Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced 1850it to you, 1763trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, 1851as many of your players do, 1764I had as lief the town crier 1852had spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air 1765too much with 1853your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very 18541766torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind of your 1855passion, you must 1767acquire and beget a temperance that may give it 1856smoothness. Oh, it 1768offends me to the soul 1857to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow1769tear a passion 1858to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the 18591770groundlings, who for the most part are capable of 1860nothing but 1771inexplicable dumb-shows and noise. I would 1861have such a fellow whipped for 1772o'erdoing Termagant. It 1862out-Herods Herod. Pray you avoid it.

I warrant your honor.

Be not too tame, neither, but let your own 1865discretion be 1775your tutor. Suit the action to the word, 1866the word to the action, with 1776this special observance, 1867that you o'erstep not the modesty of 1777nature. For anything 1868so o'erdone is from the purpose of playing, 1778whose 1869end, both at the first and now, was and is to hold as 'twere 18701779the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own 1871feature, scorn her own 1780image, and the very age and 1872body of the time his form and pressure. 1781Now this 1873overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the 18741782unskillful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve, the 1875censure of 1783the which one must in your allowance o'erweigh 1876a whole theater of 1784others. Oh, there be players 1877that I have seen play, and heard others 1785praise, and that 1878highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither 1786having 1879th'accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor 18801787no man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have 1881thought some of 1788nature's journeymen had made men, 1882and not made them well, they 1789imitated humanity so 1883abominably.

I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us, sir.

Oh, reform it altogether. And let those that 1887play your clowns 1792speak no more than is set down for 1888them; for there be of them that 1793will themselves laugh, 1889to set on some quantity of barren spectators 1794to laugh 1890too, though in the meantime some necessary question of 18911795the play be then to be considered. That's villainous, and shows a most 18921796pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go make you ready.

3.2.6[To Polonius] How 18951797now, my lord, will the King hear this piece of work?

And the Queen too, and that presently.

Bid the players make haste.

Bid the players make haste. Will you two help to hasten them?

We will, my lord.

What ho, Horatio!

What ho, Horatio! Here, sweet lord, at your service.

Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man

3.2.1219051805As e'er my conversation coped withal.

Oh, my dear lord--

Oh, my dear lord-- Nay, do not think I flatter,

3.2.1419081808For what advancement may I hope from thee

3.2.1519091809That no revenue hast but thy good spirits

3.2.1619101810To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered?

3.2.1719111811No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp

3.2.1819121812And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee

3.2.1919131813Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?

3.2.2019141814Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice

3.2.2119151815And could of men distinguish her election,

3.2.2219161816Sh'hath sealed thee for herself, for thou hast been

3.2.2319171817As one in suff'ring all that suffers nothing,

3.2.2419181818A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards

3.2.2519191819Hast ta'en with equal thanks; and blest are those

3.2.2619201820Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled

3.2.2719211821That they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger

3.2.2819221822To sound what stop she please. Give me that man

3.2.2919231823That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him

3.2.3019241824In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,

3.2.3119251825As I do thee.--Something too much of this.--

3.2.3219261826There is a play tonight before the King.

3.2.3319271827One scene of it comes near the circumstance

3.2.3419281828Which I have told thee of my father's death.

3.2.3519291829I prithee, when thou see'st that act afoot,

3.2.3619301830Even with the very comment of thy soul

3.2.3719311831Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt

3.2.3819321832Do not itself unkennel in one speech,

3.2.3919331833It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,

3.2.4019341834And my imaginations are as foul

3.2.4119351835As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note,

3.2.4219361836For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,

3.2.4319371837And after we will both our judgments join

3.2.4419381838In censure of his seeming.

In censure of his seeming. Well, my lord,

3.2.4519401840If 'a steal aught the whilst this play is playing

3.2.4619411841And scape detecting, I will pay the theft.

They are coming to the play. I must be idle. 19471845Get you a place.

How fares our cousin Hamlet?

Excellent, i'faith, 1848of the chameleon's dish; I eat the air, 19501849promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so.

I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet. 1851These 1952words are not mine.

No, nor mine now. 1853[To Polonius] My lord, you played once 1954i'th' university, you say?

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

And what did you enact?

I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i'th' Capitol. 19591857Brutus killed me.

It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there.--19611859Be the players ready?

Ay, my lord, they stay upon your patience.

Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.

No, good mother, here's mettle more attractive.

[To the King] Oho, do you mark that?

[To Ophelia, as he lies at her feet] Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

No, my lord.

I mean, my head upon your lap.

Ay, my lord.

Do you think I meant country matters?

I think nothing, my lord.

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

What is, my lord?

Nothing.

You are merry, my lord.

Who, I?

Ay, my lord.

Oh, God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but 19791875be merry? For look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my 19801876father died within's two hours.

Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord.

So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, 1984for I'll have a 1879suit of sables. Oh, heavens! Die two 1985months ago, and not forgotten yet? 1880Then there's hope a 1986great man's memory may outlive his life half a 1881year. 1987But, by'r Lady, 'a must build churches then, or else shall 1988'a suffer 1882not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose 1989epitaph is, "For oh, for 1883oh, the hobby-horse is forgot."

