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  • Title: Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)
  • Textual editor: Eric Rasmussen
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-434-9

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)

    Enter Hamlet and Horatio.
    So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.
    You do remember all the circumstance?
    Remember it, my lord!
    Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
    That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay
    3505Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly,
    And praised be rashness for it: let us know,
    Our indiscretion sometime serves us well
    When our deep plots do fall, and that should learn us
    There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
    3510Rough-hew them how we will.
    Horatio
    That is most certain.
    Up from my cabin,
    My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark
    Groped I to find out them, had my desire,
    3515Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew
    To mine own room again, making so bold,
    My fears forgetting manners, to unfold
    Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio--
    Ah, royal knavery!--an exact command,
    3520Larded with many several sorts of reasons
    Importing Denmark's health, and England's to[o],
    With ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
    That on the supervise, no leisure bated,
    No, not to stay the grinding of the ax,
    3525My head should be struck off.
    Horatio
    Is't possible?
    [Showing a document] Here's the commission. Read it at more leisure.
    But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?
    I beseech you.
    Being thus benetted round with villains--
    Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
    They had begun the play--I sat me down,
    Devised a new commission, wrote it fair.
    I once did hold it, as our statists do,
    3535A baseness to write fair, and labored much
    How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
    It did me yeoman's service. Wilt thou know
    Th'effect of what I wrote?
    Horatio
    Ay, good my lord.
    An earnest conjuration from the King,
    As England was his faithful tributary,
    As love between them like the palm might flourish,
    As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
    And stand a comma 'tween their amities,
    3545And many suchlike "as, sir" of great charge,
    That on the view and knowing of these contents,
    Without debatement further more or less,
    He should those bearers put to sudden death,
    Not shriving time allowed.
    3550Horatio
    How was this sealed?
    Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
    I had my father's signet in my purse,
    Which was the model of that Danish seal;
    Folded the writ up in the form of th'other,
    3555Subscribe[d] it, gave't th'impression, placed it safely,
    The changeling never known. Now the next day
    Was our sea fight, and what to this was sequent
    Thou knowest already.
    So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.
    They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
    Does by their own insinuation grow.
    'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
    Between the pass and fell incensèd points
    3565Of mighty opposites.
    Horatio
    Why, what a King is this!
    Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon?
    He that hath killed my King and whored my mother,
    Popped in between th'election and my hopes,
    3570Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
    And with such coz'nage--is't not perfect conscience?
    Enter a Courtier [Osric].
    Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
    I humbly thank you, sir. [Aside to Horatio] Dost know this water-fly?
    [Aside to Hamlet] No, my good lord.
    [Aside to Horatio] 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.
    Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.
    I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. [Put] your bonnet to his right use. 'Tis for the head.
    I thank your lordship, it is very hot.
    No, believe me, 'tis very cold. The wind is northerly.
    It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
    But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot [f]or my complexion.
    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--
    [Reminding Osric once more about his hat] I beseech you, remember.
    Nay, good my lord, for my ease, in good faith. Sir, here is newly 3610.1come to court Laertes--believe me, an absolute gentlemen, 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 3610.5gentleman would see.
    Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you, though I know to divide him inventorially would dazzle 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, 3610.10and 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.
    Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
    The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the gentleman in 3610.15our more rawer breath?
    Sir?
    [To Hamlet] Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, sir, really.
    [To Osric] What imports the nomination of this gentleman?
    Of Laertes?
    [To Hamlet] His purse is empty already; all's golden words are spent.
    [To Osric] Of him, sir.
    I know you are not ignorant--
    I would you did, sir. Yet in faith if you did, it would not 3610.25much approve me. Well, sir?
    You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is--
    I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence. But to know a man well were to know himself.
    I mean, sir, for his weapon. But in the imputation laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed.
    What's his weapon?
    Rapier and dagger.
    That's two of his weapons--but well.
    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 3620the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit.
    What call you the carriages?
    [To Hamlet] I knew you must be edified by the margin ere you had done.
    The carriage, sir, are the hangers.
    The phrase would be more germane to the matter if we 3625could 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?
    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.
    How if I answer no?
    I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
    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 3640gentleman 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.
