The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Hamlet Prince of Denmark The Tragedy of EMOTHE0010

Texto utilizado para esta edición digital:
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 1604/05. Edited by Jesús Tronch for the EMOTHE collection, 2016. Revised edition. Text edited by Jesús Tronch, and checked by Donald L. Bailey.

Adaptación digital para EMOTHE:

Tronch Pérez, Jesus (Artelope)

Note on this Digital Edition

Commentary notes and critical apparatus are in process.
***
This edition of Shakespeare’s Hamlet takes the 1604-05 quarto (Second Quarto or Q2) as its base text, and shows divergences from an edited text of the 1623 folio version (First Folio, or F) in three ways:
- phrases and lines that have no counterpart in Q2 are interpolated in the text itself when selecting “Show Folio interpolations” in the toolbox (they are also shown in gray colour and enclosed by superscript asterisks);
- words and phrases that have a variant reading in F are shown in a pop-up window when clicking on a superscript asterisk;
- different lineation is recorded in a full critical apparatus in an appendix (still in process).

Line numbers are based on the Through Line Numbers from Hinman’s Norton facsimile of the 1623 folio (1968). For Q2-only lines and for added scene divisions, numbers take the previous TLN and add a decimal (e.g. 124.1).

***
The text was critically edited by Jesús Tronch, and checked by Donald Bailey. Initial realease in 2013. Revised in 2016.

[ List of Characters

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, son of the late King Hamlet of Denmark

King Claudius, brother of the late King Hamlet

Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, now wife of King Claudius

Ghost of the late King Hamlet

Ophelia, daughter of Polonius

Polonius, counsellor to the King

Laertes, son of Polonius

Horatio, friend of Hamlet

Fortinbras, Prince of Norway

Rosencrantz, former schoolfellow of Hamlet

Guildenstern, former schoolfellow of Hamlet

Francisco, sentinel (in 1.1)

Barnardo, sentinel

Marcellus, sentinel

Voltemand, ambassador to Norway

Cornelius, ambassador to Norway

Reynaldo, servant of Polonius (in 2.1)

Player

Prologue, in 3.2

Player King, in 3.2

Player Queen, in 3.2

Lucianus, in 3.2

Captain, of the Norwegian army (in 4.4)

Gentleman, in 4.5

Followers, of Laertes (in 4.5)

Messenger, in 4.5

Sailor, in 4.6

1 Clown, a gravedigger (in 5.1)

2 Clown, in 5.1

Doctor, of divinity (in 5.1)

Osric, a courtier (in 5.2)

Lord, in 5.2

Ambasador, from England (in 5.2)

Lords

Gentleman, in 4.6

Messenger, in 4.7 ]

Attendants, Trumpets, Kettledrums and Drums, Guard, Sailors, Officers, another English Ambassador, Norwegian army ]

1[1.1]

2Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels.

barnardo

3-4

Who’s there?

francisco

5-6

Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.

barnardo

Long live the King —

francisco

Barnardo.

barnardo

He.

francisco

You come most carefully upon your hour —

barnardo

’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco —

francisco

For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.

barnardo

Have you had quiet guard?

francisco

Not a mouse stirring.

barnardo

Well, good night.

16-7

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

18Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

francco

I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there?

horatio

Friends to this ground.

marcellus

And liegemen to the Dane.

francisco

Give you good night.

marcellus

Oh, farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved you?

francisco

Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.

25Exit Francisco.

marcellus

Holla, Barnardo!

barnardo

Say, what, is Horatio there?

horatio

A piece of him.

barnardo

Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus —

horatio

What, has this thing appeared again tonight?

barnardo

I have seen nothing.

marcellus

Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy,

And will not let belief take hold of him,

Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us.

Therefore I have entreated him along

With us to watch the minutes of this night,

That, if again this apparition come,

He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

horatio

Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.

barnardo

Sit down awhile,

And let us once again assail your ears,

That are so fortified against our story,

What we have two nights seen.

horatio

Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.

barnardo

Last night of all,

When yond same star that’s westward from the pole

Had made his course t’illume that part of heaven

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,

The bell then beating one —

50Enter Ghost.

marcellus

Peace, break thee off.

Look where it comes again.

barnardo

In the same figure like the King that’s dead.

marcellus

Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.

barnardo

Looks ’a not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.

horatio

Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.

barnardo

It would be spoke to.

marcellus

Speak to it, Horatio.

horatio

What art thou that usurp’st this time of night

Together with that fair and warlike form

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee speak.

marcellus

It is offended.

barnardo

See, it stalks away.

horatio

Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee speak!

66Exit

marcellus

’Tis gone and will not answer.

barnardo

How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale.

Is not this something more than fantasy?

What think you on’t?

horatio

Before my God, I might not this believe

Without the sensible and true avouch

Of mine own eyes.

marcellus

Is it not like the King?

horatio

As thou art to thyself.

Such was the very armour he had on

When he the ambitious Norway combated.

So frowned he once when in an angry parle

He smote the sledded poleaxe on the ice.

’Tis strange.

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 mine opinion

This bodes some strange eruption to our state.

marcellus

Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows,

Why this same strict and most observant watch

So nightly toils the subject of the land,

And with such daily cast of brazen cannon

And foreign mart for implements of war;

Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task

Does not divide the Sunday from the week;

What might be toward that this sweaty haste

Doth make the night joint labourer with the day.

Who is’t that can inform me?

horatio

That can I.

At least the whisper goes so. Our last King,

Whose image even but now appeared to us,

Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,N

Nota del editor

100

Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride,

101

Dared to the combat, in which our valiant Hamlet

102

(For so this side of our known world esteemed him)

103

Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact

104

Well ratified by law and heraldry

105

Did forfeit, with his life, all these his lands

106

Which he stood seized of to the conqueror;

107

Against the which a moiety competent

108

Was gagèd by our King, which had returned

109

To the inheritance of Fortinbras

110

Had he been vanquisher, as by the same co-mart

111

And carriage of the article designed

112

His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,

113

Of unimprovèd mettle, hot and full,

114

Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there

115

Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes

116

For food and diet to some enterprise

117

That hath a stomach in’t, which is no other,

118

As it doth well appear unto our state,

119

But to recover of us by strong hand

120

And terms compulsatory those foresaid lands

121

So by his father lost. And this, I take it,

122

Is the main motive of our preparations,

123

The source of this our watch, and the chief head

124

Of this post-haste and rummage in the land.

barnardo

124.1

I think it be no other but e’en so.

124.2

Well may it sort that this portentous figure

124.3

Comes armèd through our watch so like the King

124.4

That was and is the question of these wars.

horatio

124.5

A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye.

124.6

In the most high and palmy state of Rome,

124.7

A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,

124.8

The graves stood tennantless and the sheeted dead

124.9

Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets —

124.10

As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,

124.11

Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,

124.12

Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands,

124.12

Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.

124.14

And even the like precurse of feared events,

124.15

As harbingers preceding still the fates

124.16

And prologue to the omen coming on,

124.17

Have heaven and earth together demonstrated

124.18

Unto our climatures and countrymen.

125Enter Ghost.

126

But soft — behold, lo, where it comes again!

127

I’ll cross it though it blast me. — Stay, illusion!

127-8It spreads his arms.

128

If thou hast any sound or use of voice,

129

Speak to me;

129

If there be any good thing to be done

130

That may to thee do ease and grace to me,

130

Speak to me.

131

If thou art privy to thy country’s fate

132

Which happily foreknowing may avoid,

132

Oh, speak;

133

Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life

134

Extorted treasure in the womb of earth

135

(For which they say your spirits oft walk in death)

135-6The cock crows.

136

Speak of it, stay and speak. — Stop it, Marcellus.

marcellus

137

Shall I strike it with my partisan?

horatio

138

Do if it will not stand.

barnardo

139

’Tis here.

horatio

140

’Tis here.

141[Exit Ghost.]

marcellus

141

’Tis gone.

142

We do it wrong, being so majestical,

143

To offer it the show of violence,

144

For it is as the air, invulnerable,

145

And our vain blows malicious mockery.

barnardo

146

It was about to speak when the cock crew.

horatio

147

And then it started like a guilty thing

148

Upon a fearful summons. I have heard

149

The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,

150

Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat

151

Awake the god of day, and at his warning,

152

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,

153

Th’extravagant and erring spirit hies

154

To his confine; and of the truth herein

155

This present object made probation.

marcellus

156

It faded on the crowing of the cock.

157

Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes

158

Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated,

159

This bird of dawning singeth all night long;

160

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,

161

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,

162

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,

163

So hallowed and so gracious is that time.

horatio

164

So have I heard and do in part believe it.

165

But look, the morn in russet mantle clad

166

Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.

167

Break we our watch up, and by my advice

168

Let us impart what we have seen tonight

169

Unto young Hamlet, for upon my life

170

This spirit dumb to us will speak to him.

171

Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it

172

As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?

marcellus

173

Let’s do’t, I pray, and I this morning know

174

Where we shall find him most convenient.

174Exeunt.

175[1.2]

176Flourish.

176Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen,
Council: as Polonius, and his son Laertes, Hamlet,
with others [including Cornelius and Voltemand].

king

179

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death

180

The memory be green, and that it us befitted

181

To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom

182

To be contracted in one brow of woe,

183

Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature

184

That we with wisest sorrow think on him

185

Together with remembrance of ourselves.

186

Therefore our sometime sister, now our Queen,

187

Th’imperial jointress to this warlike state,

188

Have we, as ’twere with a defeated joy,

189

With an auspicious and a dropping eye,

190

With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,

191

In equal scale weighing delight and dole,

192

Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred

193

Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone

194

With this affair along. For all, our thanks.

195

Now follows that you know young Fortinbras,

196

Holding a weak supposal of our worth

197

Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death

198

Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,

199

Co-leaguèd with this dream of his advantage,

200

He hath not failed to pester us with message

201

Importing the surrender of those lands

202

Lost by his father, with all bonds of law,

203

To our most valiant brother. So much for him.

205

Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting,

206

Thus much the business is: we have here writ

207

To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras

208

(Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears

209

Of this his nephew’s purpose) to suppress

210

His further gait herein, in that the levies,

211

The lists and full proportions are all made

212

Out of his subject; and we here dispatch

213

You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,

214

For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,

215

Giving to you no further personal power

216

To business with the King, more than the scope

217

Of these delated articles allow.

218

Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.

cornelius, voltemand

219

In that and all things will we show our duty.

king

220

We doubt it nothing. Heartily, farewell.

221[Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.]

222

And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you?

223

You told us of some suit. What is’t, Laertes?

224

You cannot speak of reason to the Dane

225

And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes,

226

That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?

227

The head is not more native to the heart,

228

The hand more instrumental to the mouth,

229

Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.

230

What wouldst thou have, Laertes?

laertes

231

My dread lord,

232

Your leave and favour to return to France,

233

From whence though willingly I came to Denmark

234

To show my duty in your coronation,

235

Yet now I must confess, that duty done,

236

My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France

237

And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.

king

238-9

Have you your father’s leave? – What says Polonius?

polonius

240

H’ath, my lord, lord, wrung from me my slow leave

240.1

By laboursome petition, and at last

240.2

Upon his will I sealed my hard consent.

241

I do beseech you give him leave to go.

king

242

Take thy fair hour, Laertes, time be thine

243

And thy best graces spend it at thy will. —

244

But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son —

hamlet

245

A little more than kin, and less than kind.

king

246

How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

hamlet

247

Not so much, my lord; I am too much in the “son.”

queen

248

Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off

249

And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.

250

Do not forever with thy vailèd lids

251

Seek for thy noble father in the dust.

252

Thou know’st ’tis common all that lives must die,

253

Passing through nature to eternity.

hamlet

254

Ay, madam, it is common.

queen

255

If it be,

256

Why seems it so particular with thee?

hamlet

257

“Seems,” madam? nay, it is, I know not “seems,”

258

’Tis not alone my inky cloak, cold mother,

259

Nor customary suits of solemn black,

260

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,

261

No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,

262

Nor the dejected haviour of the visage,

263

Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief

264

That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,”

265

For they are actions that a man might play,

266

But I have that within which passes show,

267

These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

king

268-9

’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,

270

To give these mourning duties to your father,

271

But you must know your father lost a father,

272

That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound

273

In filial obligation for some term

274

To do obsequious sorrow; but to persever

275

In obstinate condolement is a course

276

Of impious stubbornness, ’tis unmanly grief,

277

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,

278

A heart unfortified or mind impatient,

279

An understanding simple and unschooled.

280

For what we know must be, and is as common

281

As any the most vulgar thing to sense,

282

Why should we in our peevish opposition

283

Take it to heart? Fie, ’tis a fault to heaven,

284

A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,

285

To reason most absurd, whose common theme

286

Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried

287

From the first corpse till he that died today

288

“This must be so.” We pray you throw to earth

289

This unprevailing woe, and think of us

290

As of a father; for let the world take note

291

You are the most immediate to our throne,

292

And with no less nobility of love

293

Than that which dearest father bears his son

294

Do I impart toward you. For your intent

295

In going back to school in Wittenberg,

296

It is most retrograde to our desire,

297

And we beseech you bend you to remain

298

Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,

299

Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.

queen

300

Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet;

301

I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.

hamlet

302-3

I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

king

304

Why, ’tis a loving and a fair reply.

305

Be as ourself in Denmark. — Madam, come,

306

This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet

307

Sits smiling to my heart, in grace whereof

308

No jocund health that Denmark drinks today

309

But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell

310

And the King’s rouse the heaven shall bruit again,

311

Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away.

311Flourish.

311-2Exeunt all but Hamlet.

hamlet

313

Oh, that this too too sullied flesh would melt,

314

Thaw and resolve itself into a dew,

315

Or that the Everlasting had not fixed

316

His canon ’gainst self-slaughter. O God, ^FO^F God,

317

How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable

318

Seem to me all the uses of this world!

319

Fie on’t, ah, fie, ^Ffie,^F ’tis an unweeded garden

320

That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature

321

Possess it merely. That it should come thus:

322

But two months dead, nay, not so much, not two —

323

So excellent a king, that was to this

324

Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother

325

That he might not beteem the winds of heaven

326

Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth,

327

Must I remember? Why, she should hang on him

328

As if increase of appetite had grown

329

By what it fed on. And yet within a month

330

(Let me not think on’t — Frailty, thy name is Woman),

331

A little month, or ere those shoes were old

332

With which she followed my poor father’s body

333

Like Niobe, all tears, why, she — ^Feven she^F

334

(O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason

335

Would have mourned longer) married with my uncle,

336

My father’s brother, but no more like my father

337

Than I to Hercules. Within a month,

338

Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears

339

Had left the flushing in her gallèd eyes,

340

She married. Oh, most wicked speed — to post

341

With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!

342

It is not, nor it cannot come to good.

343

But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

344Enter Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo.

horatio

345

Hail to your lordship.

hamlet

346

I am glad to see you well —

347

Horatio, or I do forget myself.

horatio

348-9

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

hamlet

350-1

Sir, my good friend, I’ll change that name with you.

352

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? —

353

Marcellus.

marcellus

354

My good lord.

hamlet

355

I am very glad to see you. —

[To Barnardo]

Good even, sir. —

356

But what in faith make you from Wittenberg?

horatio

357

A truant disposition, good my lord.

hamlet

358

I would not hear your enemy say so,

359

Nor shall you do my ear that violence

360

To make it truster of your own report

361

Against yourself. I know you are no truant.

362

But what is your affair in Elsinore?

363

We’ll teach you for to drink ere you depart.

horatio

364

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

hamlet

365

I prithee do not mock me, fellow student,

366

I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.

horatio

367

Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.

hamlet

368

Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funeral baked meats

369

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

370

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven

371

Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio.

372

My father, methinks I see my father.

horatio

373

^FOh,^F Where, my lord?

hamlet

374

In my mind’s eye, Horatio.

horatio

375

I saw him once; ’a was a goodly king.

hamlet

376

’A was a man, take him for all in all,

377

I shall not look upon his like again.

horatio

378

My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

hamlet

379

Saw, who?

horatio

380

My lord, the King your father.

hamlet

381

The King my father?

horatio

382

Season your admiration for a while

383

With an attent ear till I may deliver

384

Upon the witness of these gentlemen

385

This marvel to you.

hamlet

386

For God’s love, let me hear!

horatio

387

Two nights together had these gentlemen,

388

Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch

389

In the dead waste and middle of the night

390

Been thus encountered: a figure like your father

391

Armed at point, exactly cap-à-pie,

392

Appears before them and with solemn march

393

Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walked

394

By their oppressed and fear-surprisèd eyes

395

Within his truncheon’s length whilst they, distilled

396

Almost to jelly with the act of fear,

397

Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me

398

In dreadful secrecy impart they did,

399

And I with them the third night kept the watch,

400

Where (as they had delivered, both in time,

401

Form of the thing, each word made true and good)

402

The apparition comes. I knew your father;

403

These hands are not more like.

hamlet

404

But where was this?

marcellus

405

My lord, upon the platform where we watched.

hamlet

406

Did you not speak to it?

horatio

407

My lord, I did,

408

But answer made it none. Yet once methought

409

It lifted up it head and did address

410

Itself to motion like as it would speak.

411

But even then the morning cock crew loud,

412

And at the sound it shrunk in haste away

413

And vanished from our sight.

hamlet

414

’Tis very strange.

horatio

415

As I do live, my honoured lord, ’tis true,

416

And we did think it writ down in our duty

417

To let you know of it.

hamlet

418

Indeed, ^Findeed,^F sirs. But this troubles me.

419

Hold you the watch tonight?

marcellus, barnardo

420

We do, my lord.

hamlet

421

Armed, say you?

marcellus, barnardo

422

Armed, my lord.

hamlet

423

From top to toe?

marcellus, barnardo

424

My lord, from head to foot.

hamlet

425

Then saw you not his face.

horatio

426

Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.

hamlet

427

What looked he, frowningly?

horatio

428

A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

hamlet

429

Pale, or red?

horatio

430

Nay, very pale.

hamlet

431

And fixed his eyes upon you?

horatio

432

Most constantly.

hamlet

433

I would I had been there.

horatio

434

It would have much amazed you.

hamlet

435

Very like^F, very like^F. Stayed it long?

horatio

436

While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.

marcellus, barnardo

437

Longer, longer.

horatio

438

Not when I saw’t.

hamlet

439

His beard was grizzled, no?

horatio

440

It was as I have seen it in his life:

441

A sable silvered.

hamlet

442

I will watch tonight.

442

Perchance ’twill walk again.

horatio

443

I warr’nt ^Fyou^F it will.

hamlet

444

If it assume my noble father’s person,

445

I’ll speak to it though hell itself should gape

446

And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,

447

If you have hitherto concealed this sight,

448

Let it be tenable in your silence still,

449

And whatsomever else shall hap tonight

450

Give it an understanding but no tongue.

451

I will requite your loves. So fare you well.

452

Upon the platform ’twixt eleven and twelve

453

I’ll visit you.

horatio, marcellus, barnardo

454

Our duty to your honour.

hamlet

455

Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.

454Exeunt [all but Hamlet].

456

My father’s spirit — in arms! All is not well;

457

I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come.

458

Till then sit still my soul. Foul deeds will rise

459

Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes.

459Exit.

460[1.3]

461Enter Laertes and Ophelia, his sister.

laertes

462

My necessaries are embarked. Farewell.

447

And sister, as the winds give benefit

464

And convey is assistant, do not sleep

465

But let me hear from you.

ophelia

466

Do you doubt that?

laertes

467

For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,

468

Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,

469

A violet in the youth of primy nature,

470

Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,

471

The perfume and suppliance of a minute,

471

No more.

ophelia

472

No more but so.

laertes

473

Think it no more.

474

For nature crescent does not grow alone

475

In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes

476

The inward service of the mind and soul

477

Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,

478

And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch

479

The virtue of his will. But you must fear:

480

His greatness weighed, his will is not his own;

481

^FFor he himself is subject to his birth:^F

482

He may not, as unvalued persons do,

483

Carve for himself, for on his choice depends

484

The safety and health of this whole state,

485

And therefore must his choice be circumscribed

486

Unto the voice and yielding of that body

487

Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,

488

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it

489

As he in his particular act and place

490

May give his saying deed, which is no further

491

Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.

492

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain

493

If with too credent ear you list his songs,

494

Or loose your heart, or your chaste treasure open

495

To his unmastered importunity.

