Compare Hamlet:
First Quarto vs Second Quarto vs First Folio

• First Quarto (1603)
  The Tragicall Historie of
  HAMLET
  Prince of Denmarke.

   

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  0002 =======Enter two Centinels.[B1^r

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  0004-5 1.  STand: who is that?

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  0009 2.  Tis I.

  0010 1.  O you come most carefully vpon your watch,

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  0016 2.  And if you meete Marcellus and Horatio,

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  0017 The partners of my watch, bid them make haste.

  0019 1.  I will: See who goes there.

  0018 =========Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

  0020 Hor.  Friends to this ground.

  0021 Mar.  And leegemen to the Dane,

  000¦

  0023 O farewell honest souldier, who hath releeued you?

  0024 1.  Barnardo hath my place, giue you good night.

  000¦

  0026 Mar.  Holla, Barnardo.

  0027 2.  Say, is Horatio there?

  0028 Hor.  A peece of him.

  0029 2.  Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus.

  0030 Mar.  What hath this thing appear'd againe to night.

  0031 2.  I haue seene nothing.

  0032 Mar.  Horatio sayes tis but our fantasie,

  0033 And wil not let beliefe take hold of him,

  0034 Touching this dreaded sight twice seene by vs,

  0035-6 Therefore I haue intreated him a long with vs[B1^v

  0036 To watch the minutes of this night,

  0037 That if againe this apparition come,

  0038 He may approoue our eyes, and speake to it.

  0039 **Hor.  Tut, t'will not appeare.

  0040-1 **2.  Sit downe I pray, and let vs once againe

  000¦

  0041-2 Assaile your eares that are so fortified,

  0043 What we haue two nights seene.

  0044-5 **Hor.  Wel, sit we downe, and let vs heare Bernardo speake

  0045 of this.

  0046-7 **2.  Last night of al, when yonder starre that's west–

  0047-8 ward from the pole, had made his course to

  0048-9 Illumine that part of heauen. Where now it burnes,

  000¦

  0050 The bell then towling one.

  0051 ======================Enter Ghost.

  0051-2 **Mar.  Breake off your talke, see where it comes againe.

  0053 **2.  In the same figure like the King that's dead,

  0054 **Mar.  Thou art a scholler, speake to it Horatio.

  0055 **2.  Lookes it not like the king?

  0056 **Hor.  Most like, it horrors mee with feare and wonder.

  0057 **2.  It would be spoke to.

  0058 **Mar.  Question it Horatio.

  0059 **Hor.  What art thou that thus vsurps the state, in

  000¦

  0061-2 Which the Maiestie of buried Denmarke did sometimes

  0062 Walke? By heauen I charge thee speake.

  0063-6 **Mar.  It is offended. ============exit Ghost.

  0064 **2.  See, it stalkes away.

  0065 **Hor.  Stay, speake, speake, by heauen I charge thee

  0065' speake.

  0067 **Mar.  Tis gone and makes no answer.

  0068 **2.  How now Horatio, you tremble and looke pale,

  0069 Is not this something more than fantasie?

  0070 What thinke you on't?

  0071-2 **Hor.  Afore my God, I might not this beleeue, without

  0072-3 the sensible and true auouch of my owne eyes.

