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- Edition: Hamlet
Hamlet (Modern, Folio)
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Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,
1046Rosencrantz
Both your majesties
1050Guildenstern
We both obey,
Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.
Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz.
Heavens make our presence and our practices
2.2.38.1Exit [Guildenstern with Rosencrantz and other Courtiers].
Amen.
Th'ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Thou still hast been the father of good news.
Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,
Oh, speak of that! That I do long to hear.
Give first admittance to th'ambassadors.
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.--
I doubt it is no other but the main:
2.2.57.1Enter Polonius, Voltemand, and Cornelius.
Well, we shall sift him.--Welcome, good friends.
Most fair return of greetings and desires.
1106King
It likes us well,
2.2.85.1Exit Ambassadors.
1112Polonius
This business is very well ended.
1123Queen
More matter, with less art.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
2.2.105Perpend.
Came this from Hamlet to her?
Good madam, stay awhile, I will be faithful.
2.2.111.1[He reads.]
But how hath she received his love?
What do you think of me?
As of a man faithful and honorable.
I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
Do you think 'tis this?
It may be, very likely.
Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that--
1186King
Not that I know.
Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
1191King
How may we try it further?
You know sometimes1193he walks four hours together here
1195Queen
So he has indeed.
At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him.
1202King
We will try it.
But look where sadly the poor wretch 1205comes reading.
Away, I do beseech you, both away.
2.2.164.1Exit King and Queen.
Well, God-a-mercy.
Do you know me, my lord?
Excellent, excellent well. Y'are a fishmonger.
Not I, my lord.
Then I would you were so honest a man.
Honest, my lord?
Ay, sir, to be honest, as this world goes, is to be 1216one man picked out of two thousand.
That's very true, my lord.
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, 1219being a good kissing carrion-- 1220Have you a daughter?
I have, my lord.
Let her not walk i'th' sun. Conception is a 1223blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive. Friend, 1224 look to't.
[Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my 1226daughter. Yet he knew me not at first. He said I was a 1227fishmonger. He is far gone, far gone. And truly, in my youth 1228I suffered much extremity for love, very near this. I'll 1229speak to him again.--What do you read, my lord?
Words, words, words.
What is the matter, my lord?
Between who?
I mean the matter you mean, my lord.
Slanders sir; for the satirical slave says here 1235that old men have gray beards, that their faces are 1236wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber or plumtree 1237gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, 1238together with weak hams--all which, sir, though I 1239most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it 1240not honesty to have it thus set down; for you 1241yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could 1242 go backward.
[Aside] Though this be madness, 1244yet there is method in't,--Will you walk 1245out of the air, my lord?
Into my grave?
[Aside] Indeed, that is out o'th'air. 1248How pregnant sometimes his replies are! 1249 A happiness 1250that often madness hits on, 1251which reason and sanity could not 1252so prosperously be delivered of. 1253I will leave him, 1254and suddenly contrive the means of meeting 1255between him and my daughter.-- 1256My honorable lord, I will most humbly 1257take my leave of you.
You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I 1259will more willingly part withal--except my life, my 1260life.
Fare you well, my lord.
These tedious old fools!
[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they enter] You go to seek my Lord Hamlet? There 1264he is.
God save you, sir.
2.2.190.1[Exit Polonius.]
[To Hamlet] Mine honored lord!
My most dear lord!
My excellent good friends! How dost thou, 1270Guildenstern? Oh, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye 1271 both?
As the indifferent children of the earth.
Happy in that we are not over-happy. On 1274Fortune's cap we are not the very button.
Nor the soles of her shoe?
Neither, my lord.
Then you live about her waist, or in the 1278middle of her favor?
Faith, her privates we.
In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true, 1281she is a strumpet. What's the news?
None, my lord, but that the world's grown 1283honest.
Then is doomsday near. But your news is 1385 not true. Let me question more in particular. What have 1286you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune 1287that she sends you to prison hither?
Prison, my lord?
Denmark's a prison.
Then is the world one.
A goodly one, in which there are many 1292confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o'th' 1293worst.
