And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

Pol.

Ay, springes to catch woodc.o.c.ks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat,--extinct in both, Even in their promise, as it is a-making,-- You must not take for fire. From this time Be something scanter of your maiden presence; Set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Believe so much in him, that he is young; And with a larger tether may he walk Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia, Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,-- Not of that dye which their investments show, But mere implorators of unholy suits, Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, The better to beguile. This is for all,-- I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth Have you so slander any moment leisure As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.

Look to't, I charge you; come your ways.

Oph.

I shall obey, my lord.

[Exeunt.]

Scene IV. The platform.

[Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.]

Ham.

The air bites shrewdly; 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.

Indeed? I heard it not: then draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

[A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off within.]

What does this mean, my lord?

Ham.

The King doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wa.s.sail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish 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 observance.

This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations: They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes From our achievements, though perform'd at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute.

So oft it chances in particular men That, for some vicious mole of nature in them, As in their birth,--wherein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin,-- By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason; Or by some habit, that too much o'er-leavens The form of plausive manners;--that these men,-- Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,-- Their virtues else,--be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo,-- Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault: the dram of eale Doth all the n.o.ble substance often doubt To his own scandal.

Hor.

Look, my lord, it comes!

[Enter Ghost.]

Ham.

Angels and ministers of grace defend us!-- Be thou a spirit of health or goblin d.a.m.n'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from h.e.l.l, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com'st in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane; O, answer me!

Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell Why thy canoniz'd bones, hea.r.s.ed in death, Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre, Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urn'd, Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again! What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel, Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous, and we fools of nature So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?

Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do?

[Ghost beckons Hamlet.]

Hor.

It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone.

Mar.

Look with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground: But do not go with it!

Hor.

No, by no means.

Ham.

It will not speak; then will I follow it.

Hor.

Do not, my lord.

Ham.

Why, what should be the fear?

I do not set my life at a pin's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself?

It waves me forth again;--I'll follow it.

Hor.

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea, And there a.s.sume some other horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason, And draw you into madness? think of it: The very place puts toys of desperation, Without more motive, into every brain That looks so many fadoms to the sea And hears it roar beneath.

Ham.

It waves me still.-- Go on; I'll follow thee.

Mar.

You shall not go, my lord.

Ham.

Hold off your hands.

Hor.

Be rul'd; you shall not go.

Ham.

My fate cries out, And makes each petty artery in this body As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.-- [Ghost beckons.]

Still am I call'd;--unhand me, gentlemen;-- [Breaking free from them.]

By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!-- I say, away!--Go on; I'll follow thee.

[Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.]

Hor.

He waxes desperate with imagination.

Mar.

Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him.

Hor.

Have after.--To what issue will this come?

Mar.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Hor.

Heaven will direct it.

Mar.

Nay, let's follow him.

[Exeunt.]

Scene V. A more remote part of the Castle.

[Enter Ghost and Hamlet.]

Ham.

Whither wilt thou lead me? speak! I'll go no further.

Ghost.

Mark me.

Ham.

I will.

Ghost.

My hour is almost come, When I to sulph'uous and tormenting flames Must render up myself.

Ham.