  000¦

  0074 **Mar.  Is it not like the King?[B2^r

  0075 **Hor. As thou art to thy selfe,

  0076 Such was the very armor he had on,

  0077 When he the ambitious Norway combated.

  0078 So frownd he once, when in an angry parle

  0079 He smot the sleaded pollax on the yce,

  0080 Tis strange.

  0081 **Mar.  Thus twice before, and iump at this dead hower,

  0082 With Marshall stalke he passed through our watch.

  0083 **Hor.  In what particular to worke, I know not,

  0084 But in the thought and scope of my opinion,

  0085 This bodes some strange eruption to the state.

  0086 **Mar.  Good, now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes

  0087 Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch,

  0088 So nightly toyles the subiect of the land,

  0089 And why such dayly cost of brazen Cannon

  0090 And forraine marte, for implements of warre,

  0091 Why such impresse of ship-writes, whose sore taske

  0092 Does not diuide the sunday from the weeke:

  0093 What might be toward that this sweaty march

  0094 Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day,

  0095 Who is't that can informe me?

  0096-7 **Hor.  Mary that can I, at least the whisper goes so,

  0097-9 Our late King, who as you know was by Forten–

  *00¦

  0099 Brasse of Norway,

  0100-1 Thereto prickt on by a most emulous cause, dared to

  0101 The combate, in which our valiant Hamlet,

  0102 For so this side of our knowne world esteemed him,

  0103 Did slay this Fortenbrasse,

  0103-4 Who by a seale compact well ratified, by law

  0104-5 And heraldrie, did forfeit with his life all those

  0105-6 His lands which he stoode seazed of by the conqueror,

  0107 Against the which a moity competent,

  0108 Was gaged by our King:

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0112 Now sir, yong Fortenbrasse,

  0113 Of inapproued mettle hot and full,

  0114 Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there,[B2^v

  0115 Sharkt vp a sight of lawlesse Resolutes

  0116 For food and diet to some enterprise,

  0117-22  That hath a stomacke in't: and this (I take it) is the

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  0123 Chiefe head and ground of this our watch.

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  000¦

  0125 ==============Enter the Ghost.

  0126 But loe, behold, see where it comes againe,

  0127 Ile crosse it, though it blast me: stay illusion,

  *00¦

  0129 If there be any good thing to be done,

  0130 That may doe ease to thee, and grace to mee,

  0130' Speake to mee.

  0131 If thou art priuy to thy countries fate,

  0132 Which happly foreknowing may preuent, O speake to me,

  *00¦

  0133 Or if thou hast extorted in thy life,

  0134 Or hoorded treasure in the wombe of earth,

  0135-6 For which they say you Spirites oft walke in death, speake

  0136 to me, stay and speake, speake, stoppe it Marcellus.

  *00¦

  *00¦

  0139-41  **2.  Tis heere. ===exit Ghost.

  0140 **Hor.  Tis heere.

  0141-2 **Marc.  Tis gone, O we doe it wrong, being so maiesti–

  *00¦

  0142-3 call, to offer it the shew of violence,

  0144 For it is as the ayre invelmorable,

  0145 And our vaine blowes malitious mockery.

  0146 **2.  It was about to speake when the Cocke crew.

  0147 **Hor.  And then it faded like a guilty thing,

  0148 Vpon a fearefull summons: I haue heard

  0149 The Cocke, that is the trumpet to the morning,

  0150 Doth with his earely and shrill crowing throate,

  0151 Awake the god of day, and at his sound,

  0152 Whether in earth or ayre, in sea or fire,

  0153 The strauagant and erring spirite hies

  0154 To his confines, and of the trueth heereof

  0155 This present obiect made probation.

  0156 **Marc.  It faded on the crowing of the Cocke,

  0157 Some say, that euer gainst that season comes,

  0158 Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated,

  0159 The bird of dawning singeth all night long,[B3^r

  0160 And then they say, no spirite dare walke abroade,

  0161 The nights are wholesome, then no planet frikes,

  0162 No Fairie takes, nor Witch hath powre to charme,

  0163 So gratious, and so hallowed is that time.

  0164 **Hor.  So haue I heard, and doe in parte beleeue it:

  0165 But see the Sunne in russet mantle clad,

  0166 Walkes ore the deaw of yon hie mountaine top,

  0167 Breake we our watch vp, and by my aduise,

  0168 Let vs impart what wee haue seene to night

  0169 Vnto yong Hamlet: for vpon my life

  0170 This Spirite dumbe to vs will speake to him:

  0171 Do you consent, wee shall acquaint him with it,

  0172 As needefull in our loue, fitting our duetie?

  0173 **Marc.  Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning know,

  0174 Where we shall finde him most conueniently.

  next scene (1.2) »

   

• Second Quarto (1605)
  The Tragedie of
  H A M L E T
  Prince of Denmarke.

