剧中人物
哈姆雷特 丹麦王子
克劳地 丹麦国王, 哈姆雷特之叔
葛簇特 皇后, 哈姆雷特之母, 最近改嫁於克劳地
鬼魂 先王, 即哈姆雷特父亲之灵魂
波隆尼尔 御前大臣
雷尔提 波隆尼尔之子
欧菲莉亚 波隆尼尔之女
赫瑞修 哈姆雷特之密友
罗生克兰 |
盖登思邓 | 朝臣, 哈姆雷特同学
福丁布拉 挪威王子
傅特曼 |
孔里尼 | 丹麦之事务官, 派挪威之使者
马赛洛 |
柏纳多 | 守望卫兵
佛郎西斯哥 |
奥斯力克 朝臣
瑞挪都 波隆尼尔之仆
掘坟工人们
福丁布拉营中尉官
戏班演员们
英国使者们
丹麦朝庭之一绅士
祭司
水手们
众贵族, 女仕, 士兵, 信差, 与侍从
第一幕
第一景: 城墙上
[丹麦的艾辛诺尔堡. 在城墙的一平台上, 守卫柏纳多与佛郎西斯哥入]
{此时正是深夜, 一片漆黑中, 佛郎西斯哥在城墙上站岗, 而柏纳多来接他的班}
柏: 是谁在那儿? {接班人先问此话}
佛: 不, 你回答我! 站住, 请亮相! {站岗者警觉的反问}
柏: 吾王万岁! {这是口令}
佛: 柏纳多?
柏: 正是。
佛: 您很准时到。
柏: 此时已是午夜, 去睡吧, 佛兄。
佛: 谢谢您来接我的班。 今夜酷寒, 我胸中不适。
柏: 一切都还安静吧?
佛: 连一支耗子都没闹。
柏: 那很好。 晚安。
您若见到我的伙伴们赫瑞修与马赛洛, 请叫他们快点。
佛: 我好像听到他们来了。
[赫瑞修与马赛洛入]
止步! 是谁?
赫: 是此地之友...
马: 也是丹麦王之忠心部属。
佛: 晚安吧。
马: 哦, 再见, 忠实的士兵。 是谁代替了你?
佛: 柏纳多接了我的岗。 晚安。
[出]
马: 你好, 柏纳多。
柏: 喂, 赫瑞修在吗?
赫: 他的一部份在(注1)。
柏: 欢迎, 赫瑞修; 欢迎, 善良的马赛洛。
赫: 那物有无再出现?
柏: 我没见到。
马: 赫兄说那个东西只不过是个幻觉,
虽然我们曾见过它两次, 但它仍是不足为信的。
因此我邀请了他今晚来和我们一起守望,
等此物出现时让他一睹为信, 并与其问话。
赫: 哼哼, 它不会出现的。 {一付不相信的样子}
柏: 请坐会儿,
让咱们再告诉您那顽固不信之双耳,
我们这两夜所见之事。
赫: 好, 那就让咱们坐下来,
听柏纳多叙述此事罢。
柏: 昨夜,
正当北极星西边的那颗星 {手指著天上的一颗星}
在同一位置照明了此夜空时,
马赛洛与我--
那时, 时钟才刚响一声...
[鬼魂入]
马: 嘘, 停止。 看! 它又出现了!
柏: 就像先王的模样。
马: 您有学问, 赫瑞修, 您去向它问话(注2)!
柏: 您说它像不像已逝的国王, 看清楚它, 赫瑞修!
赫: 真像! 它令我战栗与惊愕。
柏: 它要您和它说话。
马: 问它事情呀, 赫瑞修!
赫: {对鬼魂}
猖獗於此夜此时者, 是何物?
为何假冒已葬陛下之英姿, 披先王之战袍出没於此?
我倚天之名命你回答!
马: 您触犯了它。
柏: 看, 它溜走了!
赫: 留下! 说话呀, 说话, 我命令你!
[鬼魂出]
马: 它走了, 不肯说话。
柏: 怎样, 赫兄, 您脸色苍白的猛在发抖,
您仍觉得这只是个幻觉吗?
赫: 有老天爷为证, 要不是我亲自目睹,
那我还不肯相信它呢!
马: 您不觉得它很像我们的先王吗?
赫: 就像你像你自己一般:
他身披之盔甲,
就是昔日他奋战那野心勃勃的挪威王时所穿的。
他脸上蹙眉怒目之表情,
就和他当年在冰原上大破波兰雪车军时一样。
这可真怪了。
马: 它就两次这般的, 在此夜深人静时全副武装的出现於我们的守望中.
赫: 我真不知该如何去想。
不过, 据我看来,
这可能是我国将有突变之凶兆。
马: 好, 那么, 请坐下和我说, 您若知道的话,
为何我国国民们要这般的夜夜警惕 望,
为何我国要每日铸造铜炮, 并与外广购军备?
为何造船商均被迫毫无休假的终日工作?
有何外在之患,
须要我国如此的夙夜辛劳苦干?
有谁能跟我解释这些?
赫: 我可以; 至少相传是如此:
我们的先王
--他的形相我们刚刚才见到--
曾接受了那目空一切的挪威王福丁布拉氏所提出之一项单独挑战。
当时我们英勇的哈姆雷特王
--这是吾邦众所周知的--
就在此战役中斩杀了福丁布拉氏。
事後, 依战前所立之合法条约,
福丁布拉阵亡就立即放弃其拥有之一块国土,
恰若反是吾王阵亡, 我国也将放弃同样的一块国土。
那知当今那乳臭未乾并刚猛好战的福丁布拉少氏,
在挪威境内到处招军买马, 啸聚了一群不法之徒,
此时正在摩拳擦掌, 志在光复其父所失之江山。
吾料这就是为何我国要如此的日夜警惕, 加倍生产之故。
柏: 吾料也是。
这也解释了为何这酷似先王之幽灵
要全身披挂的显现於我们的守望中;
他到底是此事之轴心人物!
赫: 真是不可思议。
昔日罗马帝国在凯撒被刺前夕,
坟冢均裂, 而弃尸多叽喳乱语於街头,
并有血红慧星出现於日, 月因全蚀而不明於夜。
此等种种不祥, 乃天地予吾国民
国难之先兆也!
[鬼魂再入]
且慢, 看, 它又来了!
这回我可要与它说话,
虽然它可能置我於死命。
[鬼魂展开双臂]
止步! 幻象,
你若有声, 请发言!
你若有吉事我能办到, 并能使你安息,
请交代。
你若有方法使我国脱离苦难, 请告知。
或者你在生前曾埋藏了什么不名之财, 令你阴魂不散,
也请告知。 说话呀, 站住! [此时雄鸡开始啼]
挡住它, 马赛洛! {鬼魂开始消散}
马: 要不要我用戟去刺它?
赫: 要, 要是它不肯留下的话!
柏: 它在这儿! {指一方向}
赫: 它在这儿! {指另一方向}
[鬼魂出]
马: 它走了。
我们不该这般粗鲁的去冒犯这位酷似先王之幽灵。
它轻如空气, 捉摸不得。
适才的莽撞只徒表了我们的敌意。
柏: 雄鸡啼前它才启口欲言。
赫: 之後它就像罪人见到拘票般的落荒而逃。
传闻公鸡是黎明的前号,
它以响亮的歌喉, 唤醒了白昼之神,
并警告所有在水、火、土、及空中的游魂们
赶快回避。
吾今所见, 更证实了此传说。
马: 那幽灵正在雄鸡啼时消散;
也传说在圣诞前夕, 雄鸡夜不停啼,
众鬼神均勿敢出游,
因此夜晚清明, 天无邪星,
精灵不闹, 女巫乏咒。
此诚光华圣洁之辰也!
赫: 我也如此听说, 并也大致相信。
看, 黎明之神披著嫣红的衣裳, 已踏上了东边的山麓,
我们可以散夥了。
不过, 我认为, 我们应该把今夜所见之事
告诉小哈姆雷特。
我敢打赌, 这个鬼魂对我们虽是哑口无言, 但是对他会有话说。
你们说, 我们按朋友及职务之分, 是否应如此去做?
马: 咱们就如此去办。 我知道我们今早在哪里可碰到他。
[全人出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 赫瑞修从黑暗中伸出一支手, 因此戏曰为『一部份。』
(2). 马赛洛与柏纳多均是军人, 唯赫瑞修读过书, 并是哈姆雷特的同学,
因此马赛洛认为只有赫瑞修有资格与鬼魂对话。
第二景: 城堡中一厅
[号声响起。 丹麦王克劳地、皇后葛簇特、朝臣傅特曼、孔里尼、
波隆尼尔与其子雷尔提、及哈姆雷特等人入。]
王: 朕念吾手足先王哈姆雷特崩逝不久,
其忆犹新。
今举国哀恸, 赤心剖见。
此乃吾等之本分矣!
但今理智应取代天性,
悲中亦勿忘本职。
故朕决意联亲前嫂, 为今皇后,
以共理天下。
恰似悲中尚有喜; 一目哀戚, 一目欢欣。
殡丧不乏乐, 婚宴亦参哀。
朕以为此悲喜两情宜多斟酌而适均之。
朕亦未忘众大臣不懈於内, 为此美事进尽雅言,
寡人感激固不在话下。
另一要事诸位已知:
福丁布拉少氏一向藐视吾邦,
今先王崩殂, 福氏以为本国混乱, 其志更长, 妄自尊大,
已屡次传书扰衅, 要求我国归还其失於先王之合法疆土。
不谈此厮也罢! 且来商讨吾等之要事, 也即今升朝之原由。
事现如此:
寡人已传书与挪威王, 即福丁布拉少氏之叔,
要求他止限其侄坐大, 因其侄之队伍与辎重全来自其庶民也。
怎奈他久病於榻, 元气全失, 对其侄之所为毫无知晓。
故寡人今特派傅特曼、孔里尼二员携此函赴挪威予其老王, 望其明察。
此函详细, 其馀之事, 傅、孔二人无权商洽。
望二人多多保重, 速早启程。
傅、孔: 此如万务, 臣等将全力以赴。
王: 朕无疑。 再会。
[傅、孔二人出]
{对雷尔提} 再之, 雷尔提, 有何新事?
吾闻你有所求, 尚且告知;
有理之求, 朕决不会令你白费口舌的。
凡是你所要求的, 雷尔提, 有何事我不曾答允过你?
汝父与本王就如心首相关, 口手相连也!
你有何求, 雷尔提?
雷: 陛下, 但愿您准许我归返法国。
臣乃有意并奉职由法归国参加陛下之加冕大典。
此事既全, 吾心又向法。
此尚恳求陛下谅解。
王: 汝父波隆尼尔怎么说? 你有得其允许否?
波: 有的, 主公, 经他不断的苦苦哀求後, 臣终於勉强的答应了他。
我也希望您能同样的答允他。
王: 请把握住时光, 它是属於你的; 你可随意行之。
{雷尔提行礼退下。 国王转向还在沉思中的哈姆雷特。}
我的爱侄哈姆雷特, 我儿...
哈: [私下] 虽是血亲, 但非同类(注1)。
王: 你为何还是在乌云笼罩下?
哈: 非也, 我主, 我已获得太多太阳了(注2)。
后: 我的乖儿, 快把那乌云甩开。
你应以友善的眼光去望你的君主,
别再以那 丧之双目老在尘土中找寻你的父亲。
你应知道, 那所有有生之物都有必死之期;
由有生传至永,
此乃世之常情。
哈: 是的, 此乃常情。
后: 既知如此, 你为何挂有那一付耿耿於怀的模样?
哈: 「模样」, 母后? 不, 那因我是如此, 我不懂您所谓之「模样」。
我如墨之披肩, 娘呀,
或黝黑之孝服,
或频频之悲叹,
或成渠之眼泪,
或沮丧之神情,
或任何类似之形态、 哀恸之表情,
都无法表达我的内心。 因为这些的确是「模样,」
人人可伪装的。
我内心之有, 早远超越於表达。
那些只不过是悲哀之瓶花, 衣裳而以。
王: 你如此的凭吊汝父, 孝道尽之,
实可赞可佳也。
但你也应知, 汝父也曾失其父,
其父更失其父。 为子者为尽孝道,
是应凭吊一时。 但无止境的哀恸, 实非男子之情,
而乃不虔敬於天之顽为, 意志软弱之倾向,
也是无耐心, 无知识之表行也!
既知天意已是无法逃避, 那你就应领为常情, 何必永挂於心?
哼, 这是违天道, 违亡者, 违自然, 违理智之作风。
此四者由古迄今, 从第一为父到今方死者,
都告诉了我们: 「为父者将死, 此乃必然。」
所以, 我祈求你埋葬了你这盲目的忧郁, 视吾为汝父,
也让世人知道你是此王位的下任继承人,
而且朕对你之爱也决不欠於一位父亲对其亲子之爱也!
至於你欲回卫登堡(注3)求学之念, 寡人是非常的反对。
我希望你能留於此地, 让寡人来关怀照顾你,
使你成为寡人的一位要臣、爱侄、与孩儿。
后: 别让你母亲的愿望成空, 哈姆雷特,
我祈求你留在我们的身旁, 别回卫登堡去。
哈: 我将尽力的去听从您, 娘。
王: 好, 答的好!
你在丹麦时请随意。 夫人, 你来。
哈姆雷特这温驯及由衷之答覆令吾大悦。
今饮酒庆贺前朕可要放巨炮告知青云;
霹雳通霄, 与天同庆! 来, 我们走。
[号声又响, 全体出场, 仅留哈姆雷特一人]
哈: 唉, 只望血肉之躯能瞬化为甘露, 天条亦无禁戒人类自戕;
上帝呀, 上帝,
人间万物我观之已是乏味, 枯燥, 平淡, 也令我心恢意懒。
罢了, 罢了。 就像无人管顾的花园被丛草吞没,
此事就如此的发生。
才去世两月, 不, 未及两月,
这么一个完美的君主...
与其相形之下, 就如太阳神比色魔{点头指向叔父方向}...
先父对吾母真是怜爱的无微不致, 甚至不肯让强风吹抚於她的脸颊。
天哪! 难道我不记得吗? 她也曾依偎在他身旁,
彷佛有著无限的爱欲。 可是, 一月之内...
唉, 不去想它了... 软弱者, 你的名字就是『女人!』
短短一月, 她跟随先父灵柩时所穿之鞋尚新呢!
当时她哭成了个泪人, 就像耐有比 (注4)。
为何现在她会变得如此呢? 连她!
老天呀, 连一支不知羞耻的禽兽都会哀悼得更久。
但她一月之内就下嫁於我叔,
也不等那哭红眼框内之虚假眼泪乾涸。
他虽是我父亲之胞弟, 但是他们俩人可回然不同,
就像我比赫酋力士一般(注5)。
唉, 太快了, 如此敏捷的跃入乱伦褥中(注6)。
这是不对, 也将无善果的。
我心将碎, 因我不能多言。
[赫瑞修、马赛洛、 及柏纳多入。]
赫: 殿下请安。
哈: 我很高兴见到你无恙, 赫瑞修, 我差点儿把你给忘了。
赫: 是的, 我仍是殿下的忠仆。
哈: 先生, 朋友, 我情愿与你交换这个头衔。
有何事使你从卫登堡来此, 赫瑞修?
