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1 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

William Shakespeare — EMOTHE0010_TheTragedyOfHamletPrinceOfDenmark

[ 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)

CORNELIUS VOLTEMAND

HoratioMarcellusBarnardo

MarcellusBarnardo

HoratioMarcellus

Rosencrantz_Guildenstern

Lords

Gentleman in 4.6

Messenger in 4.7 ]

[1.1 1.1 orig. “Actus Primus. Scoena Prima” ]

(Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels sentinels . sentinels sentinels . The sentinels sentinels enter separately and probably not at the same time. Francisco is on watch (see line 12) and Barnardo enters to him.)

barnardo

Who’s there? 3

francisco

Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself. 5

barnardo

Long live the King — 7

francisco

Barnardo. Barnardo. Barnardo? 8

barnardo

He. 9

francisco

You come most carefully upon your hour — 10

barnardo

’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco — 11

francisco

For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold, 12

And I am sick at heart. 13

barnardo

Have you had quiet guard? 14

francisco

Not a mouse stirring. 15

barnardo

Well, good night. 16

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, 16

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. 17

(Enter Horatio and Marcellus.)

francco

I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is ho! Who is who’s who goes ho! Who is ho! Who is who’s who goes Q2 «ho! Who is ho! Who is who’s who goes » F1 «who’s» Q1 «who goes» there? 19

horatio

Friends to this ground. 20

marcellus

And liegemen to the Dane. 21

francisco

Give you good night. 22

marcellus

Oh, farewell, honest soldier soldier souldiers mod. “ soldiers ” souldier . Who hath relieved you? 23

francisco

Barnardo hath hath ha’s my place. Give you good night. 24

(Exit Francisco.)

marcellus

Holla, Barnardo! 26

barnardo

Say, what, is Horatio there? 27

horatio

A piece of him. 29

barnardo

Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus — 29

horatio HORATIO orig. “Hora.” Mar. mod. “MARCELLUS”

What, has this thing appeared again tonight? 30

barnardo

I have seen nothing. 31

marcellus

Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy, 32

And will not let belief take hold of him, 33

Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us. 34

Therefore I have entreated him along 35

With us to watch the minutes of this night, 36

That, if again this apparition come, 37

He may approve our eyes and speak to it. 38

horatio

Tush, tush, ’twill not appear. 39

barnardo

Sit down awhile, 40

And let us once again assail your ears, 41

That are so fortified against our story, 42

What we have two nights have two nights two Nights haue seen. 43

horatio

Well, sit we down, 44

And let us hear Barnardo speak of this. 45

barnardo

Last night of all, 46

When yond same star that’s westward from the pole 47

Had made his course t’illume that part of heaven 48

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, 49

The bell then beating one — 50

(Enter Ghost. Ghost. the Ghost. after “ thee of: ” line 51)

marcellus

Peace, break thee off. 51

Look where it comes again. 52

barnardo

In the same figure like the King that’s dead. 53

marcellus

Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. 54

barnardo

Looks ’a ’a it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio. 55

horatio

Most like. It harrows harrows orig. “ harrowes ” horrowes DENT modernizes as “ horrows ” me with fear and wonder. 56

barnardo

It would be spoke to. 57

marcellus

Speak to Speak to Question it, Horatio. 58

horatio

What art thou that usurp’st this time of night 59

Together with that fair and warlike form 60

In which the majesty of buried Denmark Denmark The toponym indicates its monarch (here the late King of Denmark) 61

Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee speak. 62

marcellus

It is offended. 63

barnardo

See, it stalks away. 64

horatio

Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee thee thee, speak! 65

(Exit)

marcellus

’Tis gone and will not answer. 67

barnardo

How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale. 68

Is not this something more than fantasy? 69

What think you on’t? 70

horatio

Before my God, I might not this believe 71

Without the sensible and true avouch 72

Of mine own eyes. 73

marcellus

Is it not like the King? 74

horatio

As thou art to thyself. 75

Such was the very armour he had on 76

When he the he the th’ ambitious Norway Norway The toponym indicates its monarch. combated. 77

So frowned he once when in an angry parle 78

He smote the sledded sledded sleaded poleaxe poleaxe orig. “ pollax ” Pollax Polacks poleaxe on the ice. 79

’Tis strange. 80

marcellus

Thus twice before, and jump jump iust at this dead hour, 81

With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. 82

horatio

In what particular thought to work, I know not, 83

But in the gross and scope of mine mine my opinion 84

This bodes some strange eruption to our state. 85

marcellus

Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, 86

Why this same strict and most observant watch 87

So nightly toils the subject of the land, 88

And with with why such daily cast cast cost of brazen cannon 89

And foreign mart for implements of war; 90

Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task 91

Does not divide the Sunday from the week; 92

What might be toward that this sweaty haste 93

Doth make the night joint labourer with the day. 94

Who is’t that can inform me? 95

horatio

That can I. 96

At least the whisper goes so. Our last King, 97

Whose image even but now appeared to us, 98

Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, 99

Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride, 100

Dared to the combat, in which our valiant Hamlet 101

(For so this side of our known world esteemed him) 102

Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact 103

Well ratified by law and heraldry heraldry heraldy 104

Did forfeit, with his life, all these these those his lands 105

Which he stood seized of of on to the conqueror; 106

Against the which a moiety competent 107

Was gagèd by our King, which had returned returned returne 108

To the inheritance of Fortinbras 109

Had he been vanquisher, as by the same co-mart co-mart Cou'nant mod. “ covenant ” compact 110

And carriage of the article designed 111

His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, 112

Of unimprovèd mettle, hot and full, 113

Hath in the skirts of Norway Norway here and there 114

Sharked up a list of lawless lawless Landlesse resolutes 115

For food and diet to some enterprise 116

That hath a stomach in’t, which is no other, 117

As As And it doth well appear unto our state, 118

But to recover of us by strong hand 119

And terms compulsatory compulsatory Compulsatiue those foresaid lands 120

So by his father lost. And this, I take it, 121

Is the main motive of our preparations, 122

The source of this our watch, and the chief head 123

Of this post-haste and rummage rummage orig. “ Romadge ” Romage in the land. 124

barnardo BARNARDO ... countrymen.

I think it be no other but e’en so. 124

Well may it sort that this portentous figure 124

Comes armèd through our watch so like the King 124

That was and is the question of these wars. 124

horatio

A mote mote moth it is to trouble the mind’s eye. 124

In the most high and palmy state of Rome Rome , 124

A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, 124

The graves stood tennantless and the sheeted dead 124

Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets — 124

As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, 124

Disasters in the sun; and the moist star, 124

Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands, 124

Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse. 124

And even the like precurse of feared feared (conjectured by COL1) feare events, 124

As harbingers preceding still the fates 124

And prologue to the omen coming on, 124

Have heaven and earth together demonstrated 124

Unto our climatures and countrymen. 124

(Enter Ghost.)

But soft — behold, lo, where it comes again! 126

I’ll cross it though it blast me. — Stay, illusion! 127

(It spreads his arms.)

If thou hast any sound or use of voice, 128

Speak to me; 129

If there be any good thing to be done 129

That may to thee do ease and grace to me, 130

Speak to me. 130

If thou art privy to thy country’s fate 131

Which happily foreknowing may avoid, 132

Oh, speak; 132

Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life 133

Extorted treasure in the womb of earth 134

(For which they say your your you spirits oft walk in death) 135

(The cock crows The cock crows .)

Speak of it, stay and speak. — Stop it, Marcellus. 136

marcellus

Shall I strike strike strike at it with my partisan partisan ? 137

horatio

Do if it will not stand. 138

barnardo

’Tis here. 139

horatio

’Tis here. 140

([Exit Ghost.])

marcellus

’Tis gone. 141

We do it wrong, being so majestical, 142

To offer it the show of violence, 143

For it is as the air, invulnerable, 144

And our vain blows malicious mockery. 145

barnardo

It was about to speak when the cock crew. 146

horatio

And then it started like a guilty thing 147

Upon a fearful summons. I have heard 148

The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn morn day morning , 149

Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat 150

Awake the god of day, and at his warning, 151

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, 152

Th’extravagant and erring spirit hies 153

To his confine; and of the truth herein 154

This present object made probation. 155

marcellus

It faded on the crowing of the cock. 156

Some say say sayes that ever ’gainst that season comes 157

Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, 158

This This The bird of dawning singeth all night long; 159

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir dare stir can walke dare walke abroad, 160

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, 161

No fairy takes takes talkes , nor witch hath power to charm, 162

So hallowed and so gracious is that that the time. 163

horatio

So have I heard and do in part believe it. 164

But look, the morn in russet mantle clad 165

Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward eastward Easterne hill. 166

Break we our watch up, and by my advice 167

Let us impart what we have seen tonight 168

Unto young Hamlet, for upon my life 169

This spirit dumb to us will speak to him. 170

Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it 171

As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? duty? duty. 172

marcellus

Let’s Let’s Let do’t, I pray, and I this morning know 173

Where we shall find him most convenient convenient conueniently . 174

(Exeunt.)

[1.2] [1.2] orig. “Scena Secunda” om.

(Flourish Flourish om. .)

(Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude Gertrude Gertrad elswhere “ Gertrard ” Queen Claudius ... Queen Q2 prints ”Gertrad” King, Queene the Queen, Council: as Polonius, and his son Laertes, Hamlet, with others with others orig. “ Cum Alijs ” Lords Attendant with Attendants Voltemand]. [including ... Voltemand]. subst. om. [including Cornelius and Voltemand].)

king KING Claud.

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death 179

The memory be green, and that it us befitted 180

To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom 181

To be contracted in one brow of woe, 182

Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature 183

That we with wisest sorrow think on him 184

Together with remembrance of ourselves. 185

Therefore our sometime sometime sometimes sister, now our Queen, 186

Th’imperial jointress to to of this warlike state, 187

Have we, as ’twere with a defeated joy, 188

With a an ... a one ... one n a an ... a one ... one uspicious a an ... a one ... one nd a an ... a one ... one dropping eye, 189

With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, 190

In equal scale weighing delight and dole, 191

Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred 192

Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone 193

With this affair along. For all, our thanks. 194

Now follows that you know follows that you know followes, that you know young Fortinbras, 195

Holding a weak supposal of our worth 196

Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death 197

Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, 198

Co-leaguèd with this this the dream of his advantage, 199

He hath not failed to pester us with message 200

Importing the surrender of those lands 201

Lost by his father, with all bonds bonds bands a phonetic variant ( OED ) of law, 202

To our most valiant brother. So much for him. him. 203

Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting, 205

Thus much the business is: we have here writ 206

To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras 207

(Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears 208

Of this his nephew’s purpose) to suppress 209

His further gait herein, in that the levies, 210

The lists and full proportions are all made 211

Out of his subject; and we here dispatch 212

You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand Voltemand Valtemand , 213

For bearers bearers bearing of this greeting to old Norway, Norway, The toponym indicates its monarch 214

Giving to you no further personal power 215

To business with the King, more than the scope 216

Of these delated delated dilated related articles allow. 217

Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty. 218

cornelius, voltemand CORNELIUS, VOLTEMAND orig. “ Cor. Vo. ” Volt. Gent.

In that and all things will we show our duty. 219

king

We doubt it nothing. Heartily, farewell. 220

([Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.])

And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you? 222

You told us of some suit. What is’t, Laertes? 223

You cannot speak of reason to the Dane 224

And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes, Laertes, ... asking? Laertes, ? ... asking, 225

That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? 226

The head is not more native to the heart, 227

The hand more instrumental to the mouth, 228

Than is the throne of Denmark Denmark to thy father. 229

What wouldst thou have, Laertes? 230

laertes

My dread lord, My dread Dread my My gratious 231

Your leave and favour to return to France, 232

From whence though willingly I came to Denmark 233

To show my duty in your coronation, 234

Yet now I must confess, that duty done, 235

My thoughts and wishes bend again toward toward towards France 236

And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. 237

king

Have you your father’s leave? – What says Polonius? 238

polonius

H’ath, my lord, lord, wrung ... consent. Lord|: lord, wrung from me a forced graunt, lord, wrung from me my slow leave 240

By laboursome petition, and at last 240

Upon his will I sealed my hard consent. 240

I do beseech you give him leave to go. 241

king

Take thy fair hour, Laertes, time be thine 242

And thy best graces spend it at thy will. — 243

But now, my cousin Hamlet, Hamlet, Hamlet, Exit. (Exit direction for Leartes) and my son — 244

hamlet

A little more than kin, and less than kind. A ... kind. om. 245

king

How is it that the clouds still hang on you? 246

hamlet

Not so much, so much, so "son." in the "son." in the sonne. i'th'Sun. my lord; I am too much in the “son.” 247

queen

Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted nighted nightly colour off 248

And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. 249

Do not forever with thy vailèd vailèd veyled mod. veiled lids 250

Seek for thy noble father in the dust. 251

Thou know’st ’tis common all that lives must die, 252

Passing through nature to eternity. 253

hamlet

Ay, madam, it is common. 254

queen

If it be, 255

Why seems it so particular with thee? 256

hamlet

“Seems,” madam? nay, it is, I know not “seems,” 257

’Tis not alone my inky cloak, cold mother, cold mother orig. “ coold mother ” good Mother could smother 258

Nor customary suits of solemn black, 259

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, 260

No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, 261

Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, 262

Together with all forms, moods, shapes shapes chapes shewes of grief 263

That can denote denote deuote mod. “ devote ”” me truly. These indeed “seem,” 264

For they are actions that a man might play, 265

But I have that within which passes passes passeth show, 266

These but the trappings and the suits of woe. 267

king

’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, 268

To give these mourning duties to your father, 270

But you must know your father lost a father, 271

That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound 272

In filial obligation for some term 273

To do obsequious sorrow; but to persever 274

In obstinate condolement is a course 275

Of impious stubbornness, ’tis unmanly grief, 276

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven, 277

A heart unfortified or mind a Minde impatient, 278

An understanding simple and unschooled. 279

For what we know must be, and is as common 280

As any the most vulgar thing to sense, 281

Why should we in our peevish opposition 282

Take it to heart? Fie, ’tis a fault to heaven, 283

A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, 284

To reason most absurd, whose common theme 285

Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried 286

From the first corpse till he that died today 287

“This must be so.” We pray you throw to earth 288

This unprevailing woe, and think of us 289

As of a father; for let the world take note 290

You are the most immediate to our throne, 291

And with no less nobility of love 292

Than that which dearest father bears his son 293

Do I impart toward you. For your intent 294

In going back to school in Wittenberg, 295

It is most retrograde to our desire, 296

And we beseech you bend you to remain 297

Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye, 298

Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. 299

queen

Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet; 300

I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. 301

hamlet

I shall in all my best obey you, madam. 302

king

Why, ’tis a loving and a fair reply. 304

Be as ourself in Denmark. — Madam, come, 305

This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet 306

Sits smiling to my heart, in grace whereof 307

No jocund health that Denmark drinks today 308

But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell 309

And the King’s rouse the heaven shall bruit again, 310

Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. 311

(Flourish.)

