PERSONS REPRESENTED

CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark

HAMLET, Son to the late, and nephew to the present King

POLONIUS, Lord Chamberlain

HORATIO, friend to Hamlet
LAERTES, Son to Polonius

Players

Two Clowns, grave-diggers
FORTINBRAS, Prince of Norway
A Captain

English Ambassadors

GERTRUDE, Queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet

OPHELIA, daughter to Polonius.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and

other Attendants

HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK

ACT I

SCENE I

Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle

FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO

Ber. Who's there?

Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself. Ber. Long live the king!

Fran.

Bernardo?

Ber.

He.

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.

Fran. For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard?

Fran.

Not a mouse stirring.

Ber. Well, good night.

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

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20

Fran. I think I hear them.
is there?

Stand, ho!

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS

Hor. Friends to this ground.
Mar.
Fran. Give you good night.
Mar.
Who hath relieved you?

Fran.

Give you good night.

Mar.

Ber.

What, is Horatio there?

Hor.

A piece of him.

Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus.
Mar. What, has this thing appeared again to-night?
Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy;
And will not let belief take hold of him

And liegemen to the Dane.

Who

O, farewell, honest soldier:

Holla! Bernardo !

Bernardo hath my place.

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.

Say,

―

[Exit

Hor. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.

Ber.

Sit down awhile;

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

Hor.
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,

Enter Ghost

Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again!

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
wonder.

Ber. It would be spoke to.

Mar.

Question it, Horatio.

Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of

night,

Well, sit we down,

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40

50

Together with that fair and warlike form

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee,

speak!

Mar. It is offended.

Ber.

See, it stalks away.

Hor. Stay, speak! speak! I charge thee, speak!
[Exit Ghost

Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer.

Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble and look pale ; Is not this something more than fantasy?

What think you on't?

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

Of mine own eyes.
Mar.

Hor. As thou art to thyself:

Such was the very armor he had on

When he the ambitious Norway combated;

60 So frowned he once, when, in an angry parle,

He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.

'Tis strange.

Mar. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead

hour,

With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

Is it not like the king?