1849Ham. Speake the Speech I pray you, as I pronounc'd

1850it to you trippingly on the Tongue: But if you mouth it,

1851as many of your Players do, I had as liue the Town-Cryer

1852had spoke my Lines: Nor do not saw the Ayre too much

1853your hand thus, but vse all gently; for in the verie Tor-

1854rent, Tempest, and (as I may say) the Whirle-winde of

1855Passion, you must acquire and beget a Temperance that

1856may giue it Smoothnesse. O it offends mee to the Soule,

1857to see a robustious Pery-wig-pated Fellow, teare a Passi-

1858on to tatters, to verie ragges, to split the eares of the

1859Groundlings: who (for the most part) are capeable of

1860nothing, but inexplicable dumbe shewes, & noise: I could

1861haue such a Fellow whipt for o're-doing Termagant: it

1862out- Herod's Herod. Pray you auoid it.

1863Player. I warrant your Honor.

1864Ham. Be not too tame neyther: but let your owne

1865Discretion be your Tutor. Sute the Action to the Word,

1866the Word to the Action, with this speciall obseruance:

1867That you ore-stop not the modestie of Nature; for any

1868thing so ouer-done, is frõ the purpose of Playing, whose

1869end both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as 'twer

1870the Mirrour vp to Nature; to shew Vertue her owne

1871Feature, Scorne her owne Image, and the verie Age and

1872Bodie of the Time, his forme and pressure. Now, this

1873ouer-done, or come tardie off, though it make the vnskil-

1874full laugh, cannot but make the Iudicious greeue; The

1875censure of the which One, must in your allowance o're-

1876way a whole Theater of Others. Oh, there bee Players

1877that I haue seene Play, and heard others praise, and that

1878highly (not to speake it prophanely) that neyther hauing

1879the accent of Christians, nor the gate of Christian, Pagan,

1880or Norman, haue so strutted and bellowed, that I haue

1881thought some of Natures Iouerney-men had made men,

1882and not made them well, they imitated Humanity so ab-

1883hominably.

1884Play. I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with

1885vs, Sir.

1886Ham. O reforme it altogether. And let those that

1887play your Clownes, speake no more then is set downe for

1888them. For there be of them, that will themselues laugh,

1889to set on some quantitie of barren Spectators to laugh

1890too, though in the meane time, some necessary Question

1891of the Play be then to be considered: that's Villanous, &

1892shewes a most pittifull Ambition in the Foole that vses

1893it. Go make you readie. Exit Players.

1895How now my Lord,

1896Will the King heare this peece of Worke?

1897Pol. And the Queene too, and that presently.

1898Ham. Bid the Players make hast. Exit Polonius.

1899Will you two helpe to hasten them?

1900Both. We will my Lord. Exeunt.

1902Ham. What hoa, Horatio?

1903Hora. Heere sweet Lord, at your Seruice.

1904Ham. Horatio, thou art eene as iust a man

1905As ere my Conuersation coap'd withall.

1906Hora. O my deere Lord.

1907Ham. Nay, do not thinke I flatter:

1908For what aduancement may I hope from thee,

1909That no Reuennew hast, but thy good spirits

The Tragedie of Hamlet. 267

1910To feed & cloath thee. Why shold the poor be flatter'd?

1911No, let the Candied tongue, like absurd pompe,

1912And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee,

1913Where thrift may follow faining? Dost thou heare,

1914Since my deere Soule was Mistris of my choyse,

1915And could of men distinguish, her election

1916Hath seal'd thee for her selfe. For thou hast bene

1917As one in suffering all, that suffers nothing.

1918A man that Fortunes buffets, and Rewards

1919Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And blest are those,

1920Whose Blood and Iudgement are so well co-mingled,

1921That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes finger,

1922To sound what stop she please. Giue me that man,

1923That is not Passions Slaue, and I will weare him

1924In my hearts Core: I, in my Heart of heart,

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

1926There is a Play to night before the King,

1927One Scoene of it comes neere the Circumstance

1928Which I haue told thee, of my Fathers death.

1929I prythee, when thou see'st that Acte a-foot,

1930Euen with the verie Comment of my Soule

1931Obserue mine Vnkle: If his occulted guilt,

1932Do not it selfe vnkennell in one speech,

1933It is a damned Ghost that we haue seene:

1934And my Imaginations are as foule

1935As Vulcans Stythe. Giue him needfull note,

1936For I mine eyes will riuet to his Face:

1937And after we will both our iudgements ioyne,

1938To censure of his seeming.

1939Hora. Well my Lord.

