Ham. Did you not speak to it?

Hor.

Ham.

My lord, I did,
But answer made it none: yet once methought
It lifted up it 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.

'Tis very strange. 220
Hor. 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.

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

Mar.

Ber.

}

We do, my lord.

Ham. Then saw you not his face?

Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up
Ham. What, look'd he frowningly?

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Ham.

I would I had been there.

Hor. It would have much amazed you.

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

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

Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life,

Ham.

A sable silver'd.

I will watch to-night;

Perchance 'twill walk again.

Hor.
I warrant it will.
Ham. 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 :

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All.

I will requite your loves. So fare you well:
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,

I'll visit you.

Our duty to your honour.

Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: farewell

[Exeunt all but 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.

Scene III.

A room in Polonius's house.

Enter Laertes and Ophelia.

Laer. My necessaries are embark'd: farewell:
And, sister, as the winds give benefit

Opb.

And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.

Do you doubt that?

Laer. 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.

Oph. No more but so?

Laer.

Think it no more:

For nature crescent does not grow alone

In thews and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now;
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The 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 depends
The safety and health of this whole state,
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body

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Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
As he in his particular act and place

May give his saying deed; which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs,

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Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To 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 youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear :
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,

Laer.

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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,
Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads
And recks not his own rede.

I stay too long: but here

O, fear me not.

my father comes.

Enter Polonius.

A double blessing is a double grace;

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