(Exeunt all but Hamlet.)

hamlet

Oh, that this too too sullied sullied sullied CAM3 (emendation first conjectured by MacDonald) sallied Q1 Q2 solid F1 sailled VAND flesh would melt, 313

Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, 314

Or that the Everlasting had not fixed 315

His canon ’gainst self-slaughter. O God, F O F God, 316

How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable 317

Seem to me all the uses of this world! 318

Fie on’t, ah, fie, F fie, F ’tis an unweeded garden 319

That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature 320

Possess it merely. That it should come thus: 321

But two months dead, nay, not so much, not two — 322

So excellent a king, that was to this 323

Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother 324

That he might not beteem the winds of heaven 325

Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth, 326

Must I remember? Why, she should hang on him 327

As if increase of appetite had grown 328

By what it fed on. And yet within a month 329

(Let me not think on’t — Frailty, thy name is Woman), 330

A little month, or ere those shoes were old 331

With which she followed my poor father’s body 332

Like Niobe, all tears, why, she — F even she F 333

(O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason 334

Would have mourned longer) married with my uncle, 335

My father’s brother, but no more like my father 336

Than I to Hercules. Within a month, 337

Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears 338

Had left the flushing in her gallèd eyes, 339

She married. Oh, most wicked speed — to post 340

With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! 341

It is not, nor it cannot come to good. 342

But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue. 343

(Enter Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo.)

horatio

Hail to your lordship. 345

hamlet

I am glad to see you well — 346

Horatio, or I do forget myself. 347

horatio

The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. 348

hamlet

Sir, my good friend, I’ll change that name with you. 350

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? — 352

Marcellus. 353

marcellus

My good lord. 354

hamlet

I am very glad to see you. — [To Barnardo] Good even, sir. — 355

But what in faith make you from Wittenberg? 356

horatio

A truant disposition, good my lord. 357

hamlet

I would not hear your enemy say so, 358

Nor shall you do my ear that violence 359

To make it truster of your own report 360

Against yourself. I know you are no truant. 361

But what is your affair in Elsinore? 362

We’ll teach you for to drink ere you depart. 363

horatio

My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral. 364

hamlet

I prithee do not mock me, fellow student, 365

I think it was to see my mother’s wedding. 366

horatio

Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. 367

hamlet

Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funeral baked meats 368

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. 369

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven 370

Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio. 371

My father, methinks I see my father. 372

horatio

F Oh, F Where, my lord? 373

hamlet

In my mind’s eye, Horatio. 374

horatio

I saw him once; ’a was a goodly king. 375

hamlet

’A was a man, take him for all in all, 376

I shall not look upon his like again. 377

horatio

My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. 378

hamlet

Saw, who? 379

horatio

My lord, the King your father. 380

hamlet

The King my father? 381

horatio

Season your admiration for a while 382

With an attent ear till I may deliver 383

Upon the witness of these gentlemen 384

This marvel to you. 385

hamlet

For God’s love, let me hear! 386

horatio

Two nights together had these gentlemen, 387

Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch 388

In the dead waste and middle of the night 389

Been thus encountered: a figure like your father 390

Armed at point, exactly cap-à-pie, 391

Appears before them and with solemn march 392

Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walked 393

By their oppressed and fear-surprisèd eyes 394

Within his truncheon’s length whilst they, distilled 395

Almost to jelly with the act of fear, 396

Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me 397

In dreadful secrecy impart they did, 398

And I with them the third night kept the watch, 399

Where (as they had delivered, both in time, 400

Form of the thing, each word made true and good) 401

The apparition comes. I knew your father; 402

These hands are not more like. 403

hamlet

But where was this? 404

marcellus

My lord, upon the platform platform where we watched. 405

hamlet

Did you not speak to it? 406

horatio

My lord, I did, 407

But answer made it none. Yet once methought 408

It lifted up it head and did address 409

Itself to motion like as it would speak. 410

But even then the morning cock crew loud, 411

And at the sound it shrunk in haste away 412

And vanished from our sight. 413

hamlet

’Tis very strange. 414

horatio

As I do live, my honoured lord, ’tis true, 415

And we did think it writ down in our duty 416

To let you know of it. 417

hamlet

Indeed, F indeed, F sirs. But this troubles me. 418

Hold you the watch tonight? 419

marcellus, barnardo

We do, my lord. 420

hamlet

Armed, say you? 421

marcellus, barnardo

Armed, my lord. 422

hamlet

From top to toe? 423

marcellus, barnardo

My lord, from head to foot. 424

hamlet

Then saw you not his face. 425

horatio

Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up. 426

hamlet

What looked he, frowningly? 427

horatio

A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. 428

hamlet

Pale, or red? 429

horatio

Nay, very pale. 430

hamlet

And fixed his eyes upon you? 431

horatio

Most constantly. 432

hamlet

I would I had been there. 433

horatio

It would have much amazed you. 434

hamlet

Very like F , very like F . Stayed it long? 435

horatio

While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. 436

marcellus, barnardo

Longer, longer. 437

horatio

Not when I saw’t. 438

hamlet

His beard was grizzled, no? 439

horatio

It was as I have seen it in his life: 440

A sable silvered. 441

hamlet

I will watch tonight. 442

Perchance ’twill walk again. 442

horatio

I warr’nt F you F it will. 443

hamlet

If it assume my noble father’s person, 444

I’ll speak to it though hell itself should gape 445

And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 446

If you have hitherto concealed this sight, 447

Let it be tenable in your silence still, 448

And whatsomever else shall hap tonight 449

Give it an understanding but no tongue. 450

I will requite your loves. So fare you well. 451

Upon the platform ’twixt eleven and twelve 452

I’ll visit you. 453

horatio, marcellus, barnardo

Our duty to your honour. 454

hamlet

Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell. 455

(Exeunt [all but Hamlet].)

My father’s spirit — in arms! All is not well; 456

I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come. 457

Till then sit still my soul. Foul deeds will rise 458

Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes. 459

(Exit.)

[1.3]

(Enter Laertes and Ophelia, his sister.)

laertes

My necessaries are embarked. Farewell. 462

And sister, as the winds give benefit 447

And convey is assistant, do not sleep 464

But let me hear from you. 465

ophelia

Do you doubt that? 466

laertes

For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, 467

Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, 468

A violet in the youth of primy nature, 469

Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, 470

The perfume and suppliance of a minute, 471

No more. 471

ophelia

No more but so. 472

laertes

Think it no more. 473

For nature crescent does not grow alone 474

In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes 475

The inward service of the mind and soul 476

Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, 477

And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch 478

The virtue of his will. But you must fear: 479

His greatness weighed, his will is not his own; 480

F For he himself is subject to his birth: F 481

He may not, as unvalued persons do, 482

Carve for himself, for on his choice depends 483

The safety and health of this whole state, 484

And therefore must his choice be circumscribed 485

Unto the voice and yielding of that body 486

Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, 487

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it 488

As he in his particular act and place 489

May give his saying deed, which is no further 490

Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. 491

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain 492

If with too credent ear you list his songs, 493

Or loose loose lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open 494

To his unmastered importunity. 495

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, 496

And keep you in the rear of your affection 497

Out of the shot and danger of desire. 498

“The chariest maid is prodigal enough 499

If she unmask her beauty to the moon. 500

Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes. 501

The canker galls the infants of the spring 502

Too oft before their buttons be disclosed, 503

And in the morn and liquid dew of youth 504

Contagious blastments are most imminent.” 505

Be wary then; best safety lies in fear. 506

Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. 507

ophelia

I shall the effect of this good lesson keep 508

As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, 509

Do not as some ungracious pastors do, 510

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven 511

Whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine 512

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads 513

And recks not his own rede. 514

(Enter Polonius.)

laertes

Oh, fear me not. 515

I stay too long. But here my father comes. 517

A double blessing is a double grace; 518

Occasion smiles upon a second leave. 519

polonius

Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame! 520

The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail 521

And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with thee, 522

And these few precepts in thy memory 523

Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue 524

Nor any unproportioned thought his act. 525

Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar. 526

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, 527

Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel, 528

But do not dull thy palm with entertainment 529

Of each new-hatched, unfledged courage. Beware 530

Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in, 531

Bear’t that th’opposèd may beware of thee. 532

Give every man thy ear but few thy voice; 533

Take each man’s censure but reserve thy judgement. 534

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy 535

But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; 536

For the apparel oft proclaims the man, 537

And they in France of the best rank and station 538

Are of a most select and generous chief in that. 539

Neither a borrower nor a lender, boy, 540

For loan oft loses both itself and friend, 541

And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry. 542

This above all: to thine own self be true, 543

And it must follow as the night the day 544

Thou canst not then be false to any man. 545

Farewell, my blessing season this in thee. 546

laertes

Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. 547

polonius

The time invests you. Go, your servants tend. 548

laertes

Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well 549

What I have said to you. 550

ophelia

’Tis in my memory locked 551

And you yourself shall keep the key of it. 552

laertes

Farewell. 553

(Exit Laertes.)

polonius

What is’t, Ophelia, he hath said to you? 554

ophelia

So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. 555

polonius

Marry, well bethought: 556

’Tis told me he hath very oft of late 557

Given private time to you, and you yourself 558

Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. 559

If it be so (as so ’tis put on me, 560

And that in way of caution), I must tell you 561

You do not understand yourself so clearly 562

As it behoves my daughter and your honour. 563

What is between you? Give me up the truth. 564

ophelia

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders 565

Of his affection to me. 566

polonius

Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl 567

Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. 568

Do you believe his “tenders” as you call them? 569

ophelia

I do not know, my lord, what I should think. 570

polonius

Marry, I will teach you: think yourself a baby 571

That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay 572

Which are not sterling; tender yourself more dearly 573

Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, 574

Running it thus) you’ll tender me a fool. 575

ophelia

My lord, he hath importuned me with love 576

In honourable fashion — 577

polonius

Ay, “fashion” you may call it. Go to, go to. 578

ophelia

And hath given countenance to his speech, 579

My lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven. 580

polonius

Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, 581

When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul 582

Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter, 583

Giving more light than heat, extinct in both 584

Even in their promise as it is a-making, 585

You must not take for fire. From this time, F daughter, F 586

Be something scanter of your maiden presence, 587

Set your entreatments at a higher rate 588

Than a command to parle. For Lord Hamlet, 589

Believe so much in him that he is young 590

And with a larger tether may he walk 591

Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia, 592

Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers 593

Not of that dye which their investments show 594

But mere implorators of unholy suits 595

Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds 596

The better to beguile. This is for all: 597

I would not in plain terms from this time forth 598

Have you so slander any moment leisure 599

As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. 600

Look to’t, I charge you. Come your ways. 601

ophelia

I shall obey, my lord. 602

(Exeunt.)

[1.4]

(Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.)

hamlet

The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. 604

horatio

It is a nipping and an eager air. 605

hamlet

What hour now? 606

horatio

I think it lacks of twelve. 607

marcellus

No, it is struck. 608

horatio

Indeed, I heard it not. It then draws near the season 609

Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. 610

(A flourish of trumpets and two pieces goes off.)

What does this mean, my lord? 611

hamlet

The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse, 612

Keeps wassail and the swagg’ring upspring reels, 613

And as he drains his draughts of Rennish down 614

The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out 615

The triumph of his pledge. 616

horatio

Is it a custom? 617

hamlet

Ay, marry, is’t, 618

But to my mind, though I am native here 619

And to the manner born, it is a custom 620

More honoured in the breach than the observance. 621

This heavy-headed revel east and west 621

Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations: 621

They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase 621

Soil our addition, and indeed it takes 621

From our achievements, though performed at height, 621

The pith and marrow of our attribute. 621

So oft it chances in particular men 621

That, for some vicious mole of nature in them, 621

As in their birth wherein they are not guilty 621

(Since nature cannot choose his origin), 621

By their o’ergrowth of some complexion 621

Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, 621

Or by some habit that too much o’erleavens 621

The form of plausive manners — that these men 621

Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect 621

(Being Nature’s livery or Fortune’s star), 621

His virtues else, be they as pure as grace, 621

As infinite as man may undergo, 621

Shall in the general censure take corruption 621

From that particular fault: the dram of ev’l 621

Doth all the noble substance often dout 621

To his own scandal. 621

(Enter Ghost.)

horatio

Look, my lord, it comes. 623

hamlet

Angels and ministers of grace defend us! — 624

Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, 625

Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, 626

Be thy intents wicked or charitable, 627

Thou com’st in such a questionable shape 628

That I will speak to thee: I’ll call thee Hamlet, 629

King, father, royal Dane. Oh, F oh, F answer me, 630

Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell 631

Why thy canonized bones, hearsèd in death, 632

Have burst their cerements, why the sepulchre 633

Wherein we saw thee quietly interred 634

Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws 635

To cast thee up again. What may this mean 636

That thou, dead corpse, again in complete steel 637

Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon, 638

Making night hideous, and we fools of nature 639

So horridly to shake our disposition 640

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? 641

Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do? 642

([Ghost] beckons.)

horatio

It beckons you to go away with it 644

As if it some impartment did desire 645

To you alone. 646

marcellus

Look with what courteous action 647

It waves you to a more removèd ground, 648

But do not go with it. 649

horatio

No, by no means. 650

hamlet

It will not speak, then I will follow it. 651

horatio

Do not, my lord. 652

hamlet

Why, what should be the fear? 653

I do not set my life at a pin’s fee, 654

And for my soul, what can it do to that 655

Being a thing immortal as itself? 656

It waves me forth again. I’ll follow it. 657

horatio

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, 658

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff 659

That beetles o’er his base into the sea, 660

And there assume some other horrible form 661

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason 662

And draw you into madness? Think of it. 663

The very place puts toys of desperation 663

Without more motive into every brain 663

That looks so many fathoms to the sea 663

And hears it roar beneath. 663

hamlet

It waves me still. 664

Go on, I’ll follow thee. 664

marcellus

You shall not go, my lord. 665

hamlet

Hold off your hands. 666

horatio

Be ruled, you shall not go. 667

hamlet

My fate cries out 668

And makes each petty artery in this body 669

As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve. 670

Still am I called. Unhand me, gentlemen, 671

By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me! 672

I say away! — Go on, I’ll follow thee. 673

(Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.)

horatio

He waxes desperate with imagination. 675

marcellus

Let’s follow. ’Tis not fit thus to obey him. 676

horatio

Have after. To what issue will this come? 677

marcellus

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. 678

horatio

Heaven will direct it. 679

marcellus

Nay, let’s follow him. 680

(Exeunt.)

[1.5]

(Enter Ghost and Hamlet.)

hamlet

Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak, I’ll go no further. 682

ghost

Mark me. 683

hamlet

I will. 684

ghost

My hour is almost come 685

When I to sulph’rous and tormenting flames 686

Must render up myself. 687

hamlet

Alas, poor ghost. 688

ghost

Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing 689

To what I shall unfold. 690

hamlet

Speak, I am bound to hear. 691

ghost

So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear. 692

hamlet

What? 693

ghost

I am thy father’s spirit, 694

Doomed for a certain term to walk the night 695

And for the day confined to fast in fires 696

Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature 697

Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid 698

To tell the secrets of my prison-house, 699

I could a tale unfold whose lightest word 700

Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, 701

Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres, 702

Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part, 703

And each particular hair to stand on end 704

Like quills upon the fearful porpentine. 705

But this eternal blazon must not be 706

To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, oh, list: 707

If thou didst ever thy dear father love — 708

hamlet

O God! 709

ghost

— Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. 710

hamlet

Murder. 711

ghost

Murder most foul, as in the best it is, 712

But this most foul, strange and unnatural. 713

hamlet

Haste F , haste F me to know’t, that I with wings as swift 714

As meditation or the thoughts of love 716

May sweep to my revenge. 717

ghost

I find thee apt. 718

And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed 719

That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, 720

Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: 721

’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, 722

A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark 723

Is by a forgèd process of my death 724

Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, 725

The serpent that did sting thy father’s life 726

Now wears his crown. 727

hamlet

O my prophetic soul! My uncle! 728

ghost

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, 729

With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts — 730

O wicked wit and gifts that have the power 731

So to seduce! — won to his shameful lust 732

The will of my most seeming-virtuous Queen. 733

O Hamlet, what F a F falling off was there, 734

From me whose love was of that dignity 735

That it went hand in hand even with the vow 736

I made to her in marriage, and to decline 737

Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor 738

To those of mine. 739

But virtue, as it never will be moved, 739

Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, 740

So lust, though to a radiant angel linked, 741

Will sate itself in a celestial bed 742

And prey on garbage. 742

But soft, methinks I scent the morning air. 743

Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard, 744

My custom always of the afternoon, 745

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole 746

With juice of cursèd hebona in a vial, 747

And in the porches of my ears did pour 748

The leperous distilment, whose effect 749

Holds such an enmity with blood of man 750

That swift as quicksilver it courses through 751

The natural gates and alleys of the body 752

And with a sudden vigour it doth posset 753

And curd like eager droppings into milk 754

The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine, 755

And a most instant tetter barked about 756

Most Lazar-like with vile and loathsome crust 757

All my smooth body. 758

Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand 759

Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched, 760

Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, 761

Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled, 762

No reck’ning made, but sent to my account 763

With all my imperfections on my head. 764

Oh, horrible! Oh, horrible, most horrible! 765

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not, 766

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be 767

A couch for luxury and damnèd incest. 768

But howsomever thou pursues this act, 769

Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive 770

Against thy mother aught; leave her to heaven 771

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge 772

To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once: 773

The glow-worm shows the matin to be near 774

And ’gins to pale his uneffectual fire. 775

Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me. 776

([Exit.])

hamlet

O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? 777

And shall I couple hell? Oh, fie! Hold, hold, my heart, 778

And you, my sinews, grow not instant old 779

But bear me swiftly up. Remember thee? 780

Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat 781

In this distracted globe. Remember thee, 782

Yea, from the table of my memory 783

I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records, 784

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past 785

That youth and observation copied there, 786

And thy commandment all alone shall live 787

Within the book and volume of my brain 788

Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, F yes, F by heaven. 789

O most pernicious woman! 790

O villain, villain, smiling damnèd villain! 791

My tables, F my tables, F meet it is I set it down 792

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; 793

At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. 794

So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word: 795

It is “Adieu, adieu. Remember me.” 796

I have sworn’t. 796

(Enter Horatio and Marcellus.)

