Act I, Scene 2
Starting at line 183 from Folger Library edition
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 followed hard upon.
HAMLET
Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked 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
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 gentleman
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 encountered. A figure like your father,
Armed at point exactly, cap-à-pe,
Appears before them, and with solemn march
Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he walk’d
By their oppressed and fear-surpriséd 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 delivered, 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?
MARCELLUS
My lord, upon the platform where we watch.
HAMLET
Did you 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 vanished from our sight.
HAMLET
‘Tis very strange
HORATIO
As I do live, my honored lord, ‘tis true.
And we did think it writ down in our duty
To let you know of it.
HAMLET
Indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.
Hold you the watch tonight?
ALL
We do, my lord.
HAMLET
Armed, say you?
ALL
Armed, my lord.
HAMLET
From top to toe?
ALL
My lord, from head to foot.
HAMLET
What, looked he frowningly?
HORATIO
A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
HAMLET
Pale or red?
HORATIO
Nay, very pale.
HAMLET
And fixed his eyes upon you?
HORATIO
Most constantly.
HAMLET
I would I had been there.
HORATIO
It would have much amazed you.
HAMLET
Very like. Stayed it long?
HORATIO
While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.
BARNARDO / MARCELLUS
Longer, longer!
HORATIO
Not when I saw it!
HAMLET
His beard was grizzled, no?
HORATIO
It was as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silvered.
HAMLET
I will watch tonight.
Perchance ‘twill walk again.
HORATIO
I warrant it well.
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 concealed this sight,
Let it be tenable in your silence still.
And whatsomever else shall hap tonight,
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
Our duty to your Honor.
HAMLET
Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.
[All but HAMLET Exeunt.]
HAMLET
My father’s spirit—in arms! All is not well.
I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come!
‘Til then, sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise,
Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes.
[HAMLET Exits.]