Like Niobe, all tears;-why she, even she,— O heaven! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, uncle, father, My father's brother; but no more like my But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue! Enter HORATIO, BERNARDO, and MARCELLUS. Ham. I am glad to see you well: Horatio,—or I do forget myself. Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever, Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name? And what make you3 from Wittenberg, Horatio?- Mar. My good lord, Ham. I am very glad to see you; good even, sir.- We'll teach you to drink deep, ere you depart. I'll change that name-] I'll be your servant, you shall friend. what make you-] A familiar phrase for what are you Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellowstudent; I think, it was to see my mother's wedding. Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. My lord? Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Where, Hor. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king your father. Ham. The king my father! Hor. Season your admiration for a while With an attent ear; till I may deliver, Upon the witness of This marvel to you. these gentlemen, Ham. For God's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead waist and middle of the night, In 4—the funera bak'd meats-] It was anciently the general custom to give a cold entertainment to mourners at a funeral. distant counties this practice is continued among the yeomanry. 5 dearest foe in heaven—] Dearest is most immediate, consequential, important. Season your admiration—] That is, temper it. 7 With an attent ear;] Attent for attentive. * In the dead waist and middle of the night,] This strange Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me 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. Ham. But where was this? Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. 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: Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. 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. Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold the watch to-night? you phraseology seems to have been common in the time of Shakspeare. By waist is meant nothing more than middle. 9 with the act of fear,] Fear was the cause, the active cause that distilled them by the force of operation which we strictly call act in voluntary, and power in involuntary agents, but popularly call act in both. JOHNSON. Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up." Ham. What, look'd he frowningly? Hor. Most constantly. I would, I had been there. Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. Very like: Stay'd it long? Very like, Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Mar. Ber. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzl'd? no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silver'd. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchance, 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant, it will. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, 9 wore his beaver up.] Though beaver properly signified that part of the helmet which was let down, to enable the wearer to drink, Shakspeare always uses the word as denoting that part of the helmet which, when raised up, exposed the face of the wearer and such was the popular signification of the word in his time. And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, you. Our duty to your honour. Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: Farewell. [Exeunt HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BER 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. SCENE III. A Room in Polonius' House. Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA. [Exit. Laer. My necessaries are embark'd; farewell: And, sister, as the winds give benefit, And convoy is assistant, do not sleep, But let me hear from you. Oph. Do you doubt that? Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood; A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, 1 The perfume and suppliance of a minute;] i. e. what was supplied to us for a minute; or, perhaps, an amusement to fill up a vacant moment, and render it agreeable. |