ACT I

SCENE I. - Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle.

FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO.

   Bernardo: Who´s there?

   Francisco: Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.

   Bernardo: Long live the king!

   Francisco: Bernardo?

   Bernardo: He.

   Francisco: You come most carefully upon your hour.

   Bernardo: 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.

   Francisco: For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.

   Bernardo: Have you had quiet guard?

   Francisco:                                          Not a mouse stirring.

   Bernardo: Well, good-night.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

   Francisco: I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who´s there?

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.

   Horatio: Friends to this ground.

   Marcellus:                                  And liegemen to the Dane.

   Francisco: Give you good-night.

   Marcellus:                                  O! farewell, honest soldier:

Who hath reliev'd you?

   Francisco:                  Bernardo has my place.

Give you good-night.   [Exit.]

   Marcellus:              Holla! Bernardo!

   Bernardo:                                          Say,

What! is Horatio there?

   Horatio:                    A piece of him.

   Bernardo: Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus.

   Marcellus: What! has this thing appear'd again tonight?

   Bernardo: I have seen nothing.

   Marcellus: Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy.

And will not let belief take hold of him

Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us:

Therefore I have entreated him along

With us to watch the minutes of this night;

That if again this apparition come,

He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

   Horatio: Tush, tush! 'twill not appear.

   Bernardo:                                          Sit down awhile,

And let us once again assail your ears,

That are so fortified against our story,

What we two nights have seen.

   Horatio:                                 Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

   Bernardo: Last night of all,

When yond same star that´s westward from the pole

Had made his course to illume that part of heaven

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,

The bell then beating one, -

   Marcellus: Peace! break thee off; look, where it comes again!

Enter Ghost.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: HAMLET