Faculty of English

HORATIO        Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated. So frowned he once, when in an angry parle He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. ’Tis strange. MARCELLUS   Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. HORATIO        In what particular thought to work, I know not, But in the gross and scope of mine opinion This bodes some strange eruption to our […]

BARNARDO    How now, Horatio, you tremble and look pale. Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you on’t? HORATIO        Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. MARCELLUS                           Is it not like the King? HORATIO        As thou art to thyself.            (1.1.52-7) How now, Horatio, you tremble and look pale: […]

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 […]

MARCELLUS   Peace, break thee off, look where it comes again. BARNARDO    In the same figure like the King that’s dead. MARCELLUS   Thou art a scholar – speak to it, Horatio. BARNARDO    Looks ’a not like the King? Mark it, Horatio. HORATIO        Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder. BARNARDO    It would be spoke to. MARCELLUS                                       Speak to it, Horatio.   (1.1.39-44)   So, Enter Ghost—from […]

BARNARDO                            Sit down awhile, And let us once again assail your ears That are so fortified against our story What we have two nights seen. HORATIO        Well, sit we down, And let us hear Barnardo speak of this. BARNARDO    Last night of all, When yond same star that’s westward from the pole Had made his course t’illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell […]

MARCELLUS   Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us. Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night That, if again this apparition come, He may approve our eyes and speak to it. HORATIO        Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.             (1.1.21-28) […]

MARCELLUS   Holla, Barnardo! BARNARDO    Say, what, is Horatio there? HORATIO        A piece of him. BARNARDO    Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus. HORATIO        What, has this thing appeared again tonight? BARNARDO    I have seen nothing.              (1.1.15-20) Holla, Barnardo! This could be one of the very, very limited circumstances in which it might be permissible to gloss as—YO. YO, Barnardo my […]

BARNARDO    Have you had quiet guard? FRANCISCO    Not a mouse stirring. BARNARDO    Well, goodnight. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. FRANCISCO    I think I hear them. Stand ho, who is there? HORATIO        Friends to this ground. MARCELLUS                           And liegemen to the Dane. FRANCISCO    Give you goodnight. MARCELLUS   O farewell, honest soldiers; who hath […]

Enter BARNARDO and FRANCISCO, two sentinels. BARNARDO    Who’s there? FRANCISCO    Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself. BARNARDO    Long live the King. FRANCISCO                            Barnardo? BARNARDO                                                    He. FRANCISCO    You come most carefully upon your hour. BARNARDO    ’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco. FRANCISCO    For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold And […]

#InkyCloak a new #SlowShakespeare daily blog reading HAMLET starts tomorrow, 1 October 2024. It follows continuously on my #SlowShakespeare site from my two previous blogs, #2Dudes1Dog and #BurningBarge. Posts go up around 9am every day, and are tweeted on what I still refer to as twitter (@starcrossed2018) and also posted on Bluesy (@starcrossed2018.bsky.social) although there […]