1940If he steale ought the whil'st this Play is Playing,

1941And scape detecting, I will pay the Theft.

1946Ham. They are comming to the Play: I must be idle.

1947Get you a place.

1948King. How fares our Cosin Hamlet?

1949Ham. Excellent Ifaith, of the Camelions dish: I eate

1950the Ayre promise-cramm'd, you cannot feed Capons so.

1951King. I haue nothing with this answer Hamlet, these

1952words are not mine.

1953Ham. No, nor mine. Now my Lord, you plaid once

1954i'th'Vniuersity, you say?

1955Polon. That I did my Lord, and was accounted a good

1956Actor.

1957Ham. And what did you enact?

1958Pol. I did enact Iulius Caesar, I was kill'd i'th'Capitol:

1959Brutus kill'd me.

1960Ham. It was a bruite part of him, to kill so Capitall a

1961Calfe there. Be the Players ready?

1962Rosin. I my Lord, they stay vpon your patience.

1963Qu. Come hither my good Hamlet, sit by me.

1964Ha. No good Mother, here's Mettle more attractiue.

1965Pol. Oh ho, do you marke that?

1966Ham. Ladie, shall I lye in your Lap?

1967Ophe. No my Lord.

1968Ham. I meane, my Head vpon your Lap?

1969Ophe. I my Lord.

1970Ham. Do you thinke I meant Country matters?

1971Ophe. I thinke nothing, my Lord.

1972Ham. That's a faire thought to ly between Maids legs

1973Ophe. What is my Lord?

1974Ham. Nothing.

1975Ophe. You are merrie, my Lord?

1976Ham. Who I?

1977Ophe. I my Lord.

1978Ham. Oh God, your onely Iigge-maker: what should

1979a man do, but be merrie. For looke you how cheereful-

1980ly my Mother lookes, and my Father dyed within's two

1981Houres.

1982Ophe. Nay, 'tis twice two moneths, my Lord.

1983Ham. So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare blacke,

1984for Ile haue a suite of Sables. Oh Heauens! dye two mo-

1985neths ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope, a

1986great mans Memorie, may out-liue his life halfe a yeare:

1987But byrlady he must builde Churches then: or else shall

1988he suffer not thinking on, with the Hoby-horsse, whose

1989Epitaph is, For o, For o, the Hoby-horse is forgot.

2003Ophe. What meanes this, my Lord?

2004Ham. Marry this is Miching Malicho, that meanes

2005Mischeefe.

2006Ophe. Belike this shew imports the Argument of the

2007Play?

2008Ham. We shall know by these Fellowes: the Players

2009cannot keepe counsell, they'l tell all.

2010Ophe. Will they tell vs what this shew meant?

2011Ham. I, or any shew that you'l shew him. Bee not

2012you asham'd to shew, hee'l not shame to tell you what it

2013meanes.

2014Ophe. You are naught, you are naught, Ile marke the

2015Play.

2020Ham. Is this a Prologue, or the Poesie of a Ring?

2021Ophe. 'Tis briefe my Lord.

2022Ham. As Womans loue.

2024King. Full thirtie times hath Phoebus Cart gon round,

2025Neptunes salt Wash, and Tellus Orbed ground:

2026And thirtie dozen Moones with borrowed sheene,

2027About the World haue times twelue thirties beene,

2028Since loue our hearts, and Hymen did our hands

2029Vnite comutuall, in most sacred Bands.

2030Bap. So many iournies may the Sunne and Moone

2031Make vs againe count o're, ere loue be done.

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

2033So farre from cheere, and from your forme state,

2034That I distrust you: yet though I distrust,

2035Discomfort you (my Lord) it nothing must:

2036For womens Feare and Loue, holds quantitie,

268 The Tragedie of Hamlet.

2037In neither ought, or in extremity:

2038Now what my loue is, proofe hath made you know,

2039And as my Loue is siz'd, my Feare is so.

2040King. Faith I must leaue thee Loue, and shortly too:

2041My operant Powers my Functions leaue to do:

2042And thou shalt liue in this faire world behinde,

2043Honour'd, belou'd, and haply, one as kinde.

2044For Husband shalt thou-----

2045Bap. Oh confound the rest:

2046Such Loue, must needs be Treason in my brest:

2047In second Husband, let me be accurst,

2048None wed the second, but who kill'd the first.

2049Ham. Wormwood, Wormwood.

2050Bapt. The instances that second Marriage moue,

2051Are base respects of Thrift, but none of Loue.

2052A second time, I kill my Husband dead,

2053When second Husband kisses me in Bed.

