Hamlet. William Shakespeare

A truant disposition, good my lord. 375

      Hamlet. I would not hear your enemy say so,

      Nor shall you do my ear that violence

      To make it truster of your own report

      Against yourself. I know you are no truant.

      But what is your affair in Elsinore? 380

      We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

      Horatio. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

      Hamlet. I prithee do not mock me, fellow student.

      I think it was to see my mother's wedding.

      Horatio. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. 385

      Hamlet. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral bak'd meats

      Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

      Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven

      Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!

      My father- methinks I see my father. 390

      Horatio. O, where, my lord?

      Hamlet. In my mind's eye, Horatio.

      Horatio. I saw him once. He was a goodly king.

      Hamlet. He was a man, take him for all in all.

      I shall not look upon his like again. 395

      Horatio. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

      Hamlet. Saw? who?

      Horatio. My lord, the King your father.

      Hamlet. The King my father?

      Horatio. Season your admiration for a while 400

      With an attent ear, till I may deliver

      Upon the witness of these gentlemen,

      This marvel to you.

      Hamlet. For God's love let me hear!

      Horatio. Two nights together had these gentlemen 405

      (Marcellus and Bernardo) on their watch

      In the dead vast and middle of the night

      Been thus encount'red. A figure like your father,

      Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe,

      Appears before them and with solemn march 410

      Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he walk'd

      By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes,

      Within his truncheon's length; whilst they distill'd

      Almost to jelly with the act of fear,

      Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me 415

      In dreadful secrecy impart they did,

      And I with them the third night kept the watch;

      Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time,

      Form of the thing, each word made true and good,

      The apparition comes. I knew your father. 420

      These hands are not more like.

      Hamlet. But where was this?

      Marcellus. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.

      Hamlet. Did you not speak to it?

      Horatio. My lord, I did; 425

      But answer made it none. Yet once methought

      It lifted up it head and did address

      Itself to motion, like as it would speak;

      But even then the morning cock crew loud,

      And at the sound it shrunk in haste away 430

      And vanish'd from our sight.

      Hamlet. 'Tis very strange.

      Horatio. 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. 435

      Hamlet. Indeed, indeed, sirs. But this troubles me.

      Hold you the watch to-night?

      Marcellus. [with Bernardo] We do, my lord.

      Hamlet. Arm'd, say you?

      Marcellus. [with Bernardo] Arm'd, my lord. 440

      Hamlet. From top to toe?

      Marcellus. [with Bernardo] My lord, from head to foot.

      Hamlet. Then saw you not his face?

      Horatio. O, yes, my lord! He wore his beaver up.

      Hamlet. What, look'd he frowningly. 445

      Horatio. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

      Hamlet. Pale or red?

      Horatio. Nay, very pale.

      Hamlet. And fix'd his eyes upon you?

      Horatio. Most constantly. 450

      Hamlet. I would I had been there.

      Horatio. It would have much amaz'd you.

      Hamlet. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long?

      Horatio. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.

      Marcellus. [with Bernardo] Longer, longer. 455

      Horatio. Not when I saw't.

      Hamlet. His beard was grizzled- no?

      Horatio. It was, as I have seen it in his life,

      A sable silver'd.

      Hamlet. I will watch to-night. 460

      Perchance 'twill walk again.

      Horatio. I warr'nt it will.

      Hamlet. If it assume my noble father's person,

      I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape

      And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 465

      If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight,

      Let it be tenable in your silence still;

      And whatsoever else shall hap to-night,

      Give it an understanding but no tongue.

      I will requite your loves. So, fare you well. 470

      Upon