Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5

Hamlet
Act I, Scene 5

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Another part of the platform.
(Enter GHOST and HAMLET.)

HAMLET
Where wilt thou lead me? Speak; I'll go no further.

GHOST
The scene begins immediately after, with the ghost and young Hamlet. You didn’t think that Shakespeare was going to leave out THIS conversation, did you?

Mark me.

HAMLET
I will.

GHOST

The ghost finally speaks, for the first time. It says, “Mark me!” In other words, “Hey! You! Listen up!”

My hour is almost come,
When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames
Must render up myself.

HAMLET
Alas, poor ghost!

GHOST
Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing
To what I shall unfold.

HAMLET
Speak; I am bound to hear.

GHOST
So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.

HAMLET
What?

GHOST

The ghost also says that his time is almost up. Soon, he says, he will have to go to “sulfurous and tormenting flames.” The poor ghost is going to go to hell.

I am thy father's spirit,
Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night,
And for the day confined to fast in fires,
Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison-house,
The ghost explains that he is doomed to "walk the night," because of some foul crimes which he is guilty of.

I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres,
The ghost also says he could tell Hamlet a tale which would freeze his young blood, and make his eyes pop right out of their sockets. Yuck.

Thy knotted and combined locks to part
And each particular hair to stand on end,
He could put a part in Hamlet's hair, and make it stand on end, he says. Maybe even take care of that annoying cowlick.

Like quills upon the fretful porpentine:
But this eternal blazon must not be
To ears of flesh and blood. The ghost says Hamlet's hair would stand on end, like quills from a "porpentine." This "porpentine" must be Danish for "porcupine."

List , list , O, list!
If thou didst ever thy dear father love--

HAMLET
O God!

GHOST

The word "list" is probably short for "listen." The ghost is quite the poet, don't you think?

Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

The ghost tells Hamlet that the young Prince must revenge his “foul and most unnatural murder.”

HAMLET
Murder!

Young Hamlet is stunned. He had no idea that his father had been the victim of a murder. But, who was responsible?

GHOST
Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

The ghost tells young Hamlet that this was a “murder most foul.” (Famous lines Department.)

HAMLET
Young Hamlet urges the ghost to tell him quickly.

Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
May sweep to my revenge.

GHOST

The young man says, “Haste me to know it, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thought of love may sweep to revenge.” The young man is impatient to find this killer, and pay him back.

I find thee apt;
And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,
Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:
The ghost is pleased. Hamlet is "apt" for the job, which means he is ready, willing, and able.

'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy father's life
The ghost mentions a rumor that his death was caused by some "serpent" which stung him, while he was sleeping in his orchard. In other words, people think that he was bitten by a snake.

Now wears his crown.

HAMLET
O my prophetic soul! My uncle!

GHOST

The ghost speaks, and tells young Hamlet that the murderer now wears the crown. He means Claudius, of course.

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,
With witchcraft of his wit , with traitorous gifts ,--
O wicked wit and gifts , that have the power
So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen:
O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there!
From me, whose love was of that dignity
The ghost refers to Claudius as an "incestuous, adulterate beast." He is most unhappy with his brother, for killing him, and also for marrying his wife, Queen Gertrude.

That it went hand in hand even with the vow
I made to her in marriage, and to decline
Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor
To those of mine!
But virtue , as it never will be moved,
Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,
So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd,
Will sate itself in a celestial bed,
And prey on garbage.
The ghost is angry that Queen Gertrude broke her marriage vow. He blames it on lewdness, and lust.

But, soft! Methinks I scent the morning air;
The ghost realizes morning is approaching.

Brief let me be. He promises to be brief. So much for promises...
The ghost begins to explain how the deed was done.

Sleeping within my orchard,
My custom always of the afternoon,
The ghost explains he was taking his afternoon snooze in the garden, as usual.

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
Hamlet's Uncle Claudius tip-toed into the orchard.

With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,
Claudius had a vial, containing some poison "hebenon."

And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leperous distillment; And, Claudius poured the poison into old King Hamlet's ear. In his ear? What a way to go.

whose effect
Holds such an enmity with blood of man
The ghost describes the effects of this poison.

That swift as quicksilver it courses through
The natural gates and alleys of the body, He says the poison was as quick as quicksilver. For years, scholars have discussed this early reference to the Lone Ranger.
This poison (hebenon, or henbane), has a foul smell, and is very powerful.

And with a sudden vigour doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk,
The thin and wholesome blood: so did it mine;
And a most instant tetter bark'd about,
Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust,
All my smooth body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand
Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd:
Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,
“And with a sudden vigor it doth posset and curd, like eager droppings into milk, the thin and wholesome blood” (lines 75-76). He says that it “curdled” his blood, like milk. The members of the audience are presumably grossed out. Those who remain awake.