496

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,

497

And keep you in the rear of your affection

498

Out of the shot and danger of desire.

499

“The chariest maid is prodigal enough

500

If she unmask her beauty to the moon.

501

Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes.

502

The canker galls the infants of the spring

503

Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,

504

And in the morn and liquid dew of youth

505

Contagious blastments are most imminent.”

506

Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.

507

Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

ophelia

508

I shall the effect of this good lesson keep

509

As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,

510

Do not as some ungracious pastors do,

511

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven

512

Whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine

513

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads

514

And recks not his own rede.

516Enter Polonius.

laertes

515

Oh, fear me not.

517

I stay too long. But here my father comes.

518

A double blessing is a double grace;

519

Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

polonius

520

Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!

521

The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail

522

And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with thee,

523

And these few precepts in thy memory

524

Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue

525

Nor any unproportioned thought his act.

526

Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar.

527

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,

528

Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel,

529

But do not dull thy palm with entertainment

530

Of each new-hatched, unfledged courage. Beware

531

Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in,

532

Bear’t that th’opposèd may beware of thee.

533

Give every man thy ear but few thy voice;

534

Take each man’s censure but reserve thy judgement.

535

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy

536

But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy;

537

For the apparel oft proclaims the man,

538

And they in France of the best rank and station

539

Are of a most select and generous chief in that.

540

Neither a borrower nor a lender, boy,

541

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,

542

And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry.

543

This above all: to thine own self be true,

544

And it must follow as the night the day

545

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

546

Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.

laertes

547

Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.

polonius

548

The time invests you. Go, your servants tend.

laertes

549

Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well

550

What I have said to you.

ophelia

551

’Tis in my memory locked

552

And you yourself shall keep the key of it.

laertes

553

Farewell.

553Exit Laertes.

polonius

554

What is’t, Ophelia, he hath said to you?

ophelia

555

So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.

polonius

556

Marry, well bethought:

557

’Tis told me he hath very oft of late

558

Given private time to you, and you yourself

559

Have of your audience been most free and bounteous.

560

If it be so (as so ’tis put on me,

561

And that in way of caution), I must tell you

562

You do not understand yourself so clearly

563

As it behoves my daughter and your honour.

564

What is between you? Give me up the truth.

ophelia

565

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders

566

Of his affection to me.

polonius

567

Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl

568

Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.

569

Do you believe his “tenders” as you call them?

ophelia

570

I do not know, my lord, what I should think.

polonius

571

Marry, I will teach you: think yourself a baby

572

That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay

573

Which are not sterling; tender yourself more dearly

574

Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,

575

Running it thus) you’ll tender me a fool.

ophelia

576

My lord, he hath importuned me with love

577

In honourable fashion —

polonius

578

Ay, “fashion” you may call it. Go to, go to.

ophelia

579

And hath given countenance to his speech,

580

My lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven.

polonius

581

Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know,

582

When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul

583

Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,

584

Giving more light than heat, extinct in both

585

Even in their promise as it is a-making,

586

You must not take for fire. From this time, ^Fdaughter,^F

587

Be something scanter of your maiden presence,

588

Set your entreatments at a higher rate

589

Than a command to parle. For Lord Hamlet,

590

Believe so much in him that he is young

591

And with a larger tether may he walk

592

Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia,

593

Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers

594

Not of that dye which their investments show

595

But mere implorators of unholy suits

596

Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds

597

The better to beguile. This is for all:

598

I would not in plain terms from this time forth

599

Have you so slander any moment leisure

600

As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.

601

Look to’t, I charge you. Come your ways.

ophelia

602

I shall obey, my lord.

602Exeunt.

602.1[1.4]

603Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.

hamlet

604

The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.

horatio

605

It is a nipping and an eager air.

hamlet

606

What hour now?

horatio

607

I think it lacks of twelve.

marcellus

608

No, it is struck.

horatio

609

Indeed, I heard it not. It then draws near the season

610

Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

610-1A flourish of trumpets and two pieces goes off.

611

What does this mean, my lord?

hamlet

612

The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,

613

Keeps wassail and the swagg’ring upspring reels,

614

And as he drains his draughts of Rennish down

615

The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out

616

The triumph of his pledge.

horatio

617

Is it a custom?

hamlet

618

Ay, marry, is’t,

619

But to my mind, though I am native here

620

And to the manner born, it is a custom

621

More honoured in the breach than the observance.

621.1

This heavy-headed revel east and west

621.2

Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations:

621.3

They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase

621.4

Soil our addition, and indeed it takes

621.5

From our achievements, though performed at height,

621.6

The pith and marrow of our attribute.

621.7

So oft it chances in particular men

621.8

That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,

621.9

As in their birth wherein they are not guilty

621.10

(Since nature cannot choose his origin),

621.11

By their o’ergrowth of some complexion

621.12

Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,

621.13

Or by some habit that too much o’erleavens

621.14

The form of plausive manners — that these men

621.15

Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect

621.16

(Being Nature’s livery or Fortune’s star),

621.17

His virtues else, be they as pure as grace,

621.18

As infinite as man may undergo,

621.19

Shall in the general censure take corruption

621.20

From that particular fault: the dram of ev’l

621.21

Doth all the noble substance often dout

621.22

To his own scandal.

622Enter Ghost.

horatio

623

Look, my lord, it comes.

hamlet

624

Angels and ministers of grace defend us! —

625

Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,

626

Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,

627

Be thy intents wicked or charitable,

628

Thou com’st in such a questionable shape

629

That I will speak to thee: I’ll call thee Hamlet,

630

King, father, royal Dane. Oh, ^Foh,^F answer me,

631

Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell

632

Why thy canonized bones, hearsèd in death,

633

Have burst their cerements, why the sepulchre

634

Wherein we saw thee quietly interred

635

Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws

636

To cast thee up again. What may this mean

637

That thou, dead corpse, again in complete steel

638

Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,

639

Making night hideous, and we fools of nature

640

So horridly to shake our disposition

641

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?

642

Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?

643[Ghost] beckons.

horatio

644

It beckons you to go away with it

645

As if it some impartment did desire

646

To you alone.

marcellus

647

Look with what courteous action

648

It waves you to a more removèd ground,

649

But do not go with it.

horatio

650

No, by no means.

hamlet

651

It will not speak, then I will follow it.

horatio

652

Do not, my lord.

hamlet

653

Why, what should be the fear?

654

I do not set my life at a pin’s fee,

655

And for my soul, what can it do to that

656

Being a thing immortal as itself?

657

It waves me forth again. I’ll follow it.

horatio

658

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,

659

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff

660

That beetles o’er his base into the sea,

661

And there assume some other horrible form

662

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason

663

And draw you into madness? Think of it.

663.1

The very place puts toys of desperation

663.2

Without more motive into every brain

663.3

That looks so many fathoms to the sea

663.4

And hears it roar beneath.

hamlet

664

It waves me still.

664

Go on, I’ll follow thee.

marcellus

665

You shall not go, my lord.

hamlet

666

Hold off your hands.

horatio

667

Be ruled, you shall not go.

hamlet

668

My fate cries out

669

And makes each petty artery in this body

670

As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.

671

Still am I called. Unhand me, gentlemen,

672

By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me!

673

I say away! — Go on, I’ll follow thee.

674Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.

horatio

675

He waxes desperate with imagination.

marcellus

676

Let’s follow. ’Tis not fit thus to obey him.

horatio

677

Have after. To what issue will this come?

marcellus

678

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

horatio

679

Heaven will direct it.

marcellus

680

Nay, let’s follow him.

680Exeunt.

680.1[1.5]

681Enter Ghost and Hamlet.

hamlet

682

Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak, I’ll go no further.

ghost

683

Mark me.

hamlet

684

I will.

ghost

685

My hour is almost come

686

When I to sulph’rous and tormenting flames

687

Must render up myself.

hamlet

688

Alas, poor ghost.

ghost

689

Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing

690

To what I shall unfold.

hamlet

691

Speak, I am bound to hear.

ghost

692

So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear.

hamlet

693

What?

ghost

694

I am thy father’s spirit,

695

Doomed for a certain term to walk the night

696

And for the day confined to fast in fires

697

Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature

698

Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid

699

To tell the secrets of my prison-house,

700

I could a tale unfold whose lightest word

701

Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,

702

Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,

703

Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part,

704

And each particular hair to stand on end

705

Like quills upon the fearful porpentine.

706

But this eternal blazon must not be

707

To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, oh, list:

708

If thou didst ever thy dear father love —

hamlet

709

O God!

ghost

710

— Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

hamlet

711

Murder.

ghost

712

Murder most foul, as in the best it is,

713

But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

hamlet

714

Haste^F, haste^F me to know’t, that I with wings as swift

716

As meditation or the thoughts of love

717

May sweep to my revenge.

ghost

718

I find thee apt.

719

And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed

720

That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,

721

Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:

722

’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,

723

A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark

724

Is by a forgèd process of my death

725

Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,

726

The serpent that did sting thy father’s life

727

Now wears his crown.

hamlet

728

O my prophetic soul! My uncle!

ghost

729

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,

730

With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts —

731

O wicked wit and gifts that have the power

732

So to seduce! — won to his shameful lust

733

The will of my most seeming-virtuous Queen.

734

O Hamlet, what ^Fa^F falling off was there,

735

From me whose love was of that dignity

736

That it went hand in hand even with the vow

737

I made to her in marriage, and to decline

738

Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor

739

To those of mine.

739

But virtue, as it never will be moved,

740

Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,

741

So lust, though to a radiant angel linked,

742

Will sate itself in a celestial bed

742

And prey on garbage.

743

But soft, methinks I scent the morning air.

744

Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,

745

My custom always of the afternoon,

746

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole

747

With juice of cursèd hebona in a vial,

748

And in the porches of my ears did pour

749

The leperous distilment, whose effect

750

Holds such an enmity with blood of man

751

That swift as quicksilver it courses through

752

The natural gates and alleys of the body

753

And with a sudden vigour it doth posset

754

And curd like eager droppings into milk

755

The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine,

756

And a most instant tetter barked about

757

Most Lazar-like with vile and loathsome crust

758

All my smooth body.

759

Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand

760

Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched,

761

Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,

762

Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled,

763

No reck’ning made, but sent to my account

764

With all my imperfections on my head.

765

Oh, horrible! Oh, horrible, most horrible!

766

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not,

767

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be

768

A couch for luxury and damnèd incest.

769

But howsomever thou pursues this act,

770

Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive

771

Against thy mother aught; leave her to heaven

772

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge

773

To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once:

774

The glow-worm shows the matin to be near

775

And ’gins to pale his uneffectual fire.

776

Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.

776[Exit.]

hamlet

777

O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else?

778

And shall I couple hell? Oh, fie! Hold, hold, my heart,

779

And you, my sinews, grow not instant old

780

But bear me swiftly up. Remember thee?

781

Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat

782

In this distracted globe. Remember thee,

783

Yea, from the table of my memory

784

I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records,

785

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past

786

That youth and observation copied there,

787

And thy commandment all alone shall live

788

Within the book and volume of my brain

789

Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, ^Fyes,^F by heaven.

790

O most pernicious woman!

791

O villain, villain, smiling damnèd villain!

792

My tables, ^Fmy tables,^F meet it is I set it down

793

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain;

794

At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.

795

So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word:

796

It is “Adieu, adieu. Remember me.”

796

I have sworn’t.

796.1/798Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

horatio

797

My lord, my lord!

marcellus

799

Lord Hamlet!

horatio

800

Heavens secure him.

hamlet

801

So be it.

marcellus

802

Illo, ho, ho, my lord!

hamlet

803

Hillo, ho, ho, boy, come, bird, come!

marcellus

804

How is’t, my noble lord?

horatio

805

What news, my lord?

hamlet

806

Oh, wonderful.

horatio

807

Good my lord, tell it.

hamlet

808

No, you will reveal it.

horatio

809

Not I, my lord, by heaven.

marcellus

810

Nor I, my lord.

hamlet

811

How say you then, would heart of man once think it —

812

But you’ll be secret?

horatio, marcellus

813

Ay, by heaven^F, my lord^F.

hamlet

814

There’s never a villain dwelling in all Denmark

815

But he’s an arrant knave.

horatio

816

There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave

817

To tell us this.

hamlet

818

Why, right, you are in the right,

819

And so without more circumstance at all

820

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part.

821

You, as your business and desire shall point you

822

(For every man hath business and desire

823

Such as it is), and for my own poor part

824

^FLook you,^F I will go pray.

horatio

825

These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.

hamlet

826

I am sorry they offend you — heartily,

827

Yes, faith, heartily.

horatio

828

There’s no offence, my lord.

hamlet

829

Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,

830

And much offence too. Touching this vision here,

831

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you.

832

For your desire to know what is between us

833

O’ermaster’t as you may. And now, good friends,

834

As you are friends, scholars and soldiers,

835

Give me one poor request.

horatio

836

What is’t, my lord? We will.

hamlet

837

Never make known what you have seen tonight.

horatio, marcellus

838

My lord, we will not.

hamlet

839

Nay, but swear’t.

horatio

840

In faith, my lord, not I.

marcellus

841

Nor I, my lord, in faith.

hamlet

842

Upon my sword.

marcellus

843

We have sworn, my lord, already.

hamlet

844

Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.

845Ghost cries under the stage.

ghost

845

Swear.

hamlet

846

Ha, ha, boy, say’st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?

847

Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage,

848

Consent to swear.

horatio

849

Propose the oath, my lord.

hamlet

850

Never to speak of this that you have seen,

851

Swear by my sword.

ghost

852

[under the stage]

Swear.

hamlet

853

Hic et ubique?Hic et ubique? Then we’ll shift our ground.

854

Come hither, gentlemen,

855

And lay your hands again upon my sword.

856

Swear by my sword

857

Never to speak of this that you have heard.

ghost

858

[under the stage]

Swear by his sword.

hamlet

859

Well said, old mole. Canst work i’th’earth so fast?

860

A worthy pioneer! Once more remove, good friends.

horatio

861

Oh, day and night, but this is wondrous strange.

hamlet

862

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

863

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

864

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come,

865

Here as before: never, so help you mercy

866

(How strange or odd some’er I bear myself,

867

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

868

To put an antic disposition on),

869

That you at such times seeing me, never shall

870

(With arms encumbered thus, or this headshake,

871

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase

872

As “Well, well, we know,” or “We could an if we would,”

873

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

874

Or such ambiguous giving out) to note

875

That you know aught of me. This do swear,

876

So grace and mercy at your most need help you.

ghost

878

[under the stage]

Swear.

878[They swear.]

hamlet

879

Rest, rest, perturbèd spirit. — So, gentlemen,

880

With all my love I do commend me to you,

881

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is

882

May do t’express his love and friending to you,

883

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together,

884

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.

885

The time is out of joint. O cursèd spite,

886

That ever I was born to set it right! —

887

Nay, come, let’s go together.

887Exeunt.

888[2.1]

889Enter old Polonius with his man [Reynaldo] or two.

polonius

890

Give him this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.

reynaldo

891

I will, my lord.

polonius

892

You shall do marv’llous wisely, good Reynaldo,

893

Before you visit him, to make enquire

894

Of his behaviour.

reynaldo

895

My lord, I did intend it.

polonius

896-7

Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,

898

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,

899

And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,

900

What company, at what expense, and finding

901

By this encompassment and drift of question

902

That they do know my son, come you more nearer

903

Than your particular demands will touch it.

904

Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,

905

As thus: “I know his father, and his friends,

906

And in part him” — do you mark this, Reynaldo?

reynaldo

907

Ay, very well, my lord.

polonius

908

“And in part him, but,” you may say, “not well;

909

But if’t be he I mean, he’s very wild,

910

Addicted so and so,” and there put on him

911

What forgeries you please — marry, none so rank

912

As may dishonour him; take heed of that —

913

But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips

914

As are companions noted and most known

915

To youth and liberty.

reynaldo

916

As gaming, my lord?

polonius

917

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,

918

Quarrelling, drabbing — you may go so far.

reynaldo

919

My lord, that would dishonour him.

polonius

920

Faith, ^Fno,^F as you may season it in the charge.

921

You must not put another scandal on him,

922

That he is open to incontinency,

923

That’s not my meaning, but breathe his faults so quaintly

924

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

925

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

926

A savageness in unreclaimèd blood

926

Of general assault.

reynaldo

927

But my good lord —

polonius

928

Wherefore should you do this?

reynaldo

929

Ay, my lord, I would know that.

polonius

930

Marry, sir, here’s my drift,

931

And I believe it is a fetch of wit:

932

You laying these slight sullies on my son

933

As ’twere a thing a little soiled wi’th’ working,

934

Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound

935

Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes

936

The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured

937

He closes with you in this consequence:

938

“Good sir,” or so, or “friend,” or “gentleman,”

939

According to the phrase or the addition

940

Of man and country.

reynaldo

941

Very good, my lord.

polonius

942And then, sir, does ’a this — 943’a does — what was I about to say? By the mass, 944I was about to say something. Where did I leave?

reynaldo

945

At “closes in the consequence” —

946

^FAt “friend, or so”, and “gentleman.”^F

polonius

947

At “closes in the consequence,” ay, marry.

948

He closes ^Fwith you^F thus: “I know the gentleman,

949

I saw him yesterday, or th’other day,

950

Or then or then, with such or such, and as you say,

951

There was ’a gaming, there o’ertook in’s rouse,

952

There falling out at tennis,” or perchance

953

“I saw him enter such a house of sale,”

954

Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now

955

Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth;

956

And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,

957

With windlasses, and with assays of bias,

958

By indirections find directions out.

959

So by my former lecture and advice

960

Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

reynaldo

961

My lord, I have.

polonius

962

God b’wi’ye, fare ye well.

reynaldo

963

Good my lord.

polonius

964

Observe his inclination in yourself.

reynaldo

965

I shall, my lord.

polonius

966

And let him ply his music.

reynaldo

967

Well, my lord.

967Exit Reynaldo.

968Enter Ophelia.

polonius

969-70

Farewell. — How now, Ophelia, what’s the matter?

ophelia

971

Oh, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted —

polonius

972

With what, i’th’name of God?

ophelia

973

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,

974

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,

975

No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled,

976

Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle,

977

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

978

And with a look so piteous in purport

979

As if he had been loosèd out of hell

980

To speak of horrors, he comes before me.

polonius

981

Mad for thy love?

ophelia

982

My lord, I do not know,

982

But truly I do fear it.

polonius

983

What said he?

ophelia

984

He took me by the wrist and held me hard,

985

Then goes he to the length of all his arm,

986

And with his other hand thus o’er his brow

987

He falls to such perusal of my face

988

As ’a would draw it. Long stayed he so.

989

At last, a little shaking of mine arm,

990

And thrice his head thus waving up and down,

991

He raised a sigh so piteous and profound

992

As it did seem to shatter all his bulk

993

And end his being. That done, he lets me go,

994

And, with his head over his shoulder turned,

995

He seemed to find his way without his eyes,

996

For out o’doors he went without their helps,

997

And to the last bended their light on me.

polonius

998

Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.

999

This is the very ecstasy of love,

1000

Whose violent property fordoes itself

1001

And leads the will to desperate undertakings

1002

As oft as any passions under heaven

1003

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.

1004

What, have you given him any hard words of late?

ophelia

1005

No, my good lord, but as you did command

1006

I did repel his letters and denied

1007

His access to me.

polonius

1008

That hath made him mad.

1009

I am sorry that with better heed and judgement

1010

I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle

1011

And meant to wrack thee. But beshrew my jealousy.

1012

By heaven, it is as proper to our age

1013

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions

1014

As it is common for the younger sort

1015

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.

1016

This must be known, which, being kept close, might move

1017

More grief to hide than hate to utter love.

1017.1

Come.

1017Exeunt.

1018[2.2]

1019Flourish.

1019Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

1020[with Attendants].

king

1021

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

1022

Moreover that we much did long to see you,

1023

The need we have to use you did provoke

1024

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard

1025

Of Hamlet’s transformation, so ^FI^F call it,

1026

Sith nor th’exterior nor the inward man

1027

Resembles that it was. What it should be

1028

More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him

1029

So much from th’understanding of himself

1030

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both

1031

That, being of so young days brought up with him

1032

And sith so neighboured to his youth and haviour,

1033

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

1034

Some little time, so by your companies

1035

To draw him on to pleasures and to gather

1036

So much as from occasion you may glean,

1036.1

Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,

1037

That opened lies within our remedy.

queen

1038

Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,

1039

And sure I am two men there is not living

1040

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

1041

To show us so much gentry and good will

1042

As to expend your time with us a while

1043

For the supply and profit of our hope,

1044

Your visitation shall receive such thanks

1045

As fits a king’s remembrance.