We think not so, my lord.
Why, then 'tis none to you, for there is nothing 1296either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is 1297a prison.
Why, then your ambition makes it one. 'Tis 1299too narrow for your mind.
Oh, God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and 1301count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that 1302I have bad dreams.
Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the 1304very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow 1305of a dream.
A dream itself is but a shadow.
Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and 1308light a quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.
Then are our beggars bodies, and our 1310monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. 1311Shall we to th'court? For, by my fay, I cannot 1312reason.
We'll wait upon you.
No such matter. I will not sort you with the 1315rest of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest 1316man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten 1317way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?
To visit you my lord, no other occasion.
Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, 1320but I thank you; and sure, dear friends, my thanks 1321are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it 1322your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, 1323deal justly with me. Come, come, nay, speak.
What should we say, my lord?
Why, anything. But to the purpose: you were 1326sent for, and there is a kind [of] confession in your looks, 1327which your modesties have craft enough to 1328color. I know the good King and Queen have sent for you.
To what end, my lord?
That you must teach me. But let me conjure 1331you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of 1332our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, 1333and by what more dear a better proposer could charge 1334you withal, be even and direct with me whether you 1335were sent for or no.
[Aside to Guildenstern] What say you?
[Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you love me, 1338hold not off.
My lord, we were sent for.
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation 1341prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and 1342Queen molt no feather. I have of late, but wherefore 1343I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of 1344exercise; and indeed it goes so heavily with my 1345disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a 1346sterile promontory. This most excellent canopy the air, 1347 look you, this brave o'erhanging, this majestical roof 1348fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing 1349to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of 1350vapors. What a piece of work is a man! How noble in 1351reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving 1352how express and admirable! In action, how like an 1353angel! In apprehension, how like a god! The beauty of the 1354 world, the paragon of animals. And yet to me what is 1355this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me, no, 1356nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem 1357 to say so.
My lord, there was no such stuff in my 1359thoughts.
Why did you laugh, when I said man delights 1361not me?
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, 1363what lenten entertainment the players shall receive 1364from you. We coted them on the way, and hither are 1365they coming to offer you service.
He that plays the King shall be welcome; his 1367majesty shall have tribute of me. The Adventurous 1368Knight shall use his foil and target, the Lover shall 1369not sigh gratis, the Humorous Man shall end his part in 1370peace, the Clown shall make those laugh whose lungs 1371are tickled o'th'sear, and the Lady shall say her mind 1372freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't. What players 1373 are they?
Even those you were wont to take delight in, 1375the tragedians of the city.
How chances it they travel? Their 1377residence both in reputation and profit was better both 1378 ways.
I think their inhibition comes by the means 1380of the late innovation.
Do they hold the same estimation they did 1382when I was in the city? Are they so followed?
No, indeed, they are not.
How comes it? Do they grow rusty?
2.2.237Rosencrantz
Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted 1386pace. But there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little 1387eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and 1388are most tyrannically clapped for't. These are now the 1389fashion, and so berattle the common stages--so they 1390call them--that many wearing rapiers are afraid of 1391goose quills and dare scarce come thither.
What, are they children? Who maintains 'em? 1393How are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no 1394longer than they can sing? Will they not say afterwards, 1395if they should grow themselves to common players--as 1396it is most like if their means are not better--their 1397writers do them wrong to make them exclaim against their 1398own succession?
Faith, there has been much to-do on both sides, 1400and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to 1401controversy. There was for a while no money bid for 1402argument unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in 1403the question.
Is't possible?
Oh, there has been much throwing about of 1406brains.
Do the boys carry it away?
Ay, that they do, my lord, Hercules and his load too.
It is not strange, for mine uncle is King of 1410Denmark, and those that would make mows at him 1411while my father lived give twenty, forty, an hundred 1412ducats apiece for his picture in little. There is 1413something in this more than natural, if philosophy could 1414find it out.
There are the players.
