The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Уильям Шекспир

but now appear'd to us,

          Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,

          Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride,

          Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet

          (For so this side of our known world esteem'd him)

          Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact,

          Well ratified by law and heraldry,

          Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands

          Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror;

          Against the which a moiety competent

          Was gaged by our king; which had return'd

          To the inheritance of Fortinbras,

          Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same comart

          And carriage of the article design'd,

          His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,

          Of unimproved mettle hot and full,

          Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there,

          Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes,

          For food and diet, to some enterprise

          That hath a stomach in't; which is no other,

          As it doth well appear unto our state,

          But to recover of us, by strong hand

          And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands

          So by his father lost; and this, I take it,

          Is the main motive of our preparations,

          The source of this our watch, and the chief head

          Of this post-haste and romage in the land.

        Ber. I think it be no other but e'en so.

          Well may it sort that this portentous figure

          Comes armed through our watch, so like the King

          That was and is the question of these wars.

        Hor. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye.

          In the most high and palmy state of Rome,

          A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,

          The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead

          Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets;

          As stars with trains of fire, and dews of blood,

          Disasters in the sun; and the moist star

          Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands

          Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.

          And even the like precurse of fierce events,

          As harbingers preceding still the fates

          And prologue to the omen coming on,

          Have heaven and earth together demonstrated

          Unto our climature and countrymen.

      Enter Ghost again.

          But soft! behold! Lo, where it comes again!

          I'll cross it, though it blast me. – Stay illusion!

                                                     Spreads his arms.

          If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,

          Speak to me.

          If there be any good thing to be done,

          That may to thee do ease, and, race to me,

          Speak to me.

          If thou art privy to thy country's fate,

          Which happily foreknowing may avoid,

          O, speak!

          Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life

          Extorted treasure in the womb of earth

          (For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death),

                                                       The cock crows.

          Speak of it! Stay, and speak! – Stop it, Marcellus!

        Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan?

        Hor. Do, if it will not stand.

        Ber. 'Tis here!

        Hor. 'Tis here!

        Mar. 'Tis gone!

Exit Ghost

          We do it wrong, being so majestical,

          To offer it the show of violence;

          For it is as the air, invulnerable,

          And our vain blows malicious mockery.

        Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew.

        Hor. And then it started, like a guilty thing

          Upon a fearful summons. I have heard

          The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,

          Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat

          Awake the god of day; and at his warning,

          Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,

          Th' extravagant and erring spirit hies

          To his confine; and of the truth herein

          This present object made probation.

        Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock.

          Some say that ever, 'gainst that season comes

          Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,

          The bird of dawning singeth all night long;

          And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,

          The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,

          No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,

          So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.

        Hor. So have I heard and do in part believe it.

          But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,

          Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill.

          Break we our watch up; and by my advice

          Let us impart what we have seen to-night

          Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,

          This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.

          Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,

          As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?

          Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know

          Where we shall find him most conveniently. Exeunt.

      Scene II. Elsinore. A room of state in the Castle

      Flourish. [Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and his sister Ophelia, [Voltemand, Cornelius,] Lords Attendant.

        King.