“Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?” he entreated.
The apparition made no answer, but beckoned to Hamlet to follow it, as if it wished to speak to him alone.
“Look, with what courteous action it waves you to more retired ground. But do not go with it,” said Marcellus.
“No, by no means,” said Horatio.
“It will not speak; then I will follow it,” said Hamlet.
“Do not, my lord,” entreated Horatio.
“Why, what should be the fear?” said Hamlet. “I do not set my life at a pin’s fee; and for my soul, what can it do to that, being a thing immortal as itself? It waves me forth again. I’ll follow it.”
Again Hamlet’s companions did their utmost to hinder him, even seizing hold of him to prevent his going, for they feared lest the mysterious visitant should lure him on to his own destruction. But Hamlet shook off their detaining hands, and, bidding the Ghost go before, he boldly followed.
Having led the young Prince to a lonely part of the ramparts, the Ghost at last consented to speak. He told Hamlet that he was indeed the spirit of his father, doomed for a certain term to walk the night, and by day to suffer various penalties, till the sins committed in his life had been atoned for. He then went on to exhort Hamlet that, if ever he had loved his father, he should revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
“Murder!” gasped Hamlet.