{见到赫之同伴们}--马赛洛?
马: {敬礼} 殿下。
哈: 我也很高兴见到你。
[对柏纳多] 晚安, 先生。
{对赫瑞修} 是何事使你从卫登堡来此?
赫: 是我逃学之性痞, 殿下。
哈: 我可不许你的敌人这般的说你,
所以, 我也不希望听到你这般的说此刺耳之言。
我知道你不是个逃学者。
不过, 你在艾辛诺尔是有何贵干?
我们可要在你离去之前痛饮一番。
赫: 殿下, 我是来参加令尊丧礼的。
哈: 别开玩笑了, 同学呀,
我想你是来参加我母亲婚礼的。
赫: 真的, 它来得也真快。
哈: 快, 快. 赫瑞修, 葬礼的冷肉剩馐
也被搬上喜宴桌了。
我宁可在天堂碰到我的至敌,
也不愿意见到那一天, 赫瑞修.
我的父亲, 我觉得我见到了我的父亲...
赫: {慌张的} 在那里, 殿下?
哈: 在我神智的眼中, 赫瑞修。
赫: 我也见过他一次, 他是个善好的国王。
哈: 他是个完美的人,
我从此再也不能见到他的面容了。
赫: 殿下, 我认为, 我昨夜见到了他。
哈: 见到? 谁?
赫: 殿下, 先王, 您的父亲。
哈: 先王? 我的父亲?
赫: 请别慌,
有两位先生在此做证,
且让我慢慢向您细述这一奇事。
哈: 老天! 让我听!
赫: 连接两夜, 这些先生们--马赛洛与柏纳多--
在他们守望之夜深人静时,
见到一个从头至足酷似您父亲之武装形像出现,
庄严的漫步於他们之前, 就近在咫尺。
它三番的如此出现时, 都令他们吓成一团糊,
目瞪口呆的不知如何是好。
当他们秘密的告诉了我此事後, 我就决定在第三夜和他们一起守望.
在那里, 就在他们所说之时辰, 也正如他们所描述之先王形像,
那幽灵就出现了, 证实了他们所说之每一句话。
我认得您父亲, 就像我认得我这双手掌。 {展开双手}
哈: 这是在哪里?
马: 殿下, 就在城墙的 望台上。
哈: 你有无与它说话?
赫: 有的, 殿下,
但是它不肯回答我。
有一次我以为它举首欲言,
但是当时公鸡正啼,
而它马上就消失无踪。
哈: 这可真怪了。
赫: 我对天发誓, 殿下, 这些全是真话,
而我们有责任把它告诉给您。
哈: 当然的, 先生们. 不过, 此事令我困扰。
你们今夜是否还是值班?
全人: 是的, 殿下。
哈: 你们说他有披挂著武装?
全人: 有武装, 殿下。
哈: 由首至足?
全人: 殿下, 由首至足。
哈: 那么, 你见到他的面孔了?
赫: 是的, 殿下, 他头盔的护面罩是敞开著的。
哈: 那他的脸色是怎样, 是怒目吗?
赫: 他的神情是哀伤甚於怒目。
哈: 苍白还是血红?
赫: 嗯, 很苍白。
哈: 他不停的注视著你吗?
赫: 不停的。
哈: 只希望当时我也在场。
赫: 您会惊讶的。
哈: 一定会。
它有无久待?
赫: 差不多百数之久。
马、柏: 更久, 更久。
赫: 我见到它时没那么久。
哈: 他的胡须是否斑白?
赫: 就像他生前时我所见到一般, 黑中参灰。
哈: 今夜我也要去守望, 也许它会再度出现。
赫: 我相信它会的。
哈: 假如它以先父之遗容显现,
即使地狱将崩裂而命我住口,
我也一定要与它说话。
我祈求你们继续的保密此事及今夜所将发生之事,
咱们可心照不宣。 此恩我定将回报。
好罢, 咱们今晚十一点到十二点之间在城墙上再会。
全人: 我们将效忠於您。
哈: 我也将回报你们的爱心。 再见。
[赫瑞多、马赛洛、与柏那多出。]
我先父之灵, 披挂著武装! 此非善事。
我怀疑其中尚有蹊跷; 只望今夜速来,
直到那时, 我应有耐心。 倘若有任何阴恶之事,
无论它被掩埋多深, 它终会被揭发的。
[出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 在此, 哈姆雷特强调国王虽是血亲, 但实是个截然不同的异类。
(2). 英文『太阳』与『儿子』同音, 在此带讽刺意。
(3). 卫登堡大学, 西元 1502 年成立, 在此与剧中年代不符合。
(4). 耐有比: 希腊神话中之女, 因失其子女而不停的哭泣,
後转变成石, 可是泪水还是不停的由其中涌出。
(5). 赫酋力士: 希腊神话中之英雄, 有无敌之神力。
(6). 按中古之教规, 夫妻结合, 成为一体;
故兄死後弟若娶嫂, 相当於乱伦。
第三景: 波隆尼尔屋内
[雷尔提与欧菲利亚入]
雷: 我的行李已在船上了, 再见。
风顺可行船时,
别忘了写信给我。
欧: 你会怀疑这个吗?
雷: 至於哈姆雷特对你之兴趣,
那只是年青人之暂时热度.
如情窦之初开,
充满活力, 但非永恒; 甜蜜而不持久,
仅将空留一阵飘香, 决不多矣!
欧: 仅是如此而已?
雷: 仅是如此而已。
因人之成长, 非仅驱体之强大,
而须连与意志及灵魂之茁壮也。
也许他现在是真心的爱你, 也许他也的确是个君子,
但你须顾虑到, 因他之身世与地位, 他的意志是非属他有。
他无常人之自由, 因为他的决择关键於国家,
所以事事都有其後顾及著想。 那时即使他对你说他爱你,
你也只可斟酌的去相信他,
因为也许那只不过是奉合民意之良策而已呢!
因此你要谨慎, 别因他的 情歌或苦苦哀求而爱上他, 或轻意失身。
请顾虑到这些, 欧菲利亚, 请顾虑到这些, 亲爱的妹妹。
我劝你远离情欲的引诱而洁身自爱;
贞女不露其娇於月,
节操难敌毁谤口碑。
春之蓓蕾常伤於 蠖而不花,
青春少年更易受诱惑而腐堕。
你应惧怕这些, 因唯有惧怕才能使你安全。
年轻人都是血气方刚的。
欧: 我当记此训诲於心。
不过, 哥哥,
我也希望你勿像某些教士,
指点我至天堂之坎苛荆棘路,
而自己却走上花天酒地, 行为不检之缤纷大道。
全然忘记自己的谆谆教诲.
雷: 这些, 你勿需害怕。
[波隆尼尔入]
我耽待过久了, 现在父亲已至。
双重的告别是双倍的美好,
我可再度与父亲道别。
波: 你还在此, 雷尔提? 上船, 赶快上船去, 你该羞耻!
风已吹满帆了, 船在等著你呢。
你已得到我的祝福, {亲吻雷尔提面颊}
还有, 我要你把这些箴言记於心头:
内心之事宜缄口,
仓促之念莫妄行,
为人友善忌轻浮,
患难之友可深交,
酒肉之情应远离。
避免与人争执, 但一旦有之, 令其惧汝。
凡事需多听但少言,
聆听他人之意见, 但保留自己之判断。
穿著你所能负担得起之最佳衣裳,
质料应高贵, 但切忌俗丽,
因衣冠常代表其人;
吾闻法国之贵族对此尤是讲究。
勿告贷於友也勿贷之於友,
因後者常致财友均失。
而前者乃豁费之首也。
最重要者: 万勿自欺,
如此, 就像夜之将随日, 你也不会欺将於他人。
再会, 盼吾之祝祷能使你履行以上。
雷: 我谦卑的由衷向您告别, 父亲。
波: 时间不容多言; 你的侍从已在久等。
雷: 再见, 欧菲利亚, 请记著我对你所说的。
欧: 已牢锁於我的心坎,
而仅有你才有其钥匙。
雷: 再会。
[雷尔提出]
波: 他对你说了些什么?
欧: 告知父亲, 一些有关哈姆雷特之事。
波: 那也真巧。
我也听说他最近常在你身上花费时间,
并且你也公然的与他为友。
若是如此, 那我该告诉你, 就如有人忠告我一般:
也许你不完全了解此事对你本身或吾女名誉上之牵涉。
你们之间究竟是如何? 请从实道来。
欧: 他最近常表示他对我之倾爱, 父亲。
波: 倾爱? 哈! 你讲起话来简直像个未成熟的小女孩,
完全不懂得此事之严重性。
那你信不信他对你的这些所谓「爱示」呢?
欧: 我不知应如何去想, 父亲。
波: 好, 让我告诉你: 你就好似个天真的婴儿,
把他给你的这些爱情伪币当作真钱。
你须提高你的身价,
要不然, 你会使我--套句俗语--成个傻瓜(注1)!
欧: {惊讶}但是, 父亲呀, 他是有诚意的在追求我。
波: 你所谓之诚意, 算了罢, 算了。
欧: 他也曾郑重的对天发誓过。
波: 呸, 这些只不过是捕捉笨鸟之陷阱也!
我也晓得人到情欲冲动时, 嘴巴里讲的尽是些甜言蜜语。
这些火焰, 女儿呀, 只亮不热,
而瞬将熄灭--甚至正当他在许诺於你之时。
你千万别把它当为爱情之真火。
从今天开始, 你应与他疏远, 切勿一呼即至。
对哈姆雷特殿下, 你只须记著他仍是年轻,
也无你所有之牵挂。
简而说之, 欧菲利亚, 别相信他对你之承诺,
因为它们缺乏真实之色彩, 而只是些虚情假意, 不正当之邪求也。
这是我最後一次明白的告诉你:
从今开始, 我不许你浪费宝贵时光与哈姆雷特殿下谈话。
这是我的命令, 你得做到。
走吧!
欧: 我将听从您的旨示。
[二人出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 『成个傻瓜』: 当时之俗语, 成为私生子之祖父之意。
第四景: 城墙一平台上
[哈姆雷特、赫瑞修、与马赛洛入。]
哈: 寒风刺骨, 好冷!
赫: 它咬得也真紧。
哈: 现在是几点了?
赫: 还不到十二点。
马: 不对, 钟已经响过了。
赫: 真的? 我没听到。
已近灵魂出游之时辰了。
[号声从城堡中传出, 外加了两声轰然炮响。]
这是何事, 殿下?
哈: 国王正在饮酒做乐, 歌舞狂欢。
当他把大盅的葡萄酒灌入喉咙时,
鼓号就齐鸣, 与他助兴。
赫: 这是习俗吗?
哈: 是的, 这是。
不过, 依我看来, 虽然我也身为本地人,
这个习俗还是不去遵守较好,
因为这些酗酒狂欢只会引致外人对我们之耻笑;
他们污秽了我们的名誉, 称呼我们是酒鬼, 是猪。
即使我们也有我们的辉煌成就, 这些名号的确会令我们面上无光。
有些人也常得到同类的遭遇。
他们因天然之不幸, 例如被遗传得某些缺陷--这些不能怪他们,
因为他们不能挑选他们的父母--或因阴阳之错差而失去理智,
或因他们的行为与众不同, 他们将永被世人排斥。
无论他们的内心是多么的崇高纯洁,
他们的名誉将永被此一瑕疵败坏。
一小块污点能抹杀一人之所有优点。
[鬼魂入]
赫: 看! 殿下, 它来了!
哈: 老天保佑我们!
{对鬼魂}
无论你是良魂或恶鬼,
你所带来的是天堂之香馨或地狱之烈焰,
你的存意是恶毒或慈善,
你的形相令我要问你:
我要称呼你为哈姆雷特, 国王, 父亲, 丹麦之皇,
啊, 回答我, 别让我爆裂於无知。
告诉我, 为何您那经过圣礼安葬之灵骨要破坟而出,
为何那沉重的大理石棺要敞其盖而把您抛开,
为何已死之尸须全付武装的返世, 出没於月光下, 令夜晚恐怖,
也令活者困扰, 无从思考其义?
告诉我们为什么, 为什么? 你要我们怎样?
[鬼魂以手示意]
赫: 它招手叫您过去. 好像想单独的与您谈话。
马: 看, 它有礼貌的招呼您过去, 想带您去远方。
不过, 您别跟它去。
赫: 别去, 千万别去!
哈: 它既无言, 那我只好跟它去。
赫: 不要去, 殿下!
哈: 有何可惧?
我早已把我的生命视得轻於鸿毛;
至於我的灵魂, 它亦是个永恒之物, 它又能把它怎样?
它又对我招手了。 我过去了。
赫: 倘若它把您勾引至那汪洋大海或岸旁之峭壁边缘时,
再显露其恐怖原形, 令您丧失理智或发狂, 那怎么办?
殿下, 请再三思!
就是平常从悬崖高处鸟瞰那滂渤大海, 都会令人神志昏然, 心萌异念,
何况是现在?
哈: 它又招手了。
{对鬼魂} 走呀, 我跟你去。
马: 殿下, 您别去!
哈: 甩开你们的手!
赫: 听我们的, 您别去!
哈: {争脱阻挡} 我的心灵在哭号,
我的混身血管已充满了乃门狮子之勇气(注1)。
它又唤我去了。 让我去, 先生们。
我发誓, 谁若阻挡我, 我就使他也变成鬼!
走开! 我说。 {豁然拔出长剑}
{对鬼魂} 走呀, 我跟你去。
[鬼魂出, 哈姆雷特随後]
赫: 他疯了。
马: 我们跟过去, 我们不能听他的。
赫: 我们追随他, 看有何事会发生。
马: 丹麦将有恶事发生。
赫: 上帝自有安排。
马: 不行, 我们跟过去!
[全人出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 乃门狮: 希腊神话中被赫酋力士所杀之猛兽。
第五景: 城墙上
[鬼魂与哈姆雷特入]
哈: 你要带我去何处? 回答我, 我不再走了。
鬼: 你听我言。
哈: 好的。
鬼: 天快亮了,
那时我又要回到那被硫磺烈火烧灼的地方。
哈: 唉, 可怜的鬼魂。
鬼: 你别可怜我, 但请注意聆听我将揭发的这些事。
哈: 请说, 我一定会听。
鬼: 听了之後, 你会不会去复仇?
哈: 什么?
鬼: 吾乃汝父之灵。
此时因被判而漫游徘回於夜, 烈火煎熬於日,
直至我生前之孽障被洗清燃尽後方止。
苦我有口难言, 无法说出我此时的牢狱之灾,
否则, 我有一故事可相告,
它会令你心灵痛楚、血浆凝固、双目暴凸、卷发成直、与毛骨悚然。
可惜此後世之天机, 勿可泄露於血肉之耳也!