horatio

My lord, my lord! 797

marcellus

Lord Hamlet! 799

horatio

Heavens secure him. 800

hamlet

So be it. 801

marcellus

Illo, ho, ho, my lord! 802

hamlet

Hillo, ho, ho, boy, come, bird, come! 803

marcellus

How is’t, my noble lord? 804

horatio

What news, my lord? 805

hamlet

Oh, wonderful. 806

horatio

Good my lord, tell it. 807

hamlet

No, you will reveal it. 808

horatio

Not I, my lord, by heaven. 809

marcellus

Nor I, my lord. 810

hamlet

How say you then, would heart of man once think it — 811

But you’ll be secret? 812

horatio, marcellus

Ay, by heaven F , my lord F . 813

hamlet

There’s never a villain dwelling in all Denmark 814

But he’s an arrant knave. 815

horatio

There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave 816

To tell us this. 817

hamlet

Why, right, you are in the right, 818

And so without more circumstance at all 819

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part. 820

You, as your business and desire shall point you 821

(For every man hath business and desire 822

Such as it is), and for my own poor part 823

F Look you, F I will go pray. 824

horatio

These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. 825

hamlet

I am sorry they offend you — heartily, 826

Yes, faith, heartily. 827

horatio

There’s no offence, my lord. 828

hamlet

Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, 829

And much offence too. Touching this vision here, 830

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you. 831

For your desire to know what is between us 832

O’ermaster’t as you may. And now, good friends, 833

As you are friends, scholars and soldiers, 834

Give me one poor request. 835

horatio

What is’t, my lord? We will. 836

hamlet

Never make known what you have seen tonight. 837

horatio, marcellus

My lord, we will not. 838

hamlet

Nay, but swear’t. 839

horatio

In faith, my lord, not I. 840

marcellus

Nor I, my lord, in faith. 841

hamlet

Upon my sword sword . 842

marcellus

We have sworn, my lord, already. 843

hamlet

Indeed, upon my sword sword , indeed. 844

(Ghost cries under the stage.)

ghost

Swear. 845

hamlet

Ha, ha, boy, say’st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny? 846

Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage cellarage , 847

Consent to swear. 848

horatio

Propose the oath, my lord. 849

hamlet

Never to speak of this that you have seen, 850

Swear by my sword sword . 851

ghost

[under the stage] Swear. 852

hamlet

Hic et ubique? Hic et ubique? Then we’ll shift our ground. 853

Come hither, gentlemen, 854

And lay your hands again upon my sword sword . 855

Swear by my sword sword 856

Never to speak of this that you have heard. 857

ghost

[under the stage] Swear by his sword sword . 858

hamlet

Well said, old mole. Canst work i’th’earth so fast? 859

A worthy pioneer! Once more remove, good friends. 860

horatio

Oh, day and night, but this is wondrous strange. 861

hamlet

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. 862

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, 863

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come, 864

Here as before: never, so help you mercy 865

(How strange or odd some’er I bear myself, 866

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet 867

To put an antic disposition on), 868

That you at such times seeing me, never shall 869

(With arms encumbered thus, or this headshake, 870

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase 871

As “Well, well, we know,” or “We could an if we would,” 872

Or “If we list to speak,” or “There be an if they might,” 873

Or such ambiguous giving out) to note 874

That you know aught of me. This do swear, 875

So grace and mercy at your most need help you. 876

ghost

[under the stage] Swear. 878

([They swear.])

hamlet

Rest, rest, perturbèd spirit. — So, gentlemen, 879

With all my love I do commend me to you, 880

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is 881

May do t’express his love and friending to you, 882

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together, 883

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray. 884

The time is out of joint. O cursèd spite, 885

That ever I was born to set it right! — 886

Nay, come, let’s go together. 887

(Exeunt.)

[2.1] [2.1] subst. om. Actus Secundus

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

polonius

Give him this money, and these notes, Reynaldo. 890

reynaldo

I will, my lord. 891

polonius

You shall do marv’llous wisely, good Reynaldo, 892

Before you visit him, to make enquire 893

Of his behaviour. 894

reynaldo

My lord, I did intend it. 895

polonius

Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, 896

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, 898

And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, 899

What company, at what expense, and finding 900

By this encompassment and drift of question 901

That they do know my son, come you more nearer 902

Than your particular demands will touch it. 903

Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him, 904

As thus: “I know his father, and his friends, 905

And in part him” — do you mark this, Reynaldo? 906

reynaldo

Ay, very well, my lord. 907

polonius

“And in part him, but,” you may say, “not well; 908

But if’t be he I mean, he’s very wild, 909

Addicted so and so,” and there put on him 910

What forgeries you please — marry, none so rank 911

As may dishonour him; take heed of that — 912

But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips 913

As are companions noted and most known 914

To youth and liberty. 915

reynaldo

As gaming, my lord? 916

polonius

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, 917

Quarrelling, drabbing — you may go so far. 918

reynaldo

My lord, that would dishonour him. 919

polonius

Faith, F no, F as you may season it in the charge. 920

You must not put another scandal on him, 921

That he is open to incontinency, 922

That’s not my meaning, but breathe his faults so quaintly 923

That they may seem the taints of liberty, 924

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind, 925

A savageness in unreclaimèd blood 926

Of general assault. 926

reynaldo

But my good lord — 927

polonius

Wherefore should you do this? 928

reynaldo

Ay, my lord, I would know that. 929

polonius

Marry, sir, here’s my drift, 930

And I believe it is a fetch of wit: 931

You laying these slight sullies on my son 932

As ’twere a thing a little soiled wi’th’ working, 933

Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound 934

Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes 935

The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured 936

He closes with you in this consequence: 937

“Good sir,” or so, or “friend,” or “gentleman,” 938

According to the phrase or the addition 939

Of man and country. 940

reynaldo

Very good, my lord. 941

polonius

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

reynaldo

At “closes in the consequence” — 945

F At “friend, or so”, and “gentleman.” F 946

polonius

At “closes in the consequence,” ay, marry. 947

He closes F with you F thus: “I know the gentleman, 948

I saw him yesterday, or th’other day, 949

Or then or then, with such or such, and as you say, 950

There was ’a gaming, there o’ertook in’s rouse, 951

There falling out at tennis,” or perchance 952

“I saw him enter such a house of sale,” 953

Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now 954

Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth; 955

And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, 956

With windlasses, and with assays of bias, 957

By indirections find directions out. 958

So by my former lecture and advice 959

Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? 960

reynaldo

My lord, I have. 961

polonius

God b’wi’ye, fare ye well. 962

reynaldo

Good my lord. 963

polonius

Observe his inclination in yourself. 964

reynaldo

I shall, my lord. 965

polonius

And let him ply his music. 966

reynaldo

Well, my lord. 967

(Exit Reynaldo.)

(Enter Ophelia.)

polonius

Farewell. — How now, Ophelia, what’s the matter? 969

ophelia

Oh, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted — 971

polonius

With what, i’th’name of God? 972

ophelia

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, 973

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, 974

No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled, 975

Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle, 976

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, 977

And with a look so piteous in purport 978

As if he had been loosèd out of hell 979

To speak of horrors, he comes before me. 980

polonius

Mad for thy love? 981

ophelia

My lord, I do not know, 982

But truly I do fear it. 982

polonius

What said he? 983

ophelia

He took me by the wrist and held me hard, 984

Then goes he to the length of all his arm, 985

And with his other hand thus o’er his brow 986

He falls to such perusal of my face 987

As ’a would draw it. Long stayed he so. 988

At last, a little shaking of mine arm, 989

And thrice his head thus waving up and down, 990

He raised a sigh so piteous and profound 991

As it did seem to shatter all his bulk 992

And end his being. That done, he lets me go, 993

And, with his head over his shoulder turned, 994

He seemed to find his way without his eyes, 995

For out o’doors he went without their helps, 996

And to the last bended their light on me. 997

polonius

Come, go with me. I will go seek the King. 998

This is the very ecstasy of love, 999

Whose violent property fordoes itself 1000

And leads the will to desperate undertakings 1001

As oft as any passions under heaven 1002

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry. 1003

What, have you given him any hard words of late? 1004

ophelia

No, my good lord, but as you did command 1005

I did repel his letters and denied 1006

His access to me. 1007

polonius

That hath made him mad. 1008

I am sorry that with better heed and judgement 1009

I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle 1010

And meant to wrack thee. But beshrew my jealousy. 1011

By heaven, it is as proper to our age 1012

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 1013

As it is common for the younger sort 1014

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King. 1015

This must be known, which, being kept close, might move 1016

More grief to hide than hate to utter love. 1017

Come. 1017

(Exeunt.)

[2.2]

(Flourish.)

(Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern)

([with Attendants].)

king

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 1021

Moreover that we much did long to see you, 1022

The need we have to use you did provoke 1023

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard 1024

Of Hamlet’s transformation, so F I F call it, 1025

Sith nor th’exterior nor the inward man 1026

Resembles that it was. What it should be 1027

More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him 1028

So much from th’understanding of himself 1029

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both 1030

That, being of so young days brought up with him 1031

And sith so neighboured to his youth and haviour, 1032

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court 1033

Some little time, so by your companies 1034

To draw him on to pleasures and to gather 1035

So much as from occasion you may glean, 1036

Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus, 1036

That opened lies within our remedy. 1037

queen

Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you, 1038

And sure I am two men there is not living 1039

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you 1040

To show us so much gentry and good will 1041

As to expend your time with us a while 1042

For the supply and profit of our hope, 1043

Your visitation shall receive such thanks 1044

As fits a king’s remembrance. 1045

Rosencrantz

Both your majesties 1046

Might by the sovereign power you have of us 1047

Put your dread pleasures more into command 1048

Than to entreaty. 1049

guildenstern

But we both obey 1050

And here give up ourselves in the full bent 1051

To lay our service freely at your feet 1052

To be commanded. 1053

king

Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. 1054

queen

Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz. 1055

And I beseech you instantly to visit 1056

My too much changèd son. — Go some of you 1057

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. 1059

guildenstern

Heavens make our presence and our practices 1060

Pleasant and helpful to him. 1061

queen

Ay, amen. 1062

(Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and one or more Attendants].)

(Enter Polonius.)

polonius

Th’ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, 1064

Are joyfully returned. 1065

king

Thou still hast been the father of good news. 1066

polonius

Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege 1067

I hold my duty as I hold my soul, 1068

Both to my God, and to my gracious King; 1069

And I do think, or else this brain of mine 1070

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure 1071

As it hath used to do, that I have found 1072

The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy. 1073

king

Oh, speak of that, that do I long to hear. 1074

polonius

Give first admittance to th’ambassadors. 1075

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. 1076

king

Thyself do grace to them and bring them in. 1077

([Polonius goes to the door.])

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, F that F he hath found 1078

The head and source of all your son’s distemper. 1079

queen

I doubt it is no other but the main: 1080

His father’s death and our hasty marriage. 1081

(Enter Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius].)

king

Well, we shall sift him. — Welcome, my good friends. 1083

Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway? 1084

voltemand

Most fair return of greetings and desires. 1085

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress 1086

His nephew’s levies, which to him appeared 1087

To be a preparation ’gainst the Polack; 1088

But, better looked into, he truly found 1089

It was against your highness. Whereat, grieved 1090

That so his sickness, age and impotence 1091

Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests 1092

On Fortinbras, which he in brief obeys, 1093

Receives rebuke from Norway and, in fine, 1094

Makes vow before his uncle never more 1095

To give th’assay of arms against your majesty. 1096

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, 1097

Gives him threescore thousand crowns in anual fee 1098

And his commission to employ those soldiers 1099

So levied (as before) against the Polack, 1100

With an entreaty, herein further shown, 1101

That it might please you to give quiet pass 1102

Through your dominions for this enterprise 1103

On such regards of safety and allowance 1104

As therein are set down. 1105

king

It likes us well, 1106

And at our more considered time we’ll read, 1107

Answer and think upon this business. 1108

Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labour. 1109

Go to your rest, at night we’ll feast together. 1110

Most welcome home. 1111

(Exeunt Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius].)

polonius

This business is F very F well ended. 1112

My liege and madam, to expostulate 1113

What majesty should be, what duty is, 1114

Why day is day, night night, and time is time, 1115

Were nothing but to waste night, day and time. 1116

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit 1117

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes. 1118

I will be brief: your noble son is mad. 1119

Mad call I it, for to define true madness, 1120

What is’t but to be nothing else but mad? 1121

But let that go. 1122

queen

More matter with less art. 1123

polonius

Madam, I swear I use no art at all. 1124

That he’s mad ’tis true, ’tis true ’tis pity, 1125

And pity ’tis ’tis true — a foolish figure, 1126

But farewell it, for I will use no art. 1127

Mad let us grant him then, and now remains 1128

That we find out the cause of this effect, 1129

Or rather say the cause of this defect, 1130

For this effect defective comes by cause. 1131

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. 1132

Perpend. 1132

I have a daughter — have while she is mine — 1133

Who in her duty and obedience, mark, 1134

Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise. 1135

([Reads the letter.])

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

queen

Came this from Hamlet to her? 1142

polonius

Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful. 1143

([Reads the] letter.)

“Doubt thou the stars are fire, 1144

Doubt that the sun doth move, 1145

Doubt truth to be a liar, 1146

But never doubt I love. 1147

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

This in obedience hath my daughter shown me; 1153

And more above hath his solicitings, 1154

As they fell out, by time, by means, and place, 1155

All given to mine ear. 1156

king

But how hath she received his love? 1157

polonius

What do you think of me? 1158

king

As of a man faithful and honourable. 1159

polonius

I would fain prove so. But what might you think 1160

When I had seen this hot love on the wing 1161

(As I perceived it, I must tell you that, 1162

Before my daughter told me), what might you, 1163

Or my dear majesty your Queen here, think 1164

If I had played the desk or table-book, 1165

Or given my heart a working mute and dumb, 1166

Or looked upon this love with idle sight, 1167

What might you think? No, I went round to work 1168

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: 1169

“Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star. 1170

This must not be.” And then I prescripts gave her 1171

That she should lock herself from his resort, 1172

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens; 1173

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice, 1174

And he, repellèd, a short tale to make, 1175

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, 1176

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, 1177

Thence to a lightness, and by this declension 1178

Into the madness wherein now he raves 1179

And all we mourn for. 1180

king

Do you think F ’tis F this? 1181

queen

It may be, very like. 1182

polonius

Hath there been such a time — I would fain know that — 1183

That I have positively said ’tis so 1184

When it proved otherwise? 1185

king

Not that I know. 1186

polonius

Take this from this if this be otherwise. 1187

If circumstances lead me, I will find 1188

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed 1189

Within the centre. 1190

king

How may we try it further? 1191

polonius

You know sometimes he walks four hours together 1192

Here in the lobby. 1193

queen

So he does, indeed. 1195

polonius

At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him. 1196

Be you and I behind an arras then, 1197

Mark the encounter: if he love her not 1198

And be not from his reason fall’n thereon, 1199

Let me be no assistant for a state 1200

But keep a farm and carters. 1201

king

We will try it. 1202

(Enter Hamlet [reading on a book].)

queen

But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. 1204

polonius

Away, I do beseech you both, away. 1206

I’ll board him presently. Oh, give me leave. 1207

(Exeunt King and Queen [and Attendants].)

How does my good lord Hamlet? 1208

hamlet

Well, God’a’mercy.

polonius

Do you know me, my lord?

hamlet

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

polonius

Not I, my lord.

hamlet

Then I would you were so honest a man.

polonius

Honest, my lord?

hamlet

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

polonius

That’s very true, my lord.

hamlet

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

polonius

I have, my lord.

hamlet

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

polonius

How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet he knew me not at first, ’a said I was a fishmonger. ’A is far gone, F far gone, F and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love, very near this. I’ll speak to him again.

hamlet

Words, words, words.

polonius

What is the matter, my lord?

hamlet

Between who?

polonius

I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

hamlet

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

polonius

Though this be madness yet there is method in’t.

hamlet

Into my grave.

polonius

How pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him, and my daughter.

hamlet

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

polonius

Fare you well, my lord.

hamlet

These tedious old fools.

(Enter Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.)

polonius

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

rosencrantz

[To Polonius] God save you, sir.

