HORATIO        What art thou that usurp’st this time of night

Together with that fair and warlike form

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee speak.

MARCELLUS   It is offended.

BARNARDO                            See, it stalks away.

HORATIO        Stay, speak, speak, I charge thee speak. (Exit Ghost.)

MARCELLUS   ’Tis gone and will not answer.          (1.1.45-51)

Horatio makes a brave and comprehensive attempt to get information in his first address to the Ghost: what art thou that usurp’st this time of night—what are you doing at this ungodly hour?—together with that fair and warlike form in which the majesty of buried Denmark did sometimes march? And why have you appeared in the likeness of the dead king, armed just as he used to be? He was warlike, he marched: the dead king, Denmark, was a warrior, a hero. And you’ve usurpedboth his likeness and the time—usurp is an interesting word to use—you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you’re out of order, doing something you shouldn’t, and what are you doing coming here looking like that? Is this some kind of evil spirit that’s come to them in the likeness of the dead king—to deceive? That’s what Horatio’s worried about, among other things. That’s why he says, by heaven, I charge thee speak. In the name of God, say who you are, and what you’re doing here. (Interestingly, Horatio doesn’t seem to think that this is straightforwardly the dead king’s ghost, which would be most logical: he’s suspicious.)

But the Ghost isn’t going to reply, there’s some gesture, perhaps it turns on its heel: it is offended, says Marcellus. Doesn’t like taking orders, being told what to do, what to say; being told it has no business being here in the first place. See, it stalks away: stalks is a good word, long, authoritative strides, a warrior’s walk. (Tamburlaine, Marlowe’s great hero a decade or so earlier stalked.) Horatio’s not giving up, though: stay, speak, speak, I charge thee speak! I order you to stop and answer my questions! But the repetitions only emphasise that the Ghost won’t answer, that he’s walking away. Marcellus confirms: ’tis gone and will not answer. After all that: ghost, gone. And even though Marcellus and Barnardo now have someone else to corroborate their story, they’re not necessarily any the wiser as to what’s going on—if anything, they’re more freaked out.