Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Hor. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king, your father. Ham. For heaven's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, In the dead waste and middle of the night, Appears before them, and, with solemn march, Stand dumb and speak not to him. Ham. But where was this? Hor. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. My lord, I did; But answer made it none; yet once methought It lifted up its head, and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak; But, even then, the morning cock crew aloud; And at the sound it shrunk in haste away, Ham. 'Tis very strange! Hor. As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true; Ham. Indeed, indeed, sir, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night? Hor. We do, my lord. Ham. Armed, say you? Hor. Armed, my lord. Ham. From top to toe? Hor. My lord, from head to foot. Hor. O yes, my lord; ; he wore his beaver up. Ham. What, looked he frowningly? Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Pale or red? Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fixed his eyes upon you ? Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would, I had been there. Hor. It would have much amazed you. Ham. Very like, very like; staid it long? Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. A sable silvered. Ham. I'll watch to-night; perchance 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant you, it will. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, And bid me hold my peace. I pray you, sir, you have hitherto concealed this sight, If Let it be tenable in your silence still; Where Hamlet says, "I shall not look upon his like again," he probably means eye, that is, no man, shall ever "look upon his like again.” Great histrionic performers of Shakspeare, differ in their manner, of reading the question, "Did you not speak to it?" Kemble laid the emphasis on the word, "you,"-Garrick on, "speak." If the question were put, what, instead of "Who shall decide when doctors disagree?" the writer would answer, good sense. Horatio had just informed Hamlet, that Marcellus and Bernardo were afraid to speak to the ghost of his father; and, after ascertaining where this marvellous event took place, the prince pro pounds the question, "Did you not speak to it?" His meaning seems to be,- -were you, as well as the gentlemen whom you name, afraid to speak? and, moreover, had I been there, I would have spoken. Indeed, so deter mined was Hamlet to do this, that he says in the last sentence "I'll speak to it though hell itself should gape And bid me hold my peace." 97. OTHELLO AND LAGO.-Shakspeare. lago. My noble lord Othello. What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, Oth. He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask? No further harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her. Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. Iago. Indeed! Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed.-Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest? Iago. Honest, my lord? Oth. Ay, honest. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Think, my lord? Oth. Think, my lord! Why, thou dost echo me, As if there were some monster in thy thought Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something; I heard thee say but now: "I like not that," When Cassius left my wife. What didst not like? In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst: "Indeed!" Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think thou dost; And for I know thou art full of love and honesty, Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just, Iago. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest. I think so too. Iago. Men should be that they seem; Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none ! Iago. Why, then, I think that Cassio is an honest man. I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts Iago. Good my lord, pardon me; Though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false,— Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure, Keep leets, and law-days, and in sessions sit [Exit Iago. I think my wife be honest, and I think she's not; I'll have some proof,-her name that was as fresh To try me with affliction; had he rain'd Steeped me in poverty to the very lips, soul But then where I have garner'd up my heart,- Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! "One sinner destroyeth much good." Iago said of Desdemona- So "out of her own goodness," the villain made "the net "That” did "enmesh them all." 98. ALONZO'S SOLILOQUY.-Dr. Edward Young. [Alonzo has a dagger concealed beneath his mantle. His beautiful wife, Leonora, is in a bower of roses asleep.] Ye amaranths! ye roses like the morn! Sweet myrtles, and ye golden orange groves! Why do ye smile? Why do you look so fair? Are ye not blasted as I enter in? Yes see how every flower lets fall its head? Did ever midnight ghosts assemble here? |