  ---------------------------

  000¦ [B1^r

  ---------------------------

  0002 ===Enter Barnardo, and Francisco, two Centinels.

  000¦

  0004 Bar.  Whose there?

  0005-6 Fran.  Nay answere me. Stand and vnfolde your selfe.

  000¦

  0007 Bar.  Long liue the King,

  0008 Fran.  Barnardo.

  0009 Bar.  Hee.

  0010 Fran.  You come most carefully vpon your houre,

  0011 Bar.  Tis now strooke twelfe, get thee to bed Francisco,

  0012 Fran.  For this reliefe much thanks, tis bitter cold,

  0013 ##And I am sick at hart.

  0014 Bar.  Haue you had quiet guard?

  0015 Fran.  Not a mouse stirring.

  0016 Bar.  Well, good night:

  0016-7 ##If you doe meete Horatio and Marcellus,

  0017 ##The riualls of my watch, bid them make hast.

  0018 ==========Enter Horatio, and Marcellus.

  0019 Fran.  I thinke I heare them, stand ho, who is there?

  0020 Hora.  Friends to this ground.

  0021 Mar.  And Leedgemen to the Dane,

  0022 Fran.  Giue you good night.

  0023 Mar.  O, farwell honest souldiers, who hath relieu'd you?

  0024-5 Fran.  Barnardo hath my place; giue you good night. ==Exit Fran.

  000¦

  0026 Mar.  Holla, Barnardo.[B1^v

  0027 Bar.  Say, what is Horatio there?

  0028 Hora.  A peece of him.

  0029 Bar.  Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus,

  0030 Hora.  What, ha's this thing appeard againe to night?

  0031 Bar.  I haue seene nothing.

  0032 Mar.  Horatio saies tis but our fantasie,

  0033 And will not let beliefe take holde of him,

  0034 Touching this dreaded sight twice seene of vs,

  0035 Therefore I haue intreated him along,

  0036 With vs to watch the minuts of this night,

  0037 That if againe this apparision come,

  0038 He may approoue our eyes and speake to it.

  0039 @#Hora.  Tush, tush, twill not appeare.

  0040 @#Bar.  Sit downe a while,

  0041 And let vs once againe assaile your eares,

  0042 That are so fortified against our story,

  0043 What we haue two nights seene.

  0044 @#Hora.  Well, sit we downe,

  0045 And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this.

  0046 @#Bar.  Last night of all,

  0047 When yond same starre thats weastward from the pole,

  0048 Had made his course t'illume that part of heauen

  0049 Where now it burnes, Marcellus and my selfe

  0050 The bell then beating one.

  0051 ================Enter Ghost.

  0051-2 @#Mar.  Peace, breake thee of, looke where it comes againe.

  0053 @#Bar.  In the same figure like the King thats dead.

  0054 @#Mar.  Thou art a scholler, speake to it Horatio.

  0055 @#Bar.  Lookes a not like the King? marke it Horatio.

  0056 @#Hora.  Most like, it horrowes me with feare and wonder.

  0057 @#Bar.  It would be spoke to.

  0058 @#Mar.  Speake to it Horatio.

  0059 @#Hora.  What art thou that vsurpst this time of night,

  0060 Together with that faire and warlike forme,

  0061 In which the Maiestie of buried Denmarke

  0062 Did sometimes march, by heauen I charge thee speake.

  0063 @#Mar.  It is offended.

  0064 @#Bar.  See it staukes away.

  0065-6 @#Hora.  Stay, speake, speake, I charge thee speake. ==Exit Ghost.[B2^r

  000¦

  0067 @#Mar.  Tis gone and will not answere.

  0068 @#Bar.  How now Horatio, you tremble and looke pale,

  0069 Is not this somthing more then phantasie?

  0070 What thinke you-ont?

  0071 @#Hora.  Before my God I might not this belieue,

  0072 Without the sencible and true auouch

  0073 Of mine owne eies.

  0074 @#Mar.  Is it not like the King?

