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[The throne room of Elsinore castle. King Claudius enters with his newly wed Queen, Hamlet's recently widowed mother. They are followed by the king's chief counselor Polonius, Polonius' son Laertes, his daugher Ophelia, and other nobles.]

Claudius 

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death,
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe;
Yet so far has discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
[The throne room of Elsinore castle. King Claudius enters with his newly wed Queen, Hamlet's recently widowed mother. They are followed by the king's chief counselor Polonius, Polonius' son Laertes, his daugher Ophelia, and other nobles.]

Claudius 

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death,
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe;
Yet so far has discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometimes sister, now our queen,
Th' imperial jointress of this warlike state,
Have we (as 'twere with a defeated joy,
With one auspicious and one dropping eye,
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole) 
Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred  

Laertes

Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?

Polonius 

He has, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave
By laborsome petition, and at last
Upon his will I sealed my hard consent. 
I do beseech you give him leave to go.

Horatio

My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

Hamlet 

I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow student.
I think it was to see my mother's wedding.

Horatio 

Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.

Hamlet 

Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral baked meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. 
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
Ere I had ever seen that day, Horatio.

Bernardo

                                                                          Say,
What, is Horatio there?

Horatio

                                           A piece of him. 

Bernardo

Marcellus 

Bernardo

Marcellus

Horatio

Bernardo

Horatio

Bernardo

[Enter a ghostly figure dressed in splendid armor – see note, line 40]

Marcellus 

Bernardo 

Marcellus

Bernardo 

Horatio 

Bernardo

Marcellus

Horatio 

Marcellus

Bernardo

Horatio   

[Exit Ghost.]

Marcellus  

Bernardo

Horatio 

Marcellus

Horatio   

Marcellus 

Horatio 

Marcellus

Horatio

[Re-enter the ghost.]
[The ghost spreads its arms.]
[The cock crows.]

Marcellus 

Horatio 

[They strike at the Ghost but their spears seem to pass through it without any effect]

Bernardo

Horatio 

[Exit Ghost.]

Marcellus

Bernardo 

Horatio  

Marcellus 

Horatio 

Marcellus 

[Exit.]

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.

Horatio

But soft, behold! Lo where it comes again! 
I'll cross it though it blast me. 
[The ghost spreads its arms.]
                                                      Stay, illusion! 
If thou hast any sound or use of voice,

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