Rosencrantz

1046

Both your majesties

1047

Might by the sovereign power you have of us

1048

Put your dread pleasures more into command

1049

Than to entreaty.

guildenstern

1050

But we both obey

1051

And here give up ourselves in the full bent

1052

To lay our service freely at your feet

1053

To be commanded.

king

1054

Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

queen

1055

Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.

1056

And I beseech you instantly to visit

1057-8

My too much changèd son. — Go some of you

1059

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

guildenstern

1060

Heavens make our presence and our practices

1061

Pleasant and helpful to him.

queen

1062

Ay, amen.

1062Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and one or more Attendants].

1063Enter Polonius.

polonius

1064

Th’ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,

1065

Are joyfully returned.

king

1066

Thou still hast been the father of good news.

polonius

1067

Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege

1068

I hold my duty as I hold my soul,

1069

Both to my God, and to my gracious King;

1070

And I do think, or else this brain of mine

1071

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure

1072

As it hath used to do, that I have found

1073

The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.

king

1074

Oh, speak of that, that do I long to hear.

polonius

1075

Give first admittance to th’ambassadors.

1076

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.

king

1077

Thyself do grace to them and bring them in.

1077[Polonius goes to the door.]

1078

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, ^Fthat^F he hath found

1079

The head and source of all your son’s distemper.

queen

1080

I doubt it is no other but the main:

1081

His father’s death and our hasty marriage.

1082Enter Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius].

king

1083

Well, we shall sift him. — Welcome, my good friends.

1084

Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?

voltemand

1085

Most fair return of greetings and desires.

1086

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress

1087

His nephew’s levies, which to him appeared

1088

To be a preparation ’gainst the Polack;

1089

But, better looked into, he truly found

1090

It was against your highness. Whereat, grieved

1091

That so his sickness, age and impotence

1092

Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests

1093

On Fortinbras, which he in brief obeys,

1094

Receives rebuke from Norway and, in fine,

1095

Makes vow before his uncle never more

1096

To give th’assay of arms against your majesty.

1097

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,

1098

Gives him threescore thousand crowns in anual fee

1099

And his commission to employ those soldiers

1100

So levied (as before) against the Polack,

1101

With an entreaty, herein further shown,

1102

That it might please you to give quiet pass

1103

Through your dominions for this enterprise

1104

On such regards of safety and allowance

1105

As therein are set down.

king

1106

It likes us well,

1107

And at our more considered time we’ll read,

1108

Answer and think upon this business.

1109

Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labour.

1110

Go to your rest, at night we’ll feast together.

1111

Most welcome home.

1111Exeunt Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius].

polonius

1112

This business is ^Fvery^F well ended.

1113

My liege and madam, to expostulate

1114

What majesty should be, what duty is,

1115

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,

1116

Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.

1117

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit

1118

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes.

1119

I will be brief: your noble son is mad.

1120

Mad call I it, for to define true madness,

1121

What is’t but to be nothing else but mad?

1122

But let that go.

queen

1123

More matter with less art.

polonius

1124

Madam, I swear I use no art at all.

1125

That he’s mad ’tis true, ’tis true ’tis pity,

1126

And pity ’tis ’tis true — a foolish figure,

1127

But farewell it, for I will use no art.

1128

Mad let us grant him then, and now remains

1129

That we find out the cause of this effect,

1130

Or rather say the cause of this defect,

1131

For this effect defective comes by cause.

1132

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.

1132

Perpend.

1133

I have a daughter — have while she is mine —

1134

Who in her duty and obedience, mark,

1135

Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.

1136[Reads the letter.]

1137“To the celestial and my soul’s idol, the most beautified 1138Ophelia” — 1139That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase, “beautified” is a vile 1140phrase, but you shall hear: “thus in her excellent white 1141bosom, these —” etc.

queen

1142

Came this from Hamlet to her?

polonius

1143

Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful.

1144[Reads the] letter.

1144

“Doubt thou the stars are fire,

1145

Doubt that the sun doth move,

1146

Doubt truth to be a liar,

1147

But never doubt I love.

1148O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not art to 1149reckon my groans, but that I love thee best — oh, most best — believe 1150it. Adieu. 1151Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this 1152machine is to him, Hamlet.”

ErrorMetrica

1153

This in obedience hath my daughter shown me;

1154

And more above hath his solicitings,

1155

As they fell out, by time, by means, and place,

1156

All given to mine ear.

king

1157

But how hath she received his love?

polonius

1158

What do you think of me?

king

1159

As of a man faithful and honourable.

polonius

1160

I would fain prove so. But what might you think

1161

When I had seen this hot love on the wing

1162

(As I perceived it, I must tell you that,

1163

Before my daughter told me), what might you,

1164

Or my dear majesty your Queen here, think

1165

If I had played the desk or table-book,

1166

Or given my heart a working mute and dumb,

1167

Or looked upon this love with idle sight,

1168

What might you think? No, I went round to work

1169

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:

1170

“Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star.

1171

This must not be.” And then I prescripts gave her

1172

That she should lock herself from his resort,

1173

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens;

1174

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,

1175

And he, repellèd, a short tale to make,

1176

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,

1177

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

1178

Thence to a lightness, and by this declension

1179

Into the madness wherein now he raves

1180

And all we mourn for.

king

1181

Do you think ^F’tis^F this?

queen

1182

It may be, very like.

polonius

1183

Hath there been such a time — I would fain know that —

1184

That I have positively said ’tis so

1185

When it proved otherwise?

king

1186

Not that I know.

polonius

1187

Take this from this if this be otherwise.

1188

If circumstances lead me, I will find

1189

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

1190

Within the centre.

king

1191

How may we try it further?

polonius

1192-3

You know sometimes he walks four hours together

1193-4

Here in the lobby.

queen

1195

So he does, indeed.

polonius

1196

At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.

1197

Be you and I behind an arras then,

1198

Mark the encounter: if he love her not

1199

And be not from his reason fall’n thereon,

1200

Let me be no assistant for a state

1201

But keep a farm and carters.

king

1202

We will try it.

1203Enter Hamlet [reading on a book].

queen

1204-5

But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.

polonius

1206

Away, I do beseech you both, away.

1207-8

I’ll board him presently. Oh, give me leave.

1208Exeunt King and Queen [and Attendants].

1208

How does my good lord Hamlet?

hamlet

1209Well, God’a’mercy.

polonius

1210Do you know me, my lord?

hamlet

1211Excellent^F, excellent^F well, you are a fishmonger.

polonius

1212Not I, my lord.

hamlet

1213Then I would you were so honest a man.

polonius

1214Honest, my lord?

hamlet

1215Ay, sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to be 1216one man picked out of ten thousand.

polonius

1217That’s very true, my lord.

hamlet

1218For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, 1219being a good kissing carrion — 1220Have you a daughter?

polonius

1221I have, my lord.

hamlet

1222Let her not walk i’th’sun: conception is a 1223blessing, but ^Fnot^F as your daughter may conceive, friend, 1224look to’t.

polonius

1225[Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. 1226 Yet he knew me not at first, ’a said I was a fishmonger. 1227 ’A is far gone, ^Ffar gone,^F and truly in my youth 1228 I suffered much extremity for love, very near this. I’ll 1229 speak to him again. — What do you read, my lord?

hamlet

1230Words, words, words.

polonius

1231What is the matter, my lord?

hamlet

1232Between who?

polonius

1233I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

hamlet

1234Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here 1235that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, 1236their eyes purging thick amber and plumtree 1237gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, 1238together with most weak hams; all which, sir, though I 1239most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it 1240not honesty to have it thus set down. For ^Fyou^F yourself, 1241sir, shall grow old as I am: if like a crab you could 1242go backward.

polonius

1243[Aside] Though this be madness 1244 yet there is method in’t. — Will you walk 1245out of the air, my lord?

hamlet

1246Into my grave.

polonius

1247Indeed, that’s out of the air. 1248[Aside] How pregnant sometimes his replies are! 1249 A happiness 1250 that often madness hits on, 1251 which reason and sanity could not 1252 so prosperously be delivered of. 1253 I will leave him 1254 and suddenly contrive the means of meeting 1255 between him, and my daughter. — 1256My ^Fhonourable^F lord, I will ^Fmost humbly^F 1257take my leave of you.

hamlet

1258You cannot^F, sir,^F take from me anything that I 1259will not more willingly part withal, except my life, except my 1260life, except my life.

polonius

1261Fare you well, my lord.

hamlet

1262These tedious old fools.

1265Enter Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.

polonius

1263You go to seek the Lord Hamlet? There 1264he is.

rosencrantz

1266 [To Polonius] God save you, sir.

1266[Exit Polonius.]

guildenstern

1267My honoured lord.

rosencrantz

1268My most dear lord.

hamlet

1269My excellent good friends. How dost thou, 1270Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you 1271both?

rosencrantz

1272As the indifferent children of the earth.

guildenstern

1273Happy, in that we are not over-happy: on Fortune’s 1274cap we are not the very button.

hamlet

1275Nor the soles of her shoe.

rosencrantz

1276Neither, my lord.

hamlet

1277Then you live about her waist, or in the middle 1278of her favours.

guildenstern

1279Faith, her privates we.

hamlet

1280In the secret parts of Fortune — Oh, most true, 1281she is a strumpet. What news?

rosencrantz

1282None, my lord, but that the world’s grown 1283honest.

hamlet

1284Then is doomsday near. But your news is 1285not true. ^FLet me question more in particular: what have 1286you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune 1287that she sends you to prison hither?

guildenstern

1288Prison, my lord?

hamlet

1289Denmark’s a prison.

rosencrantz

1290Then is the world one.

hamlet

1291A goodly one, in which there are many confines, 1292wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o’th’ 1293worst.

rosencrantz

1294We think not so, my lord.

hamlet

1295Why, then ’tis none to you; for there is nothing 1296either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. To me it is 1297a prison.

rosencrantz

1298Why, then your ambition makes it one: ’tis 1299too narrow for your mind.

hamlet

1300O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and 1301count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that 1302I have bad dreams.

guildenstern

1303Which dreams indeed are ambition: for the 1304very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow 1305of a dream.

hamlet

1306A dream itself is but a shadow.

rosencrantz

1307Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and 1308light a quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow.

hamlet

1309Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs 1310and outstretched heroes the beggars’ shadows. 1311-2Shall we to th’court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.

rosencrantz, guildenstern

1313We’ll wait upon you.

hamlet

1314No such matter. I will not sort you with 1315the rest of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest 1316man, I am most dreadfully attended.^F But, in the beaten 1317way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?

rosencrantz

1318To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.

hamlet

1319Beggar that I am, I am everF

- Q2 ever
- F1 euen (mod. “even”)

poor in thanks, 1320but I thank you, and sure, dear friends, my thanks 1321are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it 1322your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come, 1323deal justly with me. Come, come, nay, speak.

guildenstern

1324What should we say, my lord?

hamlet

1325^FWhy!^F Anything but to th’purpose. You were 1326sent for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks, 1327which your modesties have not craft enough to colour. 1328I know the good King and Queen have sent for you.

rosencrantz

1329To what end, my lord?

hamlet

1330That you must teach me. But let me conjure 1331you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of 1332our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, 1333and by what more dear a better proposer can charge 1334you withal, be even and direct with me whether you 1335were sent for or no.

rosencrantz

1336What say you?

hamlet

1337Nay then, I have an eye of you! If you love me, 1338hold not off.

guildenstern

1339My lord, we were sent for.

hamlet

1340I will tell you why, so shall my anticipation 1341prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and 1342Queen moult no feather. I have of late, but wherefore 1343I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; 1344and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition 1345that this goodly frame the earth seems to me a sterile 1346promontory, this most excellent canopy the air, 1347look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof 1348fretted with golden fire, why, it appeareth nothing 1349to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. 1350What ^Fa^F piece of work is a man: how noble in 1351reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving, 1352how express and admirable in action, how like an angel 1353in apprehension, how like a god; the beauty of the 1354world; the paragon of animals. And yet to me, what is 1355this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me, ^Fno,^F 1356nor women neither, though by your smiling you seem 1357to say so.

rosencrantz

1358My lord, there was no such stuff in my 1359thoughts.

hamlet

1360Why did ye laugh then when I said “man delights 1361not me”?

rosencrantz

1362To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, 1363what Lenten entertainment the players shall receive 1364from you. We coted them on the way, and hither are 1365they coming to offer you service.

hamlet

1366He that plays the King shall be welcome (his 1367majesty shall have tribute on me), the Adventurous 1368Knight shall use his foil and target, the Lover shall 1369not sigh gratis, the Humorous Man shall end his part in 1370peace, ^Fthe Clown shall make those laugh whose lungs 1371are tickled o’th’sear,^F and the Lady shall say her mind 1372freely — or the blank verse shall halt for’t. What players 1373are they?

rosencrantz

1374Even those you were wont to take such delight in, 1375the tragedians of the city.

hamlet

1376How chances it they travel? Their residence 1377both in reputation and profit was better both 1378ways.

rosencrantz

1379I think their inhibition comes by the means 1380of the late innovation.

hamlet

1381Do they hold the same estimation they did 1382when I was in the city? Are they so followed?

rosencrantz

1383No, indeed are they not.

^Fhamlet

1384How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

rosencrantz

1385Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted 1386pace. But there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little 1387eyases, that cry out on the top of question and 1388are most tyrannically clapped for’t. These are now the 1389fashion, and so berattle the common stages (so they 1390call them) that many wearing rapiers are afraid of 1391goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.

hamlet

1392What, are they children? Who maintains ’em? 1393How are they escotted? Will they pursue the quality no 1394longer than they can sing? Will they not say afterwards 1395if they should grow themselves to common players (as 1396it is most like if their means are no better) their writers 1397do them wrong to make them exclaim against their 1398own succession?

rosencrantz

1399Faith, there has been much to-do on both sides, 1400and the nation holds it no sin to tar them to controversy. 1401There was for a while no money bid for argument 1402unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in 1403the question.

hamlet

1404Is’t possible?

guildenstern

1405Oh, there has been much throwing about of 1406brains.

hamlet

1407Do the boys carry it away?

rosencrantz

1408Ay, that they do, my lord, Hercules and his load too.^F

hamlet

1409It is not very strange, for my uncle is King of 1410Denmark, and those that would make mouths at him 1411while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred 1412ducats apiece for his picture in little. ’Sblood, there is something 1413in this more than natural, if philosophy could 1414find it out.

1415A flourish.

guildenstern

1416There are the players.

hamlet

1417Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your 1418hands, come then: th’appurtenance of welcome is fashion 1419and ceremony. Let me comply with you in this garb 1420lest my extent to the players, which I tell you must show 1421fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment 1422than yours. You are welcome. But my uncle-father 1423and aunt-mother are deceived.

guildenstern

1424In what, my dear lord?

hamlet

1425I am but mad north-north-west. When the 1426wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

1427Enter Polonius.

polonius

1428Well be with you, gentlemen.

hamlet

1429Hark you, Guildenstern, and you too, at each 1430ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet 1431out of his swaddling-clouts.

rosencrantz

1432Happily he is the second time come to them, for 1433they say an old man is twice a child.

hamlet

1434I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the 1435players. Mark it. — You say right, sir, ^Ffor^F o’Monday morning, 1436’twas then indeed.

polonius

1437My lord, I have news to tell you.

hamlet

1438My lord, I have news to tell you: 1439when Roscius was an actor in Rome —

polonius

1440The actors are come hither, my lord.

hamlet

1441Buzz, buzz.

polonius

1442Upon my honour.

hamlet

1443Then came each actor on his ass.

polonius

1444The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, 1445comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, 1446historical-pastoral, ^Ftragical-historical, tragical- 1447comical-historical-pastoral,^F scene individable, or poem 1448unlimited; Seneca cannot be too heavy nor Plautus 1449too light. For the law of writ and the liberty, these are 1450the only men.

hamlet

1451O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst 1452thou?

polonius

1453What a treasure had he, my lord?

hamlet

1454Why,

ErrorMetrica

1454

“One fair daughter and no more,

1455

The which he loved passing well.”

polonius

1456[Aside] Still on my daughter.

hamlet

1457Am I not i’th’right, old Jephthah?

polonius

1458If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter 1459that I love passing well.

hamlet

1460Nay, that follows not.

polonius

1461What follows then, my lord?

hamlet

1462Why,

ErrorMetrica

1462

“As by lot, God wot”,

1462

and then, you know,

1462-3

“It came to pass,

1463

as most like it was.”

1463The first row of the 1464pious chanson will show you more, for look where my 1465abridgment comes. Enter the Players. 1467You are welcome, masters, welcome all. — I am glad to see 1468thee well. — Welcome, good friends. — Oh, ^Fmy^F old friend, 1469why, thy face is valanced since I saw thee last. Com’st thou to 1470beard me in Denmark? What, my young lady and mistress! 1471By’ Lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when 1472I saw you last by the altitude of a chopine. Pray God 1473your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked 1474within the ring. — Masters, you are all welcome. We’ll e’en 1475to’t like French falc’ners, fly at anything we see. We’ll 1476have a speech straight. Come, give us a taste of your quality, 1477come, a passionate speech.

1 player

1478What speech, my good lord?

hamlet

1479I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was 1480never acted, or, if it was, not above once, for the play, I 1481remember, pleased not the million, ’twas caviary to the 1482general. But it was (as I received it, and others whose 1483judgements in such matters cried in the top of mine) an 1484excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down 1485with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said 1486there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savory, 1487nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the 1488author of affection, but called it an honest method, as 1488.1wholesome as sweet, and by very much, more handsome than fine. One 1489speech in’t I chiefly loved: ’twas Aeneas’ talk 1490to Dido, and there about of it especially when he speaks 1491of Priam’s slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at 1492this line — let me see, let me see:

ErrorMetrica

1492-3

“The rugged Pyrrhus, like th’Hyrcanian beast —”

1493’Tis not so, it begins with Pyrrhus:

ErrorMetrica

1494

“The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,

1495

Black as his purpose, did the night resemble

1496

When he lay couchèd in th’ominous horse,

1497

Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared

1498

With heraldry more dismal, head to foot.

1499

Now is he total gules, horridly tricked

1500

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,

1501

Baked and impasted with the parching streets

1502

That lend a tyrannous and a damnèd light

1503

To their lord’s murder; roasted in wrath and fire,

1504

And thus o’ersizèd with coagulate gore,

1505

With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus

1506

Old grandsire Priam seeks.” —

1506So proceed you.

polonius

1507’Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent 1508and good discretion.

1 player

1509

“Anon he finds him,

1510

Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword,

1511

Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,

1512

Repugnant to command. Unequal matched,

1513

Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide,

1514

But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword

1515

Th’unnervèd father falls. Then senseless Ilium,

1516

Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top

1517

Stoops to his base and with a hideous crash

1518

Takes prisoner Pyrrhus’ ear. For, lo, his sword,

1519

Which was declining on the milky head

1520

Of reverend Priam, seemed i’th’air to stick.

1521

So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood

1522

And, like a neutral to his will and matter,

1522

Did nothing.

1523

But as we often see against some storm

1524

A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,

1525

The bold winds speechless and the orb below

1526

As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder

1527

Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus’ pause

1528

A rousèd vengeance sets him new a-work,

1529

And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall

1530

On Mars’s armour, forged for proof eterne,

1531

With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword

1532

Now falls on Priam.

1533

Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods

1534

In general synod take away her power,

1535

Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel

1536

And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven

1537

As low as to the fiends.”

polonius

1538This is too long.

hamlet

1539It shall to the barber’s with your beard. Prithee, 1540say on, he’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he 1541sleeps. Say on, come to Hecuba.

1 Player

1542

“But who — ah, woe — had seen the mobled queen” —

hamlet

1543“The mobled queen.”

polonius

1544That’s good. ^F“Mobled queen” is good.^F

1 player

1545-6

— “Run barefoot up and down, threat’ning the flames

1547

With bisson rheum, a clout upon that head

1548

Where late the diadem stood and, for a robe,

1549

About her lank and all-o’erteemèd loins,

1550

A blanket in the alarm of fear caught up.