听之, 听之呀, 听之, 倘若你曾爱汝父的话。
哈: 啊, 上帝!
鬼: 为其狠毒及反极伦理之谋杀复仇!
哈: 谋杀!
鬼: 谋杀通常都是狠毒的,
但这是个最狠毒, 最奇异, 最反伦理之谋杀。
哈: 赶快告诉我, 我将在一念之瞬飞奔去与您复仇。
鬼: 说得好!
倘若你听到此事後还不痛心疾首的话,
那你就比 生於忘魂河畔之芦苇还更软弱。
哈姆雷特, 请听:
相传我是在花园内午睡时,
被毒蛇螫咬, 而全丹麦之耳目也是如此的被蒙骗。
但是, 你要知到, 咬死汝父的毒蛇, 此刻正戴著他的皇冠!
哈: 呵, 如我所料, 我的叔父!
鬼: 是的, 就是那个乱伦奸淫之畜牲。
他利用了狡滑之妖术, 叛逆之心智, 与善诱之技俩,
勾引了我那表面淑贞之皇后, 使她蛊惑於其无耻之兽欲。
唉, 哈姆雷特, 这是一宗多么可悲的堕坠,
由我庄严崇高及专情不移的爱, 就如当年成婚时我许予她之承诺,
堕落至今天她许爱於一如此卑鄙,如此天赋低劣之人。
正是:
贞女将不惑於淫欲, 虽淫欲能扮为天使;
荡妇常猥亵於圣榻, 虽此妇与圣洁连理。
且慢, 我可嗅到清晨的气息,
所以让我速言:
有天我照习惯在花园内午睡时,
汝叔父就趁我不备, 把一瓶可憎的剧毒倾注於我耳内。
这令人 痹之毒液一见人血,
就快如水银般的立刻流入全体各脉。
经过一阵翻腾, 它就令原来稀薄健康之鲜血凝固成膏,
就像强酸滴入牛乳一般。
这毒液在我身上之功效也是如此。
它令我全身本来光滑之皮肤顿时溃烂,
并盖满了树皮似之 心厚痂,
彷佛患了 疯症。
我的生命、皇冠、及皇后就如此的一瞬间在睡梦中被我弟兄夺去,
使我无机会在临终前悔过生前之罪孽, 或接受圣礼之祝福,
而毫无准备的带罪赴阴曹受审。 啊, 可怕呀, 可怕, 真可怕! (注1)
你若有天良, 请勿默默忍耐,
别让丹麦皇室之寝床成为可恨的淫欲、乱伦之卧榻。
但无论你是怎样的去进行此事, 别让你的脑子萌起报复於你母之念。
把她留给天堂裁判, 让她受自己良心的谴责及刺戳。
现在我须匆匆的与你告别。 萤虫之光已黯淡, 黎明已近。
再会, 再会, 再会, 请记著我。
[鬼魂出]
哈: 呵, 天地之神明呀! 还有呢?
难道也要呼唤於地狱之恶鬼吗?
唉, {掩住胸膛} 我心勿碎, 我肌勿老,
让我稳稳的站住。
记著你? 会的, 可怜的鬼魂, 只要我这痴傻的头颅尚能有记忆。
记著你? 会的, 我将把我记忆中所有之琐碎杂事、书中之智慧、
及少年学所得之经验统统一笔扫清。
唯您之指示将存留於我的脑袋, 决不与其他事情混杂。
会的, 我向天发誓。
啊, 最恶毒的妇人!
啊, 恶棍, 恶棍, 满脸堆笑的该死恶棍!
我的笔记 {搜其口带}, 我应当把这些记录下来:
「有人能笑呀笑的, 但仍然是个恶棍,」
至少在丹麦我能确定此点。 [边写边言]
好了, 叔叔, 记下来了。
从今开始我的座佑铭将是:「再会, 再会, 请记著我,」我发誓!
[赫瑞修与马赛洛入]
赫: 殿下! 殿下!
马: 哈姆雷特殿下!
赫: 上天保佑他!
哈: [私下] 但愿如此。
马: 唏罗, 呵, 呵(注2), 殿下!
哈: 唏罗, 呵, 呵, 小男孩。 来呀, 鸟儿来。
马: 殿下贵体无恙?
赫: 有何见闻?
哈: 啊, 令人惊骇!
赫: 好呀, 殿下, 告诉我们。
哈: 不, 你们会把它告诉给别人。
赫: 我不会, 殿下, 我发誓。
马: 我也不会, 殿下。
哈: {开始说}
怎么讲...有没有人会这般想...
{突然停止}
你们会保密吗?
赫、马: 会的, 我们发誓。
哈: {靠拢後低声的说}
整个丹麦没有一个不是纯粹歹徒的恶棍...
赫: 殿下, 用不著一个鬼魂从坟中出来和我们说这个呀!
哈: 哦, 对, 你们完全对。
好吧, 我们就到此为止, 互相握手告别吧。
人人都有其事, 所以咱们还是分道扬镳, 各走各的。
至於我呢, 我可要去祈祷了。
赫: 您说的这些是语无伦次的话, 殿下。
哈: 很抱歉它冒犯了你, 真的, 是真心的。
赫: 没有关系, 殿下。
哈: 不, 以圣巴翠克之名义, 是有关系的, 赫瑞修, 非常的有关系。
让我说这些: 刚才我们所见到的, 是个真正的鬼魂。
至於你们若要知道我们之间究竟是谈了些什么, 请稍忍耐一下,
朋友们--你们不愧是好朋友、学者、及军人--
请答允我的一个小小要求。
赫: 什么要求, 殿下? 我们会答应的。
哈: 永不揭发今夜我们所见之。
赫、马: 我们不会的, 殿下。
哈: 不, 发誓。
赫: 我发誓, 殿下, 我不会。
马: 我也发誓我不会, 殿下。
哈: 按著我的剑发誓{注3}。
马: 我们已经发过誓了, 殿下。
哈: {坚持著} 是的, 但是这次按著我的剑, 是的。
鬼: [由地下] 发誓!
哈: 啊, 哈, 孩子, 你也这样说? 你在那儿吗? 诚实的老家伙。
来呀, 你们也听到地窖里那个家伙所说的, 宣誓吧!
赫: 请提议你想要之誓言, 殿下。
哈:『永不泄露今所见之。』 按著我的剑发誓。 {众人把手放在剑上}
鬼: {由地下另一处} 发誓!
[众人宣誓]
哈: 一会在这儿, 一会在那儿? 好, 我们换个地方。
过来, 先生们,
再把你们的手按在我的剑上,
以剑宣誓:
『永不泄露今所闻之。』
鬼: 以他之剑发誓!
[众人宣誓]
哈: 说得好, 老鼹鼠, 你打洞打得这么快? 好一个掘壕先锋!
咱们再移一次, 朋友们。
赫: 啊, 日与夜, 这真是个离奇之事!
哈: 就当它为一个异乡人般的去欢迎它。
天地之大, 赫瑞修, 比你所能梦想到的多出更多。
来吧, 就如刚才, 发誓你永不...老天帮助你。
以後无论我的举止会多么的古怪--因为也许我要故意装疯--
那时你若见到我那样,
就请别这般的束著手, 或这般的摇著头 {学那样子},
或说些谜语般的「嗯,我们知道...」,
或「我们也可以,如果我们高兴的话...」,
或「如果我们愿意讲的话...」,
或「有些人能说更多...」,
或其他的模拟两可之辞令来暗示你们晓得我的真相。
宣誓这些, 以上帝之慈悲, 在你最需要之时刻。
鬼: 发誓!
[众人宣誓]
哈: 安息罢, 安息罢, 不得安宁的亡魂。
{对赫瑞修与马赛洛}
好罢, 先生们,
微贱的哈姆雷特就在此尽意的表示他对你们之友情及关怀,
虽然上帝知道你们并不缺乏此二。
让咱们一道进堡里去罢。
还有, 请别忘了, 我祈求你们千万要守口如瓶。
现在的情况真是糟糕, 唉, 可恨我偏是那被指定来调理此事之人。
也罢! 来, 我们一起走罢。
[全人出]
{第一幕完}
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 按西方信仰, 人在临死前如忏悔, 其灵魂可直上天堂,
否则灵魂须先入地狱受刑, 以洗清生前孽障。
(2).『唏罗, 呵, 呵』: 此乃放鹰著唤鹰之喊声。
(3). 剑形如十字架, 可用来发誓。
Elsinore. A platform before the Castle.
Enter two Sentinels-[first,] Francisco, [who paces up and down at his post; then] Bernardo, [who approaches him].
Bernardo. Who's there?
Francisco. Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.
Bernardo. Long live the King!
Francisco. Bernardo? 5Bernardo. He.
Francisco. You come most carefully upon your hour.
Bernardo. 'Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
Francisco. For this relief much thanks. 'Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart. 10Bernardo. Have you had quiet guard?
Francisco. Not a mouse stirring.
Bernardo. Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. 15Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
Francisco. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there?
Horatio. Friends to this ground.
Marcellus. And liegemen to the Dane.
Francisco. Give you good night. 20Marcellus. O, farewell, honest soldier.
Who hath reliev'd you?
Francisco. Bernardo hath my place.
Give you good night. Exit.
Marcellus. Holla, Bernardo! 25Bernardo. Say-
What, is Horatio there ?
Horatio. A piece of him.
Bernardo. Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus.
Marcellus. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night? 30Bernardo. I have seen nothing.
Marcellus. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,
And will not let belief take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us.
Therefore I have entreated him along, 35
With us to watch the minutes of this night,
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
Horatio. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.
Bernardo. Sit down awhile, 40
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.
Horatio. Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. 45Bernardo. Last night of all,
When yond same star that's westward from the pole
Had made his course t' illume that part of heaven
Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
The bell then beating one- 50Enter Ghost.
Marcellus. Peace! break thee off! Look where it comes again!
Bernardo. In the same figure, like the King that's dead.
Marcellus. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.
Bernardo. Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio. 55Horatio. Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.
Bernardo. It would be spoke to.
Marcellus. Question it, Horatio.
Horatio. What art thou that usurp'st this time of night
Together with that fair and warlike form 60
In which the majesty of buried Denmark
Did sometimes march? By heaven I charge thee speak!
Marcellus. It is offended.
Bernardo. See, it stalks away!
Horatio. Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee speak! 65Exit Ghost.
Marcellus. 'Tis gone and will not answer.
Bernardo. How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale.
Is not this something more than fantasy?
What think you on't? 70Horatio. Before my God, I might not this believe
Without the sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes.
Marcellus. Is it not like the King?
Horatio. As thou art to thyself. 75
Such was the very armour he had on
When he th' ambitious Norway combated.
So frown'd he once when, in an angry parle,
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
'Tis strange. 80Marcellus. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
Horatio. In what particular thought to work I know not;
But, in the gross and scope of my opinion,
This bodes some strange eruption to our state. 85Marcellus. Good now, sit down, and tell me he that knows,
Why this same strict and most observant watch
So nightly toils the subject of the land,
And why such daily cast of brazen cannon
And foreign mart for implements of war; 90
Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task
Does not divide the Sunday from the week.
What might be toward, that this sweaty haste
Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day?
Who is't that can inform me? 95Horatio. That can I.
At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king,
Whose image even but now appear'd to us,
Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,
Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, 100
Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet
(For so this side of our known world esteem'd him)
Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact,
Well ratified by law and heraldry,
Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands 105
Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror;
Against the which a moiety competent
Was gaged by our king; which had return'd
To the inheritance of Fortinbras,
Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same cov'nant 110
And carriage of the article design'd,
His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there,
Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, 115
For food and diet, to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in't; which is no other,
As it doth well appear unto our state,
But to recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands 120
So by his father lost; and this, I take it,
Is the main motive of our preparations,
The source of this our watch, and the chief head
Of this post-haste and romage in the land.
Bernardo. I think it be no other but e'en so. 125
Well may it sort that this portentous figure
Comes armed through our watch, so like the King
That was and is the question of these wars.
Horatio. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye.
In the most high and palmy state of Rome, 130
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,
The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets;
As stars with trains of fire, and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun; and the moist star 135
Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.
And even the like precurse of fierce events,
As harbingers preceding still the fates
And prologue to the omen coming on, 140
Have heaven and earth together demonstrated
Unto our climature and countrymen.
[Enter Ghost again.]
But soft! behold! Lo, where it comes again!
I'll cross it, though it blast me.- Stay illusion! 145
[Spreads his arms.]
If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,
Speak to me.
If there be any good thing to be done,
That may to thee do ease, and, grace to me, 150
Speak to me.
If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
Which happily foreknowing may avoid,
O, speak!
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life 155
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth
(For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death),
[The cock crows.]
Speak of it! Stay, and speak!- Stop it, Marcellus!
Marcellus. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? 160Horatio. Do, if it will not stand.
Bernardo. 'Tis here!
Horatio. 'Tis here!
Marcellus. 'Tis gone!
[Exit Ghost.] 165
We do it wrong, being so majestical,
To offer it the show of violence;
For it is as the air, invulnerable,
And our vain blows malicious mockery.
Bernardo. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. 170Horatio. And then it started, like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons. I have heard
The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat
Awake the god of day; and at his warning, 175
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
Th' extravagant and erring spirit hies
To his confine; and of the truth herein
This present object made probation.
Marcellus. It faded on the crowing of the cock. 180
Some say that ever, 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,
The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, 185
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.
Horatio. So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill. 190
Break we our watch up; and by my advice
Let us impart what we have seen to-night
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, 195
As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know
Where we shall find him most conveniently.
Exeunt.
Act I, Scene 2
Elsinore. A room of state in the Castle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flourish. [Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and his sister Ophelia, [Voltemand, Cornelius,] Lords Attendant.
Claudius. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature 205
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state,
Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy, 210
With an auspicious, and a dropping eye,
With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole,
Taken to wife; nor have we herein barr'd
Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone 215
With this affair along. For all, our thanks.
Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras,
Holding a weak supposal of our worth,
Or thinking by our late dear brother's death
Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, 220
Colleagued with this dream of his advantage,
He hath not fail'd to pester us with message
Importing the surrender of those lands
Lost by his father, with all bands of law,
To our most valiant brother. So much for him. 225
Now for ourself and for this time of meeting.
Thus much the business is: we have here writ
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,
Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears
Of this his nephew's purpose, to suppress 230
His further gait herein, in that the levies,
The lists, and full proportions are all made
Out of his subject; and we here dispatch
You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
For bearers of this greeting to old Norway, 235
Giving to you no further personal power
To business with the King, more than the scope
Of these dilated articles allow. [Gives a paper.]
Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.
Cornelius. [with Voltemand] In that, and all things, will we show our duty. 240Claudius. We doubt it nothing. Heartily farewell.
[Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.]
And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?
You told us of some suit. What is't, Laertes?
You cannot speak of reason to the Dane 245
And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes,
That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?
The head is not more native to the heart,
The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. 250
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?
