The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings,[1504]
You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?[1505]
_Queen._ Alas, he's mad![1506] 105
_Ham._ Do you not come your tardy son to chide,
That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by[1507]
The important acting of your dread command?
O, say![1508]
_Ghost._ Do not forget: this visitation 110
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.
But look, amazement on thy mother sits:
O, step between her and her fighting soul:[1509]
Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works:
Speak to her, Hamlet.
_Ham._ How is it with you, lady? 115
_Queen._ Alas, how is't with you,
That you do bend your eye on vacancy[1510]
And with the incorporal air do hold discourse?[1511]
Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep;
And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, 120
Your bedded hairs, like life in excrements,[1512]
Start up and stand an end. O gentle son,[1513]
Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper
Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?
_Ham._ On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares![1514] 125
His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones,[1515]
Would make them capable. Do not look upon me,[1516]
Lest with this piteous action you convert
My stern effects: then what I have to do[1517]
Will want true colour; tears perchance for blood. 130
_Queen._ To whom do you speak this?
_Ham._ Do you see nothing there?[1518]
_Queen._ Nothing at all; yet all that is I see.[1519]
_Ham._ Nor did you nothing hear?
_Queen._ No, nothing but ourselves.
_Ham._ Why, look you there! look, how it steals away![1520]
My father, in his habit as he lived![1521] 135
Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal![1522]
[_Exit Ghost._
_Queen._ This is the very coinage of your brain:
This bodiless creation ecstasy[1523]
Is very cunning in.[1523]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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