1551

Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steeped,

1552

’Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have pronounced.

1553

But if the gods themselves did see her then,

1554

When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport

1555

In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs,

1556

The instant burst of clamour that she made

1557

(Unless things mortal move them not at all)

1558

Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven

1559

And passion in the gods.”

polonius

1560Look whe’er he has not turned his colour and 1561has tears in’s eyes. — Prithee, no more.

hamlet

1562’Tis well. I’ll have thee speak out the rest of this 1563soon. — Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? 1564Do you hear, let them be well used, for they are 1565the abstract and brief chronicles of the time; after 1566your death you were better have a bad epitaph than 1567their ill report while you live.

polonius

1568-9My lord, I will use them according to their desert.

hamlet

1570God’s bodkin, man, much better. Use every man 1571after his desert, and who shall scape whipping? Use 1572them after your own honour and dignity: the less they 1573deserve the more merit is in your bounty. Take them 1574in.

polonius

1575Come, sirs.

hamlet

1576Follow him, friends. We’ll hear a play tomorrow. 1577— Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play 1578The Murder of Gonzago?

1 player

1579Ay, my lord.

hamlet

1580We’ll ha’t tomorrow night. You could for need 1581study a speech of some dozen lines, or sixteen lines, which 1582I would set down and insert in’t, could you not?

1 player

1583Ay, my lord.

hamlet

1584Very well. Follow that lord, and look you 1585mock him not. — My good friends, I’ll leave you till night. 1586You are welcome to Elsinore.

1586.1/1575Exeunt Polonius and Players.

rosencrantz

1587Good my lord.

1587-8Exeunt [all but Hamlet].

hamlet

1589

Ay, so, God-bye to you. Now I am alone.

1590

Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!

1591

Is it not monstrous that this player here,

1592

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,

1593

Could force his soul so to his own conceit

1594

That from her working, all the visage wanned,

1595

Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,

1596

A broken voice, an’ his whole function suiting

1597

With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing.

1598

For Hecuba.

1599

What’s Hecuba to him, or he to her,

1600

That he should weep for her? What would he do

1601

Had he the motive and the cue for passion

1602

That I have? He would drown the stage with tears

1603

And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,

1604

Make mad the guilty and appal the free,

1605

Confound the ignorant and amaze indeed

1606

The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,

1607

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak

1608

Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,

1609

And can say nothing — no, not for a king,

1610

Upon whose property and most dear life

1611

A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?

1612

Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across,

1613

Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face,

1614

Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i’th’throat

1615

As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this?

1616

Ha! ’Swounds, I should take it; for it cannot be

1617

But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall

1618

To make oppression bitter, or ere this

1619

I should ’a’ fatted all the region kites

1620

With this slave’s offal. Bloody, bawdy villain —

1621

Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!

1622

^FOh, vengeance!^F

1623

Why, what an ass am I: ^Fay, sure,^F this is most brave,

1624

That I, the son of a dear murderèd,

1625

Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,

1626

Must like a whore unpack my heart with words

1627

And fall a-cursing like a very drab,

1628

A stallion. Fie upon’t, foh!

1628

About, my brains! Hum, I have heard,

1629

That guilty creatures sitting at a play

1630

Have by the very cunning of the scene

1631

Been struck so to the soul that presently

1632

They have proclaimed their malefactions.

1633

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

1634

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players

1635

Play something like the murder of my father

1636

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks.

1637

I’ll tent him to the quick. If ’a do blench,

1638

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen

1639

May be a de’il, and the de’il hath power

1640

T’assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps

1641

Out of my weakness and my melancholy,

1642

As he is very potent with such spirits,

1643

Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds

1644

More relative than this. The play’s the thing

1645

Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.

1645Exit.

1645.1[3.1]

1646Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz,

1647Guildenstern, [and] Lords.

king

1648

And can you by no drift of conference

1649

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,

1650

Grating so harshly all his days of quiet

1651

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

rosencrantz

1652

He does confess he feels himself distracted,

1653

But from what cause ’a will by no means speak.

guildenstern

1654

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,

1655

But with a crafty madness keeps aloof

1656

When we would bring him on to some confession

1657

Of his true state.

queen

1658

Did he receive you well?

rosencrantz

1659

Most like a gentleman.

guildenstern

1660

But with much forcing of his disposition.

rosencrantz

1661

Niggard of question, but of our demands

1662

Most free in his reply.

queen

1663

Did you assay him to any pastime?

rosencrantz

1664

Madam, it so fell out that certain players

1665

We o’erraught on the way. Of these we told him

1666

And there did seem in him a kind of joy

1667

To hear of it. They are here about the court

1668

And, as I think, they have already order

1669

This night to play before him.

polonius

1670

’Tis most true,

1671

And he beseeched me to entreat your majesties

1672

To hear and see the matter.

king

1673

With all my heart, and it doth much content me

1674

To hear him so inclined.

1674-5

Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,

1675-6

And drive his purpose into these delights.

rosencrantz

1677

We shall, my lord.

1677Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and Lords].

king

1678

Sweet Gertrude, leave us two,

1679

For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,

1680

That he, as ’twere by accident, may here

1681

Affront Ophelia. Her father and myself ^F(lawful espials)^F

1682

We’ll so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,

1683

We may of their encounter frankly judge

1684

And gather by him as he is behaved,

1685

If’t be th’affliction of his love or no

1686

That thus he suffers for.

queen

1687

I shall obey you.

1688

And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish

1689

That your good beauties be the happy cause

1690

Of Hamlet’s wildness. So shall I hope your virtues

1691

Will bring him to his wonted way again

1692

To both your honours.

ophelia

1693

Madam, I wish it may.

1693[Exit Queen.]

polonius

1694

Ophelia, walk you here. — Gracious, so please you,

1695

We will bestow ourselves. — Read on this book,

1696

That show of such an exercise may colour

1697

Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this,

1698

(’Tis too much proved) that with devotion’s visage

1699

And pious action we do sugar o’er

1700

The devil himself.

king

1701

Oh, ’tis too true.

1702

[Aside]

How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!

1703

The harlot’s cheek beautied with plastering art

1704

Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it

1705

Than is my deed to my most painted word.

1706

Oh, heavy burden!

1709Enter Hamlet.

polonius

1707

I hear him coming: ^Flet's^F withdraw, my lord.

1708[Exeunt King and Polonius.]

hamlet

1710

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

1711

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

1712

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

1713

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

1714

And by opposing, end them. To die — to sleep,

1715

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

1716

The heartache and the thousand natural shocks

1717

That flesh is heir to. ’Tis a consumation

1718

Devoutly to be wished: to die to sleep;

1719

To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there’s the rub,

1720

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

1721

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil

1722

Must give us pause. There’s the respect

1723

That makes calamity of so long life:

1724

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

1725

Th’oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,

1726

The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,

1727

The insolence of office and the spurns

1728

That patient merit of th’unworthy takes,

1729

When he himself might his quietus make

1730

With a bare bodkin? Who would ^Fthese^F fardels bear

1731

To grunt and sweat under a weary life

1732

But that the dread of something after death

1733

(The undiscovered country from whose bourn

1734

No traveller returns) puzzles the will

1735

And makes us rather bear those ills we have

1736

Than fly to others that we know not of?

1737

Thus conscience does make cowards ^Fof us all^F,

1738

And thus the native hue of resolution

1739

Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,

1740

And enterprises of great pitch and moment

1741

With this regard their currents turn awry

1742

And lose the name of action. Soft you now,

1743

The fair Ophelia. Nymph, in thy orisons

1744

Be all my sins remembered.

ophelia

1745

Good my lord,

1746

How does your honour for this many a day?

hamlet

1747

I humbly thank you, ^Fwell, well,^F well.

ophelia

1748

My lord, I have remembrances of yours

1749

That I have longèd long to redeliver.

1750

I pray you now receive them.

hamlet

1751

No, not I, I never gave you aught.

ophelia

1752

My honoured lord, you know right well you did,

1753

And with them words of so sweet breath composed

1754

As made these things more rich. Their perfume lost,

1755

Take these again, for to the noble mind

1756

Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.

1757

There, my lord.

hamlet

1758

Ha, ha, are you honest?

ophelia

1759

My lord?

hamlet

1760

Are you fair?

ophelia

1761

What means your lordship?

hamlet

1762That if you be honest and fair, you 1763should admit no discourse to your beauty.

ophelia

1764Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce 1765than with honesty?

hamlet

1766Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner 1767transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the 1768force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness. 1769This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it 1770proof. I did love you once.

ophelia

1771Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

hamlet

1772You should not have believed me. For virtue 1773cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish 1774of it. I loved you not.

ophelia

1775I was the more deceived.

hamlet

1776Get thee to a nunn’ry. Why wouldst thou 1777be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, 1778but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better 1779my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, 1780ambitious, with more offences at my beck 1781than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give 1782them shape, or time to act them in. What should such 1783fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? 1784We are arrant knaves ^Fall^F , believe none of us. Go thy 1785ways to a nunn’ry. Where’s your father?

ophelia

1786At home, my lord.

hamlet

1787Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may 1788play the fool nowhere but in’s own house. Farewell.

ophelia

1789Oh, help him, you sweet heavens!

hamlet

1790If thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague 1791for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, 1792thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunn’ry. 1793^FGo.^F Farewell. Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, 1794for wise men know well enough what monsters you 1795make of them. To a nunn’ry, go, and quickly too. 1796Farewell.

ophelia

1797Heavenly powers, restore him.

hamlet

1798I have heard of your paintings ^Ftoo^F well enough. 1799God hath given you one face and you make yourselves another. 1800You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname 1801God’s creatures, and make your wantoness ignorance. 1802Go to, I’ll no more on’t, it hath made me mad. 1803I say we will have no mo marriage. Those that are 1804married already, all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep 1805as they are. To a nunn’ry, go.

1805Exit.

ophelia

1806

Oh, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!

1807

The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword,

1808

Th’expectation and rose of the fair state,

1809

The glass of fashion and the mould of form,

1810

Th’observed of all observers, quite quite down.

1811

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,

1812

That sucked the honey of his musiced vows,

1813

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason

1814

Like sweet bells jangled out of time and harsh;

1815

That unmatched form and stature of blown youth

1816

Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me

1817

T’have seen what I have seen, see what I see.

1818Enter King and Polonius.

king

1819

Love — his affections do not that way tend,

1820

Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little,

1821

Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul

1822

O’er which his melancholy sits on brood,

1823

And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose

1824

Will be some danger; which for to prevent,

1825

I have in quick determination

1826

Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England

1827

For the demand of our neglected tribute.

1828

Haply the seas and countries different,

1829

With variable objects, shall expel

1830

This something-settled matter in his heart

1831

Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus

1832

From fashion of himself. What think you on’t?

polonius

1833

It shall do well. But yet do I believe

1834

The origin and commencement of his grief

1835

Sprung from neglected love. — How now, Ophelia?

1836

You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said,

1837

We heard it all. — My lord, do as you please,

1838

But if you hold it fit, after the play,

1839

Let his Queen-mother all alone entreat him

1840

To show his grief, let her be round with him,

1841

And I’ll be placed (so please you) in the ear

1842

Of all their conference. If she find him not,

1843

To England send him, or confine him where

1844

Your wisdom best shall think.

king

1845

It shall be so.

1846

Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.

1847Exeunt.

1847.1[3.2]

1848Enter Hamlet and three of the Players.

hamlet

1849Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced 1850it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it 1851as many of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier 1852spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much 1853with your hand thus, but use all gently; for, in the very torrent, 1854tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind of your 1855passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that 1856may give it smoothness. Oh, it offends me to the soul 1857to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion 1858to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the 1859groundlings, who for the most part are capable of 1860nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise. I would 1861have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant: it 1862out-Herods Herod. Pray you avoid it.

player

1863I warrant your honour.

hamlet

1864Be not too tame neither, but let your own 1865discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the word, 1866the word to the action, with this special observance: 1867that you o’erstep not the modesty of nature. For anything 1868so o’erdone is from the purpose of playing, whose 1869end, both at the first and now, was and is to hold, as ’twere, 1870the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her ^Fown^F 1871feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and 1872body of the time his form and pressure. Now this 1873overdone, or come tardy off, though it makes the unskilful 1874laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve, the 1875censure of which one must in your allowance o’erweigh 1876a whole theatre of others. Oh, there be players 1877that I have seen play and heard others praise, and that 1878highly, not to speak it profanely, that neither having 1879th’accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, 1880nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have 1881thought some of Nature’s journeymen had made men, 1882and not made them well, they imitated humanity so 1883“abhominably.”

player

1884I hope we have reformed that indifferently with 1885us.

hamlet

1886Oh, reform it altogether, and let those that 1887play your clowns speak no more than is set down for 1888them, for there be of them that will themselves laugh 1889to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh 1890too, though in the meantime some necessary question 1891of the play be then to be considered. That’s villainous, and 1892shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses 1893it. Go make you ready. [Exeunt Players.] 1895How now, my lord, 1896will the King hear this piece of work?

1894Enter Polonius, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.

polonius

1897And the Queen too, and that presently.

hamlet

1898Bid the players make haste.

1898[Exit Polonius.]

ErrorMetrica

1899

Will you two help to hasten them?

rosencrantz

1900

Ay, my lord.

1900Exeunt they two.

hamlet

1902

What ho, Horatio!

1901Enter Horatio.

horatio

1903

Here, sweet lord, at your service.

hamlet

1904

Horatio, thou art e’en as just a man

1905

As e’er my conversation coped withal.

horatio

1906

Oh, my dear lord —

hamlet

1907

Nay, do not think I flatter,

1908

For what advancement may I hope from thee

1909

That no revenue hast but thy good spirits

1910

To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered?

1911

No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp

1912

And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee

1913

Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?

1914

Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice

1915

And could of men distinguish her election,

1916

Sh’hath sealed thee for herself, for thou hast been

1917

As one in suff’ring all that suffers nothing,

1918

A man that Fortune’s buffets and rewards

1919

Hast ta’en with equal thanks. And blest are those

1920

Whose blood and judgement are so well co-meddled

1921

That they are not a pipe for Fortune’s finger

1922

To sound what stop she please. Give me that man

1923

That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him

1924

In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,

1925

As I do thee. Something too much of this.

1926

There is a play tonight before the King.

1927

One scene of it comes near the circumstance

1928

Which I have told thee of my father’s death.

1929

I prithee, when thou see’st that act afoot,

1930

Even with the very comment of thy soul,

1931

Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt

1932

Do not itself unkennel in one speech,

1933

It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,

1934

And my imaginations are as foul

1935

As Vulcan’s stithy. Give him heedful note,

1936

For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,

1937

And after, we will both our judgements join

1938

In censure of his seeming.

horatio

1939

Well, my lord.

1940

If ’a steal aught the whilst this play is playing

1941

And scape detected, I will pay the theft.

1942Enter Trumpets and Kettledrums, King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, [Rosencrantz,

1943Guildenstern, and other Lords attendant.] ^Fwith

1944his Guard carrying torches. Danish

1945march. Sound a Flourish.^F

hamlet

1946They are coming to the play. I must be idle. 1947Get you a place.

king

1948How fares our cousin Hamlet?

hamlet

1949Excellent, i’faith, of the chameleon’s dish: I eat 1950the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so.

king

1951I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet, these 1952words are not mine.

hamlet

1953No, nor mine now, my lord. [To Polonius] You played once 1954i’th’university, you say?

polonius

1955That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good 1956actor —

hamlet

1957What did you enact?

polonius

1958I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i’th’Capitol. 1959Brutus killed me.

hamlet

1960It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a 1961calf there. — Be the players ready?

rosencrantz

1962Ay, my lord, they stay upon your patience.

queen

1963Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.

hamlet

1964No, good mother, here’s metal more attractive.

polonius

1965 [To the King] Oh ho, do you mark that?

hamlet

1966Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

ophelia

1967No, my lord.

^Fhamlet

1968I mean, my head upon your lap?

ophelia

1969Ay, my lord.^F

hamlet

1970Do you think I meant country matters?

ophelia

1971I think nothing, my lord.

hamlet

1972That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs.

ophelia

1973What is, my lord?

hamlet

1974Nothing.

ophelia

1975You are merry, my lord.

hamlet

1976Who, I?

ophelia

1977Ay, my lord.

hamlet

1978O God, your only jig-maker. What should 1979a man do but be merry? For look you how cheerfully 1980my mother looks, and my father died within’s two 1981hours.

ophelia

1982Nay, ’tis twice two months, my lord.

hamlet

1983So long? Nay then, let the dev’l wear black, 1984for I’ll have a suit of sables. O heavens, die two months 1985ago and not forgotten yet! Then there’s hope a 1986great man’s memory may outlive his life half a year. 1987But, by’r Lady, ’a must build churches then, or else shall 1988’a suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose 1989epitaph is “For oh, for oh, the hobby-horse is forgot!”

1990The Trumpets sounds. Dumb-show follows.

1991Enter a king and a queen, ^Fvery lovingly,^F the queen embracing

1992him and he her. ^FShe kneels and makes show of protestation unto

1993him.^F He takes her up and declines his head upon her neck; he

1994lies him down upon a bank of flowers. She, seeing him

1995asleep, leaves him. Anon come in another man, takes off his

1996crown, kisses it, pours poison in the sleeper’s ears, and

1997leaves him. The queen returns, finds the king dead,

1998makes passionate action. The poisoner with some three or

1999four come in again, seem to condole with her.

2000The dead body is carried away. The poisoner woos the

2001queen with gifts. She seems harsh awhile,

2002but in the end accepts love.

2002[Exeunt Players].

ophelia

2003What means this, my lord?

hamlet

2004Marry, this’ munching Malicho — it means 2005mischief.

ophelia

2006Belike this show imports the argument of the 2007play.

2016Enter Prologue.

hamlet

2008We shall know by this fellow. The players 2009cannot keep counsel, they’ll tell all.

ophelia

2010Will ’a tell us what this show meant?

hamlet

2011Ay, or any show that you will show him. Be not 2012you ashamed to show, he’ll not shame to tell you what it 2013means.

ophelia

2014You are naught, you are naught. I’ll mark the 2015play.

prologue

2017

For us and for our tragedy,

2018

Here stooping to your clemency

2019

We beg your hearing patiently.

2019[Exit.]

hamlet

2020Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?

ophelia

2021’Tis brief, my lord.

hamlet

2022As woman’s love.

2023Enter [two Players as] King and Queen.

player king

2024

Full thirty times hath Phoebus’ cart gone round

2025

Neptune’s salt wash and Tellus’ orbèd ground,

2026

And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen

2027

About the world have times twelve thirties been

2028

Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands

2029

Unite commutual in most sacred bands.

player queen

2030

So many journeys may the sun and moon

2031

Make us again count o’er ere love be done.

2032

But woe is me, you are so sick of late,

2033

So far from cheer and from our former state,

2034

That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,

2035

Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must.

2035.1

For women fear too much, even as they love,

2036

And women’s fear and love hold quantity,

2037

In neither ought, or in extremity.

2038

Now what my love is proof hath made you know,

2039

And, as my love is sized, my fear is so.

2039.1

Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;

2039.2

Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.

player king

2040

Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too:

2041

My operant powers their functions leave to do;

2042

And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,

2043

Honoured, beloved, and haply one as kind

2044

For husband shalt thou —

player queen

2045

Oh, confound the rest!

2046

Such love must needs be treason in my breast.

2047

In second husband let me be accursed.

2048

None wed the second but who killed the first.

hamlet

2049That’s wormwood.

player queen

2050

The instances that second marriage move

2051

Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.

2052

A second time I kill my husband dead

2053

When second husband kisses me in bed.

player king

2054

I do believe you think what now you speak.

2055

But what we do determine oft we break.

2056

Purpose is but the slave to memory,

2057

Of violent birth but poor validity,

2058

Which now, the fruit unripe, sticks on the tree,

2059

But fall unshaken when they mellow be.

2060

Most necessary ’tis that we forget

2061

To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt.

2062

What to ourselves in passion we propose,

2063

The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.

2064

The violence of either grief or joy

2065

Their own enactures with themselves destroy.

2066

Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;

2067

Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.

