The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

List of Characters

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

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)

Act I

[1.1]

(Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels.)

barnardo

Who’s there?1

francisco

Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.2

barnardo

Long live the King —3

francisco

Barnardo.4

barnardo

He.5

francisco

You come most carefully upon your hour —6

barnardo

’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco —7

francisco

For this relief much thanks Hola . ’Tis bitter cold,8

And I am sick at heart.9

barnardo

Have you had quiet guard?10

francisco

Not a mouse stirring.11

barnardo

Well, good night.12

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,13

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.14

(Enter Horatio and Marcellus.)

francisco

I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there?15

horatio

Friends to this ground.16

marcellus

And liegemen to the Dane.17

francisco

Give you good night.18

marcellus

Oh, farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved you?19

francisco

Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.20

(Exit Francisco.)

marcellus

Holla, Barnardo!21

barnardo

Say, what, is Horatio there?22

horatio

A piece of him.23

barnardo

Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus —24

horatio

What, has this thing appeared again tonight?25

barnardo

I have seen nothing.26

marcellus

Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy,27

And will not let belief take hold of him,28

Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us.29

Therefore I have entreated him along30

With us to watch the minutes of this night,31

That, if again this apparition come,32

He may approve our eyes and speak to it.33

horatio

Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.34

barnardo

Sit down awhile,

And let us once again assail your ears,35

That are so fortified against our story,36

What we have two nights seen.37

horatio

Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.38

barnardo

Last night of all,39

When yond same star that’s westward from the pole40

Had made his course t’illume that part of heaven41

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,42

The bell then beating one —43

(Enter Ghost.)

marcellus

Peace, break thee off.44

Look where it comes again.45

barnardo

In the same figure like the King that’s dead.46

marcellus

Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.47

barnardo

Looks ’a not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.48

horatio

Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.49

barnardo

It would be spoke to.50

marcellus

Speak to it, Horatio.

horatio

What art thou that usurp’st this time of night51

Together with that fair and warlike form52

In which the majesty of buried Denmark53

Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee speak.54

marcellus

It is offended.55

barnardo

See, it stalks away.

horatio

Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee speak!56

(Exit Ghost.)

marcellus

’Tis gone and will not answer.57

barnardo

How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale.58

Is not this something more than fantasy?59

What think you on’t?60

horatio

Before my God, I might not this believe61

Without the sensible and true avouch62

Of mine own eyes.63

marcellus

Is it not like the King?

horatio

As thou art to thyself.64

Such was the very armour he had on65

When he the ambitious Norway combated.66

So frowned he once when in an angry parle67

He smote the sledded poleaxe on the ice.68

’Tis strange.69

marcellus

Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,70

With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.71

horatio

In what particular thought to work, I know not,72

But in the gross and scope of mine opinion73

This bodes some strange eruption to our state.74

marcellus

Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows,75

Why this same strict and most observant watch76

So nightly toils the subject of the land,77

And why such daily cast of brazen cannon78

And foreign mart for implements of war;79

Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task80

Does not divide the Sunday from the week;81

What might be toward that this sweaty haste82

Doth make the night joint labourer with the day.83

Who is’t that can inform me?84

horatio

That can I.

At least the whisper goes so. Our last King,85

Whose image even but now appeared to us,86

Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,87

Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride,88

Dared to the combat, in which our valiant Hamlet89

(For so this side of our known world esteemed him)90

Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact91

Well ratified by law and heraldry92

Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands93

Which he stood seized of to the conqueror;94

Against the which a moiety competent95

Was gagèd by our King, which had returned96

To the inheritance of Fortinbras97

Had he been vanquisher, as by the same co-mart98

And carriage of the article designed99

His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,100

Of unimprovèd mettle, hot and full,101

Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there102

Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes103

For food and diet to some enterprise104

That hath a stomach in’t, which is no other,105

As it doth well appear unto our state,106

But to recover of us by strong hand107

And terms compulsatory those foresaid lands108

So by his father lost. And this, I take it,109

Is the main motive of our preparations,110

The source of this our watch, and the chief head111

Of this post-haste and rummage in the land.112

barnardo

I think it be no other but e’en so.113

Well may it sort that this portentous figure114

Comes armèd through our watch so like the King115

That was and is the question of these wars.116

horatio

A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye.117

In the most high and palmy state of Rome,118

A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,119

The graves stood tennantless and the sheeted dead120

Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets —121

As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,122

Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,123

Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands,124

Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.125

And even the like precurse of fear events,126

As harbingers preceding still the fates127

And prologue to the omen coming on,128

Have heaven and earth together demonstrated129

Unto our climatures and countrymen.130

(Enter Ghost.)

But soft — behold, lo, where it comes again!131

I’ll cross it though it blast me. — Stay, illusion!132

(It spreads his arms.)

If thou hast any sound or use of voice,133

Speak to me;134

If there be any good thing to be done135

That may to thee do ease and grace to me,136

Speak to me.137

If thou art privy to thy country’s fate138

Which happily foreknowing may avoid,139

Oh, speak;140

Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life141

Extorted treasure in the womb of earth142

(For which they say your spirits oft walk in death)143

(The cock crows.)

Speak of it, stay and speak. — Stop it, Marcellus.144

marcellus

Shall I strike it with my partisan?145

horatio

Do if it will not stand.146

barnardo

’Tis here.147

horatio

’Tis here.148

([Exit Ghost.])

marcellus

’Tis gone.149

We do it wrong, being so majestical,150

To offer it the show of violence,151

For it is as the air, invulnerable,152

And our vain blows malicious mockery.153

barnardo

It was about to speak when the cock crew.154

horatio

And then it started like a guilty thing155

Upon a fearful summons. I have heard156

The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,157

Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat158

Awake the god of day, and at his warning,159

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,160

Th’extravagant and erring spirit hies161

To his confine; and of the truth herein162

This present object made probation.163

marcellus

It faded on the crowing of the cock.164

Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes165

Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated,166

This bird of dawning singeth all night long;167

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,168

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,169

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,170

So hallowed and so gracious is that time.171

horatio

So have I heard and do in part believe it.172

But look, the morn in russet mantle clad173

Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.174

Break we our watch up, and by my advice175

Let us impart what we have seen tonight176

Unto young Hamlet, for upon my life177

This spirit dumb to us will speak to him.178

Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it179

As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?180

marcellus

Let’s do’t, I pray, and I this morning know181

Where we shall find him most convenient.182

(Exeunt.)

[1.2]

(Flourish.)

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

king

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death183

The memory be green, and that it us befitted184

To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom185

To be contracted in one brow of woe,186

Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature187

That we with wisest sorrow think on him188

Together with remembrance of ourselves.189

Therefore our sometime sister, now our Queen,190

Th’imperial jointress to this warlike state,191

Have we, as ’twere with a defeated joy,192

With an auspicious and a dropping eye,193

With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,194

In equal scale weighing delight and dole,195

Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred196

Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone197

With this affair along. For all, our thanks.198

Now follows that you know young Fortinbras,199

Holding a weak supposal of our worth200

Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death201

Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,202

Co-leaguèd with this dream of his advantage,203

He hath not failed to pester us with message204

Importing the surrender of those lands205

Lost by his father, with all bonds of law,206

To our most valiant brother. So much for him.207

Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting,208

Thus much the business is: we have here writ209

To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras210

(Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears211

Of this his nephew’s purpose) to suppress212

His further gait herein, in that the levies,213

The lists and full proportions are all made214

Out of his subject; and we here dispatch215

You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,216

For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,217

Giving to you no further personal power218

To business with the King, more than the scope219

Of these delated articles allow.220

Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.221

cornelius, voltemand

In that and all things will we show our duty.222

king

We doubt it nothing. Heartily, farewell.223

([Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.])

And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you?224

You told us of some suit. What is’t, Laertes?225

You cannot speak of reason to the Dane226

And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes,227

That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?228

The head is not more native to the heart,229

The hand more instrumental to the mouth,230

Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.231

What wouldst thou have, Laertes?232

laertes

My dread lord,

Your leave and favour to return to France,233

From whence though willingly I came to Denmark234

To show my duty in your coronation,235

Yet now I must confess, that duty done,236

My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France237

And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.238

king

Have you your father’s leave? What says Polonius?239

polonius

H’ath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave240

By laboursome petition, and at last241

Upon his will I sealed my hard consent.242

I do beseech you give him leave to go.243

king

Take thy fair hour, Laertes, time be thine244

And thy best graces spend it at thy will. —245

But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son —246

hamlet

A little more than kin, and less than kind.247

king

How is it that the clouds still hang on you?248

hamlet

Not so much, my lord; I am too much in the “son.”249

queen

Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off250

And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.251

Do not forever with thy vailèd lids252

Seek for thy noble father in the dust.253

Thou know’st ’tis common all that lives must die,254

Passing through nature to eternity.255

hamlet

Ay, madam, it is common.256

queen

If it be,

Why seems it so particular with thee?257

hamlet

“Seems,” madam? nay, it is, I know not “seems,”258

’Tis not alone my inky cloak, cold mother,259

Nor customary suits of solemn black,260

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,261

No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,262

Nor the dejected haviour of the visage,263

Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief264

That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,”265

For they are actions that a man might play,266

But I have that within which passes show,267

These but the trappings and the suits of woe.268

king

’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,269

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 bound272

In filial obligation for some term273

To do obsequious sorrow; but to persever274

In obstinate condolement is a course275

Of impious stubbornness, ’tis unmanly grief,276

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,277

A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,278

An understanding simple and unschooled.279

For what we know must be, and is as common280

As any the most vulgar thing to sense,281

Why should we in our peevish opposition282

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 theme285

Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried286

From the first corpse till he that died today287

“This must be so.” We pray you throw to earth288

This unprevailing woe, and think of us289

As of a father; for let the world take note290

You are the most immediate to our throne,291

And with no less nobility of love292

Than that which dearest father bears his son293

Do I impart toward you. For your intent294

In going back to school in Wittenberg,295

It is most retrograde to our desire,296

And we beseech you bend you to remain297

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.303

Be as ourself in Denmark. — Madam, come,304

This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet305

Sits smiling to my heart, in grace whereof306

No jocund health that Denmark drinks today307

But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell308

And the King’s rouse the heaven shall bruit again,309

Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away.310

(Flourish.)

(Exeunt all but Hamlet.)

hamlet

Oh, that this too too solid flesh would melt,311

Thaw and resolve itself into a dew,312

Or that the Everlasting had not fixed313

His canon ’gainst self-slaughter. O God, F O F God,314

How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable315

Seem to me all the uses of this world!316

Fie on’t, ah, fie, F fie, F ’tis an unweeded garden317

That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature318

Possess it merely. That it should come thus:319

But two months dead, nay, not so much, not two —320

So excellent a king, that was to this321

Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother322

That he might not beteem the winds of heaven323

Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth,324

Must I remember? Why, she should hang on him325

As if increase of appetite had grown326

By what it fed on. And yet within a month327

(Let me not think on’t — Frailty, thy name is Woman),328

A little month, or ere those shoes were old329

With which she followed my poor father’s body330

Like Niobe, all tears, why, she — F even she F 331

(O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason332

Would have mourned longer) married with my uncle,333

My father’s brother, but no more like my father334

Than I to Hercules. Within a month,335

Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears336

Had left the flushing in her gallèd eyes,337

She married. Oh, most wicked speed — to post338

With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!339

It is not, nor it cannot come to good.340

But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.341

(Enter Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo.)

horatio

Hail to your lordship.342

hamlet

I am glad to see you well —

Horatio, or I do forget myself.343

horatio

The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.344

hamlet

Sir, my good friend, I’ll change that name with you.345

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? —346

Marcellus.347

marcellus

My good lord.348

hamlet

I am very glad to see you. — [To Barnardo] Good even, sir. —349

But what in faith make you from Wittenberg?350

horatio

A truant disposition, good my lord.351

hamlet

I would not hear your enemy say so,352

Nor shall you do my ear that violence353

To make it truster of your own report354

Against yourself. I know you are no truant.355

But what is your affair in Elsinore?356

We’ll teach you for to drink ere you depart.357

horatio

My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.358

hamlet

I prithee do not mock me, fellow student,359

I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.360

horatio

Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.361

hamlet

Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funeral baked meats362

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.363

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven364

Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio.365

My father, methinks I see my father.366

horatio

Where, my lord?367

hamlet

In my mind’s eye, Horatio.

horatio

I saw him once; ’a was a goodly king.368

hamlet

’A was a man, take him for all in all,369

I shall not look upon his like again.370

horatio

My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.371

hamlet

Saw, who?372

horatio

My lord, the King your father.373

hamlet

The King my father?374

horatio

Season your admiration for a while375

With an attent ear till I may deliver376

Upon the witness of these gentlemen377

This marvel to you.378

hamlet

For God’s love, let me hear!

horatio

Two nights together had these gentlemen,379

Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch380

In the dead waste and middle of the night381

Been thus encountered: a figure like your father382

Armed at point, exactly cap-à-pie,383

Appears before them and with solemn march384

Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walked385

By their oppressed and fear-surprisèd eyes386

Within his truncheon’s length whilst they, distilled387

Almost to jelly with the act of fear,388

Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me389

In dreadful secrecy impart they did,390

And I with them the third night kept the watch,391

Where (as they had delivered, both in time,392

Form of the thing, each word made true and good)393

The apparition comes. I knew your father;394

These hands are not more like.395

hamlet

But where was this?

marcellus

My lord, upon the platform where we watched.396

hamlet

Did you not speak to it?397

horatio

My lord, I did,

But answer made it none. Yet once methought398

It lifted up it head and did address399

Itself to motion like as it would speak.400

But even then the morning cock crew loud,401

And at the sound it shrunk in haste away402

And vanished from our sight.403

hamlet

’Tis very strange.

horatio

As I do live, my honoured lord, ’tis true,404

And we did think it writ down in our duty405

To let you know of it.406

hamlet

Indeed, F indeed, F sirs. But this troubles me.407

Hold you the watch tonight?408

marcellus, barnardo

We do, my lord.

hamlet

Armed, say you?409

marcellus, barnardo

Armed, my lord.410

hamlet

From top to toe?411

marcellus, barnardo

My lord, from head to foot.412

hamlet

Then saw you not his face.413

horatio

Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.414

hamlet

What looked he, frowningly?415

horatio

A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.416

hamlet

Pale, or red?417

horatio

Nay, very pale.418

hamlet

And fixed his eyes upon you?419

horatio

Most constantly.420

hamlet

I would I had been there.421

horatio

It would have much amazed you.422

hamlet

Very like F , very like F . Stayed it long?423

horatio

While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.424

marcellus, barnardo

Longer, longer.425

horatio

Not when I saw’t.426

hamlet

His beard was grizzled, no?427

horatio

It was as I have seen it in his life:428

A sable silvered.429

hamlet

I will watch tonight.

