LAERTES                    Think it no more. For nature crescent does not grow alone In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will; but you must fear, His greatness weighed, his will is not his own.      (1.2.10-17) Laertes is just getting started in his advice […]

LAERTES        My necessaries are embarked; farewell. And sister, as the winds give benefit And convey is assistant, do not sleep But let me hear from you. OPHELIA                    Do you doubt that? LAERTES        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, The perfume and suppliance of a minute, No […]

HORATIO / BARNARDO / MARCELLUS      Our duty to your honour. HAMLET         Your loves, as mine to you, farewell. (Exeunt [all but Hamlet].) 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.        Exit.    (1.2.251-6) Our […]

HAMLET         If it assume my noble father’s person I’ll speak to it, though hell itself should gape And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, If you have hitherto concealed this sight Let it be tenable in your silence still And whatsomever else shall hap tonight Give it an understanding but no tongue, I will requite your loves. So, fare you well. Upon the platform […]

HAMLET         I would I had been there. HORATIO        It would have much amazed you. HAMLET                                 Very like. Stayed it long? HORATIO        While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. BARNARDO / MARCELLUS  Longer, longer. HORATIO        Not when I saw’t. HAMLET                                 His beard was grizzled, no? HORATIO        It was as I have seen it in his life: A sable […]

HAMLET         Indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch tonight? HORATIO / BARNARDO / MARCELLUS      We do, my lord. HAMLET         Armed, say you? HORATIO / BARNARDO / MARCELLUS      Armed, my lord. HAMLET         From top to toe? HORATIO / BARNARDO / MARCELLUS      My lord, from head to foot. HAMLET         Then saw you not his face. […]

HAMLET         Did you not speak to it? HORATIO                                My lord, I did, But answer made it none. Yet once methought It lifted up it head and did address Itself to motion like as it would speak. But even then the morning cock crew loud And at the sound it shrunk in haste away And vanished from our sight. […]

HORATIO                    This to me In dreadful secrecy impart they did, And I with them the third night kept the watch Where, as they had delivered, 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. HAMLET                     But where was this? MARCELLUS   My lord, upon […]

HORATIO        Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch In the dead waste and middle of the night Been thus encountered: a figure like your father Armed at point, exactly cap-à-pie, Appears before them and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walked By their oppressed and fear-surprised eyes Within his truncheon’s length whilst they, distilled Almost to jelly with the act of fear, […]

HORATIO        My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. HAMLET         Saw, who? HORATIO                                My lord, the King your father. HAMLET         The King my father? HORATIO        Season your admiration for a while With an attent ear till I may deliver Upon the witness of these gentlemen This marvel to you. HAMLET                     For God’s love let me hear!   (1.2.188-194) Horatio steels himself, deep breath, maybe a […]