0.21Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels. Who's there?
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.
Long live the King!
Barnardo?
He.
You come most carefully upon your hour.
'Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
For this relief much thanks. 'Tis bitter cold,
91310And I am sick at heart.
Have you had quiet guard?
Not a mouse stirring.
Well, good night.
1314If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
141715The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.
I think I hear them.--Stand, ho! Who is there?
Friends to this ground.
And liegemen to the Dane.
Give you good night.
Oh, farewell, honest soldiers. Who hath relieved you?
Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.
Holla, Barnardo!
Say, what, is Horatio there?
A piece of him.
Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus.
What, has this thing appeared again tonight?
I have seen nothing.
Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,
283330And will not let belief take hold of him,
293431Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us.
303532Therefore I have entreated him along,
313633With us to watch the minutes of this night,
323734That if again this apparition come
333835He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.
Sit down awhile,
354138And let us once again assail your ears,
364239That are so fortified against our story,
374340What we have two nights seen.
Well, sit we down,
384542And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.
Last night of all,
404744When yond same star that's westward from the pole
414845Had made his course t'illume that part of heaven
424946Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
435047The bell then beating one--
Peace, break thee off! Look where it comes again!
In the same figure like the King that's dead.
Thou art a scholar. Speak to it, Horatio.
Looks 'a not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.
Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.
It would be spoke to.
Speak to it, Horatio.
What art thou that usurp'st this time of night,
516057Together with that fair and warlike form
526158In which the majesty of buried Denmark
536259Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee speak!
It is offended.
See, it stalks away.
Stay, speak, speak, I charge thee speak!
'Tis gone, and will not answer.
How now, Horatio, you tremble and look pale.
586965Is not this something more than fantasy?
Before my God, I might not this believe
617268Without the sensible and true avouch
Is it not like the King?
As thou art to thyself.
647672Such was the very armor he had on
657773When he the ambitious Norway combated.
667874So frowned he once, when in an angry parle
677975He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
708278With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.
In what particular thought to work I know not,
728480But in the gross and scope of mine opinion
738581This bodes some strange eruption to our state.
Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows,
758783Why this same strict and most observant watch
768884So nightly toils the subject of the land,
778985And with such daily cost of brazen cannon
789086And foreign mart for implements of war,
799187Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task
809288Does not divide the Sunday from the week:
819389What might be toward, that this sweaty haste
829490Doth make the night joint-laborer with the day?
839591Who is't that can inform me?
That can I.
849793At least the whisper goes so: our last King,
859894Whose image even but now appeared to us,
869995Was as you know by Fortinbras of Norway,
8710096Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride,
8810197Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet--
8910298For so this side of our known world esteemed him--
9010399Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact
91104100Well ratified by law and heraldry
92105101Did forfeit, with his life, all these his lands
93106102Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror;
94107103Against the which a moiety competent
95108104Was gagèd by our King, which had return
96109105To the inheritance of Fortinbras
97110106Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same comart
98111107And carriage of the article design
99112108His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
101114110Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
102115111Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes
103116112For food and diet to some enterprise
104117113That hath a stomach in't, which is no other,
105118114As it doth well appear unto our state,
107120116And terms compulsatory those foresaid lands
108121117So by his father lost. And this, I take it,
109122118Is the main motive of our preparations,
110123119The source of this our watch, and the chief head
111124120Of this post-haste and rummage in the land.
I think it be no other but e'en so.
113124.2122Well may it sort that this portentous figure
114124.3123Comes armèd through our watch so like the King
A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye.
119124.8128The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead
130126140But soft, behold, lo, where it comes again!
131127141I'll cross it though it blast me.--Stay, illusion!
131.1It spreads his arms. 132128142If thou hast any sound or use of voice,
134If there be any good thing to be done
135130144That may to thee do ease and grace to me,
137131146If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
138132147Which happily foreknowing may avoid,
140133149Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
141134150Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,
142135151For which, they say, your spirits oft walk in death,
Speak of it. Stay and speak! Stop it, Marcellus!
Shall I strike it with my partisan?
Do, if it will not stand.
'Tis here.
'Tis here.
'Tis gone.
149142158We do it wrong, being so majestical,
152145161And our vain blows malicious mockery.
It was about to speak when the cock crew.
And then it started like a guilty thing
155148164Upon a fearful summons. I have heard
156149165The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,
157150166Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat
158151167Awake the god of day, and, at his warning,
159152168Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
160153169Th'extravagant and erring spirit hies
161154170To his confine; and of the truth herein
It faded on the crowing of the cock.
164157173Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
165158174Wherein our Savior's birth is celebrated,
166159175This bird of dawning singeth all night long,
167160176And then they say no spirit dare stir abroad;
168161177The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,
169162178No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
170163179So hallowed and so gracious is that time.
So have I heard and do in part believe it.
172165181But look, the morn in russet mantle clad
173166182Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill.
174167183Break we our watch up, and by my advice
175168184Let us impart what we have seen tonight
176169185Unto young Hamlet, for, upon my life,
177170186This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
178171187Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it
179172188As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
Let's do 't, I pray, and I this morning know
181174190Where we shall find him most convenient.
191Flourish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, 176192Council--as Polonius and his son Laertes, 177193Hamlet, with others [including Voltemand and Cornelius]. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
180195The memory be green, and that it us befitted
181196To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
182197To be contracted in one brow of woe,
183198Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
184199That we with wisest sorrow think on him
185200Together with remembrance of ourselves.
186201Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
187202Th'imperial jointress to this warlike state,
188203Have we as 'twere with a defeated joy,
189204With an auspicious and a dropping eye,
190205With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
191206In equal scale weighing delight and dole,
192207Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred
193208Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone
194209With this affair along. For all, our thanks.
195210Now follows that you know young Fortinbras,
196211Holding a weak supposal of our worth,
197212Or thinking by our late dear brother's death
198213Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,
199214Co-leaguèd with this dream of his advantage,
200215He hath not failed to pester us with message
201216Importing the surrender of those lands
202217Lost by his father, with all bands of law,
203218To our most valiant brother. So much for him.