Laertes. My dread lord,
Your leave and favour to return to France;
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark
To show my duty in your coronation, 255
Yet now I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.
Claudius. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?
Polonius. He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave 260
By laboursome petition, and at last
Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent.
I do beseech you give him leave to go.
Claudius. Take thy fair hour, Laertes. Time be thine,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will! 265
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son-
Hamlet. [aside] A little more than kin, and less than kind!
Claudius. How is it that the clouds still hang on you?
Hamlet. Not so, my lord. I am too much i' th' sun.
Gertrude. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, 270
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not for ever with thy vailed lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know'st 'tis common. All that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity. 275Hamlet. Ay, madam, it is common.
Gertrude. If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?
Hamlet. Seems, madam, Nay, it is. I know not 'seems.'
'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, 280
Nor customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected havior of the visage,
Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, 285
'That can denote me truly. These indeed seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within which passeth show-
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
Claudius. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, 290
To give these mourning duties to your father;
But you must know, your father lost a father;
That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound
In filial obligation for some term
To do obsequious sorrow. But to persever 295
In obstinate condolement is a course
Of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief;
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschool'd; 300
For what we know must be, and is as common
As any the most vulgar thing to sense,
Why should we in our peevish opposition
Take it to heart? Fie! 'tis a fault to heaven,
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, 305
To reason most absurd, whose common theme
Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,
From the first corse till he that died to-day,
'This must be so.' We pray you throw to earth
This unprevailing woe, and think of us 310
As of a father; for let the world take note
You are the most immediate to our throne,
And with no less nobility of love
Than that which dearest father bears his son
Do I impart toward you. For your intent 315
In going back to school in Wittenberg,
It is most retrograde to our desire;
And we beseech you, bend you to remain
Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. 320Gertrude. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.
I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.
Hamlet. I shall in all my best obey you, madam.
Claudius. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply.
Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come. 325
This gentle and unforc'd accord of Hamlet
Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof,
No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day
But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
And the King's rouse the heaven shall bruit again, 330
Respeaking earthly thunder. Come away.
Flourish. Exeunt all but Hamlet.
Hamlet. O that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd 335
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! ah, fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature 340
Possess it merely. That it should come to this!
But two months dead! Nay, not so much, not two.
So excellent a king, that was to this
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven 345
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on; and yet, within a month-
Let me not think on't! Frailty, thy name is woman!- 350
A little month, or ere those shoes were old
With which she followed my poor father's body
Like Niobe, all tears- why she, even she
(O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason
Would have mourn'd longer) married with my uncle; 355
My father's brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules. Within a month,
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post 360
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not, nor it cannot come to good.
But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue!
Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo.
Horatio. Hail to your lordship! 365Hamlet. I am glad to see you well.
Horatio!- or I do forget myself.
Horatio. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.
Hamlet. Sir, my good friend- I'll change that name with you.
And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? 370
Marcellus?
Marcellus. My good lord!
Hamlet. I am very glad to see you.- [To Bernardo] Good even, sir.-
But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?
Horatio. A truant disposition, good my lord. 375Hamlet. I would not hear your enemy say so,
Nor shall you do my ear that violence
To make it truster of your own report
Against yourself. I know you are no truant.
But what is your affair in Elsinore? 380
We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.
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. 385Hamlet. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral bak'd 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. 390Horatio. O, 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. 395Horatio. 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 400
With an attent ear, till I may deliver
Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
This marvel to you.
Hamlet. For God's love let me hear!
Horatio. Two nights together had these gentlemen 405
(Marcellus and Bernardo) on their watch
In the dead vast and middle of the night
Been thus encount'red. A figure like your father,
Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe,
Appears before them and with solemn march 410
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 distill'd
Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me 415
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. 420
These hands are not more like.
Hamlet. But where was this?
Marcellus. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.
Hamlet. Did you not speak to it?
Horatio. My lord, I did; 425
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 430
And vanish'd from our sight.
Hamlet. 'Tis very strange.
Horatio. 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. 435Hamlet. Indeed, indeed, sirs. But this troubles me.
Hold you the watch to-night?
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] We do, my lord.
Hamlet. Arm'd, say you?
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] Arm'd, my lord. 440Hamlet. From top to toe?
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] My lord, from head to foot.
Hamlet. Then saw you not his face?
Horatio. O, yes, my lord! He wore his beaver up.
Hamlet. What, look'd he frowningly. 445Horatio. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
Hamlet. Pale or red?
Horatio. Nay, very pale.
Hamlet. And fix'd his eyes upon you?
Horatio. Most constantly. 450Hamlet. I would I had been there.
Horatio. It would have much amaz'd you.
Hamlet. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long?
Horatio. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] Longer, longer. 455Horatio. Not when I saw't.
Hamlet. His beard was grizzled- no?
Horatio. It was, as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silver'd.
Hamlet. I will watch to-night. 460
Perchance 'twill walk again.
Horatio. I warr'nt it will.
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, 465
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. 470
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,
I'll visit you.
All. Our duty to your honour.
Hamlet. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.
[Exeunt [all but Hamlet].] 475
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act I, Scene 3
Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Laertes and Ophelia.
Laertes. My necessaries are embark'd. Farewell.
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you. 485Ophelia. Do you doubt that?
Laertes. 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; 490
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;
No more.
Ophelia. No more but so?
Laertes. Think it no more.
For nature crescent does not grow alone 495
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, 500
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, 505
And therefore must his choice be circumscrib'd
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
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 510
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,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open 515
To his unmast'red 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 520
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself scopes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd,
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth 525
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
Ophelia. I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, 530
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. 535Laertes. O, fear me not!
[Enter Polonius. ]
I stay too long. But here my father comes.
A double blessing is a double grace;
Occasion smiles upon a second leave. 540Polonius. Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay'd for. There- my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memory
Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, 545
Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar:
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment 550
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in,
Bear't that th' opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. 555
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are most __select__ and generous, chief in that. 560
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all- to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day, 565
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee!
Laertes. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.
Polonius. The time invites you. Go, your servants tend.
Laertes. Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well 570
What I have said to you.
Ophelia. 'Tis in my memory lock'd,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it.
Laertes. Farewell. Exit.
Polonius. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? 575Ophelia. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.
Polonius. Marry, well bethought!
'Tis told me he hath very oft of late
Given private time to you, and you yourself
Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. 580
If it be so- as so 'tis put on me,
And that in way of caution- I must tell you
You do not understand yourself so clearly
As it behooves my daughter and your honour.
What is between you? Give me up the truth. 585Ophelia. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders
Of his affection to me.
Polonius. Affection? Pooh! You speak like a green girl,
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? 590Ophelia. I do not know, my lord, what I should think,
Polonius. Marry, I will teach you! Think yourself a baby
That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,
Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly,
Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, 595
Running it thus) you'll tender me a fool.
Ophelia. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love
In honourable fashion.
Polonius. Ay, fashion you may call it. Go to, go to!
Ophelia. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, 600
With almost all the holy vows of heaven.
Polonius. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks! I do know,
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,
Giving more light than heat, extinct in both 605
Even in their promise, as it is a-making,
You must not take for fire. From this time
Be something scanter of your maiden presence.
Set your entreatments at a higher rate
Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, 610
Believe so much in him, that he is young,
And with a larger tether may he walk
Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia,
Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,
Not of that dye which their investments show, 615
But mere implorators of unholy suits,
Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds,
The better to beguile. This is for all:
I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
Have you so slander any moment leisure 620
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Look to't, I charge you. Come your ways.
Ophelia. I shall obey, my lord.
Exeunt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act I, Scene 4
Elsinore. The platform before the Castle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.
Hamlet. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.
Horatio. It is a nipping and an eager air.
Hamlet. What hour now?
Horatio. I think it lacks of twelve.
Marcellus. No, it is struck. 630Horatio. Indeed? I heard it not. It then draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
[A flourish of trumpets, and two pieces go off.]
What does this mean, my lord?
Hamlet. The King doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, 635
Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels,
And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,
The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his pledge.
Horatio. Is it a custom? 640Hamlet. Ay, marry, is't;
But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honour'd in the breach than the observance.
This heavy-headed revel east and west 645
Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations;
They clip us drunkards and with swinish phrase
Soil our addition; and indeed it takes
From our achievements, though perform'd at height,
The pith and marrow of our attribute. 650
So oft it chances in particular men
That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As in their birth,- wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin,-
By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, 655
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or by some habit that too much o'erleavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
Being nature's livery, or fortune's star, 660
Their virtues else- be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo-
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault. The dram of e'il
Doth all the noble substance often dout To his own scandal. 665Enter Ghost.
Horatio. Look, my lord, it comes!
Hamlet. Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, 670
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet,
King, father, royal Dane. O, answer me?
Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell 675
Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death,
Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre
Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd,
Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws
To cast thee up again. What may this mean 680
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel,
Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,
Making night hideous, and we fools of nature
So horridly to shake our disposition
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? 685
Say, why is this? wherefore? What should we do?
Ghost beckons Hamlet.
Horatio. It beckons you to go away with it,
As if it some impartment did desire
To you alone. 690Marcellus. Look with what courteous action
It waves you to a more removed ground.
But do not go with it!
Horatio. No, by no means!
Hamlet. It will not speak. Then will I follow it. 695Horatio. Do not, my lord!
Hamlet. Why, what should be the fear?
I do not set my life at a pin's fee;
And for my soul, what can it do to that,
Being a thing immortal as itself? 700
It waves me forth again. I'll follow it.
Horatio. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,
Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff
That beetles o'er his base into the sea,
And there assume some other, horrible form 705
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? Think of it.
The very place puts toys of desperation,
Without more motive, into every brain
That looks so many fadoms to the sea 710
And hears it roar beneath.
Hamlet. It waves me still.
Go on. I'll follow thee.
Marcellus. You shall not go, my lord.
Hamlet. Hold off your hands! 715Horatio. Be rul'd. You shall not go.
Hamlet. My fate cries out
And makes each petty artire in this body
As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.
[Ghost beckons.] 720
Still am I call'd. Unhand me, gentlemen.
By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!-
I say, away!- Go on. I'll follow thee.
Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.
Horatio. He waxes desperate with imagination. 725Marcellus. Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
Horatio. Have after. To what issue will this come?
Marcellus. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Horatio. Heaven will direct it.
Marcellus. Nay, let's follow him. 730Exeunt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act I, Scene 5
Elsinore. The Castle. Another part of the fortifications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Ghost and Hamlet.
Hamlet. Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak! I'll go no further.
Father's Ghost. Mark me.
Hamlet. I will. 735Father's Ghost. My hour is almost come,
When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames
Must render up myself.
Hamlet. Alas, poor ghost!
Father's Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing 740
To what I shall unfold.
Hamlet. Speak. I am bound to hear.
Father's Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.
Hamlet. What?
Father's Ghost. I am thy father's spirit, 745
Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night,
And for the day confin'd to fast in fires,
Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison house, 750
I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres,
Thy knotted and combined locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand on end 755
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine.
But this eternal blazon must not be
To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list!
If thou didst ever thy dear father love-
Hamlet. O God! 760Father's Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther.
Hamlet. Murther?
Father's Ghost. Murther most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.
Hamlet. Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift 765
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
May sweep to my revenge.
Father's Ghost. I find thee apt;
And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, 770
Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear.
'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abus'd. But know, thou noble youth, 775
The serpent that did sting thy father's life
Now wears his crown.
Hamlet. O my prophetic soul!
My uncle?
Father's Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, 780
With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-
O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power
So to seduce!- won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen.
O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there, 785
From me, whose love was of that dignity
That it went hand in hand even with the vow
I made to her in marriage, and to decline
Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor
To those of mine! 790
But virtue, as it never will be mov'd,
Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,
So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd,
Will sate itself in a celestial bed
And prey on garbage. 795
But soft! methinks I scent the morning air.
Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,
My custom always of the afternoon,
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
With juice of cursed hebona in a vial, 800
And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leperous distilment; whose effect
Holds such an enmity with blood of man
That swift as quicksilver it courses through
The natural gates and alleys of the body, 805
And with a sudden vigour it doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk,
The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine;
And a most instant tetter bark'd about,
Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust 810
All my smooth body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand
Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd;
Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,
Unhous'led, disappointed, unanel'd, 815
No reckoning made, but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head.
Hamlet. O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
Father's Ghost. If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be 820
A couch for luxury and damned incest.
But, howsoever thou pursuest this act,
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven,
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge 825
To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once.
The glowworm shows the matin to be near
And gins to pale his uneffectual fire.
Adieu, adieu, adieu! Remember me. Exit.
Hamlet. O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? 830
And shall I couple hell? Hold, hold, my heart!
And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,
But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee?
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat
In this distracted globe. Remember thee? 835
Yea, from the table of my memory
I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,
All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past
That youth and observation copied there,
And thy commandment all alone shall live 840
Within the book and volume of my brain,
Unmix'd with baser matter. Yes, by heaven!
O most pernicious woman!
O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!
My tables! Meet it is I set it down 845
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain;
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. [Writes.]
So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word:
It is 'Adieu, adieu! Remember me.'
I have sworn't. 850Horatio. [within] My lord, my lord!
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
Marcellus. Lord Hamlet!
Horatio. Heaven secure him!
Hamlet. So be it! 855Marcellus. Illo, ho, ho, my lord!
Hamlet. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come.
Marcellus. How is't, my noble lord?
Horatio. What news, my lord?
Marcellus. O, wonderful! 860Horatio. Good my lord, tell it.
Hamlet. No, you will reveal it.
Horatio. Not I, my lord, by heaven!
Marcellus. Nor I, my lord.
Hamlet. How say you then? Would heart of man once think it? 865
But you'll be secret?
Marcellus. [with Horatio] Ay, by heaven, my lord.
Hamlet. There's neer a villain dwelling in all Denmark
But he's an arrant knave.
Horatio. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave 870
To tell us this.
Hamlet. Why, right! You are in the right!
And so, without more circumstance at all,
I hold it fit that we shake hands and part;
You, as your business and desires shall point you, 875
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 am sorry they offend you, heartily; 880
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. 885
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. 890Hamlet. Never make known what you have seen to-night.
Marcellus. [with Horatio] My lord, we will not.
Hamlet. Nay, but swear't.
Horatio. In faith,
My lord, not I. 895Marcellus. 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.
Father's Ghost. Swear.
Hamlet. Aha boy, say'st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?
Come on! You hear this fellow in the cellarage.
Consent to swear.
Horatio. Propose the oath, my lord. 905Hamlet. Never to speak of this that you have seen.
Swear by my sword.
Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear.
Hamlet. Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.
Come hither, gentlemen, 910
And lay your hands again upon my sword.
Never to speak of this that you have heard:
Swear by my sword.
Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear by his sword.
Hamlet. Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th' earth so fast? 915
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. 920
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), 925
That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumb'red thus, or this head-shake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,'
Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,' 930
Or such ambiguous giving out, to note
That you know aught of me- this is not to do,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you,
Swear.
Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear. 935[They 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, 940
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. 945
Exeunt.
