HAM/THELLO: the moor of denmark
                                                         copyright © 2006 Jeff Goode


           SCENE 5 - The lobby of the castle.
                  Enter HAMLET; Enter to him, HORATIO and MARCELLUS
           HORATIO
              Hail to your lordship!
           HAMLET
              I am glad to see you well: Horatio,--or I do forget myself.
           HORATIO
              The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.
           HAMLET
              I am very glad to see you. Good even, sir. 
              But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?
              We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.
           HORATIO 
              My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.
           HAMLET
              Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven 
              Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio! 
              My father!--methinks I see my father.
           HORATIO
              Where, my lord?
           HAMLET
              In my mind's eye, Horatio.
           HORATIO
              My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.
           HAMLET
              The king my father!
           HORATIO
              Two nights together had this gentlemen, 
              Marcellus,and Iago, on their watch, 
              In the dead vast and middle of the night, 
              Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father, 
              Armèd at point exactly, cap-a-pe, 
              Appears before them, and with solemn march 
              Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd 
              By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes.
           HAMLET
              But where was this?
           MARCELLUS
              My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.
           HAMLET 
              I will watch to-night;
              Perchance 'twill walk again.
              Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, 
              I'll visit you.
           ALL
                                 Our duty to your honour.
           HAMLET
                                                          Exeunt all but HAMLET
              Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise,
              Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.
                  Enter IAGO
              Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.
           IAGO
              Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the clock. Our general cast us thus early for the
              love of his Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the
              night with her; and she is sport for Jove.
           HAMLET
              Let me not think on't--Frailty, thy name is woman! 
           IAGO 
              Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Danish gallants that
              would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello.
           HAMLET 
              Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish
              courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.
           IAGO
              O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink for you.
           HAMLET 
              I have drunk but one cup to-night, and dare not task my weakness with any more.
           IAGO 
              What, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants desire it.
           HAMLET 
              Where are they?
           IAGO
              Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.
           HAMLET 
              I'll do't; but it dislikes me. 
                                                                     Exit
           IAGO
              If I can fasten but one cup upon him, 
              With that which he hath drunk to-night already, 
              The better shall my purpose work on him. 
              Some wine, ho!
                                              Exit, and re-enter with HAMLET and others,
                                                                   singing.
              [Singing] And let me the canakin clink, clink; 
              And let me the canakin clink 
              A soldier's a man; 
              A life's but a span; 
              Why, then, let a soldier drink. 
              Some wine, boys!
           HAMLET 
              'Fore God, an excellent song.
           IAGO 
              To the health of our general!
           HAMLET 
              To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch.
                                                               Exeunt, singing
           IAGO
              [Singing] King Stephen was a worthy peer, 
              His breeches cost him but a crown; 
              He held them sixpence all too dear, 
              With that he call'd the tailor lown-- 

Forth!