Question

the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark
act i. scene i.
francisco stands guard in front of the castle in elsinore, denmark. another guard, bernardo, enters to take over the watch.
elsinore. a platform before the castle.
francisco at his post. enter to him bernardo
bernardo: whos there?
francisco: nay, answer me, stand, and unfold yourself.
bernardo: long live the king! (5)
francisco: bernardo?
bernardo: he.
francisco: you come most carefully upon your hour.
bernardo: tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, francisco
francisco: for this relief much thanks; tis bitter cold, (10)
and i am sick at heart.
bernardo: have you had quiet guard?
francisco: not a mouse stirring.
bernardo: well, good-night.
if you do meet horatio and marcellus, (15)
marcellus: thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
with martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
horatio: in what particular thought to work i know not;
but in the gross and scope of my opinion,
this bodes some strange eruption to our state.
what do marcellus’s and horatio’s characterization of the ghost imply?
that the kingdom is cursed
that someone is tricking them
that a large battle is looming
that something bad is going on

Explanation:

Marcellus says the ghost has appeared "twice before" at this "dead hour" with a "martial stalk", and Horatio says this "bodes some strange eruption to our state". "Eruption" implies a bad event, and the ghost's eerie appearance at night also suggests something ominous, so their words imply something bad is happening. The "kingdom is cursed" is too extreme (no curse - related info), "someone tricking" is unfounded (ghost is real - like in context), and "large battle looming" is not hinted (focus is on state's strange event, not battle).

Answer:

that something bad is going on