2054King. I do beleeue you. Think what now you speak:

2055But what we do determine, oft we breake:

2056Purpose is but the slaue to Memorie,

2057Of violent Birth, but poore validitie:

2058Which now like Fruite vnripe stickes on the Tree,

2059But fall vnshaken, when they mellow bee.

2060Most necessary 'tis, that we forget

2061To pay our selues, what to our selues is debt:

2062What to our selues in passion we propose,

2063The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.

2064The violence of other Greefe or Ioy,

2065Their owne ennactors with themselues destroy:

2066Where Ioy most Reuels, Greefe doth most lament;

2067Greefe ioyes, Ioy greeues on slender accident.

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

2069That euen our Loues should with our Fortunes change.

2070For 'tis a question left vs yet to proue,

2071Whether Loue lead Fortune, or else Fortune Loue.

2072The great man downe, you marke his fauourites flies,

2073The poore aduanc'd, makes Friends of Enemies:

2074And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend,

2075For who not needs, shall neuer lacke a Frend:

2076And who in want a hollow Friend doth try,

2077Directly seasons him his Enemie.

2078But orderly to end, where I begun,

2079Our Willes and Fates do so contrary run,

2080That our Deuices still are ouerthrowne,

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

2082So thinke thou wilt no second Husband wed.

2083But die thy thoughts, when thy first Lord is dead.

2084Bap. Nor Earth to giue me food, nor Heauen light,

2085Sport and repose locke from me day and night:

2086Each opposite that blankes the face of ioy,

2087Meet what I would haue well, and it destroy:

2088Both heere, and hence, pursue me lasting strife,

2089If once a Widdow, euer I be Wife.

2090Ham. If she should breake it now.

2091King. 'Tis deepely sworne:

2092Sweet, leaue me heere a while,

2093My spirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile

2094The tedious day with sleepe.

2095Qu. Sleepe rocke thy Braine, Sleepes

2096And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine. Exit

2097Ham. Madam, how like you this Play?

2098Qu. The Lady protests to much me thinkes.

2099Ham. Oh but shee'l keepe her word.

2100King. Haue you heard the Argument, is there no Of-

2101fence in't?

2102Ham. No, no, they do but iest, poyson in iest, no Of-

2103fence i'th'world.

2104King. What do you call the Play?

2105Ham. The Mouse-trap: Marry how? Tropically:

2106This Play is the Image of a murder done in Vienna: Gon-

2107zago is the Dukes name, his wife Baptista: you shall see

2108anon: 'tis a knauish peece of worke: But what o'that?

2109Your Maiestie, and wee that haue free soules, it touches

2110vs not: let the gall'd iade winch: our withers are vnrung.

2112This is one Lucianus nephew to the King.

2113Ophe. You are a good Chorus, my Lord.

2114Ham. I could interpret betweene you and your loue:

2115if I could see the Puppets dallying.

2116Ophe. You are keene my Lord, you are keene.

2117Ham. It would cost you a groaning, to take off my

2118edge.

2119Ophe. Still better and worse.

2120Ham. So you mistake Husbands.

2121Begin Murderer. Pox, leaue thy damnable Faces, and

2122begin. Come, the croaking Rauen doth bellow for Re-

2123uenge.

2124Lucian. Thoughts blacke, hands apt,

2125Drugges fit, and Time agreeing:

2126Confederate season, else, no Creature seeing:

2127Thou mixture ranke, of Midnight Weeds collected,

2128With Hecats Ban, thrice blasted, thrice infected,

2129Thy naturall Magicke, and dire propertie,

2130On wholsome life, vsurpe immediately.

2132Ham. He poysons him i'th'Garden for's estate: His

2133name's Gonzago: the Story is extant and writ in choyce

2134Italian. You shall see anon how the Murtherer gets the

2135loue of Gonzago's wife.

2136Ophe. The King rises.

2137Ham. What, frighted with false fire.

2138Qu. How fares my Lord?

2139Pol. Giue o're the Play.

2140King. Giue me some Light. Away.

2141All. Lights, Lights, Lights. Exeunt

2143Ham. Why let the strucken Deere go weepe,

2144The Hart vngalled play:

2145For some must watch, while some must sleepe;

2146So runnes the world away.

2147Would not this Sir, and a Forrest of Feathers, if the rest of

2148my Fortunes tutne Turke with me; with two Prouinciall

2149Roses on my rac'd Shooes, get me a Fellowship in a crie

2150of Players sir.

2151Hor. Halfe a share.

