Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven; Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame! There, my blessing with you! [Laying his hand on Laertes' head. And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou charàcter. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. And they in France of the best rank and station Are most select and generous, chief in that. For loan oft loses both itself and friend; And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. 'T is in my memory locked, Oph. And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Farewell. Laer. Pol. [Rises. [Exit Laertes What is 't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? Oph. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. Marry, well bethought: Pol. 'T is 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: And that in way of caution), I must tell you, Oph. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Fol. Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl, Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Pol. Marry, I'll teach you; think yourself a baby: Oph. My lord, he hath impòrtuned me with love In honourable fashion. Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to. Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, This is for all, I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Oph. I shall obey, my lord. [Exeunt Polonius and Ophelia R Scene Third.-THE PLATFORM. DIM STarlight. [Enter Hamlet and Horatio, to Marcellus, who is on guard. 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. Mar. No, it is struck. Horatio. Indeed? I heard it not: then it draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. [A flourish of trumpets: ordnance shot off, within What does this mean, my lord? Hamlet. The king doth wake to-night, and takes his rouse, Is it a custom ? Ay, marry, is 't: Horatio. Hamlet. But to my mind,—though I am native here, More honoured in the breach than the observance. Look, my lord, it comes! Horatio. Hamlet. [Enter Ghost R. I. E. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Thou comest in such a questionable shape, That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Horatio. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire Mar. Look, with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground: [Ghost beckons. No, by no means. Horatio. Hamlet. It will not speak; then will I follow it. |