哈姆雷特 丹麦王子
克劳地 丹麦国王, 哈姆雷特之叔
葛簇特 皇后, 哈姆雷特之母, 最近改嫁於克劳地
鬼魂 先王, 即哈姆雷特父亲之灵魂
波隆尼尔 御前大臣
雷尔提 波隆尼尔之子
欧菲莉亚 波隆尼尔之女
赫瑞修 哈姆雷特之密友
罗生克兰 |
盖登思邓 | 朝臣, 哈姆雷特同学
福丁布拉 挪威王子
傅特曼 |
孔里尼 | 丹麦之事务官, 派挪威之使者
马赛洛 |
柏纳多 | 守望卫兵
佛郎西斯哥 |
奥斯力克 朝臣
瑞挪都 波隆尼尔之仆
掘坟工人们
福丁布拉营中尉官
戏班演员们
英国使者们
丹麦朝庭之一绅士
祭司
水手们
众贵族, 女仕, 士兵, 信差, 与侍从
第一幕
第一景: 城墙上
[丹麦的艾辛诺尔堡. 在城墙的一平台上, 守卫柏纳多与佛郎西斯哥入]
{此时正是深夜, 一片漆黑中, 佛郎西斯哥在城墙上站岗, 而柏纳多来接他的班}
柏: 是谁在那儿? {接班人先问此话}
佛: 不, 你回答我! 站住, 请亮相! {站岗者警觉的反问}
柏: 吾王万岁! {这是口令}
佛: 柏纳多?
柏: 正是。
佛: 您很准时到。
柏: 此时已是午夜, 去睡吧, 佛兄。
佛: 谢谢您来接我的班。 今夜酷寒, 我胸中不适。
柏: 一切都还安静吧?
佛: 连一支耗子都没闹。
柏: 那很好。 晚安。
您若见到我的伙伴们赫瑞修与马赛洛, 请叫他们快点。
佛: 我好像听到他们来了。
[赫瑞修与马赛洛入]
止步! 是谁?
赫: 是此地之友...
马: 也是丹麦王之忠心部属。
佛: 晚安吧。
马: 哦, 再见, 忠实的士兵。 是谁代替了你?
佛: 柏纳多接了我的岗。 晚安。
[出]
马: 你好, 柏纳多。
柏: 喂, 赫瑞修在吗?
赫: 他的一部份在(注1)。
柏: 欢迎, 赫瑞修; 欢迎, 善良的马赛洛。
赫: 那物有无再出现?
柏: 我没见到。
马: 赫兄说那个东西只不过是个幻觉,
虽然我们曾见过它两次, 但它仍是不足为信的。
因此我邀请了他今晚来和我们一起守望,
等此物出现时让他一睹为信, 并与其问话。
赫: 哼哼, 它不会出现的。 {一付不相信的样子}
柏: 请坐会儿,
让咱们再告诉您那顽固不信之双耳,
我们这两夜所见之事。
赫: 好, 那就让咱们坐下来,
听柏纳多叙述此事罢。
柏: 昨夜,
正当北极星西边的那颗星 {手指著天上的一颗星}
在同一位置照明了此夜空时,
马赛洛与我--
那时, 时钟才刚响一声...
[鬼魂入]
马: 嘘, 停止。 看! 它又出现了!
柏: 就像先王的模样。
马: 您有学问, 赫瑞修, 您去向它问话(注2)!
柏: 您说它像不像已逝的国王, 看清楚它, 赫瑞修!
赫: 真像! 它令我战栗与惊愕。
柏: 它要您和它说话。
马: 问它事情呀, 赫瑞修!
赫: {对鬼魂}
猖獗於此夜此时者, 是何物?
为何假冒已葬陛下之英姿, 披先王之战袍出没於此?
我倚天之名命你回答!
马: 您触犯了它。
柏: 看, 它溜走了!
赫: 留下! 说话呀, 说话, 我命令你!
[鬼魂出]
马: 它走了, 不肯说话。
柏: 怎样, 赫兄, 您脸色苍白的猛在发抖,
您仍觉得这只是个幻觉吗?
赫: 有老天爷为证, 要不是我亲自目睹,
那我还不肯相信它呢!
马: 您不觉得它很像我们的先王吗?
赫: 就像你像你自己一般:
他身披之盔甲,
就是昔日他奋战那野心勃勃的挪威王时所穿的。
他脸上蹙眉怒目之表情,
就和他当年在冰原上大破波兰雪车军时一样。
这可真怪了。
马: 它就两次这般的, 在此夜深人静时全副武装的出现於我们的守望中.
赫: 我真不知该如何去想。
不过, 据我看来,
这可能是我国将有突变之凶兆。
马: 好, 那么, 请坐下和我说, 您若知道的话,
为何我国国民们要这般的夜夜警惕 望,
为何我国要每日铸造铜炮, 并与外广购军备?
为何造船商均被迫毫无休假的终日工作?
有何外在之患,
须要我国如此的夙夜辛劳苦干?
有谁能跟我解释这些?
赫: 我可以; 至少相传是如此:
我们的先王
--他的形相我们刚刚才见到--
曾接受了那目空一切的挪威王福丁布拉氏所提出之一项单独挑战。
当时我们英勇的哈姆雷特王
--这是吾邦众所周知的--
就在此战役中斩杀了福丁布拉氏。
事後, 依战前所立之合法条约,
福丁布拉阵亡就立即放弃其拥有之一块国土,
恰若反是吾王阵亡, 我国也将放弃同样的一块国土。
那知当今那乳臭未乾并刚猛好战的福丁布拉少氏,
在挪威境内到处招军买马, 啸聚了一群不法之徒,
此时正在摩拳擦掌, 志在光复其父所失之江山。
吾料这就是为何我国要如此的日夜警惕, 加倍生产之故。
柏: 吾料也是。
这也解释了为何这酷似先王之幽灵
要全身披挂的显现於我们的守望中;
他到底是此事之轴心人物!
赫: 真是不可思议。
昔日罗马帝国在凯撒被刺前夕,
坟冢均裂, 而弃尸多叽喳乱语於街头,
并有血红慧星出现於日, 月因全蚀而不明於夜。
此等种种不祥, 乃天地予吾国民
国难之先兆也!
[鬼魂再入]
且慢, 看, 它又来了!
这回我可要与它说话,
虽然它可能置我於死命。
[鬼魂展开双臂]
止步! 幻象,
你若有声, 请发言!
你若有吉事我能办到, 并能使你安息,
请交代。
你若有方法使我国脱离苦难, 请告知。
或者你在生前曾埋藏了什么不名之财, 令你阴魂不散,
也请告知。 说话呀, 站住! [此时雄鸡开始啼]
挡住它, 马赛洛! {鬼魂开始消散}
马: 要不要我用戟去刺它?
赫: 要, 要是它不肯留下的话!
柏: 它在这儿! {指一方向}
赫: 它在这儿! {指另一方向}
[鬼魂出]
马: 它走了。
我们不该这般粗鲁的去冒犯这位酷似先王之幽灵。
它轻如空气, 捉摸不得。
适才的莽撞只徒表了我们的敌意。
柏: 雄鸡啼前它才启口欲言。
赫: 之後它就像罪人见到拘票般的落荒而逃。
传闻公鸡是黎明的前号,
它以响亮的歌喉, 唤醒了白昼之神,
并警告所有在水、火、土、及空中的游魂们
赶快回避。
吾今所见, 更证实了此传说。
马: 那幽灵正在雄鸡啼时消散;
也传说在圣诞前夕, 雄鸡夜不停啼,
众鬼神均勿敢出游,
因此夜晚清明, 天无邪星,
精灵不闹, 女巫乏咒。
此诚光华圣洁之辰也!
赫: 我也如此听说, 并也大致相信。
看, 黎明之神披著嫣红的衣裳, 已踏上了东边的山麓,
我们可以散夥了。
不过, 我认为, 我们应该把今夜所见之事
告诉小哈姆雷特。
我敢打赌, 这个鬼魂对我们虽是哑口无言, 但是对他会有话说。
你们说, 我们按朋友及职务之分, 是否应如此去做?
马: 咱们就如此去办。 我知道我们今早在哪里可碰到他。
[全人出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 赫瑞修从黑暗中伸出一支手, 因此戏曰为『一部份。』
(2). 马赛洛与柏纳多均是军人, 唯赫瑞修读过书, 并是哈姆雷特的同学,
因此马赛洛认为只有赫瑞修有资格与鬼魂对话。
第二景: 城堡中一厅
[号声响起。 丹麦王克劳地、皇后葛簇特、朝臣傅特曼、孔里尼、
波隆尼尔与其子雷尔提、及哈姆雷特等人入。]
王: 朕念吾手足先王哈姆雷特崩逝不久,
其忆犹新。
今举国哀恸, 赤心剖见。
此乃吾等之本分矣!
但今理智应取代天性,
悲中亦勿忘本职。
故朕决意联亲前嫂, 为今皇后,
以共理天下。
恰似悲中尚有喜; 一目哀戚, 一目欢欣。
殡丧不乏乐, 婚宴亦参哀。
朕以为此悲喜两情宜多斟酌而适均之。
朕亦未忘众大臣不懈於内, 为此美事进尽雅言,
寡人感激固不在话下。
另一要事诸位已知:
福丁布拉少氏一向藐视吾邦,
今先王崩殂, 福氏以为本国混乱, 其志更长, 妄自尊大,
已屡次传书扰衅, 要求我国归还其失於先王之合法疆土。
不谈此厮也罢! 且来商讨吾等之要事, 也即今升朝之原由。
事现如此:
寡人已传书与挪威王, 即福丁布拉少氏之叔,
要求他止限其侄坐大, 因其侄之队伍与辎重全来自其庶民也。
怎奈他久病於榻, 元气全失, 对其侄之所为毫无知晓。
故寡人今特派傅特曼、孔里尼二员携此函赴挪威予其老王, 望其明察。
此函详细, 其馀之事, 傅、孔二人无权商洽。
望二人多多保重, 速早启程。
傅、孔: 此如万务, 臣等将全力以赴。
王: 朕无疑。 再会。
[傅、孔二人出]
{对雷尔提} 再之, 雷尔提, 有何新事?
吾闻你有所求, 尚且告知;
有理之求, 朕决不会令你白费口舌的。
凡是你所要求的, 雷尔提, 有何事我不曾答允过你?
汝父与本王就如心首相关, 口手相连也!
你有何求, 雷尔提?
雷: 陛下, 但愿您准许我归返法国。
臣乃有意并奉职由法归国参加陛下之加冕大典。
此事既全, 吾心又向法。
此尚恳求陛下谅解。
王: 汝父波隆尼尔怎么说? 你有得其允许否?
波: 有的, 主公, 经他不断的苦苦哀求後, 臣终於勉强的答应了他。
我也希望您能同样的答允他。
王: 请把握住时光, 它是属於你的; 你可随意行之。
{雷尔提行礼退下。 国王转向还在沉思中的哈姆雷特。}
我的爱侄哈姆雷特, 我儿...
哈: [私下] 虽是血亲, 但非同类(注1)。
王: 你为何还是在乌云笼罩下?
哈: 非也, 我主, 我已获得太多太阳了(注2)。
后: 我的乖儿, 快把那乌云甩开。
你应以友善的眼光去望你的君主,
别再以那 丧之双目老在尘土中找寻你的父亲。
你应知道, 那所有有生之物都有必死之期;
由有生传至永,
此乃世之常情。
哈: 是的, 此乃常情。
后: 既知如此, 你为何挂有那一付耿耿於怀的模样?
哈: 「模样」, 母后? 不, 那因我是如此, 我不懂您所谓之「模样」。
我如墨之披肩, 娘呀,
或黝黑之孝服,
或频频之悲叹,
或成渠之眼泪,
或沮丧之神情,
或任何类似之形态、 哀恸之表情,
都无法表达我的内心。 因为这些的确是「模样,」
人人可伪装的。
我内心之有, 早远超越於表达。
那些只不过是悲哀之瓶花, 衣裳而以。
王: 你如此的凭吊汝父, 孝道尽之,
实可赞可佳也。
但你也应知, 汝父也曾失其父,
其父更失其父。 为子者为尽孝道,
是应凭吊一时。 但无止境的哀恸, 实非男子之情,
而乃不虔敬於天之顽为, 意志软弱之倾向,
也是无耐心, 无知识之表行也!
既知天意已是无法逃避, 那你就应领为常情, 何必永挂於心?
哼, 这是违天道, 违亡者, 违自然, 违理智之作风。
此四者由古迄今, 从第一为父到今方死者,
都告诉了我们: 「为父者将死, 此乃必然。」
所以, 我祈求你埋葬了你这盲目的忧郁, 视吾为汝父,
也让世人知道你是此王位的下任继承人,
而且朕对你之爱也决不欠於一位父亲对其亲子之爱也!
至於你欲回卫登堡(注3)求学之念, 寡人是非常的反对。
我希望你能留於此地, 让寡人来关怀照顾你,
使你成为寡人的一位要臣、爱侄、与孩儿。
后: 别让你母亲的愿望成空, 哈姆雷特,
我祈求你留在我们的身旁, 别回卫登堡去。
哈: 我将尽力的去听从您, 娘。
王: 好, 答的好!
你在丹麦时请随意。 夫人, 你来。
哈姆雷特这温驯及由衷之答覆令吾大悦。
今饮酒庆贺前朕可要放巨炮告知青云;
霹雳通霄, 与天同庆! 来, 我们走。
[号声又响, 全体出场, 仅留哈姆雷特一人]
哈: 唉, 只望血肉之躯能瞬化为甘露, 天条亦无禁戒人类自戕;
上帝呀, 上帝,
人间万物我观之已是乏味, 枯燥, 平淡, 也令我心恢意懒。
罢了, 罢了。 就像无人管顾的花园被丛草吞没,
此事就如此的发生。
才去世两月, 不, 未及两月,
这么一个完美的君主...
与其相形之下, 就如太阳神比色魔{点头指向叔父方向}...
先父对吾母真是怜爱的无微不致, 甚至不肯让强风吹抚於她的脸颊。
天哪! 难道我不记得吗? 她也曾依偎在他身旁,
彷佛有著无限的爱欲。 可是, 一月之内...
唉, 不去想它了... 软弱者, 你的名字就是『女人!』
短短一月, 她跟随先父灵柩时所穿之鞋尚新呢!
当时她哭成了个泪人, 就像耐有比 (注4)。
为何现在她会变得如此呢? 连她!
老天呀, 连一支不知羞耻的禽兽都会哀悼得更久。
但她一月之内就下嫁於我叔,
也不等那哭红眼框内之虚假眼泪乾涸。
他虽是我父亲之胞弟, 但是他们俩人可回然不同,
就像我比赫酋力士一般(注5)。
唉, 太快了, 如此敏捷的跃入乱伦褥中(注6)。
这是不对, 也将无善果的。
我心将碎, 因我不能多言。
[赫瑞修、马赛洛、 及柏纳多入。]
赫: 殿下请安。
哈: 我很高兴见到你无恙, 赫瑞修, 我差点儿把你给忘了。
赫: 是的, 我仍是殿下的忠仆。
哈: 先生, 朋友, 我情愿与你交换这个头衔。
有何事使你从卫登堡来此, 赫瑞修?
