifts that have the power So to seduce!-won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen : O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity 50 That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage; and to decline Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine! But, soft! methinks I scent the morning air; Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard, 60 My custom always in the afternoon, |