205219Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting,
206220Thus much the business is: we have here writ
207221To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,
208222Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears
209223Of this his nephew's purpose, to suppress
210224His further gait herein, in that the levies,
211225The lists, and full proportions are all made
212226Out of his subject; and we here dispatch
213227You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
214228For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,
215229Giving to you no further personal power
216230To business with the King more than the scope
217231Of these delated articles allow.
218232Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.
219233Cornelius and Voltemand In that and all things will we show our duty.
We doubt it nothing. Heartily farewell.
41.1221[Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.] 222235And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?
223236You told us of some suit. What is't, Laertes?
224237You cannot speak of reason to the Dane
225238And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes,
226239That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?
227240The head is not more native to the heart,
228241The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
229242Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
230243What wouldst thou have, Laertes?
My dread lord,
232245Your leave and favor to return to France,
233246From whence though willingly I came to Denmark
234247To show my duty in your coronation,
235248Yet now I must confess, that duty done,
236249My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
237250And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.
Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?
H'ath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave
240.1253By laborsome petition, and at last
240.2254Upon his will I sealed my hard consent.
241255I do beseech you, give him leave to go.
Take thy fair hour, Laertes. Time be thine,
243257And thy best graces spend it at thy will.
244258But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son--
A little more than kin, and less than kind.
How is it that the clouds still hang on you?
Not so much, my lord, I am too much in the "son."
Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off
249263And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
250264Do not forever with thy vailèd lids
251265Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
252266Thou know'st 'tis common: all that lives must die,
253267Passing through nature to eternity.
Ay, madam, it is common.
If it be,
256270Why seems it so particular with thee?
"Seems," madam? Nay, it is, I know not "seems."
258272'Tis not alone my inky cloak, cold mother,
259273Nor customary suits of solemn black,
260274Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
261275No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
262276Nor the dejected havior of the visage,
263277Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief
264278That can denote me truly. These indeed seem,
265279For they are actions that a man might play.
266280But I have that within which passes show;
267281These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,
270283To give these mourning duties to your father.
271284But you must know your father lost a father;
272285That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound
273286In filial obligation for some term
274287To do obsequious sorrow; but to persever
275288In obstinate condolement is a course
276289Of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief.
277290It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
278291A heart unfortified, or mind impatient,
279292An understanding simple and unschooled;
280293For what we know must be and is as common
281294As any the most vulgar thing to sense,
282295Why should we in our peevish opposition
283296Take it to heart? Fie, 'tis a fault to .heaven,
284297A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,
285298To reason most absurd, whose common theme
286299Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried
287300From the first corse till he that died today
288301"This must be so." We pray you throw to earth
289302This unprevailing woe, and think of us
290303As of a father; for let the world take note
291304You are the most immediate to our throne,
292305And with no less nobility of love
293306Than that which dearest father bears his son
294307Do I impart toward you. For your intent
295308In going back to school in Wittenberg,
296309It is most retrograde to our desire,
297310And we beseech you bend you to remain
298311Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,
299312Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.
Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.
301314I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.
I shall in all my best obey you, madam.
Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply.
305317Be as ourself in Denmark.--Madam, come.
306318This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet
307319Sits smiling to my heart, in grace whereof
308320No jocund health that Denmark drinks today
309321But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
310322And the King's rouse the heaven shall bruit again,
311323Respeaking earthly thunder. Come, away!
128.1Flourish. Exeunt all but Hamlet. Oh, that this too too sallied flesh would melt,
314325Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
315326Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
316327His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! Oh, God, God,
317328How w[e]ary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
318329Seem to me all the uses of this world!
319330Fie on't, ah, fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden
320331That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
321332Possess it merely. That it should come thus!
322333But two months dead--nay, not so much, not two!
323334So excellent a king, that was to this
324335Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother
325336That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
326337Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth,
327338Must I remember? Why, she should hang on him
328339As if increase of appetite had grown
329340By what it fed on. And yet within a month--
330341Let me not think on't; frailty, thy name is woman!
331342A little month, or ere those shoes were old
332343With which she followed my poor father's body,
333344Like Niobe, all tears, why, she--
334345Oh, God, a beast that wants discourse of reason
335346Would have mourned longer!--married with my uncle,
336347My father's brother, but no more like my father
337348Than I to Hercules. Within a month,
338349Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
339350Had left the flushing in her gallèd eyes,
340351She married. Oh, most wicked speed, to post
341352With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
342353It is not, nor it cannot come to good,
343354But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.
Hail to your lordship!
I am glad to see you well.--
347Horatio, or I do forget myself!
The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.
Sir, my good friend, I'll change that name with you.
352360And what make you from Wittenberg,
Horatio?--
My good lord.
I am very glad to see you. [To Barnardo.] Good even, sir.
356364[To Horatio] But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?
A truant disposition, good my lord.
I would not hear your enemy say so,
359367Nor shall you do my ear that violence
360368To make it truster of your own report
361369Against yourself. I know you are no truant.
362370But what is your affair in Elsinore?
363371We'll teach you for to drink ere you depart.
My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.
I prithee do not mock me, fellow student.
366374I think it was to [see] my mother's wedding.
Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.
Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats
369377Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
182370378Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
183371379Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!
184372380My father--methinks I see my father.
Where, my lord?
In my mind's eye, Horatio.
I saw him once. 'A was a goodly king.
'A was a man, take him for all in all,
188377385I shall not look upon his like again.
My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.
Saw? Who?
My lord, the King your father.
The King my father?
Season your admiration for a while
194383391With an attent ear till I may deliver,
195384392Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
For God's love, let me hear!
Two nights together had these gentlemen,
198388396Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch
199389397In the dead waste and middle of the night
200390398Been thus encountered: a figure like your father
202392400Appears before them, and with solemn march
203393401Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he walked
204394402By their oppressed and fear-surprisèd eyes
205395403 Within his truncheon's length, whilst they, distilled
206396404Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
207397405Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me
208398406In dreadful secrecy impart they did,
209399407And I with them the third night kept the watch,
210400408Where, as they had delivered, both in time,
211401409Form of the thing, each word made true and good,
212402410The apparition comes. I knew your father.
