To such a sudden flood of mutiny. 200 They that have done this deed are honourable; 205 I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, I tell you that which you yourselves do know; 215 And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony 220 All. We'll mutiny. First Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus. Third Cit. Away, then! come, seek the conspirators. Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak. All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony! Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: 225 Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not; I must tell you then: You have forgot the will I told you of. All. Most true: the will! Let's stay and hear the will. 230 To every Roman citizen he gives, 235 To every several man, seventy five drachmas. Sec. Oit. Most noble Cæsar! we'll revenge his death. Ant. Hear me with patience. All. Peace, ho! Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, 240 To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. Here was a Cæsar! when comes such another? And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. Fourth Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing. (Exeunt Citizens with the body.) Ant. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, 250 Take thou what course thou wilt! 5 Hor. Indeed? I heard it not: it 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 wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; 10 And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Hor. Ham. Ay, marry, is't; Is it a custom? But to my mind, though I am native here 15 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 traduced and tax'd of other nations; 20 Soil our addition; and indeed it takes. From our achievements, though perform'd at height, Enter Ghost. Hor Look, my lord, it comes! Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! 25 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 comest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, 30 King, father; Royal Dane, O, answer me! Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? to I do not set my life at a pin's fee; It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, 55 Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form, My fate cries out, (Ghost beckons.) (Breaking from them.) And makes each petty artery in this body Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. Ham. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further. Ham. Ghost. I will. My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames so Must render up myself. 80 85 Ham. Ghost. Pity me not, To what I shall unfold. Ham. Alas, poor ghost! but lend thy serious hearing Speak; I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. What? Ghost. I am thy father's spirit; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid 90 To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word. Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, 95 And each particular hair to stand on end, 100 105 But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love Ghost. - Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, 110 Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, But virtue, as it never will be moved, 130 Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, Will sate itself in a celestial bed, And prey on garbage. But, soft! methinks I scent the morning air; Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, Holds such an enmity with blood of man 150 Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd; |