Perchance ’twill walk again.430

horatio

I warr’nt F you F it will.

hamlet

If it assume my noble father’s person,431

I’ll speak to it though hell itself should gape432

And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,433

If you have hitherto concealed this sight,434

Let it be tenable in your silence still,435

And whatsomever else shall hap tonight436

Give it an understanding but no tongue.437

I will requite your loves. So fare you well.438

Upon the platform ’twixt eleven and twelve439

I’ll visit you.440

horatio, marcellus, barnardo

Our duty to your honour.

hamlet

Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.441

(Exeunt [all but Hamlet].)

My father’s spirit — in arms! All is not well;442

I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come.443

Till then sit still my soul. Foul deeds will rise444

Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes.445

(Exit.)

[1.3]

(Enter Laertes and Ophelia, his sister.)

laertes

My necessaries are embarked. Farewell.446

And sister, as the winds give benefit447

And convey is assistant, do not sleep448

But let me hear from you.449

ophelia

Do you doubt that?

laertes

For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,450

Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,451

A violet in the youth of primy nature,452

Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,453

The perfume and suppliance of a minute,454

No more.455

ophelia

No more but so.

laertes

Think it no more.

For nature crescent does not grow alone456

In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes457

The inward service of the mind and soul458

Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,459

And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch460

The virtue of his will. But you must fear:461

His greatness weighed, his will is not his own;462

F For he himself is subject to his birth: F 463

He may not, as unvalued persons do,464

Carve for himself, for on his choice depends465

The safety and health of this whole state,466

And therefore must his choice be circumscribed467

Unto the voice and yielding of that body468

Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,469

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it470

As he in his particular act and place471

May give his saying deed, which is no further472

Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.473

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain474

If with too credent ear you list his songs,475

Or loose your heart, or your chaste treasure open476

To his unmastered importunity.477

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,478

And keep you in the rear of your affection479

Out of the shot and danger of desire.480

“The chariest maid is prodigal enough481

If she unmask her beauty to the moon.482

Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes.483

The canker galls the infants of the spring484

Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,485

And in the morn and liquid dew of youth486

Contagious blastments are most imminent.”487

Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.488

Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.489

ophelia

I shall the effect of this good lesson keep490

As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,491

Do not as some ungracious pastors do,492

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven493

Whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine494

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads495

And recks not his own rede.496

(Enter Polonius.)

laertes

Oh, fear me not.

I stay too long. But here my father comes.497

A double blessing is a double grace;498

Occasion smiles upon a second leave.499

polonius

Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!500

The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail501

And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with thee,502

And these few precepts in thy memory503

Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue504

Nor any unproportioned thought his act.505

Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar.506

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,507

Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel,508

But do not dull thy palm with entertainment509

Of each new-hatched, unfledged courage. Beware510

Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in,511

Bear’t that th’opposèd may beware of thee.512

Give every man thy ear but few thy voice;513

Take each man’s censure but reserve thy judgement.514

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy515

But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy;516

For the apparel oft proclaims the man,517

And they in France of the best rank and station518

Are of a most select and generous chief in that.519

Neither a borrower nor a lender, boy,520

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,521

And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry.522

This above all: to thine own self be true,523

And it must follow as the night the day524

Thou canst not then be false to any man.525

Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.526

laertes

Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.527

polonius

The time invests you. Go, your servants tend.528

laertes

Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well529

What I have said to you.530

ophelia

’Tis in my memory locked

And you yourself shall keep the key of it.531

laertes

Farewell.532

(Exit Laertes.)

polonius

What is’t, Ophelia, he hath said to you?533

ophelia

So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.534

polonius

Marry, well bethought:535

’Tis told me he hath very oft of late536

Given private time to you, and you yourself537

Have of your audience been most free and bounteous.538

If it be so (as so ’tis put on me,539

And that in way of caution), I must tell you540

You do not understand yourself so clearly541

As it behoves my daughter and your honour.542

What is between you? Give me up the truth.543

ophelia

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders544

Of his affection to me.545

polonius

Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl546

Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.547

Do you believe his “tenders” as you call them?548

ophelia

I do not know, my lord, what I should think.549

polonius

Marry, I will teach you: think yourself a baby550

That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay551

Which are not sterling; tender yourself more dearly552

Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,553

Running it thus) you’ll tender me a fool.554

ophelia

My lord, he hath importuned me with love555

In honourable fashion —556

polonius

Ay, “fashion” you may call it. Go to, go to.557

ophelia

And hath given countenance to his speech,558

My lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven.559

polonius

Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know,560

When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul561

Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,562

Giving more light than heat, extinct in both563

Even in their promise as it is a-making,564

You must not take for fire. From this time, F daughter, F 565

Be something scanter of your maiden presence,566

Set your entreatments at a higher rate567

Than a command to parle. For Lord Hamlet,568

Believe so much in him that he is young569

And with a larger tether may he walk570

Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia,571

Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers572

Not of that dye which their investments show573

But mere implorators of unholy suits574

Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds575

The better to beguile. This is for all:576

I would not in plain terms from this time forth577

Have you so slander any moment leisure578

As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.579

Look to’t, I charge you. Come your ways.580

ophelia

I shall obey, my lord.581

(Exeunt.)

[1.4]

(Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.)

hamlet

The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.582

horatio

It is a nipping and an eager air.583

hamlet

What hour now?584

horatio

I think it lacks of twelve.585

marcellus

No, it is struck.586

horatio

Indeed, I heard it not. It then draws near the season587

Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.588

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

What does this mean, my lord?589

hamlet

The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,590

Keeps wassail and the swagg’ring upspring reels,591

And as he drains his draughts of Rennish down592

The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out593

The triumph of his pledge.594

horatio

Is it a custom?595

hamlet

Ay, marry, is’t,596

But to my mind, though I am native here597

And to the manner born, it is a custom598

More honoured in the breach than the observance.599

This heavy-headed revel east and west600

Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations:601

They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase602

Soil our addition, and indeed it takes603

From our achievements, though performed at height,604

The pith and marrow of our attribute.605

So oft it chances in particular men606

That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,607

As in their birth wherein they are not guilty608

(Since nature cannot choose his origin),609

By their o’ergrowth of some complexion610

Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,611

Or by some habit that too much o’erleavens612

The form of plausive manners — that these men613

Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect614

(Being Nature’s livery or Fortune’s star),615

His virtues else, be they as pure as grace,616

As infinite as man may undergo,617

Shall in the general censure take corruption618

From that particular fault: the dram of evil619

Doth all the noble substance often dout620

To his own scandal.621

(Enter Ghost.)

horatio

Look, my lord, it comes.

hamlet

Angels and ministers of grace defend us! —622

Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,623

Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,624

Be thy intents wicked or charitable,625

Thou com’st in such a questionable shape626

That I will speak to thee: I’ll call thee Hamlet,627

King, father, royal Dane. Oh, F oh, F answer me,628

Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell629

Why thy canonized bones, hearsèd in death,630

Have burst their cerements, why the sepulchre631

Wherein we saw thee quietly interred632

Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws633

To cast thee up again. What may this mean634

That thou, dead corpse, again in complete steel635

Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,636

Making night hideous, and we fools of nature637

So horridly to shake our disposition638

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?639

Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?640

([Ghost] beckons.)

horatio

It beckons you to go away with it641

As if it some impartment did desire642

To you alone.643

marcellus

Look with what courteous action

It waves you to a more removèd ground,644

But do not go with it.645

horatio

No, by no means.

hamlet

It will not speak, then I will follow it.646

horatio

Do not, my lord.647

hamlet

Why, what should be the fear?

I do not set my life at a pin’s fee,648

And for my soul, what can it do to that649

Being a thing immortal as itself?650

It waves me forth again. I’ll follow it.651

horatio

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,652

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff653

That beetles o’er his base into the sea,654

And there assume some other horrible form655

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason656

And draw you into madness? Think of it.657

The very place puts toys of desperation658

Without more motive into every brain659

That looks so many fathoms to the sea660

And hears it roar beneath.661

hamlet

It waves me still.662

Go on, I’ll follow thee.663

marcellus

You shall not go, my lord.664

hamlet

Hold off your hands.

horatio

Be ruled, you shall not go.665

hamlet

My fate cries out

And makes each petty artery in this body666

As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.667

Still am I called. Unhand me, gentlemen,668

By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me!669

I say away! — Go on, I’ll follow thee.670

(Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.)

horatio

He waxes desperate with imagination.671

marcellus

Let’s follow. ’Tis not fit thus to obey him.672

horatio

Have after. To what issue will this come?673

marcellus

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.674

horatio

Heaven will direct it.675

marcellus

Nay, let’s follow him.

(Exeunt.)

[1.5]

(Enter Ghost and Hamlet.)

hamlet

Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak, I’ll go no further.676

ghost

Mark me.677

hamlet

I will.

ghost

My hour is almost come

When I to sulph’rous and tormenting flames678

Must render up myself.679

hamlet

Alas, poor ghost.

ghost

Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing680

To what I shall unfold.681

hamlet

Speak, I am bound to hear.

ghost

So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear.682

hamlet

What?683

ghost

I am thy father’s spirit,684

Doomed for a certain term to walk the night685

And for the day confined to fast in fires686

Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature687

Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid688

To tell the secrets of my prison-house,689

I could a tale unfold whose lightest word690

Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,691

Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,692

Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part,693

And each particular hair to stand on end694

Like quills upon the fearful porpentine.695

But this eternal blazon must not be696

To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, oh, list:697

If thou didst ever thy dear father love —698

hamlet

O God!699

ghost

— Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.700

hamlet

Murder?701

ghost

Murder most foul, as in the best it is,702

But this most foul, strange and unnatural.703

hamlet

Haste me to know’t, that I with wings as swift704

As meditation or the thoughts of love705

May sweep to my revenge.706

ghost

I find thee apt.

