Page:Hamlet - The Arden Shakespeare - 1899.djvu/38

Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,
And will not let belief take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us: 25
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us to^{[a 1]} watch the minutes of this night.
That if again this apparition come,
He may approve^{[b 1]} our eyes and speak to it.

Hor. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.

Ber. Sit down awhile; 30
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have^{[a 2]} seen.

Hor. Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

Ber. Last night of all, 35
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^{[a 3]} one,—

Enter Ghost.^{[a 4]}

Mar. Peace! break thee off; look, where it comes again! 40

1. 26, 27. along With us to] comma after along Q, after us F.
2. 33. two nights have] F, have two nights Q.
3. 39. beating] towling Q 1.
4. Enter Ghost] Q; Enter the Ghost after off, line 40, F.

with Ff in assigning this speech to Marcellus is strong against the Quartos, which assign it to Horatio, "Thing" need not imply doubt or disrespect. Aufidius, Coriolanus, IV. v. 122, addresses Coriolanus as "Thou noble thing!" "This thing" may be uttered with awe by Marcellus, or with an air of incredulity by Horatio.

1. 29 approve] corroborate, justify, as in Ant, and Cleop. I. i. 60: "he approves the common liar."