HamletACTISCENEIVMember:SubjectAddwordshere…EnterHAMLET,HORATIO,andMARCELLUSTheplatformHamletSonofthelateKing,andnephewofthepresentKingHoratioFriendtoHamletMarcellus

AnOfficerHAMLET

Theairbitesshrewdly;itisverycold.HORATIO Itisanippingandaneagerair.HAMLET

Whathournow?HORATIO Ithinkitlacksoftwelve.HAMLET

No,itisstruck.HORATIO Indeed?Ihearditnot:thenitdrawsnearthe

season.Whereinthespiritheldhiswonttowalk.[Aflourishoftrumpets,andordnanceshotoff,within]Whatdoesthismean,mylord?HAMLET

Thekingdothwaketo-nightandtakeshisrouse,Keepswassail,andtheswaggeringup-springreels;And,ashedrainshisdraughtsofRhenishdown,

hekettle-drumandtrumpetthusbrayout.Thetriumphofhispledge.HORATIO Isitacustom?HAMLET

Ay,marry,is't:Buttomymind,thoughIam

nativehereAndtothemannerborn,itisacustomMorehonour'dinthebreachthantheobservance.Thisheavy-headedreveleastandwest.Makesustraducedandtax'dofothernations:Theyclepeusdrunkards,andwithswinishphraseSoilouraddition;andindeedittakes.Fromourachievements,thoughperform'datheight,Thepithandmarrowofourattribute.So,oftitchancesinparticularmen,Thatforsomeviciousmoleofnatureinthem,As,intheirbirth--whereintheyarenotguilty,Sincenaturecannotchoosehisorigin--Bytheo'ergrowthofsomecomplexion,Oftbreakingdownthepalesandfortsofreason,Orbysomehabitthattoomucho'er-leavensTheformofplausivemanners,thatthesemen,Carrying,Isay,thestampofonedefect,Beingnature'slivery,orfortune'sstar,--

Theirvirtueselse--betheyaspureasgrace,Asinfiniteasmanmayundergo--ShallinthegeneralcensuretakecorruptionFromthatparticularfault:thedramofealeDothallthenoblesubstanceofadoubt.Tohisownscandal.HORATIO Look,mylord,itcomes!

EnterGhostHAMLET

Angelsandministersofgracedefendus!Bethouaspiritofhealthorgoblindamn'd,Bringwiththeeairsfromheavenorblastsfromhell,Bethyintentswickedorcharitable,ThoucomestinsuchaquestionableshapeThatIwillspeaktothee:I'llcalltheeHamlet,King,father,royalDane:O,answerme!Letmenotburstinignorance;buttellWhythycanonizedbones,hearsedindeath,Havebursttheircerements;whythesepulchre,Whereinwesawtheequietlyinurn'd,Hathopedhisponderousandmarblejaws, Tocasttheeupagain.Whatmaythismean,Thatthou,deadcorse,againincompletesteelRevisit'stthustheglimpsesofthemoon,Makingnighthideous;andwefoolsofnatureSohorridlytoshakeourdispositionWiththoughtsbeyondthereachesofoursouls?Say,whyisthis?wherefore?whatshouldwedo?[GhostbeckonsHAMLET]HORATIO

Itbeckonsyoutogoawaywithit,Asifitsomeimpartmentdiddesire。Toyoualone.MARCELLUS Look,withwhatcourteousaction。Itwavesyoutoamoreremovedground:Butdonotgowithit.HORATIO No,bynomeans.HAMLET

Itwillnotspeak;thenIwillfollowit.HORATIO Donot,mylord.HAMLET Why,whatshouldbethefear?Idonotsetmylifeinapin'sfee;Andformysoul,whatcanitdotothat,Beingathingimmortalasitself?Itwavesmeforthagain:I'llfollowit.HORATIO Whatifittemptyoutowardtheflood,mylord,Ortothedreadfulsummitofthecliff 。Thatbeetleso'erhisbaseintothesea,Andthereassumesomeotherhorribleform,Whichmightdepriveyoursovereigntyofreason。Anddrawyouintomadness?thinkofit:Theveryplaceputstoysofdesperation,Withoutmoremotive,intoeverybrainThatlookssomanyfathomstotheseaAndhearsitroarbeneath.

HAMLET

Itwavesmestill.Goon;I'llfollowthee.MARCELLUS Youshallnotgo,mylord.HAMLET

Holdoffyourhands. HORATIO Beruled;youshallnotgo.HAMLET

Myfatecriesout,AndmakeseachpettyarteryinthisbodyAshardyastheNemeanlion'snerve.StillamIcall'd.Unhandme,gentlemen.Byheaven,I'llmakeaghostofhimthatletsme!Isay,away!Goon;I'llfollowthee.[ExeuntGhostandHAMLET]HORATIO Hewaxesdesperatewithimagination.MARCELLUS Let'sfoll