What means this, my lord?

Marry, this is miching mallico. It means mischief.

Belike this show imports the argument of the play.

We shall know by this fellow. 1897The players cannot keep counsel; they'll tell all.

Will 'a tell us what this show meant?

Ay, or any show that you will show him. Be not 2012you ashamed 1900to show, he'll not shame to tell you what it 2013means.

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

For us and for our tragedy,

3.2.8320181903Here stooping to your clemency,

3.2.8420191904We beg your hearing patiently.

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

'Tis brief, my lord.

As woman's love.

Full thirty times hath Phoebus' cart gone round

3.2.8920251910Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbèd ground,

3.2.9020261911And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen

3.2.9120271912About the world have times twelve thirties been

3.2.9220281913Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands

3.2.9320291914Unite commutual in most sacred bands.

So many journeys may the sun and moon

3.2.9520311916Make us again count o'er ere love be done!

3.2.9620321917But woe is me, you are so sick of late,

3.2.9720331918So far from cheer and from your former state,

3.2.9820341919That I distrust you. Yet though I distrust,

3.2.9920351920Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must.

3.2.1002035.11921For women fear too much, even as they love,

3.2.10120361922And women's fear and love holds quantity:

3.2.10220371923In neither aught, or in extremity.

3.2.10320381924Now what my love is, proof hath made you know,

3.2.10420391925And as my love is sized, my fear is so.

3.2.1052039.11926Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;

3.2.1062039.21927Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.

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

3.2.10820411929My operant powers their functions leave to do.

3.2.10920421930And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,

3.2.11020431931Honored, beloved; and haply one as kind

3.2.11120441932For husband shalt thou--

For husband shalt thou-- Oh, confound the rest!

3.2.11220461934Such love must needs be treason in my breast.

3.2.11320471935In second husband let me be accurst!

3.2.11420481936None wed the second but who killed the first.

Wormwood, wormwood.

The instances that second marriage move

3.2.11720511938Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.

3.2.11820521939A second time I kill my husband dead

3.2.11920531940When second husband kisses me in bed.

I do believe you think what now you speak,

3.2.12120551942But what we do determine, oft we break.

3.2.12220561943Purpose is but the slave to memory,

3.2.12320571944Of violent birth, but poor validity,

3.2.12420581945Which now like fruit unripe sticks on the tree,

3.2.12520591946But fall unshaken when they mellow be.

3.2.12620601947Most necessary 'tis that we forget

3.2.12720611948To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt.

3.2.12820621949What to ourselves in passion we propose,

3.2.12920631950The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.

3.2.13020641951The violence of either grief or joy

3.2.13120651952Their own enactures with themselves destroy.

3.2.13220661953Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;

3.2.13320671954Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.

3.2.13420681955This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange

3.2.13520691956That even our loves should with our fortunes change;

3.2.13620701957For 'tis a question left us yet to prove

3.2.13720711958Whether love lead fortune, or else fortune love.

3.2.13820721959The great man down, you mark his favorites flies;

3.2.13920731960The poor advanced makes friends of enemies;

3.2.14020741961And hitherto doth love on fortune tend,

3.2.14120751962For who not needs shall never lack a friend,

3.2.14220761963And who in want a hollow friend doth try

3.2.14320771964Directly seasons him his enemy.

3.2.14420781965But orderly to end where I begun,

3.2.14520791966Our wills and fates do so contrary run

3.2.14620801967That our devices still are overthrown;

3.2.14720811968Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own.

3.2.14820821969So, think thou wilt no second husband wed,

3.2.14920831970But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.

Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light,

3.2.15120851972Sport and repose lock from me day and night,

3.2.1522085.11973To desperation turn my trust and hope,

3.2.1532085.21974An anchor's cheer in prison be my scope!

3.2.15420861975Each opposite that blanks the face of joy

3.2.15520871976Meet what I would have well, and it destroy!

3.2.15620881977Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,

3.2.15720891978If once a widow, ever I be wife!

If she should break it now!

'Tis deeply sworn. 2092Sweet, leave me here awhile.

3.2.16020931980My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile

3.2.16120941981The tedious day with sleep.

The tedious day with sleep. Sleep rock thy brain,

3.2.16220961983And never come mischance between us twain!

Madam, how like you this play?

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Oh, but she'll keep her word.

Have you heard the argument? Is there no 2101offense in't?

No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest. No 2103offense i'th' world.

What do you call the play?

3.2.16921051990HamletThe Mousetrap. Marry, how? Tropically. 2106This play is the image 1991of a murder done in Vienna. Gonzago 2107is the Duke's name, his wife 1992Baptista. You shall see 2108anon. 'Tis a knavish piece of work, but what of 1993that? 2109Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches 2110us not. 1994Let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung.

3.2.17021121995 This is one Lucianus, nephew to the King.

You are as good as a chorus, my lord.

I could interpret between you and your love 21151999if I could see the puppets dallying.

You are keen, my lord, you are keen.

