Read the passage.

excerpt from Act I, Scene 1, in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

In this excerpt, two guards meet.

Elsinore. A platform before the Castle.

[Francisco at his post. Enter to him Bernardo.]

Bernardo

Who's there?

Francisco

Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.

Bernardo

Long live the king!

Francisco

Bernardo?

Bernardo

He.

Francisco

You come most carefully upon your hour.

What is the most likely meaning of the phrase unfold yourself in this scene?

Answer: The most likely meaning of this phrase is "reveal yourself"

Explanation:

The meaning of the verb 'to unfold' is 'to reveal.' This verb was frequently used by Shakespeare in his plays. In Act I, Scene I of Hamlet, we have one more instance of this verb:

"Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing

To what I shall unfold. "

This line is uttered by the ghost of Hamlet's father, which tells Hamlet not to pity it, but listen to what it is about to reveal.

In the excerpt given above, Francisco is asking the other speaker (Bernardo) to 'reveal himself.'