  0075 @#Hora.  As thou art to thy selfe.

  0076 Such was the very Armor he had on,

  0077 When he the ambitious Norway combated,

  0078 So frownd he once, when in an angry parle

  0079 He smot the sleaded pollax on the ice.

  0080 Tis strange.

  0081 @#Mar.  Thus twice before, and iump at this dead houre,

  0082 With martiall stauke hath he gone by our watch.

  0083 @#Hora.  In what perticular thought, to worke I know not,

  0084 But in the grosse and scope of mine opinion,

  0085 This bodes some strange eruption to our state.

  0086 @#Mar.  Good now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes,

  0087 Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch

  0088 So nightly toiles the subiect of the land,

  0089 And with such dayly cost of brazon Cannon

  0090 And forraine marte, for implements of warre,

  0091 Why such impresse of ship-writes, whose sore taske

  0092 Does not deuide the Sunday from the weeke,

  0093 What might be toward that this sweaty hast

  0094 Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day,

  0095 Who ist that can informe mee?

  0096 @#Hora.  That can I.

  0097 At least the whisper goes so; our last King,

  0098 Whose image euen but now appear'd to vs,

  0099 Was as you knowe by Fortinbrasse of Norway,

  0100 Thereto prickt on by a most emulate pride

  0101 Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet,

  0102 (For so this side of our knowne world esteemd him)

  0103 Did slay this Fortinbrasse, who by a seald compact

  0104 Well ratified by lawe and heraldy

  0105 Did forfait (with his life) all these his lands[B2^v

  0106 Which he stood seaz'd of, to the conquerour.

  0107 Against the which a moitie competent

  0108 Was gaged by our King, which had returne

  0109 To the inheritance of Fortinbrasse,

  0110 Had he bin vanquisher; as by the same comart,

  0111 And carriage of the article desseigne,

  0112 His fell to Hamlet; now Sir, young Fortinbrasse

  0113 Of vnimprooued mettle, hot and full,

  0114 Hath in the skirts of Norway heere and there

  0115 Sharkt vp a list of lawelesse resolutes

  0116 For foode and diet to some enterprise

  0117 That hath a stomacke in't, which is no other

  0118 As it doth well appeare vnto our state

  0119 But to recouer of vs by strong hand

  0120 And tearmes compulsatory, those foresaid lands

  0121 So by his father lost; and this I take it,

  0122 Is the maine motiue of our preparations

  0123 The source of this our watch, and the chiefe head

  0124 Of this post hast and Romadge in the land.

  0124+1 **Bar.  I thinke it be no other, but enso;

  0124+2 Well may it sort that this portentous figure

  0124+3 Comes armed through our watch so like the King

  0124+4 That was and is the question of these warres.

  0124+5 @#Hora.  A moth it is to trouble the mindes eye:

  0124+6 In the most high and palmy state of Rome,

  0124+7 A little ere the mightiest Iulius fell

  0124+8 The graues stood tennatlesse, and the sheeted dead

  0124+9 Did squeake and gibber in the Roman streets

  0124+10  As starres with traines of fier, and dewes of blood

  0124+11  Disasters in the sunne; and the moist starre,

  0124+12  Vpon whose influence Neptunes Empier stands,

  0124+13  Was sicke almost to doomesday with eclipse.

  0124+14  And euen the like precurse of feare euents

  0124+15  As harbindgers preceading still the fates

  0124+16  And prologue to the Omen comming on

  0124+17  Haue heauen and earth together demonstrated

  0124+18  Vnto our Climatures and countrymen.

  0125 =============Enter Ghost.

  0126 But soft, behold, loe where it comes againe[B3^r

  0127 Ile crosse it though it blast mee: stay illusion, ====It spreads

  0128 If thou hast any sound or vse of voyce, =========his armes.

  0129 Speake to me, if there be any good thing to be done

  0130 That may to thee doe ease, and grace to mee,

  0130' Speake to me.