    Shall I deliver you so?
    To this effect, sir, after what flourish your nature will.
    I commend my duty to your lordship.
    Yours.
    [Exit Courtier, Osric.]
    ['A] does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn.
    This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.
    '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.
    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 3657.5you will take longer time?
    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.
    The King and Queen and all are coming down.
    In happy time.
    The Queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
    She well instructs me.
    [Exit Lord.]
    You will lose, my lord.
    I do not think so. Since he went into France, I have been 3660in 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.
    Nay, good my lord--
    It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of gaingiving as 3665would perhaps trouble a woman.
    If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit.
    Not a whit, we defy augury. There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be, 'tis not 3670to 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 of what he leaves knows what is't to leave betimes. 3673.1Let be.
    A table prepared. [Enter] Trumpets, drums, and officers with cushions, King, Queen, [Osric,] and all the state, foils, daggers, and Laertes. [Wine is borne in.]
    Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
    [The King puts Laertes's hand into Hamlet's.]
    [To Laertes] Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong,
    But pardon't as you are a gentleman. This presence knows,
    And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
    With a sore distraction. What I have done
    That might your nature, honor, and exception
    Roughly awake, I hear proclaim was madness.
    3685Was't Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
    If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
    And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
    Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.
    Who does it, then? His madness. If't be so,
    3690Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged;
    His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
    Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
    Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
    3695That I have shot my arrow o'er the house
    And hurt my brother.
    Laertes
    I am satisfied in nature,
    Whose motive in this case should stir me most
    To my revenge. But in my terms of honor
    3700I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement,
    Till by some elder masters of known honor
    I have a voice and precedent of peace
    To [keep] my name ungored. But all that time
    I do receive your offered love like love,
    3705And will not wrong it.
    I embrace it freely, and will this brother's wager
    frankly play.--
    Give us the foils.
    Come, one for me.
    I'll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance
    Your skill shall like a star i'th' darkest night
    Stick fiery off indeed.
    You mock me, sir.
    No, by this hand.
    Give them the foils, young Osric.
    [Foils are handed to Hamlet and Laertes.]
    Cousin Hamlet,
    You know the wager.
    Hamlet
    Very well, my lord.
    Your grace has laid the odds o'th'weaker side.
    I do not fear it; 3720I have seen you both.
    But since he is better, we have therefore odds.
    This is too heavy. Let me see another.
    [He exchanges his foil for another.]
    This likes me well. These foils have all a length?
    Ay, my good lord.
    [They prepare to play.]
    Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.
    If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
    Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
    3730Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.
    The King shall drink to Hamlet's better breath,
    And in the cup an onyx shall he throw
    Richer then that which four successive kings
    In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups,
    And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
    The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
    The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,
    "Now the King drinks to Hamlet." Come, begin.
    Trumpets the while.
    3740And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
    Come on, sir.
    Come, my lord.
    [They fence. Hamlet scores a hit.]
    One.
    No.
    [To Osric] Judgment.
    A hit, a very palpable hit.
    Drum, trumpets, and shot. Flourish. A piece goes off.
    Well, again.
    Stay. Give me drink. Hamlet this pearl is thine.
    [He drinks, and throws a pearl in Hamlet's cup.]
    3750Here's to thy health.--Give him the cup.
    I'll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.
    Come. [They fence.] Come, another hit. What say you?
    I do confess't.
    [To the Queen] Our son shall win.
    Queen
    He's fat and scant of breath.--
    Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.
    [The Queen takes a cup of wine to offer a toast to Hamlet.]
    The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.
    Good madam.
    Gertrude, do not drink.
    I will, my lord, I pray you pardon me.
    [She drinks.]
    [Aside] It is the poisoned cup. It is too late.
    I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.
    Come, let me wipe thy face.
    [Aside to the King] My lord, I'll hit him now.
    [Aside to Laertes] I do not think't.
    [Aside] And yet it is almost against my conscience.
    Come for the third, Laertes, you do but dally.
    I pray you, pass with your best violence;
    I am sure you make a wanton of me.
    Say you so? Come on.
    [They fence.]
    Nothing neither way.
    Have at you now!