Unhousel'd, disappointed , unanel'd,
No reckoning made, but sent to my account
The ghost died "unhous'led." This means he did not even get his "last rites." He was also "unanel'd." Imagine, to die without your anel...

With all my imperfections on my head:
O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
The ghost also mentions that he died “with all my imperfections on my head.” In other words, Old King Hamlet was full of sin, and this is not good.

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not;
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest.
But, howsoever thou pursuest this act,
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
After all of this, the ghost gives specific instructions to young Prince Hamlet. He wants young Hamlet to kill Claudius, for revenge.
However, he tells Hamlet not to harm the Queen, Gertrude.

Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge,
To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once !
The glow-worm shows the matin to be near,
And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire:
“Leave her to Heaven,” he says (line 93).

Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me.

(Exit Ghost.)

HAMLET

With a click of his heels, and an “adieu, adieu, adieu,” the ghost makes a hasty exit.

O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else?
And shall I couple hell? O, fie!
Hold, hold, my heart;
And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,
Young Hamlet suddenly gets the urge to talk to himself, and so begins another soliloquy.

But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee!
Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat
This time, the Hamlet seems to be commanding himself to remember this ghost, and not to forget.

In this distracted globe. Remember thee!
Yea, from the table of my memory
The "distracted globe" that Hamlet refers to here is his own brain. Hamlet admits he is distracted. The audience agrees.

Young Hamlet says that he will not let any other distractions keep him from this task until it is done:

I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,
All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past,
That youth and observation copied there;
And thy commandment all alone shall live
Within the book and volume of my brain,
Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven!
O most pernicious woman!
“I’ll wipe away all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, that youth and observation copied there” (lines 106-110). Hamlet plans to forget about everything else for the time being, and devote himself to his only goal—to kill Claudius.

Hamlet also comments on both his mother, and the new King.

O villain , villain, smiling, damned villain!
My tables ,--meet it is I set it down,
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain ;
At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark:
He calls them “villains,” and notes that it is possible for a person to “smile, and smile, and be a villain.” (This thought seems so important, that he actually decides to take notes, like any good student.)

(Writing.)

So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word;
It is 'Adieu, adieu! remember me.'

Hamlet takes out a pen and paper, and actually writes this down.

I have sworn 't.

MARCELLUS

"I have sworn't." He swears an oath. "Damn," he says. He then dutifully writes this, too (lines 119-120).

[Within]
My lord, my lord!

MARCELLUS
[Within]
Lord Hamlet,--

HORATIO

At this point, Hamlet's writing is suddenly interrupted. He hears his two companions, Marcellus and Horatio.

[Within]
Heaven secure him!

HAMLET
So be it!

HORATIO
[Within]

According to the text, Marcellus and Horatio are "within." It does not state what they are "within." However, this must mean that Hamlet is "without."

Hillo, ho, ho, my lord!

HAMLET
Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come.

Horatio calls out a "Hillo-Ho-Ho" to Hamlet. Hamlet responds with a traditional greeting: "Ollie, ollie, in-come-free," he says.

(Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.)

MARCELLUS
How is't, my noble lord?

HORATIO

At this point, Horatio and Marcellus finally arrive.

What news, my lord?

HAMLET
O, wonderful!

HORATIO
Good my lord, tell it.

HAMLET

The two guys want to know what the ghost told Hamlet.

No; you'll reveal it.

HORATIO
Not I, my lord, by heaven.

MARCELLUS
Nor I, my lord.

HAMLET
How say you, then;
Would heart of man once think it?
But you'll be secret?

HORATIO and MARCELLUS
Aye, by heaven, my lord.

HAMLET
There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark
But he's an arrant knave .

HORATIO
There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave
To tell us this.

HAMLET
Why, right; you are i' the right;
And so, without more circumstance at all,
Hamlet decides that these two will not be able to keep their mouths shut, though.
Naturally, Horatio and Marcellus both insist that they will not tell.

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part:
You, as your business and desire shall point you;
For every man has business and desire,
Such as it is; and for mine own poor part,
Look you, I'll go pray.

HORATIO
These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.

HAMLET
I'm sorry they offend you, heartily;
Yes, 'faith heartily.

HORATIO
There's no offence, my lord.

HAMLET
Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,
And much offence too. Touching this vision here,
It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you:
For your desire to know what is between us,
O'ermaster 't as you may. And now, good friends,
As you are friends, scholars and soldiers,
Give me one poor request.

