Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS

Marcellus. How is't, my noble lord?
Horatio.

Hamlet. O, wonderful!

Horatio.

What news, my lord?

Good my lord, tell it

Nor I,

my lord. 120

Hamlet. No; you'll reveal it.

Horatio. Not I, my lord, by heaven.

Marcellus.

Hamlet. How say you, then? Would heart of man

once think it?

But you'll be secret?

Horatio.
Marcellus.

}

Ay, by heaven, my lord.

Hamlet. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Den

mark

But he's an arrant knave.

Horatio. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from

the grave

To tell us this.

Hamlet.

Why, right; you are i' 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 has business and desire,

125

130

Such as it is; and for mine own poor part,

Look you, I'll go pray.

Horatio. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.

Hamlet. I'm sorry they offend you, heartily;

Yes, faith, heartily.

Horatio.

There's no offence, my lord. 135

Hamlet. Yes, by Saint Patrick, 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'ermaster't as you may. And now, good friends, 140 As you are friends, scholars and soldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Horatio. What is't, my lord? We will.

Hamlet. Never make known what you have seen to

Marcellus. Nor I, my lord, in faith.
Hamlet. Upon my sword."

146

Marcellus.

We have sworn, my lord, already.

Hamlet. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.
Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.

Hamlet. Ah, ha, boy! say'st thou so? Art thou there, true-penny°?

Come on - you hear this fellow in the cellarage

150

Consent to swear.

And lay your hands again upon my sword, -
Never to speak of this that you have heard,
Swear by my sword.

Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.

160

Hamlet. Well said, old mole! Canst work i' the earth so fast?

A worthy pioner°!- Once more remove, good friends. Horatio. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

Hamlet. And therefore as a stranger give it wel

come.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

165

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 antic° disposition on,

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumber'd thus, or this head-shake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

170

175

As "Well, 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 not to do,

So grace and mercy at your most need help you,
Swear.

Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.

180

Hamlet. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So, gentle

men,

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, 185 God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together; And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.

The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!
Nay, come, let's go together."

ACT II

SCENE I. A Room in the Castle

Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO

[Exeunt. 190

Polonius. Give him this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.

Reynaldo. I will, my lord.

Polonius. You shall do marvellous wisely, good

Polonius. Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, sir,

Inquire me first what Danskers° are in Paris;

And how, and who; what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expense; and finding
By this encompassment and drift of question
That they do know my son, come you° more nearer°
Than your particular demands will touch it°;

10