Hamlet. William Shakespeare

      Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

      Marcellus. Lord Hamlet!

      Horatio. Heaven secure him!

      Hamlet. So be it! 855

      Marcellus. Illo, ho, ho, my lord!

      Hamlet. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come.

      Marcellus. How is't, my noble lord?

      Horatio. What news, my lord?

      Marcellus. O, wonderful! 860

      Horatio. Good my lord, tell it.

      Hamlet. No, you will 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? 865

      But you'll be secret?

      Marcellus. [with Horatio] Ay, by heaven, my lord.

      Hamlet. There's neer a villain dwelling in all Denmark

      But he's an arrant knave.

      Horatio. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave 870

      To tell us this.

      Hamlet. Why, right! You are in the right!

      And so, without more circumstance at all,

      I hold it fit that we shake hands and part;

      You, as your business and desires shall point you, 875

      For every man hath business and desire,

      Such as it is; and for my own poor part,

      Look you, I'll go pray.

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

      Hamlet. I am sorry they offend you, heartily; 880

      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. 885

      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. 890

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

      Marcellus. [with Horatio] My lord, we will not.

      Hamlet. Nay, but swear't.

      Horatio. In faith,

      My lord, not I. 895

      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 cries under the stage.

      Father's Ghost. Swear.

      Hamlet. Aha boy, say'st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?

      Come on! You hear this fellow in the cellarage.

      Consent to swear.

      Horatio. Propose the oath, my lord. 905

      Hamlet. Never to speak of this that you have seen.

      Swear by my sword.

      Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear.

      Hamlet. Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.

      Come hither, gentlemen, 910

      And lay your hands again upon my sword.

      Never to speak of this that you have heard:

      Swear by my sword.

      Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear by his sword.

      Hamlet. Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th' earth so fast? 915

      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. 920

      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), 925

      That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,

      With arms encumb'red thus, or this head-shake,

      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,' 930

      Or such ambiguous giving out, to note

      That you know aught of me- this is not to do,