But where was this?
My lord, upon the platform where we watch.
Did you not speak to it?
My lord, I did,
216408416But answer made it none. Yet once methought
217409417It lifted up it head and did address
218410418Itself to motion, like as it would speak;
219411419But even then the morning cock crew loud,
220412420And at the sound it shrunk in haste away
'Tis very strange.
As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true,
223416424And we did think it writ down in our duty
Indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.
We do, my lord.
Armed, say you?
Armed, my lord.
From top to toe?
My lord, from head to foot.
Then saw you not his face.
Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.
What looked he, frowningly?
A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
Pale, or red?
Nay, very pale.
And fixed his eyes upon you?
Most constantly.
I would I had been there.
It would have much amazed you.
Very like. Stayed it long?
While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.
Longer, longer.
Not when I saw't.
His beard was grizzled, no?
It was as I have seen it in his life,
I will watch tonight.
248451Perchance 'twill walk again.
I warr'nt it will.
If it assume my noble father's person,
250445454I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape
251446455And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
252447456If you have hitherto concealed this sight
253448457Let it be tenable in your silence still,
254449458And whatsomever else shall hap tonight,
255450459Give it an understanding but no tongue;
256451460I will requite your loves. So, fare you well.
257452461Upon the platform 'twixt eleven and twelve
Our duty to your honor.
258.1Exeunt [all but Hamlet]. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.
260456465My father's spirit--in arms! All is not well.
261457466I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come!
262458467Till then, sit still, my soul. Fond deeds will rise,
263459468Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.
469Enter Laertes, and Ophelia his sister. My necessaries are inbarked. Farewell.
463471And sister, as the winds give benefit
464472And convey is assistant, do not sleep
465473But let me hear from you.
Do you doubt that?
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor,
468476Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
469477A violet in the youth of primy nature,
470478Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
471479The perfume and suppliance of a minute,
No more. No more but so?
Think it no more.
474483For nature crescent does not grow alone
475484In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes
476485The inward service of the mind and soul
477486Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
478487And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
479488The virtue of his will; but you must fear,
480489His greatness weighed, his will is not his own.
482490He may not, as unvalued persons do,
483491Carve for himself, for on his choice depends
484492The safety and health of this whole state,
485493And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
486494Unto the voice and yielding of that body
487495Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
488496It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
489497As he in his particular act and place
490498May give his saying deed, which is no further
491499Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
492500Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain
493501If with too credent ear you list his songs,
494502Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
495503To his unmastered importunity.
496504Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
497505And keep you in the rear of your affection,
498506Out of the shot and danger of desire.
499507The chariest maid is prodigal enough
500508If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
501509Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes.
502510The canker galls the infants of the spring
503511Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
504512And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
505513Contagious blastments are most imminent.
506514Be wary, then; best safety lies in fear.
507515Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
I shall the effect of this good lesson keep
509517As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
510518Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
511519Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven
512520Whiles, a puffed and reckless libertine,
513521Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
514522And recks not his own rede.
Oh, fear me not.
517524I stay too long. But here my father comes.
518525A double blessing is a double grace;
519526Occasion smiles upon a second leave.
Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!
521528The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
522529And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with thee,
523530And these few precepts in thy memory
524531Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
525532Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
526533Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
527534Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
528535Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel,
529536But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
530537Of each new-hatched, unfledged courage. Beware
531538Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in,
532539Bear't that th'opposèd may beware of thee.
533540Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.
534541Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.
535542Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
536543But not expressed in fancy--rich, not gaudy,
537544For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
538545And they in France of the best rank and station
539546Are of a most select and generous, chief in that.
540547Neither a borrower nor a lender, boy,
541548For love oft loses both itself and friend,
542549And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry.
543550This above all: to thine own self be true,
544551And it must follow as the night the day
545552Thou canst not then be false to any man.
546553Farewell. My blessing season this in thee!
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.
The time invests you. Go. Your servants tend.
Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well
550557What I have said to you.
'Tis in my memory locked,
552559And you yourself shall keep the key of it.
Farewell.
What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you?
So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.
Marry, well bethought.
557564'Tis told me he hath very oft of late
558565Given private time to you, and you yourself
559566Have of your audience been most free and bounteous.
560567If it be so--as so 'tis put on me,
561568And that in way of caution--I must tell you
562569You do not understand yourself so clearly
563570As it behooves my daughter and your honor.
564571What is between you? Give me up the truth.
He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders
Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl,
568575Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
569576Do you believe his "tenders," as you call them?
I do not know, my lord, what I should think.
Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby
572579That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay
573580Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly,
574581Or--not to crack the wind of the poor phrase
575582Wrong[ing] it thus--you'll tender me a fool.
My lord, he hath importuned me with love
Ay, fashion you may call it. Go to, go to.
And hath given countenance to his speech,
580587My lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven.
Ay, spring[e]s to catch woodcocks. I do know
582589When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
583590Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,
584591Giving more light than heat, extinct in both
585592Even in their promise as it is a-making ,
586593You must not take for fire. From this time
587594Be something scanter of your maiden presence.
588595Set your entreatments at a higher rate
589596Than a command to parle. For Lord Hamlet,
590597Believe so much in him that he is young,
591598And with a larger tether may he walk
592599Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia,
593600Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers
594601Not of that dye which their investments show,
595602But mere implorators of unholy suits
596603Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds
597604The better to beguile. This is for all:
598605I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
599606Have you so slander any moment leisure
600607As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
601608Look to't, I charge you. Come your ways.
I shall obey, my lord.
610Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.
It is nipping, and an eager air.
What hour now?
I think it lacks of twelve.
No, it is struck.
Indeed? I heard it not. It then draws near the season
610617Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
7.1A flourish of trumpets, and two pieces goes off. 611618What does this mean, my lord?
The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
613620Keeps wassail, and the swagg'ring upspring reels;
614621And as he drains his drafts of Rhenish down
615622The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out
616623The triumph of his pledge.
Is it a custom?
