No, it's just after twelve; I heard the clock
strike.
HORATIO
Indeed? I heard it not. It then draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
HORATIO
Really? I didn't hear it. So it's nearly the
time when the ghost likes to appear.
A flourish of trumpets and two pieces of ordnance goes
off
Trumpets play offstage and two cannons are
fired.
What does this mean, my lord?
What does that mean, sir?
HAMLET
The king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
10
Keeps wassail and the swaggering upspring reels,
And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,
The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his pledge.
HAMLET
The king is staying up all night drinking and dancing. As he
guzzles down his German wine, the musicians make a ruckus to
celebrate his draining another cup.
HORATIO
Is it a custom?
HORATIO
Is that a tradition?
HAMLET
15
Ay, marry, is 't.
But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honored in the breach than the observance.
This heavy-headed revel east and west
20
Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations.
HAMLET
Yes, it is. But though I was born here and should consider that
tradition part of my own heritage, I think it would be better to
ignore it than practice it. Other countries criticize us for our
loud partying.