  0131 If thou art priuie to thy countries fate

  0132 Which happily foreknowing may auoyd

  0132' O speake:

  0133 Or if thou hast vphoorded in thy life

  0134 Extorted treasure in the wombe of earth

  0135 For which they say your spirits oft walke in death.===The cocke

  0136 Speake of it, stay and speake, stop it Marcellus. =====crowes.

  0137 @#Mar.  Shall I strike it with my partizan?

  0138 @#Hor.  Doe if it will not stand.

  0139 @#Bar.  Tis heere.

  0140 @#Hor.  Tis heere.

  0141 @#Mar.  Tis gone.

  0142 We doe it wrong being so Maiesticall

  0143 To offer it the showe of violence,

  0144 For it is as the ayre, invulnerable,

  0145 And our vaine blowes malicious mockery.

  0146 @#Bar.  It was about to speake when the cock crewe.

  0147 @#Hor.  And then it started like a guilty thing,

  0148 Vpon a fearefull summons; I haue heard,

  0149 The Cock that is the trumpet to the morne,

  0150 Doth with his lofty and shrill sounding throat

  0151 Awake the God of day, and at his warning

  0152 Whether in sea or fire, in earth or ayre

  0153 Th'extrauagant and erring spirit hies

  0154 To his confine, and of the truth heerein

  0155 This present obiect made probation.

  0156 @#Mar.  It faded on the crowing of the Cock.

  0157 Some say that euer gainst that season comes

  0158 Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated

  0159 This bird of dawning singeth all night long,

  0160 And then they say no spirit dare sturre abraode

  0161 The nights are wholsome, then no plannets strike,

  0162 No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charme

  0163 So hallowed, and so gratious is that time.[B3^v

  0164 @#Hora.  So haue I heard and doe in part belieue it,

  0165 But looke the morne in russet mantle clad

  0166 Walkes ore the dewe of yon high Eastward hill

  0167 Breake we our watch vp and by my aduise

  0168 Let vs impart what we haue seene to night

  0169 Vnto young Hamlet, for vppon my life

  0170 This spirit dumb to vs, will speake to him:

  0171 Doe you consent we shall acquaint him with it

  0172 As needfull in our loues, fitting our duty.

  0173 @#Mar.  Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning knowe

  0174 Where we shall find him most conuenient. ====Exeunt.

  next scene (1.2) »

   

• First Folio (1623)
   
  THE TRAGEDIE OF
  H A M L E T, Prince of Denmarke.

  +++++————————————————————

  0001 ++++Actus Primus. Scœna Prima. [nn4^v

  +++++————————————————————

  0002 ===Enter Barnardo and Francisco two Centinels.

  0003 ============Barnardo.

  0004 WHo's there?

  0005 @#Fran.  Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold

  0006 your selfe.

  0007 @#Bar.  Long liue the King.

  0008 @#Fran.  Barnardo?

  0009 @#Bar.  He.

  0010 @#Fran.  You come most carefully vpon your houre.

  0011 @#Bar.  'Tis now strook twelue, get thee to bed Francisco.

  0012 @#Fran.  For this releefe much thankes: 'Tis bitter cold,

  0013 And I am sicke at heart.

  0014 @#Barn.  Haue you had quiet Guard ?

  0015 @#Fran.  Not a Mouse stirring.

  0016 @#Barn.  Well, goodnight. If you do meet Horatio and

  000¦

  0017 Marcellus, the Riuals of my Watch, bid them make hast.

  0018 ========Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

  0019 @#Fran.  I thinke I heare them. Stand: who's there?

  0020 @#Hor.  Friends to this ground.

  0021 @#Mar.  And Leige-men to the Dane.

  0022 @#Fran.  Giue you good night.

  0023 @#Mar.  O farwel honest Soldier, who hath relieu'd you?

  0024 @#Fra.  Barnardo ha's my place: giue you goodnight.

  0025 =========================Exit Fran.

  0026 @#Mar.  Holla Barnardo.

  0027 @#Bar.  Say, what is Horatio there?

  0028 @#Hor.  A peece of him.

