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All Site ContentHamletAct 1Scene 1
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"assailing" and "fortified"
Metaphor
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 23-34

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 and Marcellus “assailing” Horatio’s “fortified” ears with their story metaphorically compares their account to a medieval army assaulting a castle or fortress.