Ay, marry, is't,
619626But to my mind, though I am native here
620627And to the manner born, it is a custom
621628More honored in the breach than the observance.
621.1629This heavy-headed revel east and west
621.2630Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations.
621.3631They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase
621.4632Soil our addition, and indeed it takes
621.5633From our achievements, though performed at height,
621.6634The pith and marrow of our attribute.
621.7635So, oft it chances in particular men,
621.8636That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,
621.9637As in their birth, wherein they are not guilty
621.10638(Since nature cannot choose his origin),
621.11639By the o'ergrowth of some complexion,
621.12640Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
621.13641Or by some habit that too much o'erleavens
621.14642The form of plausive manners, that these men,
621.15643Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect
621.16644(Being Nature's livery, or Fortune's star),
621.17645His virtues else, be they as pure as grace,
621.19647Shall in the general censure take corruption
621.20648From that particular fault. The dram of eale
621.21649Doth all the noble substance often dout
Look, my lord, it comes!
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
625654Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,
626655Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
627656Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
628657Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
629658That I will speak to thee. I'll call thee Hamlet,
630659King, father, royal Dane. Oh, answer me!
631660Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell
632661Why thy canonized bones, hearsèd in death,
633662Have burst their cerements? Why the sepulcher
634663Wherein we saw thee quietly interred
635664Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws
636665To cast thee up again? What may this mean
637666That thou, dead corse, again in compleat steel
638667Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,
639668Making night hideous, and we fools of nature
640669So horridly to shake our disposition
641670With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?
642671Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?
59.1643[The Ghost] beckons [Hamlet]. It beckons you to go away with it,
645673As if it some impartment did desire
Look with what courteous action
648676It waves you to a more removèd ground.
No, by no means.
It will not speak. Then I will follow it.
Do not, my lord.
Why, what should be the fear?
654682I do not set my life at a pin's fee,
655683And for my soul, what can it do to that,
656684Being a thing immortal as itself?
69.1[The Ghost beckons Hamlet.] 657685It waves me forth again. I'll follow it.
What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,
659687Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff
660688That beetles o'er his base into the sea,
661689And there assume some other horrible form
662690Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
663691And draw you into madness? Think of it:
663.1692The very place puts toys of desperation,
663.2693Without more motive, into every brain
663.3694That looks so many fathoms to the sea
80.1[The Ghost beckons Hamlet.] It waves me still.--
697Go on, I'll follow thee.
You shall not go, my lord.
82.1[They attempt to restrain him.] Hold off your hands!
Be ruled. You shall not go.
My fate cries out
669702And makes each petty artery in this body
670703As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.
85.1[The Ghost beckons Hamlet.] 671704Still am I called. Unhand me, gentlemen!
672705By heav'n, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me.
673706I say, away!--Go on, I'll follow thee.
88.1Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. He waxes desperate with imag[inat]ion.
Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
Have after. To what issue will this come?
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Heaven will direct it.
Nay, let's follow him.
713Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak. I'll go no further.
Mark me.
Mark me. I will.
My hour is almost come
686718When I to sulf'rous and tormenting flames
Alas, poor ghost!
Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing
Speak. I am bound to hear.
So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.
What?
I am thy father's spirit,
695727Doomed for a certain term to walk the night,
696728And for the day confined to fast in fires,
697729Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
698730Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid
699731To tell the secrets of my prison house,
700732I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
701733Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
702734Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,
703735Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part,
704736And each particular hair to stand on end
705737Like quills upon the fearful porpentine.
706738But this eternal blazon must not be
707739To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, oh, list:
708740If thou didst ever thy dear father love--
O God!
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
Murder?
Murder most foul, as in the best it is,
713745But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.
Haste me to know't,
715that I with wings as swift
716747As meditation or the thoughts of love
717748May sweep to my revenge.
I find thee apt,
719750And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
720751That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf
721752Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:
722753'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
723754A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark
724755Is by a forgèd process of my death
725756Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,
726757The serpent that did sting thy father's life
Oh, my prophetic soul! My uncle?
Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,
730761With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts--
731762Oh, wicked wit and gifts, that have the power
732763So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust
733764The will of my most seeming virtuous queen.
734765Oh, Hamlet, what falling off was there!
735766From me, whose love was of that dignity
736767That it went hand in hand even with the vow
737768I made to her in marriage, and to decline
738769Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor
739770To those of mine. But virtue, as it never will be moved,
740771Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,
741772So but though to a radiant angel linked,
742773Will sort itself in a celestial bed
743775But soft, methinks I scent the morning air.
744776Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,
745777My custom always of the afternoon,
746778Upon my secure hour, thy uncle stole
747779With juice of cursèd hebona in a vial,
748780And in the porches of my ears did pour
749781The lep'rous distillment, whose effect
750782Holds such an enmity with blood of man
751783That swift as quicksilver it courses through
752784The natural gates and alleys of the body,
753785And with a sudden vigor it doth possess
754786And curd like eager droppings into milk
755787The thin and wholesome blood; so did it mine,
756788And a most instant tetter barked about
757789Most lazarlike with vile and loathsome crust
759791Thus was I sleeping by a brother's hand
760792Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched,
761793Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,
762794Unhousled, disappointed, unaneled,
763795No reck'ning made, but sent to my account
764796With all my imperfections on my head.
765797Oh, horrible, oh, horrible, most horrible!
766798If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
767799Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
768800A couch for luxury and damnèd incest.
769801But howsomever thou pursues this act,
770802Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
771803Against thy mother aught; leave her to heaven
772804And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge
773805To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once.
774806The glow-worm shows the matin to be near
775807And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire.
776808Adieu, adieu, adieu! Remember me.
O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else?
778810And shall I couple hell? Oh, fie! Hold, hold, my heart,
779811And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,
780812But bear me swiftly up. Remember thee?
781813Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat
782814In this distracted globe. Remember thee?
783815Yea, from the table of my memory
784816I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,
785817All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past
786818That youth and observation copied there,
787819And thy commandment all alone shall live
788820Within the book and volume of my brain,
789821Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, by heaven.
