The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (855 page)

The fingers of the powers above are tuning

the sweet music of this peace.The vision

which I shared with Lucius on the eve

of this just finished battle has now come

completely true; for the Roman eagle,

soaring on high from south to west,

became smaller and so vanished

in the sunbeams; this predicted our princely eagle,

the emperor Caesar, would again join

himself with the radiant Cymbeline,

who shines here in the west.

CYMBELINE.

Laud we the gods;

And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils

From our bless'd altars. Publish we this peace

To all our subjects. Set we forward; let

A Roman and a British ensign wave

Friendly together. So through Lud's Town march;

And in the temple of great Jupiter

Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.

Set on there! Never was a war did cease,

Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a peace.

Exeunt

We praise the gods;

let the twisting smoke of our sacrifices rise to their noses

from our sacred altars.Announce this peace

to all my subjects.Let's set out; let

a Roman and a British flag fly

friendly together.So march through London,

and we'll sign our peace in the temple

of great Jupiter; we'll seal it with feasting.

Let's go!A war never ended before with such peace

before the blood was even washed off the soldiers' hands.

Claudius, King of Denmark.

Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the present King.

Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.

Horatio, Friend to Hamlet.

Laertes, Son to Polonius.

Voltimand, Courtier.

Cornelius, Courtier.

Rosencrantz, Courtier.

Guildenstern, Courtier.

Osric, Courtier.

A Gentleman, Courtier.

A Priest.

Marcellus, Officer.

Bernardo, Officer.

Francisco, a Soldier

Reynaldo, Servant to Polonius.

Players.

Two Clowns, Grave-diggers.

Fortinbras, Prince of Norway.

A Captain.

English Ambassadors.

Ghost of Hamlet's Father.

Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother of Hamlet.

Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other

Attendants.

Elsinore. A platform before the castle

FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO

BERNARDO

Who’s there?

Who's there?

FRANCISCO

No, you answer me. Identify yourself.

Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.

BERNARDO

I am an officer in the king’s court.

Long live the king!

FRANCISCO

Bernardo, is that you?

Bernardo?

BERNARDO

Yes.

He.

FRANCISCO

You are late.

You come most carefully upon your hour.

BERNARDO

It’s only twelve o’ clock. Go to bed already, Francisco.

'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.

FRANCISCO

Thanks. It’s cold and I am sick of it.

For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,And I am sick at heart.

BERNARDO

Have things been quiet on your guard?

Have you had quiet guard?

FRANCISCO

Quiet as a mouse.

Not a mouse stirring.

BERNARDO

Well, good night. If you see Horatio and Marcellus, tell them to hurry up.

Well, good night.If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

FRANCISCO

I think I hear them now. Stop! Who’s there?

I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there?

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS

HORATIO

We are friends.

Friends to this ground.

MARCELLUS

And we work for the Dane.

And liegemen to the Dane.

FRANCISCO

Be on your way then.

Give you good night.

MARCELLUS

Goodbye, soldier. Who has relieved you?

O, farewell, honest soldier:Who hath relieved you?

FRANCISCO

Bernardo took my place. Good night.

Bernardo has my place.Give you good night.

Exit

MARCELLUS

Hey! Bernardo!

Holla! Bernardo!

BERNARDO

What? Is that you, Horatio?

Say,What, is Horatio there?

HORATIO

A part of me is here.

A piece of him.

BERNARDO

Welcome, Horatio and Marcellus.

Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Marcellus.

MARCELLUS

Has that thing appeared again tonight?

What, has this thing appear'd again to-night?

BERNARDO

I haven’t seen anything.

I have seen nothing.

MARCELLUS

Horatio doesn’t believe me; says it is all in my head. We have seen the ghost twice, so I invited him to stand guard with us tonight. If the apparition comes, he will see for himself.

Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,And will not let belief take hold of himTouching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us:Therefore I have entreated him alongWith us to watch the minutes of this night;That if again this apparition come,He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

HORATIO

Nonsense. It will not appear again.

Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.

BERNARDO

Let’s sit down and we will tell you, although you are skeptical, what we have seen the last two nights.

Sit down awhile;And let us once again assail your ears,That are so fortified against our storyWhat we have two nights seen.

HORATIO

Ok, let’s sit. I will listen to Bernardo’s story.

Well, sit we down,And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

BERNARDO

Last night, about one o’clock, with the light from that star in the west, Marcellus and I—

Last night of all,When yond same star that's westward from the poleHad made his course to illume that part of heavenWhere now it burns, Marcellus and myself,The bell then beating one,--

Enter Ghost

MARCELLUS

Be quiet. Look, here it comes again!

Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again!

BERNARDO

It looks just like the dead king.

In the same figure, like the king that's dead.

MARCELLUS

You are smart, Horatio, speak to it.

Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.

BERNARDO

It does look like the king; doesn’t it, Horatio?

Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.

HORATIO

It does, and I’m both scared and curious.

Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder.

BERNARDO

It acts like it wants to say something.

It would be spoke to.

MARCELLUS

Ask it something, Horatio.

Question it, Horatio.

HORATIO

What are you out at the time of night ready for war and resembling the dead king of Denmark? In the name of God, say something!

What art thou that usurp'st this time of night,Together with that fair and warlike formIn which the majesty of buried DenmarkDid sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak!

MARCELLUS

It is offended.