2068

This world is not for aye, nor ’tis not strange

2069

That even our loves should with our fortunes change,

2070

For ’tis a question left us yet to prove

2071

Whether Love lead Fortune, or else Fortune Love.

2072

The great man down, you mark his favourite flies;

2073

The poor advanced makes friends of enemies;

2074

And hitherto doth Love on Fortune tend:

2075

For who not needs shall never lack a friend,

2076

And who in want a hollow friend doth try

2077

Directly seasons him his enemy.

2078

But orderly to end where I begun,

2079

Our wills and fates do so contrary run

2080

That our devices still are overthrown:

2081

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own.

2082

So think thou wilt no second husband wed,

2083

But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.

player queen

2084

Nor earth to me give food nor heaven light,

2085

Sport and repose lock from me day and night,

2085.1

To desperation turn my trust and hope,

2085.2

An anchor’s cheer in prison be my scope,

2086

Each opposite that blanks the face of joy

2087

Meet what I would have well and it destroy,

2088

Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,

2089

If once I be a widow ever I be a wife.

hamlet

2090If she should break it now.

player king

2091-2

’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile.

2093

My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile

2094

The tedious day with sleep.

player queen

2095

Sleep rock thy brain,

2095[He sleeps.]

2096

And never come mischance between us twain.

2096Exit.

hamlet

2097Madam, how like you this play?

queen

2098The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

hamlet

2099Oh, but she’ll keep her word.

king

2100Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence 2101in’t?

hamlet

2102No, no, they do but jest — poison in jest, no offence 2103i’th’world.

king

2104What do you call the play?

hamlet

2105The Mousetrap. Marry, how tropically! 2106This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna. Gonzago 2107is the duke’s name; his wife, Baptista. You shall see 2108anon. ’Tis a knavish piece of work, but what of that? 2109Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches 2110us not. Let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung. Enter Lucianus. 2112This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king.

ophelia

2113You are as good as a chorus, my lord.

hamlet

2114I could interpret between you and your love 2115if I could see the puppets dallying.

ophelia

2116You are keen, my lord, you are keen.

hamlet

2117It would cost you a groaning to take off mine 2118edge.

ophelia

2119Still better and worse.

hamlet

2120So you mis-take your husbands. — 2121Begin, murderer. ^FPox!^F Leave thy damnable faces and 2122begin. Come: “the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge.”

lucianus

2124-5

Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing,

2126

Confederate season, else no creature seeing,

2127

Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,

2128

With Hecate’s ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,

2129

Thy natural magic and dire property

2130

On wholesome life usurps immediately.

2131[Pours the poison in his ears.]

hamlet

2132’A poisons him i’th’garden for his estate. His 2133name’s Gonzago. The story is extant and written in very choice 2134Italian. You shall see anon how the murderer gets the 2135love of Gonzago’s wife.

ophelia

2136The King rises.

^Fhamlet

2137What, frighted with false fire?^F

queen

2138How fares my lord?

polonius

2139Give o’er the play.

king

2140Give me some light. Away!

polonius

2141Lights, lights, lights!

2141Exeunt

2142all but Hamlet and Horatio.

hamlet

2143

Why, let the stricken deer go weep,

2144

The hart ungalled play,

2145

For some must watch while some must sleep.

2146

Thus runs the world away.

2147Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers, if the rest of 2148my fortunes turn Turk with me, with ^Ftwo^F Provincial 2149roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry 2150of players?

horatio

2151Half a share.

hamlet

2152A whole one, I.

ErrorMetrica

2153

For thou dost know, O Damon dear,

2154

This realm dismantled was

2154-5

Of Jove himself, and now reigns here

2156

A very, very — pajock.

horatio

2157You might have rhymed.

hamlet

2158O good Horatio, I’ll take the Ghost’s word for 2159a thousand pound. Didst perceive?

horatio

2160Very well, my lord.

hamlet

2161Upon the talk of the poisoning?

horatio

2162I did very well note him.

2163Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

hamlet

2164Ah ha! Come, some music! Come, the recorders!

ErrorMetrica

2165

For, if the King like not the comedy,

2166

Why then belike he likes it not, perdie.

2167Come, some music!

guildenstern

2168Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.

hamlet

2169Sir, a whole history.

guildenstern

2170The King, sir —

hamlet

2171Ay, sir, what of him?

guildenstern

2172— is in his retirement marvellous distempered.

hamlet

2173With drink, sir?

guildenstern

2174No, my lord, ^Frather^F with choler —

hamlet

2175Your wisdom should show itself more richer 2176to signify this to the doctor, for, for me to put him 2177to his purgation, would perhaps plunge him into ^Ffar^F 2178more choler.

guildenstern

2179Good my lord, put your discourse into some 2180frame, and start not so wildly from my affair.

hamlet

2181I am tame, sir. Pronounce.

guildenstern

2182The Queen your mother in most great affliction 2183of spirit hath sent me to you.

hamlet

2184You are welcome.

guildenstern

2185Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of 2186the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome 2187answer, I will do your mother’s commandement. 2188If not, your pardon and my return shall be the end of 2189^Fmy^F business.

hamlet

2190Sir, I cannot.

rosencrantz

2191What, my lord?

hamlet

2192Make you a wholesome answer: my wit’s diseased. 2193But, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command, 2194or rather, as you say, my mother. Therefore no more, 2195but to the matter. My mother, you say —

rosencrantz

2196Then thus she says: your behaviour hath struck 2197her into amazement and admiration.

hamlet

2198Oh, wonderful son that can so ’stonish a 2199mother! But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother’s 2200admiration? Impart.

rosencrantz

2201She desires to speak with you in her closet 2202ere you go to bed.

hamlet

2203We shall obey, were she ten times our mother. 2204Have you any further trade with us?

rosencrantz

2205My lord, you once did love me.

hamlet

2206And do still, by these pickers and stealers.

rosencrantz

2207Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? 2208You do surely bar the door upon your own liberty 2209if you deny your griefs to your friend.

hamlet

2210Sir, I lack advancement.

rosencrantz

2211How can that be, when you have the voice of 2212the King himself for your succession in Denmark?

hamlet

2213Ay, sir, but while the grass grows — the proverb is 2214something musty. — Enter the Players with recorders. 2216Oh, the recorders! Let me see one. — To withdraw with you, why 2217do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you 2218would drive me into a toil?

guildenstern

2219O my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love 2220is too unmannerly.

hamlet

2221I do not well understand that. Will you play 2222upon this pipe?

guildenstern

2223My lord, I cannot.

hamlet

2224I pray you.

guildenstern

2225Believe me, I cannot.

hamlet

2226I do beseech you.

guildenstern

2227I know no touch of it, my lord.

hamlet

2228It is as easy as lying: govern these ventages 2229with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your 2230mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. 2231Look you, these are the stops.

guildenstern

2232But these cannot I command to any utterance 2233of harmony. I have not the skill.

hamlet

2234Why, look you now how unworthy a thing 2235you make of me: you would play upon me, you would 2236seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the heart 2237of my mystery, you would sound me from my lowest 2238note to ^Fthe top of^F my compass, and there is much music, 2239excellent voice in this little organ, yet cannot 2240you make it speak. ’Sblood! Do you think I am easier to be 2241played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, 2242though you fret me you cannot play upon me. God 2243bless you, sir.

2244Enter Polonius.

polonius

2245My lord, the Queen would speak with you, 2246and presently.

hamlet

2247Do you see yonder cloud that’s almost in shape 2248of a camel?

polonius

2249By th’mass, and ’tis, like a camel indeed.

hamlet

2250Methinks it is like a weasel.

polonius

2251It is backed like a weasel.

hamlet

2252Or like a whale.

polonius

2253Very like a whale.

hamlet

2254Then I will come to my mother by and by. 2255[Aside] They fool me to the top of my bent. 2256 [To Polonius] — I will come by and by. 2258 [To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] — Leave me, friends. 2257 [To Polonius] I will, say so. 2258“By and by” is easily said.

2258[Exeunt all but Hamlet.]

ErrorMetrica

2259

’Tis now the very witching time of night

2260

When churchyards yawn and hell itself breaks out

2261

Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood

2262

And do such bitter business as the day

2263

Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.

2264

O heart, lose not thy nature. Let not ever

2265

The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom;

2266

Let me be cruel, not unnatural.

2267

I will speak daggers to her, but use none.

2268

My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites.

2269

How in my words somever she be shent

2270

To give them seals never my soul consent.

2270Exit

2270.1[3.3]

2271Enter King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

king

2272

I like him not, nor stands it safe with us

2273

To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you:

2274

I your commission will forthwith dispatch,

2275

And he to England shall along with you.

2276

The terms of our estate may not endure

2277

Hazard so near’s as doth hourly grow

2278

Out of his brows.

guildenstern

2279

We will ourselves provide.

2280

Most holy and religious fear it is

2281

To keep those many many bodies safe

2282

That live and feed upon your majesty.

rosencrantz

2283-4

The single and peculiar life is bound

2285

With all the strength and armour of the mind

2286

To keep itself from noyance, but much more

2287

That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests

2288

The lives of many. The cess of majesty

2289

Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw

2290

What’s near it with it; or it is a massy wheel

2291

Fixed on the summit of the highest mount

2292

To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things

2293

Are mortised and adjoined, which, when it falls,

2294

Each small annexment, petty consequence,

2295

Attends the boist’rous ruin. Never alone

2296

Did the King sigh but with a general groan.

king

2297

Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage,

2298

For we will fetters put about this fear

2299

Which now goes too free-footed.

rosencrantz

2300

We will haste us.

2300Exeunt Gentlemen [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern].

2301Enter Polonius.

polonius

2302

My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet.

2303

Behind the arras I’ll convey myself

2304

To hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home,

2305

And, as you said (and wisely was it said),

2306

’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother,

2307

Since nature makes them partial, should o’erhear

2308

The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege,

2309

I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed

2310

And tell you what I know.

king

2311

Thanks, dear my lord. —

2311Exit [Polonius].

2312

Oh, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven,

2313

It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t,

2314

A brother’s murder. Pray can I not,

2315

Though inclination be as sharp as will,

2316

My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,

2317

And, like a man to double business bound,

2318

I stand in pause where I shall first begin

2319

And both neglect. What if this cursed hand

2320

Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood?

2321

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens

2322

To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy

2323

But to confront the visage of offence?

2324

And what’s in prayer but this twofold force,

2325

To be forestallèd ere we come to fall

2326

Or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up.

2327

My fault is past, but oh, what form of prayer

2328

Can serve my turn? “Forgive me my foul murder?”

2329

That cannot be since I am still possessed

2330

Of those effects for which I did the murder:

2331

My crown, mine own ambition and my Queen.

2332

May one be pardoned and retain th’offence?

2333

In the corrupted currents of this world

2334

Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice,

2335

And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself

2336

Buys out the law; but ’tis not so above,

2337

There is no shuffling, there the action lies

2338

In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled

2339

Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults

2340

To give in evidence. What then? What rests?

2341

Try what repentance can. What can it not?

2342

Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?

2343

O wretched state, O bosom black as death,

2344

O limèd soul, that, struggling to be free,

2345

Art more engaged! Help, angels, make assay.

2346

Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel

2346[Kneels?]

2347

Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe.

2348

All may be well.

2349Enter Hamlet.

hamlet

2350

Now might I do it — but now ’a is a-praying.

2351

And now I’ll do’t

[Draws his sword.]

— and so ’a goes to heaven,

2352

And so am I revenged. That would be scanned:

2353

A villain kills my father, and for that

2354

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

2355

To heaven.

2355

Why, this is base and silly, not revenge.

2356

’A took my father grossly, full of bread,

2357

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,

2358

And how his audit stands who knows save heaven,

2359

But in our circumstance and course of thought

2360

’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged

2361

To take him in the purging of his soul

2362

When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?

2362

No.

2363

Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent:

2364

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,

2365

Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed,

2366

At game a-swearing, or about some act

2367

That has no relish of salvation in’t,

2368

Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven

2369

And that his soul may be as damned and black

2370

As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays.

2371

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.

2371Exit.

king

2372

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.

2373

Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

2373Exit.

2373.1[3.4]

2374Enter [Queen] Gertrude and Polonius.

polonius

2375

’A will come straight.

2376

Look you lay home to him.

2377

Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with,

2378

And that your grace hath screened and stood between

2379

Much heat and him. I’ll silence me even here.

2380

Pray you be round ^Fwith him^F.

^Fhamlet

2381

Within

Mother, mother, mother.^F

queen

2382

I’ll warrant you, fear me not.

2383

Withdraw, I hear him coming.

2383[Polonius hides behind the arras.]

2384Enter Hamlet.

hamlet

2385

Now, mother, what’s the matter?

queen

2386

Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

hamlet

2387

Mother, you have my father much offended.

queen

2388

Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

hamlet

2389

Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.

queen

2390

Why, how now, Hamlet?

hamlet

2391

What’s the matter now?

queen

2392

Have you forgot me?

hamlet

2393

No, by the rood, not so,

2394

You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife,

2395

And, would it were not so, you are my mother.

queen

2396

Nay, then I’ll set those to you that can speak.

hamlet

2397-8

Come, come, and sit you down, you shall not budge.

2399

You go not till I set you up a glass

2400

Where you may see the inmost part of you.

queen

2401

What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?

2402

Help, ^Fhelp,^F ho!

polonius

2403

[Behind the arras.]

What ho! Help! ^FHelp, help!^F

hamlet

2404

How now, a rat! Dead for a ducat, dead!

2404[Kills Polonius.]

polonius

2405

[Behind the arras.]

Oh, I am slain.

queen

2406

O me, what hast thou done?

hamlet

2407

Nay, I know not. Is it the King?

queen

2408

Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this!

hamlet

2409

A bloody deed — almost as bad, good mother,

2410

As kill a king and marry with his brother.

queen

2411

As kill a king?

hamlet

2412

Ay, lady, it was my word. —

2412[Discovers Polonius.]

2413

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell.

2414

I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune.

2415

Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger. —

2416

Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit you down

2417

And let me wring your heart, for so I shall,

2418

If it be made of penetrable stuff,

2419

If damnèd custom have not brazed it so

2420

That it be proof and bulwark against sense.

queen

2421

What have I done that thou dar’st wag thy tongue

2422

In noise so rude against me?

hamlet

2423

Such an act

2424

That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,

2425

Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose

2426

From the fair forehead of an innocent love

2427

And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows

2428

As false as dicers’ oaths — oh, such a deed

2429

As from the body of contraction plucks

2430

The very soul, and sweet religion makes

2431

A rhapsody of words. Heaven’s face does glow

2432

O’er this solidity and compound mass

2433

With heated visage, as against the doom

2434

Is thought-sick at the act.

queen

2435

Ay me, what act

2435-6

That roars so loud and thunders in the index?

hamlet

2437

Look here upon this picture, and on this,

2438

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.

2439

See what a grace was seated on his brow,

2440

Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself,

2441

An eye like Mars to threaten and command,

2442

A station like the herald Mercury,

2443

New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill,

2444

A combination and a form indeed

2445

Where every god did seem to set his seal

2446

To give the world assurance of a man.

2447

This was your husband. Look you now what follows:

2448

Here is your husband like a mildewed ear

2449

Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?

2450

Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed

2451

And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes?

2452

You cannot call it love, for at your age

2453

The heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble

2454

And waits upon the judgement, and what judgement

2455

Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have,

2455.1

Else could you not have motion, but sure that sense

2455.2

Is apoplexed, for madness would not err

2455.3

Nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thralled

2455.4

But it reserved some quantity of choice

2455.5

To serve in such a difference. What devil was’t

2456

That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?

2456.1

Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,

2456.2

Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,

2456.3

Or but a sickly part of one true sense

2456.4

Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush?

2457

Rebellious hell,

2458

If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones,

2459

To flaming youth let virtue be as wax

2460

And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame

2461

When the compulsive ardour gives the charge,

2462

Since frost itself as actively doth burn

2463

And reason panders will.

queen

2464

O Hamlet, speak no more!

2465

Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul,

2466

And there I see such black and grainèd spots

2467

As will leave there their tinct.

hamlet

2468

Nay, but to live

2469

In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed

2470

Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love

2471

Over the nasty sty —

queen

2472

Oh, speak to me no more,

2473

These words like daggers enter in my ears.

2474

No more, sweet Hamlet.

hamlet

2475

A murderer and a villain,

2476

A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe

2477

Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings,

2478

A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,

2479

That from a shelf the precious diadem stole

2480

And put it in his pocket —

queen

2481

No more.

2482Enter Ghost.

hamlet

2483

A king of shreds and patches —

2484

Save me and hover o’er me with your wings,

2485

You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?

queen

2486

Alas, he’s mad.

hamlet

2487

Do you not come your tardy son to chide,

2488

That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by

2489

Th’important acting of your dread command? Oh, say!

ghost

2490

Do not forget. This visitation

2491

Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.

2492

But look, amazement on thy mother sits.

2493

Oh, step between her and her fighting soul.

2494

Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.

2495

Speak to her, Hamlet.

hamlet

2496

How is it with you, lady?

queen

2497

Alas, how is’t with you,

2498

That you do bend your eye on vacancy

2499

And with th’incorporal air do hold discourse?

2500

Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep,

2501

And, as the sleeping soldiers in th’alarm,

2502

Your bedded hair, like life in excrements,

2503

Start up and stand on end. O gentle son,

2504

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper

2505

Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?

hamlet

2506

On him, on him. Look you how pale he glares.

2507

His form and cause conjoined preaching to stones

2508

Would make them capable. — Do not look upon me,

2509

Lest with this piteous action you convert

2510

My stern effects. Then what I have to do

2511

Will want true colour, tears perchance for blood.

queen

2512

To whom do you speak this?

hamlet

2513

Do you see nothing there?

queen

2514

Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.

hamlet

2515

Nor did you nothing hear?

queen

2516

No, nothing but ourselves.

hamlet

2517

Why, look you there, look how it steals away,

2518

My father in his habit as he lived,

2519

Look where he goes, even now out at the portal.

2519Exit Ghost.

queen

2520

This is the very coinage of your brain.

2521

This bodiless creation ecstasy

2521

Is very cunning in.

hamlet

2522

^FEcstasy?^F

2523

My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time

2524

And makes as healthful music. It is not madness

2525

That I have uttered. Bring me to the test,

2526

And I the matter will reword, which madness

2527

Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace,

2528

Lay not that flattering unction to your soul

2529

That not your trespass but my madness speaks.

2530

It will but skin and film the ulcerous place

2531

Whiles rank corruption mining all within

2532

Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven,

2533

Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come,

2534

And do not spread the compost on the weeds

2535

To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue,

2536

For in the fatness of these pursy times

2537

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,

2538

Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.

queen

2539-40

O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.

hamlet

2541

Oh, throw away the worser part of it,

2542

And live the purer with the other half.

2543

Good night, but go not to my uncle’s bed.

2544

Assume a virtue if you have it not.

2544.1

That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat

2544.2

Of habits devil, is angel yet in this,

2544.3

That to the use of actions fair and good

2544.4

He likewise gives a frock or livery

2544.5

That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight,

2545

And that shall lend a kind of easiness

2546

To the next abstinence. The next more easy;

2546.1

For use almost can change the stamp of nature,

2546.2

And either shame the devil or throw him out

2546.3

With wondrous potency. Once more, good night.

2547

And when you are desirous to be blessed

2548

I’ll blessing beg of you. For this same lord

2549

I do repent, but heaven hath pleased it so

2550

To punish me with this, and this with me,

2551

That I must be their scourge and minister.

2552

I will bestow him and will answer well

2553

The death I gave him. So again, good night.

2554

I must be cruel only to be kind.

2555

This bad begins and worse remains behind.

2555.1

One word more, good lady.

queen

2556

What shall I do?

hamlet

2557

Not this, by no means, that I bid you do:

2558

Let the bloat King tempt you again to bed,

2559

Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse,

2560

And let him for a pair of reechy kisses,

2561

Or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers,

2562

Make you to ravel all this matter out

2563

That I essentially am not in madness

2564

But mad in craft. ’Twere good you let him know,

2565

For who that’s but a queen, fair, sober, wise,

2566

Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib,

2567

Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so?