790822Oh, most pernicious woman!
791823Oh, villain, villain, smiling damnèd villain!
792824My tables--meet it is I set it down
793825That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
794826At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.
795827So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word.
796828It is "Adieu, adieu, remember me."
My lord, my lord!
Lord Hamlet!
Heavens secure him!
So be it.
Illo, ho, ho, my lord!
Hillo, ho, ho, boy, come, and come!
How is't, my noble lord?
What news, my lord?
Oh, wonderful!
Good my lord, tell it.
No, you will reveal it.
Not I, my lord, by heaven.
Nor I, my lord.
How say you then, would heart of man once think it--
Ay, by heaven.
There's never a villain
848dwelling in all Denmark
815849But he's an arrant knave.
There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave
Why, right, you are in the right.
819853And so, without more circumstance at all
820854I hold it fit that we shake hands and part:
821855You as your business and desire shall point you
822856(For every man hath business and desire,
823857Such as it is), and for my own poor part
These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.
I am sorry they offend you--heartily,
There's no offense, my lord.
Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,
830864And much offense too. Touching this vision here,
831865It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you.
832866For your desire to know what is between us,
833867O'ermaster it as you may. And now, good friends,
834868As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,
835869Give me one poor request.
What is't, my lord? We will.
Never make known what you have seen tonight.
My lord, we will not.
Nay, but swear't.
In faith, my lord, not I.
Nor I, my lord, in faith.
Upon my sword.
155.1[He holds out his sword.] We have sworn, my lord, already.
Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.
157.1Ghost cries under the stage. Swear.
Ha, ha, boy, say'st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?--
847882Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage.
Propose the oath, my lord.
Never to speak of this that you have seen.
Swear.
Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.
165.1[He moves them to another spot.] 855890And lay your hands again upon my sword.
856892Never to speak of this that you have heard.
Swear by his sword.
Well said, old mole. Canst work i'th' earth so fast?
860895A worthy pioneer!--Once more remove, good friends.
172.1[They move once more.] Oh, day and night, but this is wondrous strange.
And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
863898There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
864899Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come,
865900Here as before: never, so help you mercy,
866901How strange or odd some'er I bear myself
867902(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
868903To put an antic disposition on),
869904That you at such times seeing me never shall,
870905With arms encumbered thus, or this headshake,
871906Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase
872907As, "Well, well, we know," or "We could an if we would,"
873908Or "If we list to speak," or "There be, an if they might,"
874909Or such ambiguous giving out, to note
875910That you know aught of me. This do swear,
876911So grace and mercy at your most need help you.
Swear.
Rest, rest, perturbèd spirit.--So, gentlemen,
880914With all my love I do commend me to you,
881915And what so poor a man as Hamlet is
882916May do t'express his love and friending to you,
883917God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together,
884918And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
885919The time is out of joint. Oh, cursèd spite,
886920That ever I was born to set it right!
197.1[They wait for him to leave first.] 887921Nay, come, let's go together.
922Enter old Polonius, with his man [Reynaldo] or two. Give him this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.
1.1[He gives money and papers.] I will, my lord.
You shall do marv'lous wisely, good Reynaldo,
893926Before you visit him, to make inquire
My lord, I did intend it.
Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
898930Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,
899931And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
900932What company, at what expense; and finding
901933By this encompassment and drift of question
902934That they do know my son, come you more nearer
903935Than your particular demands will touch it;
904936Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him,
905937As thus: "I know his father, and his friends,
906938And in part him." Do you mark this, Reynaldo?
Ay, very well, my lord.
"And in part him. But," you may say, "not well,
909941But if't be he I mean, he's very wild,
910942Addicted so and so," and there put on him
911943What forgeries you please--marry, none so rank
912944As may dishonor him, take heed of that,
913945But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips
914946As are companions noted and most known
As gaming, my lord.
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
918950Quarreling, drabbing--you may go so far.
My lord, that would dishonor him.
Faith, as you may season it in the charge.
921953You must not put another scandal on him
922954That he is open to incontinency;
923955That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly
924956That they may seem the taints of liberty,
925957The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
926958A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
But, my good lord--
Wherefore should you do this?
Ay, my lord, I would know that.
Marry sir, here's my drift,
931964And I believe it is a fetch of wit.
932965You laying these slight sallies on my son
933966As 'twere a thing a little soiled with working,
934967Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,
935968Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
936969The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured
937970He closes with you in this consequence:
938971"Good sir" (or so), or "friend," or "gentleman,"
939972According to the phrase, or the addition
Very good, my lord.
And then, sir, does 'a this, 'a does--what was I about to say?
943976By the mass, I was about to say something.
At "closes in the consequence."
At "closes in the consequence." Ay, marry,
948980He closes thus: "I know the gentleman,
949981I saw him yesterday"--or th'other day,
950982Or then, or then--"with such or such, and as you say,
951983There was 'a gaming there, or took in's rouse,
952984There falling out at tennis," or perchance
953985"I saw him enter such a house of sale,"
954986Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now,
955987Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth,
956988And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
957989With windlasses and with assays of bias,
958990By indirections find directions out;
959991So by my former lecture and advice
960992Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?
My lord, I have.
God buy ye, fare ye well.
Good my lord.
Observe his inclination in yourself.
I shall, my lord.
And let him ply his music.
Well, my lord.
Farewell.--How now, Ophelia, what's the matter?
Oh, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!
With what, i'th' name of God?
My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
9741005Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,
9751006No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled,
9761007Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle,
9771008Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
9781009And with a look so piteous in purport
9791010As if he had been loosèd out of hell
9801011To speak of horrors, he comes before me.
Mad for thy love?
My lord, I do not know,
1014But truly I do fear it.
What said he?
He took me by the wrist, and held me hard.
9851017Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
9861018And with his other hand thus o'er his brow
9871019He falls to such perusal of my face
9881020As 'a would draw it. Long stayed he so.
9891021At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
9901022And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
9911023He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
9921024As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
9931025And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
9941026And with his head over his shoulder turned
9951027He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
9961028For out o' doors he went without their helps,
9971029And to the last bended their light on me.
Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.
9991031This is the very ecstasy of love,
10001032Whose violent property fordoes itself
10011033And leads the will to desperate undertakings
10021034As oft as any passions under heaven
10031035That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
10041036What, have you given him any hard words of late?
No, my good lord, but as you did command
10061038I did repel his letters, and denied
That hath made him mad.
10091041I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
10101042I had not coted him. I feared he did but trifle
10111043And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousy!
10121044By heaven, it is as proper to our age
10131045To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions
10141046As it is common for the younger sort
10151047To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.
10161048This must be known, which, being kept close, might move
10171049More grief to hide than hate to utter love.
1051Flourish. Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and 10201052Guildenstern [and other Courtiers]. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
10221054Moreover that we much did long to see you,
10231055The need we have to use you did provoke
10241056Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
10251057Of Hamlet's transformation--so call it,
10261058Sith nor th'exterior nor the inward man
10271059Resembles that it was. What it should be,
10281060More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
10291061So much from th'understanding of himself,
10301062I cannot dream of. I entreat you both
10311063That, being of so young days brought up with him,
10321064And sith so neighbored to his youth and havior,
10331065That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
10341066Some little time, so by your companies
10351067To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
10361068So much as from occasion you may glean,
1036.11069Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus
10371070That, opened, lies within our remedy.
Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,
10391072And sure I am two men there is not living
10401073To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
10411074To show us so much gentry and good will
10421075As to expend your time with us awhile
10431076For the supply and profit of our hope,
10441077Your visitation shall receive such thanks
Both your majesties
10471080Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
10481081Put your dread pleasures more into command
But we both obey,
10511084And here give up ourselves in the full bent
10521085To lay our service freely at your feet
Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.
Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz.
10561089And I beseech you instantly to visit
10571090My too-much-changèd son.--Go, some of you,
10591091And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
Heavens make our presence and our practices
Ay, amen.
39.1Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and other Courtiers]. Th'ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Thou still hast been the father of good news.
Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,
10681100I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
10691101Both to my God and to my gracious king;
10701102And I do think--or else this brain of mine
10711103Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
10721104As it hath used to do--that I have found
10731105The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
Oh, speak of that! That do I long to hear.
Give first admittance to th'ambassadors.
10761108My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
53.1[Polonius goes to bring in the ambassadors.] 10781110He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
10791111The head and source of all your son's distemper.
I doubt it is no other but the main:
10811113His father's death, and our hasty marriage.
57.110821114Enter Ambassadors [Voltemand and Cornelius, ushered in by Polonius]. Well, we shall sift him.--Welcome, my good friends.
10841116Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?
Most fair return of greetings and desires.
10861118Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
10871119His nephew's levies, which to him appeared
10881120To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,
10891121But, better looked into, he truly found
10901122It was against your highness; whereat grieved
10911123That so his sickness, age, and impotence
10921124Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
10931125On Fortinbras, which he in brief obeys,
10941126Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine,
10951127Makes vow before his uncle never more
10961128To give th'assay of arms against your majesty.
10971129Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
10981130Gives him threescore thousand crowns in annual fee
10991131And his commission to employ those soldiers
11001132So levied (as before) against the Polack,
11011133With an entreaty herein further shown
76.1[Giving a letter to the King] 11021134That it might please you to give quiet pass
11031135Through your dominions for this enterprise
11041136On such regards of safety and allowance
It likes us well,
11071139And at our more considered time we'll read,
11081140Answer, and think upon this business.
11091141Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labor.
11101142Go to your rest. At night we'll feast together.
Exeunt Ambassadors.
This business is well ended.
11131145My liege and madam, to expostulate
11141146What majesty should be, what duty is,
11151147Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
11161148Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
11171149Therefore, brevity is the soul of wit,
11181150And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
11191151I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
11201152Mad call I it, for to define true madness,
11211153What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
More matter with less art.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
11251157That he's mad, 'tis true. 'Tis true 'tis pity,
11261158And pity 'tis 'tis true--a foolish figure,
11271159But farewell it, for I will use no art.
11281160Mad let us grant him, then. And now remains
11291161That we find out the cause of this effect,
11301162Or rather say the cause of this defect,
11311163For this effect defective comes by cause.
11321164Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
11331166I have a daughter--have while she is mine--
11341167Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
11351168Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.
108.1[He reads from the letter.] "To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most
11381170beautified Ophelia." That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase;
11391171"beautified" is a vile phrase. But you shall hear. Thus: "In
11401172her excellent white bosom, these," etc.
Came this from Hamlet to her?
Good madam, stay awhile, I will be faithful.
111.1[He reads the] letter. "Doubt thou the stars are fire,
"O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not art to reckon
11491180my groans. But that I love thee best, oh, most best, believe it. Adieu.
11511181Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him. Hamlet."
11531182This in obedience hath my daughter shown me,
11541183And more about hath his solicitings,
11551184As they fell out, by time, by means, and place,
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,
11611190When I had seen this hot love on the wing--
11621191As I perceived it (I must tell you that)
11631192Before my daughter told me--what might you,
11641193Or my dear majesty your queen here, think
11651194If I had played the desk or table-book,
11661195Or given my heart a working, mute and dumb,
11671196Or looked upon this love with idle sight,
11681197What might you think? No, I went round to work,
11691198And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
11701199"Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star.
11711200This must not be." And then I prescripts gave her
11721201That she should lock herself from her resort,
11731202Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
11741203Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
11751204And he, repellèd, a short tale to make,
11761205Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
11771206Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
11781207Thence to lightness, and by this declension
11791208Into the madness wherein now he raves,
11811210King"/
[To Queen]Do you think this?
It may be, very like.
Hath there been such a time--I would fain know that--
11841213That I have positively said 'Tis so"
Not that I know.
Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
11881217If circumstances lead me, I will find
11891218Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
How may we try it further?
You know sometimes he walks four hours together
So he does indeed.
At such a time, I'll loose my daughter to him.
11971225Be you and I behind an arras then;
11981226Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
11991227And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
12001228Let me be no assistant for a state
We will try it.