    [Laertes wounds Hamlet with his unbated rapier.] In scuffling they change rapiers. [Hamlet wounds Laertes.]
    Part them! They are incensed.
    Nay, come again.
    [Laertes falls down. The Queen falls down.]
    Look to the Queen there, ho!
    They bleed on both sides. [To Hamlet] How is it, my lord?
    How is't, Laertes?
    Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;
    3785I am justly killed with mine own treachery.
    How does the Queen?
    She swoons to see them bleed.
    No, no, the drink, the drink, O my dear Hamlet,
    The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.
    [She dies.]
    Oh, villainy! Ho, let the door be locked.
    Treachery! Seek it out.
    [Exit Osric.]
    It is here. Hamlet, thou art slain.
    3795No med'cine in the world can do thee good;
    In thee there is not half an hour's life.
    The treacherous instrument is in my hand,
    Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice
    Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie
    3800Never to rise again. Thy mother's poisoned.
    I can no more. The King, the King's to blame.
    The point envenomed to[o]? Then, venom, to thy work.
    [He stabs the King.]
    Treason, treason!
    Oh, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt.
    [Forcing the King to drink] Here, thou incestuous, damnèd Dane,
    Drink of[f] this potion. Is the onyx here?
    3810Follow my mother.
    [The King dies.]
    Laertes
    He is justly served.
    It is a poison tempered by himself.
    Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
    Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
    3815Nor thine on me!
    [He dies.]
    Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.
    I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu.
    You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
    That are but mutes or audience to this act,
    3820Had I but time, as this fell sergeant Death
    Is strict in his arrest, oh, I could tell you--
    But let it be. Horatio, I am dead,
    Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright
    To the unsatisfied.
    3825Horatio
    Never believe it.
    I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
    Here's yet some liquor left.
    [He attempts to drink from the poisoned cup, but is prevented by Hamlet.]
    Hamlet
    As thou'rt a man,
    Give me the cup! Let go! By heaven I'll ha't.
    3830Oh, God, Horatio, what a wounded name,
    Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me!
    If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
    Absent thee from felicity awhile,
    And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain
    3835To tell my story.
    A march afar off.
    What warlike noise is this?
    Enter Osric.
    Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
    3840To th'ambassadors of England gives this warlike volley.
    Oh, I die, Horatio.
    The potent poison quite o'ercrows my spirit.
    I cannot live to hear the news from England,
    But I do prophesy th'election lights
    3845On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.
    So tell him, with th'occurrents more and less
    Which have solicited. The rest is silence.
    [He dies.]
    Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
    3850And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
    [March within.]
    Why does the drum come hither?
    Enter Fortinbras, with the [English] Ambassadors, [with Drum, Colors, and Attendants].
    Fortinbras
    Where is this sight?
    3855Horatio
    What is it you would see?
    If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
    Fortinbras
    This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,
    What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
    That thou so many princes at a shot
    3860So bloodily hast struck?
    Ambassador
    The sight is dismal,
    And our affairs from England come too late.
    The ears are senseless that should give us hearing,
    To tell him his commandment is fulfilled,
    3865That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
    Where should we have our thanks?
    Horatio
    Not from his mouth,
    Had it th'ability of life to thank you;
    He never gave commandment for their death.
    3870But since so jump upon this bloody question
    You from the Polack wars and you from England
    Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
    High on a stage be placèd the view,
    And let me speak to [th']yet unknowing world
    3875How these things came about. So shall you hear
    Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
    Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
    Of deaths put on by cunning and for no cause,
    And in this upshot, purposes mistook
    3880Fall'n on th'inventors' heads. All this can I
    Truly deliver.
    Fortinbras
    Let us haste to hear it,
    And call the noblest to the audience.
    For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.
    3885I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
    Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.
    Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
    And from his mouth 3890whose voice will draw no more.
    But let this same be presently performed,
    Even while men's minds are wild, lest more mischance
    On plots and errors happen.
    3895Fortinbras
    Let four captains
    Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,
    For he was likely, had he been put on,
    To have proved most royal; and for his passage,
    3900The soldiers' music and the rite of war
    Speak loudly for him.
    Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this
    Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
    Go bid the soldiers shoot.
    Exeunt.