2568

No, in despite of sense and secrecy

2569

Unpeg the basket on the house’s top,

2570

Let the birds fly and, like the famous ape,

2571

To try conclusions in the basket creep

2572

And break your own neck down.

queen

2573

Be thou assured, if words be made of breath

2574

And breath of life, I have no life to breathe

2575

What thou hast said to me.

hamlet

2576

I must to England, you know that?

queen

2577

Alack, I had forgot. ’Tis so concluded on.

hamlet

2577.1

There’s letters sealed, and my two schoolfellows,

2577.2

Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged,

2577.3

They bear the mandate, they must sweep my way

2577.4

And marshal me to knavery. Let it work,

2577.5

For ’tis the sport to have the enginer

2577.6

Hoist with his own petard, and’t shall go hard

2577.7

But I will delve one yard below their mines

2577.8

And blow them at the moon. Oh, ’tis most sweet

2577.9

When in one line two crafts directly meet.

2578

This man shall set me packing;

2579

I’ll lug the guts into the neighbor room.

2580

Mother, good night indeed. This counsellor

2581

Is now most still, most secret and most grave,

2582

Who was in life a foolish prating knave.

2583

Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.

2584

Good night, mother.

2585Exit [Hamlet tugging in Polonius].

2585.1[4.1]

2586Enter King, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

king

2587-8

There’s matter in these sighs. These profound heaves

2589

You must translate; ’tis fit we understand them.

2590

Where is your son?

2590[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]

queen

2590.1

Bestow this place on us a little while.

2591

Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight!

king

2592

What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?

queen

2593

Mad as the sea and wind when both contend

2594

Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,

2595

Behind the arras hearing something stir,

2596

Whips out his rapier,^Fand^F cries “A rat, a rat!”

2597

And in this brainish apprehension kills

2598

The unseen good old man.

king

2599

Oh, heavy deed!

2600

It had been so with us had we been there.

2601

His liberty is full of threats to all,

2602

To you yourself, to us, to everyone.

2603

Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?

2604

It will be laid to us, whose providence

2605

Should have kept short, restrained and out of haunt

2606

This mad young man. But so much was our love,

2607

We would not understand what was most fit,

2608

But, like the owner of a foul disease,

2609

To keep it from divulging, let it feed

2610

Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?

queen

2611

To draw apart the body he hath killed,

2612

O’er whom — his very madness like some ore

2613

Among a mineral of metals base

2614

Shows itself pure — ’a weeps for what is done.

king

2615

O Gertrude, come away.

2616

The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch

2617

But we will ship him hence and this vile deed

2618

We must with all our majesty and skill

2619-20

Both countenance and excuse. — Ho, Guildenstern!

2619Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

2621

Friends both, go join you with some further aid:

2622

Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain

2623

And from his mother’s closet hath he dragged him.

2624

Go seek him out, speak fair and bring the body

2625

Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.

2625[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]

2626

Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends

2627

And let them know both what we mean to do

2628

And what’s untimely done. So envious slander

2628.1

Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter,

2628.2

As level as the cannon to his blank,

2628.3

Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name

2628.4

And hit the woundless air. Oh, come away,

2629

My soul is full of discord and dismay.

2629Exeunt.

2629.1[4.2]

2630Enter Hamlet.

hamlet

2631Safely stowed. [Calling within^F “Hamlet, Lord Hamlet!”^F] 2633But soft. What noise? Who calls on Hamlet? 2634Oh, here they come.

2634Enter Rosencrantz[, Guildenstern] and others.

rosencrantz

2635

What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?

hamlet

2636

Compound it with dust whereto ’tis kin.

rosencrantz

2637

Tell us where ’tis that we may take it thence

2638

And bear it to the chapel.

hamlet

2639

Do not believe it.

rosencrantz

2640

Believe what?

hamlet

2641That I can keep your counsel and not mine 2642own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication 2643should be made by the son of a king?

rosencrantz

2644Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

hamlet

2645Ay, sir, that soaks up the King’s countenance, his 2646rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the King 2647best service in the end: he keeps them like an ape an apple in 2648the corner of his jaw, first mouthed to be last swallowed. 2649When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing 2650you and, sponge, you shall be dry again.

rosencrantz

2651I understand you not, my lord.

hamlet

2652I am glad of it, a knavish speech sleeps in a 2653foolish ear.

rosencrantz

2654My lord, you must tell us where the body is and 2655go with us to the King.

hamlet

2656The body is with the King, but the King is not 2657with the body. The King is a thing —

guildenstern

2658A thing, my lord?

hamlet

2659Of nothing. Bring me to him. ^FHide fox and all 2660after.^F

2660Exeunt.

2660.1[4.3]

2661Enter King, and two or three.

king

2662

I have sent to seek him and to find the body.

2663

How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!

2664

Yet must not we put the strong law on him:

2665

He’s loved of the distracted multitude,

2666

Who like not in their judgement but their eyes,

2667

And where ’tis so, th’offender’s scourge is weighed

2668

But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even,

2669

This sudden sending him away must seem

2670

Deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown

2671

By desperate appliance are relieved,

2672

Or not at all.

2672Enter Rosencrantz, [Guildenstern] and all the rest.

2673

How now, what hath befall’n?

rosencrantz

2674

Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord,

2675

We cannot get from him.

king

2676

But where is he?

rosencrantz

2677-8

Without, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure.

king

2679

Bring him before us.

rosencrantz

2680

Ho^F, Guildenstern^F! Bring in the lord.

2681They [Hamlet and Guards] enter.

king

2682Now, Hamlet, where’s Polonius?

hamlet

2683At supper.

king

2684At supper, where?

hamlet

2685Not where he eats but where ’a is eaten. A certain 2686convocation of politic worms are e’en at him. Your worm 2687is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else 2688to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king 2689and your lean beggar is but variable service: two dishes 2690but to one table — that’s the end.

king

2690.1Alas, alas.

hamlet

2690.2A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and 2690.3eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.

king

2691What dost thou mean by this?

hamlet

2692Nothing but to show you how a king may go 2693a progress through the guts of a beggar.

king

2694Where is Polonius?

hamlet

2695In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger 2696find him not there, seek him i’th’other place yourself. 2697But if indeed you find him not within this month, you 2698shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.

king

2699Go seek him there.

hamlet

2700’A will stay till you come.

2700[Exeunt Guards.]

king

2701

Hamlet, this deed^F of thine^F, for thine especial safety

2702

(Which we do tender as we dearly grieve

2703

For that which thou hast done) must send thee hence.

2704

^FWith fiery quickness.^F Therefore prepare thyself.

2705

The bark is ready and the wind at help,

2706

Th’associates tend, and every thing is bent

2707

For England.

hamlet

2708

For England?

king

2709

Ay, Hamlet.

hamlet

2710

Good.

king

2711

So is it if thou knew’st our purposes.

hamlet

2712-3

I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England.

2713

Farewell, dear mother.

king

2714

Thy loving father, Hamlet.

hamlet

2715-6

My mother: father and mother is man and wife;

2716

Man and wife is one flesh; ^Fand^F so, my mother.

2716-7

Come, for England.

2717Exit.

king

2718

Follow him at foot,

2719

Tempt him with speed aboard,

2720

Delay it not, I’ll have him hence tonight.

2721

Away, for everything is sealed and done

2722

That else leans on th’affair. Pray you make haste.

2722[Exeunt all but the King.]

2723

And England, if my love thou hold’st at aught

2724

As my great power thereof may give thee sense,

2725

Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red

2726

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe

2727

Pays homage to us, thou mayst not coldly set

2728

Our sovereign process, which imports at full

2729

By letters congruing to that effect

2730

The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England,

2731

For like the hectic in my blood he rages,

2732

And thou must cure me. Till I know ’tis done,

2733

Howe’er my haps, my joys were ne’re begun.

2733Exit.

2733.1[4.4]

2734Enter Fortinbras with his army [including a Captain] over the stage.

fortinbras

2735

Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish King.

2736

Tell him that by his licence Fortinbras

2737

Craves the conveyance of a promised march

2738

Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.

2739

If that his majesty would aught with us,

2740

We shall express our duty in his eye,

2741

And let him know so.

captain

2742

I will do’t, my lord.

fortinbras

2743

Go softly on.

2743[Exeunt all but the Captain].

2743.1Enter Hamlet, Rosencrantz, [Guildenstern,] etc.

hamlet

2743.2

Good sir, whose powers are these?

captain

2743.3

They are of Norway, sir.

hamlet

2743.4

How purposed, sir, I pray you?

captain

2743.5

Against some part of Poland.

hamlet

2743.6

Who commands them, sir?

captain

2743.7

The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.

hamlet

2743.8

Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,

2743.9

Or for some frontier?

captain

2743.10

Truly to speak, and with no addition,

2743.11

We go to gain a little patch of ground

2743.12

That hath in it no profit but the name.

2743.13

To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;

2743.14

Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole

2743.15

A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.

hamlet

2743.16

Why, then the Polack never will defend it.

captain

2743.17

Yes, it is already garrisoned.

hamlet

2743.18

Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats

2743.19

Will not debate the question of this straw.

2743.20

This is th’impostume of much wealth and peace

2743.21

That inward breaks and shows no cause without

2743.22

Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir.

captain

2743.23

God b'wi' you, sir.

2743.23[Exit.]

Rosencrantz

2743.24

Will’t please you go, my lord?

hamlet

2743.25

I’ll be with you straight. Go a little before.

2743.25[Exeunt all but Hamlet.]

2743.26

How all occasions do inform against me

2743.27

And spur my dull revenge. What is a man

2743.28

If his chief good and market of his time

2743.29

Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.

2743.30

Sure he that made us with such large discourse

2743.31

Looking before and after, gave us not

2743.32

That capability and god-like reason

2743.33

To fust in us unused. Now whether it be

2743.34

Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple

2743.35

Of thinking too precisely on th’event

2743.36

(A thought which quartered hath but one part wisdom

2743.37

And ever three parts coward) I do not know

2743.38

Why yet I live to say this thing’s to do,

2743.39

Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means

2743.40

To do’t. Examples gross as earth exhort me:

2743.41

Witness this army of such mass and charge,

2743.42

Led by a delicate and tender prince

2743.43

Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed

2743.44

Makes mouths at the invisible event,

2743.45

Exposing what is mortal and unsure

2743.46

To all that fortune, death and danger dare,

2743.47

Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be great

2743.48

Is not to stir without great argument

2743.49

But greatly to find quarrel in a straw

2743.50

When honour’s at the stake. How stand I then

2743.51

That have a father killed, a mother stained,

2743.52

Excitements of my reason and my blood,

2743.53

And let all sleep, while to my shame I see

2743.54

The imminent death of twenty thousand men

2743.55

That for a fantasy and trick of fame

2743.56

Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot

2743.57

Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,

2743.58

Which is not tomb enough and continent

2743.59

To hide the slain. Oh, from this time forth

2743.60

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.

2743.60Exit.

2743.61[4.5]

2744Enter Horatio, [Queen] Gertrude, and a Gentleman.

queen

2745

I will not speak with her.

gentleman

2746

She is importunate,

2747

Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied.

queen

2748

What would she have?

gentleman

2749

She speaks much of her father, says she hears

2750

There’s tricks i’th’world, and hems, and beats her heart,

2751

Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt

2752

That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,

2753

Yet the unshaped use of it doth move

2754

The hearers to collection; they yawn at it

2755

And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,

2756

Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,

2757

Indeed would make one think there might be thought,

2758

Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

horatio

2759

’Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew

2760

Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

2761

Let her come in.

2761[Exit Gentleman.]

queen

2762

[Aside]

To my sick soul, as sin’s true nature is,

2763

Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.

2764

So full of artless jealousy is guilt,

2765

It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.

2766Enter Ophelia [distracted].

ophelia

2767

Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

queen

2768

How now, Ophelia?

ophelia

2769

She sings.

How should I your true love know

2769

From another one,

2770

By his cockle hat and staff,

2770

And his sandal shoon.

queen

2771

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

ophelia

2772Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.

2772Song.

ErrorMetrica

2773

He is dead and gone, lady,

2773

He is dead and gone.

2774

At his head a grass-green turf,

2774.1Oh, ho!

ErrorMetrica

2774

At his heels a stone.

queen

2776

Nay, but Ophelia —

ophelia

2777Pray you, mark.

2777[She sings.]

ErrorMetrica

2778

White his shroud as the mountain snow —

2775Enter King.

queen

2779

Alas, look here, my lord.

ophelia

2780

Song.

Larded all with sweet flowers

2781

Which bewept to the ground did not go

2782

With true-love showers.

king

2783

How do you, pretty lady?

ophelia

2784Well, good dild you. They say the owl was 2785a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but 2786know not what we may be. God be at your table.

king

2787

Conceit upon her father.

ophelia

2788Pray^F you^F, let’s have no words of this, but when 2789they ask you what it means, say you this:

2789Song.

ErrorMetrica

2790

Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day,

2790

All in the morning betime,

2791

And I a maid at your window

2791

To be your Valentine.

2792

Then up he rose, and donned his clo’es,

2792

And dupped the chamber door,

2793

Let in the maid that out a maid

2793

Never departed more.

king

2794

Pretty Ophelia.

ophelia

2795Indeed, ^Fla!,^F without an oath I’ll make an end on’t.

2795[Song.]

ErrorMetrica

2796

By Gis and by Saint Charity,

2797

Alack and fie for shame,

2798

Young men will do’t if they come to’t,

2799

By Cock they are to blame.

2800

Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me

2801

You promised me to wed.”

2802He answers:

ErrorMetrica

2802

“So would I ha’ done by yonder sun

2803

An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

king

2804

How long hath she been thus?

ophelia

2805I hope all will be well. We must be patient. 2806But I cannot choose but weep to think they would 2807lay him i’th’cold ground. My brother shall know of it. 2808And so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my 2809coach. Good night, ladies, good night. Sweet ladies, 2810good night, good night.

2810[Exit.]

king

2811-2

Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you.

2812[Exit Horatio.]

2813

Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs

2814

All from her father’s death, and now behold.

2814

O Gertrude, Gertrude,

2815

When sorrows come, they come not single spies

2816

But in battalions: first, her father slain;

2817

Next, your son gone, and he most violent author

2818

Of his own just remove; the people muddied,

2819

Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers

2820

For good Polonius’ death, and we have done but greenly

2821

In hugger-mugger to inter him; poor Ophelia

2822

Divided from herself and her fair judgement,

2823

Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts;

2824

Last, and as much containing as all these,

2825

Her brother is in secret come from France,

2826

Feeds on this wonder, keeps himself in clouds

2827

And wants not buzzers to infect his ear

2828

With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,

2829

Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,

2830

Will nothing stick our person to arraign

2831

In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this

2832

Like to a murd’ring-piece in many places

2833

Gives me superfluous death.

2833A noise within.

2834Enter a Messenger.

^Fqueen

2835

Alack, what noise is this?^F

king

2836-7

Attend! Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door.

2837

What is the matter?

messenger

2838

Save yourself, my lord.

2839

The ocean overpeering of his list

2840

Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste

2841

Than young Laertes in a riotous head

2842

O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord,

2843

And, as the world were now but to begin,

2844

Antiquity forgot, custom not known,

2845

The ratifiers and props of every word,

2846

They cry “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”

2847

Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:

2848

“Laertes shall be king! Laertes king!”

queen

2849

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry!

2849[Exit Messenger.]

2851A noise within.

2850

Oh, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!

2851Enter Laertes with others[, his Followers, at the door].

king

2852

The doors are broke.

laertes

2853

Where is this King? — Sirs, stand you all without.

followers

2854

No, let’s come in.

laertes

2855

I pray you give me leave.

followers

2856

We will, we will.

laertes

2857

I thank you. Keep the door. —

2857[Exeunt his Followers.]

2858

O thou vile King,

2858

Give me my father.

queen

2859

Calmly, good Laertes.

laertes

2860-1

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard,

2862

Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot

2863

Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow

2864

Of my true mother.

king

2865

What is the cause, Laertes,

2866

That thy rebellion looks so giant-like? —

2867

Let him go, Gertrude, do not fear our person:

2868

There’s such divinity doth hedge a king

2869

That treason can but peep to what it would,

2870

Acts little of his will. — Tell me, Laertes,

2871

Why thou art thus incensed. — Let him go, Gertrude. —

2872

Speak, man.

laertes

2873

Where is my father?

king

2874

Dead.

queen

2875

But not by him.

king

2876

Let him demand his fill.

laertes

2877

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.

2878

To hell allegiance, vows to the blackest devil,

2879

Conscience and grace to the profoundest pit!

2880

I dare damnation. To this point I stand,

2881

That both the worlds I give to negligence.

2882

Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged

2883

Most throughly for my father.

king

2884

Who shall stay you?

laertes

2885

My will, not all the world’s;

2886

And for my means I’ll husband them so well

2887

They shall go far with little.

king

2888

Good Laertes,

2889

If you desire to know the certainty

2890

Of your dear father^F’s death^F, is’t writ in your revenge

2891

That swoopstake you will draw both friend and foe,

2892

Winner and loser?

laertes

2893

None but his enemies —

king

2894

Will you know them then?

laertes

2895

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms

2896

And, like the kind life-rend’ring pelican,

2897

Repast them with my blood.

king

2898

Why, now you speak

2899

Like a good child and a true gentleman.

2900

That I am guiltless of your father’s death,

2901

And am most sensibly in grief for it,

2902

It shall as level to your judgement ’pear

2903

As day does to your eye.

2904A noise within.

voices

2904

Within

Let her come in!

laertes

2906

How now, what noise is that?

2905Enter Ophelia.

2907

O heat, dry up my brains. Tears seven times salt

2908

Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye.

2909

By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight

2910

Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,

2911

Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!

2912

O heavens, is’t possible a young maid’s wits

2913

Should be as mortal as a poor man’s life?

2914

^FNature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine

2915

It sends some precious instance of itself

2916

After the thing it loves.^F

ophelia

2917

Song.

They bore him bare-faced on the bier,

2918

^FHey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny,^F

2919

And in his grave rained many a tear.

2920Fare you well, my dove.

laertes

2921

Hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge,

2922

It could not move thus.

ophelia

2923You must sing “a-down a-down”, an you call 2924him “a-down-a.” Oh, how the wheel becomes it! It is 2925the false steward that stole his master’s daughter.

laertes

2926

This nothing’s more than matter.

ophelia

2927There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. 2928Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for 2929thoughts.

laertes

2930A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance 2931fitted.

ophelia

2932There’s fennel for you, and columbines. There’s 2933rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it 2934herb of grace o’Sundays. ^FOh! ^FYou may wear your rue 2935with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would give you 2936some violets, but they withered all when my father died. 2937They say ’a made a good end.

2937[Sings.]

ErrorMetrica

2938

For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.

laertes

2939

Thought and afflictions, passion, hell itself

2940

She turns to favour and to prettiness.

ophelia

2941

Song.

And will ’a not come again?

2942

And will ’a not come again?

2943

No, no, he is dead —

2943

Go to thy death-bed —

2944

He never will come again.

2945

His beard was as white as snow,

2946

^FAll^F Flaxen was his poll.

2947

He is gone, he is gone,

2947

And we cast away moan.

2948

God ’a’ mercy on his soul.

2949And of all Christians’ souls. ^FI pray God.^F 2950God b’wi’you.

2950[Exit.]

laertes

2951

Do you see this, O God?

king

2952

Laertes, I must commune with your grief,

2953

Or you deny me right. Go but apart,

2954

Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,

2955

And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.

2956

If by direct, or by collateral hand,

2957

They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,

2958

Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours,

2959

To you in satisfaction; but, if not,

2960

Be you content to lend your patience to us,

2961

And we shall jointly labour with your soul

2962

To give it due content.

laertes

2963

Let this be so.

2964

His means of death, his obscure funeral

2965

(No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o’er his bones,

2966

No noble rite, nor formal ostentation)

2967

Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth

2968

That I must call’t in question.

king

2969

So you shall,

2970

And, where th’offence is, let the great axe fall.

2971

I pray you go with me.

2971Exeunt.

2971.1[4.6]

2972Enter Horatio and others [including a Gentleman].

horatio

2973What are they that would speak with me?

gentleman

2974Sea-faring men, sir. They say they have letters for you.

horatio

2975Let them come in. [Gentleman goes to the door.] 2976I do not know from what part of the world 2977I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.

