Such was the very armour he had on,
When he the ambitious Norway combated.

_Mar._ Thus, twice before, and jump at this dead hour,[13]
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

_Hor._ In what particular thought to work,[14] I know not;
But in the gross and scope[15] of mine opinion,
This bodes some strange eruption to our state.[16]
In the most high and palmy[17] state of Rome,
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,
The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.

_Re-enter_ Ghost (R.H.)

But, (L.C.) soft, behold! lo, where it comes again!
I'll cross it, though it blast me.

[HORATIO _crosses in front of the_ Ghost _to_ R.
Ghost _crosses to_ L.]

Stay, illusion!
If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,[18]
Speak to me:
If there be any good thing to be done,
That may to thee do ease, and grace to me,
Speak to me:
If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid,
O, speak!
O, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,[19]
For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,
Speak of it:--stay, and speak!

[_Exit_ Ghost, L.H.]

_Mar._ 'Tis gone!
We do it wrong, being so majestical,
To offer it the show of violence.

_Ber._ It was about to speak, when the cock crew.

_Hor._ And then it started like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons.[20] I have heard,
The cock, that is the trumpet of the morn,
Doth with his lofty[21] and shrill-sounding throat
Awake the god of day; and, at his warning,
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
The extravagant and erring spirit[22] hies
To his confine.
But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill:
Break we our watch up; and, by my advice,
Let us impart what we have seen to-night
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.

[_Exeunt_, L.H.]

SCENE II.--A ROOM OF STATE IN THE PALACE.

_Trumpet March._

_Enter the_ KING _and_ QUEEN, _preceded by_ POLONIUS, HAMLET,
LAERTES,[23] Lords, Ladies, _and_ Attendants.

_King._ (R.C.) Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
The memory be green;[24] and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe;