aven.

_Pol._ Ay, springes to catch woodcocks.[84] I do know,
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows: This is for all,--
I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth,
Have you so slander any leisure moment,[85]
As to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet.
Look to't, I charge you: come your ways.

_Oph._ I shall obey, my lord.

[_Exeunt_, R.H.]

SCENE IV.--THE PLATFORM. NIGHT.

_Enter_ HAMLET, HORATIO, _and_ MARCELLUS (L.H.U.E.)

_Ham._ The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.

_Hor._ It is a nipping and an eager air.[86]

_Ham._ What hour now?

_Hor._ I think it lacks of twelve.

_Mar._ No, it is struck.

_Hor._ (R.C.) Indeed? I heard it not: then it draws near the season,
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

[_A Flourish of Trumpets, and Ordnance shot off without._]

What does this mean, my lord?

_Ham._ (L.C.) The king doth wake to-night,[87] and takes his
rouse,[88]
And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,
The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his pledge.

_Hor._ Is it a custom?

_Ham._ Ay, marry, is't:

[_Crosses to_ HORATIO.]

But to my mind,--though I am native here,
And to the manner born,--it is a custom
More honour'd in the breach than the observance.

_Enter_ Ghost (L.H.)

_Hor._ (R.H.) Look, my lord, it comes!

_Ham._ (C.) Angels and ministers of grace defend us!--
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,[89]
That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee--Hamlet,
King, father: Royal Dane: O, answer me!
Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell
Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death,[90]
Have burst their cerements;[91] why the sepulchre,
Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urn'd,
Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws,
To cast thee up again! What may this mean,
That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel,
Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,
Making night hideous; and we fools of nature[92]
So horridly to shake our disposition[93]
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?
Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do?

[Ghost _beckons._]

_Hor._ It beckons you to go away with it,
As if it some impartment did des