HORATIO
What is't, my lord? we will.

HAMLET
Never make known what you have seen to-night.

HORATIO and MARCELLUS
My lord, we will not.

HAMLET

Hamlet decides to play things safe, just the same. He wants them to shake hands, and part. He thinks it would not be wise to tell him the secrets told by the ghost.

Nay, but swear 't.

HORATIO
In faith,
My lord, not I.

MARCELLUS
Nor I, my lord, in faith.

HAMLET
Upon my sword.

MARCELLUS
We have sworn, my lord, already.

HAMLET
Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.

GHOST
[Beneath]

Hamlet wants them to swear an oath of silence, on his sword.

Swear .

HAMLET
Ah, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there,
truepenny?
Come on--you hear this fellow in the cellarage--
Consent to swear .

HORATIO

The ghost, who is not visible, agrees with Hamlet’s idea, and suddenly chimes in: “Swear!”

Propose the oath, my lord.

HAMLET
Never to speak of this that you have seen ,

Horatio and Marcellus are frightened by this voice, which seems to come from hell itself.

Swear by my sword.

GHOST
[Beneath]

Hamlet again insists, and the ghost again orders it:

Swear .

HAMLET
Hic et ubique? then we'll shift our ground.
Come hither, gentlemen,
And lay your hands again upon my sword:
Never to speak of this that you have heard,
Swear by my sword.

GHOST
[Beneath]

“Swear.” Again, the voice from nowhere frightens the two men, and again Hamlet insists.

Swear by his sword!

HAMLET
Well said, old mole! canst work i' the earth so fast ?
A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends.

HORATIO
O day and night, but this is wondrous strange !

HAMLET
And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come;
Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,
How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself,
As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on,
That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumber'd thus, or this headshake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As 'Well, well, we know,' or
'We could, an if we would,'
Or 'If we list to speak,' or
'There be, an if they might,'
Or such ambiguous giving out, to note
That you know aught of me: this not to do,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear .

GHOST
[Beneath]

“Swear by his sword!” Again, the voice from nowhere frightens the two men, and again Hamlet insists.

Swear!

“Swear!” Again, the voice from nowhere frightens the two men, and again Hamlet insists.

HAMLET
Rest, rest, perturbed spirit!
Even Hamlet is growing bored. He urges the spirit to give it a rest.
Finally, the two men give in.

[They swear]
So, gentlemen,
With all my love I do commend me to you:
Horatio and Marcellus both swear. "Damn," says Horatio. "Damn," says Marcellus.

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is
May do, to express his love and friending to you,
God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together;
And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
Both men swear that they will keep this episode to themselves. Hamlet makes certain their fingers are not crossed behind their backs, and is satisfied.

The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!
Nay, come, let's go together.

They all begin to leave, but first Hamlet decides to leave us with a bit of rhyme.

(Exeunt.)

They exeunt. It is about time, as the ghost was beginning to become a real nuisance, and the audience is badly in need of an intermission. The actors retire to the greenroom, and the audience begins to head to the lobby, for a well-deserved break.

The summaries provided
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	You can listen to some music as you read. Click on the icon above. (You can also shut if off, if you find it annoying.)

Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
Another part of the platform. (Enter GHOST and HAMLET.) HAMLET Where wilt thou lead me? Speak; I'll go no further. GHOST	The scene begins immediately after, with the ghost and young Hamlet. You didn’t think that Shakespeare was going to leave out THIS conversation, did you?
Mark me. HAMLET I will. GHOST	The ghost finally speaks, for the first time. It says, “Mark me!” In other words, “Hey! You! Listen up!”
My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. HAMLET Alas, poor ghost! GHOST Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. HAMLET Speak; I am bound to hear. GHOST So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. HAMLET What? GHOST	The ghost also says that his time is almost up. Soon, he says, he will have to go to “sulfurous and tormenting flames.” The poor ghost is going to go to hell.
I am thy father's spirit, Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house,	The ghost explains that he is doomed to "walk the night," because of some foul crimes which he is guilty of.
I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres,	The ghost also says he could tell Hamlet a tale which would freeze his young blood, and make his eyes pop right out of their sockets. Yuck.
Thy knotted and combined locks to part And each particular hair to stand on end,	He could put a part in Hamlet's hair, and make it stand on end, he says. Maybe even take care of that annoying cowlick.
Like quills upon the fretful porpentine: But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood.	The ghost says Hamlet's hair would stand on end, like quills from a "porpentine." This "porpentine" must be Danish for "porcupine."
List , list , O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love-- HAMLET O God! GHOST	The word "list" is probably short for "listen." The ghost is quite the poet, don't you think?
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.	The ghost tells Hamlet that the young Prince must revenge his “foul and most unnatural murder.”
HAMLET Murder!	Young Hamlet is stunned. He had no idea that his father had been the victim of a murder. But, who was responsible?
GHOST Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural.	The ghost tells young Hamlet that this was a “murder most foul.” (Famous lines Department.)
HAMLET	Young Hamlet urges the ghost to tell him quickly.
Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. GHOST	The young man says, “Haste me to know it, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thought of love may sweep to revenge.” The young man is impatient to find this killer, and pay him back.
I find thee apt; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:	The ghost is pleased. Hamlet is "apt" for the job, which means he is ready, willing, and able.
'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life	The ghost mentions a rumor that his death was caused by some "serpent" which stung him, while he was sleeping in his orchard. In other words, people think that he was bitten by a snake.
Now wears his crown. HAMLET O my prophetic soul! My uncle! GHOST	The ghost speaks, and tells young Hamlet that the murderer now wears the crown. He means Claudius, of course.
Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit , with traitorous gifts ,-- O wicked wit and gifts , that have the power So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity	The ghost refers to Claudius as an "incestuous, adulterate beast." He is most unhappy with his brother, for killing him, and also for marrying his wife, Queen Gertrude.
That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine! But virtue , as it never will be moved, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd, Will sate itself in a celestial bed, And prey on garbage.	The ghost is angry that Queen Gertrude broke her marriage vow. He blames it on lewdness, and lust.
But, soft! Methinks I scent the morning air;	The ghost realizes morning is approaching.
Brief let me be.	He promises to be brief. So much for promises... The ghost begins to explain how the deed was done.
Sleeping within my orchard, My custom always of the afternoon,	The ghost explains he was taking his afternoon snooze in the garden, as usual.
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,	Hamlet's Uncle Claudius tip-toed into the orchard.
With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,	Claudius had a vial, containing some poison "hebenon."
And in the porches of my ears did pour The leperous distillment;	And, Claudius poured the poison into old King Hamlet's ear. In his ear? What a way to go.
whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man	The ghost describes the effects of this poison.
That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body,	He says the poison was as quick as quicksilver. For years, scholars have discussed this early reference to the Lone Ranger. This poison (hebenon, or henbane), has a foul smell, and is very powerful.
And with a sudden vigour doth posset And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood: so did it mine; And a most instant tetter bark'd about, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, All my smooth body. Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd: Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,	“And with a sudden vigor it doth posset and curd, like eager droppings into milk, the thin and wholesome blood” (lines 75-76). He says that it “curdled” his blood, like milk. The members of the audience are presumably grossed out. Those who remain awake.
Unhousel'd, disappointed , unanel'd, No reckoning made, but sent to my account	The ghost died "unhous'led." This means he did not even get his "last rites." He was also "unanel'd." Imagine, to die without your anel...
With all my imperfections on my head: O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!	The ghost also mentions that he died “with all my imperfections on my head.” In other words, Old King Hamlet was full of sin, and this is not good.
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. But, howsoever thou pursuest this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive	After all of this, the ghost gives specific instructions to young Prince Hamlet. He wants young Hamlet to kill Claudius, for revenge. However, he tells Hamlet not to harm the Queen, Gertrude.
Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once ! The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire:	“Leave her to Heaven,” he says (line 93).
Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me. (Exit Ghost.) HAMLET	With a click of his heels, and an “adieu, adieu, adieu,” the ghost makes a hasty exit.
O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else? And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,	Young Hamlet suddenly gets the urge to talk to himself, and so begins another soliloquy.
But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee! Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat	This time, the Hamlet seems to be commanding himself to remember this ghost, and not to forget.
