Scene IV : (The platform of the watch at the top of Elsinorē Castle. Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus join Hamlet in the night watch where they are again visited by with the ghost. With Hamlet present, the ghost tells the story of the foul murder of King Hamlet, including the identity of the murderer.)
Hor. Marcellus and Bernardo, watch from that vantage. Hamlet and I will there. Beckon if thou see’st.
Mar. and Ber. Ay, my lord.
Ham. The air bites shrewdly.
Hor. Stings the toes and bites the nose.
Ham. Such verse should be put to song. What hour now?
Hor. It lacks twelve.
Ham. Oh, Horatio, first my father dies, then my mother marries my uncle, whom I trust as I do an adder fanged. My heart is a tempest.
Hor. What divides you between yourself and your heart?
Ham. I know not. My arrested tongue delivers not affection.
Hor. Have you attempted to convey your love in writing?
Ham. The depth of my love blocks my expression. I even wonder about Ophelia’s heart.
Hor. You wear not well this garb of doubt, my lord. You, a muse of words, have never been wanting in such matters.
Ham. You’ve sorted my heart.
Hor. Prince Hamlet, look, the ghost appears!
Ber. (rushes in) Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!
(All exit. Curtain closes. From behind curtain emerges two characters singing “Who Let the Dogs Out.”)
Something’s rotten in the State of Denmark,
I smell a little treason in the air;
Something’s rotten in the State of Denmark,
But only Hamlet seems to care.
But before we continue our somber play,
Let us sing, hey, hey, HEY!
(curtain opens, with chorus line, kicking in rhythm)
Something’s rotten in the State of Denmark;
I smell a little treason in the air;
Something’s rotten in the State of Denmark,
But only Hamlet seems to care.
Something’s rotten, something’s rotten, something’s rotten, something’s rotten,
Sommmethinnnng’s Rottttttennnn in Dennnnnmarrrrkkkk! (curtain closes)
(Curtain opens, scene continues with Hamlet seeing the ghost)
Ham. (shaken and alarmed) Angels of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or a goblin damned, be thou intents wicked or charitable, I will call thee Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane, noble leader—so many names, so incomplete memory! O, answer me.
Ghost. Mark me. My hour is almost come, when I to sulph’rous and tormenting flames must render up myself.
Ham. Alas, poor ghost!
Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold.
Ham. Unfold and I shall launder it, for I am bound to hear.
Ghost. I am thy father's spirit, doomed for a certain term to walk the night and for the day, till the foul crimes done in my day of nature are burnt and purged away. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love...
Ham. What wilt thou have me know, poor spirit?
Ghost. ‘Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark is by a forged process of my death rankly abused; but know, thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown.
Ham. O my prophetic soul! Mine uncle?!
Ghost. Ay, that beast. Sleeping within my orchard upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, with juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, and in the porches of my ears did pour the leperous distilment, whose effect holds such enmity with blood of man that swift as quicksilver it courses through the natural gates and alleys of the body.
Ham. Horrible! Most horrible!
Ghost. If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not. But taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother. Leave her to her own reck’ning. Adieu, adieu! Remember me.
Ham. (Gasping, stuttering) Remember thee? Thy commandment shall alone live within the volume of my brain. So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word--I have sworn't. Rest, rest perturbed spirit. O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right. (Hamlet collapses)
(Hor., Mar., and Ber. Rush to Hamlet’s side)
Hor. Marcellus, Bernardo, help me secure Hamlet.
Ber. His senses are returning, Horatio.
Hor. My lord, how does the prince?
Ham. Oh, I fell and couldn’t reach my sword. Now my faculties return. We must, for now, silent ourselves what we have seen and heard this night.
Hor. You have our word, my lord.
Mar. Before our lives, lord Hamlet, we are here to serve you.
Ber. This vision will remain a prisoner of our imagination.
Ham. So much beyond imagination, but truly the ghost is my father. His death came not by nature call but my uncle’s most unnatural intrusion in nature’s pedagogy.
Hor. What course next, my lord?
Ham. Justice. For the living and my father, this foulness must be purified.
Hor. Have you a plan, my lord?
Ham. I must ponder what we’ve witnessed tonight. I will confide my concept in thee as my vision comes forth. For thy faithfulness and courage, I thank thee Horatio. Marcellus and Bernardo, I’ll see thee anon.
Mar. We shall support thee as thou wishes, lord Hamlet.
Ber. We are happy to serve you.
Hor. We stand with you, my lord.
Ham. I thank thee. Let us then away.
(All exit)