I wouldn't have believed this without seeing it for myself.
I think I understand now.
MARCELLUS
It's just like the king, isn't it?
HORATIO
Just like you are to yourself. And I think that was the same
armor he wore against King Fortinbras. The same scowl he
always had on the battlefield. It's strange.
MARCELLUS
Twice before--just like now--he's moved past us like that.
This doesn't bode well. It's some sort of strange eruption-
a disorder in our society.
MARCELLUS
Exactly! Why is there so much brass going to cannons? All
this trade in armaments? Why are shipwrights building ships
seven days a week? What's the threat that accounts for all
this?
HORATIO
Word is that Prince Fortinbras has been going about Norway,
putting together an army to take back the land his father
lost to King Hamlet.
BARNARDO
That sounds right to me. And that's why the king does not
rest. His acts are still the central issue of the war.
HORATIO
They say that when Rome was at its peak, just before Julius
Caesar was assassinated, graves opened up and corpses in
their shrouds went shrieking through the streets. Comets
blazed across the skies, and the sun and the moon both were
eclipsed. Some of the same omens are appearing to us now, in
the heavens and on earth.
(Ghost re-enters.)
HORATIO (CONT'D)
Look! There it is!
(Ghost spreads its arms.)
HORATIO (CONT'D)
(to Ghost)
Stop! If you have a voice--speak to us!
(No reply.)
HORATIO (CONT'D)
If there's something that can be done to bring you peace-
tell us!
(No reply.)
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