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

Still better and worse.

So you mis-take your husbands.--Begin, murderer. Pox, leave 21212004thy damnable faces and begin. Come, the croaking raven doth bellow 21222005for revenge.

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

3.2.17821262007Confederate season, else no creature seeing,

3.2.17921272008Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,

3.2.18021282009With Hecate's ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,

3.2.18121292010Thy natural magic and dire property

3.2.18221302011On wholesome life usurp immediately.

'A poisons him i'th' garden for his estate. His name's 21332013Gonzago. The story is extant, and written in very choice Italian. You shall see 21342014anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife.

The King rises.

What, frighted with false fire?

How fares my lord?

Give o'er the play.

Give me some light. Away!

Lights, lights, lights!

"Why, let the strucken deer go weep,

3.2.19121442021The heart ungallèd play,

3.2.19221452022For some must watch while some must sleep;

3.2.19321462023Thus runs the world away."

3.2.1942147Would not this, sir, and a forest of 2024feathers--if the rest of 2148my fortunes turn Turk with me--with two provincial 21492025roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a 2150cry of players, sir?

Half a share.

A whole one, I.

3.2.19721532028For thou dost know, O Damon dear,

3.2.19821542029This realm dismantled was

3.2.1992030Of Jove himself, and now reigns here

3.2.20021562031A very, very pajock.

You might have rhymed.

O good Horatio, I'll take the Ghost's word for a thousand 21592034pound. Didst perceive?

Very well, my lord.

Upon the talk of the poisoning?

I did very well note him.

Aha, come, some music! Come, the recorders.

3.2.20721652039For if the King like not the comedy,

3.2.20821662040Why, then belike he likes it not, pardie.

3.2.20921672041Come, some music.

Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.

Sir a whole history.

The King, sir--

Ay, sir, what of him?

Is in his retirement marvelous distempered.

With drink, sir?

No, my lord, rather with choler.

Your wisdom should show itself more 2176richer to signify 2051this to his doctor, for, for me to put him 2177to his purgation would 2052perhaps plunge him into far 2178more choler.

Good my lord, put your discourse into some frame, 21802054and start not so wildly from my affair.

I am tame sir. Pronounce.

The Queen your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, 21832057hath sent me to you.

You are welcome.

Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of 2186the right breed. If 2060it shall please you to make me a wholesome 2187answer, I will do your 2061mother's commandment. 2188If not, your pardon and my return shall 2062be the end of 2189my business.

Sir, I cannot.

What, my lord?

Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased. But, sir, such 21932066answer as I can make, you shall command, or rather, as you say, my 21942067mother. Therefore no more, but to the matter. My mother, you say.

Then thus she says: your behavior hath struck her into 21972069amazement and admiration.

Oh, wonderful son, that can so 'stonish a 2199mother! But is there 2071no sequel at the heels of this 2200mother's admiration? Impart.

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

We shall obey, were she ten times our mother. Have you any 22042074further trade with us?

My lord, you once did love me.

So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.

Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? You do 22082078surely bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to 22092079your friend.

Sir, I lack advancement.

How can that be, when you have the voice of the King 22122082himself for your succession in Denmark?

Ay, sir, but "while the grass grows"--the proverb is 2214something 2085musty.--2216Oh, the recorders. Let me see one. [He takes a recorder.] To withdraw with you, why 22172086do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you 2218would drive 2087me into a toil?

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

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

My lord, I cannot.

I pray you.

Believe me, I cannot.

I do beseech you.

I know no touch of it, my lord.

It is as easy as lying. Govern these ventages with your 22292096fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse 22302097most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops.

But these cannot I command to any utt'rance of harmony. I 22332099have not the skill.

Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing 2235you make of 2101me! You would play upon me, 2236you would seem to know my stops, 2102you would pluck out the heart 2237of my mystery, you would sound me 2103from my lowest 2238note to the top of my compass, and there is much music, 22392104excellent voice in this little organ, yet cannot 2240you make it speak. 'Sblood, 2105do you think I am easier to be 2241played on than a pipe? Call me what 2106instrument you will, though you can 2242fret me, you cannot play upon me.

3.2.246[To Polonius, as he enters]22432107 God bless you, sir.

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

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

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

Methinks it is like a weasel.

It is backed like a weasel.

Or like a whale.

Very like a whale.

3.2.25422542116Hamlet Then I will come to my mother by and by. 22552117[Aside] They fool me to the top of my bent. [Aloud] I will come by and by.

I will say so.

"By and by" is easily said.--Leave me, friends.

3.2.25722592120'Tis now the very witching time of night,

3.2.25822602121When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out

3.2.25922612122Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,

3.2.26022622123And do such bitter business as the day

3.2.26122632124Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.

3.2.26222642125O heart, lose not thy nature! Let not ever

3.2.26322652126The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.

3.2.26422662127Let me be cruel, not unnatural;

3.2.26522672128I will speak daggers to her, but use none.

3.2.26622682129My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites:

3.2.26722692130How in my words somever she be shent,

3.2.26822702131To give them seals never my soul consent!