([Exit Polonius.])

guildenstern

My honoured lord.

rosencrantz

My most dear lord.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

As the indifferent children of the earth.

guildenstern

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

hamlet

Nor the soles of her shoe.

rosencrantz

Neither, my lord.

hamlet

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

guildenstern

Faith, her privates we.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

Then is doomsday near. But your news is not true. true. true. Let me question more in particular: what haue / you my good friends, deserued at the hands of Fortune, / that she sends you to Prison hither? / Guil. Prison, my Lord? / Ham. Denmark's a Prison. / Rosin. Then is the World one. / Ham. A goodly one, in which there are many Con- / fines, Wards, and Dungeons; Denmarke being one o'th' / worst. / Rosin. We thinke not so my Lord. / Ham. Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing / either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is / a prison. / Rosin. Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis / too narrow for your minde. / Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and / count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that / I haue bad dreames. / Guil. Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the / very substance of the Ambitious, is meerely the shadow / of a Dreame. / Ham. A dreame it selfe is but a shadow. / Rosin. Truely, and I hold Ambition of so ayry and / light a quality, that it is but a shadowes shadow. / Ham. Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Mo- / narchs and out-stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes: / shall wee to th'Court: for, by my fey I cannot rea- / son? / Both. Wee'l wait vpon you. / Ham. No such matter. I will not sort you with the / rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest / man: I am most dreadfully attended; F Let me question more in particular: what have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison hither?

guildenstern

Prison, my lord?

hamlet

Denmark’s a prison.

rosencrantz

Then is the world one.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

We think not so, my lord.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

guildenstern

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

hamlet

A dream itself is but a shadow.

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz, guildenstern

We’ll wait upon you.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.

hamlet

Beggar that I am, I am ever ever euen mod. “ even ” poor in thanks, but I thank you, and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come, nay, speak.

guildenstern

What should we say, my lord?

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

To what end, my lord?

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

What say you?

hamlet

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

guildenstern

My lord, we were sent for.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

No, indeed are they not.

F hamlet

How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

Is’t possible?

guildenstern

Oh, there has been much throwing about of brains.

hamlet

Do the boys carry it away?

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

(A flourish.)

guildenstern

There are the players.

hamlet

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

guildenstern

In what, my dear lord?

hamlet

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

(Enter Polonius.)

polonius

Well be with you, gentlemen.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

polonius

My lord, I have news to tell you.

hamlet

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

polonius

The actors are come hither, my lord.

hamlet

Buzz, buzz.

polonius

Upon my honour.

hamlet

Then came each actor on his ass.

polonius

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

hamlet

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

polonius

What a treasure had he, my lord?

hamlet

Why,

“One fair daughter and no more, 1454

The which he loved passing well.” 1455

polonius

Still on my daughter.

hamlet

Am I not i’th’right, old Jephthah?

polonius

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

hamlet

Nay, that follows not.

polonius

What follows then, my lord?

hamlet

Why,

“As by lot, God wot”, 1462

and then, you know, 1462

“It came to pass, 1462

as most like it was.” 1463

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

1 player

What speech, my good lord?

hamlet

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

“The rugged Pyrrhus, like th’Hyrcanian beast —” 1492

’Tis not so, it begins with Pyrrhus:

“The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, 1494

Black as his purpose, did the night resemble 1495

When he lay couchèd in th’ominous horse, 1496

Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared 1497

With heraldry more dismal, head to foot. 1498

Now is he total gules, horridly tricked 1499

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, 1500

Baked and impasted with the parching streets 1501

That lend a tyrannous and a damnèd light 1502

To their lord’s murder; roasted in wrath and fire, 1503

And thus o’ersizèd with coagulate gore, 1504

With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus 1505

Old grandsire Priam seeks.” — 1506

So proceed you.

polonius

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

1 player

“Anon he finds him, 1509

Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword, 1510

Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, 1511

Repugnant to command. Unequal matched, 1512

Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide, 1513

But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword 1514

Th’unnervèd father falls. Then senseless Ilium, 1515

Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top 1516

Stoops to his base and with a hideous crash 1517

Takes prisoner Pyrrhus’ ear. For, lo, his sword, 1518

Which was declining on the milky head 1519

Of reverend Priam, seemed i’th’air to stick. 1520

So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood 1521

And, like a neutral to his will and matter, 1522

Did nothing. 1522

But as we often see against some storm 1523

A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, 1524

The bold winds speechless and the orb below 1525

As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder 1526

Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus’ pause 1527

A rousèd vengeance sets him new a-work, 1528

And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall 1529

On Mars’s armour, forged for proof eterne, 1530

With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword 1531

Now falls on Priam. 1532

Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods 1533

In general synod take away her power, 1534

Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel 1535

And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven 1536

As low as to the fiends.” 1537

polonius

This is too long.

hamlet

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

1 Player

“But who — ah, woe — had seen the mobled queen” — 1542

hamlet

“The mobled queen.”

polonius

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

1 player

— “Run barefoot up and down, threat’ning the flames 1545

With bisson rheum, a clout upon that head 1547

Where late the diadem stood and, for a robe, 1548

About her lank and all-o’erteemèd loins, 1549

A blanket in the alarm of fear caught up. 1550

Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steeped, 1551

’Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have pronounced. 1552

But if the gods themselves did see her then, 1553

When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport 1554

In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs, 1555

The instant burst of clamour that she made 1556

(Unless things mortal move them not at all) 1557

Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven 1558

And passion in the gods.” 1559

polonius

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

hamlet

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

polonius

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

hamlet

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

polonius

Come, sirs.

hamlet

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

1 player

Ay, my lord.

hamlet

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

1 player

Ay, my lord.

hamlet

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

(Exeunt Polonius and Players.)

rosencrantz

Good my lord.

(Exeunt [all but Hamlet].)

hamlet

Ay, so, God-bye to you. Now I am alone. 1589

Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! 1590

Is it not monstrous that this player here, 1591

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, 1592

Could force his soul so to his own conceit 1593

That from her working, all the visage wanned, 1594

Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, 1595

A broken voice, an’ his whole function suiting 1596

With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing. 1597

For Hecuba. 1598

What’s Hecuba to him, or he to her, 1599

That he should weep for her? What would he do 1600

Had he the motive and the cue for passion 1601

That I have? He would drown the stage with tears 1602

And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, 1603

Make mad the guilty and appal the free, 1604

Confound the ignorant and amaze indeed 1605

The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, 1606

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak 1607

Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, 1608

And can say nothing — no, not for a king, 1609

Upon whose property and most dear life 1610

A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward? 1611

Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across, 1612

Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face, 1613

Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i’th’throat 1614

As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this? 1615

Ha! ’Swounds, I should take it; for it cannot be 1616

But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall 1617

To make oppression bitter, or ere this 1618

I should ’a’ fatted all the region kites 1619

With this slave’s offal. Bloody, bawdy villain — 1620

Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! 1621

F Oh, vengeance! F 1622

Why, what an ass am I: F ay, sure, F this is most brave, 1623

That I, the son of a dear murderèd, 1624

Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, 1625

Must like a whore unpack my heart with words 1626

And fall a-cursing like a very drab, 1627

A stallion. Fie upon’t, foh! 1628

About, my brains! Hum, I have heard, 1628

That guilty creatures sitting at a play 1629

Have by the very cunning of the scene 1630

Been struck so to the soul that presently 1631

They have proclaimed their malefactions. 1632

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak 1633

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players 1634

Play something like the murder of my father 1635

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks. 1636

I’ll tent him to the quick. If ’a do blench, 1637

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen 1638

May be a de’il, and the de’il hath power 1639

T’assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps 1640

Out of my weakness and my melancholy, 1641

As he is very potent with such spirits, 1642

Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds 1643

More relative than this. The play’s the thing 1644

Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King. 1645

(Exit.)

[3.1]

(Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz,)

(Guildenstern, [and] Lords.)

king

And can you by no drift of conference 1648

Get from him why he puts on this confusion, 1649

Grating so harshly all his days of quiet 1650

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy? 1651

rosencrantz

He does confess he feels himself distracted, 1652

But from what cause ’a will by no means speak. 1653

guildenstern

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded, 1654

But with a crafty madness keeps aloof 1655

When we would bring him on to some confession 1656

Of his true state. 1657

queen

Did he receive you well? 1658

rosencrantz

Most like a gentleman. 1659

guildenstern

But with much forcing of his disposition. 1660

rosencrantz

Niggard of question, but of our demands 1661

Most free in his reply. 1662

queen

Did you assay him to any pastime? 1663

rosencrantz

Madam, it so fell out that certain players 1664

We o’erraught on the way. Of these we told him 1665

And there did seem in him a kind of joy 1666

To hear of it. They are here about the court 1667

And, as I think, they have already order 1668

This night to play before him. 1669

polonius

’Tis most true, 1670

And he beseeched me to entreat your majesties 1671

To hear and see the matter. 1672

king

With all my heart, and it doth much content me 1673

To hear him so inclined. 1674

Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, 1674

And drive his purpose into these delights. 1675

rosencrantz

We shall, my lord. 1677

(Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and Lords].)

king

Sweet Gertrude, leave us two, 1678

For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither, 1679

That he, as ’twere by accident, may here 1680

Affront Ophelia. Her father and myself F (lawful espials) F 1681

We’ll so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen, 1682

We may of their encounter frankly judge 1683

And gather by him as he is behaved, 1684

If’t be th’affliction of his love or no 1685

That thus he suffers for. 1686

queen

I shall obey you. 1687

And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish 1688

That your good beauties be the happy cause 1689

Of Hamlet’s wildness. So shall I hope your virtues 1690

Will bring him to his wonted way again 1691

To both your honours. 1692

ophelia

Madam, I wish it may. 1693

([Exit Queen.])

polonius

Ophelia, walk you here. — Gracious, so please you, 1694

We will bestow ourselves. — Read on this book, 1695

That show of such an exercise may colour 1696

Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this, 1697

(’Tis too much proved) that with devotion’s visage 1698

And pious action we do sugar o’er 1699

The devil himself. 1700

king

Oh, ’tis too true. 1701

How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! 1702

The harlot’s cheek beautied with plastering art 1703

Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it 1704

Than is my deed to my most painted word. 1705

Oh, heavy burden! 1706

(Enter Hamlet.)

polonius

I hear him coming: F let's F withdraw, my lord. 1707

([Exeunt King and Polonius.])

hamlet

To be, or not to be, that is the question: 1710

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer 1711

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, 1712

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles 1713

And by opposing, end them. To die — to sleep, 1714

No more; and by a sleep to say we end 1715

The heartache and the thousand natural shocks 1716

That flesh is heir to. ’Tis a consumation 1717

Devoutly to be wished: to die to sleep; 1718

To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there’s the rub, 1719

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come 1720

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil 1721

Must give us pause. There’s the respect 1722

That makes calamity of so long life: 1723

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, 1724

Th’oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, 1725

The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay, 1726

The insolence of office and the spurns 1727

That patient merit of th’unworthy takes, 1728

When he himself might his quietus make 1729

With a bare bodkin? Who would F these F fardels bear 1730

To grunt and sweat under a weary life 1731

But that the dread of something after death 1732

(The undiscovered country from whose bourn 1733

No traveller returns) puzzles the will 1734

And makes us rather bear those ills we have 1735

Than fly to others that we know not of? 1736

Thus conscience does make cowards F of us all F , 1737

And thus the native hue of resolution 1738

Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought, 1739

And enterprises of great pitch and moment 1740

With this regard their currents turn awry 1741

And lose the name of action. Soft you now, 1742

The fair Ophelia. Nymph, in thy orisons 1743

Be all my sins remembered. 1744

ophelia

Good my lord, 1745

How does your honour for this many a day? 1746

hamlet

I humbly thank you, F well, well, F well. 1747

ophelia

My lord, I have remembrances of yours 1748

That I have longèd long to redeliver. 1749

I pray you now receive them. 1750

hamlet

No, not I, I never gave you aught. 1751

ophelia

My honoured lord, you know right well you did, 1752

And with them words of so sweet breath composed 1753

As made these things more rich. Their perfume lost, 1754

Take these again, for to the noble mind 1755

Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. 1756

There, my lord. 1757

hamlet

Ha, ha, are you honest? 1758

ophelia

My lord? 1759

hamlet

Are you fair? 1760

ophelia

What means your lordship? 1761

hamlet

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

ophelia

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

hamlet

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

ophelia

Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

hamlet

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

ophelia

I was the more deceived.

hamlet

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

ophelia

At home, my lord.

hamlet

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

ophelia

Oh, help him, you sweet heavens!

hamlet

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

ophelia

Heavenly powers, restore him.

hamlet

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

(Exit.)

ophelia

Oh, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown! 1806

The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword, 1807

Th’expectation and rose of the fair state, 1808

The glass of fashion and the mould of form, 1809

Th’observed of all observers, quite quite down. 1810

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched, 1811

That sucked the honey of his musiced vows, 1812

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason 1813

Like sweet bells jangled out of time and harsh; 1814

That unmatched form and stature of blown youth 1815

Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me 1816

T’have seen what I have seen, see what I see. 1817

(Enter King and Polonius.)

king

Love — his affections do not that way tend, 1819

Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little, 1820

Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul 1821

O’er which his melancholy sits on brood, 1822

And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose 1823

Will be some danger; which for to prevent, 1824

I have in quick determination 1825

Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England 1826

For the demand of our neglected tribute. 1827

Haply the seas and countries different, 1828

With variable objects, shall expel 1829

This something-settled matter in his heart 1830

Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus 1831

From fashion of himself. What think you on’t? 1832

polonius

It shall do well. But yet do I believe 1833

The origin and commencement of his grief 1834

Sprung from neglected love. — How now, Ophelia? 1835

You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said, 1836

We heard it all. — My lord, do as you please, 1837

But if you hold it fit, after the play, 1838

Let his Queen-mother all alone entreat him 1839

To show his grief, let her be round with him, 1840

And I’ll be placed (so please you) in the ear 1841

Of all their conference. If she find him not, 1842

To England send him, or confine him where 1843

Your wisdom best shall think. 1844

king

It shall be so. 1845

Madness in great ones must not unwatched go. 1846

(Exeunt.)

[3.2]

(Enter Hamlet and three of the Players.)

hamlet

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

player

I warrant your honour.

hamlet

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

player

I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us.

hamlet

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

(Enter Polonius, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.)

polonius

And the Queen too, and that presently.

hamlet

Bid the players make haste.

([Exit Polonius.])

Will you two help to hasten them? 1899

rosencrantz

Ay, my lord. 1900

(Exeunt they two.)

hamlet

What ho, Horatio! 1902

(Enter Horatio.)

horatio

Here, sweet lord, at your service. 1903

hamlet

Horatio, thou art e’en as just a man 1904

As e’er my conversation coped withal. 1905

horatio

Oh, my dear lord — 1906

hamlet

Nay, do not think I flatter, 1907

For what advancement may I hope from thee 1908

That no revenue hast but thy good spirits 1909

To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered? 1910

No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp 1911

And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee 1912

Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? 1913

Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice 1914

And could of men distinguish her election, 1915

Sh’hath sealed thee for herself, for thou hast been 1916

As one in suff’ring all that suffers nothing, 1917

A man that Fortune’s buffets and rewards 1918

Hast ta’en with equal thanks. And blest are those 1919

Whose blood and judgement are so well co-meddled 1920

That they are not a pipe for Fortune’s finger 1921

To sound what stop she please. Give me that man 1922

That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him 1923

In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart, 1924

As I do thee. Something too much of this. 1925

There is a play tonight before the King. 1926

One scene of it comes near the circumstance 1927

Which I have told thee of my father’s death. 1928

I prithee, when thou see’st that act afoot, 1929

Even with the very comment of thy soul, 1930

Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt 1931

Do not itself unkennel in one speech, 1932

It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen, 1933

And my imaginations are as foul 1934

As Vulcan’s stithy. Give him heedful note, 1935

For I mine eyes will rivet to his face, 1936

And after, we will both our judgements join 1937

In censure of his seeming. 1938

horatio

Well, my lord. 1939

If ’a steal aught the whilst this play is playing 1940

And scape detected, I will pay the theft. 1941

(Enter Trumpets and Kettledrums, King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, [Rosencrantz,)

(Guildenstern, and other Lords attendant.] F with )

( his Guard carrying torches. Danish )

( march. Sound a Flourish. F )

hamlet

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

king

How fares our cousin Hamlet?

hamlet

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

king

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

hamlet

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

polonius

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

hamlet

What did you enact?

polonius

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

Ay, my lord, they stay upon your patience.

queen

Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.

hamlet

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

polonius

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

hamlet

Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

ophelia

No, my lord.