{见到赫之同伴们}--马赛洛?
马: {敬礼} 殿下。
哈: 我也很高兴见到你。
[对柏纳多] 晚安, 先生。
{对赫瑞修} 是何事使你从卫登堡来此?
赫: 是我逃学之性痞, 殿下。
哈: 我可不许你的敌人这般的说你,
所以, 我也不希望听到你这般的说此刺耳之言。
我知道你不是个逃学者。
不过, 你在艾辛诺尔是有何贵干?
我们可要在你离去之前痛饮一番。
赫: 殿下, 我是来参加令尊丧礼的。
哈: 别开玩笑了, 同学呀,
我想你是来参加我母亲婚礼的。
赫: 真的, 它来得也真快。
哈: 快, 快. 赫瑞修, 葬礼的冷肉剩馐
也被搬上喜宴桌了。
我宁可在天堂碰到我的至敌,
也不愿意见到那一天, 赫瑞修.
我的父亲, 我觉得我见到了我的父亲...
赫: {慌张的} 在那里, 殿下?
哈: 在我神智的眼中, 赫瑞修。
赫: 我也见过他一次, 他是个善好的国王。
哈: 他是个完美的人,
我从此再也不能见到他的面容了。
赫: 殿下, 我认为, 我昨夜见到了他。
哈: 见到? 谁?
赫: 殿下, 先王, 您的父亲。
哈: 先王? 我的父亲?
赫: 请别慌,
有两位先生在此做证,
且让我慢慢向您细述这一奇事。
哈: 老天! 让我听!
赫: 连接两夜, 这些先生们--马赛洛与柏纳多--
在他们守望之夜深人静时,
见到一个从头至足酷似您父亲之武装形像出现,
庄严的漫步於他们之前, 就近在咫尺。
它三番的如此出现时, 都令他们吓成一团糊,
目瞪口呆的不知如何是好。
当他们秘密的告诉了我此事後, 我就决定在第三夜和他们一起守望.
在那里, 就在他们所说之时辰, 也正如他们所描述之先王形像,
那幽灵就出现了, 证实了他们所说之每一句话。
我认得您父亲, 就像我认得我这双手掌。 {展开双手}
哈: 这是在哪里?
马: 殿下, 就在城墙的 望台上。
哈: 你有无与它说话?
赫: 有的, 殿下,
但是它不肯回答我。
有一次我以为它举首欲言,
但是当时公鸡正啼,
而它马上就消失无踪。
哈: 这可真怪了。
赫: 我对天发誓, 殿下, 这些全是真话,
而我们有责任把它告诉给您。
哈: 当然的, 先生们. 不过, 此事令我困扰。
你们今夜是否还是值班?
全人: 是的, 殿下。
哈: 你们说他有披挂著武装?
全人: 有武装, 殿下。
哈: 由首至足?
全人: 殿下, 由首至足。
哈: 那么, 你见到他的面孔了?
赫: 是的, 殿下, 他头盔的护面罩是敞开著的。
哈: 那他的脸色是怎样, 是怒目吗?
赫: 他的神情是哀伤甚於怒目。
哈: 苍白还是血红?
赫: 嗯, 很苍白。
哈: 他不停的注视著你吗?
赫: 不停的。
哈: 只希望当时我也在场。
赫: 您会惊讶的。
哈: 一定会。
它有无久待?
赫: 差不多百数之久。
马、柏: 更久, 更久。
赫: 我见到它时没那么久。
哈: 他的胡须是否斑白?
赫: 就像他生前时我所见到一般, 黑中参灰。
哈: 今夜我也要去守望, 也许它会再度出现。
赫: 我相信它会的。
哈: 假如它以先父之遗容显现,
即使地狱将崩裂而命我住口,
我也一定要与它说话。
我祈求你们继续的保密此事及今夜所将发生之事,
咱们可心照不宣。 此恩我定将回报。
好罢, 咱们今晚十一点到十二点之间在城墙上再会。
全人: 我们将效忠於您。
哈: 我也将回报你们的爱心。 再见。
[赫瑞多、马赛洛、与柏那多出。]
我先父之灵, 披挂著武装! 此非善事。
我怀疑其中尚有蹊跷; 只望今夜速来,
直到那时, 我应有耐心。 倘若有任何阴恶之事,
无论它被掩埋多深, 它终会被揭发的。
[出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 在此, 哈姆雷特强调国王虽是血亲, 但实是个截然不同的异类。
(2). 英文『太阳』与『儿子』同音, 在此带讽刺意。
(3). 卫登堡大学, 西元 1502 年成立, 在此与剧中年代不符合。
(4). 耐有比: 希腊神话中之女, 因失其子女而不停的哭泣,
後转变成石, 可是泪水还是不停的由其中涌出。
(5). 赫酋力士: 希腊神话中之英雄, 有无敌之神力。
(6). 按中古之教规, 夫妻结合, 成为一体;
故兄死後弟若娶嫂, 相当於乱伦。
第三景: 波隆尼尔屋内
[雷尔提与欧菲利亚入]
雷: 我的行李已在船上了, 再见。
风顺可行船时,
别忘了写信给我。
欧: 你会怀疑这个吗?
雷: 至於哈姆雷特对你之兴趣,
那只是年青人之暂时热度.
如情窦之初开,
充满活力, 但非永恒; 甜蜜而不持久,
仅将空留一阵飘香, 决不多矣!
欧: 仅是如此而已?
雷: 仅是如此而已。
因人之成长, 非仅驱体之强大,
而须连与意志及灵魂之茁壮也。
也许他现在是真心的爱你, 也许他也的确是个君子,
但你须顾虑到, 因他之身世与地位, 他的意志是非属他有。
他无常人之自由, 因为他的决择关键於国家,
所以事事都有其後顾及著想。 那时即使他对你说他爱你,
你也只可斟酌的去相信他,
因为也许那只不过是奉合民意之良策而已呢!
因此你要谨慎, 别因他的 情歌或苦苦哀求而爱上他, 或轻意失身。
请顾虑到这些, 欧菲利亚, 请顾虑到这些, 亲爱的妹妹。
我劝你远离情欲的引诱而洁身自爱;
贞女不露其娇於月,
节操难敌毁谤口碑。
春之蓓蕾常伤於 蠖而不花,
青春少年更易受诱惑而腐堕。
你应惧怕这些, 因唯有惧怕才能使你安全。
年轻人都是血气方刚的。
欧: 我当记此训诲於心。
不过, 哥哥,
我也希望你勿像某些教士,
指点我至天堂之坎苛荆棘路,
而自己却走上花天酒地, 行为不检之缤纷大道。
全然忘记自己的谆谆教诲.
雷: 这些, 你勿需害怕。
[波隆尼尔入]
我耽待过久了, 现在父亲已至。
双重的告别是双倍的美好,
我可再度与父亲道别。
波: 你还在此, 雷尔提? 上船, 赶快上船去, 你该羞耻!
风已吹满帆了, 船在等著你呢。
你已得到我的祝福, {亲吻雷尔提面颊}
还有, 我要你把这些箴言记於心头:
内心之事宜缄口,
仓促之念莫妄行,
为人友善忌轻浮,
患难之友可深交,
酒肉之情应远离。
避免与人争执, 但一旦有之, 令其惧汝。
凡事需多听但少言,
聆听他人之意见, 但保留自己之判断。
穿著你所能负担得起之最佳衣裳,
质料应高贵, 但切忌俗丽,
因衣冠常代表其人;
吾闻法国之贵族对此尤是讲究。
勿告贷於友也勿贷之於友,
因後者常致财友均失。
而前者乃豁费之首也。
最重要者: 万勿自欺,
如此, 就像夜之将随日, 你也不会欺将於他人。
再会, 盼吾之祝祷能使你履行以上。
雷: 我谦卑的由衷向您告别, 父亲。
波: 时间不容多言; 你的侍从已在久等。
雷: 再见, 欧菲利亚, 请记著我对你所说的。
欧: 已牢锁於我的心坎,
而仅有你才有其钥匙。
雷: 再会。
[雷尔提出]
波: 他对你说了些什么?
欧: 告知父亲, 一些有关哈姆雷特之事。
波: 那也真巧。
我也听说他最近常在你身上花费时间,
并且你也公然的与他为友。
若是如此, 那我该告诉你, 就如有人忠告我一般:
也许你不完全了解此事对你本身或吾女名誉上之牵涉。
你们之间究竟是如何? 请从实道来。
欧: 他最近常表示他对我之倾爱, 父亲。
波: 倾爱? 哈! 你讲起话来简直像个未成熟的小女孩,
完全不懂得此事之严重性。
那你信不信他对你的这些所谓「爱示」呢?
欧: 我不知应如何去想, 父亲。
波: 好, 让我告诉你: 你就好似个天真的婴儿,
把他给你的这些爱情伪币当作真钱。
你须提高你的身价,
要不然, 你会使我--套句俗语--成个傻瓜(注1)!
欧: {惊讶}但是, 父亲呀, 他是有诚意的在追求我。
波: 你所谓之诚意, 算了罢, 算了。
欧: 他也曾郑重的对天发誓过。
波: 呸, 这些只不过是捕捉笨鸟之陷阱也!
我也晓得人到情欲冲动时, 嘴巴里讲的尽是些甜言蜜语。
这些火焰, 女儿呀, 只亮不热,
而瞬将熄灭--甚至正当他在许诺於你之时。
你千万别把它当为爱情之真火。
从今天开始, 你应与他疏远, 切勿一呼即至。
对哈姆雷特殿下, 你只须记著他仍是年轻,
也无你所有之牵挂。
简而说之, 欧菲利亚, 别相信他对你之承诺,
因为它们缺乏真实之色彩, 而只是些虚情假意, 不正当之邪求也。
这是我最後一次明白的告诉你:
从今开始, 我不许你浪费宝贵时光与哈姆雷特殿下谈话。
这是我的命令, 你得做到。
走吧!
欧: 我将听从您的旨示。
[二人出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 『成个傻瓜』: 当时之俗语, 成为私生子之祖父之意。
第四景: 城墙一平台上
[哈姆雷特、赫瑞修、与马赛洛入。]
哈: 寒风刺骨, 好冷!
赫: 它咬得也真紧。
哈: 现在是几点了?
赫: 还不到十二点。
马: 不对, 钟已经响过了。
赫: 真的? 我没听到。
已近灵魂出游之时辰了。
[号声从城堡中传出, 外加了两声轰然炮响。]
这是何事, 殿下?
哈: 国王正在饮酒做乐, 歌舞狂欢。
当他把大盅的葡萄酒灌入喉咙时,
鼓号就齐鸣, 与他助兴。
赫: 这是习俗吗?
哈: 是的, 这是。
不过, 依我看来, 虽然我也身为本地人,
这个习俗还是不去遵守较好,
因为这些酗酒狂欢只会引致外人对我们之耻笑;
他们污秽了我们的名誉, 称呼我们是酒鬼, 是猪。
即使我们也有我们的辉煌成就, 这些名号的确会令我们面上无光。
有些人也常得到同类的遭遇。
他们因天然之不幸, 例如被遗传得某些缺陷--这些不能怪他们,
因为他们不能挑选他们的父母--或因阴阳之错差而失去理智,
或因他们的行为与众不同, 他们将永被世人排斥。
无论他们的内心是多么的崇高纯洁,
他们的名誉将永被此一瑕疵败坏。
一小块污点能抹杀一人之所有优点。
[鬼魂入]
赫: 看! 殿下, 它来了!
哈: 老天保佑我们!
{对鬼魂}
无论你是良魂或恶鬼,
你所带来的是天堂之香馨或地狱之烈焰,
你的存意是恶毒或慈善,
你的形相令我要问你:
我要称呼你为哈姆雷特, 国王, 父亲, 丹麦之皇,
啊, 回答我, 别让我爆裂於无知。
告诉我, 为何您那经过圣礼安葬之灵骨要破坟而出,
为何那沉重的大理石棺要敞其盖而把您抛开,
为何已死之尸须全付武装的返世, 出没於月光下, 令夜晚恐怖,
也令活者困扰, 无从思考其义?
告诉我们为什么, 为什么? 你要我们怎样?
[鬼魂以手示意]
赫: 它招手叫您过去. 好像想单独的与您谈话。
马: 看, 它有礼貌的招呼您过去, 想带您去远方。
不过, 您别跟它去。
赫: 别去, 千万别去!
哈: 它既无言, 那我只好跟它去。
赫: 不要去, 殿下!
哈: 有何可惧?
我早已把我的生命视得轻於鸿毛;
至於我的灵魂, 它亦是个永恒之物, 它又能把它怎样?
它又对我招手了。 我过去了。
赫: 倘若它把您勾引至那汪洋大海或岸旁之峭壁边缘时,
再显露其恐怖原形, 令您丧失理智或发狂, 那怎么办?
殿下, 请再三思!
就是平常从悬崖高处鸟瞰那滂渤大海, 都会令人神志昏然, 心萌异念,
何况是现在?
哈: 它又招手了。
{对鬼魂} 走呀, 我跟你去。
马: 殿下, 您别去!
哈: 甩开你们的手!
赫: 听我们的, 您别去!
哈: {争脱阻挡} 我的心灵在哭号,
我的混身血管已充满了乃门狮子之勇气(注1)。
它又唤我去了。 让我去, 先生们。
我发誓, 谁若阻挡我, 我就使他也变成鬼!
走开! 我说。 {豁然拔出长剑}
{对鬼魂} 走呀, 我跟你去。
[鬼魂出, 哈姆雷特随後]
赫: 他疯了。
马: 我们跟过去, 我们不能听他的。
赫: 我们追随他, 看有何事会发生。
马: 丹麦将有恶事发生。
赫: 上帝自有安排。
马: 不行, 我们跟过去!
[全人出]
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 乃门狮: 希腊神话中被赫酋力士所杀之猛兽。
第五景: 城墙上
[鬼魂与哈姆雷特入]
哈: 你要带我去何处? 回答我, 我不再走了。
鬼: 你听我言。
哈: 好的。
鬼: 天快亮了,
那时我又要回到那被硫磺烈火烧灼的地方。
哈: 唉, 可怜的鬼魂。
鬼: 你别可怜我, 但请注意聆听我将揭发的这些事。
哈: 请说, 我一定会听。
鬼: 听了之後, 你会不会去复仇?
哈: 什么?
鬼: 吾乃汝父之灵。
此时因被判而漫游徘回於夜, 烈火煎熬於日,
直至我生前之孽障被洗清燃尽後方止。
苦我有口难言, 无法说出我此时的牢狱之灾,
否则, 我有一故事可相告,
它会令你心灵痛楚、血浆凝固、双目暴凸、卷发成直、与毛骨悚然。
可惜此後世之天机, 勿可泄露於血肉之耳也!
