HORATIO Season your admiration for awhile 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, Marcellus and Bernardo,on their watch, In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encounter'd.A figure like your father, Armed at point exactly,cap-a-pe, Appears before them,and with solemn march 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,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; 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; These hands are not more like. HAMLET But where was this? MARCELLUS My lord,upon the platform where we watch'd
HORATIO Season your admiration for awhile 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, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father, Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe, Appears before them, and with solemn march 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, 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; 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; 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; But answer made it none:yet once methought It lifted up its 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, 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. HAMLET Indeed,indeed,sirs,but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night? MARCELLUS,BERNARDO We do,my lord. HAMLET Arm'd,say you? MARCELLUS,BERNARDO
HAMLET Did you not speak to it? HORATIO My lord, I did; But answer made it none: yet once methought It lifted up its 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, 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. HAMLET Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night? MARCELLUS, BERNARDO We do, my lord. HAMLET Arm'd, say you? MARCELLUS, BERNARDO
Arm'd,my lord. HAMLET From top to toe? MARCELLUS,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? 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?
Arm'd, my lord. HAMLET From top to toe? MARCELLUS, 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? 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. HAMLET I would I had been there. HORATIO It would have much amazed you. HAMLET Very like,very like.Stay'd it long? HORATIO While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. MARCELLUS.BERNARDO Longer,longer. 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
HORATIO Most constantly. HAMLET I would I had been there. HORATIO It would have much amazed you. HAMLET Very like, very like. Stay'd it long? HORATIO While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. MARCELLUS, BERNARDO Longer, longer. 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; Perchance 'twill walk again. HORATIO I warrant 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, 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: Upon the platform,'twixt eleven and twelve, I'll visit you. All Our duty to your honour. HAMLET Your loves,as mine to you:farewell. [Exeunt all but HAMLET] My father's spirit in arms!all is not well; I doubt some foul play:would the night were come! Till then sit still,my soul:foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them,to men's eyes. [Exit]
HAMLET I will watch to-night; Perchance 'twill walk again. HORATIO I warrant 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, 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: Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, I'll visit you. All Our duty to your honour. HAMLET Your loves, as mine to you: farewell. [Exeunt all but HAMLET] My father's spirit in arms! all is not well; I doubt some foul play: would the night were come! Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. [Exit]