F hamlet

I mean, my head upon your lap?

ophelia

Ay, my lord. F

hamlet

Do you think I meant country matters?

ophelia

I think nothing, my lord.

hamlet

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

ophelia

What is, my lord?

hamlet

Nothing.

ophelia

You are merry, my lord.

hamlet

Who, I?

ophelia

Ay, my lord.

hamlet

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

ophelia

Nay, ’tis twice two months, my lord.

hamlet

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

(The Trumpets sounds. Dumb-show follows.)

(Enter a king and a queen, F very lovingly, F the queen embracing)

(him and he her. F She kneels and makes show of protestation unto )

( him. F He takes her up and declines his head upon her neck; he)

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

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

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

(leaves him. The queen returns, finds the king dead,)

(makes passionate action. The poisoner with some three or)

(four come in again, seem to condole with her.)

(The dead body is carried away. The poisoner woos the)

(queen with gifts. She seems harsh awhile,)

(but in the end accepts love.)

([Exeunt Players].)

ophelia

What means this, my lord?

hamlet

Marry, this’ munching Malicho — it means mischief.

ophelia

Belike this show imports the argument of the play.

(Enter Prologue.)

hamlet

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

ophelia

Will ’a tell us what this show meant?

hamlet

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

ophelia

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

prologue

For us and for our tragedy, 2017

Here stooping to your clemency 2018

We beg your hearing patiently. 2019

([Exit.])

hamlet

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

ophelia

’Tis brief, my lord.

hamlet

As woman’s love.

(Enter [two Players as] King and Queen.)

player king

Full thirty times hath Phoebus’ cart gone round 2024

Neptune’s salt wash and Tellus’ orbèd ground, 2025

And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen 2026

About the world have times twelve thirties been 2027

Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands 2028

Unite commutual in most sacred bands. 2029

player queen

So many journeys may the sun and moon 2030

Make us again count o’er ere love be done. 2031

But woe is me, you are so sick of late, 2032

So far from cheer and from our former state, 2033

That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust, 2034

Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must. 2035

For women fear too much, even as they love, 2035

And women’s fear and love hold quantity, 2036

In neither ought, or in extremity. 2037

Now what my love is proof hath made you know, 2038

And, as my love is sized, my fear is so. 2039

Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear; 2039

Where little fears grow great, great love grows there. 2039

player king

Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too: 2040

My operant powers their functions leave to do; 2041

And thou shalt live in this fair world behind, 2042

Honoured, beloved, and haply one as kind 2043

For husband shalt thou — 2044

player queen

Oh, confound the rest! 2045

Such love must needs be treason in my breast. 2046

In second husband let me be accursed. 2047

None wed the second but who killed the first. 2048

hamlet

That’s wormwood.

player queen

The instances that second marriage move 2050

Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. 2051

A second time I kill my husband dead 2052

When second husband kisses me in bed. 2053

player king

I do believe you think what now you speak. 2054

But what we do determine oft we break. 2055

Purpose is but the slave to memory, 2056

Of violent birth but poor validity, 2057

Which now, the fruit unripe, sticks on the tree, 2058

But fall unshaken when they mellow be. 2059

Most necessary ’tis that we forget 2060

To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt. 2061

What to ourselves in passion we propose, 2062

The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. 2063

The violence of either grief or joy 2064

Their own enactures with themselves destroy. 2065

Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament; 2066

Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident. 2067

This world is not for aye, nor ’tis not strange 2068

That even our loves should with our fortunes change, 2069

For ’tis a question left us yet to prove 2070

Whether Love lead Fortune, or else Fortune Love. 2071

The great man down, you mark his favourite flies; 2072

The poor advanced makes friends of enemies; 2073

And hitherto doth Love on Fortune tend: 2074

For who not needs shall never lack a friend, 2075

And who in want a hollow friend doth try 2076

Directly seasons him his enemy. 2077

But orderly to end where I begun, 2078

Our wills and fates do so contrary run 2079

That our devices still are overthrown: 2080

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own. 2081

So think thou wilt no second husband wed, 2082

But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead. 2083

player queen

Nor earth to me give food nor heaven light, 2084

Sport and repose lock from me day and night, 2085

To desperation turn my trust and hope, 2085

An anchor’s cheer in prison be my scope, 2085

Each opposite that blanks the face of joy 2086

Meet what I would have well and it destroy, 2087

Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, 2088

If once I be a widow ever I be a wife. 2089

hamlet

If she should break it now.

player king

’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile. 2091

My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile 2093

The tedious day with sleep. 2094

player queen

Sleep rock thy brain, 2095

([He sleeps.])

And never come mischance between us twain. 2096

(Exit.)

hamlet

Madam, how like you this play?

queen

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

hamlet

Oh, but she’ll keep her word.

king

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

hamlet

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

king

What do you call the play?

hamlet

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

ophelia

You are as good as a chorus, my lord.

hamlet

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

ophelia

You are keen, my lord, you are keen.

hamlet

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

ophelia

Still better and worse.

hamlet

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

lucianus

Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing, 2124

Confederate season, else no creature seeing, 2126

Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, 2127

With Hecate’s ban thrice blasted, thrice infected, 2128

Thy natural magic and dire property 2129

On wholesome life usurps immediately. 2130

([Pours the poison in his ears.])

hamlet

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

ophelia

The King rises.

F hamlet

What, frighted with false fire? F

queen

How fares my lord?

polonius

Give o’er the play.

king

Give me some light. Away!

polonius

Lights, lights, lights!

(Exeunt)

(all but Hamlet and Horatio.)

hamlet

Why, let the stricken deer go weep, 2143

The hart ungalled play, 2144

For some must watch while some must sleep. 2145

Thus runs the world away. 2146

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

horatio

Half a share.

hamlet

A whole one, I.

For thou dost know, O Damon dear, 2153

This realm dismantled was 2154

Of Jove himself, and now reigns here 2154

A very, very — pajock. 2156

horatio

You might have rhymed.

hamlet

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

horatio

Very well, my lord.

hamlet

Upon the talk of the poisoning?

horatio

I did very well note him.

(Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

hamlet

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

For, if the King like not the comedy, 2165

Why then belike he likes it not, perdie. 2166

Come, some music!

guildenstern

Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.

hamlet

Sir, a whole history.

guildenstern

The King, sir —

hamlet

Ay, sir, what of him?

guildenstern

— is in his retirement marvellous distempered.

hamlet

With drink, sir?

guildenstern

No, my lord, F rather F with choler —

hamlet

Your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to the doctor, for, for me to put him to his purgation, would perhaps plunge him into F far F more choler.

guildenstern

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

hamlet

I am tame, sir. Pronounce.

guildenstern

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

hamlet

You are welcome.

guildenstern

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

hamlet

Sir, I cannot.

rosencrantz

What, my lord?

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

My lord, you once did love me.

hamlet

And do still, by these pickers and stealers.

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

Sir, I lack advancement.

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

guildenstern

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

hamlet

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

guildenstern

My lord, I cannot.

hamlet

I pray you.

guildenstern

Believe me, I cannot.

hamlet

I do beseech you.

guildenstern

I know no touch of it, my lord.

hamlet

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

guildenstern

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

hamlet

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

(Enter Polonius.)

polonius

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

hamlet

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

polonius

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

hamlet

Methinks it is like a weasel.

polonius

It is backed like a weasel.

hamlet

Or like a whale.

polonius

Very like a whale.

hamlet

They fool me to the top of my bent.

([Exeunt all but Hamlet.])

’Tis now the very witching time of night 2259

When churchyards yawn and hell itself breaks out 2260

Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood 2261

And do such bitter business as the day 2262

Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother. 2263

O heart, lose not thy nature. Let not ever 2264

The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom; 2265

Let me be cruel, not unnatural. 2266

I will speak daggers to her, but use none. 2267

My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites. 2268

How in my words somever she be shent 2269

To give them seals never my soul consent. 2270

(Exit)

[3.3]

(Enter King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

king

I like him not, nor stands it safe with us 2272

To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you: 2273

I your commission will forthwith dispatch, 2274

And he to England shall along with you. 2275

The terms of our estate may not endure 2276

Hazard so near’s as doth hourly grow 2277

Out of his brows. 2278

guildenstern

We will ourselves provide. 2279

Most holy and religious fear it is 2280

To keep those many many bodies safe 2281

That live and feed upon your majesty. 2282

rosencrantz

The single and peculiar life is bound 2283

With all the strength and armour of the mind 2285

To keep itself from noyance, but much more 2286

That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests 2287

The lives of many. The cess of majesty 2288

Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw 2289

What’s near it with it; or it is a massy wheel 2290

Fixed on the summit of the highest mount 2291

To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things 2292

Are mortised and adjoined, which, when it falls, 2293

Each small annexment, petty consequence, 2294

Attends the boist’rous ruin. Never alone 2295

Did the King sigh but with a general groan. 2296

king

Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage, 2297

For we will fetters put about this fear 2298

Which now goes too free-footed. 2299

rosencrantz

We will haste us. 2300

(Exeunt Gentlemen [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern].)

(Enter Polonius.)

polonius

My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet. 2302

Behind the arras I’ll convey myself 2303

To hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home, 2304

And, as you said (and wisely was it said), 2305

’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, 2306

Since nature makes them partial, should o’erhear 2307

The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege, 2308

I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed 2309

And tell you what I know. 2310

king

Thanks, dear my lord. — 2311

(Exit [Polonius].)

Oh, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven, 2312

It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, 2313

A brother’s murder. Pray can I not, 2314

Though inclination be as sharp as will, 2315

My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, 2316

And, like a man to double business bound, 2317

I stand in pause where I shall first begin 2318

And both neglect. What if this cursed hand 2319

Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood? 2320

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens 2321

To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy 2322

But to confront the visage of offence? 2323

And what’s in prayer but this twofold force, 2324

To be forestallèd ere we come to fall 2325

Or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up. 2326

My fault is past, but oh, what form of prayer 2327

Can serve my turn? “Forgive me my foul murder?” 2328

That cannot be since I am still possessed 2329

Of those effects for which I did the murder: 2330

My crown, mine own ambition and my Queen. 2331

May one be pardoned and retain th’offence? 2332

In the corrupted currents of this world 2333

Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice, 2334

And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself 2335

Buys out the law; but ’tis not so above, 2336

There is no shuffling, there the action lies 2337

In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled 2338

Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults 2339

To give in evidence. What then? What rests? 2340

Try what repentance can. What can it not? 2341

Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? 2342

O wretched state, O bosom black as death, 2343

O limèd soul, that, struggling to be free, 2344

Art more engaged! Help, angels, make assay. 2345

Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel 2346

([Kneels?])

Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe. 2347

All may be well. 2348

(Enter Hamlet.)

hamlet

Now might I do it — but now ’a is a-praying. 2350

And now I’ll do’t [Draws his sword.] — and so ’a goes to heaven, 2351

And so am I revenged. That would be scanned: 2352

A villain kills my father, and for that 2353

I, his sole son, do this same villain send 2354

To heaven. 2355

Why, this is base and silly, not revenge. 2355

’A took my father grossly, full of bread, 2356

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May, 2357

And how his audit stands who knows save heaven, 2358

But in our circumstance and course of thought 2359

’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged 2360

To take him in the purging of his soul 2361

When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? 2362

No. 2362

Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent: 2363

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, 2364

Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, 2365

At game a-swearing, or about some act 2366

That has no relish of salvation in’t, 2367

Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven 2368

And that his soul may be as damned and black 2369

As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays. 2370

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. 2371

(Exit.)

king

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. 2372

Words without thoughts never to heaven go. 2373

(Exit.)

[3.4]

(Enter [Queen] Gertrude and Polonius.)

polonius

’A will come straight. 2375

Look you lay home to him. 2376

Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, 2377

And that your grace hath screened and stood between 2378

Much heat and him. I’ll silence me even here. 2379

Pray you be round F with him F . 2380

F hamlet

Within Mother, mother, mother. F 2381

queen

I’ll warrant you, fear me not. 2382

Withdraw, I hear him coming. 2383

([Polonius hides behind the arras.])

(Enter Hamlet.)

hamlet

Now, mother, what’s the matter? 2385

queen

Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. 2386

hamlet

Mother, you have my father much offended. 2387

queen

Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. 2388

hamlet

Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. 2389

queen

Why, how now, Hamlet? 2390

hamlet

What’s the matter now? 2391

queen

Have you forgot me? 2392

hamlet

No, by the rood, not so, 2393

You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife, 2394

And, would it were not so, you are my mother. 2395

queen

Nay, then I’ll set those to you that can speak. 2396

hamlet

Come, come, and sit you down, you shall not budge. 2397

You go not till I set you up a glass 2399

Where you may see the inmost part of you. 2400

queen

What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me? 2401

Help, F help, F ho! 2402

polonius

[Behind the arras.] What ho! Help! F Help, help! F 2403

hamlet

How now, a rat! Dead for a ducat, dead! 2404

([Kills Polonius.])

polonius

[Behind the arras.] Oh, I am slain. 2405

queen

O me, what hast thou done? 2406

hamlet

Nay, I know not. Is it the King? 2407

queen

Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this! 2408

hamlet

A bloody deed — almost as bad, good mother, 2409

As kill a king and marry with his brother. 2410

queen

As kill a king? 2411

hamlet

Ay, lady, it was my word. — 2412

([Discovers Polonius.])

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. 2413

I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. 2414

Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger. — 2415

Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit you down 2416

And let me wring your heart, for so I shall, 2417

If it be made of penetrable stuff, 2418

If damnèd custom have not brazed it so 2419

That it be proof and bulwark against sense. 2420

queen

What have I done that thou dar’st wag thy tongue 2421

In noise so rude against me? 2422

hamlet

Such an act 2423

That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, 2424

Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose 2425

From the fair forehead of an innocent love 2426

And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows 2427

As false as dicers’ oaths — oh, such a deed 2428

As from the body of contraction plucks 2429

The very soul, and sweet religion makes 2430

A rhapsody of words. Heaven’s face does glow 2431

O’er this solidity and compound mass 2432

With heated visage, as against the doom 2433

Is thought-sick at the act. 2434

queen

Ay me, what act 2435

That roars so loud and thunders in the index? 2435

hamlet

Look here upon this picture, and on this, 2437

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. 2438

See what a grace was seated on his brow, 2439

Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself, 2440

An eye like Mars to threaten and command, 2441

A station like the herald Mercury, 2442

New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill, 2443

A combination and a form indeed 2444

Where every god did seem to set his seal 2445

To give the world assurance of a man. 2446

This was your husband. Look you now what follows: 2447

Here is your husband like a mildewed ear 2448

Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? 2449

Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed 2450

And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes? 2451

You cannot call it love, for at your age 2452

The heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble 2453

And waits upon the judgement, and what judgement 2454

Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have, 2455

Else could you not have motion, but sure that sense 2455

Is apoplexed, for madness would not err 2455

Nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thralled 2455

But it reserved some quantity of choice 2455

To serve in such a difference. What devil was’t 2455

That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind? 2456

Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight, 2456

Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all, 2456

Or but a sickly part of one true sense 2456

Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush? 2456

Rebellious hell, 2457

If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones, 2458

To flaming youth let virtue be as wax 2459

And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame 2460

When the compulsive ardour gives the charge, 2461

Since frost itself as actively doth burn 2462

And reason panders will. 2463

queen

O Hamlet, speak no more! 2464

Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul, 2465

And there I see such black and grainèd spots 2466

As will leave there their tinct. 2467

hamlet

Nay, but to live 2468

In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed 2469

Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love 2470

Over the nasty sty — 2471

queen

Oh, speak to me no more, 2472

These words like daggers enter in my ears. 2473

No more, sweet Hamlet. 2474

hamlet

A murderer and a villain, 2475

A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe 2476

Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings, 2477

A cutpurse of the empire and the rule, 2478

That from a shelf the precious diadem stole 2479

And put it in his pocket — 2480

queen

No more. 2481

(Enter Ghost.)