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your 1418hands, come. The appurtenance of welcome is fashion 1419and ceremony. Let me comply with you in the garb, 1420lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show 1421fairly outward, should more appear like entertainment 1422than yours. You are welcome. But my uncle-father 1423and aunt-mother are deceived.
In what, my dear lord?
I am but mad north-north-west; when the 1426wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.
Well be with you, gentlemen.
Hark you, Guildenstern, and you too, at each 1430ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet 1431out of his swathing clouts.
Happily he's the second time come to them, for 1433they say an old man is twice a child.
I will prophesy: he comes to tell me of the 1435players. Mark it.--You say right, sir, for o'Monday 1436morning, 'twas so indeed.
My lord, I have news to tell you.
My lord, I have news to tell you.1439When Roscius, an actor in Rome--
The actors are come hither, my lord.
Buzz, buzz.
Upon mine honor.
Then can each actor on his ass--
The best actors in the world, either for 1445tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, 1446pastoral-comical-historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, 1447tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or 1448poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus 1449too light for the law of writ and the liberty. These are 1450the only men.
O Jephthah, Judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst 1452thou?
What a treasure had he, my lord?
Why,
[Aside] Still on my daughter.
Am I not i'th' right, old Jephthah?
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a 1459daughter that I love passing well.
Nay, that follows not.
What follows then, my lord?
Why,
2.2.273and then you know,
2.2.276The first row of the 1464pious chanson will show you more, for look where my 1465abridgments come.
2.2.2771467Y'are welcome, masters, welcome all.--I am glad to see 1468thee well. Welcome, good friends.--Oh, my old friend! 1469Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last. Com'st thou to 1470beard me in Denmark?--What, my young lady and 1471mistress! By'r Lady, your ladyship is nearer heaven than when 1472I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Pray God 1473your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked 1474within the ring.--Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en 1475to't, like French falconers: fly at anything we see. We'll 1476have a speech straight. Come, give us a taste of your 1477quality. Come, a passionate speech.
What speech, my lord?
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was 1480never acted, or if it was, not above once; for the play, I 1481remember, pleased not the million, 'twas caviary to the 1482general. But it was, as I received it, and others whose 1483 judgment in such matters cried in the top of mine, an 1484excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down 1485with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said 1486there was no sallets in the lines, to make the matter 1487savory, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the 1488author of affectation, but called it an honest method. One 1489chief speech in it I chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale 1490to Dido, and thereabout of it especially where he speaks 1491of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at 1492this line--let me see, let me see--
2.2.281It is not so, it begins with Pyrrhus.
'Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good 1508accent and good discretion.
Anon he finds him,
2.2.310Did nothing.
This is too long.
It shall to th' barber's with your beard.-- 1540Prithee, say on. He's for a jig, or a tale of bawdry, or he 1541sleeps. Say on. Come to Hecuba..
But who, oh, who, had seen the inobled queen--
"The inobled queen!"
That's good. "Inobled queen" is good.
Run barefoot up and down, 1546 threat'ning the flame
Look where he has not turned his color, and 1561has tears in's eyes.--Pray you, no more.
'Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest 1563soon. [To Polonius] Good my lord, will you see the players well 1564bestowed? Do ye hear, let them be well used, for they are 1565the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time. After 1566your death you were better have a bad epitaph than 1567their ill report while you lived.
My lord, I will use them according to their 1569desert.
God's bodykins, man, better. Use every man 1571after his desert and who should scape whipping? Use 1572them after your own honor and dignity; the less they 1573deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them 1574in.
Come, sirs.
2.2.349.1Exit Polonius.
Follow him, friends. We'll hear a play 1577tomorrow. [Aside to the First Player] Dost thou hear me, old friend, can you play The 1578Murder of Gonzago?
Ay, my lord.
We'll ha't tomorrow night. You could for a 1581need study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which 1582I would set down and insert in't, could ye not?
Ay, my lord.
Very well. Follow that lord, and look you 1585mock him not.--My good friends, I'll leave you till night. 1586You are welcome to Elsinore.
Good my lord.
Ay, so, God buy ye.--Now I am alone.
2.2.412.1Exit.