  0029 @#Bar.  Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus.

  0030 @#Mar.  What, ha's this thing appear'd againe to night.

  0031 @#Bar.  I haue seene nothing.

  0032 @#Mar.  Horatio saies, 'tis but our Fantasie,

  0033 And will not let beleefe take hold of him

  0034 Touching this dreaded sight, twice seene of vs,

  0035 Therefore I haue intreated him along

  0036 With vs, to watch the minutes of this Night,

  0037 That if againe this Apparition come,

  0038 He may approue our eyes, and speake to it.

  0039 @#Hor.  Tush, tush, 'twill not appeare.

  0040 @#Bar.  Sit downe a-while,

  0041 And let vs once againe assaile your eares,

  0042 That are so fortified against our Story,

  0043 What we two Nights haue seene.

  0044 @#Hor.  Well, sit we downe,

  0045 And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this.

  0046 @#Barn.  Last night of all,

  0047 When yond same Starre that's Westward from the Pole

  0048 Had made his course t'illume that part of Heauen

  0049 Where now it burnes, Marcellus and my selfe,

  0050 The Bell then beating one.

  0051 @#Mar.  Peace, breake thee of: =======Enter the Ghost.

  0052 Looke where it comes againe.

  0053 @#Barn.  In the same figure, like the King that's dead.

  0054 @#Mar.  Thou art a Scholler; speake to it Horatio.

  0055 @#Barn.  Lookes it not like the King? Marke it Horatio.

  0056 @#Hora.  Most like: It harrowes me with fear & wonder

  0057 @#Barn.  It would be spoke too.

  0058 @#Mar.  Question it Horatio.

  0059 @#Hor.  What art thou that vsurp'st this time of night,

  0060 Together with that Faire and Warlike forme

  0061 In which the Maiesty of buried Denmarke

  0062 Did sometimes march: By Heauen I charge thee speake.

  0063 @#Mar.  It is offended.

  0064 @#Barn.  See, it stalkes away.

  0065 @#Hor.  Stay: speake; speake: I Charge thee, speake.

  0066 ===============================Exit the Ghost.

  0067 @#Mar.  'Tis gone, and will not answer.

  0068 @#Barn.  How now Horatio? You tremble & look pale:

  0069 Is not this something more then Fantasie?

  0070 What thinke you on't?

  0071 @#Hor.  Before my God, I might not this beleeue

  0072 Without the sensible and true auouch

  0073 Of mine owne eyes.

  0074 @#Mar.  Is it not like the King?

  0075 @#Hor.  As thou art to thy selfe,

  0076 Such was the very Armour he had on,

  0077 When th'Ambitious Norwey combatted:

  0078 So frown'd he once, when in an angry parle

  0079 He smot the sledded Pollax on the Ice.

  0080 'Tis strange.

  0081 @#Mar.  Thus twice before, and iust at this dead houre,

  0082 With Martiall stalke, hath he gone by our Watch.

  0083 @#Hor.  In what particular thought to work, I know not:

  0084 But in the grosse and scope of my Opinion,

  0085 This boades some strange erruption to our State.

  0086 @#Mar.  Good now sit downe, & tell me he that knowes

  0087 Why this same strict and most obseruant Watch,

  0088 So nightly toyles the subiect of the Land,

  0089 And why such dayly Cast of Brazon Cannon

  0090 And Forraigne Mart for Implements of warre:

  0091 Why such impresse of Ship-wrights, whose sore Taske

  0092 Do's not diuide the Sunday from the weeke,

  0093 What might be toward, that this sweaty hast

  0094 Doth make the Night ioynt-Labourer with the day:

  0095 Who is't that can informe me?

  0096 @#Hor.  That can I,

  0097 At least the whisper goes so: Our last King,[nn5^r

  0098 Whose Image euen but now appear'd to vs,

  0099 Was (as you know) by Fortinbras of Norway,

  0100 (Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate Pride)

  0101 Dar'd to the Combate. In which, our Valiant Hamlet,

  0102 (For so this side of our knowne world esteem'd him)