In this distracted globe. Remember thee! Yea, from the table of my memory	The "distracted globe" that Hamlet refers to here is his own brain. Hamlet admits he is distracted. The audience agrees.
	Young Hamlet says that he will not let any other distractions keep him from this task until it is done:
I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there; And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven! O most pernicious woman!	“I’ll wipe away all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, that youth and observation copied there” (lines 106-110). Hamlet plans to forget about everything else for the time being, and devote himself to his only goal—to kill Claudius. Hamlet also comments on both his mother, and the new King.
O villain , villain, smiling, damned villain! My tables ,--meet it is I set it down, That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain ; At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark:	He calls them “villains,” and notes that it is possible for a person to “smile, and smile, and be a villain.” (This thought seems so important, that he actually decides to take notes, like any good student.)
(Writing.) So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; It is 'Adieu, adieu! remember me.'	Hamlet takes out a pen and paper, and actually writes this down.
I have sworn 't. MARCELLUS	"I have sworn't." He swears an oath. "Damn," he says. He then dutifully writes this, too (lines 119-120).
[Within] My lord, my lord! MARCELLUS [Within] Lord Hamlet,-- HORATIO	At this point, Hamlet's writing is suddenly interrupted. He hears his two companions, Marcellus and Horatio.
[Within] Heaven secure him! HAMLET So be it! HORATIO [Within]	According to the text, Marcellus and Horatio are "within." It does not state what they are "within." However, this must mean that Hamlet is "without."
Hillo, ho, ho, my lord! HAMLET Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come.	Horatio calls out a "Hillo-Ho-Ho" to Hamlet. Hamlet responds with a traditional greeting: "Ollie, ollie, in-come-free," he says.
(Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.) MARCELLUS How is't, my noble lord? HORATIO	At this point, Horatio and Marcellus finally arrive.
What news, my lord? HAMLET O, wonderful! HORATIO Good my lord, tell it. HAMLET	The two guys want to know what the ghost told Hamlet.
No; you'll reveal it. HORATIO Not I, my lord, by heaven. MARCELLUS Nor I, my lord. HAMLET How say you, then; Would heart of man once think it? But you'll be secret? HORATIO and MARCELLUS Aye, by heaven, my lord. HAMLET There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave . HORATIO There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. HAMLET Why, right; you are i' the right; And so, without more circumstance at all,	Hamlet decides that these two will not be able to keep their mouths shut, though. Naturally, Horatio and Marcellus both insist that they will not tell.
I hold it fit that we shake hands and part: You, as your business and desire shall point you; For every man has business and desire, Such as it is; and for mine own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray. HORATIO These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. HAMLET I'm sorry they offend you, heartily; Yes, 'faith heartily. HORATIO There's no offence, my lord. HAMLET Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you: For your desire to know what is between us, O'ermaster 't as you may. And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars and soldiers, Give me one poor request. HORATIO What is't, my lord? we will. HAMLET Never make known what you have seen to-night. HORATIO and MARCELLUS My lord, we will not. HAMLET	Hamlet decides to play things safe, just the same. He wants them to shake hands, and part. He thinks it would not be wise to tell him the secrets told by the ghost.
Nay, but swear 't. HORATIO In faith, My lord, not I. MARCELLUS Nor I, my lord, in faith. HAMLET Upon my sword. MARCELLUS We have sworn, my lord, already. HAMLET Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. GHOST [Beneath]	Hamlet wants them to swear an oath of silence, on his sword.
Swear . HAMLET Ah, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there, truepenny? Come on--you hear this fellow in the cellarage-- Consent to swear . HORATIO	The ghost, who is not visible, agrees with Hamlet’s idea, and suddenly chimes in: “Swear!”
Propose the oath, my lord. HAMLET Never to speak of this that you have seen ,	Horatio and Marcellus are frightened by this voice, which seems to come from hell itself.
Swear by my sword. GHOST [Beneath]	Hamlet again insists, and the ghost again orders it:
Swear . HAMLET Hic et ubique? then we'll shift our ground. Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword: Never to speak of this that you have heard, Swear by my sword. GHOST [Beneath]	“Swear.” Again, the voice from nowhere frightens the two men, and again Hamlet insists.
Swear by his sword! HAMLET Well said, old mole! canst work i' the earth so fast ? A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends. HORATIO O day and night, but this is wondrous strange ! HAMLET And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come; Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on, That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumber'd thus, or this headshake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,' Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,' Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me: this not to do, So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear . GHOST [Beneath]	“Swear by his sword!” Again, the voice from nowhere frightens the two men, and again Hamlet insists.
Swear!	“Swear!” Again, the voice from nowhere frightens the two men, and again Hamlet insists.
HAMLET Rest, rest, perturbed spirit!	Even Hamlet is growing bored. He urges the spirit to give it a rest. Finally, the two men give in.
[They swear] So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you:	Horatio and Marcellus both swear. "Damn," says Horatio. "Damn," says Marcellus.
And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do, to express his love and friending to you, God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together; And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.	Both men swear that they will keep this episode to themselves. Hamlet makes certain their fingers are not crossed behind their backs, and is satisfied.
The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right! Nay, come, let's go together.	They all begin to leave, but first Hamlet decides to leave us with a bit of rhyme.
(Exeunt.)	They exeunt. It is about time, as the ghost was beginning to become a real nuisance, and the audience is badly in need of an intermission. The actors retire to the greenroom, and the audience begins to head to the lobby, for a well-deserved break.