听之, 听之呀, 听之, 倘若你曾爱汝父的话。
哈: 啊, 上帝!
鬼: 为其狠毒及反极伦理之谋杀复仇!
哈: 谋杀!
鬼: 谋杀通常都是狠毒的,
但这是个最狠毒, 最奇异, 最反伦理之谋杀。
哈: 赶快告诉我, 我将在一念之瞬飞奔去与您复仇。
鬼: 说得好!
倘若你听到此事後还不痛心疾首的话,
那你就比 生於忘魂河畔之芦苇还更软弱。
哈姆雷特, 请听:
相传我是在花园内午睡时,
被毒蛇螫咬, 而全丹麦之耳目也是如此的被蒙骗。
但是, 你要知到, 咬死汝父的毒蛇, 此刻正戴著他的皇冠!
哈: 呵, 如我所料, 我的叔父!
鬼: 是的, 就是那个乱伦奸淫之畜牲。
他利用了狡滑之妖术, 叛逆之心智, 与善诱之技俩,
勾引了我那表面淑贞之皇后, 使她蛊惑於其无耻之兽欲。
唉, 哈姆雷特, 这是一宗多么可悲的堕坠,
由我庄严崇高及专情不移的爱, 就如当年成婚时我许予她之承诺,
堕落至今天她许爱於一如此卑鄙,如此天赋低劣之人。
正是:
贞女将不惑於淫欲, 虽淫欲能扮为天使;
荡妇常猥亵於圣榻, 虽此妇与圣洁连理。
且慢, 我可嗅到清晨的气息,
所以让我速言:
有天我照习惯在花园内午睡时,
汝叔父就趁我不备, 把一瓶可憎的剧毒倾注於我耳内。
这令人 痹之毒液一见人血,
就快如水银般的立刻流入全体各脉。
经过一阵翻腾, 它就令原来稀薄健康之鲜血凝固成膏,
就像强酸滴入牛乳一般。
这毒液在我身上之功效也是如此。
它令我全身本来光滑之皮肤顿时溃烂,
并盖满了树皮似之 心厚痂,
彷佛患了 疯症。
我的生命、皇冠、及皇后就如此的一瞬间在睡梦中被我弟兄夺去,
使我无机会在临终前悔过生前之罪孽, 或接受圣礼之祝福,
而毫无准备的带罪赴阴曹受审。 啊, 可怕呀, 可怕, 真可怕! (注1)
你若有天良, 请勿默默忍耐,
别让丹麦皇室之寝床成为可恨的淫欲、乱伦之卧榻。
但无论你是怎样的去进行此事, 别让你的脑子萌起报复於你母之念。
把她留给天堂裁判, 让她受自己良心的谴责及刺戳。
现在我须匆匆的与你告别。 萤虫之光已黯淡, 黎明已近。
再会, 再会, 再会, 请记著我。
[鬼魂出]
哈: 呵, 天地之神明呀! 还有呢?
难道也要呼唤於地狱之恶鬼吗?
唉, {掩住胸膛} 我心勿碎, 我肌勿老,
让我稳稳的站住。
记著你? 会的, 可怜的鬼魂, 只要我这痴傻的头颅尚能有记忆。
记著你? 会的, 我将把我记忆中所有之琐碎杂事、书中之智慧、
及少年学所得之经验统统一笔扫清。
唯您之指示将存留於我的脑袋, 决不与其他事情混杂。
会的, 我向天发誓。
啊, 最恶毒的妇人!
啊, 恶棍, 恶棍, 满脸堆笑的该死恶棍!
我的笔记 {搜其口带}, 我应当把这些记录下来:
「有人能笑呀笑的, 但仍然是个恶棍,」
至少在丹麦我能确定此点。 [边写边言]
好了, 叔叔, 记下来了。
从今开始我的座佑铭将是:「再会, 再会, 请记著我,」我发誓!
[赫瑞修与马赛洛入]
赫: 殿下! 殿下!
马: 哈姆雷特殿下!
赫: 上天保佑他!
哈: [私下] 但愿如此。
马: 唏罗, 呵, 呵(注2), 殿下!
哈: 唏罗, 呵, 呵, 小男孩。 来呀, 鸟儿来。
马: 殿下贵体无恙?
赫: 有何见闻?
哈: 啊, 令人惊骇!
赫: 好呀, 殿下, 告诉我们。
哈: 不, 你们会把它告诉给别人。
赫: 我不会, 殿下, 我发誓。
马: 我也不会, 殿下。
哈: {开始说}
怎么讲...有没有人会这般想...
{突然停止}
你们会保密吗?
赫、马: 会的, 我们发誓。
哈: {靠拢後低声的说}
整个丹麦没有一个不是纯粹歹徒的恶棍...
赫: 殿下, 用不著一个鬼魂从坟中出来和我们说这个呀!
哈: 哦, 对, 你们完全对。
好吧, 我们就到此为止, 互相握手告别吧。
人人都有其事, 所以咱们还是分道扬镳, 各走各的。
至於我呢, 我可要去祈祷了。
赫: 您说的这些是语无伦次的话, 殿下。
哈: 很抱歉它冒犯了你, 真的, 是真心的。
赫: 没有关系, 殿下。
哈: 不, 以圣巴翠克之名义, 是有关系的, 赫瑞修, 非常的有关系。
让我说这些: 刚才我们所见到的, 是个真正的鬼魂。
至於你们若要知道我们之间究竟是谈了些什么, 请稍忍耐一下,
朋友们--你们不愧是好朋友、学者、及军人--
请答允我的一个小小要求。
赫: 什么要求, 殿下? 我们会答应的。
哈: 永不揭发今夜我们所见之。
赫、马: 我们不会的, 殿下。
哈: 不, 发誓。
赫: 我发誓, 殿下, 我不会。
马: 我也发誓我不会, 殿下。
哈: 按著我的剑发誓{注3}。
马: 我们已经发过誓了, 殿下。
哈: {坚持著} 是的, 但是这次按著我的剑, 是的。
鬼: [由地下] 发誓!
哈: 啊, 哈, 孩子, 你也这样说? 你在那儿吗? 诚实的老家伙。
来呀, 你们也听到地窖里那个家伙所说的, 宣誓吧!
赫: 请提议你想要之誓言, 殿下。
哈:『永不泄露今所见之。』 按著我的剑发誓。 {众人把手放在剑上}
鬼: {由地下另一处} 发誓!
[众人宣誓]
哈: 一会在这儿, 一会在那儿? 好, 我们换个地方。
过来, 先生们,
再把你们的手按在我的剑上,
以剑宣誓:
『永不泄露今所闻之。』
鬼: 以他之剑发誓!
[众人宣誓]
哈: 说得好, 老鼹鼠, 你打洞打得这么快? 好一个掘壕先锋!
咱们再移一次, 朋友们。
赫: 啊, 日与夜, 这真是个离奇之事!
哈: 就当它为一个异乡人般的去欢迎它。
天地之大, 赫瑞修, 比你所能梦想到的多出更多。
来吧, 就如刚才, 发誓你永不...老天帮助你。
以後无论我的举止会多么的古怪--因为也许我要故意装疯--
那时你若见到我那样,
就请别这般的束著手, 或这般的摇著头 {学那样子},
或说些谜语般的「嗯,我们知道...」,
或「我们也可以,如果我们高兴的话...」,
或「如果我们愿意讲的话...」,
或「有些人能说更多...」,
或其他的模拟两可之辞令来暗示你们晓得我的真相。
宣誓这些, 以上帝之慈悲, 在你最需要之时刻。
鬼: 发誓!
[众人宣誓]
哈: 安息罢, 安息罢, 不得安宁的亡魂。
{对赫瑞修与马赛洛}
好罢, 先生们,
微贱的哈姆雷特就在此尽意的表示他对你们之友情及关怀,
虽然上帝知道你们并不缺乏此二。
让咱们一道进堡里去罢。
还有, 请别忘了, 我祈求你们千万要守口如瓶。
现在的情况真是糟糕, 唉, 可恨我偏是那被指定来调理此事之人。
也罢! 来, 我们一起走罢。
[全人出]
{第一幕完}
______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1). 按西方信仰, 人在临死前如忏悔, 其灵魂可直上天堂,
否则灵魂须先入地狱受刑, 以洗清生前孽障。
(2).『唏罗, 呵, 呵』: 此乃放鹰著唤鹰之喊声。
(3). 剑形如十字架, 可用来发誓。
Elsinore. A platform before the Castle.
Enter two Sentinels-[first,] Francisco, [who paces up and down at his post; then] Bernardo, [who approaches him].
Bernardo. Who's there?
Francisco. Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.
Bernardo. Long live the King!
Francisco. Bernardo? 5Bernardo. He.
Francisco. You come most carefully upon your hour.
Bernardo. 'Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
Francisco. For this relief much thanks. 'Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart. 10Bernardo. Have you had quiet guard?
Francisco. Not a mouse stirring.
Bernardo. Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. 15Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
Francisco. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there?
Horatio. Friends to this ground.
Marcellus. And liegemen to the Dane.
Francisco. Give you good night. 20Marcellus. O, farewell, honest soldier.
Who hath reliev'd you?
Francisco. Bernardo hath my place.
Give you good night. Exit.
Marcellus. Holla, Bernardo! 25Bernardo. Say-
What, is Horatio there ?
Horatio. A piece of him.
Bernardo. Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus.
Marcellus. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night? 30Bernardo. I have seen nothing.
Marcellus. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,
And will not let belief take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us.
Therefore I have entreated him along, 35
With us to watch the minutes of this night,
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
Horatio. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.
Bernardo. Sit down awhile, 40
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.
Horatio. Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. 45Bernardo. Last night of all,
When yond same star that's westward from the pole
Had made his course t' illume that part of heaven
Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
The bell then beating one- 50Enter Ghost.
Marcellus. Peace! break thee off! Look where it comes again!
Bernardo. In the same figure, like the King that's dead.
Marcellus. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.
Bernardo. Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio. 55Horatio. Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.
Bernardo. It would be spoke to.
Marcellus. Question it, Horatio.
Horatio. What art thou that usurp'st this time of night
Together with that fair and warlike form 60
In which the majesty of buried Denmark
Did sometimes march? By heaven I charge thee speak!
Marcellus. It is offended.
Bernardo. See, it stalks away!
Horatio. Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee speak! 65Exit Ghost.
Marcellus. 'Tis gone and will not answer.
Bernardo. How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale.
Is not this something more than fantasy?
What think you on't? 70Horatio. Before my God, I might not this believe
Without the sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes.
Marcellus. Is it not like the King?
Horatio. As thou art to thyself. 75
Such was the very armour he had on
When he th' ambitious Norway combated.
So frown'd he once when, in an angry parle,
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
'Tis strange. 80Marcellus. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
Horatio. In what particular thought to work I know not;
But, in the gross and scope of my opinion,
This bodes some strange eruption to our state. 85Marcellus. Good now, sit down, and tell me he that knows,
Why this same strict and most observant watch
So nightly toils the subject of the land,
And why such daily cast of brazen cannon
And foreign mart for implements of war; 90
Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task
Does not divide the Sunday from the week.
What might be toward, that this sweaty haste
Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day?
Who is't that can inform me? 95Horatio. That can I.
At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king,
Whose image even but now appear'd to us,
Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,
Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, 100
Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet
(For so this side of our known world esteem'd him)
Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact,
Well ratified by law and heraldry,
Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands 105
Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror;
Against the which a moiety competent
Was gaged by our king; which had return'd
To the inheritance of Fortinbras,
Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same cov'nant 110
And carriage of the article design'd,
His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there,
Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, 115
For food and diet, to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in't; which is no other,
As it doth well appear unto our state,
But to recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands 120
So by his father lost; and this, I take it,
Is the main motive of our preparations,
The source of this our watch, and the chief head
Of this post-haste and romage in the land.
Bernardo. I think it be no other but e'en so. 125
Well may it sort that this portentous figure
Comes armed through our watch, so like the King
That was and is the question of these wars.
Horatio. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye.
In the most high and palmy state of Rome, 130
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,
The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets;
As stars with trains of fire, and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun; and the moist star 135
Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.
And even the like precurse of fierce events,
As harbingers preceding still the fates
And prologue to the omen coming on, 140
Have heaven and earth together demonstrated
Unto our climature and countrymen.
[Enter Ghost again.]
But soft! behold! Lo, where it comes again!
I'll cross it, though it blast me.- Stay illusion! 145
[Spreads his arms.]
If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,
Speak to me.
If there be any good thing to be done,
That may to thee do ease, and, grace to me, 150
Speak to me.
If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
Which happily foreknowing may avoid,
O, speak!
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life 155
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth
(For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death),
[The cock crows.]
Speak of it! Stay, and speak!- Stop it, Marcellus!
Marcellus. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? 160Horatio. Do, if it will not stand.
Bernardo. 'Tis here!
Horatio. 'Tis here!
Marcellus. 'Tis gone!
[Exit Ghost.] 165
We do it wrong, being so majestical,
To offer it the show of violence;
For it is as the air, invulnerable,
And our vain blows malicious mockery.
Bernardo. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. 170Horatio. And then it started, like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons. I have heard
The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat
Awake the god of day; and at his warning, 175
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
Th' extravagant and erring spirit hies
To his confine; and of the truth herein
This present object made probation.
Marcellus. It faded on the crowing of the cock. 180
Some say that ever, 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,
The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, 185
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.
Horatio. So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill. 190
Break we our watch up; and by my advice
Let us impart what we have seen to-night
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, 195
As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know
Where we shall find him most conveniently.
Exeunt.
Act I, Scene 2
Elsinore. A room of state in the Castle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flourish. [Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and his sister Ophelia, [Voltemand, Cornelius,] Lords Attendant.
Claudius. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature 205
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state,
Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy, 210
With an auspicious, and a dropping eye,
With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole,
Taken to wife; nor have we herein barr'd
Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone 215
With this affair along. For all, our thanks.
Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras,
Holding a weak supposal of our worth,
Or thinking by our late dear brother's death
Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, 220
Colleagued with this dream of his advantage,
He hath not fail'd to pester us with message
Importing the surrender of those lands
Lost by his father, with all bands of law,
To our most valiant brother. So much for him. 225
Now for ourself and for this time of meeting.
Thus much the business is: we have here writ
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,
Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears
Of this his nephew's purpose, to suppress 230
His further gait herein, in that the levies,
The lists, and full proportions are all made
Out of his subject; and we here dispatch
You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
For bearers of this greeting to old Norway, 235
Giving to you no further personal power
To business with the King, more than the scope
Of these dilated articles allow. [Gives a paper.]
Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.
Cornelius. [with Voltemand] In that, and all things, will we show our duty. 240Claudius. We doubt it nothing. Heartily farewell.
[Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.]
And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?
You told us of some suit. What is't, Laertes?
You cannot speak of reason to the Dane 245
And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes,
That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?
The head is not more native to the heart,
The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. 250
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?
Laertes. My dread lord,
Your leave and favour to return to France;
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark
To show my duty in your coronation, 255
Yet now I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.