And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed707

That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,708

Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:709

’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,710

A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark711

Is by a forgèd process of my death712

Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,713

The serpent that did sting thy father’s life714

Now wears his crown.715

hamlet

O my prophetic soul! My uncle!716

ghost

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,717

With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts —718

O wicked wit and gifts that have the power719

So to seduce! — won to his shameful lust720

The will of my most seeming-virtuous Queen.721

O Hamlet, what falling off was there,722

From me whose love was of that dignity723

That it went hand in hand even with the vow724

I made to her in marriage, and to decline725

Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor726

To those of mine.727

But virtue, as it never will be moved,728

Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,729

So lust, though to a radiant angel linked,730

Will sate itself in a celestial bed731

And prey on garbage.732

But soft, methinks I scent the morning air.733

Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,734

My custom always of the afternoon,735

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole736

With juice of cursèd hebona in a vial,737

And in the porches of my ears did pour738

The leperous distilment, whose effect739

Holds such an enmity with blood of man740

That swift as quicksilver it courses through741

The natural gates and alleys of the body742

And with a sudden vigour it doth posset743

And curd like eager droppings into milk744

The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine,745

And a most instant tetter barked about746

Most Lazar-like with vile and loathsome crust747

All my smooth body.748

Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand749

Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched,750

Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,751

Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled,752

No reck’ning made, but sent to my account753

With all my imperfections on my head.754

Oh, horrible! Oh, horrible, most horrible!755

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not,756

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be757

A couch for luxury and damnèd incest.758

But howsomever thou pursues this act,759

Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive760

Against thy mother aught; leave her to heaven761

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge762

To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once:763

The glow-worm shows the matin to be near764

And ’gins to pale his uneffectual fire.765

Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.766

([Exit.])

hamlet

O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else?767

And shall I couple hell? Oh, fie! Hold, hold, my heart,768

And you, my sinews, grow not instant old769

But bear me swiftly up. Remember thee?770

Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat771

In this distracted globe. Remember thee,772

Yea, from the table of my memory773

I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records,774

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past775

That youth and observation copied there,776

And thy commandment all alone shall live777

Within the book and volume of my brain778

Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, F yes, F by heaven.779

O most pernicious woman!780

O villain, villain, smiling damnèd villain!781

My tables, F my tables, F meet it is I set it down782

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain;783

At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.784

So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word:785

It is “Adieu, adieu. Remember me.”786

I have sworn’t.787

(Enter Horatio and Marcellus.)

horatio

My lord, my lord!788

marcellus

Lord Hamlet!789

horatio

Heavens secure him.790

hamlet

So be it.791

marcellus

Illo, ho, ho, my lord!792

hamlet

Hillo, ho, ho, boy, come, bird, come!793

marcellus

How is’t, my noble lord?794

horatio

What news, my lord?795

hamlet

Oh, wonderful.796

horatio

Good my lord, tell it.797

hamlet

No, you will reveal it.798

horatio

Not I, my lord, by heaven.799

marcellus

Nor I, my lord.800

hamlet

How say you then, would heart of man once think it —801

But you’ll be secret?802

horatio, marcellus

Ay, by heaven F , my lord F .803

hamlet

There’s never a villain dwelling in all Denmark804

But he’s an arrant knave.805

horatio

There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave806

To tell us this.807

hamlet

Why, right, you are in the right,

And so without more circumstance at all808

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part.809

You, as your business and desire shall point you810

(For every man hath business and desire811

Such as it is), and for my own poor part812

F Look you, F I will go pray.813

horatio

These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.814

hamlet

I am sorry they offend you — heartily,815

Yes, faith, heartily.816

horatio

There’s no offence, my lord.

hamlet

Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,817

And much offence too. Touching this vision here,818

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you.819

For your desire to know what is between us820

O’ermaster’t as you may. And now, good friends,821

As you are friends, scholars and soldiers,822

Give me one poor request.823

horatio

What is’t, my lord? We will.824

hamlet

Never make known what you have seen tonight.825

horatio, marcellus

My lord, we will not.826

hamlet

Nay, but swear’t.827

horatio

In faith, my lord, not I.828

marcellus

Nor I, my lord, in faith.829

hamlet

Upon my sword.830

marcellus

We have sworn, my lord, already.831

hamlet

Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.832

(Ghost cries under the stage.)

ghost

Swear.833

hamlet

Ha, ha, boy, say’st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?834

Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage,835

Consent to swear.836

horatio

Propose the oath, my lord.

hamlet

Never to speak of this that you have seen,837

Swear by my sword.838

ghost

[under the stage] Swear.839

hamlet

Hic et ubique? Then we’ll shift our ground.840

Come hither, gentlemen,841

And lay your hands again upon my sword.842

Swear by my sword843

Never to speak of this that you have heard.844

ghost

[under the stage] Swear by his sword.845

hamlet

Well said, old mole. Canst work i’th’earth so fast?846

A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends.847

horatio

Oh, day and night, but this is wondrous strange.848

hamlet

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.849

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,850

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come,851

Here as before: never, so help you mercy852

(How strange or odd some’er I bear myself,853

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet854

To put an antic disposition on),855

That you at such times seeing me, never shall856

(With arms encumbered thus, or this headshake,857

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase858

As “Well, well, we know,” or “We could an if we would,”859

Or “If we list to speak,” or “There be an if they might,”860

Or such ambiguous giving out) to note861

That you know aught of me. This do swear,862

So grace and mercy at your most need help you.863

ghost

[under the stage] Swear.864

([They swear.])

hamlet

Rest, rest, perturbèd spirit. — So, gentlemen,865

With all my love I do commend me to you,866

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is867

May do t’express his love and friending to you,868

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together,869

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.870

The time is out of joint. O cursèd spite,871

That ever I was born to set it right! —872

Nay, come, let’s go together.873

(Exeunt.)

Act II

[2.1]

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

polonius

Give him this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.874

reynaldo

I will, my lord.875

polonius

You shall do marv’llous wisely, good Reynaldo,876

Before you visit him, to make inquire877

Of his behaviour.878

reynaldo

My lord, I did intend it.

polonius

Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,879

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,880

And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,881

What company, at what expense, and finding882

By this encompassment and drift of question883

That they do know my son, come you more nearer884

Than your particular demands will touch it.885

Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,886

As thus: “I know his father, and his friends,887

And in part him” — do you mark this, Reynaldo?888

reynaldo

Ay, very well, my lord.889

polonius

“And in part him, but,” you may say, “not well;890

But if’t be he I mean, he’s very wild,891

Addicted so and so,” and there put on him892

What forgeries you please — marry, none so rank893

As may dishonour him; take heed of that —894

But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips895

As are companions noted and most known896

To youth and liberty.897

reynaldo

As gaming, my lord?898

polonius

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,899

Quarrelling, drabbing — you may go so far.900

reynaldo

My lord, that would dishonour him.901

polonius

Faith, F no, F as you may season it in the charge.902

You must not put another scandal on him,903

That he is open to incontinency,904

That’s not my meaning, but breathe his faults so quaintly905

That they may seem the taints of liberty,906

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,907

A savageness in unreclaimèd blood908

Of general assault.909

reynaldo

But my good lord —910

polonius

Wherefore should you do this?911

reynaldo

Ay, my lord, I would know that.912

polonius

Marry, sir, here’s my drift,913

And I believe it is a fetch of wit:914

You laying these slight sullies on my son915

As ’twere a thing a little soiled wi’th’ working,916

Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound917

Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes918

The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured919

He closes with you in this consequence:920

“Good sir,” or so, or “friend,” or “gentleman,”921

According to the phrase or the addition922

Of man and country.923

reynaldo

Very good, my lord.

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” —924

F At “friend, or so”, and “gentleman.” F 925

polonius

At “closes in the consequence,” ay, marry.926

He closes F with you F thus: “I know the gentleman,927

I saw him yesterday, or th’other day,928

Or then or then, with such or such, and as you say,929

There was ’a gaming, there o’ertook in’s rouse,930

There falling out at tennis,” or perchance931

“I saw him enter such a house of sale,”932

Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now:933

Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth;934

And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,935

With windlasses, and with assays of bias,936

By indirections find directions out.937

So by my former lecture and advice938

Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?939

reynaldo

My lord, I have.940

polonius

God b’wi’ye, fare ye well.

reynaldo

Good my lord.941

polonius

Observe his inclination in yourself.942

reynaldo

I shall, my lord.943

polonius

And let him ply his music.944

reynaldo

Well, my lord.945

(Exit Reynaldo.)

(Enter Ophelia.)

polonius

Farewell. — How now, Ophelia, what’s the matter?946

ophelia

Oh, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted —947

polonius

With what, i’th’name of God?948

ophelia

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,949

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,950

No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled,951

Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle,952

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,953

And with a look so piteous in purport954

As if he had been loosèd out of hell955

To speak of horrors, he comes before me.956

polonius

Mad for thy love?957

ophelia

My lord, I do not know,

But truly I do fear it.958

polonius

What said he?

ophelia

He took me by the wrist and held me hard,959

Then goes he to the length of all his arm,960

And with his other hand thus o’er his brow961

He falls to such perusal of my face962

As ’a would draw it. Long stayed he so.963

At last, a little shaking of mine arm,964

And thrice his head thus waving up and down,965

He raised a sigh so piteous and profound966

As it did seem to shatter all his bulk967

And end his being. That done, he lets me go,968

And, with his head over his shoulder turned,969

He seemed to find his way without his eyes,970

For out o’doors he went without their helps,971

And to the last bended their light on me.972

polonius

Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.973

This is the very ecstasy of love,974

Whose violent property fordoes itself975

And leads the will to desperate undertakings976

As oft as any passions under heaven977

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.978

What, have you given him any hard words of late?979

ophelia

No, my good lord, but as you did command980

I did repel his letters and denied981

His access to me.982

polonius

That hath made him mad.

I am sorry that with better heed and judgement983

I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle984

And meant to wrack thee. But beshrew my jealousy.985

By heaven, it is as proper to our age986

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions987

As it is common for the younger sort988

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.989

This must be known, which, being kept close, might move990

More grief to hide than hate to utter love.991

Come.992

(Exeunt.)

[2.2]

(Flourish.)

(Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [with Attendants].)

king

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.993

Moreover that we much did long to see you,994

The need we have to use you did provoke995

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard996

Of Hamlet’s transformation, so F I F call it,997

Sith nor th’exterior nor the inward man998

Resembles that it was. What it should be999

More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him1000

So much from th’understanding of himself1001

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both1002

That, being of so young days brought up with him1003

And sith so neighboured to his youth and haviour,1004

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court1005

Some little time, so by your companies1006

To draw him on to pleasures and to gather1007

So much as from occasion you may glean,1008

Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,1009

That opened lies within our remedy.1010

queen

Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,1011

And sure I am two men there is not living1012

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you1013

To show us so much gentry and good will1014

As to expend your time with us a while1015

For the supply and profit of our hope,1016

Your visitation shall receive such thanks1017

As fits a king’s remembrance.1018

Rosencrantz

Both your majesties

Might by the sovereign power you have of us1019

Put your dread pleasures more into command1020

Than to entreaty.1021

guildenstern

But we both obey

And here give up ourselves in the full bent1022

To lay our service freely at your feet1023

To be commanded.1024

king

Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.1025

queen

Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.1026

And I beseech you instantly to visit1027

My too much changèd son. — Go some of you1028

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.1029

guildenstern

Heavens make our presence and our practices1030

Pleasant and helpful to him.1031

queen

Ay, amen.

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

(Enter Polonius.)

polonius

Th’ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,1032

Are joyfully returned.1033

king

Thou still hast been the father of good news.1034

polonius

Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege1035

I hold my duty as I hold my soul,1036

Both to my God, and to my gracious King;1037

And I do think, or else this brain of mine1038

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure1039

As it hath used to do, that I have found1040

The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.1041

king

Oh, speak of that, that do I long to hear.1042

polonius

Give first admittance to th’ambassadors.1043

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.1044

king

Thyself do grace to them and bring them in.1045

([Polonius goes to the door.])

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found1046

The head and source of all your son’s distemper.1047

queen

I doubt it is no other but the main:1048

His father’s death and our hasty marriage.1049

(Enter Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius].)

king

Well, we shall sift him. — Welcome, my good friends.1050

Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?1051

voltemand

Most fair return of greetings and desires.1052

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress1053

His nephew’s levies, which to him appeared1054

To be a preparation ’gainst the Polack;1055

But, better looked into, he truly found1056

It was against your highness. Whereat, grieved1057

That so his sickness, age and impotence1058

Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests1059

On Fortinbras, which he in brief obeys,1060

Receives rebuke from Norway and, in fine,1061

Makes vow before his uncle never more1062

To give th’assay of arms against your majesty.1063

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,1064

Gives him threescore thousand crowns in anual fee1065

And his commission to employ those soldiers1066

So levied (as before) against the Polack,1067

With an entreaty, herein further shown,1068

That it might please you to give quiet pass1069

Through your dominions for this enterprise1070

On such regards of safety and allowance1071

As therein are set down.1072

king

It likes us well,

And at our more considered time we’ll read,1073

Answer and think upon this business.1074

Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labour.1075

Go to your rest, at night we’ll feast together.1076

Most welcome home.1077

(Exeunt Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius].)

polonius

This business is F very F well ended.1078

My liege and madam, to expostulate1079

What majesty should be, what duty is,1080

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,1081

Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.1082

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit1083

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes.1084

I will be brief: your noble son is mad.1085

Mad call I it, for to define true madness,1086

What is’t but to be nothing else but mad?1087

But let that go.1088

queen

More matter with less art.

polonius

Madam, I swear I use no art at all.1089

That he is mad ’tis true, ’tis true ’tis pity,1090

And pity ’tis ’tis true — a foolish figure,1091

But farewell it, for I will use no art.1092

Mad let us grant him then, and now remains1093

That we find out the cause of this effect,1094

Or rather say the cause of this defect,1095

For this effect defective comes by cause.1096

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.1097

Perpend.1098

I have a daughter — have while she is mine —1099

Who in her duty and obedience, mark,1100

Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.1101

([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?1102

polonius

Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful.1103

([Reads the] letter.)