hamlet

A king of shreds and patches — 2483

Save me and hover o’er me with your wings, 2484

You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure? 2485

queen

Alas, he’s mad. 2486

hamlet

Do you not come your tardy son to chide, 2487

That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by 2488

Th’important acting of your dread command? Oh, say! 2489

ghost

Do not forget. This visitation 2490

Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. 2491

But look, amazement on thy mother sits. 2492

Oh, step between her and her fighting soul. 2493

Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works. 2494

Speak to her, Hamlet. 2495

hamlet

How is it with you, lady? 2496

queen

Alas, how is’t with you, 2497

That you do bend your eye on vacancy 2498

And with th’incorporal air do hold discourse? 2499

Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep, 2500

And, as the sleeping soldiers in th’alarm, 2501

Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, 2502

Start up and stand on end. O gentle son, 2503

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper 2504

Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look? 2505

hamlet

On him, on him. Look you how pale he glares. 2506

His form and cause conjoined preaching to stones 2507

Would make them capable. — Do not look upon me, 2508

Lest with this piteous action you convert 2509

My stern effects. Then what I have to do 2510

Will want true colour, tears perchance for blood. 2511

queen

To whom do you speak this? 2512

hamlet

Do you see nothing there? 2513

queen

Nothing at all, yet all that is I see. 2514

hamlet

Nor did you nothing hear? 2515

queen

No, nothing but ourselves. 2516

hamlet

Why, look you there, look how it steals away, 2517

My father in his habit as he lived, 2518

Look where he goes, even now out at the portal. 2519

(Exit Ghost.)

queen

This is the very coinage of your brain. 2520

This bodiless creation ecstasy 2521

Is very cunning in. 2521

hamlet

F Ecstasy? F 2522

My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time 2523

And makes as healthful music. It is not madness 2524

That I have uttered. Bring me to the test, 2525

And I the matter will reword, which madness 2526

Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace, 2527

Lay not that flattering unction to your soul 2528

That not your trespass but my madness speaks. 2529

It will but skin and film the ulcerous place 2530

Whiles rank corruption mining all within 2531

Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven, 2532

Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come, 2533

And do not spread the compost on the weeds 2534

To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue, 2535

For in the fatness of these pursy times 2536

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, 2537

Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. 2538

queen

O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. 2539

hamlet

Oh, throw away the worser part of it, 2541

And live the purer with the other half. 2542

Good night, but go not to my uncle’s bed. 2543

Assume a virtue if you have it not. 2544

That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat 2544

Of habits devil, is angel yet in this, 2544

That to the use of actions fair and good 2544

He likewise gives a frock or livery 2544

That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight, 2544

And that shall lend a kind of easiness 2545

To the next abstinence. The next more easy; 2546

For use almost can change the stamp of nature, 2546

And either shame the devil or throw him out 2546

With wondrous potency. Once more, good night. 2546

And when you are desirous to be blessed 2547

I’ll blessing beg of you. For this same lord 2548

I do repent, but heaven hath pleased it so 2549

To punish me with this, and this with me, 2550

That I must be their scourge and minister. 2551

I will bestow him and will answer well 2552

The death I gave him. So again, good night. 2553

I must be cruel only to be kind. 2554

This bad begins and worse remains behind. 2555

One word more, good lady. 2555

queen

What shall I do? 2556

hamlet

Not this, by no means, that I bid you do: 2557

Let the bloat King tempt you again to bed, 2558

Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse, 2559

And let him for a pair of reechy kisses, 2560

Or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers, 2561

Make you to ravel all this matter out 2562

That I essentially am not in madness 2563

But mad in craft. ’Twere good you let him know, 2564

For who that’s but a queen, fair, sober, wise, 2565

Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib, 2566

Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so? 2567

No, in despite of sense and secrecy 2568

Unpeg the basket on the house’s top, 2569

Let the birds fly and, like the famous ape, 2570

To try conclusions in the basket creep 2571

And break your own neck down. 2572

queen

Be thou assured, if words be made of breath 2573

And breath of life, I have no life to breathe 2574

What thou hast said to me. 2575

hamlet

I must to England, you know that? 2576

queen

Alack, I had forgot. ’Tis so concluded on. 2577

hamlet

There’s letters sealed, and my two schoolfellows, 2577

Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged, 2577

They bear the mandate, they must sweep my way 2577

And marshal me to knavery. Let it work, 2577

For ’tis the sport to have the enginer 2577

Hoist with his own petard, and’t shall go hard 2577

But I will delve one yard below their mines 2577

And blow them at the moon. Oh, ’tis most sweet 2577

When in one line two crafts directly meet. 2577

This man shall set me packing; 2578

I’ll lug the guts into the neighbor room. 2579

Mother, good night indeed. This counsellor 2580

Is now most still, most secret and most grave, 2581

Who was in life a foolish prating knave. 2582

Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you. 2583

Good night, mother. 2584

(Exit [Hamlet tugging in Polonius].)

[4.1]

(Enter King, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

king

There’s matter in these sighs. These profound heaves 2587

You must translate; ’tis fit we understand them. 2589

Where is your son? 2590

([Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.])

queen

Bestow this place on us a little while. 2590

Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight! 2591

king

What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet? 2592

queen

Mad as the sea and wind when both contend 2593

Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit, 2594

Behind the arras hearing something stir, 2595

Whips out his rapier, F and F cries “A rat, a rat!” 2596

And in this brainish apprehension kills 2597

The unseen good old man. 2598

king

Oh, heavy deed! 2599

It had been so with us had we been there. 2600

His liberty is full of threats to all, 2601

To you yourself, to us, to everyone. 2602

Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered? 2603

It will be laid to us, whose providence 2604

Should have kept short, restrained and out of haunt 2605

This mad young man. But so much was our love, 2606

We would not understand what was most fit, 2607

But, like the owner of a foul disease, 2608

To keep it from divulging, let it feed 2609

Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone? 2610

queen

To draw apart the body he hath killed, 2611

O’er whom — his very madness like some ore 2612

Among a mineral of metals base 2613

Shows itself pure — ’a weeps for what is done. 2614

king

O Gertrude, come away. 2615

The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch 2616

But we will ship him hence and this vile deed 2617

We must with all our majesty and skill 2618

Both countenance and excuse. — Ho, Guildenstern! 2619

(Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

Friends both, go join you with some further aid: 2621

Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain 2622

And from his mother’s closet hath he dragged him. 2623

Go seek him out, speak fair and bring the body 2624

Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this. 2625

([Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.])

Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends 2626

And let them know both what we mean to do 2627

And what’s untimely done. So envious slander 2628

Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter, 2628

As level as the cannon to his blank, 2628

Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name 2628

And hit the woundless air. Oh, come away, 2628

My soul is full of discord and dismay. 2629

(Exeunt.)

[4.2]

(Enter Hamlet.)

hamlet

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

(Enter Rosencrantz[, Guildenstern] and others.)

rosencrantz

What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? 2635

hamlet

Compound it with dust whereto ’tis kin. 2636

rosencrantz

Tell us where ’tis that we may take it thence 2637

And bear it to the chapel. 2638

hamlet

Do not believe it. 2639

rosencrantz

Believe what? 2640

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

I understand you not, my lord.

hamlet

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

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

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

guildenstern

A thing, my lord?

hamlet

Of nothing. Bring me to him. F Hide fox and all after. F

(Exeunt.)

[4.3]

(Enter King, and two or three.)

king

I have sent to seek him and to find the body. 2662

How dangerous is it that this man goes loose! 2663

Yet must not we put the strong law on him: 2664

He’s loved of the distracted multitude, 2665

Who like not in their judgement but their eyes, 2666

And where ’tis so, th’offender’s scourge is weighed 2667

But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even, 2668

This sudden sending him away must seem 2669

Deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown 2670

By desperate appliance are relieved, 2671

Or not at all. 2672

(Enter Rosencrantz, [Guildenstern] and all the rest.)

How now, what hath befall’n? 2673

rosencrantz

Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord, 2674

We cannot get from him. 2675

king

But where is he? 2676

rosencrantz

Without, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure. 2677

king

Bring him before us. 2679

rosencrantz

Ho F , Guildenstern F ! Bring in the lord. 2680

(They [Hamlet and Guards] enter.)

king

Now, Hamlet, where’s Polonius?

hamlet

At supper.

king

At supper, where?

hamlet

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

king

Alas, alas.

hamlet

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

king

What dost thou mean by this?

hamlet

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

king

Where is Polonius?

hamlet

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

king

Go seek him there.

hamlet

’A will stay till you come.

([Exeunt Guards.])

king

Hamlet, this deed F of thine F , for thine especial safety 2701

(Which we do tender as we dearly grieve 2702

For that which thou hast done) must send thee hence. 2703

F With fiery quickness. F Therefore prepare thyself. 2704

The bark is ready and the wind at help, 2705

Th’associates tend, and every thing is bent 2706

For England. 2707

hamlet

For England? 2708

king

Ay, Hamlet. 2709

hamlet

Good. 2710

king

So is it if thou knew’st our purposes. 2711

hamlet

I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England. 2712

Farewell, dear mother. 2713

king

Thy loving father, Hamlet. 2714

hamlet

My mother: father and mother is man and wife; 2715

Man and wife is one flesh; F and F so, my mother. 2716

Come, for England. 2716

(Exit.)

king

Follow him at foot, 2718

Tempt him with speed aboard, 2719

Delay it not, I’ll have him hence tonight. 2720

Away, for everything is sealed and done 2721

That else leans on th’affair. Pray you make haste. 2722

([Exeunt all but the King.])

And England, if my love thou hold’st at aught 2723

As my great power thereof may give thee sense, 2724

Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red 2725

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe 2726

Pays homage to us, thou mayst not coldly set 2727

Our sovereign process, which imports at full 2728

By letters congruing to that effect 2729

The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England, 2730

For like the hectic in my blood he rages, 2731

And thou must cure me. Till I know ’tis done, 2732

Howe’er my haps, my joys were ne’re begun. 2733

(Exit.)

[4.4]

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

fortinbras

Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish King. 2735

Tell him that by his licence Fortinbras 2736

Craves the conveyance of a promised march 2737

Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous. 2738

If that his majesty would aught with us, 2739

We shall express our duty in his eye, 2740

And let him know so. 2741

captain

I will do’t, my lord. 2742

fortinbras

Go softly on. 2743

([Exeunt all but the Captain].)

(Enter Hamlet, Rosencrantz, [Guildenstern,] etc.)

hamlet

Good sir, whose powers are these? 2743

captain

They are of Norway, sir. 2743

hamlet

How purposed, sir, I pray you? 2743

captain

Against some part of Poland. 2743

hamlet

Who commands them, sir? 2743

captain

The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. 2743

hamlet

Goes it against the main of Poland, sir, 2743

Or for some frontier? 2743

captain

Truly to speak, and with no addition, 2743

We go to gain a little patch of ground 2743

That hath in it no profit but the name. 2743

To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it; 2743

Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole 2743

A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee. 2743

hamlet

Why, then the Polack never will defend it. 2743

captain

Yes, it is already garrisoned. 2743

hamlet

Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats 2743

Will not debate the question of this straw. 2743

This is th’impostume of much wealth and peace 2743

That inward breaks and shows no cause without 2743

Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir. 2743

captain

God b'wi' you, sir. 2743

([Exit.])

Rosencrantz

Will’t please you go, my lord? 2743

hamlet

I’ll be with you straight. Go a little before. 2743

([Exeunt all but Hamlet.])

How all occasions do inform against me 2743

And spur my dull revenge. What is a man 2743

If his chief good and market of his time 2743

Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more. 2743

Sure he that made us with such large discourse 2743

Looking before and after, gave us not 2743

That capability and god-like reason 2743

To fust in us unused. Now whether it be 2743

Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple 2743

Of thinking too precisely on th’event 2743

(A thought which quartered hath but one part wisdom 2743

And ever three parts coward) I do not know 2743

Why yet I live to say this thing’s to do, 2743

Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means 2743

To do’t. Examples gross as earth exhort me: 2743

Witness this army of such mass and charge, 2743

Led by a delicate and tender prince 2743

Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed 2743

Makes mouths at the invisible event, 2743

Exposing what is mortal and unsure 2743

To all that fortune, death and danger dare, 2743

Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be great 2743

Is not to stir without great argument 2743

But greatly to find quarrel in a straw 2743

When honour’s at the stake. How stand I then 2743

That have a father killed, a mother stained, 2743

Excitements of my reason and my blood, 2743

And let all sleep, while to my shame I see 2743

The imminent death of twenty thousand men 2743

That for a fantasy and trick of fame 2743

Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot 2743

Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, 2743

Which is not tomb enough and continent 2743

To hide the slain. Oh, from this time forth 2743

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth. 2743

(Exit.)

[4.5]

(Enter Horatio, [Queen] Gertrude, and a Gentleman.)

queen

I will not speak with her. 2745

gentleman

She is importunate, 2746

Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied. 2747

queen

What would she have? 2748

gentleman

She speaks much of her father, says she hears 2749

There’s tricks i’th’world, and hems, and beats her heart, 2750

Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt 2751

That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing, 2752

Yet the unshaped use of it doth move 2753

The hearers to collection; they yawn at it 2754

And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts, 2755

Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them, 2756

Indeed would make one think there might be thought, 2757

Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily. 2758

horatio

’Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew 2759

Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds. 2760

Let her come in. 2761

([Exit Gentleman.])

queen

To my sick soul, as sin’s true nature is, 2762

Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. 2763

So full of artless jealousy is guilt, 2764

It spills itself in fearing to be spilt. 2765

(Enter Ophelia [distracted].)

ophelia

Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark? 2767

queen

How now, Ophelia? 2768

ophelia

She sings. How should I your true love know 2769

From another one, 2769

By his cockle hat and staff, 2770

And his sandal shoon. 2770

queen

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song? 2771

ophelia

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.

(Song.)

He is dead and gone, lady, 2773

He is dead and gone. 2773

At his head a grass-green turf, 2774

Oh, ho!

At his heels a stone. 2774

queen

Nay, but Ophelia — 2776

ophelia

Pray you, mark.

([She sings.])

White his shroud as the mountain snow — 2778

(Enter King.)

queen

Alas, look here, my lord. 2779

ophelia

Song. Larded all with sweet flowers 2780

Which bewept to the ground did not go 2781

With true-love showers. 2782

king

How do you, pretty lady? 2783

ophelia

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

king

Conceit upon her father. 2787

ophelia

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

(Song.)

Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day, 2790

All in the morning betime, 2790

And I a maid at your window 2791

To be your Valentine. 2791

Then up he rose, and donned his clo’es, 2792

And dupped the chamber door, 2792

Let in the maid that out a maid 2793

Never departed more. 2793

king

Pretty Ophelia. 2794

ophelia

Indeed, F la!, F without an oath I’ll make an end on’t.

([Song.])

By Gis and by Saint Charity, 2796

Alack and fie for shame, 2797

Young men will do’t if they come to’t, 2798

By Cock they are to blame. 2799

Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me 2800

You promised me to wed.” 2801

He answers:

“So would I ha’ done by yonder sun 2802

An thou hadst not come to my bed.” 2803

king

How long hath she been thus? 2804

ophelia

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

([Exit.])

king

Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you. 2811

([Exit Horatio.])

Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs 2813

All from her father’s death, and now behold. 2814

O Gertrude, Gertrude, 2814

When sorrows come, they come not single spies 2815

But in battalions: first, her father slain; 2816

Next, your son gone, and he most violent author 2817

Of his own just remove; the people muddied, 2818

Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers 2819

For good Polonius’ death, and we have done but greenly 2820

In hugger-mugger to inter him; poor Ophelia 2821

Divided from herself and her fair judgement, 2822

Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts; 2823

Last, and as much containing as all these, 2824

Her brother is in secret come from France, 2825

Feeds on this wonder, keeps himself in clouds 2826

And wants not buzzers to infect his ear 2827

With pestilent speeches of his father’s death, 2828

Wherein necessity, of matter beggared, 2829

Will nothing stick our person to arraign 2830

In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this 2831

Like to a murd’ring-piece in many places 2832

Gives me superfluous death. 2833

(A noise within.)

(Enter a Messenger.)

F queen

Alack, what noise is this? F 2835

king

Attend! Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door. 2836

What is the matter? 2837

messenger

Save yourself, my lord. 2838

The ocean overpeering of his list 2839

Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste 2840

Than young Laertes in a riotous head 2841

O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord, 2842

And, as the world were now but to begin, 2843

Antiquity forgot, custom not known, 2844

The ratifiers and props of every word, 2845

They cry “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!” 2846

Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds: 2847

“Laertes shall be king! Laertes king!” 2848

queen

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry! 2849

([Exit Messenger.])

(A noise within.)

Oh, this is counter, you false Danish dogs! 2850

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

king

The doors are broke. 2852

laertes

Where is this King? — Sirs, stand you all without. 2853

followers

No, let’s come in. 2854

laertes

I pray you give me leave. 2855

followers

We will, we will. 2856

laertes

I thank you. Keep the door. — 2857

([Exeunt his Followers.])