But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
Away, I do beseech you both away.
163.1Exit King and Queen. 12071234I'll board him presently. Oh, give me leave.--
Well, God-a-mercy.
Do you know me, my lord?
Excellent well. You 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,
1216is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.
That's very true, my lord.
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a
1219good kissing carrion--Have you a daughter?
I have, my lord.
Let her not walk i'th'sun. Conception is a blessing,
12231249but as your daughter may conceive, friend, look to't.
[Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet he
12261251knew me not at first. 'A said I was a fishmonger. 'A is far gone,
12271252and truly, in my youth I suffered much extremity for love, very
12281253near this. I'll speak to him again.--What do you read, my
12291254lord?
Words, words, words.
What is the matter, my lord?
Between who?
I mean the matter that you read, my lord.
Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old
12351260men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes
12361261purging thick amber and plumtree gum, and that they have a
12371262plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams--all which, sir,
12381263though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not
12401264honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old
12411265as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward.
[Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.--Will you
12441267walk out of the air, my lord?
Into my grave.
[Aside] Indeed, that's out of the air. How pregnant sometimes
12481270his replies are! A happiness that often madness hits on, which reason
12511271and sanctity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave
12531272him and my daughter.--My lord, I will take my leave of you.
You cannot take from me anything that I will not more
12591274willingly part withal--except my life, except my life, except my
12601275life.
Fare you well, my lord.
These tedious old fools!
12631278Polonius[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] You go to seek the Lord Hamlet? There he is.
[To Polonius] God save you, sir.
My honored lord!
My most dear lord!
My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern?
12701283Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both?
As the indifferent children of the earth.
Happy in that we are not ever happy. On Fortune's lap
12741286we are not the very button.
Nor the soles of her shoe?
Neither, my lord.
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favors.
Faith, her privates we.
In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true, she is a strumpet.
12811292What news?
None, my lord, but the world's grown honest.
Then is doomsday near. But your news is not true.
13161295But, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?
To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.
Beggar that I am, I am ever poor in thanks, but I thank
13201298you; and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny.
13211299Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free
13221300visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come, nay, speak.
What should we say, my lord?
Anything but to th' purpose. You were sent for, and there is
13261303a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not
13271304craft enough to color. I know the good King and Queen have
13281305sent for you.
To what end, my lord?
That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the
13311308rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the
13321309obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a
13331310better proposer can charge you withal, be even and direct with
13341311me whether you were sent for or no.
[Aside to Guildenstern] What say you?
[Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you love me, hold not off.
My lord, we were sent for.
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your
13411316discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen molt no
13421317feather. I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth,
13431318forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with
13441319my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a
13451320sterile promontory. This most excellent canopy the air, look
13471321you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof
13481322fretted with golden fire, why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul
13491323and pestilent congregation of vapors. What piece of work is a
13501324man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and
13511325moving, how express and admirable in action, how like an
13531326angel in apprehension, how like a god; the beauty of the world; the
13541327paragon of animals. And yet to me what is this quintessence of
13551328dust? Man delights not me, nor women neither, though by your
13561329smiling you seem to say so.
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
Why did ye laugh, then, when I said man delights not me?
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten
13631333entertainment the players shall receive from you. We coted them
13641334on the way, and hither are they coming to offer you service.
He that plays the King shall be welcome; his majesty shall
13671336have tribute on me. The Adventurous Knight shall use his foil and
13681337target, the Lover shall not sigh gratis, the Humorous Man shall end
13691338his part in peace, and the Lady shall say her mind freely, or the
13721339blank verse shall halt for't. What players are they?
Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the
13751341tragedians of the city.
How chances it they travel? Their residence both in
13771343reputation and profit was better both ways.
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late
13801345innovation.
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in
13821347the city? Are they so followed?
No, indeed, are they not.
It is not very strange, for my uncle is King of Denmark, and
14101350those that would make mouths at him while my father lived give
14111351twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats apiece for his picture
14121352in little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if
14131353philosophy could find it out.
There are the players.
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come,
14181356then. Th'appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let
14191357me comply with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players,
14201358which, I tell you, must show fairly outwards, should more
14211359appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome. But my
14221360uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.
In what, my dear lord?
I am but mad north-north-west; when the wind is
14261363southerly, I know a hawk from a hand saw.
Well be with you, gentlemen.
Hark you, Guildenstern, and you too, at each ear a hearer:
14301367that great baby you see there is not yet
1431out of his swaddling clouts.
Happily he is the second time come to them, for they say an
14331369old man is twice a child.
I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players. Mark it.--
14351371You say right, sir, o'Monday
1436morning, 'twas then indeed.
My lord, I have news to tell you.
My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor
14391374in Rome--
The actors are come hither, my lord.
Buzz, buzz.
Upon my honor.
Then came each actor on his ass.
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy,
14451380history, pastoral,
1446pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, scene
14471381individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy nor
14481382Plautus too light for the law of writ and the liberty: these are the
14501383only men.
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou?
What a treasure had he, my lord?
Why,
One fair daughter and no more,
14551387The which he lovèd passing well.
[Aside] Still on my daughter.
Am I not i'th' right, old Jephthah?
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well.
Nay, that follows not.
What follows then, my lord?
Why,
and then you know,
The first row of the pious chanson will
14641395show you more, for look where my
1465abridgment comes.
You are welcome, masters, welcome all.--I am glad to see thee
14681398well. Welcome, good friends.--Oh, old friend, why, thy face is
14691399valanced since I saw thee last. Com'st thou to beard me in Denmark?--
14701400What, my young lady and mistress! By Lady, your ladyship is
14711401nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a
14721402chopine. Pray God your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold,
14731403be not cracked within the ring.--Masters, you are all welcome.
14741404We'll e'en to't, like French falconers: fly at anything we see.
14751405 We'll have a speech straight. Come, give us a taste of your quality.
14771406Come, a passionate speech.
What speech, my good lord?