“Doubt thou the stars are fire,1104

Doubt that the sun doth move,1105

Doubt truth to be a liar,1106

But never doubt I love.1107

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;1108

And more above hath his solicitings,1109

As they fell out, by time, by means, and place,1110

All given to mine ear.1111

king

But how hath she received his love?1112

polonius

What do you think of me?1113

king

As of a man faithful and honourable.1114

polonius

I would fain prove so. But what might you think1115

When I had seen this hot love on the wing1116

(As I perceived it, I must tell you that,1117

Before my daughter told me), what might you,1118

Or my dear majesty your Queen here, think1119

If I had played the desk or table-book,1120

Or given my heart a working mute and dumb,1121

Or looked upon this love with idle sight,1122

What might you think? No, I went round to work1123

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:1124

“Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star.1125

This must not be.” And then I prescripts gave her1126

That she should lock herself from his resort,1127

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens;1128

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,1129

And he, repellèd, a short tale to make,1130

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,1131

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,1132

Thence to a lightness, and by this declension1133

Into the madness wherein now he raves1134

And all we mourn for.1135

king

Do you think ’tis this?1136

queen

It may be, very like.1137

polonius

Hath there been such a time — I would fain know that —1138

That I have positively said ’tis so1139

When it proved otherwise?1140

king

Not that I know.

polonius

Take this from this if this be otherwise.1141

If circumstances lead me, I will find1142

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed1143

Within the centre.1144

king

How may we try it further?

polonius

You know sometimes he walks four hours together1145

Here in the lobby.1146

queen

So he does, indeed.

polonius

At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.1147

Be you and I behind an arras then,1148

Mark the encounter: if he love her not1149

And be not from his reason fall’n thereon,1150

Let me be no assistant for a state1151

But keep a farm and carters.1152

king

We will try it.

(Enter Hamlet [reading on a book].)

queen

But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.1153

polonius

Away, I do beseech you both, away.1154

I’ll board him presently. Oh, give me leave.1155

(Exeunt King and Queen [and Attendants].)

How does my good lord Hamlet?1156

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 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

Indeed, that’s out of the air.

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 news?

rosencrantz

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

hamlet

Then is doomsday near. But your news is not true. 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 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

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 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, 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,1157

The which he loved passing well.”1158

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”,1159

and then, you know,1160

“It came to pass,1161

as most like it was.”1162

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, my 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 falconers, 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’ tale 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 —”1163

’Tis not so, it begins with Pyrrhus:

“The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,1164

Black as his purpose, did the night resemble1165

When he lay couchèd in th’ominous horse,1166

Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared1167

With heraldry more dismal: head to foot1168

Now is he total gules, horridly tricked1169

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,1170

Baked and impasted with the parching streets1171

That lend a tyrannous and a damnèd light1172

To their lord’s murder; roasted in wrath and fire,1173

And thus o’ersizèd with coagulate gore,1174

With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus1175

Old grandsire Priam seeks.” —1176

So proceed you.

polonius

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

1 player

“Anon he finds him,1177

Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword,1178

Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,1179

Repugnant to command. Unequal matched,1180

Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide,1181

But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword1182

Th’unnervèd father falls. Then senseless Ilium,1183

Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top1184

Stoops to his base and with a hideous crash1185

Takes prisoner Pyrrhus’ ear. For, lo, his sword,1186

Which was declining on the milky head1187

Of reverend Priam, seemed i’th’air to stick.1188

So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood1189

And, like a neutral to his will and matter,1190

Did nothing.1191

But as we often see against some storm1192

A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,1193

The bold winds speechless and the orb below1194

As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder1195

Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus’ pause1196

A rousèd vengeance sets him new a-work,1197

And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall1198

On Mars’s armour, forged for proof eterne,1199

With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword1200

Now falls on Priam.1201

Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods1202

In general synod take away her power,1203

Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel1204

And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven1205

As low as to the fiends.”1206

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 moblèd queen” —1207

hamlet

“The moblèd queen.”

polonius

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

1 player

— “Run barefoot up and down, threat’ning the flames1208

With bisson rheum, a clout upon that head1209

Where late the diadem stood and, for a robe,1210

About her lank and all-o’erteemèd loins,1211

A blanket in the alarm of fear caught up.1212

Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steeped,1213

’Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have pronounced.1214

But if the gods themselves did see her then,1215

When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport1216

In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs,1217

The instant burst of clamour that she made1218

(Unless things mortal move them not at all)1219

Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven1220

And passion in the gods.”1221

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.1222

Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!1223

Is it not monstrous that this player here,1224

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,1225

Could force his soul so to his own conceit1226

That from her working, all the visage wanned,1227

Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,1228

A broken voice, an’ his whole function suiting1229

With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing.1230

For Hecuba.1231

What’s Hecuba to him, or he to her,1232

That he should weep for her? What would he do1233

Had he the motive and the cue for passion1234

That I have? He would drown the stage with tears1235

And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,1236

Make mad the guilty and appal the free,1237

Confound the ignorant and amaze indeed1238

The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,1239

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak1240

Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,1241

And can say nothing — no, not for a king,1242

Upon whose property and most dear life1243

A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?1244

Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across,1245

Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face,1246

Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i’th’throat1247

As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this?1248

Ha! ’Swounds, I should take it; for it cannot be1249

But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall1250

To make oppression bitter, or ere this1251

I should ’a’ fatted all the region kites1252

With this slave’s offal. Bloody, bawdy villain —1253

Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!1254

F Oh, vengeance! F 1255

Why, what an ass am I: F ay, sure, F this is most brave,1256

That I, the son of a dear murderèd,1257

Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,1258

Must like a whore unpack my heart with words1259

And fall a-cursing like a very drab,1260

A stallion. Fie upon’t, foh!1261

About, my brains! Hum, I have heard,1262

That guilty creatures sitting at a play1263

Have by the very cunning of the scene1264

Been struck so to the soul that presently1265

They have proclaimed their malefactions.1266

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak1267

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players1268

Play something like the murder of my father1269

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks.1270

I’ll tent him to the quick. If ’a do blench,1271

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen1272

May be a devil, and the devil hath power1273

T’assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps1274

Out of my weakness and my melancholy,1275

As he is very potent with such spirits,1276

Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds1277

More relative than this. The play’s the thing1278

Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.1279

(Exit.)

Act III

[3.1]

(Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, [and] Lords.)

king

And can you by no drift of conference1280

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,1281

Grating so harshly all his days of quiet1282

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?1283

rosencrantz

He does confess he feels himself distracted,1284

But from what cause ’a will by no means speak.1285

guildenstern

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,1286

But with a crafty madness keeps aloof1287

When we would bring him on to some confession1288

Of his true state.1289

queen

Did he receive you well?1290

rosencrantz

Most like a gentleman.1291

guildenstern

But with much forcing of his disposition.1292

rosencrantz

Niggard of question, but of our demands1293

Most free in his reply.1294

queen

Did you assay him to any pastime?1295

rosencrantz

Madam, it so fell out that certain players1296

We o’erraught on the way. Of these we told him1297

And there did seem in him a kind of joy1298

To hear of it. They are here about the court1299

And, as I think, they have already order1300

This night to play before him.1301

polonius

’Tis most true,

And he beseeched me to entreat your majesties1302

To hear and see the matter.1303

king

With all my heart, and it doth much content me1304

To hear him so inclined.1305

Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,1306

And drive his purpose into these delights.1307

rosencrantz

We shall, my lord.1308

(Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and Lords].)

king

Sweet Gertrude, leave us too,1309

For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,1310

That he, as ’twere by accident, may here1311

Affront Ophelia. Her father and myself F (lawful espials) F 1312

We’ll so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,1313

We may of their encounter frankly judge1314

And gather by him as he is behaved,1315

If’t be th’affliction of his love or no1316

That thus he suffers for.1317

queen

I shall obey you.

And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish1318

That your good beauties be the happy cause1319

Of Hamlet’s wildness. So shall I hope your virtues1320

Will bring him to his wonted way again1321

To both your honours.1322

ophelia

Madam, I wish it may.

([Exit Queen.])

polonius

Ophelia, walk you here. — Gracious, so please you,1323

We will bestow ourselves. — Read on this book,1324

That show of such an exercise may colour1325

Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this,1326

(’Tis too much proved) that with devotion’s visage1327

And pious action we do sugar o’er1328

The devil himself.1329

king

Oh, ’tis too true.

How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!1330

The harlot’s cheek beautied with plastering art1331

Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it1332

Than is my deed to my most painted word.1333

Oh, heavy burden!1334

(Enter Hamlet.)

polonius

I hear him coming: F let's F withdraw, my lord.1335

([Exeunt King and Polonius.])

hamlet

To be, or not to be, that is the question:1336

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer1337

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,1338

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles1339

And by opposing, end them. To die — to sleep,1340

No more; and by a sleep to say we end1341

The heartache and the thousand natural shocks1342

That flesh is heir to. ’Tis a consumation1343

Devoutly to be wished: to die to sleep;1344

To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there’s the rub,1345

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come1346

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil1347

Must give us pause. There’s the respect1348

That makes calamity of so long life:1349

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,1350

Th’oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,1351

The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,1352

The insolence of office and the spurns1353

That patient merit of th’unworthy takes,1354

When he himself might his quietus make1355

With a bare bodkin? Who would F these F fardels bear1356

To grunt and sweat under a weary life1357

But that the dread of something after death1358

(The undiscovered country from whose bourn1359

No traveller returns) puzzles the will1360

And makes us rather bear those ills we have1361

Than fly to others that we know not of?1362

Thus conscience does make cowards F of us all F ,1363

And thus the native hue of resolution1364

Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,1365

And enterprises of great pitch and moment1366

With this regard their currents turn awry1367

And lose the name of action. Soft you now,1368

The fair Ophelia. Nymph, in thy orisons1369

Be all my sins remembered.1370

ophelia

Good my lord,

How does your honour for this many a day?1371

hamlet

I humbly thank you, F well, well, F well.1372

ophelia

My lord, I have remembrances of yours1373

That I have longèd long to redeliver.1374

I pray you now receive them.1375

hamlet

No, not I, I never gave you aught.1376

ophelia

My honoured lord, you know right well you did,1377

And with them words of so sweet breath composed1378

As made these things more rich. Their perfume lost,1379

Take these again, for to the noble mind1380

Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.1381

There, my lord.1382

hamlet

Ha, ha, are you honest?1383

ophelia

My lord?1384

hamlet

Are you fair?1385

ophelia

What means your lordship?1386

hamlet

That if you be honest and fair, your honesty 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 your 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!1387

The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword,1388

Th’expectation and rose of the fair state,1389

The glass of fashion and the mould of form,1390

Th’observed of all observers, quite quite down.1391

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,1392

That sucked the honey of his music vows,1393

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason1394

Like sweet bells jangled out of time and harsh;1395

That unmatched form and stature of blown youth1396

Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me1397

T’have seen what I have seen, see what I see.1398

(Enter King and Polonius.)

king

Love — his affections do not that way tend,1399

Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little,1400

Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul1401

O’er which his melancholy sits on brood,1402

And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose1403

Will be some danger; which for to prevent,1404

I have in quick determination1405

Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England1406

For the demand of our neglected tribute.1407

Haply the seas and countries different,1408

With variable objects, shall expel1409

This something-settled matter in his heart1410

Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus1411

From fashion of himself. What think you on’t?1412

polonius

It shall do well. But yet do I believe1413

The origin and commencement of his grief1414

Sprung from neglected love. — How now, Ophelia?1415

You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said,1416

We heard it all. — My lord, do as you please,1417

But if you hold it fit, after the play,1418

Let his Queen-mother all alone entreat him1419

To show his grief, let her be round with him,1420

And I’ll be placed (so please you) in the ear1421

Of all their conference. If she find him not,1422

To England send him, or confine him where1423

Your wisdom best shall think.1424

king

It shall be so.

Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.1425

(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 the 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?1426

rosencrantz

Ay, my lord.

(Exeunt they two.)

hamlet

What ho, Horatio!1427

(Enter Horatio.)

horatio

Here, sweet lord, at your service.

hamlet

Horatio, thou art e’en as just a man1428

As e’er my conversation coped withal.1429

horatio

Oh, my dear lord —1430

hamlet

Nay, do not think I flatter,

For what advancement may I hope from thee1431

That no revenue hast but thy good spirits1432

To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered?1433

No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp1434

And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee1435

Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?1436

Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice1437

And could of men distinguish her election,1438

Sh’hath sealed thee for herself, for thou hast been1439

As one in suff’ring all that suffers nothing,1440

A man that Fortune’s buffets and rewards1441

Hast ta’en with equal thanks. And blest are those1442

Whose blood and judgement are so well co-meddled1443

That they are not a pipe for Fortune’s finger1444

To sound what stop she please. Give me that man1445

That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him1446

In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,1447

As I do thee. Something too much of this.1448

There is a play tonight before the King.1449

One scene of it comes near the circumstance1450

Which I have told thee of my father’s death.1451

I prithee, when thou see’st that act afoot,1452

Even with the very comment of thy soul,1453

Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt1454

Do not itself unkennel in one speech,1455

It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,1456

And my imaginations are as foul1457

As Vulcan’s stithy. Give him heedful note,1458

For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,1459

And after, we will both our judgements join1460

In censure of his seeming.1461

horatio

Well, my lord.

If ’a steal aught the whilst this play is playing1462

And scape detecting, I will pay the theft.1463

(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. [To Polonius] My lord, 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 devil 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 is miching 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,1464

Here stooping to your clemency1465

We beg your hearing patiently.1466

([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 round1467

Neptune’s salt wash and Tellus’ orbèd ground,1468

And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen1469

About the world have times twelve thirties been1470

Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands1471

Unite commutual in most sacred bands.1472

player queen

So many journeys may the sun and moon1473

Make us again count o’er ere love be done.1474

But woe is me, you are so sick of late,1475

So far from cheer and from your former state,1476

That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,1477

Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must.1478

For women fear too much, even as they love,1479

And women’s fear and love hold quantity,1480

In neither ought, or in extremity.1481

Now what my love is proof hath made you know,1482

And, as my love is sized, my fear is so.1483

Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;1484

Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.1485

player king

Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too:1486

My operant powers their functions leave to do;1487

And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,1488

honoured, beloved, and haply one as kind1489

For husband shalt thou —1490

player queen

Oh, confound the rest!

