Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest.
But howsoever thou pursuest this act,
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother aught; leave her to Heaven.
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge,
To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once!
The glow-worm shews the matin to be near, (37)
And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire.

Adieu, adieu, adieu; remember me.

[Exit. Ham. Oh, all you host of heaven! oḥ earth!

what else?

And shall I couple hell? oh, hold my

heart______

And
you my sinews, grow not instant old;
But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee—
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat
In this distracted globe; remember thee-
Yea from the table of my memory

I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,

All saws of books, all forms of pressures past,
That youth and observation copied there;
And thy commandment all alone shall live
Within the book and volume of my brain,

(37). There are many bright spots in the moon which may be considered as having suggested this idea of the glow-worm; but none so aptly but none so aptly as those near and upon the prototype of the ghost himself, who is speaking.

Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, by Heaven :
Oh most pernicious woman!

Oh villain, villain, smiling damned villain;
My tables,meet it is I set it down,

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain;
At least, I'm sure, it may be so in Denmark.

[Writing. So, uncle, there you are; now to my word; It is, Adieu, adieu, remember me:

I've sworn it

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.

Hor. My Lord, my Lord

Mar. Lord Hamlet

Hor. Heaven secure him!

Mar. So be it.

Hor. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord!

Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy; come, bird, come.

Mur. How is't, my noble Lord?

Hor. What news, my Lord?

Ham. Oh, wonderful!

Hor. Good my Lord, tell it.

Ham. No, you'll reveal it.

Hor. Not I, my Lord, by Heaven.

Mar. Nor I my Lord.

Ham. How say you then, would heart of man

But you'll be secret

Both. Ay, by Heaven, my Lord.

[once think it?

Ham. There's, ne'er a villain, dwelling in all io[Denmark, Hor. There needs no ghost, my Lord, come from To tell us this.

But he's an arrant knave,

[the grave Ham. Why, right, you are i' th' right;

And so without more circumstance at all, de
I hold it fit that we shake hands and part;
You, as your business and desires shall point you;
(For every man has business and desire,

Such as it is) and for my own poor part, i

I will go pray.

Hor. These are but wild and whirling words,

my Lord.

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

Yes heartily.

Hor. There's no offence my Lord.

Ham. Yes, by St. Patrick, but there is my Lord, 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'er-master it as you may, And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Hor. In faith, my Lord, not I.

Mar. Nor I, my Lord, in faith.

Ham. Upon my sword.

Mar. We have sworn, my Lord, already.

Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. * $2.

2

Ghost. Swear. [Ghost cries under the Stage. Ham. Ah, ha, boy, say'st thou so? art thou there, true-penny?

Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage.", Consent to swear.

Hor. Propose an oath, my Lord.

Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen,

Swear by my sword.

Ghost. Swear.

Ham. Hic et ubique? then we'll shiftour ground. Come hither, gentlemen,

And lay your hands again upon my sword.

Never to speak of this which you have heard, e Swear by my sword.

Ghost. Swear by his sword.

· Ham. Well said, old mole, can'st work ith' ground so fast?

A worthy pioneer! Once more remove, good friends. Hor. Oh, day and night, but this is wondrous

Jastrange.

เรี

Ham. And therefore as a strangergive it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamed of in your philosophy. But come, (39) OA

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 time seeing me, neyer shall,
With arms encumbered thus, or this head shake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
"As, well--we know--or, we could, and if we would-.
Or, if we list to speak-or, there be, and if there

might

eCit

(Or such ambiguous giving out) denote
That you know aught of me; this do ye swear,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you
Swear.

Ghost. Swear.

!

Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit. So, gentlemen,
With all my love do I commend me to you;
And what so poor a man as Hamlet is
May do t' express his love and friending to you,
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; oh, cursed spight!
That ever I was born to set it right.

Nay, come, let's go together.

[Exeunt.

(38) Though there are, in fact, many passages in this play which might furnish observations of a philosophical kind; all such matters are still reserved.