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


           SCENE 6 - The Platform.
                  Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS
           MARCELLUS 
              The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.
           HORATIO
              It is a nipping and an eager air.
           HAMLET
              What hour now?
           HORATIO
              I think it lacks of twelve.
           MARCELLUS 
              No, it is struck.
           HORATIO
              Indeed? I heard it not: then it draws near the season 
              Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. 
                  Enter HAMLET and IAGO, singing
           IAGO & HAMLET
              [Singing] He was a wight of high renown, 
              And thou art but of low degree: 
              'Tis pride that pulls the country down; 
              Then take thine auld cloak about thee. 
           HAMLET 
              Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.
           IAGO 
              Some wine, ho!
           HAMLET 
              Do not think, gentlemen. I am drunk: this is my ancient; this is my right hand, and this is
              my left: I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough.
           ALL 
              Excellent well.
           HAMLET 
              Why, very well then; you must not think then that I am drunk. 
           HORATIO & MARCELLUS
              My lord, we will not.
           IAGO
                                   Call up your father,
              Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight.
              What, ho, King Hamlet! 
           HAMLET 
                                   Father, Hamlet, ho!
           IAGO
              Awake! what, ho, King Hamlet! thieves! thieves! thieves! 
              Look to your crown, your kingdom and your wife! Thieves! thieves!
           HAMLET  
              Even now, now, very now, an old black ram 
              Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise; 
              Or else the devil will make a cuckold of you. 
           IAGO
              Arise, I say.
              You'll have your Desdemona covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your half-sons neigh
              to you; you'll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans.
           HORATIO
              Look, my lord, it comes! 
                  Enter GHOST
           GHOST 
              What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there?
                                                        HAMLET is stricken sober.
           HAMLET
              Angels and ministers of grace defend us! 
           IAGO
              Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?
           HAMLET 
              It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil dread; one unperfectness
              shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.
                                                        GHOST beckons HAMLET
           HORATIO
              It beckons you to go away with it, 
              As if it some impartment did desire 
              To you alone.
           HAMLET
              It will not speak; then I will follow it.
                                                     Exeunt GHOST and HAMLET
           MARCELLUS
              Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
           HORATIO
              Heaven will direct it.
           MARCELLUS 
              Nay, let's follow him.
                                                                    Exeunt

Forth!