But to my mind,—though I am native here, More honour'd in the breach, than the observance. Makes us traduc'd, and tax'd of other nations: From our achievements, though perform'd at height, That, for some vicious mole of nature in them, Shall in the general censureR take corruption Hor. Enter Ghost. Look, my lord, it comes ! Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us!— Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd, addition;] i. e. Title. The pith and marrow of our attribute.] The best and most valuable part of the praise that would be otherwise attributed to us.-JOHNSON. a complexion,] i. e. Humour: as sanguine, melancholy, phlegmatick, &c.-WARBURTON. The form of plausive manners;] That intermingles too much with their manners; infects and corrupts them. Plausive, in our poet's age, signified gracious, pleasing, popular.-MALONE. C star,-] i. e. Scar. It is a term of farriery: the white star or mark so common on the forehead of a dark coloured horse, is usually produced by making a scar on the place.-RITSON. d As infinite as man may undergo,)] As large as can be accumulated upon man.-JOHNSON. censure- -] i, e. Opinion. dout,] i. e. Do out, extinguish. Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell, 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, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? As if it some impartment did desire Ham. It will not speak; then I will follow it. Ham. Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pin's fee ;i It waves me forth again ;-I'll follow it. Hor. 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, Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason,* h -fools of nature,] i. e. Objects of nature's sport. beetles o'er his base-] i. e. Overhangs his base. sovereignty of reason,] Sovereignty is here merely a title of respect; And draw you into madness? think of it: My fate cries out, Hor. Be rul'd, you shall not go. And makes each petty artery in this body As hardy as the Némean lion's nerve.- [Ghost beckons. Still am I call'd;-unhand me, gentlemen ; [Breaking from them. 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. Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt. SCENE V. A more remote Part of the Platform. Re-enter Ghost and HAMLET. Ham. Whither wilt thou led me? speak, I'll go no further. and "to deprive your sovereignty of reason" means neither more nor less than "to deprive your lordship, or your honour, or your highness, of reason.”– GIFFORD'S Ben Jonson, vol. v. 352. 1 m toys-] i. e. Whims. that lets me :-] To let among our old authors signifies to prevent, to hinder. It is still a word current in the law, and to be found in almost all leases. STEEVENS. Ghost. My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. Alas, poor ghost! Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak, I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ghost. I am thy father's spirit; 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, I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood; And each particular hair to stand on end, 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, Ham. O heaven! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ham. Murder? Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know it; that I, with wings as swift As meditation, or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. Ghost. I find thee apt; And duller should'st thou be than the fat weed That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Would'st thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out, that sleeping in mine orchard, Rankly abus'd: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life, Ham. O, my prophetick soul! my uncle! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven; And prey on garbage. But, soft! methinks, I scent the morning air; Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatch'd :P D hebenon—]i. e. Ebony; the juice of which was supposed to be a deadly poison.-NARES. eager-]i. e. Aigre, sour. despatch'd:] For bereft. |