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Home : Hamlet : Act 1, scene iv : page 56 Read the Study Guide: Hamlet
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Hamlet
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75 And there assume some other horrible form,
  Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
  And draw you into madness? Think of it.
  The very place puts toys of desperation,
  Without more motive, into every brain
80 That looks so many fathoms to the sea
  And hears it roar beneath.
where it takes on some other horrible form that drives you insane. Think about it. The edge of the sea makes people feel despair even at the best of times. All they have to do is look into its depths and hear it roar far below.
 HAMLET
  It waves me still.
  —Go on. I'll follow thee.
HAMLET
It's still waving to me. —Go ahead, I'll follow.
 MARCELLUS
  You shall not go, my lord.
MARCELLUS
You're not going, sir.
MARCELLUS and HORATIO try to hold HAMLET back
MARCELLUS and HORATIO try to hold HAMLET back.
 HAMLET
                                  Hold off your hands.
HAMLET
Let go of me.
 HORATIO
85 Be ruled. You shall not go.
HORATIO
Calm down. You're not going anywhere.
 HAMLET
                                  My fate cries out
  And makes each petty artery in this body
  As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.
  Still am I called.—Unhand me, gentlemen.
  (draws his sword)
90 By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me.
  I say, away!—Go on. I'll follow thee.
HAMLET
It's my fate calling me. Every nerve in my body is now as tough as steel. The ghost is still waving me over. Let me go, gentlemen. (he draws his sword)
I swear, if anyone holds me back, I'll make a ghost of him! I say, get away!—Go ahead, I'll follow you.
Exeunt GHOST and HAMLET
The GHOST and HAMLET exit.
 HORATIO
  He waxes desperate with imagination.
HORATIO
His imagination is making him crazy.
 MARCELLUS
  Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
MARCELLUS
Let's follow them. It's not right to obey his orders to let him go alone.
 HORATIO
  Have after. To what issue will this come?
HORATIO
Go ahead and follow him. But what does all this mean, where will it all end?

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