O thou vile King, 2858

Give me my father. 2858

queen

Calmly, good Laertes. 2859

laertes

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard, 2860

Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot 2862

Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow 2863

Of my true mother. 2864

king

What is the cause, Laertes, 2865

That thy rebellion looks so giant-like? — 2866

Let him go, Gertrude, do not fear our person: 2867

There’s such divinity doth hedge a king 2868

That treason can but peep to what it would, 2869

Acts little of his will. — Tell me, Laertes, 2870

Why thou art thus incensed. — Let him go, Gertrude. — 2871

Speak, man. 2872

laertes

Where is my father? 2873

king

Dead. 2874

queen

But not by him. 2875

king

Let him demand his fill. 2876

laertes

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with. 2877

To hell allegiance, vows to the blackest devil, 2878

Conscience and grace to the profoundest pit! 2879

I dare damnation. To this point I stand, 2880

That both the worlds I give to negligence. 2881

Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged 2882

Most throughly for my father. 2883

king

Who shall stay you? 2884

laertes

My will, not all the world’s; 2885

And for my means I’ll husband them so well 2886

They shall go far with little. 2887

king

Good Laertes, 2888

If you desire to know the certainty 2889

Of your dear father F ’s death F , is’t writ in your revenge 2890

That swoopstake you will draw both friend and foe, 2891

Winner and loser? 2892

laertes

None but his enemies — 2893

king

Will you know them then? 2894

laertes

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms 2895

And, like the kind life-rend’ring pelican, 2896

Repast them with my blood. 2897

king

Why, now you speak 2898

Like a good child and a true gentleman. 2899

That I am guiltless of your father’s death, 2900

And am most sensibly in grief for it, 2901

It shall as level to your judgement ’pear 2902

As day does to your eye. 2903

(A noise within.)

voices

Within Let her come in! 2904

laertes

How now, what noise is that? 2906

(Enter Ophelia.)

O heat, dry up my brains. Tears seven times salt 2907

Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye. 2908

By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight 2909

Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May, 2910

Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia! 2911

O heavens, is’t possible a young maid’s wits 2912

Should be as mortal as a poor man’s life? 2913

F Nature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine 2914

It sends some precious instance of itself 2915

After the thing it loves. F 2916

ophelia

Song. They bore him bare-faced on the bier, 2917

F Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny, F 2918

And in his grave rained many a tear. 2919

Fare you well, my dove.

laertes

Hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge, 2921

It could not move thus. 2922

ophelia

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

laertes

This nothing’s more than matter. 2926

ophelia

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

laertes

A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted.

ophelia

There’s fennel for you, and columbines. There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it herb of grace o’Sundays. F Oh! F You may wear your rue with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say ’a made a good end.

([Sings.])

For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy. 2938

laertes

Thought and afflictions, passion, hell itself 2939

She turns to favour and to prettiness. 2940

ophelia

Song. And will ’a not come again? 2941

And will ’a not come again? 2942

No, no, he is dead — 2943

Go to thy death-bed — 2943

He never will come again. 2944

His beard was as white as snow, 2945

F All F Flaxen was his poll. 2946

He is gone, he is gone, 2947

And we cast away moan. 2947

God ’a’ mercy on his soul. 2948

And of all Christians’ souls. F I pray God. F God b’wi’you.

([Exit.])

laertes

Do you see this, O God? 2951

king

Laertes, I must commune with your grief, 2952

Or you deny me right. Go but apart, 2953

Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will, 2954

And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me. 2955

If by direct, or by collateral hand, 2956

They find us touched, we will our kingdom give, 2957

Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours, 2958

To you in satisfaction; but, if not, 2959

Be you content to lend your patience to us, 2960

And we shall jointly labour with your soul 2961

To give it due content. 2962

laertes

Let this be so. 2963

His means of death, his obscure funeral 2964

(No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o’er his bones, 2965

No noble rite, nor formal ostentation) 2966

Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth 2967

That I must call’t in question. 2968

king

So you shall, 2969

And, where th’offence is, let the great axe fall. 2970

I pray you go with me. 2971

(Exeunt.)

[4.6]

(Enter Horatio and others [including a Gentleman].)

horatio

What are they that would speak with me?

gentleman

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

horatio

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

(Enter Sailors.)

sailor

God bless you, sir.

horatio

Let Him bless thee too.

sailor

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

horatio

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

Come, I will give you way for these your letters. 3003

And do’t the speedier that you may direct me 3004

To him from whom you brought them. 3005

(Exeunt.)

[4.7]

(Enter King and Laertes.)

king

Now must your conscience my acquittance seal, 3007

And you must put me in your heart for friend, 3008

Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear, 3009

That he which hath your noble father slain 3010

Pursued my life. 3011

laertes

It well appears. But tell me 3012

Why you proceeded not against these feats 3013

So criminal and so capital in nature, 3014

As by your safety, greatness, wisdom, all things else, 3015

You mainly were stirred up. 3016

king

Oh, for two special reasons 3017

Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed, 3018

But yet to me they’re strong. The Queen his mother 3019

Lives almost by his looks, and for myself, 3020

My virtue or my plague, be it either which, 3021

She is so conjunct to my life and soul 3022

That as the star moves not but in his sphere 3023

I could not but by her. The other motive 3024

Why to a public count I might not go 3025

Is the great love the general gender bear him, 3026

Who, dipping all his faults in their affection, 3027

Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone, 3028

Convert his gyves to graces, so that my arrows, 3029

Too slightly timbered for so loud a wind, 3030

Would have reverted to my bow again, 3031

But not where I have aimed them. 3032

laertes

And so have I a noble father lost, 3033

A sister driven into desp’rate terms, 3034

Whose worth, if praises may go back again, 3035

Stood challenger, on mount, of all the age 3036

For her perfections. But my revenge will come. 3037

king

Break not your sleeps for that. You must not think 3038

That we are made of stuff so flat and dull 3040

That we can let our beard be shook with danger 3041

And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more. 3042

I loved your father, and we love ourself, 3043

And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine — 3044

(Enter a Messenger with letters.)

F How now? What news? F 3046

messenger

F Letters, my lord, from Hamlet. F 3047

These to your majesty, this to the Queen. 3048

king

From Hamlet? Who brought them? 3049

messenger

Sailors, my lord, they say. I saw them not. 3050

They were given me by Claudio. He received them 3051

Of him that brought them. 3051

king

Laertes, you shall hear them. — 3052

Leave us. 3053

([Exit Messenger.])

([The King reads.])

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

What should this mean? Are all the rest come back? 3059

Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? 3060

laertes

Know you the hand? 3061

king

’Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked,” 3062

And in a postscript here he says “alone.” 3062

Can you devise me? 3063

laertes

I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come: 3064

It warms the very sickness in my heart 3065

That I shall live and tell him to his teeth 3066

“Thus diest thou.” 3067

king

If it be so, Laertes — 3068

As how should it be so, how otherwise? — 3068

Will you be ruled by me? 3069

laertes

Ay, my lord, 3070

So you will not o’errule me to a peace. 3070

king

To thine own peace. If he be now returned 3071

As checking at his voyage, and that he means 3072

No more to undertake it, I will work him 3073

To an exploit, now ripe in my device, 3074

Under the which he shall not choose but fall; 3075

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, 3076

But even his mother shall uncharge the practice 3077

And call it accident. 3078

laertes

My Lord, I will be ruled, 3078

The rather if you could devise it so 3078

That I might be the organ. 3078

king

It falls right. 3078

You have been talked of since your travel much, 3078

And that in Hamlet’s hearing, for a quality 3078

Wherein they say you shine. Your sum of parts 3078

Did not together pluck such envy from him 3078

As did that one, and that in my regard 3078

Of the unworthiest siege. 3078

laertes

What part is that, my lord? 3078

king

A very ribbon in the cap of youth, 3078

Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes 3078

The light and careless livery that it wears 3078

Than settled age his sables and his weeds 3078

Importing health and graveness. Two months since 3078

Here was a gentleman of Normandy. 3079

I have seen myself and served against the French, 3080

And they can well on horseback, but this gallant 3081

Had witchcraft in’t: he grew unto his seat 3082

And to such wondrous doing brought his horse 3083

As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured 3084

With the brave beast. So far he topped my thought 3085

That I in forgery of shapes and tricks 3086

Come short of what he did. 3087

laertes

A Norman was’t? 3088

king

A Norman. 3089

laertes

Upon my life, Lamord. 3090

king

The very same. 3091

laertes

I know him well, he is the brooch indeed 3092

And gem of all the nation. 3093

king

He made confession of you 3094

And gave you such a masterly report 3095

For art and exercise in your defence, 3096

And for your rapier most especial, 3097

That he cried out ’twould be a sight indeed 3098

If one could match you. The ’scrimers of their nation 3099

He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye, 3099

If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his 3099

Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy 3100

That he could nothing do but wish and beg 3101

Your sudden coming o’er to play with you. 3102

Now out of this — 3103

laertes

What out of this, my lord? 3104

king

Laertes, was your father dear to you? 3105

Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, 3106

A face without a heart? 3107

laertes

Why ask you this? 3108

king

Not that I think you did not love your father, 3109

But that I know love is begun by time, 3110

And that I see in passages of proof 3111

Time qualifies the spark and fire of it. 3112

There lives within the very flame of love 3112

A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it, 3112

And nothing is at a like goodness still, 3112

For goodness growing to a pleurisy 3112

Dies in his own too much. That we would do 3112

We should do when we would, for this “would” changes 3112

And hath abatements and delays as many 3112

As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents, 3112

And then this “should” is like a spendthrift’s sigh 3112

That hurts by easing. But to the quick of th’ulcer: 3112

Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake 3113

To show yourself in deed your father’s son 3114

More than in words? 3115

laertes

To cut his throat i’th’church. 3116

king

No place indeed should murder sanctuarize; 3117

Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, 3118

Will you do this, keep close within your chamber; 3119

Hamlet, returned, shall know you are come home; 3120

We’ll put on those shall praise your excellence 3121

And set a double varnish on the fame 3122

The Frenchman gave you, bring you in fine together 3123

And wager o’er your heads. He, being remiss, 3124

Most generous and free from all contriving, 3125

Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease, 3126

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose 3127

A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice, 3128

Requite him for your father. 3129

laertes

I will do’t. 3130

And for that purpose, I’ll anoint my sword. 3131

I bought an unction of a mountebank 3132

So mortal that, but dip a knife in it, 3133

Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare, 3134

Collected from all simples that have virtue 3135

Under the moon, can save the thing from death 3136

That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point 3137

With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly 3138

It may be death. 3139

king

Let’s further think of this, 3140

Weigh what convenience both of time and means 3141

May fit us to our shape. If this should fail 3142

And that our drift look through our bad performance, 3143

’Twere better not essayed. Therefore this project 3144

Should have a back or second that might hold 3145

If this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see — 3146

We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings — 3147

I ha’t! When in your motion you are hot and dry 3148

(As make your bouts more violent to that end) 3149

And that he calls for drink, I’ll have preferred him 3150

A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, 3151

If he by chance escape your venomed stuck, 3152

Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise? 3153

(Enter Queen.)

F How now, sweet Queen? F 3153

queen

One woe doth tread upon another’s heel, 3155

So fast they follow. Your sister’s drowned, Laertes. 3156

laertes

Drowned! Oh, where? 3157

queen

There is a willow grows askant the brook 3158

That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream. 3159

Therewith fantastic garlands did she make 3160

Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies and long purples 3161

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, 3162

But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them. 3163

There on the pendant boughs her crownet weeds 3164

Clamb’ring to hang, an envious sliver broke, 3165

When down her weedy trophies and herself 3166

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide 3167

And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up, 3168

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds 3169

As one incapable of her own distress, 3170

Or like a creature native and endued 3171

Unto that element. But long it could not be 3172

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, 3173

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay 3174

To muddy death. 3175

laertes

Alas, then is she drowned. 3176

queen

Drowned, drowned. 3177

laertes

Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, 3178

And therefore I forbid my tears; but yet 3179

It is our trick, nature her custom holds. 3180

Let shame say what it will; [Weeps.] when these are gone, 3181

The woman will be out. — Adieu, my lord, 3182

I have a speech o’ fire that fain would blaze 3183

But that this folly drowns it. 3184

(Exit.)

king

Let’s follow, Gertrude. 3185

How much I had to do to calm his rage. 3186

Now fear I this will give it start again, 3187

Therefore let’s follow. 3188

(Exeunt.)

[5.1]

(Enter two Clowns.)

1 clown

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

2 clown

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

1 clown

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

2 clown

Why, ’tis found so.

1 clown

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

2 clown

Nay, but hear you, goodman delver —

1 clown

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

2 clown

But is this law?

1 clown

Ay, marry is’t, crowner’s ’quest law.

2 clown

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

1 clown

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

2 clown

Was he a gentleman?

1 clown

’A was the first that ever bore arms.

F 2 clown

Why, he had none.

1 clown

What, 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

Go to.

1 clown

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

2 clown

The gallows-maker, for that F frame F outlives a thousand tenants.

1 clown

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

2 clown

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

1 clown

Ay, tell me that and unyoke.

2 clown

Marry, now I can tell.

1 clown

To’t.

2 clown

Mass, I cannot tell.

1 clown

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

([Exit 2 Clown.])

(Song.)

In youth when I did love, did love, 3252

Methought it was very sweet 3253

To contract —oh— the time for —a— my behove, 3254

Oh, methought there —a— was nothing —a— meet. 3255

(Enter Hamlet and Horatio.)

hamlet

Has this fellow no feeling of his business? business? business that orig. businesse, that ’A ’A orig. a he in in at sings in grave-making.

horatio

Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.

hamlet

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

(Song.)

1 clown

But age with his stealing steps 3263

Hath clawed me in his clutch 3264

And hath shipped me into the land, 3265

As if I had never been such. 3266

([Throws up a skull.])

hamlet

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

horatio

It might, my lord.

hamlet

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

horatio

Ay, my lord.

hamlet

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

(Song.)

1 clown

A pickaxe and a spade, a spade, 3285

For and a shrouding-sheet, 3286

Oh, a pit of clay for to be made 3287

For such a guest is meet. 3288

([Throws up another skull.])

hamlet

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

horatio

Not a jot more, my lord.

hamlet

Is not parchment made of sheepskins?

horatio

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

hamlet

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

1 clown

Mine, sir.

([Sings.])

Oh, a pit of clay for to be made — 3311

F For such a guest is meet. F 3312

hamlet

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

1 clown

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

hamlet

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

1 clown

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

hamlet

What man dost thou dig it for?

1 clown

For no man, sir.

hamlet

What woman then?

1 clown

For none neither.

hamlet

Who is to be buried in’t?

1 clown

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

hamlet

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

1 clown

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

hamlet

How long is that since?

1 clown

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

hamlet

Ay, marry. Why was he sent into England?

1 clown

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

hamlet

Why?

1 clown

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

hamlet

How came he mad?

1 clown

Very strangely, they say.

hamlet

How strangely?

1 clown

Faith, e’en with losing his wits.

hamlet

Upon what ground?

1 clown

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

hamlet

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

1 clown

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

hamlet

Why he more than another?

1 clown

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

hamlet

Whose was it?

1 clown

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

hamlet

Nay, I know not.

1 clown

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

hamlet

This?

1 clown

E’en that.

hamlet

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

horatio

What’s that, my lord?

hamlet

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

horatio

E’en so.

hamlet

And smelt so? Pah!

horatio

E’en so, my lord.

hamlet

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

horatio

’Twere to consider too curiously to consider so.

hamlet

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

Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, 3400

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away. 3401

Oh, that that earth which kept the world in awe 3402

Should patch a wall t’expel the winter’s flaw. 3403

But soft, but soft awhile, here comes the King. 3404

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

([with Lords Attendant].)

