Hamlet and Horatio — Hamlet I.ii — DT:FC 2-3 Person Scene

The scene

HAMLET. But what is your affair in Elsinore? We’ll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

HORATIO. My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.

HAMLET. I prithee do not mock me, fellow student; I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.

HORATIO. Indeed, my lord, it follow’d hard upon.

HAMLET. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral bak’d meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio! …. My father — methinks I see my father.

HORATIO. O where, my lord?

HAMLET. In my mind’s eye, Horatio.

HORATIO. I saw him once; he was a goodly king.

HAMLET. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.

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.

HORATIO. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encounter’d: a figure like your father, Arm’d at point exactly, cap-a-pe, Appears before them, and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he walk’d By their oppress’d and fear-surprised eyes, Within his truncheon’s length; whilst they, distill’d Almost to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secrecy impart they did, And I with them the third night kept the watch. ….

HAMLET. But where was this?

HORATIO. My lord, upon the platform where we watch’d.

HAMLET. Did you not speak to it?

HORATIO. My lord, I did; But answer made it none. Yet once methought It lifted up its 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 vanish’d from our sight.

HAMLET. ’Tis very strange.

HORATIO. As I do live, my honour’d lord, ’tis true; And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it.

HAMLET. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night?

HORATIO. We do, my lord.

HAMLET. Arm’d, say you?

HORATIO. Arm’d, my lord.

HAMLET. From top to toe?

HORATIO. My lord, from head to foot.

HAMLET. Then saw you not his face?

HORATIO. O yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up.

HAMLET. What look’d he, frowningly?

HORATIO. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

HAMLET. Pale or red?

HORATIO. Nay, very pale.

HAMLET. And fix’d his eyes upon you?

HORATIO. Most constantly.

HAMLET. I would I had been there.

HORATIO. It would have much amaz’d you.

HAMLET. Very like, very like. Stay’d it long?

HORATIO. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.

HAMLET. His beard was grizzl’d, no?

HORATIO. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silver’d.

HAMLET. I will watch to-night; Perchance ’twill walk again.

HORATIO. I warr’nt it will.

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 conceal’d this sight, Let it be tenable in your silence still; And whatsoever else shall hap to-night, Give it an understanding, but no tongue. I will requite your loves. So fare you well. Upon the platform, ’twixt eleven and twelve, I’ll visit you.

HORATIO. Our duty to your honour.

HAMLET. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.

[Exeunt HORATIO and others.]

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.]