And you yourself fhall keep the key of it. Laer. Farewel. Pol. What is't, Ophelia, he hath frid to you? [Exit Laer. Oph. So pleafe you, fomething touching the Lord Hamlet. Pol. Marry, well bethought! 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you; and you yourself Have of your audience been moft free and bounteous. And that in way of caution, I must tell you, many tenders Pol. Affection! puh! you fpeak like a green girl, Unfifted in fuch perilous circumftance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? Oph. I do not know, my Lord, what I fhould think. Pol. Marry, I'll teach you. Think yourself a baby, That you have ta'en his tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrafe, Wronging it thus) you'll tender me a fool. Opb. My Lord, he hath importun'd me with love, In honourable fashion. Pol. Ay, fafhion you may call't: Go to, go to. Oph. And hath giv'n count'nance to his fpeech, my Lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Pol. Ay, fpringes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the foul Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, oh my daughter, Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers, Breathing like fanctified and pious bonds, I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. No. XXXI.-HAMLET. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE IV. The Platform before the Palace. Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. HAMLET. THE air bites fhrewdly, it is very cold. Hor. It is a nipping and an eager air. Ham. What hour now? Hor. I think it lacks of twelve. Mar. No, it is struck. Hor. I heard it not. It then draws near the feafon Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. [Noife of warlike mufic within. What does this mean, my Lord? Ham. The King doth wake to-night, and takes his roufe, Keeps waffel, and the fwagg'ring up-fpring reels; And as he drains his draughts of Rhenifh down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Hor. Is it a custom? Ham. Ay, marry is't: But to my mind, though I am native here, And to the manner born, it is a custom More honour'd in the breach than the obfervance. Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes From our atchievements, though perform'd at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. So, oft it chances in particular men, That for fome vicious mole of nature in them, By the o'ergrowth of fome complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason; Shall in the general cenfure take corruption To his own fcandal. Enter Ghoft. Hor. Look, my Lord, it comes! Ham. Angels and minifters of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com'ft in fuch a questionable shape, That I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our fouls? Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do? [Ghoft beckons Hamlet, Hor. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it fome impartment did defire alone. Το you Mar. Look, with what courteous action It waves you off to a removed ground: But do not go with it. Hor. By no means. [Holding Hamlet. Ham. It will not speak: then I will follow it. Hor. Do not, my Lord. Ham. Why, what should be the fear? I do not fet my life at a pin's fee; And, for my foul, what can it do to that, It waves me forth again. I'll follow it Hor. What, if it tempt you toward the flood, my Lord; Or to the dreadful fummit of the cliff, That beetles o'er his bafe into the sea ; And there affume fome other horrible form, Which might deprive your fovereignty of reafon, Ham. It waves me ftill.-Go on, I'll follow thee. Mar. You fhall not go, my Lord. Ham. Hold off your hands. Mar. Be rul'd, you shall not go. Ham. My fate cries out, And makes each petty artery in this body Still am I call'd. Unhand ine, gentlemen [Breaking from them. By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me. I fay, away-Go on-I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghoft and Hamlet. Hor. He waxes defperate with imagination. Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Hor. Heaven will direct it. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. No. XXXII.-H A M LE T. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE IV. A remote part of the Platform. Re-enter Ghoft and Hamlet. HAMLET. WHITHER wilt thou lead me? Speak, I'll go no further. Ghoft. Mark me. Ham. I will. Ghoft. My hour is almoft come, When I to fulphurous and tormenting flames Muft render up myself. Ham. Alas, poor Ghost! Ghoft. Pity me not, but lend thy ferious hearing To what I fhall unfold. Ham. Speak, I am bound to hear. Ghoft. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ham. What? Ghost. I am thy father's fpirit; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day, confin'd to fast in fires; Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid I could a tale unfold, whofe lightest word blood, Make thy two eyes, like itars, ftart from their spheres, To cars of flesh and blood. Lift, lift, oh lift! Ham. O heaven! Ghoft. |