The Queen, the courtiers — who is this they follow? 3407

And with such maimèd rites? This doth betoken 3408

The corpse they follow did with desp’rate hand 3409

Fordo it own life. ’Twas of some estate. 3410

Couch we awhile and mark. 3411

([Hamlet and Horatio stand aside.])

laertes

What ceremony else? 3412

hamlet

That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark. 3413

laertes

What ceremony else? 3414

doctor

Her obsequies have been as far enlarged 3415

As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful, 3416

And but that great command o’ersways the order, 3417

She should in ground unsanctified been lodged 3418

Till the last trumpet: for charitable prayers, 3419

F Shards, F Flints and pebbles should be thrown on her; 3420

Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, 3421

Her maiden strewments and the bringing home 3422

Of bell and burial. 3423

laertes

Must there no more be done? 3424

doctor

No more be done. 3425

We should profane the service of the dead 3426

To sing a requiem and such rest to her 3427

As to peace-parted souls. 3428

laertes

Lay her i’th’earth, 3429

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh 3430

May violets spring. — I tell thee, churlish priest, 3431

A minist’ring angel shall my sister be 3432

When thou liest howling. 3433

hamlet

What, the fair Ophelia? 3434

queen

Sweets to the sweet. Farewell. 3435

I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife. 3436

I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid, 3437

And not have strewed thy grave. 3438

laertes

Oh, treble woe 3439

Fall ten times double on that cursèd head 3440

Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense 3441

Deprived thee of! — Hold off the earth awhile, 3442

Till I have caught her once more in mine arms. 3443

([Leaps in the grave.])

Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead 3445

Till of this flat a mountain you have made 3446

T’o’retop old Pelion or the skyish head 3447

Of blue Olympus. 3448

hamlet

[Coming forward] What is he whose grief 3449

Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow 3450

Conjures the wand’ring stars and makes them stand 3451

Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I, 3452

Hamlet the Dane. 3453

laertes

The devil take thy soul! 3454

([Grapples with Hamlet.])

hamlet

Thou pray’st not well. 3455

I prithee take thy fingers from my throat, 3456

For, though I am not splenative and rash, 3457

Yet have I in me something dangerous 3458

Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand — 3459

king

Pluck them asunder. 3460

queen

Hamlet! Hamlet! 3461

lords

Gentlemen! 3461

horatio

Good my lord, be quiet. 3462

([Hamlet and Laertes are separated.])

hamlet

Why, I will fight with him upon this theme 3463

Until my eyelids will no longer wag. 3464

queen

O my son, what theme? 3465

hamlet

I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers 3466

Could not with all their quantity of love 3467

Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her? 3468

king

Oh, he is mad, Laertes. 3469

queen

For love of God, forbear him. 3470

hamlet

’Swounds, show me what thou’t do: 3471

Woul’t weep, woul’t fight, woul’t fast, woul’t tear thyself, 3472

Woul’t drink up eisel, eat a crocodile? 3473

I’ll do’t. Dost F thou F come here to whine? 3474

To outface me with leaping in her grave? 3475

Be buried quick with her, and so will I. 3476

And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw 3477

Millions of acres on us, till our ground, 3478

Singeing his pate against the burning zone, 3479

Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou’lt mouth, 3480

I’ll rant as well as thou. 3481

queen

This is mere madness, 3482

And thus awhile the fit will work on him. 3483

Anon, as patient as the female dove 3484

When that her golden couplets are disclosed, 3485

His silence will sit drooping. 3486

hamlet

Hear you, sir, 3487

What is the reason that you use me thus? 3488

I loved you ever — but it is no matter. 3489

Let Hercules himself do what he may, 3490

The cat will mew and dog will have his day. 3491

(Exit.)

king

I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him. 3492

(Exit Horatio.)

[To Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night’s speech, 3493

We’ll put the matter to the present push. — 3494

Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. 3495

This grave shall have a living monument. 3496

An hour of quiet thereby shall we see; 3497

Till then in patience our proceeding be. 3498

(Exeunt.)

[5.2]

(Enter Hamlet and Horatio.)

hamlet

So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other. 3500

You do remember all the circumstance? 3501

horatio

Remember it, my lord? 3502

hamlet

Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting 3503

That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay 3504

Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly — 3505

And praised be rashness for it (let us know 3506

Our indiscretion sometime serves us well 3507

When our deep plots do pall, and that should learn us 3508

There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, 3509

Rough-hew them how we will) — 3510

horatio

That is most certain. 3511

hamlet

Up from my cabin, 3512

My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark 3513

Groped I to find out them, had my desire, 3514

Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew 3515

To mine own room again, making so bold, 3516

My fears forgetting manners, to unfold 3517

Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio, 3518

A royal knavery, an exact command 3519

Larded with many several sorts of reasons 3520

Importing Denmark’s health, and England’s too, 3521

With — ho! — such bugs and goblins in my life 3522

That on the supervise, no leisure bated 3523

(No, not to stay the grinding of the axe), 3524

My head should be struck off. 3525

horatio

Is’t possible? 3526

hamlet

Here’s the commission; read it at more leisure. 3527

But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed? 3528

horatio

I beseech you. 3529

hamlet

Being thus benetted round with villains, 3530

(Or I could make a prologue to my brains, 3531

They had begun the play) I sat me down, 3532

Devised a new commission, wrote it fair — 3533

I once did hold it, as our statists do, 3534

A baseness to write fair, and laboured much 3535

How to forget that learning, but, sir, now 3536

It did me yeoman’s service. Wilt thou know 3537

Th’effect of what I wrote? 3538

horatio

Ay, good my lord. 3539

hamlet

An earnest conjuration from the King, 3540

As England was his faithful tributary, 3541

As love between them like the palm might flourish, 3542

As peace should still her wheaten garland wear 3543

And stand a comma ’tween their amities, 3544

And many such-like “as,” sir, of great charge, 3545

That on the view and knowing of these contents 3546

Without debatement further more or less 3547

He should those bearers put to sudden death, 3548

Not shriving time allowed. 3549

horatio

How was this sealed? 3550

hamlet

Why, even in that was heaven ordinant: 3551

I had my father’s signet in my purse 3552

(Which was the model of that Danish seal), 3553

Folded the writ up in the form of th’other, 3554

Subscribed it, gave’t th’impression, placed it safely, 3555

The changeling never known. Now the next day 3556

Was our sea-fight, and what to this was sequent 3557

Thou knowest already. 3558

horatio

So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to’t. 3559

hamlet

F Why man, they did make love to this employment. F 3560

They are not near my conscience. Their defeat 3561

Does by their own insinuation grow. 3562

’Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes 3563

Between the pass and fell incensèd points 3564

Of mighty opposites. 3565

horatio

Why, what a king is this! 3566

hamlet

Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon? 3567

He that hath killed my King and whored my mother, 3568

Popped in between th’election and my hopes, 3569

Thrown out his angle for my proper life, 3570

And with such coz’nage — is’t not perfect conscience? 3571

F To quit him with this arm? And is’t not to be damned 3572

To let this canker of our nature come 3573

In further evil? 3574

horatio

It must be shortly known to him from England 3575

What is the issue of the business there. 3576

hamlet

It will be short. The interim’s mine, 3577

And a man’s life’s no more than to say one. 3578

But I am very sorry, good Horatio, 3579

That to Laertes I forgot myself, 3580

For by the image of my cause I see 3581

The portraiture of his. I’ll count his favours; 3582

But sure the bravery of his grief did put me 3583

Into a tow’ring passion. 3584

horatio

Peace, who comes here? F 3585

(Enter F young F [Osric,] a Courtier.)

osric

Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.

hamlet

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

horatio

No, my good lord.

hamlet

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

osric

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

hamlet

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

osric

I thank your lordship, it is very hot.

hamlet

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

osric

It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.

hamlet

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

osric

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

hamlet

I beseech you, remember.

osric

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

osric

Sir?

osric

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

hamlet

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

osric

Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.

hamlet

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

horatio

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

hamlet

What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

horatio

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

hamlet

Of him, sir.

osric

I know you are not ignorant —

hamlet

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

osric

F Sir, F You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is — F at his weapon. F

hamlet

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

osric

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

hamlet

What’s his weapon?

osric

Rapier and dagger.

hamlet

That’s two of his weapons — but well.

osric

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

hamlet

What call you the carriages?

horatio

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

osric

The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

hamlet

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

osric

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

hamlet

How if I answer no?

osric

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

hamlet

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

osric

Shall I deliver you F even F so?

hamlet

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

osric

I commend my duty to your lordship.

([Exit.])

hamlet

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

horatio

This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.

hamlet

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

(Enter a Lord.)

lord

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

hamlet

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

lord

The King and Queen and all are coming down.

hamlet

In happy time.

lord

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

hamlet

She well instructs me.

([Exit Lord.])

horatio

You will lose F this wager F , my lord.

hamlet

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

horatio

Nay, good my lord —

hamlet

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

horatio

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

hamlet

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

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

([Enter] King, Queen, [Osric,] and all the state, [with other Attendants with] foils F and gauntlets F , daggers,)

(and Laertes.)

king

Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me. 3677

([Puts Laertes’ hands into Hamlet’s.])

hamlet

Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong. 3678

But pardon’t as you are a gentleman. 3679

This presence knows, 3680

And you must needs have heard, how I am punished 3681

With a sore distraction. What I have done 3682

That might your nature, honour and exception 3683

Roughly awake, I hear proclaim was madness. 3684

Was’t Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet. 3685

If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away 3686

And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes, 3687

Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it. 3688

Who does it then? His madness. If’t be so, 3689

Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged: 3690

His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy. 3691

F Sir, in this audience, F 3692

Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil 3693

Free me so far in your most generous thoughts 3694

That I have shot my arrow o’er the house 3695

And hurt my brother. 3696

laertes

I am satisfied in nature, 3697

Whose motive in this case should stir me most 3698

To my revenge, but in my terms of honour 3699

I stand aloof and will no reconcilement 3700

Till by some elder masters of known honour 3701

I have a voice and precedent of peace 3702

To keep my name ungored. But till that time 3703

I do receive your offered love like love 3704

And will not wrong it. 3705

hamlet

I F do F embrace it freely 3706

And will this brother’s wager frankly play. — 3707

Give us the foils. F Come on. F 3708

laertes

Come, one for me. 3709

hamlet

I’ll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance 3710

Your skill shall like a star i’th’darkest night 3711

Stick fiery off indeed. 3712

laertes

You mock me, sir. 3713

hamlet

No, by this hand. 3714

king

Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet, 3715

You know the wager. 3716

hamlet

Very well, my lord. 3717

Your grace has laid the odds o’th’weaker side. 3718

king

I do not fear it. I have seen you both, 3719

But since he is bettered, we have therefore odds. 3721

laertes

This is too heavy. Let me see another. 3722

hamlet

This likes me well. These foils have all a length? 3724

( F Prepare to play. F )

osric

Ay, my good lord. 3726

king

Set me the stoups of wine upon that table. 3727

If Hamlet give the first or second hit, 3728

Or quit in answer of the third exchange, 3729

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire. 3730

The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath 3731

And in the cup an onyx shall he throw 3732

Richer than that which four successive kings 3733

In Denmark’s crown have worn. Give me the cups, 3734

And let the kettle to the trumpet speak, 3736

The trumpet to the cannoneer without, 3737

The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth. 3738

(Trumpets the while.)

Now the King drinks to Hamlet. Come, begin, 3739

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. 3740

hamlet

Come on, sir.

laertes

Come, my lord.

([They play.])

hamlet

One.

laertes

No.

hamlet

Judgement.

osric

A hit, a very palpable hit.

laertes

Well, again.

king

Stay, give me drink. — Hamlet this pearl is thine. 3748

Here’s to thy health. — Give him the cup. 3750

(Drum, trumpets and shot.)

hamlet

I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile. 3752

Come. 3753

Another hit. — What say you? 3753

([They play again.])

laertes

F A touch, a touch, F I do confess’t. 3754

king

Our son shall win. 3755

queen

He’s fat and scant of breath. 3756

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows. 3757

The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet. 3758

hamlet

Good madam. 3759

king

Gertrude, do not drink. 3760

queen

I will, my lord. I pray you pardon me. 3761

king

It is the poisoned cup. It is too late. 3763

hamlet

I dare not drink yet, madam. By and by. 3764

queen

Come, let me wipe thy face. 3766

laertes

My lord, I’ll hit him now. 3767

king

I do not think’t. 3768

laertes

And yet it is almost against my conscience. 3769

hamlet

Come for the third, Laertes, you do but dally. 3770

I pray you pass with your best violence. 3772

I am sure you make a wanton of me. 3773

laertes

Say you so? Come on. 3774

([They play.])

osric

Nothing neither way. 3775

laertes

Have at you now. 3776

([In scuffling they change rapiers.])

king

Part them, they are incensed. 3778

hamlet

Nay, come again. 3779

osric

Look to the Queen there, ho! 3780

horatio

They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord? 3781

osric

How is’t, Laertes? 3782

laertes

Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric: 3783

I am justly killed with mine own treachery. 3785

hamlet

How does the Queen? 3786

king

She swoons to see them bleed. 3787

queen

No, no, the drink, the drink, O my dear Hamlet, 3788

The drink, the drink. I am poisoned. 3789

([Dies.])

hamlet

Oh, villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked. 3791

Treachery! Seek it out! 3792

([Exeunt Osric and some Lords.])

laertes

It is here, F Hamlet. F Hamlet, thou art slain. 3793

No med’cine in the world can do thee good; 3795

In thee there is not half an hour’s life. 3796

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand 3797

Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice 3798

Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie 3799

Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. 3800

I can no more — the King, the King’s to blame. 3801

hamlet

The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy work! 3802

([Hurts the King.])

lords

Treason, treason! 3805

king

Oh, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt. 3806

hamlet

Here, thou incestuous, F murd’rous, F damnèd Dane, 3807

Drink off this potion. Is the onyx here? 3809

Follow my mother. 3810

([King dies.])

laertes

He is justly served, 3811

It is a poison tempered by himself. 3812

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet, 3813

Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee, 3814

Nor thine on me. 3815

([Dies.])

hamlet

Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee. 3816

I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu. 3817

You that look pale and tremble at this chance, 3818

That are but mutes or audience to this act, 3819

Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death, 3820

Is strict in his arrest), oh, I could tell you — 3821

But let it be. — Horatio, I am dead. 3822

Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright 3823

To the unsatisfied. 3824

horatio

Never believe it. 3825

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. 3826

Here’s yet some liquor left. 3827

hamlet

As thou’rt a man 3828

Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll ha’t! 3828

O God, Horatio, what a wounded name, 3830

Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me? 3831

If thou did’st ever hold me in thy heart, 3832

Absent thee from felicity awhile, 3833

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain 3834

To tell my story. 3835

(A march afar off F and shout within F )

What warlike noise is this? 3837

(Enter Osric.)

osric

Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland, 3839

To th’ambassadors of England gives this warlike volley. 3840

hamlet

Oh, I die, Horatio. 3841

The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit. 3842

I cannot live to hear the news from England, 3843

But I do prophesy th’election lights 3844

On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice. 3845

So tell him, with th’occurrents more and less 3846

Which have solicited. The rest is silence. F Oh, oh, oh, oh. F 3847

([Dies.])

horatio

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince, 3848

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. 3850

Why does the drum come hither? 3851

(Enter Fortinbras with the Ambassadors F with Drum, )

( Colors, F [and Attendants].)

fortinbras

Where is this sight? 3854

horatio

What is it you would see? 3855

If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search. 3856

fortinbras

This quarry cries on havock. O proud Death, 3857

What feast is toward in thine eternal cell 3858

That thou so many princes at a shot 3859

So bloodily hast struck? 3860

ambassador

The sight is dismal, 3861

And our affairs from England come too late. 3862

The ears are senseless that should give us hearing 3863

To tell him his commandment is fulfilled: 3864

That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. 3865

Where should we have our thanks? 3866

horatio

Not from his mouth, 3867

Had it th’ability of life to thank you; 3868

He never gave commandment for their death. 3869

But since so jump upon this bloody question 3870

You from the Polack wars and you from England, 3871

Are here arrived, give order that these bodies 3872

High on a stage be placèd to the view, 3873

And let me speak to th’yet unknowing world 3874

How these things came about. So shall you hear 3875

Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts, 3876

Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters, 3877

Of deaths put on by cunning and for no cause, 3878

And, in this upshot, purposes mistook 3879

Fall’n on th’inventors’ heads. All this can I 3880

Truly deliver. 3881

fortinbras

Let us haste to hear it 3882

And call the noblest to the audience. 3883

For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. 3884

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom 3885

Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me. 3886

horatio

Of that I shall have also cause to speak, 3888

And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more. 3889

But let this same be presently performed 3891

Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more mischance 3892

On plots and errors happen. 3894

fortinbras

Let four captains 3895

Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, 3896

For he was likely, had he been put on, 3897

To have proved most royal; and for his passage, 3898

The soldiers’ music and the rite of war 3900

Speak loudly for him. 3901

Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this 3902

Becomes the field but here shows much amiss. 3903

Go bid the soldiers shoot. 3904

(Exeunt F marching, after the which a peal of )

( ordnance are shot off F .)

FINIS