No Fear Shakespeare

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

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Act 1, Scene 5, Page 7

Original Text

Modern Text


HAMLET
    Nay, but swear ’t.
HAMLET
No, you have to swear it.

HORATIO
In faith, my lord, not I.
HORATIO
I swear to God I won’t.

MARCELLUS
    Nor I, my lord, in faith.
MARCELLUS
Me too, I won’t, I swear to God.

HAMLET
Upon my sword.
HAMLET
Swear by my sword.

MARCELLUS
  We have sworn, my lord, already.
MARCELLUS
But we already swore, sir.

150
HAMLET
Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.
HAMLET
Yes, but swear by my sword this time.

GHOST
(cries under the stage) Swear!
GHOST
(calls out from under the stage) Swear!



HAMLET
Ha, ha, boy! Sayst thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?
Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage.
Consent to swear.
HAMLET
Ha ha, is that what you say, kid? Are you down there, my man?—Come on, you hear this guy down in the basement. Agree to swear.

155
HORATIO
Propose the oath, my lord.
HORATIO
Tell us what to swear, sir.


HAMLET
Never to speak of this that you have seen.
Swear by my sword.
HAMLET
You swear never to mention what you’ve seen. Swear by my sword.

GHOST
(beneath) Swear.
GHOST
(from under the stage) Swear.



160

HAMLET
Hic et ubique? Then we’ll shift our ground.
Come hither, gentlemen,
And lay your hands again upon my sword.
Swear by my sword
Never to speak of this that you have heard.
HAMLET
You’re everywhere, aren’t you? Maybe we should move. Come over here, gentlemen, and put your hands on my sword again. Swear by my sword you’ll never mention what you’ve heard.

GHOST
(beneath) Swear by his sword.
GHOST
(from under the stage) Swear by his sword.


165
HAMLET
Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th' earth so fast?
A worthy pioneer! Once more remove, good friends.
HAMLET
You said it right, old mole. You’re pretty busy down there in the dirt, aren’t you? What a tunneler! Let’s move again, my friends.

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