Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/27

Prince of Denmark, I. ii

Ere I had ever seen that day, Horatio!

My father, methinks I see my father.

Hor. O! where, my lord?

Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio.

Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king.

Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all,

I shall not look upon his like again.

Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

Ham. Saw? Who?

Hor. My lord, the king your father.

Ham. The king, my father?

Hor. Season your admiration for a while

With an attent ear, till I may deliver,

Upon the witness of these gentlemen,

This marvel to you.

Ham. For God's love, let me hear.

Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen,

Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,

In the dead vast and middle of the night,

Been thus encounter'd: a figure like your father,

Arm'd at all points exactly, cap-a-pe,

Appears before them, and with solemn march

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

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,

 192 Season: temper, qualify

admiration: wonder, astonishment

193 attent: attentive

198 vast: waste; cf. n.

200 cap-a-pe: from head to foot

204 truncheon: officer's staff

distill'd: melted

205 act: operation

