For they are actions that a man might play: King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To do obsequious sorrow: but to persevere Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief: Than that which dearest father bears his son, Do I impart toward you. For your intent Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. I Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet; pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, madam. [Exeunt all but HAMLET. Ham. O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God! Seem to me all the uses of this world! By what it fed on: and yet, within a month— O heaven! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing of her galled eyes, She married:-O most wicked speed, to post But break, my heart-for I must hold my tongue! Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO. Hor. Hail to your lordship! Ham. Horatio—or I do forget myself. I am glad to see you well: 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— We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart. I think it was to see my mother's wedding. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral bak'd meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage-tables. Would I had met my dearest foe 17 in heaven Ere I had ever seen that day, Horatio !— My father-methinks, I see my father. Hor. O, where, my lord? Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king your father. 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 heaven's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father, Appears before them, and with solemn march Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me And I with them the third night kept the watch: These hands are not more like. Ham. But where was this? Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. My lord, I did: But answer made it none: yet once, methought, It lifted up its head, and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak: And at the sound it shrunk in haste away, And vanish'd from our sight. Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honour'd 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 Mar., Ber. My lord, from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not his face? Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up. Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale or red? Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. Hor. Most constantly. Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you? I would I had been there. Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. Ham. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long? 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 silver'd. I warrant it will. Perchance 'twill walk again. Hor. |