  0103 Did slay this Fortinbras: who by a Seal'd Compact,

  0104 Well ratified by Law, and Heraldrie,

  0105 Did forfeite (with his life) all those his Lands

  0106 Which he stood seiz'd on, to the Conqueror:

  0107 Against the which, a Moity competent

  0108 Was gaged by our King: which had return'd

  0109 To the Inheritance of Fortinbras,

  0110 Had he bin Vanquisher, as by the same Cou'nant

  0111 And carriage of the Article designe,

  0112 His fell to Hamlet. Now sir, young Fortinbras,

  0113 Of vnimproued Mettle, hot and full,

  0114 Hath in the skirts of Norway, heere and there,

  0115 Shark'd vp a List of Landlesse Resolutes,

  0116 For Foode and Diet, to some Enterprize

  0117 That hath a stomacke in't: which is no other

  0118 (And it doth well appeare vnto our State)

  0119 But to recouer of vs by strong hand

  0120 And termes Compulsatiue, those foresaid Lands

  0121 So by his Father lost: and this (I take it)

  0122 Is the maine Motiue of our Preparations,

  0123 The Sourse of this our Watch, and the cheefe head

  0124 Of this post-hast, and Romage in the Land.

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  0125 ==================Enter Ghost againe.

  0126 But soft, behold: Loe, where it comes againe:

  0127 Ile crosse it, though it blast me. Stay Illusion:

  0128 If thou hast any sound, or vse of Voyce,

  0129 Speake to me. If there be any good thing to be done,

  0130 That may to thee do ease, and grace to me; speak to me.

  000¦

  0131 If thou art priuy to thy Countries Fate

  0132 (Which happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh speake.

  000¦

  0133 Or, if thou hast vp-hoorded in thy life

  0134 Extorted Treasure in the wombe of Earth,

  0135 (For which, they say, you Spirits oft walke in death)

  0136 Speake of it. Stay, and speake. Stop it Marcellus.

  0137 @#Mar.  Shall I strike at it with my Partizan?

  0138 @#Hor.  Do, if it will not stand.

  0139 @#Barn.  'Tis heere.

  0140 @#Hor.  'Tis heere.

  0141 @#Mar.  'Tis gone. =======Exit Ghost.

  0142 We do it wrong, being so Maiesticall

  0143 To offer it the shew of Violence,

  0144 For it is as the Ayre, invulnerable,

  0145 And our vaine blowes, malicious Mockery.

  0146 @#Barn.  It was about to speake, when the Cocke crew.

  0147 @#Hor.  And then it started, like a guilty thing

  0148 Vpon a fearfull Summons. I haue heard,

  0149 The Cocke that is the Trumpet to the day,

  0150 Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding Throate

  0151 Awake the God of Day: and at his warning,

  0152 Whether in Sea, or Fire, in Earth, or Ayre,

  0153 Th'extrauagant, and erring Spirit, hyes

  0154 To his Confine. And of the truth heerein,

  0155 This present Obiect made probation.

  0156 @#Mar.  It faded on the crowing of the Cocke.

  0157 Some sayes, that euer 'gainst that Season comes

  0158 Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated,

  0159 The Bird of Dawning singeth all night long:

  0160 And then (they say) no Spirit can walke abroad,

  0161 The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike,

  0162 No Faiery talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme:

  0163 So hallow'd, and so gracious is the time.

  0164 @#Hor.  So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it.

  0165 But looke, the Morne in Russet mantle clad,

  0166 Walkes o're the dew of yon high Easterne Hill,

  0167 Breake we our Watch vp, and by my aduice

  0168 Let vs impart what we haue seene to night

  0169 Vnto yong Hamlet. For vpon my life,

  0170 This Spirit dumbe to vs, will speake to him:

  0171 Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,

  0172 As needfull in our Loues, fitting our Duty?

  0173 @#Mar.  Let do't I pray, and I this morning know

  0174 Where we shall finde him most conueniently. ===Exeunt.

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