Shakespeare’s works consist chiefly of plays and sonnets.  They show a wonderful knowledge of human nature, expressed in language remarkable for its point and beauty.

(Act I, scene II.  Hamlet alone in a room, of the castle. 
Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo.)

Hor.  Hail, to your lordship!

Ham.  I am glad to see you well: 
     Horatio,—­or I do forgot myself.

Hor.  The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.

Ham.  Sir, my good friend; I’ll change that name with you: 
     And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?—­
     Macellus?

Mar.  My good lord—­

Ham.  I am very glad to see you. [To Ber.] Good even, sir. 
     But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?

Hor.  A truant disposition, good my lord.

Ham.  I would not hear your enemy say so,
     Nor shall you do mine ear that violence,
     To make it truster of your own report
     Against yourself:  I knew you are no truant. 
     But what is your affair in Elsinore? 
     We’ll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

Hor.  My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.

Ham.  I pray thee, do not mock me, follow-student;
     I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.

Hor.  Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.

Ham.  Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked meats
     Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. 
     Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
     Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio! 
     My father!—­methinks I see my father.

Hor.  Where, my lord?

Ham.  In my mind’s eye, Horatio.

Hor.  I saw him once; he was a goodly king.

Ham.  He was a man, take him for all in all,
     I shall not look upon his like again.

Hor.  My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

Ham.  Saw? who?

Hor.  My lord, the king your father.

Ham.  The king my father!

Hor.  Season your admiration for a while
     With an attent ear, till I may deliver,
     Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
     This marvel to you.

Ham.  For God’s love, let me hear.

Hor.  Two nights together had these gentlemen,
     Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,
     In the dead vast and middle of the night,
     Been thus encounter’d.  A figure like your father,
     Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pie. 
     Appears before them, and with solemn march
     Goes slow and stately by them:  thrice he walk’d
     By their oppress’d and fear-surprised eyes,
     Within his trucheon’s length; whilst they, distill’d
     Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
     Stand dumb and speak not to him.  This to me
     In dreadful secrecy impart they did;