2978Enter Sailors.

sailor

2979God bless you, sir.

horatio

2980Let Him bless thee too.

sailor

2981’A shall, sir, an please Him. There’s a letter 2982for you, sir, (it came from th’ambassador that was 2983bound for England) if your name be Horatio, as I am let 2984to know it is.

horatio

2985-6 [Reads the letter.] “Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these 2987fellows some means to the King: they have letters 2988for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very 2989warlike appointment gave us chase. Finding ourselves too 2990slow of sail, we put on a compelled valour, and in the grapple I 2991boarded them. On the instant they got clear of our ship, so 2992I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt with me like 2993thieves of mercy, but they knew what they did: I am to do 2994a ^Fgood^F turn for them. Let the King have the letters I have 2995sent, and repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest 2996fly death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee 2997dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter. 2998These good fellows will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz 2999and Guildenstern hold their course for England. Of them 3000I have much to tell thee. Farewell. 3001He that thou knowest thine, 3002Hamlet.”

ErrorMetrica

3003

Come, I will give you way for these your letters.

3004

And do’t the speedier that you may direct me

3005

To him from whom you brought them.

3005Exeunt.

3005.1[4.7]

3006Enter King and Laertes.

king

3007

Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,

3008

And you must put me in your heart for friend,

3009

Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,

3010

That he which hath your noble father slain

3011

Pursued my life.

laertes

3012

It well appears. But tell me

3013

Why you proceeded not against these feats

3014

So criminal and so capital in nature,

3015

As by your safety, greatness, wisdom, all things else,

3016

You mainly were stirred up.

king

3017

Oh, for two special reasons

3018

Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed,

3019

But yet to me they’re strong. The Queen his mother

3020

Lives almost by his looks, and for myself,

3021

My virtue or my plague, be it either which,

3022

She is so conjunct to my life and soul

3023

That as the star moves not but in his sphere

3024

I could not but by her. The other motive

3025

Why to a public count I might not go

3026

Is the great love the general gender bear him,

3027

Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,

3028

Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,

3029

Convert his gyves to graces, so that my arrows,

3030

Too slightly timbered for so loud a wind,

3031

Would have reverted to my bow again,

3032

But not where I have aimed them.

laertes

3033

And so have I a noble father lost,

3034

A sister driven into desp’rate terms,

3035

Whose worth, if praises may go back again,

3036

Stood challenger, on mount, of all the age

3037

For her perfections. But my revenge will come.

king

3038-9

Break not your sleeps for that. You must not think

3040

That we are made of stuff so flat and dull

3041

That we can let our beard be shook with danger

3042

And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more.

3043

I loved your father, and we love ourself,

3044

And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine —

3045Enter a Messenger with letters.

3046

^FHow now? What news?^F

messenger

3047

^FLetters, my lord, from Hamlet.^F

3048

These to your majesty, this to the Queen.

king

3049

From Hamlet? Who brought them?

messenger

3050

Sailors, my lord, they say. I saw them not.

3051

They were given me by Claudio. He received them

3051.1

Of him that brought them.

king

3052

Laertes, you shall hear them. —

3053

Leave us.

3053[Exit Messenger.]

3053[The King reads.]

3054“High and mighty, you shall know I am set naked on your 3055kingdom. Tomorrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly 3056eyes, when I shall, first asking your pardon thereunto, recount 3057the occasion of my sudden ^Fand more strange^F return. 3058^FHamlet.^F”

ErrorMetrica

3059

What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?

3060

Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?

laertes

3061

Know you the hand?

king

3062

’Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked,”

3062-3

And in a postscript here he says “alone.”

3063

Can you devise me?

laertes

3064

I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come:

3065

It warms the very sickness in my heart

3066

That I shall live and tell him to his teeth

3067

“Thus diest thou.”

king

3068

If it be so, Laertes —

3068

As how should it be so, how otherwise? —

3069

Will you be ruled by me?

laertes

3070

Ay, my lord,

3070

So you will not o’errule me to a peace.

king

3071

To thine own peace. If he be now returned

3072

As checking at his voyage, and that he means

3073

No more to undertake it, I will work him

3074

To an exploit, now ripe in my device,

3075

Under the which he shall not choose but fall;

3076

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,

3077

But even his mother shall uncharge the practice

3078

And call it accident.

laertes

3078.01

My Lord, I will be ruled,

3078.02

The rather if you could devise it so

3078.03

That I might be the organ.

king

3078.04

It falls right.

3078.05

You have been talked of since your travel much,

3078.06

And that in Hamlet’s hearing, for a quality

3078.07

Wherein they say you shine. Your sum of parts

3078.08

Did not together pluck such envy from him

3078.09

As did that one, and that in my regard

3078.10

Of the unworthiest siege.

laertes

3078.11

What part is that, my lord?

king

3078.12

A very ribbon in the cap of youth,

3078.13

Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes

3078.14

The light and careless livery that it wears

3078.15

Than settled age his sables and his weeds

3078.16

Importing health and graveness. Two months since

3079

Here was a gentleman of Normandy.

3080

I have seen myself and served against the French,

3081

And they can well on horseback, but this gallant

3082

Had witchcraft in’t: he grew unto his seat

3083

And to such wondrous doing brought his horse

3084

As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured

3085

With the brave beast. So far he topped my thought

3086

That I in forgery of shapes and tricks

3087

Come short of what he did.

laertes

3088

A Norman was’t?

king

3089

A Norman.

laertes

3090

Upon my life, Lamord.

king

3091

The very same.

laertes

3092

I know him well, he is the brooch indeed

3093

And gem of all the nation.

king

3094

He made confession of you

3095

And gave you such a masterly report

3096

For art and exercise in your defence,

3097

And for your rapier most especial,

3098

That he cried out ’twould be a sight indeed

3099

If one could match you. The ’scrimers of their nation

3099.1

He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye,

3099.2

If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his

3100

Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy

3101

That he could nothing do but wish and beg

3102

Your sudden coming o’er to play with you.

3103

Now out of this —

laertes

3104

What out of this, my lord?

king

3105

Laertes, was your father dear to you?

3106

Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,

3107

A face without a heart?

laertes

3108

Why ask you this?

king

3109

Not that I think you did not love your father,

3110

But that I know love is begun by time,

3111

And that I see in passages of proof

3112

Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.

3112.01

There lives within the very flame of love

3112.02

A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it,

3112.03

And nothing is at a like goodness still,

3112.04

For goodness growing to a pleurisy

3112.05

Dies in his own too much. That we would do

3112.06

We should do when we would, for this “would” changes

3112.07

And hath abatements and delays as many

3112.08

As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents,

3112.09

And then this “should” is like a spendthrift’s sigh

3112.10

That hurts by easing. But to the quick of th’ulcer:

3113

Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake

3114

To show yourself in deed your father’s son

3115

More than in words?

laertes

3116

To cut his throat i’th’church.

king

3117

No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;

3118

Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,

3119

Will you do this, keep close within your chamber;

3120

Hamlet, returned, shall know you are come home;

3121

We’ll put on those shall praise your excellence

3122

And set a double varnish on the fame

3123

The Frenchman gave you, bring you in fine together

3124

And wager o’er your heads. He, being remiss,

3125

Most generous and free from all contriving,

3126

Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,

3127

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose

3128

A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice,

3129

Requite him for your father.

laertes

3130

I will do’t.

3131

And for that purpose, I’ll anoint my sword.

3132

I bought an unction of a mountebank

3133

So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,

3134

Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare,

3135

Collected from all simples that have virtue

3136

Under the moon, can save the thing from death

3137

That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point

3138

With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly

3139

It may be death.

king

3140

Let’s further think of this,

3141

Weigh what convenience both of time and means

3142

May fit us to our shape. If this should fail

3143

And that our drift look through our bad performance,

3144

’Twere better not essayed. Therefore this project

3145

Should have a back or second that might hold

3146

If this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see —

3147

We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings —

3148

I ha’t! When in your motion you are hot and dry

3149

(As make your bouts more violent to that end)

3150

And that he calls for drink, I’ll have preferred him

3151

A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,

3152

If he by chance escape your venomed stuck,

3153

Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?

3154Enter Queen.

3153c

^FHow now, sweet Queen?^F

queen

3155

One woe doth tread upon another’s heel,

3156

So fast they follow. Your sister’s drowned, Laertes.

laertes

3157

Drowned! Oh, where?

queen

3158

There is a willow grows askant the brook

3159

That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream.

3160

Therewith fantastic garlands did she make

3161

Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies and long purples

3162

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,

3163

But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.

3164

There on the pendant boughs her crownet weeds

3165

Clamb’ring to hang, an envious sliver broke,

3166

When down her weedy trophies and herself

3167

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide

3168

And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up,

3169

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds

3170

As one incapable of her own distress,

3171

Or like a creature native and endued

3172

Unto that element. But long it could not be

3173

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

3174

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay

3175

To muddy death.

laertes

3176

Alas, then is she drowned.

queen

3177

Drowned, drowned.

laertes

3178

Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,

3179

And therefore I forbid my tears; but yet

3180

It is our trick, nature her custom holds.

3181

Let shame say what it will;

[Weeps.]

when these are gone,

3182

The woman will be out. — Adieu, my lord,

3183

I have a speech o’ fire that fain would blaze

3184

But that this folly drowns it.

3184Exit.

king

3185

Let’s follow, Gertrude.

3186

How much I had to do to calm his rage.

3187

Now fear I this will give it start again,

3188

Therefore let’s follow.

3188Exeunt.

3188.1[5.1]

3189Enter two Clowns.

1 clown

3190Is she to be buried in Christian burial, when she 3191wilfully seeks her own salvation?

2 clown

3192I tell thee she is, ^Fand^F therefore make her grave 3193straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it Christian 3194burial.

1 clown

3195How can that be unless she drowned herself in 3196her own defence?

2 clown

3197Why, ’tis found so.

1 clown

3198It must be se offendendo, it cannot be else. For 3199here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues 3200an act, and an act hath three branches — it is to 3201act, to do, to perform; argal, she drowned herself 3202wittingly.

2 clown

3203Nay, but hear you, goodman delver —

1 clown

3204Give me leave. Here lies the water — good. 3205Here stands the man — good. If the man go to this water 3206and drown himself, it is (will he nill he) he goes. 3207Mark you that. But if the water come to him and drown 3208him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he that is not 3209guilty of his own death, shortens not his own life.

2 clown

3210But is this law?

1 clown

3211Ay, marry is’t, crowner’s ’quest law.

2 clown

3212Will you ha’ the truth an’t? If this had not 3213been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried 3214out o’Christian burial.

1 clown

3215Why, there thou say’st, and the more pity that 3216great folk should have count’nance in this world to 3217drown or hang themselves more than their even-Christen. 3218Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen 3219but gard’ners, ditchers and grave-makers; they hold up 3220Adam’s profession.

2 clown

3221Was he a gentleman?

1 clown

3222’A was the first that ever bore arms.

^F2 clown

3223Why, he had none.

1 clown

3224What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the Scripture? The Scripture says Adam digged. Could he dig without arms?^F I’ll put another question to thee. If thou answerest me not to the purpose, confess thyself —

2 clown

3229Go to.

1 clown

3230What is he that builds stronger than either the 3231mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?

2 clown

3232The gallows-maker, for that ^Fframe^F 3233outlives a thousand tenants.

1 clown

3234I like thy wit well, in good faith, the gallows 3235does well. But how does it well? It does well to those 3236that do ill. Now, thou dost ill to say the gallows is 3237built stronger than the church; argal, the gallows 3238may do well to thee. To’t again, come.

2 clown

3239Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, 3240or a carpenter?

1 clown

3241Ay, tell me that and unyoke.

2 clown

3242Marry, now I can tell.

1 clown

3243To’t.

2 clown

3244Mass, I cannot tell.

1 clown

3246Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your 3247dull ass will not mend his pace with beating, and when 3248you are asked this question next, say “a grave-maker:” the 3249houses ^Fthat^F he makes lasts till doomsday. Go get thee 3250in, and fetch me a sup of liquor.

3250[Exit 2 Clown.]

3251Song.

ErrorMetrica

3252

In youth when I did love, did love,

3253

Methought it was very sweet

3254

To contract —oh— the time for —a— my behove,

3255

Oh, methought there —a— was nothing —a— meet.

3245Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

hamlet

3256Has this fellow no feeling of his business?F

- Q2 business?
- F1 business that (orig. businesse, that)

3257’AF

- Q2 ’A (orig. a)
- F1 he

inF

- Q2 in
- F1 at

sings in grave-making.

horatio

3258Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.

hamlet

3260’Tis e’en so. The hand of little employment hath 3261the daintier sense.

3262Song.

1 clown

3263

But age with his stealing steps

3264

Hath clawed me in his clutch

3265

And hath shipped me into the land,

3266

As if I had never been such.

3266[Throws up a skull.]

hamlet

3267That skull had a tongue in it and could sing 3268once. How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if ’twere 3269Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder. This 3270might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o’erreaches, 3271one that would circumvent God, might it not?

horatio

3272It might, my lord.

hamlet

3273Or of a courtier, which could say “Good morrow, 3274sweet lord, how dost thou, sweet lord?” This 3275might be my Lord Such-a-one, that praised my Lord Such-a-One’s 3276horse when ’a went to beg it, might it not?

horatio

3277Ay, my lord.

hamlet

3278Why, e’en so. And now my Lady Worm’s: 3279chapless and knocked about the mazard with a sexton’s 3280spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had the trick to 3281see’t. Did these bones cost no more the breeding but 3282to play at loggets with them? Mine ache to think 3283on’t.

3284Song.

1 clown

3285

A pickaxe and a spade, a spade,

3286

For and a shrouding-sheet,

3287

Oh, a pit of clay for to be made

3288

For such a guest is meet.

3288[Throws up another skull.]

hamlet

3289There’s another. Why, may not that be the 3290skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his 3291quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Why 3292does he suffer this mad knave now to knock him about 3293the sconce with a dirty shovel, and will not tell him of 3294his action of battery? Hum! This fellow might be in’s 3295time a great buyer of land, with his statutes, his recognizances, 3296his fines, his double vouchers, his recoveries— 3297Is this the fine of his fines, and the recovery of his recoveries, 3298to have his fine pate full of fine dirt? Will ^Fhis^F 3299vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases and doubles 3300^Ftoo^F than the length and breadth of a pair of 3301indentures? The very conveyances of his lands will 3302scarcely lie in this box, and must th’inheritor himself 3303have no more, ha?

horatio

3304Not a jot more, my lord.

hamlet

3305Is not parchment made of sheepskins?

horatio

3306Ay, my lord, and of calves’ skins too.

hamlet

3307They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance 3308in that. I will speak to this fellow. — Whose grave’s 3309this, sirrah?

1 clown

3310Mine, sir.

3310[Sings.]

ErrorMetrica

3311

Oh, a pit of clay for to be made —

3312

^FFor such a guest is meet.^F

hamlet

3313I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in’t.

1 clown

3314You lie out on’t, sir, and therefore ’tis not yours; 3315for my part I do not lie in’t, ^FOh!^and yet it is mine.

hamlet

3316Thou dost lie in’t to be in’t and say it is thine. 3317’Tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou 3318liest.

1 clown

3319’Tis a quick lie, sir, ’twill away again from me 3320to you.

hamlet

3321What man dost thou dig it for?

1 clown

3322For no man, sir.

hamlet

3323What woman then?

1 clown

3324For none neither.

hamlet

3325Who is to be buried in’t?

1 clown

3326One that was a woman, sir, but, rest her soul, 3327she’s dead.

hamlet

3328How absolute the knave is! We must speak 3329by the card, or equivocation will undo us. By the 3330Lord, Horatio, this three years I have took note of it, 3331the age is grown so picked that the toe of the peasant 3332comes so near the heel of the courtier he galls his 3333kibe. — How long hast thou been ^Fa^F grave-maker?

1 clown

3334Of ^Fall^F the days i’th’year, I came to’t that day 3335that our last King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.

hamlet

3336How long is that since?

1 clown

3337Cannot you tell that? Every fool can tell that: 3338it was that very day that young Hamlet was born, he 3339that is mad and sent into England.

hamlet

3340Ay, marry. Why was he sent into England?

1 clown

3341Why, because ’a was mad: ’a shall recover his 3342wits there, or if ’a do not, ’tis no great matter there.

hamlet

3343Why?

1 clown

3344’Twill not be seen in him there, there the men are as 3345mad as he.

hamlet

3346How came he mad?

1 clown

3347Very strangely, they say.

hamlet

3348How strangely?

1 clown

3349Faith, e’en with losing his wits.

hamlet

3350Upon what ground?

1 clown

3351Why, here in Denmark. I have been sexton 3352here, man and boy, thirty years.

hamlet

3353How long will a man lie i’th’earth ere he rot?

1 clown

3354Faith, if ’a be not rotten before ’a die (as we have 3355many pocky corpses ^Fnowadays^F that will scarce hold 3356the laying in), ’a will last you some eight year, or nine 3357year. A tanner will last you nine year.

hamlet

3358Why he more than another?

1 clown

3359Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade that 3360’a will keep out water a great while; and your water 3361is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body. Here’s a skull 3362now hath lien you i’th’earth three and twenty years.

hamlet

3363Whose was it?

1 clown

3364A whoreson mad fellow’s it was. 3365Whose do you think it was?

hamlet

3366Nay, I know not.

1 clown

3367A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! ’A poured a 3368flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same skull, 3369sir, ^Fthis same skull, sir,^F was, sir, Yorick’s skull, the King’s jester.

hamlet

3370This?

1 clown

3371E’en that.

hamlet

3372^FLet me see.^F Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio. 3373A fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He 3374hath bore me on his back a thousand times, and now how 3375abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here 3376hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. 3377Where be your jibes now? Your gambols, your 3378songs, your flashes of merriment, that were wont to 3379set the table on a roar? Not one now to mock your own 3380grinning? Quite chap-fall’n? Now get you to my lady’s 3381table and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this 3382favour she must come. Make her laugh at that. Prithee, 3383Horatio, tell me one thing.

horatio

3384What’s that, my lord?

hamlet

3385Dost thou think Alexander looked o’this fashion 3386i’th’earth?

horatio

3387E’en so.

hamlet

3388And smelt so? Pah!

horatio

3389E’en so, my lord.

hamlet

3390To what base uses we may return, Horatio? 3391Why, may not imagination trace the noble dust of 3392Alexander till ’a find it stopping a bung-hole?

horatio

3393’Twere to consider too curiously to consider so.

hamlet

3394No, faith, not a jot, but to follow him thither 3395with modesty enough and likelihood to lead it ^Fas thus^F: 3396Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth 3397to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we make 3398loam, and why of that loam whereto he was converted 3399might they not stop a beer-barrel?

ErrorMetrica

3400

Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,

3401

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.

3402

Oh, that that earth which kept the world in awe

3403

Should patch a wall t’expel the winter’s flaw.

3404

But soft, but soft awhile, here comes the King.

3405Enter King, Queen, Laertes, and [a Doctor of Divinity, after] the corpse,

3406[with Lords Attendant].

3407

The Queen, the courtiers — who is this they follow?

3408

And with such maimèd rites? This doth betoken

3409

The corpse they follow did with desp’rate hand

3410

Fordo it own life. ’Twas of some estate.

3411

Couch we awhile and mark.

3411[Hamlet and Horatio stand aside.]

laertes

3412

What ceremony else?

hamlet

3413

That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark.

laertes

3414

What ceremony else?

doctor

3415

Her obsequies have been as far enlarged

3416

As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful,

3417

And but that great command o’ersways the order,

3418

She should in ground unsanctified been lodged

3419

Till the last trumpet: for charitable prayers,

3420

^FShards,^F Flints and pebbles should be thrown on her;

3421

Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants,

3422

Her maiden strewments and the bringing home

3423

Of bell and burial.

laertes

3424

Must there no more be done?

doctor

3425

No more be done.

3426

We should profane the service of the dead

3427

To sing a requiem and such rest to her

3428

As to peace-parted souls.

laertes

3429

Lay her i’th’earth,

3430

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh

3431

May violets spring. — I tell thee, churlish priest,

3432

A minist’ring angel shall my sister be

3433

When thou liest howling.

hamlet

3434

What, the fair Ophelia?

queen

3435

Sweets to the sweet. Farewell.

3436

I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife.

3437

I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid,

3438

And not have strewed thy grave.

laertes

3439

Oh, treble woe

3440

Fall ten times double on that cursèd head

3441

Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense

3442

Deprived thee of! — Hold off the earth awhile,

3443

Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.