Such love must needs be treason in my breast.1491

In second husband let me be accursed.1492

None wed the second but who killed the first.1493

hamlet

That’s wormwood.

player queen

The instances that second marriage move1494

Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.1495

A second time I kill my husband dead1496

When second husband kisses me in bed.1497

player king

I do believe you think what now you speak.1498

But what we do determine oft we break.1499

Purpose is but the slave to memory,1500

Of violent birth but poor validity,1501

Which now, the fruit unripe, sticks on the tree,1502

But fall unshaken when they mellow be.1503

Most necessary ’tis that we forget1504

To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt.1505

What to ourselves in passion we propose,1506

The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.1507

The violence of either grief or joy1508

Their own enactures with themselves destroy.1509

Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;1510

Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.1511

This world is not for aye, nor ’tis not strange1512

That even our loves should with our fortunes change,1513

For ’tis a question left us yet to prove1514

Whether Love lead Fortune, or else Fortune Love.1515

The great man down, you mark his favourite flies;1516

The poor advanced makes friends of enemies;1517

And hitherto doth Love on Fortune tend:1518

For who not needs shall never lack a friend,1519

And who in want a hollow friend doth try1520

Directly seasons him his enemy.1521

But orderly to end where I begun,1522

Our wills and fates do so contrary run1523

That our devices still are overthrown:1524

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own.1525

So think thou wilt no second husband wed,1526

But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.1527

player queen

Nor earth to me give food nor heaven light,1528

Sport and repose lock from me day and night,1529

To desperation turn my trust and hope,1530

An anchor’s cheer in prison be my scope,1531

Each opposite that blanks the face of joy1532

Meet what I would have well and it destroy,1533

Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,1534

If once a widow ever I be a wife.1535

hamlet

If she should break it now.

player king

’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile.1536

My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile1537

The tedious day with sleep.1538

player queen

Sleep rock thy brain,

([He sleeps.])

And never come mischance between us twain.1539

(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,1540

Confederate season, else no creature seeing,1541

Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,1542

With Hecate’s ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,1543

Thy natural magic and dire property1544

On wholesome life usurps immediately.1545

([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,1546

The hart ungalled play,1547

For some must watch while some must sleep.1548

Thus runs the world away.1549

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,1550

This realm dismantled was1551

Of Jove himself, and now reigns here1552

A very, very — pajock.1553

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.

hamlet

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

For, if the King like not the comedy,1554

Why then belike he likes it not, perdie.1555

Come, some music!

(Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

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?

(Enter the Players with recorders.)

hamlet

Ay, sir, but while the grass grows — the proverb is something musty. 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 thumbs, 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 the top of 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.

(Enter Polonius.)

God bless you, sir.

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

Then I will come to my mother by and by.

They fool me to the top of my bent.

polonius

I will say so.

([Exit.])

hamlet

“By and by” is easily said. — Leave me, friends.

([Exeunt all but Hamlet.])

’Tis now the very witching time of night1556

When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out1557

Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood1558

And do such bitter business as the day1559

Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.1560

O heart, lose not thy nature. Let not ever1561

The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom;1562

Let me be cruel, not unnatural.1563

I will speak daggers to her, but use none.1564

My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites.1565

How in my words somever she be shent1566

To give them seals never my soul consent.1567

(Exit.)

[3.3]

(Enter King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

king

I like him not, nor stands it safe with us1568

To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you:1569

I your commission will forthwith dispatch,1570

And he to England shall along with you.1571

The terms of our estate may not endure1572

Hazard so near’s as doth hourly grow1573

Out of his brows.1574

guildenstern

We will ourselves provide.

Most holy and religious fear it is1575

To keep those many many bodies safe1576

That live and feed upon your majesty.1577

rosencrantz

The single and peculiar life is bound1578

With all the strength and armour of the mind1579

To keep itself from noyance, but much more1580

That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests1581

The lives of many. The cess of majesty1582

Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw1583

What’s near it with it; or it is a massy wheel1584

Fixed on the summit of the highest mount1585

To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things1586

Are mortised and adjoined, which, when it falls,1587

Each small annexment, petty consequence,1588

Attends the boist’rous ruin. Never alone1589

Did the King sigh but with a general groan.1590

king

Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage,1591

For we will fetters put about this fear1592

Which now goes too free-footed.1593

rosencrantz

We will haste us.

(Exeunt Gentlemen [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern].)

(Enter Polonius.)

polonius

My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet.1594

Behind the arras I’ll convey myself1595

To hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home,1596

And, as you said (and wisely was it said),1597

’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother,1598

Since nature makes them partial, should o’erhear1599

The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege,1600

I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed1601

And tell you what I know.1602

king

Thanks, dear my lord. —

(Exit [Polonius].)

Oh, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven,1603

It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t,1604

A brother’s murder. Pray can I not,1605

Though inclination be as sharp as will;1606

My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,1607

And, like a man to double business bound,1608

I stand in pause where I shall first begin1609

And both neglect. What if this cursed hand1610

Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood?1611

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens1612

To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy1613

But to confront the visage of offence?1614

And what’s in prayer but this twofold force,1615

To be forestallèd ere we come to fall1616

Or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up.1617

My fault is past, but oh, what form of prayer1618

Can serve my turn? “Forgive me my foul murder?”1619

That cannot be since I am still possessed1620

Of those effects for which I did the murder:1621

My crown, mine own ambition and my Queen.1622

May one be pardoned and retain th’offence?1623

In the corrupted currents of this world1624

Offence’s guilded hand may shove by justice,1625

And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself1626

Buys out the law; but ’tis not so above,1627

There is no shuffling, there the action lies1628

In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled1629

Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults1630

To give in evidence. What then? What rests?1631

Try what repentance can. What can it not?1632

Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?1633

O wretched state, O bosom black as death,1634

O limèd soul, that, struggling to be free,1635

Art more engaged! Help, angels, make assay.1636

Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel1637

([Kneels?])

Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe.1638

All may be well.1639

(Enter Hamlet.)

hamlet

Now might I do it pat, now ’a is a-praying.1640

And now I’ll do’t [Draws his sword.] — and so ’a goes to heaven,1641

And so am I revenged. That would be scanned:1642

A villain kills my father, and for that1643

I, his sole son, do this same villain send1644

To heaven.1645

Why, this is base and silly, not revenge.1646

’A took my father grossly, full of bread,1647

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,1648

And how his audit stands who knows save heaven,1649

But in our circumstance and course of thought1650

’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged1651

To take him in the purging of his soul1652

When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?1653

No.1654

Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent:1655

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,1656

Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed,1657

At game a-swearing, or about some act1658

That has no relish of salvation in’t,1659

Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven1660

And that his soul may be as damned and black1661

As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays.1662

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.1663

(Exit.)

king

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.1664

Words without thoughts never to heaven go.1665

(Exit.)

[3.4]

(Enter [Queen] Gertrude and Polonius.)

polonius

’A will come straight. Look you lay home to him.1666

Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with,1667

And that your grace hath screened and stood between1668

Much heat and him. I’ll silence me even here.1669

Pray you be round F with him F .1670

F hamlet

Within Mother, mother, mother. F 1671

queen

I’ll warrant you, fear me not.1672

Withdraw, I hear him coming.1673

([Polonius hides behind the arras.])

(Enter Hamlet.)

hamlet

Now, mother, what’s the matter?1674

queen

Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.1675

hamlet

Mother, you have my father much offended.1676

queen

Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.1677

hamlet

Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.1678

queen

Why, how now, Hamlet?1679

hamlet

What’s the matter now?

queen

Have you forgot me?1680

hamlet

No, by the rood, not so,

You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife,1681

And, would it were not so, you are my mother.1682

queen

Nay, then I’ll set those to you that can speak.1683

hamlet

Come, come, and sit you down, you shall not budge.1684

You go not till I set you up a glass1685

Where you may see the inmost part of you.1686

queen

What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?1687

Help, F help, F ho!1688

polonius

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

hamlet

How now, a rat! Dead for a ducat, dead!1689

([Kills Polonius.])

polonius

[Behind the arras.] Oh, I am slain.1690

queen

O me, what hast thou done?

hamlet

Nay, I know not. Is it the King?1691

queen

Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this!1692

hamlet

A bloody deed — almost as bad, good mother,1693

As kill a king and marry with his brother.1694

queen

As kill a king?1695

hamlet

Ay, lady, it was my word. —

([Discovers Polonius.])

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell.1696

I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune.1697

Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger. —1698

Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit you down1699

And let me wring your heart, for so I shall,1700

If it be made of penetrable stuff,1701

If damnèd custom have not brazed it so1702

That it be proof and bulwark against sense.1703

queen

What have I done that thou dar’st wag thy tongue1704

In noise so rude against me?1705

hamlet

Such an act1706

That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,1707

Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose1708

From the fair forehead of an innocent love1709

And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows1710

As false as dicers’ oaths — oh, such a deed1711

As from the body of contraction plucks1712

The very soul, and sweet religion makes1713

A rhapsody of words. Heaven’s face does glow1714

O’er this solidity and compound mass1715

With heated visage, as against the doom1716

Is thought-sick at the act.1717

queen

Ay me, what act

That roars so loud and thunders in the index?1718

hamlet

Look here upon this picture, and on this,1719

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.1720

See what a grace was seated on his brow,1721

Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself,1722

An eye like Mars to threaten and command,1723

A station like the herald Mercury,1724

New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill,1725

A combination and a form indeed1726

Where every god did seem to set his seal1727

To give the world assurance of a man.1728

This was your husband. Look you now what follows:1729

Here is your husband like a mildewed ear1730

Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?1731

Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed1732

And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes?1733

You cannot call it love, for at your age1734

The heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble1735

And waits upon the judgement, and what judgement1736

Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have,1737

Else could you not have motion, but sure that sense1738

Is apoplexed, for madness would not err1739

Nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thralled1740

But it reserved some quantity of choice1741

To serve in such a difference. What devil was’t1742

That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?1743

Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,1744

Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,1745

Or but a sickly part of one true sense1746

Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush?1747

Rebellious hell,1748

If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones,1749

To flaming youth let virtue be as wax1750

And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame1751

When the compulsive ardour gives the charge,1752

Since frost itself as actively doth burn1753

And reason panders will.1754

queen

O Hamlet, speak no more!

Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul,1755

And there I see such black and grainèd spots1756

As will leave there their tinct.1757

hamlet

Nay, but to live

In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed1758

Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love1759

Over the nasty sty —1760

queen

Oh, speak to me no more,1761

These words like daggers enter in my ears.1762

No more, sweet Hamlet.1763

hamlet

A murderer and a villain,

A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe1764

Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings,1765

A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,1766

That from a shelf the precious diadem stole1767

And put it in his pocket —1768

queen

No more.1769

(Enter Ghost.)

hamlet

A king of shreds and patches —1770

Save me and hover o’er me with your wings,1771

You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?1772

queen

Alas, he’s mad.1773

hamlet

Do you not come your tardy son to chide,1774

That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by1775

Th’important acting of your dread command? Oh, say!1776

ghost

Do not forget. This visitation1777

Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.1778

But look, amazement on thy mother sits.1779

Oh, step between her and her fighting soul.1780

Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.1781

Speak to her, Hamlet.1782

hamlet

How is it with you, lady?1783

queen

Alas, how is’t with you,

That you do bend your eye on vacancy1784

And with th’incorporal air do hold discourse?1785

Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep,1786

And, as the sleeping soldiers in th’alarm,1787

Your bedded hair, like life in excrements,1788

Start up and stand on end. O gentle son,1789

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper1790

Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?1791

hamlet

On him, on him. Look you how pale he glares.1792

His form and cause conjoined preaching to stones1793

Would make them capable. — Do not look upon me,1794

Lest with this piteous action you convert1795

My stern effects. Then what I have to do1796

Will want true colour, tears perchance for blood.1797

queen

To whom do you speak this?1798

hamlet

Do you see nothing there?1799

queen

Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.1800

hamlet

Nor did you nothing hear?1801

queen

No, nothing but ourselves.1802

hamlet

Why, look you there, look how it steals away,1803

My father in his habit as he lived,1804

Look where he goes, even now out at the portal.1805

(Exit Ghost.)

