Drama
60 Hamlet: Act 1
William Shakespeare
Hamlet (Modern, Editor’s Version). Internet Shakespeare Editions. University of Victoria. Editor: David Bevington. Adapted by James Sexton.
Scene 1
Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels.
Barnardo
Who’s there?
5Francisco
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.[1]
Barnardo
Long live the King!
Francisco
Barnardo?
Barnardo
He.
10Francisco
You come most carefully upon your hour.
Barnardo
‘Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
Francisco
For this relief much thanks. ‘Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.
Barnardo
Have you had quiet guard?
15Francisco
Not a mouse stirring.
Barnardo
Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
Francisco
I think I hear them.–Stand, ho! Who is there?
20Horatio
Friends to this ground.
Marcellus
And liegemen to the Dane.[2]
Francisco
Give you good night.
Marcellus
Oh, farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved you?
Francisco
Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.
25Exit Francisco.
Marcellus
Holla, Barnardo!
Barnardo
Say, what, is Horatio there?
Horatio
A piece of him.
Barnardo
Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus.
30Horatio
What, has this thing appeared again tonight?
Barnardo
I have seen nothing.
Marcellus
Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy,[3]
And will not let belief take hold of him,
Touching[4] this dreaded sight twice seen of us.
35Therefore I have entreated him along
With us[5] to watch the minutes of this night,[6]
That if again this apparition come
He may approve[7] our eyes and speak to it.
Horatio
Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.
40Barnardo
Sit down awhile,
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,
45And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.
Barnardo
Last night of all,[8]
When yond same star that’s westward from the pole[9]
Had made his course t’illume[10] that part of heaven
Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
50The bell then beating one–
Enter the Ghost.
Marcellus
Peace, break thee off! Look where it comes again!
Barnardo
In the same figure like the King that’s dead.
Marcellus
Thou art a scholar. Speak to it, Horatio.
55Barnardo
Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.
Horatio
Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.
Barnardo
It would be spoke to.[11]
Marcellus
Question it, Horatio.
Horatio
What art thou that usurp’st[12] this time of night,
60Together with that fair and warlike form
In which the majesty of buried Denmark[13]
Did sometimes[14] march? By heaven, I charge thee speak!
Marcellus
It is offended.
Barnardo
See, it stalks away.
65Horatio
Stay, speak, speak, I charge thee speak!
Exit the Ghost.
Marcellus
‘Tis gone, and will not answer.
Barnardo
How now, Horatio, you tremble and look pale.
Is not this something more than fantasy?
70What think you on’t?[15]
Horatio
Before my God, I might not this believe
Without the sensible[16] and true av