Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven, I charge thee, speak. Mar. It is offended. Ber. See, it stalks away. Ho. Stay; speak; speak, I charge thee; speak. Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. [Exit Ghost. Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble and look pale : Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you of it? Ho. Before my God, I might not this believe, Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king? Ho. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on, 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus, twice before, and jump 2 at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. not; 1 Sledged Polanders 2 Just. But, in the gross and scope of mine opinion, This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this same strict and most observant watch Ho. At least, the whisper goes so. That can I; Our last king, Whose image even but now appear'd to us, Dared to the combat; in which, our valiant Hamlet Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same comart,1 Joint bargain. And carriage of the article design'd,1 Fortinbras, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in 't; which is no other And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands : Is the main motive of our preparations; The source of this our watch; and the chief heao Of this post-haste and romage 3 in the land. 3 Ber. I think it be no other, but even so: Well may it sort, that this portentous figure Comes armed through our watch; so like the king That was, and is the question 5 of these wars. Ho. A mote it is, to trouble the mind's eye. In the most high and palmy 6 state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.7 As, stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, i. e. import of the articles drawn up between them. 2 Resolution. 3 Romage here signifies inquiry into the means of defence 4 Suit. 5 The theme or subject. 6 Victorious. An intermediate verse is here evidently lost. Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,1 Re-enter GHOST. But, soft; behold! lo, where it comes again! Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, That may to thee do ease, and grace to me, Speak to me: If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, [cock crows. Speak of it-stay, and speak.-Stop it, Marcellus. Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? 3 Ho. Do, if it will not stand. 1 i. e. the moon. A partisan is a kind of pike. Portentous event. We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence; For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. Ho. And then it started, like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat Awake the god of day; and, at his warning, Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, The extravagant and erring 1 spirit hies To his confine; and of the truth herein This present object made probation. 1 Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad; The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. 2 Ho. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill: I Wandering. Strikes with diseases. |