queen

This is the very coinage of your brain.1806

This bodiless creation ecstasy1807

Is very cunning in.1808

hamlet

F Ecstasy? F 1809

My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time1810

And makes as healthful music. It is not madness1811

That I have uttered. Bring me to the test,1812

And I the matter will reword, which madness1813

Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace,1814

Lay not that flattering unction to your soul1815

That not your trespass but my madness speaks.1816

It will but skin and film the ulcerous place1817

Whiles rank corruption mining all within1818

Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven,1819

Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come,1820

And do not spread the compost on the weeds1821

To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue,1822

For in the fatness of these pursy times1823

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,1824

Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.1825

queen

O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.1826

hamlet

Oh, throw away the worser part of it,1827

And live the purer with the other half.1828

Good night, but go not to my uncle’s bed.1829

Assume a virtue if you have it not.1830

That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat1831

Of habits devil, is angel yet in this,1832

That to the use of actions fair and good1833

He likewise gives a frock or livery1834

That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight,1835

And that shall lend a kind of easiness1836

To the next abstinence. The next more easy;1837

For use almost can change the stamp of nature,1838

And either shame the devil or throw him out1839

With wondrous potency. Once more, good night.1840

And when you are desirous to be blessed1841

I’ll blessing beg of you. For this same lord1842

I do repent, but heaven hath pleased it so1843

To punish me with this, and this with me,1844

That I must be their scourge and minister.1845

I will bestow him and will answer well1846

The death I gave him. So again, good night.1847

I must be cruel only to be kind.1848

This bad begins and worse remains behind.1849

One word more, good lady.1850

queen

What shall I do?

hamlet

Not this, by no means, that I bid you do:1851

Let the bloat King tempt you again to bed,1852

Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse,1853

And let him for a pair of reechy kisses,1854

Or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers,1855

Make you to ravel all this matter out1856

That I essentially am not in madness1857

But mad in craft. ’Twere good you let him know,1858

For who that’s but a queen, fair, sober, wise,1859

Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib,1860

Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so?1861

No, in despite of sense and secrecy1862

Unpeg the basket on the house’s top,1863

Let the birds fly and, like the famous ape,1864

To try conclusions in the basket creep1865

And break your own neck down.1866

queen

Be thou assured, if words be made of breath1867

And breath of life, I have no life to breathe1868

What thou hast said to me.1869

hamlet

I must to England, you know that?1870

queen

Alack, I had forgot. ’Tis so concluded on.1871

hamlet

There’s letters sealed, and my two schoolfellows,1872

Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged,1873

They bear the mandate, they must sweep my way1874

And marshal me to knavery. Let it work,1875

For ’tis the sport to have the enginer1876

Hoist with his own petard, and’t shall go hard1877

But I will delve one yard below their mines1878

And blow them at the moon. Oh, ’tis most sweet1879

When in one line two crafts directly meet.1880

This man shall set me packing;1881

I’ll lug the guts into the neighbor room.1882

Mother, good night indeed. This counsellor1883

Is now most still, most secret and most grave,1884

Who was in life a foolish prating knave.1885

Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.1886

Good night, mother.1887

(Exit [Hamlet tugging in Polonius].)

Act IV

[4.1]

(Enter King, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

king

There’s matter in these sighs. These profound heaves1888

You must translate; ’tis fit we understand them.1889

Where is your son?1890

queen

Bestow this place on us a little while.1891

([Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.])

Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight!1892

king

What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?1893

queen

Mad as the sea and wind when both contend1894

Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,1895

Behind the arras hearing something stir,1896

Whips out his rapier, cries “A rat, a rat!”1897

And in this brainish apprehension kills1898

The unseen good old man.1899

king

Oh, heavy deed!

It had been so with us had we been there.1900

His liberty is full of threats to all,1901

To you yourself, to us, to everyone.1902

Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?1903

It will be laid to us, whose providence1904

Should have kept short, restrained and out of haunt1905

This mad young man. But so much was our love,1906

We would not understand what was most fit,1907

But, like the owner of a foul disease,1908

To keep it from divulging, let it feed1909

Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?1910

queen

To draw apart the body he hath killed,1911

O’er whom — his very madness like some ore1912

Among a mineral of metals base1913

Shows itself pure — ’a weeps for what is done.1914

king

O Gertrude, come away.1915

The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch1916

But we will ship him hence and this vile deed1917

We must with all our majesty and skill1918

Both countenance and excuse. — Ho, Guildenstern!1919

(Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)

Friends both, go join you with some further aid:1920

Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain1921

And from his mother’s closet hath he dragged him.1922

Go seek him out, speak fair and bring the body1923

Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.1924

([Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.])

Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends1925

And let them know both what we mean to do1926

And what’s untimely done. So envious slander1927

Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter,1928

As level as the cannon to his blank,1929

Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name1930

And hit the woundless air. Oh, come away,1931

My soul is full of discord and dismay.1932

(Exeunt.)

[4.2]

(Enter Hamlet.)

hamlet

Safely stowed.

[Calling within] 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?1933

hamlet

Compound it with dust whereto ’tis kin.1934

rosencrantz

Tell us where ’tis that we may take it thence1935

And bear it to the chapel.1936

hamlet

Do not believe it.1937

rosencrantz

Believe what?1938

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.1939

How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!1940

Yet must not we put the strong law on him:1941

He’s loved of the distracted multitude,1942

Who like not in their judgement but their eyes,1943

And where ’tis so, th’offender’s scourge is weighed1944

But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even,1945

This sudden sending him away must seem1946

Deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown1947

By desperate appliance are relieved,1948

Or not at all.1949

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

How now, what hath befall’n?

rosencrantz

Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord,1950

We cannot get from him.1951

king

But where is he?

rosencrantz

Without, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure.1952

king

Bring him before us.1953

rosencrantz

Ho! Bring in the lord.

(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, for thine especial safety1954

(Which we do tender as we dearly grieve1955

For that which thou hast done) must send thee hence.1956

F With fiery quickness. F Therefore prepare thyself.1957

The bark is ready and the wind at help,1958

Th’associates tend, and every thing is bent1959

For England.1960

hamlet

For England?

king

Ay, Hamlet.

hamlet

Good.

king

So is it if thou knew’st our purposes.1961

hamlet

I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England.1962

Farewell, dear mother.1963

king

Thy loving father, Hamlet.

hamlet

My mother: father and mother is man and wife;1964

Man and wife is one flesh; so, my mother.1965

Come, for England.1966

(Exit.)

king

Follow him at foot,

Tempt him with speed aboard,1967

Delay it not, I’ll have him hence tonight.1968

Away, for everything is sealed and done1969

That else leans on th’affair. Pray you make haste.1970

([Exeunt all but the King.])

And England, if my love thou hold’st at aught1971

As my great power thereof may give thee sense,1972

Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red1973

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe1974

Pays homage to us, thou mayst not coldly set1975

Our sovereign process, which imports at full1976

By letters congruing to that effect1977

The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England,1978

For like the hectic in my blood he rages,1979

And thou must cure me. Till I know ’tis done,1980

Howe’er my haps, my joys were ne’re begun.1981

(Exit.)

[4.4]

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

fortinbras

Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish King.1982

Tell him that by his licence Fortinbras1983

Craves the conveyance of a promised march1984

Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.1985

If that his majesty would aught with us,1986

We shall express our duty in his eye,1987

And let him know so.1988

captain

I will do’t, my lord.

fortinbras

Go softly on.1989

([Exeunt all but the Captain].)

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

hamlet

Good sir, whose powers are these?

captain

They are of Norway, sir.1990

hamlet

How purposed, sir, I pray you?1991

captain

Against some part of Poland.1992

hamlet

Who commands them, sir?1993

captain

The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.1994

hamlet

Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,1995

Or for some frontier?1996

captain

Truly to speak, and with no addition,1997

We go to gain a little patch of ground1998

That hath in it no profit but the name.1999

To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;2000

Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole2001

A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.2002

hamlet

Why, then the Polack never will defend it.2003

captain

Yes, it is already garrisoned.2004

hamlet

Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats2005

Will not debate the question of this straw.2006

This is th’impostume of much wealth and peace2007

That inward breaks and shows no cause without2008

Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir.2009

captain

God b'wi' you, sir.2010

([Exit.])

Rosencrantz

Will’t please you go, my lord?

hamlet

I’ll be with you straight. Go a little before.2011

([Exeunt all but Hamlet.])

How all occasions do inform against me2012

And spur my dull revenge. What is a man2013

If his chief good and market of his time2014

Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.2015

Sure he that made us with such large discourse2016

Looking before and after, gave us not2017

That capability and god-like reason2018

To fust in us unused. Now whether it be2019

Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple2020

Of thinking too precisely on th’event2021

(A thought which quartered hath but one part wisdom2022

And ever three parts coward) I do not know2023

Why yet I live to say this thing’s to do,2024

Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means2025

To do’t. Examples gross as earth exhort me:2026

Witness this army of such mass and charge,2027

Led by a delicate and tender prince2028

Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed2029

Makes mouths at the invisible event,2030

Exposing what is mortal and unsure2031

To all that fortune, death and danger dare,2032

Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be great2033

Is not to stir without great argument2034

But greatly to find quarrel in a straw2035

When honour’s at the stake. How stand I then2036

That have a father killed, a mother stained,2037

Excitements of my reason and my blood,2038

And let all sleep, while to my shame I see2039

The imminent death of twenty thousand men2040

That for a fantasy and trick of fame2041

Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot2042

Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,2043

Which is not tomb enough and continent2044

To hide the slain. Oh, from this time forth2045

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.2046

(Exit.)

[4.5]

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

queen

I will not speak with her.2047

gentleman

She is importunate,

Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied.2048

queen

What would she have?2049

gentleman

She speaks much of her father, says she hears2050

There’s tricks i’th’world, and hems, and beats her heart,2051

Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt2052

That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,2053

Yet the unshaped use of it doth move2054

The hearers to collection; they yawn at it2055

And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,2056

Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,2057

Indeed would make one think there might be thought,2058

Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.2059

horatio

’Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew2060

Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.2061

Let her come in.2062

([Exit Gentleman.])

queen

To my sick soul, as sin’s true nature is,2063

Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.2064

So full of artless jealousy is guilt,2065

It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.2066

(Enter Ophelia [distracted].)

ophelia

Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?2067

queen

How now, Ophelia?2068

ophelia

She sings. How should I your true love know2069

From another one,2070

By his cockle hat and staff,2071

And his sandal shoon.2072

queen

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?2073

ophelia

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.

(Song.)

He is dead and gone, lady,2074

He is dead and gone.2075

At his head a grass-green turf,2076

At his heels a stone.2077

Oh, ho!

queen

Nay, but Ophelia —2078

ophelia

Pray you, mark.

[She sings.] White his shroud as the mountain snow —2079

(Enter King.)

queen

Alas, look here, my lord.2080

ophelia

Song. Larded all with sweet flowers2081

Which bewept to the ground did not go2082

With true-love showers.2083

king

How do you, pretty lady?2084

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.2085

ophelia

Pray, 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,2086

All in the morning betime,2087

And I a maid at your window2088

To be your Valentine.2089

Then up he rose, and donned his clo’es,2090

And dupped the chamber door,2091

Let in the maid that out a maid2092

Never departed more.2093

king

Pretty Ophelia.2094

ophelia

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

([Song.])

By Gis and by Saint Charity,2095

Alack and fie for shame,2096

Young men will do’t if they come to’t,2097

By Cock they are to blame.2098

Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me2099

You promised me to wed.”2100

He answers:

“So would I ha’ done by yonder sun2101

An thou hadst not come to my bed.”2102

king

How long hath she been thus?2103

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.2104

([Exit Horatio.])

Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs2105

All from her father’s death, and now behold.2106

O Gertrude, Gertrude,2107

When sorrows come, they come not single spies2108

But in battalions: first, her father slain;2109

Next, your son gone, and he most violent author2110

Of his own just remove; the people muddied,2111

Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers2112

For good Polonius’ death, and we have done but greenly2113

In hugger-mugger to inter him; poor Ophelia2114

Divided from herself and her fair judgement,2115

Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts;2116

Last, and as much containing as all these,2117

Her brother is in secret come from France,2118

Feeds on this wonder, keeps himself in clouds2119

And wants not buzzers to infect his ear2120

With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,2121

Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,2122

Will nothing stick our person to arraign2123

In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this2124

Like to a murd’ring-piece in many places2125

Gives me superfluous death.2126

(A noise within.)

(Enter a Messenger.)

F queen

Alack, what noise is this? F 2127

king

Attend! Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door.2128

What is the matter?2129

messenger

Save yourself, my lord.

The ocean overpeering of his list2130

Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste2131

Than young Laertes in a riotous head2132

O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord,2133

And, as the world were now but to begin,2134

Antiquity forgot, custom not known,2135

The ratifiers and props of every word,2136

They cry “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”2137

Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:2138

“Laertes shall be king! Laertes king!”2139

queen

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry!2140

(A noise within.)

([Exit Messenger.])

Oh, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!2141

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

king

The doors are broke.2142

laertes

Where is this King? — Sirs, stand you all without.2143

followers

No, let’s come in.2144

laertes

I pray you give me leave.2145

followers

We will, we will.2146

laertes

I thank you. Keep the door. —2147

([Exeunt his Followers.])