3444[Leaps in the grave.]

3445

Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead

3446

Till of this flat a mountain you have made

3447

T’o’retop old Pelion or the skyish head

3448

Of blue Olympus.

hamlet

3449

[Coming forward]

What is he whose grief

3450

Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow

3451

Conjures the wand’ring stars and makes them stand

3452

Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,

3453

Hamlet the Dane.

laertes

3454

The devil take thy soul!

3454[Grapples with Hamlet.]

hamlet

3455

Thou pray’st not well.

3456

I prithee take thy fingers from my throat,

3457

For, though I am not splenative and rash,

3458

Yet have I in me something dangerous

3459

Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand —

king

3460

Pluck them asunder.

queen

3461

Hamlet! Hamlet!

lords

3461.1

Gentlemen!

horatio

3462

Good my lord, be quiet.

3462[Hamlet and Laertes are separated.]

hamlet

3463

Why, I will fight with him upon this theme

3464

Until my eyelids will no longer wag.

queen

3465

O my son, what theme?

hamlet

3466

I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers

3467

Could not with all their quantity of love

3468

Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?

king

3469

Oh, he is mad, Laertes.

queen

3470

For love of God, forbear him.

hamlet

3471

’Swounds, show me what thou’t do:

3472

Woul’t weep, woul’t fight, woul’t fast, woul’t tear thyself,

3473

Woul’t drink up eisel, eat a crocodile?

3474

I’ll do’t. Dost ^Fthou^F come here to whine?

3475

To outface me with leaping in her grave?

3476

Be buried quick with her, and so will I.

3477

And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw

3478

Millions of acres on us, till our ground,

3479

Singeing his pate against the burning zone,

3480

Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou’lt mouth,

3481

I’ll rant as well as thou.

queen

3482

This is mere madness,

3483

And thus awhile the fit will work on him.

3484

Anon, as patient as the female dove

3485

When that her golden couplets are disclosed,

3486

His silence will sit drooping.

hamlet

3487

Hear you, sir,

3488

What is the reason that you use me thus?

3489

I loved you ever — but it is no matter.

3490

Let Hercules himself do what he may,

3491

The cat will mew and dog will have his day.

3491Exit.

king

3492

I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.

3492Exit Horatio.

3493

[To Laertes]

Strengthen your patience in our last night’s speech,

3494

We’ll put the matter to the present push. —

3495

Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.

3496

This grave shall have a living monument.

3497

An hour of quiet thereby shall we see;

3498

Till then in patience our proceeding be.

3498Exeunt.

3498.1[5.2]

3499Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

hamlet

3500

So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.

3501

You do remember all the circumstance?

horatio

3502

Remember it, my lord?

hamlet

3503

Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting

3504

That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay

3505

Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly —

3506

And praised be rashness for it (let us know

3507

Our indiscretion sometime serves us well

3508

When our deep plots do pall, and that should learn us

3509

There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,

3510

Rough-hew them how we will) —

horatio

3511

That is most certain.

hamlet

3512

Up from my cabin,

3513

My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark

3514

Groped I to find out them, had my desire,

3515

Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew

3516

To mine own room again, making so bold,

3517

My fears forgetting manners, to unfold

3518

Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,

3519

A royal knavery, an exact command

3520

Larded with many several sorts of reasons

3521

Importing Denmark’s health, and England’s too,

3522

With — ho! — such bugs and goblins in my life

3523

That on the supervise, no leisure bated

3524

(No, not to stay the grinding of the axe),

3525

My head should be struck off.

horatio

3526

Is’t possible?

hamlet

3527

Here’s the commission; read it at more leisure.

3528

But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?

horatio

3529

I beseech you.

hamlet

3530

Being thus benetted round with villains,

3531

(Or I could make a prologue to my brains,

3532

They had begun the play) I sat me down,

3533

Devised a new commission, wrote it fair —

3534

I once did hold it, as our statists do,

3535

A baseness to write fair, and laboured much

3536

How to forget that learning, but, sir, now

3537

It did me yeoman’s service. Wilt thou know

3538

Th’effect of what I wrote?

horatio

3539

Ay, good my lord.

hamlet

3540

An earnest conjuration from the King,

3541

As England was his faithful tributary,

3542

As love between them like the palm might flourish,

3543

As peace should still her wheaten garland wear

3544

And stand a comma ’tween their amities,

3545

And many such-like “as,” sir, of great charge,

3546

That on the view and knowing of these contents

3547

Without debatement further more or less

3548

He should those bearers put to sudden death,

3549

Not shriving time allowed.

horatio

3550

How was this sealed?

hamlet

3551

Why, even in that was heaven ordinant:

3552

I had my father’s signet in my purse

3553

(Which was the model of that Danish seal),

3554

Folded the writ up in the form of th’other,

3555

Subscribed it, gave’t th’impression, placed it safely,

3556

The changeling never known. Now the next day

3557

Was our sea-fight, and what to this was sequent

3558

Thou knowest already.

horatio

3559

So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to’t.

hamlet

3560

^FWhy man, they did make love to this employment.^F

3561

They are not near my conscience. Their defeat

3562

Does by their own insinuation grow.

3563

’Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes

3564

Between the pass and fell incensèd points

3565

Of mighty opposites.

horatio

3566

Why, what a king is this!

hamlet

3567

Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon?

3568

He that hath killed my King and whored my mother,

3569

Popped in between th’election and my hopes,

3570

Thrown out his angle for my proper life,

3571

And with such coz’nage — is’t not perfect conscience?

3572

^FTo quit him with this arm? And is’t not to be damned

3573

To let this canker of our nature come

3574

In further evil?

horatio

3575

It must be shortly known to him from England

3576

What is the issue of the business there.

hamlet

3577-8

It will be short. The interim’s mine,

3578-9

And a man’s life’s no more than to say one.

3579

But I am very sorry, good Horatio,

3580

That to Laertes I forgot myself,

3581

For by the image of my cause I see

3582

The portraiture of his. I’ll count his favours;

3583

But sure the bravery of his grief did put me

3584

Into a tow’ring passion.

horatio

3585

Peace, who comes here?^F

3586Enter ^Fyoung^F [Osric,] a Courtier.

osric

3587Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.

hamlet

3588I humbly thank you, sir. — Dost know this water-fly?

horatio

3589No, my good lord.

hamlet

3590Thy state is the more gracious, for ’tis a vice to 3591know him. He hath much land and fertile. Let a beast 3592be lord of beasts and his crib shall stand at the king’s 3593mess. ’Tis a chuff but, as I say, spacious in the possession 3594of dirt.

osric

3595Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, 3596I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

hamlet

3597I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit — ^Fput^F 3598your bonnet to his right use: ’tis for the head.

osric

3599I thank your lordship, it is very hot.

hamlet

3600No, believe me, ’tis very cold, the wind is 3601northerly.

osric

3602It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.

hamlet

3603But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my 3604complexion —

osric

3605Exceedingly, my lord, it is very sultry, as ’twere — 3606I cannot tell how. ^FBut^F My lord, his majesty bade me signify 3607to you that ’a has laid a great wager on your head. 3608Sir, this is the matter —

hamlet

3609I beseech you, remember.

osric

3610Nay, good my lord, for my ease, in good faith. Sir, here is newly

osric

3610.16Sir?

osric

3610.20Of Laertes? 3610.01come to court Laertes — believe me, an absolute gentleman, full of most 3610.02excellent differences, of very soft society, and great showing. Indeed, 3610.03to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry; 3610.04for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentleman 3610.05would see.

hamlet

3610.06Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you, though I 3610.07know to divide him inventorially would dizzy th’arithmetic of 3610.08memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, 3610.09in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article 3610.10and his infusion of such dearth and rareness as, to make true diction 3610.11of him, his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his 3610.12umbrage, nothing more.

osric

3610.13Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.

hamlet

3610.14The concernancy, sir — Why do we wrap the gentleman in 3610.15our more rawer breath?

horatio

3610.17Is’t not possible to understand in another tongue? You will 3610.18do’t, sir, really.

hamlet

3610.19What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

horatio

3610.21His purse is empty already: all’s golden words are spent.

hamlet

3610.22Of him, sir.

osric

3610.23I know you are not ignorant —

hamlet

3610.24I would you did, sir. Yet, in faith, if you did, it would not 3610.25much approve me. Well, sir.

osric

3611^FSir,^F You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is — ^Fat 3612his weapon.^F

hamlet

3612.1I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with 3612.2him in excellence. But to know a man well were to know himself.

osric

3612.3I mean, sir, for his weapon. But in the imputation laid on 3612.4him by them in his meed he’s unfellowed.

hamlet

3613What’s his weapon?

osric

3614Rapier and dagger.

hamlet

3615That’s two of his weapons — but well.

osric

3616The King, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary horses, 3617against the which he has impawned, as I take it, six French 3618rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, 3619hanger and so. Three of the carriages, in faith, are very 3620dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate 3621carriages, and of very liberal conceit.

hamlet

3622What call you the carriages?

horatio

3622.2I knew you must be edified by the margin ere you had 3622.2done.

osric

3623The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

hamlet

3624The phrase would be more germane to the 3625matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides. I would 3626it might be “hangers” till then. But on. Six Barbary horses 3627against six French swords, their assigns and three 3628liberal-conceited carriages: that’s the French bet against 3629the Danish. Why is this — all ^F”impawned”, as^F you call it?

osric

3630The King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes between 3631yourself and him he shall not exceed you three hits; 3632he hath laid on twelve for nine, and it would come to 3633immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the 3634answer.

hamlet

3635How if I answer no?

osric

3636I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person 3637in trial.

hamlet

3638Sir, I will walk here in the hall. If it please 3639his majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me. Let 3640the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the 3641King hold his purpose — I will win for him an I can; if 3642not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.

osric

3643Shall I deliver you ^Feven^F so?

hamlet

3644To this effect, sir, after what flourish your nature 3645will.

osric

3646I commend my duty to your lordship.

3646[Exit.]

hamlet

3647Yours^F, yours^F. — ^FHe^F Does well to commend it 3648himself, there are no tongues else for’s turn.

horatio

3649This lapwing runs away with the shell on his 3650head.

hamlet

3651’A did so, sir, with his dug before ’a 3652sucked it. Thus has he, and many more of the same breed 3653that I know the drossy age dotes on, only got the tune of 3654the time and, out of an habit of encounter, a kind of 3655yeasty collection, which carries them through and through 3656the most profane and winnowed opinions; and do but blow 3657them to their trial, the bubbles are out.

3657.1Enter a Lord.

lord

3657.2My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young 3657.3Osric, who brings back to him that you attend him in the hall. 3657.4He sends to know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that 3657.5you will take longer time?

hamlet

3657.6I am constant to my purposes. They follow the King’s pleasure. 3657.7If his fitness speaks, mine is ready: now or whensoever, provided 3657.8I be so able as now.

lord

3657.9The King and Queen and all are coming down.

hamlet

3657.10In happy time.

lord

3657.11The Queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment 3657.12to Laertes before you fall to play.

hamlet

3657.13She well instructs me.

3657.13[Exit Lord.]

horatio

3658You will lose ^Fthis wager^F, my lord.

hamlet

3659I do not think so. Since he went into France, 3660I have been in continual practice. I shall win at the 3661odds. ^FBut^F Thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here about 3662my heart — but it is no matter.

horatio

3663Nay, good my lord —

hamlet

3664It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of 3665gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a woman.

horatio

3666If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall 3667their repair hither and say you are not fit.

hamlet

3668Not a whit. We defy augury. There is ^Fa^F special 3669providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not 3670to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it 3671be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all. Since no 3672man of aught he leaves knows, what is’t to leave betimes? 3673Let be.

3674A table prepared [with flagons of wine and cups]. Trumpets, Drums and Officers with cushions.

3675[Enter] King, Queen, [Osric,] and all the state, [with other Attendants with] foils ^Fand gauntlets^F, daggers,

3676and Laertes.

king

3677

Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.

3677[Puts Laertes’ hands into Hamlet’s.]

hamlet

3678

Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong.

3679

But pardon’t as you are a gentleman.

3680

This presence knows,

3681

And you must needs have heard, how I am punished

3682

With a sore distraction. What I have done

3683

That might your nature, honour and exception

3684

Roughly awake, I hear proclaim was madness.

3685

Was’t Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.

3686

If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away

3687

And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes,

3688

Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.

3689

Who does it then? His madness. If’t be so,

3690

Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged:

3691

His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.

3692

^FSir, in this audience,^F

3693

Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil

3694

Free me so far in your most generous thoughts

3695

That I have shot my arrow o’er the house

3696

And hurt my brother.

laertes

3697

I am satisfied in nature,

3698

Whose motive in this case should stir me most

3699

To my revenge, but in my terms of honour

3700

I stand aloof and will no reconcilement

3701

Till by some elder masters of known honour

3702

I have a voice and precedent of peace

3703

To keep my name ungored. But till that time

3704

I do receive your offered love like love

3705

And will not wrong it.

hamlet

3706

I ^Fdo^F embrace it freely

3707

And will this brother’s wager frankly play. —

3708

Give us the foils. ^FCome on.^F

laertes

3709

Come, one for me.

hamlet

3710

I’ll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance

3711

Your skill shall like a star i’th’darkest night

3712

Stick fiery off indeed.

laertes

3713

You mock me, sir.

hamlet

3714

No, by this hand.

king

3715

Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,

3716

You know the wager.

hamlet

3717

Very well, my lord.

3718

Your grace has laid the odds o’th’weaker side.

king

3719-20

I do not fear it. I have seen you both,

3721

But since he is bettered, we have therefore odds.

laertes

3722-3

This is too heavy. Let me see another.

hamlet

3724-5

This likes me well. These foils have all a length?

3725^FPrepare to play.^F

osric

3726

Ay, my good lord.

king

3727

Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.

3728

If Hamlet give the first or second hit,

3729

Or quit in answer of the third exchange,

3730

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.

3731

The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath

3732

And in the cup an onyx shall he throw

3733

Richer than that which four successive kings

3734-5

In Denmark’s crown have worn. Give me the cups,

3736

And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,

3737

The trumpet to the cannoneer without,

3738

The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth.

3739-40Trumpets the while.

3739

Now the King drinks to Hamlet. Come, begin,

3740

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

hamlet

3741Come on, sir.

laertes

3742Come, my lord.

3742[They play.]

hamlet

3743One.

laertes

3744No.

hamlet

3745Judgement.

osric

3746A hit, a very palpable hit.

laertes

3747Well, again.

king

3748-9

Stay, give me drink. — Hamlet this pearl is thine.

3750

Here’s to thy health. — Give him the cup.

3751Drum, trumpets and shot.

hamlet

3752

I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.

3753

Come.

3753

Another hit. — What say you?

3753[They play again.]

laertes

3754

^FA touch, a touch,^F I do confess’t.

king

3755

Our son shall win.

queen

3756

He’s fat and scant of breath.

3757

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.

3758

The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

hamlet

3759

Good madam.

king

3760

Gertrude, do not drink.

queen

3761-2

I will, my lord. I pray you pardon me.

king

3763

[Aside]

It is the poisoned cup. It is too late.

hamlet

3764-5

I dare not drink yet, madam. By and by.

queen

3766

Come, let me wipe thy face.

laertes

3767

My lord, I’ll hit him now.

king

3768

I do not think’t.

laertes

3769

And yet it is almost against my conscience.

hamlet

3770-1

Come for the third, Laertes, you do but dally.

3772

I pray you pass with your best violence.

3773

I am sure you make a wanton of me.

laertes

3774

Say you so? Come on.

3774[They play.]

osric

3775

Nothing neither way.

laertes

3776

Have at you now.

3777[In scuffling they change rapiers.]

king

3778

Part them, they are incensed.

hamlet

3779

Nay, come again.

osric

3780

Look to the Queen there, ho!

horatio

3781

They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?

osric

3782

How is’t, Laertes?

laertes

3783-4

Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric:

3785

I am justly killed with mine own treachery.

hamlet

3786

How does the Queen?

king

3787

She swoons to see them bleed.

queen

3788-9

No, no, the drink, the drink, O my dear Hamlet,

3789-90

The drink, the drink. I am poisoned.

3790[Dies.]

hamlet

3791

Oh, villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked.

3792

Treachery! Seek it out!

3792[Exeunt Osric and some Lords.]

laertes

3793-4

It is here, ^FHamlet.^F Hamlet, thou art slain.

3795

No med’cine in the world can do thee good;

3796

In thee there is not half an hour’s life.

3797

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand

3798

Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice

3799

Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie

3800

Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned.

3801

I can no more — the King, the King’s to blame.

hamlet

3802-3

The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy work!

3804[Hurts the King.]

lords

3805

Treason, treason!

king

3806

Oh, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt.

hamlet

3807-8

Here, thou incestuous, ^Fmurd’rous,^F damnèd Dane,

3809

Drink off this potion. Is the onyx here?

3810

Follow my mother.

3810[King dies.]

laertes

3811

He is justly served,

3812

It is a poison tempered by himself.

3813

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet,

3814

Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,

3815

Nor thine on me.

3815[Dies.]

hamlet

3816

Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee.

3817

I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu.

3818

You that look pale and tremble at this chance,

3819

That are but mutes or audience to this act,

3820

Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death,

3821

Is strict in his arrest), oh, I could tell you —

3822

But let it be. — Horatio, I am dead.

3823

Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright

3824

To the unsatisfied.

horatio

3825

Never believe it.

3826

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.

3827

Here’s yet some liquor left.

hamlet

3828

As thou’rt a man

3828-9

Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll ha’t!

3830

O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,

3831

Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me?

3832

If thou did’st ever hold me in thy heart,

3833

Absent thee from felicity awhile,

3834

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain

3835

To tell my story.

3836A march afar off ^Fand shout within^F

3837

What warlike noise is this?

3838Enter Osric.

osric

3839

Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,

3840

To th’ambassadors of England gives this warlike volley.

hamlet

3841

Oh, I die, Horatio.

3842

The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit.

3843

I cannot live to hear the news from England,

3844

But I do prophesy th’election lights

3845

On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.

3846

So tell him, with th’occurrents more and less

3847

Which have solicited. The rest is silence. ^FOh, oh, oh, oh.^F

3847[Dies.]

horatio

3848-9

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince,

3850

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

3851

Why does the drum come hither?

3852Enter Fortinbras with the Ambassadors ^Fwith Drum,

3853Colors,^F [and Attendants].

fortinbras

3854

Where is this sight?

horatio

3855

What is it you would see?

3856

If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.

fortinbras

3857

This quarry cries on havock. O proud Death,

3858

What feast is toward in thine eternal cell

3859

That thou so many princes at a shot

3860

So bloodily hast struck?

ambassador

3861

The sight is dismal,

3862

And our affairs from England come too late.

3863

The ears are senseless that should give us hearing

3864

To tell him his commandment is fulfilled:

3865

That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.

3866

Where should we have our thanks?

horatio

3867

Not from his mouth,

3868

Had it th’ability of life to thank you;

3869

He never gave commandment for their death.

3870

But since so jump upon this bloody question

3871

You from the Polack wars and you from England,

3872

Are here arrived, give order that these bodies

3873

High on a stage be placèd to the view,

3874

And let me speak to th’yet unknowing world

3875

How these things came about. So shall you hear

3876

Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts,

3877

Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters,

3878

Of deaths put on by cunning and for no cause,

3879

And, in this upshot, purposes mistook

3880

Fall’n on th’inventors’ heads. All this can I

3881

Truly deliver.

fortinbras

3882

Let us haste to hear it

3883

And call the noblest to the audience.

3884

For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.

3885

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom

3886-7

Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.

horatio

3888

Of that I shall have also cause to speak,

3889-90

And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more.

3891

But let this same be presently performed

3892-3

Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more mischance

3894

On plots and errors happen.

fortinbras

3895

Let four captains

3896

Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,

3897

For he was likely, had he been put on,

3898-9

To have proved most royal; and for his passage,

3900

The soldiers’ music and the rite of war

3901

Speak loudly for him.

3902

Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this

3903

Becomes the field but here shows much amiss.

3904

Go bid the soldiers shoot.

3905Exeunt ^Fmarching, after the which a peal of

3906ordnance are shot off^F.

FINIS

William Shakespeare Shakespeare, William

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

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