Hamlet

Act 1, Sc. 5, lines 174-185: Explain the deception Hamlet asks his friends to agree to.

Hamlet: And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come.

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,

How strange or odd some'er I bear myself

(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on)

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

As "Well, well, we know," or "We could an if we would."

Or "If we list to speak," or "There be an if they might,"

Or such ambiguous giving-out, to note

That you know aught of me---this do swear,

So grace and mercy at your most need help you.

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Last updated by jill d #170087
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Hamlet asks his friends to welcome the ghost and never let on they've seen him. He also asks them not to betray him.... not to question his actions regardless how crazy they seem, or look at him in any kind of questioning manner. Hamlet must work alone.... and they must not reveal themselves to have any knowledge whatsoever.

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Hamlet