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Ham.

In the dead waste and middle of the night,
Been thus encountered.

father,

A figure like your

Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pie,
Appears before them, and with solemn march
Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he
walked

By their oppressed and fear-surprised eyes,
Within his truncheon's length; whilst they,
distilled

Almost to jelly with the act of fear,

Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to

me

In dreadful secrecy impart they did,

And I with them the third night kept the watch;

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Where, as they had delivered, both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and 210 good,

The apparition comes. I knew your father;

These hands are not more like.

But where was this?

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It lifted up it head and did address

Itself to motion, like as it would speak;

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Ham.

But even then the morning cock crew loud,
And at the sound it shrunk in haste away,
And vanished from our sight.

'T is very strange.

Hor. As I do live, my honored lord, 't is true, And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it.

Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs.

me.

But this troubles

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Ham. Then saw you not his face?

230 Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up.

Ham. What, looked he frowningly?

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Ham.

I would I had been there.

235 Hor. It would have much amazed you. Ham. Very like, very like.

Stayed it long?

Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a

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

Ham.

A sable silvered.

His beard was grizzled? No?

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I will watch to-night;

Perchance 't will walk again.

Hor.
I warrant it will.
Ham. If it assume my noble father's person,

All.

I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape
And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 245
If you have hitherto concealed 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. 250
Upon the platform 'twixt eleven and twelve,
I'll visit you.

Our duty to your honour.

[Exeunt all but Hamlet.

Ham. Your loves, as mine to you; farewell.

My father's spirit in arms! All is not well;
Would the night 255

I doubt some foul play.

were come!

Till then sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise,
Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to

men's eyes.

[Exit.

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SCENE III.

A room in Polonius's house.

Enter Laertes and Ophelia.

Laer. My necessaries are embarked, farewell;
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.

Oph.

Do you doubt that? 5 Laer. For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,

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Oph.

Laer.

A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;
No more.

No more but so?

Think it no more:

For nature crescent does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you

now,

And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will; but you must fear,
His greatness weighed, his will is not his

own;

For he himself is subject to his birth.

He may not, as unvalued persons do,

Carve for himself, for on his choice depends 20 The safety and health of this whole state;

And therefore must his choice be circum

scribed

Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head.

loves you,

Then if he says he

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
As he in his particular act and place

May give his saying deed; which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honour may
sustain,

If with too credent ear you list his songs,

Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure

open

To his unmastered importunity.

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough,
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then, best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

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