The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 3

[Footnote 8: The only suggestion I dare make for the rectifying of the confusion of this speech is, that, if the eleventh line were inserted between the fifth and sixth, there would be sense, and very nearly grammar.

and the sheeted dead Did squeake and gibber in the Roman streets, As harbindgers preceading still the fates; As starres with traines of fier, and dewes of blood (Here understand _precede_) Disasters in the sunne;

The tenth will close with the twelfth line well enough.

But no one, any more than myself, will be _satisfied_ with the suggestion. The probability is, of course, that a line has dropped out between the fifth and sixth. Anything like this would restore the connection:

_The labouring heavens themselves teemed dire portent_ As starres &c.]

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Ile crosse it, though it blast me.[1] Stay Illusion:[2]

[Sidenote: _It[4] spreads his armes_.]

If thou hast any sound, or vse of Voyce,[3]

Speake 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 priuy to thy Countries Fate (Which happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh speake.

Or, if thou hast vp-hoorded in thy life Extorted Treasure in the wombe of Earth, (For which, they say, you Spirits oft walke in death) [Sidenote: your]

[Sidenote: _The c.o.c.ke crowes_]

Speake of it. Stay, and speake. Stop it _Marcellus_.

_Mar_. Shall I strike at it with my Partizan? [Sidenote: strike it with]

_Hor_. Do, if it will not stand.

_Barn_. 'Tis heere.

_Hor_. 'Tis heere.

_Mar_. 'Tis gone. _Exit Ghost_[5]

We do it wrong, being so Maiesticall[6]

To offer it the shew of Violence, For it is as the Ayre, invulnerable, And our vaine blowes, malicious Mockery.

_Barn_. It was about to speake, when the c.o.c.ke crew.

_Hor_. And then it started, like a guilty thing Vpon a fearfull Summons. I haue heard, The c.o.c.ke that is the Trumpet to the day, [Sidenote: to the morne,]

Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding Throate[7]

Awake the G.o.d of Day: and at his warning, Whether in Sea, or Fire, in Earth, or Ayre, Th'extrauagant,[8] and erring[9] Spirit, hyes To his Confine. And of the truth heerein, This present Obiect made probation.[10]

_Mar_. It faded on the crowing of the c.o.c.ke.[11]

[Footnote 1: There are various tales of the blasting power of evil ghosts.]

[Footnote 2: Plain doubt, and strong.]

[Footnote 3: 'sound of voice, or use of voice': physical or mental faculty of speech.]

[Footnote 4: I judge this _It_ a mistake for _H._, standing for _Horatio_: he would stop it.]

[Footnote 5: _Not in Q._]

[Footnote 6: 'As we cannot hurt it, our blows are a mockery; and it is wrong to mock anything so majestic': _For_ belongs to _shew_; 'We do it wrong, being so majestical, to offer it what is but a _show_ of violence, for it is, &c.']

[Footnote 7: _1st Q._ 'his earely and shrill crowing throate.']

[Footnote 8: straying beyond bounds.]

[Footnote 9: wandering.]

[Footnote 10: 'gave proof.']

[Footnote 11: This line said thoughtfully--as the text of the observation following it. From the _eerie_ discomfort of their position, Marcellus takes refuge in the thought of the Saviour's birth into the haunted world, bringing sweet law, restraint, and health.]

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Some sayes, that euer 'gainst that Season comes [Sidenote: say]

Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated, The Bird of Dawning singeth all night long: [Sidenote: This bird]

And then (they say) no Spirit can walke abroad, [Sidenote: spirit dare sturre]

The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike, No Faiery talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme: [Sidenote: fairy takes,[1]]

So hallow'd, and so gracious is the time. [Sidenote: is that time.]

_Hor._ So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it.

But looke, the Morne in Russet mantle clad, Walkes o're the dew of yon high Easterne Hill, [Sidenote: Eastward[2]]

Breake we our Watch vp, and by my aduice [Sidenote: advise]

Let vs impart what we haue scene to night Vnto yong _Hamlet_. For vpon my life, This Spirit dumbe to vs, will speake to him: Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, As needfull in our Loues, fitting our Duty?

[Sidenote: 30] _Mar._ Let do't I pray, and I this morning know Where we shall finde him most conueniently. [Sidenote: convenient.]

_Exeunt._

SCENA SECUNDA[3]

_Enter Claudius King of Denmarke. Gertrude the Queene, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister Ophelia, Lords Attendant._[4]

[Sidenote: _Florish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmarke, Gertrad the Queene, Counsaile: as Polonius, and his sonne Laertes, Hamelt c.u.m Abijs._]

_King._ Though yet of _Hamlet_ our deere Brothers death [Sidenote: _Claud._]

The memory be greene: and that it vs befitted To beare our hearts in greefe, and our whole Kingdome To be contracted in one brow of woe: Yet so farre hath Discretion fought with Nature, That we with wisest sorrow thinke on him,

[Footnote 1: Does it mean--_carries off any child, leaving a changeling_? or does it mean--_affect with evil_, as a disease might infect or _take_?]

[Footnote 2: _1st Q_. 'hie mountaine top,']

[Footnote 3: _In neither Q._]

[Footnote 4: The first court after the marriage.]

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