O thou vile King,

Give me my father.2148

queen

Calmly, good Laertes.

laertes

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard,2149

Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot2150

Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow2151

Of my true mother.2152

king

What is the cause, Laertes,

That thy rebellion looks so giant-like? —2153

Let him go, Gertrude, do not fear our person:2154

There’s such divinity doth hedge a king2155

That treason can but peep to what it would,2156

Acts little of his will. — Tell me, Laertes,2157

Why thou art thus incensed. — Let him go, Gertrude. —2158

Speak, man.2159

laertes

Where is my father?2160

king

Dead.2161

queen

But not by him.2162

king

Let him demand his fill.2163

laertes

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.2164

To hell allegiance, vows to the blackest devil,2165

Conscience and grace to the profoundest pit!2166

I dare damnation. To this point I stand,2167

That both the worlds I give to negligence.2168

Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged2169

Most throughly for my father.2170

king

Who shall stay you?2171

laertes

My will, not all the world’s;2172

And for my means I’ll husband them so well2173

They shall go far with little.2174

king

Good Laertes,

If you desire to know the certainty2175

Of your dear father, is’t writ in your revenge2176

That swoopstake you will draw both friend and foe,2177

Winner and loser?2178

laertes

None but his enemies —2179

king

Will you know them then?2180

laertes

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms2181

And, like the kind life-rend’ring pelican,2182

Repast them with my blood.2183

king

Why, now you speak

Like a good child and a true gentleman.2184

That I am guiltless of your father’s death,2185

And am most sensibly in grief for it,2186

It shall as level to your judgement ’pear2187

As day does to your eye.2188

(A noise within.)

voices

Within Let her come in!2189

laertes

How now, what noise is that?2190

(Enter Ophelia.)

O heat, dry up my brains. Tears seven times salt2191

Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye.2192

By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight2193

Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,2194

Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!2195

O heavens, is’t possible a young maid’s wits2196

Should be as mortal as a poor man’s life?2197

F Nature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine 2198

It sends some precious instance of itself 2199

After the thing it loves. F 2200

ophelia

Song. They bore him bare-faced on the bier,2201

F Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny, F 2202

And in his grave rained many a tear.2203

Fare you well, my dove.

laertes

Hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge,2204

It could not move thus.2205

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.2206

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. 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.2207

laertes

Thought and afflictions, passion, hell itself2208

She turns to favour and to prettiness.2209

ophelia

Song. And will ’a not come again?2210

And will ’a not come again?2211

No, no, he is dead —2212

Go to thy death-bed —2213

He never will come again.2214

His beard was as white as snow,2215

Flaxen was his poll.2216

He is gone, he is gone,2217

And we cast away moan.2218

God ’a’ mercy on his soul.2219

And of all Christians’ souls. F I pray God. F God b’wi’you.

([Exit.])

laertes

Do you see this, O God?2220

king

Laertes, I must commune with your grief,2221

Or you deny me right. Go but apart,2222

Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,2223

And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.2224

If by direct, or by collateral hand,2225

They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,2226

Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours,2227

To you in satisfaction; but, if not,2228

Be you content to lend your patience to us,2229

And we shall jointly labour with your soul2230

To give it due content.2231

laertes

Let this be so.

His means of death, his obscure funeral2232

(No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o’er his bones,2233

No noble rite, nor formal ostentation)2234

Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth2235

That I must call’t in question.2236

king

So you shall,

And, where th’offence is, let the great axe fall.2237

I pray you go with me.2238

(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 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.2239

And do’t the speedier that you may direct me2240

To him from whom you brought them.2241

(Exeunt.)

[4.7]

(Enter King and Laertes.)

king

Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,2242

And you must put me in your heart for friend,2243

Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,2244

That he which hath your noble father slain2245

Pursued my life.2246

laertes

It well appears. But tell me

Why you proceeded not against these feats2247

So criminal and so capital in nature,2248

As by your safety, greatness, wisdom, all things else,2249

You mainly were stirred up.2250

king

Oh, for two special reasons2251

Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed,2252

But yet to me they’re strong. The Queen his mother2253

Lives almost by his looks, and for myself,2254

My virtue or my plague, be it either which,2255

She is so conjunct to my life and soul2256

That as the star moves not but in his sphere2257

I could not but by her. The other motive2258

Why to a public count I might not go2259

Is the great love the general gender bear him,2260

Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,2261

Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,2262

Convert his gyves to graces, so that my arrows,2263

Too slightly timbered for so loud a wind,2264

Would have reverted to my bow again,2265

But not where I have aimed them.2266

laertes

And so have I a noble father lost,2267

A sister driven into desp’rate terms,2268

Whose worth, if praises may go back again,2269

Stood challenger, on mount, of all the age2270

For her perfections. But my revenge will come.2271

king

Break not your sleeps for that. You must not think2272

That we are made of stuff so flat and dull2273

That we can let our beard be shook with danger2274

And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more.2275

I loved your father, and we love ourself,2276

And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine —2277

(Enter a Messenger with letters.)

F How now? What news? F 2278

messenger

F Letters, my lord, from Hamlet. F

These to your majesty, this to the Queen.2279

king

From Hamlet? Who brought them?2280

messenger

Sailors, my lord, they say. I saw them not.2281

They were given me by Claudio. He received them2282

Of him that brought them.2283

king

Laertes, you shall hear them. —2284

Leave us.2285

([Exit Messenger.])

([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?2286

Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?2287

laertes

Know you the hand?2288

king

’Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked,”

And in a postscript here he says “alone.”2289

Can you devise me?2290

laertes

I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come:2291

It warms the very sickness in my heart2292

That I shall live and tell him to his teeth2293

“Thus diest thou.”2294

king

If it be so, Laertes —

As how should it be so, how otherwise? —2295

Will you be ruled by me?2296

laertes

Ay, my lord,

So you will not o’errule me to a peace.2297

king

To thine own peace. If he be now returned2298

As checking at his voyage, and that he means2299

No more to undertake it, I will work him2300

To an exploit, now ripe in my device,2301

Under the which he shall not choose but fall;2302

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,2303

But even his mother shall uncharge the practice2304

And call it accident.2305

laertes

My Lord, I will be ruled,

The rather if you could devise it so2306

That I might be the organ.2307

king

It falls right.

You have been talked of since your travel much,2308

And that in Hamlet’s hearing, for a quality2309

Wherein they say you shine. Your sum of parts2310

Did not together pluck such envy from him2311

As did that one, and that in my regard2312

Of the unworthiest siege.2313

laertes

What part is that, my lord?2314

king

A very ribbon in the cap of youth,2315

Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes2316

The light and careless livery that it wears2317

Than settled age his sables and his weeds2318

Importing health and graveness. Two months since2319

Here was a gentleman of Normandy.2320

I have seen myself and served against the French,2321

And they can well on horseback, but this gallant2322

Had witchcraft in’t: he grew unto his seat2323

And to such wondrous doing brought his horse2324

As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured2325

With the brave beast. So far he topped my thought2326

That I in forgery of shapes and tricks2327

Come short of what he did.2328

laertes

A Norman was’t?

king

A Norman.2329

laertes

Upon my life, Lamord.2330

king

The very same.

laertes

I know him well, he is the brooch indeed2331

And gem of all the nation.2332

king

He made confession of you2333

And gave you such a masterly report2334

For art and exercise in your defence,2335

And for your rapier most especial,2336

That he cried out ’twould be a sight indeed2337

If one could match you. The ’scrimers of their nation2338

He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye,2339

If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his2340

Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy2341

That he could nothing do but wish and beg2342

Your sudden coming o’er to play with you.2343

Now out of this —2344

laertes

What out of this, my lord?

king

Laertes, was your father dear to you?2345

Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,2346

A face without a heart?2347

laertes

Why ask you this?

king

Not that I think you did not love your father,2348

But that I know love is begun by time,2349

And that I see in passages of proof2350

Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.2351

There lives within the very flame of love2352

A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it,2353

And nothing is at a like goodness still,2354

For goodness growing to a pleurisy2355

Dies in his own too much. That we would do2356

We should do when we would, for this “would” changes2357

And hath abatements and delays as many2358

As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents,2359

And then this “should” is like a spendthrift’s sigh2360

That hurts by easing. But to the quick of th’ulcer:2361

Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake2362

To show yourself in deed your father’s son2363

More than in words?2364

laertes

To cut his throat i’th’church.

king

No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;2365

Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,2366

Will you do this, keep close within your chamber;2367

Hamlet, returned, shall know you are come home;2368

We’ll put on those shall praise your excellence2369

And set a double varnish on the fame2370

The Frenchman gave you, bring you in fine together2371

And wager o’er your heads. He, being remiss,2372

Most generous and free from all contriving,2373

Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,2374

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose2375

A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice,2376

Requite him for your father.2377

laertes

I will do’t.

And for that purpose, I’ll anoint my sword.2378

I bought an unction of a mountebank2379

So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,2380

Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare,2381

Collected from all simples that have virtue2382

Under the moon, can save the thing from death2383

That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point2384

With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly2385

It may be death.2386

king

Let’s further think of this,

Weigh what convenience both of time and means2387

May fit us to our shape. If this should fail2388

And that our drift look through our bad performance,2389

’Twere better not essayed. Therefore this project2390

Should have a back or second that might hold2391

If this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see —2392

We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings —2393

I ha’t! When in your motion you are hot and dry2394

(As make your bouts more violent to that end)2395

And that he calls for drink, I’ll have preferred him2396

A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,2397

If he by chance escape your venomed stuck,2398

Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?2399

(Enter Queen.)

F How now, sweet Queen? F 2400

queen

One woe doth tread upon another’s heel,2401

So fast they follow. Your sister’s drowned, Laertes.2402

laertes

Drowned! Oh, where?2403

queen

There is a willow grows askant the brook2404

That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream.2405

Therewith fantastic garlands did she make2406

Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies and long purples2407

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,2408

But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.2409

There on the pendant boughs her crownet weeds2410

Clamb’ring to hang, an envious sliver broke,2411

When down her weedy trophies and herself2412

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide2413

And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up,2414

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds2415

As one incapable of her own distress,2416

Or like a creature native and endued2417

Unto that element. But long it could not be2418

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,2419

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay2420

To muddy death.2421

laertes

Alas, then is she drowned.

queen

Drowned, drowned.2422

laertes

Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,2423

And therefore I forbid my tears; but yet2424

It is our trick, nature her custom holds.2425

Let shame say what it will; [Weeps.] when these are gone,2426

The woman will be out. — Adieu, my lord,2427

I have a speech o’ fire that fain would blaze2428

But that this folly drowns it.2429

(Exit.)

king

Let’s follow, Gertrude.

How much I had to do to calm his rage.2430

Now fear I this will give it start again,2431

Therefore let’s follow.2432

(Exeunt.)

Act V

[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, 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 he makes lasts till doomsday. Go get thee in, and fetch me a stoup of liquor.

([Exit 2 Clown.])

(Song.)

In youth when I did love, did love,2433

Methought it was very sweet2434

To contract —oh— the time for —a— my behove,2435

Oh, methought there —a— was nothing —a— meet.2436

(Enter Hamlet and Horatio.)

hamlet

Has this fellow no feeling of his business? ’A 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.

1 clown

Song. But age with his stealing steps2437

But age with his stealing steps2438

Hath clawed me in his clutch2439

And hath shipped me into the land,2440

As if I had never been such.2441

([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: chopless 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.

1 clown

Song. A pickaxe and a spade, a spade,2442

A pickaxe and a spade, a spade,2443

For and a shrouding-sheet,2444

Oh, a pit of clay for to be made2445

For such a guest is meet.2446

([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 vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases and doubles 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 —2447

F For such a guest is meet. F 2448

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, 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 grave-maker?

1 clown

Of all 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 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, 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 chop-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,2449

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.2450

Oh, that that earth which kept the world in awe2451

Should patch a wall t’expel the winter’s flaw.2452

But soft, but soft awhile, here comes the King.2453

(Enter King, Queen, Laertes, and [a Doctor of Divinity, after] the corpse, [with Lords Attendant].)

The Queen, the courtiers — who is this they follow?2454

And with such maimèd rites? This doth betoken2455

The corpse they follow did with desp’rate hand2456

Fordo it own life. ’Twas of some estate.2457

Couch we awhile and mark.2458

([Hamlet and Horatio stand aside.])

laertes

What ceremony else?2459

hamlet

That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark.2460

laertes

What ceremony else?2461

doctor

Her obsequies have been as far enlarged2462

As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful,2463

And but that great command o’ersways the order,2464

She should in ground unsanctified been lodged2465

Till the last trumpet: for charitable prayers,2466

Shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown on her;2467

Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants,2468

Her maiden strewments and the bringing home2469

Of bell and burial.2470

laertes

Must there no more be done?2471

doctor

No more be done.

We should profane the service of the dead2472

To sing a requiem and such rest to her2473

As to peace-parted souls.2474

laertes

Lay her i’th’earth,

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh2475

May violets spring. — I tell thee, churlish priest,2476

A minist’ring angel shall my sister be2477

When thou liest howling.2478

hamlet

What, the fair Ophelia?

queen

Sweets to the sweet. Farewell.2479

I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife.2480

I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid,2481

And not have strewed thy grave.2482

laertes

Oh, treble woe

Fall ten times double on that cursèd head2483

Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense2484

Deprived thee of! — Hold off the earth awhile,2485

Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.2486

([Leaps in the grave.])

Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead2487

Till of this flat a mountain you have made2488

T’o’retop old Pelion or the skyish head2489

Of blue Olympus.2490

hamlet

[Coming forward] What is he whose grief

Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow2491

Conjures the wand’ring stars and makes them stand2492

Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,2493

Hamlet the Dane.2494

laertes

The devil take thy soul!