Claudius. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?
Polonius. He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave 260
By laboursome petition, and at last
Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent.
I do beseech you give him leave to go.
Claudius. Take thy fair hour, Laertes. Time be thine,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will! 265
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son-
Hamlet. [aside] A little more than kin, and less than kind!
Claudius. How is it that the clouds still hang on you?
Hamlet. Not so, my lord. I am too much i' th' sun.
Gertrude. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, 270
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not for ever with thy vailed lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know'st 'tis common. All that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity. 275Hamlet. Ay, madam, it is common.
Gertrude. If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?
Hamlet. Seems, madam, Nay, it is. I know not 'seems.'
'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, 280
Nor customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected havior of the visage,
Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, 285
'That can denote me truly. These indeed seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within which passeth show-
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
Claudius. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, 290
To give these mourning duties to your father;
But you must know, your father lost a father;
That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound
In filial obligation for some term
To do obsequious sorrow. But to persever 295
In obstinate condolement is a course
Of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief;
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschool'd; 300
For what we know must be, and is as common
As any the most vulgar thing to sense,
Why should we in our peevish opposition
Take it to heart? Fie! 'tis a fault to heaven,
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, 305
To reason most absurd, whose common theme
Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,
From the first corse till he that died to-day,
'This must be so.' We pray you throw to earth
This unprevailing woe, and think of us 310
As of a father; for let the world take note
You are the most immediate to our throne,
And with no less nobility of love
Than that which dearest father bears his son
Do I impart toward you. For your intent 315
In going back to school in Wittenberg,
It is most retrograde to our desire;
And we beseech you, bend you to remain
Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. 320Gertrude. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.
I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.
Hamlet. I shall in all my best obey you, madam.
Claudius. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply.
Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come. 325
This gentle and unforc'd accord of Hamlet
Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof,
No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day
But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
And the King's rouse the heaven shall bruit again, 330
Respeaking earthly thunder. Come away.
Flourish. Exeunt all but Hamlet.
Hamlet. O that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd 335
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! ah, fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature 340
Possess it merely. That it should come to this!
But two months dead! Nay, not so much, not two.
So excellent a king, that was to this
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven 345
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on; and yet, within a month-
Let me not think on't! Frailty, thy name is woman!- 350
A little month, or ere those shoes were old
With which she followed my poor father's body
Like Niobe, all tears- why she, even she
(O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason
Would have mourn'd longer) married with my uncle; 355
My father's brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules. Within a month,
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post 360
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not, nor it cannot come to good.
But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue!
Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo.
Horatio. Hail to your lordship! 365Hamlet. I am glad to see you well.
Horatio!- or I do forget myself.
Horatio. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.
Hamlet. Sir, my good friend- I'll change that name with you.
And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? 370
Marcellus?
Marcellus. My good lord!
Hamlet. I am very glad to see you.- [To Bernardo] Good even, sir.-
But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?
Horatio. A truant disposition, good my lord. 375Hamlet. I would not hear your enemy say so,
Nor shall you do my ear that violence
To make it truster of your own report
Against yourself. I know you are no truant.
But what is your affair in Elsinore? 380
We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.
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. 385Hamlet. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral bak'd 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. 390Horatio. O, 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. 395Horatio. 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 400
With an attent ear, till I may deliver
Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
This marvel to you.
Hamlet. For God's love let me hear!
Horatio. Two nights together had these gentlemen 405
(Marcellus and Bernardo) on their watch
In the dead vast and middle of the night
Been thus encount'red. A figure like your father,
Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe,
Appears before them and with solemn march 410
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 distill'd
Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me 415
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. 420
These hands are not more like.
Hamlet. But where was this?
Marcellus. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.
Hamlet. Did you not speak to it?
Horatio. My lord, I did; 425
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 430
And vanish'd from our sight.
Hamlet. 'Tis very strange.
Horatio. 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. 435Hamlet. Indeed, indeed, sirs. But this troubles me.
Hold you the watch to-night?
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] We do, my lord.
Hamlet. Arm'd, say you?
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] Arm'd, my lord. 440Hamlet. From top to toe?
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] My lord, from head to foot.
Hamlet. Then saw you not his face?
Horatio. O, yes, my lord! He wore his beaver up.
Hamlet. What, look'd he frowningly. 445Horatio. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
Hamlet. Pale or red?
Horatio. Nay, very pale.
Hamlet. And fix'd his eyes upon you?
Horatio. Most constantly. 450Hamlet. I would I had been there.
Horatio. It would have much amaz'd you.
Hamlet. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long?
Horatio. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.
Marcellus. [with Bernardo] Longer, longer. 455Horatio. Not when I saw't.
Hamlet. His beard was grizzled- no?
Horatio. It was, as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silver'd.
Hamlet. I will watch to-night. 460
Perchance 'twill walk again.
Horatio. I warr'nt it will.
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, 465
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. 470
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,
I'll visit you.
All. Our duty to your honour.
Hamlet. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.
[Exeunt [all but Hamlet].] 475
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act I, Scene 3
Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Laertes and Ophelia.
Laertes. My necessaries are embark'd. Farewell.
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you. 485Ophelia. Do you doubt that?
Laertes. 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; 490
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;
No more.
Ophelia. No more but so?
Laertes. Think it no more.
For nature crescent does not grow alone 495
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, 500
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, 505
And therefore must his choice be circumscrib'd
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
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 510
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,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open 515
To his unmast'red 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 520
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself scopes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd,
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth 525
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
Ophelia. I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, 530
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. 535Laertes. O, fear me not!
[Enter Polonius. ]
I stay too long. But here my father comes.
A double blessing is a double grace;
Occasion smiles upon a second leave. 540Polonius. Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay'd for. There- my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memory
Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, 545
Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar:
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment 550
Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in,
Bear't that th' opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. 555
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are most __select__ and generous, chief in that. 560
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all- to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day, 565
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee!
Laertes. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.
Polonius. The time invites you. Go, your servants tend.
Laertes. Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well 570
What I have said to you.
Ophelia. 'Tis in my memory lock'd,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it.
Laertes. Farewell. Exit.
Polonius. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? 575Ophelia. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.
Polonius. Marry, well bethought!
'Tis told me he hath very oft of late
Given private time to you, and you yourself
Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. 580
If it be so- as so 'tis put on me,
And that in way of caution- I must tell you
You do not understand yourself so clearly
As it behooves my daughter and your honour.
What is between you? Give me up the truth. 585Ophelia. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders
Of his affection to me.
Polonius. Affection? Pooh! You speak like a green girl,
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? 590Ophelia. I do not know, my lord, what I should think,
Polonius. Marry, I will teach you! Think yourself a baby
That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,
Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly,
Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, 595
Running it thus) you'll tender me a fool.
Ophelia. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love
In honourable fashion.
Polonius. Ay, fashion you may call it. Go to, go to!
Ophelia. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, 600
With almost all the holy vows of heaven.
Polonius. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks! I do know,
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,
Giving more light than heat, extinct in both 605
Even in their promise, as it is a-making,
You must not take for fire. From this time
Be something scanter of your maiden presence.
Set your entreatments at a higher rate
Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, 610
Believe so much in him, that he is young,
And with a larger tether may he walk
Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia,
Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,
Not of that dye which their investments show, 615
But mere implorators of unholy suits,
Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds,
The better to beguile. This is for all:
I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
Have you so slander any moment leisure 620
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
Look to't, I charge you. Come your ways.
Ophelia. I shall obey, my lord.
Exeunt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act I, Scene 4
Elsinore. The platform before the Castle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.
Hamlet. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.
Horatio. It is a nipping and an eager air.
Hamlet. What hour now?
Horatio. I think it lacks of twelve.
Marcellus. No, it is struck. 630Horatio. Indeed? I heard it not. It then draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
[A flourish of trumpets, and two pieces go off.]
What does this mean, my lord?
Hamlet. The King doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, 635
Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels,
And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,
The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his pledge.
Horatio. Is it a custom? 640Hamlet. Ay, marry, is't;
But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honour'd in the breach than the observance.
This heavy-headed revel east and west 645
Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations;
They clip us drunkards and with swinish phrase
Soil our addition; and indeed it takes
From our achievements, though perform'd at height,
The pith and marrow of our attribute. 650
So oft it chances in particular men
That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As in their birth,- wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin,-
By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, 655
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or by some habit that too much o'erleavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
Being nature's livery, or fortune's star, 660
Their virtues else- be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo-
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault. The dram of e'il
Doth all the noble substance often dout To his own scandal. 665Enter Ghost.
Horatio. Look, my lord, it comes!
Hamlet. Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, 670
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet,
King, father, royal Dane. O, answer me?
Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell 675
Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death,
Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre
Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd,
Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws
To cast thee up again. What may this mean 680
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel,
Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,
Making night hideous, and we fools of nature
So horridly to shake our disposition
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? 685
Say, why is this? wherefore? What should we do?
Ghost beckons Hamlet.
Horatio. It beckons you to go away with it,
As if it some impartment did desire
To you alone. 690Marcellus. Look with what courteous action
It waves you to a more removed ground.
But do not go with it!
Horatio. No, by no means!
Hamlet. It will not speak. Then will I follow it. 695Horatio. Do not, my lord!
Hamlet. Why, what should be the fear?
I do not set my life at a pin's fee;
And for my soul, what can it do to that,
Being a thing immortal as itself? 700
It waves me forth again. I'll follow it.
Horatio. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,
Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff
That beetles o'er his base into the sea,
And there assume some other, horrible form 705
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? Think of it.
The very place puts toys of desperation,
Without more motive, into every brain
That looks so many fadoms to the sea 710
And hears it roar beneath.
Hamlet. It waves me still.
Go on. I'll follow thee.
Marcellus. You shall not go, my lord.
Hamlet. Hold off your hands! 715Horatio. Be rul'd. You shall not go.
Hamlet. My fate cries out
And makes each petty artire in this body
As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.
[Ghost beckons.] 720
Still am I call'd. Unhand me, gentlemen.
By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!-
I say, away!- Go on. I'll follow thee.
Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.
Horatio. He waxes desperate with imagination. 725Marcellus. Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
Horatio. Have after. To what issue will this come?
Marcellus. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Horatio. Heaven will direct it.
Marcellus. Nay, let's follow him. 730Exeunt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act I, Scene 5
Elsinore. The Castle. Another part of the fortifications.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Ghost and Hamlet.
Hamlet. Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak! I'll go no further.
Father's Ghost. Mark me.
Hamlet. I will. 735Father's Ghost. My hour is almost come,
When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames
Must render up myself.
Hamlet. Alas, poor ghost!
Father's Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing 740
To what I shall unfold.
Hamlet. Speak. I am bound to hear.
Father's Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.
Hamlet. What?
Father's Ghost. I am thy father's spirit, 745
Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night,
And for the day confin'd to fast in fires,
Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison house, 750
I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres,
Thy knotted and combined locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand on end 755
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine.
But this eternal blazon must not be
To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list!
If thou didst ever thy dear father love-
Hamlet. O God! 760Father's Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther.
Hamlet. Murther?
Father's Ghost. Murther most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.
Hamlet. Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift 765
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
May sweep to my revenge.
Father's Ghost. I find thee apt;
And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, 770
Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear.
'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abus'd. But know, thou noble youth, 775
The serpent that did sting thy father's life
Now wears his crown.
Hamlet. O my prophetic soul!
My uncle?
Father's Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, 780
With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-
O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power
So to seduce!- won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen.
O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there, 785
From me, whose love was of that dignity
That it went hand in hand even with the vow
I made to her in marriage, and to decline
Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor
To those of mine! 790
But virtue, as it never will be mov'd,
Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,
So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd,
Will sate itself in a celestial bed
And prey on garbage. 795
But soft! methinks I scent the morning air.
Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,
My custom always of the afternoon,
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
With juice of cursed hebona in a vial, 800
And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leperous distilment; whose effect
Holds such an enmity with blood of man
That swift as quicksilver it courses through
The natural gates and alleys of the body, 805
And with a sudden vigour it doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk,
The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine;
And a most instant tetter bark'd about,
Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust 810
All my smooth body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand
Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd;
Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,
Unhous'led, disappointed, unanel'd, 815
No reckoning made, but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head.
Hamlet. O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
Father's Ghost. If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be 820
A couch for luxury and damned incest.
But, howsoever thou pursuest this act,
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven,
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge 825
To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once.
The glowworm shows the matin to be near
And gins to pale his uneffectual fire.
Adieu, adieu, adieu! Remember me. Exit.
Hamlet. O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? 830
And shall I couple hell? Hold, hold, my heart!
And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,
But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee?
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat
In this distracted globe. Remember thee? 835
Yea, from the table of my memory
I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,
All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past
That youth and observation copied there,
And thy commandment all alone shall live 840
Within the book and volume of my brain,
Unmix'd with baser matter. Yes, by heaven!
O most pernicious woman!
O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!
My tables! Meet it is I set it down 845
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain;
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. [Writes.]
So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word:
It is 'Adieu, adieu! Remember me.'
I have sworn't. 850Horatio. [within] My lord, my lord!
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
Marcellus. Lord Hamlet!
Horatio. Heaven secure him!
Hamlet. So be it! 855Marcellus. Illo, ho, ho, my lord!
Hamlet. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come.
Marcellus. How is't, my noble lord?
Horatio. What news, my lord?
Marcellus. O, wonderful! 860Horatio. Good my lord, tell it.
Hamlet. No, you will reveal it.
Horatio. Not I, my lord, by heaven!
Marcellus. Nor I, my lord.
Hamlet. How say you then? Would heart of man once think it? 865
But you'll be secret?
Marcellus. [with Horatio] Ay, by heaven, my lord.
Hamlet. There's neer a villain dwelling in all Denmark
But he's an arrant knave.
Horatio. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave 870
To tell us this.
Hamlet. Why, right! You are in the right!
And so, without more circumstance at all,
I hold it fit that we shake hands and part;
You, as your business and desires shall point you, 875
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 am sorry they offend you, heartily; 880
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. 885
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. 890Hamlet. Never make known what you have seen to-night.
Marcellus. [with Horatio] My lord, we will not.
Hamlet. Nay, but swear't.
Horatio. In faith,
My lord, not I. 895Marcellus. 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.
Father's Ghost. Swear.
Hamlet. Aha boy, say'st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?
Come on! You hear this fellow in the cellarage.
Consent to swear.
Horatio. Propose the oath, my lord. 905Hamlet. Never to speak of this that you have seen.
Swear by my sword.
Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear.
Hamlet. Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.
Come hither, gentlemen, 910
And lay your hands again upon my sword.
Never to speak of this that you have heard:
Swear by my sword.
Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear by his sword.
Hamlet. Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th' earth so fast? 915
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. 920
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), 925
That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumb'red thus, or this head-shake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,'
Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,' 930
Or such ambiguous giving out, to note
That you know aught of me- this is not to do,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you,
Swear.
Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear. 935[They 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, 940
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. 945
Exeunt.