Laudius, King of Denmark. Cla Fortinbras, Prince of Norway. Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the prefent King. Francifco, two Soldiers. Reynoldo, Servant to Polonius. Ghost of Hamlet's Father. Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet. Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius, belov'd by Hamlet. Ladies attending on the Queen. Players, Grave-makers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE ELSINOOR. HAM HAMLE I, PRINCE of DENMARK ACTI SCENE I SCENE An open Place before the Palace. Enter Bernardo and Francifco, two Centinels. BERNARDO. Ho's there? Fran. Nay, anfwer me: Stand and unfold your felf. Ber. Long live the King. Fran. Bernardo ? Ber. He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now ftruck Twelve, get thee to Bed, Francifco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 'tis bitter cold, And I am fick at Heart. Ber. Have you had a quiet Guard? Fran. Not a Moufe ftirring. Ber. Well, good Night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, the Rivals of my Watch, bid them make hafte. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand; who's there? IT Mar. And Liege-men to the Dane. Fran. Give you good Night. Mar. O, farewel, honeft Soldier, who hath reliev'd you? Fran. Bernardo has my place: give you good Night. Mar. Holla, Bernardo. Ber. Say, what is Horatio there ? Hor. A piece of him. Exit Francifco. Ber. Welcome, Horatio, welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. Horatio fays, 'tis but our Phantafie, Therefore I have intreated him along, Ber. Sit down a while, And let us once again affail your Ears, Hor. Well, fit we down, And let us hear Bernardo fpeak of this. When yon fame Star, that's Weftward from the Pole, Mar. Peace, break thee off; Enter the Ghoft. Look where it comes again. Ber. In the fame figure like the King that's dead. Mar. Question it, Horati. Hor. What art thou that ufurp't this time of Night, Together with that fair and warlike form, In which, the Majefty of buried Denmark Did fometimes march? by Heav'n, I charge thee, fpeak. Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it ftalks away. Hor. Stay; fpeak; speak: I charge thee, fpeak. Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. [Exit Ghoft. Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble and look pale: Is not this fomething more than Phantafie? What think you on't? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe, Without the fenfible and true avouch Of mine own Eyes. Mar. Is it not like the King? Hor. As thou art to thy felf, Tis ftrange Mar. Thus twice before, and juft at this fame Hour, With Martial ftalk, hath he gone by our Watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know not: But in the grofs and fcope of my opinion, This boads fome ftrange eruption to our State. Mar. Good now fit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this fame strict and most observant Watch, So nightly toils the Subject of the Land: And why fuch daily caft of Brazen Cannon Why fuch Imprefs of Shipwrights, whofe fore Task Hor. That can I, At least the Whisper goes fo. Our last King, (For (For fo this fide of our known World efteem'd him) Did forfeit, with his Life, all those his Lands Had he been Vanquisher, as by the fame Cov'nant His fell to Hamlet. Now Sir, young Fortinbras, The fource of this our Watch, and the chief head Well may it fort that this portentous Figure Comes armed through our Watch fo like the King, That was, and is the Queftion of thefe Wars. Hor. A Mote it is to trouble the Mind's Eye. The Graves flood Tenantlefs, and the sheeted Dead Enter |