2152Ham. A whole one I,

2153For thou dost know: Oh Damon deere,

2154This Realme dismantled was of Ioue himselfe,

2155And now reignes heere.

2156A verie verie Paiocke.

2157Hora. You might haue Rim'd.

2158Ham. Oh good Horatio, Ile take the Ghosts word for

2159a thousand pound. Did'st perceiue?

2160Hora. Verie well my Lord.

2161Ham. Vpon the talke of the poysoning?

2162Hora. I did verie well note him.

2164Ham. Oh, ha? Come some Musick. Come y^e Recorders:

2165For if the King like not the Comedie,

2166Why then belike he likes it not perdie.

2167Come some Musicke.

2168Guild. Good my Lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.

The Tragedie of Hamlet. 269

2169Ham. Sir, a whole History.

2170Guild. The King, sir.

2171Ham. I sir, what of him?

2172Guild. Is in his retyrement, maruellous distemper'd.

2173Ham. With drinke Sir?

2174Guild. No my Lord, rather with choller.

2175Ham. Your wisedome should shew it selfe more ri-

2176cher, to signifie this to his Doctor: for for me to put him

2177to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre

2178more Choller.

2179Guild. Good my Lord put your discourse into some

2180frame, and start not so wildely from my affayre.

2181Ham. I am tame Sir, pronounce.

2182Guild. The Queene your Mother, in most great affli-

2183ction of spirit, hath sent me to you.

2184Ham. You are welcome.

2185Guild. Nay, good my Lord, this courtesie is not of

2186the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a whol-

2187some answer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment:

2188if not, your pardon, and my returne shall bee the end of

2189my Businesse.

2190Ham. Sir, I cannot.

2191Guild. What, my Lord?

2192Ham. Make you a wholsome answere: my wits dis-

2193eas'd. But sir, such answers as I can make, you shal com-

2194mand: or rather you say, my Mother: therfore no more

2195but to the matter. My Mother you say.

2196Rosin. Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke

2197her into amazement, and admiration.

2198Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can so astonish a

2199Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mo-

2200thers admiration?

2201Rosin. She desires to speake with you in her Closset,

2202ere you go to bed.

2203Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our Mother.

2204Haue you any further Trade with vs?

2205Rosin. My Lord, you once did loue me.

2206Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.

2207Rosin. Good my Lord, what is your cause of distem-

2208per? You do freely barre the doore of your owne Liber-

2209tie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend.

2210Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement.

2211Rosin. How can that be, when you haue the voyce of

2212the King himselfe, for your Succession in Denmarke?

2213Ham. I, but while the grasse growes, the Prouerbe is

2214something musty.

2216O the Recorder. Let me see, to withdraw with you, why

2217do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you

2218would driue me into a toyle?

2219Guild. O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue

2220is too vnmannerly.

2221Ham. I do not well vnderstand that. Will you play

2222vpon this Pipe?

2223Guild. My Lord, I cannot.

2224Ham. I pray you.

2225Guild. Beleeue me, I cannot.

2226Ham. I do beseech you.

2227Guild. I know no touch of it, my Lord.

2228Ham. 'Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these Ventiges

2229with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your

2230mouth, and it will discourse most excellent Musicke.

2231Looke you, these are the stoppes.

2232Guild. But these cannot I command to any vtterance

2233of hermony, I haue not the skill.

2234Ham. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing

2235you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would

2236seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart

2237of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest

2238Note, to the top of my Compasse: and there is much Mu-

2239sicke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot

2240you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am easier to bee

2241plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will,

2242though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me. God

2243blesse you Sir.

2245Polon. My Lord; the Queene would speak with you,

2246and presently.

2247Ham. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in shape

2248like a Camell.

2249Polon. By'th'Misse, and it's like a Camell indeed.

2250Ham. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell.

2251Polon. It is back'd like a Weazell.

2252Ham. Or like a Whale?

2253Polon. Verie like a Whale.

2254Ham. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by:

2255They foole me to the top of my bent.

2256I will come by and by.

2257Polon. I will say so. Exit.

2258Ham. By and by, is easily said. Leaue me Friends:

2259'Tis now the verie witching time of night,

2260When Churchyards yawne, and Hell it selfe breaths out

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

2262And do such bitter businesse as the day

2263Would quake to looke on. Soft now, to my Mother:

2264Oh Heart, loose not thy Nature; let not euer

2265The Soule of Nero, enter this firme bosome:

2266Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall,

2267I will speake Daggers to her, but vse none:

2268My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites.

2269How in my words someuer she be shent,

2270To giue them Seales, neuer my Soule consent.