Chapter 6

_Re-enter_ Ghost _and_ HAMLET (L.H.U.E.)

_Ham._ (R.) Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak; I'll go no further.

_Ghost._ (L.) Mark me.

_Ham._ I will.

_Ghost._ My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself.

_Ham._ Alas, poor ghost!

_Ghost._ Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold.

_Ham._ Speak; I am bound to hear.

_Ghost._ So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.

_Ham._ What?

_Ghost._ I am thy father's spirit; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confin'd to fast in fires,[100] Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul;[101] freeze thy young blood; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres; Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part, And each particular hair to stand on end,[102] Like quills upon the fretful porcupine:[103] But this eternal blazon[104] must not be To ears of flesh and blood.--List, list, O, list!-- If thou didst ever thy dear father love,----

_Ham._ O Heaven!

_Ghost._ Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

_Ham._ Murder!

_Ghost._ Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.

_Ham._ Haste me to know it, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge.

_Ghost._ I find thee apt; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,[105] Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out that, sleeping in mine orchard,[106] A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process[107] of my death Rankly abus'd: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown.

_Ham._ O, my prophetic soul! my uncle!

_Ghost._ Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, Won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming virtuous queen: O, Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity, That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage; and to decline Upon a wretch,[108] whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine! But, soft! methinks I scent the morning air; Brief let me be.--Sleeping within mine orchard, My custom always in the afternoon, Upon my secure[109] hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebenon[110] in a vial, And in the porches of mine ears did pour The leperous distilment; whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man, That, swift as quicksilver, it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body; So did it mine; Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatch'd:[111] Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd;[112] No reckoning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head.

_Ham._ O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!

_Ghost._ If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury[113] and damnèd incest. But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught: leave her to Heaven, And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once! The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, And 'gins to pale his ineffectual fire:[114] Adieu, adieu, adieu! remember me.

[_Exit_, L.H.]

_Ham._ Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, But bear me stiffly up.--Remember thee! Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat In this distracted globe.[115] Remember thee! Yea, from the table of my memory I'll wipe away all forms, all pressures past,[116] And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven, I have sworn't.

_Hor._ (_Without._) My lord, my lord,----

_Mar._ (_Without._) Lord Hamlet,----

_Hor._ (_Without._) Heaven secure him!

_Ham._ So be it!

_Mar._ (_Without._) Illo, ho, ho, my lord!

_Ham._ Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come.[117]

_Enter_ HORATIO _and_ MARCELLUS (L.H.U.E.)

_Mar._ (R.) How is't, my noble lord?

_Hor._ (L.) What news, my lord?

_Ham._ (C.) O, wonderful!

_Hor._ Good my lord, tell it.

_Ham._ No; You will reveal it.

_Hor._ Not I, my lord, by heaven.

_Mar._ Nor I, my lord.

_Ham._ How say you, then; would heart of man once think it? But you'll be secret?--

_Hor._} } Ay, by heaven, my lord. _Mar._}

_Ham._ There's ne'er a villain, dwelling in all Denmark-- But he's an arrant knave.[118]

_Hor._ There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this.

_Ham._ Why, right; you are in the right; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands, and part: You as your business and desire shall point you, For every man hath business and desire, Such as it is;--and, for my own poor part, Look you, I will go pray.

_Hor._ These are but wild and whirling words,[119] my lord.

_Ham._ I am sorry they offend you, heartily.

_Hor._ There's no offence, my lord.

_Ham._ Yes, by Saint Patrick,[120] but there is, Horatio, And much offence, too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you: For your desire to know what is between us, O'er-master it[121] as you may. And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request.

_Hor._ What is't, my lord? We will.

_Ham._ Never make known what you have seen to-night.

_Hor._} } My lord, we will not. _Mar._}

_Ham._ Nay, but swear't.

_Hor._ Propose the oath, my lord.

_Ham._ Never to speak of this that you have seen. Swear by my sword.

[HORATIO _and_ MARCELLUS _place each their right hand on_ HAMLET'S _sword._]

_Ghost._ (_Beneath._) Swear.

_Hor._ O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

_Ham._ And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.[122] There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come;-- Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet To put an antick disposition[123] on,-- That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumber'd thus,[124] or this head-shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As, _Well, we know_; or, _We could, an if we would_; or, _If we list to speak_;--or, _There be, an if they might_;-- Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me:--This do you swear, So grace and mercy at your most need help you!

[HORATIO _and_ MARCELLUS _again place their hands on_ HAMLET'S _sword._]

_Ghost._ (_Beneath._) Swear.

_Ham._ Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you: And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do, to express his love and friending to you, Heaven willing, shall not lack.[125] Let us go in together;

[_Crosses to_ L.]

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray. The time is out of joint;--O cursèd spite, That ever I was born to set it right! Nay, come, let's go together.

[_Exeunt_ L.H.]

END OF ACT FIRST.

Notes