([Grapples with Hamlet.])

hamlet

Thou pray’st not well.2495

I prithee take thy fingers from my throat,2496

For, though I am not splenative and rash,2497

Yet have I in me something dangerous2498

Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand —2499

king

Pluck them asunder.2500

queen

Hamlet! Hamlet!2501

lords

Gentlemen!2502

horatio

Good my lord, be quiet.2503

([Hamlet and Laertes are separated.])

hamlet

Why, I will fight with him upon this theme2504

Until my eyelids will no longer wag.2505

queen

O my son, what theme?2506

hamlet

I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers2507

Could not with all their quantity of love2508

Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?2509

king

Oh, he is mad, Laertes.2510

queen

For love of God, forbear him.2511

hamlet

’Swounds, show me what thou’t do:2512

Woul’t weep, woul’t fight, woul’t fast, woul’t tear thyself,2513

Woul’t drink up eisel, eat a crocodile?2514

I’ll do’t. Dost come here to whine?2515

To outface me with leaping in her grave?2516

Be buried quick with her, and so will I.2517

And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw2518

Millions of acres on us, till our ground,2519

Singeing his pate against the burning zone,2520

Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou’lt mouth,2521

I’ll rant as well as thou.2522

queen

This is mere madness,

And thus awhile the fit will work on him.2523

Anon, as patient as the female dove2524

When that her golden couplets are disclosed,2525

His silence will sit drooping.2526

hamlet

Hear you, sir,

What is the reason that you use me thus?2527

I loved you ever — but it is no matter.2528

Let Hercules himself do what he may,2529

The cat will mew and dog will have his day.2530

(Exit.)

king

I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.2531

(Exit Horatio.)

[To Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night’s speech,2532

We’ll put the matter to the present push. —2533

Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.2534

This grave shall have a living monument.2535

An hour of quiet shortly shall we see;2536

Till then in patience our proceeding be.2537

(Exeunt.)

[5.2]

(Enter Hamlet and Horatio.)

hamlet

So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.2538

You do remember all the circumstance?2539

horatio

Remember it, my lord?2540

hamlet

Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting2541

That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay2542

Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly —2543

And praised be rashness for it (let us know2544

Our indiscretion sometime serves us well2545

When our deep plots do pall, and that should learn us2546

There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,2547

Rough-hew them how we will) —2548

horatio

That is most certain.

hamlet

Up from my cabin,2549

My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark2550

Groped I to find out them, had my desire,2551

Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew2552

To mine own room again, making so bold,2553

My fears forgetting manners, to unfold2554

Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,2555

— Ah, royal knavery! — an exact command2556

Larded with many several sorts of reasons2557

Importing Denmark’s health, and England’s too,2558

With — ho! — such bugs and goblins in my life2559

That on the supervise, no leisure bated2560

(No, not to stay the grinding of the axe),2561

My head should be struck off.2562

horatio

Is’t possible?

hamlet

Here’s the commission; read it at more leisure.2563

But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?2564

horatio

I beseech you.2565

hamlet

Being thus benetted round with villains,2566

(Or I could make a prologue to my brains,2567

They had begun the play) I sat me down,2568

Devised a new commission, wrote it fair —2569

I once did hold it, as our statists do,2570

A baseness to write fair, and laboured much2571

How to forget that learning, but, sir, now2572

It did me yeoman’s service. Wilt thou know2573

Th’effect of what I wrote?2574

horatio

Ay, good my lord.

hamlet

An earnest conjuration from the King,2575

As England was his faithful tributary,2576

As love between them like the palm might flourish,2577

As peace should still her wheaten garland wear2578

And stand a comma ’tween their amities,2579

And many such-like “as,” sir, of great charge,2580

That on the view and knowing of these contents2581

Without debatement further more or less2582

He should those bearers put to sudden death,2583

Not shriving time allowed.2584

horatio

How was this sealed?

hamlet

Why, even in that was heaven ordinant:2585

I had my father’s signet in my purse2586

(Which was the model of that Danish seal),2587

Folded the writ up in the form of th’other,2588

Subscribed it, gave’t th’impression, placed it safely,2589

The changeling never known. Now the next day2590

Was our sea-fight, and what to this was sequent2591

Thou knowest already.2592

horatio

So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to’t.2593

F hamlet

Why man, they did make love to this employment. F 2594

hamlet

They are not near my conscience. Their defeat2595

Does by their own insinuation grow.2596

’Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes2597

Between the pass and fell incensèd points2598

Of mighty opposites.2599

horatio

Why, what a king is this!

hamlet

Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon?2600

He that hath killed my King and whored my mother,2601

Popped in between th’election and my hopes,2602

Thrown out his angle for my proper life,2603

And with such coz’nage — is’t not perfect conscience?2604

F To quit him with this arm? And is’t not to be damned 2605

To let this canker of our nature come 2606

In further evil? 2607

horatio

It must be shortly known to him from England 2608

What is the issue of the business there. 2609

hamlet

It will be short. The interim’s mine, 2610

And a man’s life’s no more than to say one. 2611

But I am very sorry, good Horatio, 2612

That to Laertes I forgot myself, 2613

For by the image of my cause I see 2614

The portraiture of his. I’ll count his favours; 2615

But sure the bravery of his grief did put me 2616

Into a tow’ring passion. 2617

horatio

Peace, who comes here? F 2618

(Enter [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 chough 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. 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 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?

osric

Sir?

horatio

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

hamlet

What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

osric

Of Laertes?

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 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 so?

hamlet

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

osric

I commend my duty to your lordship.

([Exit.])

hamlet

Yours. 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. 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 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. Trumpets, Drums and Officers with cushions, [flagons of wine and cups].)

([Enter] King, Queen, [Osric,] and all the state, [with other Attendants with] foils, daggers, and Laertes.)

king

Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.2619

([Puts Laertes’ hands into Hamlet’s.])

hamlet

Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong.2620

But pardon’t as you are a gentleman. This presence knows,2621

And you must needs have heard, how I am punished2622

With a sore distraction. What I have done2623

That might your nature, honour and exception2624

Roughly awake, I hear proclaim was madness.2625

Was’t Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.2626

If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away2627

And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes,2628

Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.2629

Who does it then? His madness. If’t be so,2630

Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged:2631

His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.2632

F Sir, in this audience, F 2633

Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil2634

Free me so far in your most generous thoughts2635

That I have shot my arrow o’er the house2636

And hurt my brother.2637

laertes

I am satisfied in nature,

Whose motive in this case should stir me most2638

To my revenge, but in my terms of honour2639

I stand aloof and will no reconcilement2640

Till by some elder masters of known honour2641

I have a voice and precedent of peace2642

To keep my name ungored. But till that time2643

I do receive your offered love like love2644

And will not wrong it.2645

hamlet

I embrace it freely

And will this brother’s wager frankly play. —2646

Give us the foils. F Come on. F 2647

laertes

Come, one for me.

hamlet

I’ll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance2648

Your skill shall like a star i’th’darkest night2649

Stick fiery off indeed.2650

laertes

You mock me, sir.2651

hamlet

No, by this hand.2652

king

Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,2653

You know the wager?2654

hamlet

Very well, my lord.

Your grace has laid the odds o’th’weaker side.2655

king

I do not fear it. I have seen you both,2656

But since he is bettered, we have therefore odds.2657

laertes

This is too heavy. Let me see another.2658

hamlet

This likes me well. These foils have all a length?2659

osric

Ay, my good lord.2660

king

Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.2661

If Hamlet give the first or second hit,2662

Or quit in answer of the third exchange,2663

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.2664

The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath2665

And in the cup an onyx shall he throw2666

Richer than that which four successive kings2667

In Denmark’s crown have worn. Give me the cups,2668

And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,2669

The trumpet to the cannoneer without,2670

The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth.2671

(Trumpets the while.)

Now the King drinks to Hamlet. Come, begin,2672

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.2673

hamlet

Come on, sir.

laertes

Come, my lord.

([They play.])

hamlet

One.

laertes

No.

hamlet

Judgement.

osric

A hit, a very palpable hit.

(Drum, trumpets and shot.)

laertes

Well, again.

(Flourish, a piece goes off.)

king

Stay, give me drink. — Hamlet this pearl is thine.2674

Here’s to thy health. — Give him the cup.2675

hamlet

I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.2676

Come.2677

([They play again.])

Another hit. — What say you?

laertes

F A touch, a touch, F I do confess’t.2678

king

Our son shall win.2679

queen

He’s fat and scant of breath.

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.2680

The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.2681

hamlet

Good madam.2682

king

Gertrude, do not drink.2683

queen

I will, my lord. I pray you pardon me.2684

king

It is the poisoned cup. It is too late.2685

hamlet

I dare not drink yet, madam. By and by.2686

queen

Come, let me wipe thy face.2687

laertes

My lord, I’ll hit him now.2688

king

I do not think’t.

laertes

And yet it is almost against my conscience.2689

hamlet

Come for the third, Laertes, you do but dally.2690

I pray you pass with your best violence.2691

I am sure you make a wanton of me.2692

laertes

Say you so? Come on.2693

([They play.])

osric

Nothing neither way.

laertes

Have at you now.2694

([In scuffling they change rapiers.])

king

Part them, they are incensed.

hamlet

Nay, come again.2695

osric

Look to the Queen there, ho!

horatio

They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?2696

osric

How is’t, Laertes?2697

laertes

Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric:2698

I am justly killed with mine own treachery.2699

hamlet

How does the Queen?2700

king

She swoons to see them bleed.

queen

No, no, the drink, the drink, O my dear Hamlet,2701

The drink, the drink. I am poisoned.2702

([Dies.])

hamlet

Oh, villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked.2703

Treachery! Seek it out!2704

([Exeunt Osric and some Lords.])

laertes

It is here, F Hamlet. F Hamlet, thou art slain.2705

No med’cine in the world can do thee good;2706

In thee there is not half an hour’s life.2707

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand2708

Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice2709

Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie2710

Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned.2711

I can no more — the King, the King’s to blame.2712

hamlet

The point envenomed too — then, venom, to thy work!2713

([Hurts the King.])

lords

Treason, treason!2714

king

Oh, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt.2715

hamlet

Here, thou incestuous, F murd’rous, F damnèd Dane,2716

Drink off this potion. Is the onyx here?2717

Follow my mother.2718

([King dies.])

laertes

He is justly served,

It is a poison tempered by himself.2719

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet,2720

Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,2721

Nor thine on me.2722

([Dies.])

hamlet

Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee.2723

I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu.2724

You that look pale and tremble at this chance,2725

That are but mutes or audience to this act,2726

Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death,2727

Is strict in his arrest), oh, I could tell you —2728

But let it be. — Horatio, I am dead.2729

Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright2730

To the unsatisfied.2731

horatio

Never believe it.

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.2732

Here’s yet some liquor left.2733

hamlet

As thou’rt a man

Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll ha’t!2734

O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,2735

Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me?2736

If thou did’st ever hold me in thy heart,2737

Absent thee from felicity awhile,2738

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain2739

To tell my story.2740

(A march afar off F and shout within F )

What warlike noise is this?

(Enter Osric.)

osric

Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,2741

To th’ambassadors of England gives this warlike volley.2742

hamlet

Oh, I die, Horatio.2743

The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit.2744

I cannot live to hear the news from England,2745

But I do prophesy th’election lights2746

On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.2747

So tell him, with th’occurrents more and less2748

Which have solicited. The rest is silence. F Oh, oh, oh, oh. F 2749

([Dies.])

horatio

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince,2750

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.2751

Why does the drum come hither?2752

(Enter Fortinbras with the Ambassadors F with Drum, Colours, F [and Attendants].)

fortinbras

Where is this sight?2753

horatio

What is it you would see?

If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.2754

fortinbras

This quarry cries on havock. O proud Death,2755

What feast is toward in thine eternal cell2756

That thou so many princes at a shot2757

So bloodily hast struck?2758

ambassador

The sight is dismal,

And our affairs from England come too late.2759

The ears are senseless that should give us hearing2760

To tell him his commandment is fulfilled:2761

That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.2762

Where should we have our thanks?2763

horatio

Not from his mouth,

Had it th’ability of life to thank you;2764

He never gave commandment for their death.2765

But since so jump upon this bloody question2766

You from the Polack wars and you from England,2767

Are here arrived, give order that these bodies2768

High on a stage be placèd to the view,2769

And let me speak to th’yet unknowing world2770

How these things came about. So shall you hear2771

Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts,2772

Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters,2773

Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,2774

And, in this upshot, purposes mistook2775

Fall’n on th’inventors’ heads. All this can I2776

Truly deliver.2777

fortinbras

Let us haste to hear it

And call the noblest to the audience.2778

For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.2779

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom2780

Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.2781

horatio

Of that I shall have also cause to speak,2782

And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more.2783

But let this same be presently performed2784

Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more mischance2785

On plots and errors happen.2786

fortinbras

Let four captains

Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,2787

For he was likely, had he been put on,2788

To have proved most royal; and for his passage,2789

The soldiers’ music and the rite of war2790

Speak loudly for him.2791

Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this2792

Becomes the field but here shows much amiss.2793

Go bid the soldiers shoot.2794

(Exeunt F marching, after the which a peal of ordnance are shot off F .)