Horatio

There needs no ghost, my lord, come from

                         the grave

To tell us this.

Hamlet

Why, right; you are i' the right;

And so, without more circumstance at all,

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part:

You, as your business and desire shall point you, —

For every man hath business and desire,

Such as it is;-and for my own poor part,

Look you, I'll go pray.

Horatio

These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.

Hamlet

I'm sorry they offend you, heartily;

Yes faith, heartily.

Horatio

There's no offence, my lord.

Hamlet

Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,

And much offence too. Touching this vision here,

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you.

For your desire to know what is between us,

O'ermaster't as you may. And now, good friends,

As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Horatio

What is't, my lord? We will.

Hamlet

Never make known what you have seen tonight.

Horatio and Marcellus

My lord, we will not.

Hamlet

Nay, but swear't.

Horatio

In faith, my lord, not I.

Marcellus

Nor I, my lord, in faith.

Hamlet

Upon my sword.

Marcellus

We have sworn, my lord, already.

Hamlet

Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.

Ghost

[Cries under the stage]

Swear.

Hamlet

Ha, ha boy, sayst thou so? Art thou there,

                         truepenny?

Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage.

Consent to swear.

Horatio

Propose the oath, my lord.

Hamlet

Never to speak of this that you have seen.

Swear by my sword.

Ghost

[Beneath]

Swear.

Hamlet

Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.

Come hither, gentlemen,

And lay your hands again upon my sword.

Never to speak of this that you have heard.

Swear by my sword.

Ghost

[Beneath]

Swear.

Hamlet

Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th'earth so fast?

A worthy pioner! Once more remove,

                         good friends.

Horatio

O day and night, but this is wondrous strange.

Hamlet

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come,

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,

How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, —

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on —

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,

With arms encumber'd thus, or this head-shake,

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

As 'Well, we know', or 'We could and if we would',

Or 'If we list to speak'; or 'There be

                         and if they might',

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note

That you know aught of me:-this not to do.

So grace and mercy at your most need help you,

Swear.

Ghost

[Beneath]

Swear.

Hamlet

Rest, rest, perturbed spirit. So, gentlemen,

With all my love I do commend me to you;

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is

May do t'express his love and friending to you,

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together,

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.

The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,

That ever I was born to set it right.

Nay, come, let's go together.

[Exeunt]

Act II

Scene I

A room in Polonius's house

Enter Polonius and Reynaldo

Polonius

Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

Reynaldo

I will, my lord.

Polonius

You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,

Before you visit him, to make inquiry

Of his behaviour.

Reynaldo

My lord, I did intend it.

Polonius

Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, sir,

Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;

And how, and who, what means, and where

                         they keep,

What company, at what expense; and finding

By this encompassment and drift of question,