The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (858 page)

HORATIO

Hold on. Don’t get so excited, until you hear the whole crazy story, witnessed by these gentlemen.

Season your admiration for awhile
With an attent ear, till I may deliver,
Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
This marvel to you.

HAMLET

For the love of God, tell me.

For God's love, let me hear.

HORATIO

These gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch in the middle of the night, were encountered by a figure like your father. It was armed and dressed exactly like him, and marched in front of their frightened eyes. They did not speak to him because they were so afraid. So, they told me about it and I went with them last night to keep watch. Just like they reported, I saw the apparition. I knew your father, and the ghost looked just like him.

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,
Armed 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, distilled
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;
Where, as they had deliver'd, 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?

But where was this?

MARCELLUS

My lord, from the platform where they keep watch.

My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.

HAMLET

Did you speak to it?

Did you not speak to it?

HORATIO

I did, my lord. But it did not answer. Although, I thought it lifted up its head and acted as if it were going to speak. Then, the morning cock crowed and the ghost quickly walked away and vanished from our sight.

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

This is very strange.

'Tis very strange.

HORATIO

It is, but it is true, my lord. We thought it our duty to let you know.

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

Yes, indeed, gentlemen, but this troubles me. Are you on watch tonight?

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

MARCELLUS
BERNARDO

Yes, my lord.

We do, my lord.

HAMLET

And you say he wore his armor?

Arm'd, say you?

MARCELLUS
BERNARDO

Yes, my lord.

Arm'd, my lord.

HAMLET

From head to toe.

From top to toe?

MARCELLUS
BERNARDO

My lord, completely.

My lord, from head to foot.

HAMLET

Then you didn’t see his face.

Then saw you not his face?

HORATIO

Oh, yes, my lord. He wore his helmet up.

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

HAMLET

Did he look angry?

What, look'd he frowningly?

HORATIO

He looked more sad than angry.

A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

HAMLET

Was he pale or red?

Pale or red?

HORATIO

He was very pale.

Nay, very pale.

HAMLET

And he looked right at you?

And fix'd his eyes upon you?

HORATIO

He stared at us.

Most constantly.

HAMLET

I wish I would have been there.

I would I had been there.

HORATIO

You would have been amazed.

It would have much amazed you.

HAMLET

Likely so. Did it stay long?

Very like, very like. Stay'd it long?

HORATIO

Only a few minutes.

While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.

MARCELLUS
BERNARDO

It was longer than that.

Longer, longer.

HORATIO

I don’t think so.

Not when I saw't.

HAMLET

Was his beard gray?

His beard was grizzled--no?

HORATIO

It was just as I remember it, a silvery gray.

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

HAMLET

I will watch tonight and perhaps it will walk again.

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

HORATIO

I think it will.

I warrant it will.

HAMLET

If it looks like my noble father, I’ll speak to it even if it is a sin and I should be quiet. I ask you if you have not told anyone else, to keep this a secret. Also, whatever happens tonight must remain between us. I require your faithfulness. So, goodbye. I will see you at the platform between eleven and twelve.

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.

All

It is our duty and our honor.

Our duty to your honour.

HAMLET

It is my honor, too. Goodbye.

Your loves, as mine to you: farewell.

Exeunt all but HAMLET

My father’s spirit in arms! It must mean things are not well and something terrible has happened. I wish the night were here. Until then, I must wait patiently. Bad things are surely coming.

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

A room in Polonius' house

Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA

LAERTES

It is time for me to return home, but do keep in touch, sister.

My necessaries are embark'd: farewell:And, sister, as the winds give benefitAnd convoy is assistant, do not sleep,But let me hear from you.

OPHELIA

Do you doubt that I will?

Do you doubt that?

LAERTES

Do not believe Hamlet’s ramblings of love. It is not permanent. It is sweet, but not everlasting. It will only last a minute.

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 more.

OPHELIA

So what?

No more but so?

LAERTES

It is natural for him to feel the way he does. Although, he is next in line to be king and he is beginning to think of the people of this state as his responsibility. He must prove his love to the queen mother to keep peace throughout the land. It is safer to be cautious, and lose his love. Just be weary, my dear sister, he is young and his ways are still inconsistent and unknown.

Think it no more;For nature, crescent, does not grow aloneIn thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,The inward service of the mind and soulGrows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirchThe virtue of his will: but you must fear,His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;For he himself is subject to his birth:He may not, as unvalued persons do,Carve for himself; for on his choice dependsThe safety and health of this whole state;And therefore must his choice be circumscribedUnto the voice and yielding of that bodyWhereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,It fits your wisdom so far to believe itAs he in his particular act and placeMay give his saying deed; which is no furtherThan the main voice of Denmark goes withal.Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,If with too credent ear you list his songs,Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure openTo his unmaster'd importunity.Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,And keep you in the rear of your affection,Out of the shot and danger of desire.The chariest maid is prodigal enough,If she unmask her beauty to the moon:Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes:The canker galls the infants of the spring,Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,And in the morn and liquid dew of youthContagious blastments are most imminent.Be wary then; best safety lies in fear:Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

OPHELIA

I shall keep what you say in mind. But, good brother, do not tell me one thing and turn around and do something else.

I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,And recks not his own rede.

LAERTES

Oh, you need not fear me. I have stayed too long; here comes my father.

O, fear me not.I stay too long: but here my father comes.

Enter POLONIUS

I am doubly blessed. It is time for me to leave.

A double blessing is a double grace,Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

LORD POLONIUS

Are you still here, Laertes? Shame on you! Everything is ready for your departure and you are still in Fortinbras. There, I give you my blessing! Keep these thoughts in mind. Be careful what you say and how you act. Be friendly, but not too friendly. Keep your old friends close, and be careful how you make new friends. Do not be quick to argue, but do not let anyone take you for a coward. Listen to your fellow man, but do not believe everything you hear. Dress your best, but do not overspend on fancy or gaudy clothes. Even the French dress according to their station. Do not borrow or lend money, because you will always lose, either the money or the friend or your sense of pride. And, most importantly, be true to yourself. That way no one can accuse you of being fake. Farewell and know you have my blessing!