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted,
14801409or if it was, not above once; for the play, I remember, pleased not
14811410the million, 'twas caviary to the general. But it was, as I received
14821411it, and others whose judgments in such matters cried in the top
14831412of mine, an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down
14851413with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said there
14861414were no sallets in the lines, to make the matter
1487savory, nor no
1415matter in the phrase that might indict the
1488author of affection,
1416but called it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very
1417much more handsome than fine. One
1489speech in't I chiefly loved:
1418 'twas Aeneas' talk to Dido, and thereabout of it especially when he
14901419speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at
14921420this line--let me see, let me see--
The rugged Pyrrhus, like
1493th'Hyrcanian
1421beast--
'Tis not so, it begins with Pyrrhus.
1494The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose
1422sable arms,
14951423Black as his purpose, did the night resemble
14961424When he lay couchèd in th'ominous horse,
14971425Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared
26615001428With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
26715011429Baked and empasted with the parching streets
26915031431To their lord's murder. Roasted in wrath and fire,
27115051433With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
'Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.
Anon he finds him,
27615101437Striking too short at Greeks. His anticke sword,
27915131440Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide,
28015141441But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
28115151442Th'unnervèd father falls. [Then senseless Ilium,]
28315171444Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
28415181445Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear; for lo! his sword,
28615201447Of reverent Priam, seemed i'th' air to stick.
29115241452A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
29215251453The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
29415271455Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
29815311459With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword
30015331461Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods
30215351463Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
30315361464And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven
This is too long.
It shall to the barber's with your beard.--Prithee, say on. He's
15401468for a jig, or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on. Come to Hecuba..
But who, ah, woe, had seen the moblèd queen--.
The moblèd queen!
That's good.
Run barefoot up and down, threat'ning the flames
31215481474Where late the diadem stood, and, for a robe,
31515511477Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steeped
31615521478'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounced;
31715531479But if the gods themselves did see her then,
31915551481In mincing with his sword her husband limbs,
32215581484Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven
Look where he has not turned his color, and has tears in's
15611487eyes. Prithee, no more.
'Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon.
15631489[To Polonius] Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you
15641490hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstract and brief
15651491chronicles of the time. After your death you were better have a
15661492bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.
My lord, I will use them according to their desert.
God's bodkin, man, much better. Use every man after his
15711495desert and who shall scape whipping? Use them after your own honor
15721496and dignity; the less they deserve, the more merit is in your
15731497bounty. Take them in.
Come, sirs.
Follow him, friends. We'll hear a play tomorrow.
[Aside to the First Player] Dost thou
15781500hear me, old friend, can you play
"The Murder of Gonzago"?
Ay, my lord.
We'll ha't tomorrow night. You could for need study
15811503a speech of some dozen lines or sixteen lines, which I would set
15821504down and insert in't, could you not?
Ay, my lord.
Very well. Follow that lord, and look you mock him not.
15851507 --My good friends, I'll leave you till night. You are welcome to
15861508Elsinore.
333.1Exeunt Polonius and Players. Good my lord.
334.1Exeunt [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern]. Ay, so, God buy to you.--Now I am alone.
34015941515That from her working all the visage wanned,
34115951516Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,
34215961517A broken voice, an[d] his whole function suiting
34315971518With forms to his conceit, and all for nothing,
34616001521That he should weep for her? What would he do
34816021523That I have? He would drown the stage with tears,
34916031524And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,
35816121533Who calls me villain? Breaks my pate across?
35916131534Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
36016141535Tweaks me by the nose? Gives me the lie i'th' throat
36216161537Ha? 'Swounds, I should take it; for it cannot be
36616201541With this slave's offal. Bloody, bawdy villain!
36716211542Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!
37116261546Must like a whore unpack my heart with words,
37216271547And fall a-cursing like a very drab, a stallion. Fie upon't, foh!
37816331553For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
37916341554With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players
38316381558I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
38516401560T'assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps,
38916441564More relative than this. The play's the thing
39016451565Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.
1566Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, 16471567Guildenstern, Lords. And can you by no drift of conference
16491569Get from him why he puts on this confusion,
16501570Grating so harshly all his days of quiet
16511571With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?
He does confess he feels himself distracted,
16531573But from what cause, 'a will by no means speak.
Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
16551575But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
16561576When we would bring him on to some confession
Did he receive you well?
Most like a gentleman.
But with much forcing of his disposition.
Niggard of question, but of our demands
Did you assay him to any pastime?
Madam, it so fell out that certain players
16651585We o'erraught on the way. Of these we told him,
16661586And there did seem in him a kind of joy
16671587To hear of it. They are here about the court,
16681588And, as I think, they have already order
This night to play before him. 16701590Polonius 'Tis most true,
16711591And he beseeched me to entreat your majesties
With all my heart,
1594and it doth much content me
1596Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,
16751597And drive his purpose into these delights.
We shall, my lord.
29.1Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and Lords]. Sweet Gertrard, leave us two,
16791600For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,
16801601That he, as 'twere by accident, may here
16811602Affront Ophelia. Her father and myself,
16821603We'll so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,
16831604We may of their encounter frankly judge,
16841605And gather by him, as he is behaved,
16851606If't be th'affliction of his love or no
I shall obey you.
16881609And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish
16891610That your good beauties be the happy cause
16901611Of Hamlet's wildness. So shall I hope your virtues
16911612Will bring him to his wonted way again,
Madam, I wish it may.
Ophelia, walk you here.--Gracious, so please you,
16951616We will bestow ourselves.
[To Ophelia, as he gives her a book] Read on this book,
16961617That show of such an exercise may color
16971618Your lowliness. We are oft too blame in this,
16981619 'Tis too much proved, that with devotion's visage
16991620And pious action we do sugar o'er
[Aside] Oh, 'tis too true!
17021623How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!
17031624The harlot's cheek, beautied with plast'ring art,
17041625Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it
17051626Than is my deed to my most painted word.
I hear him coming. Withdraw, my lord.
[The King and Polonius conceal themselves.]
To be, or not to be, that is the question,
17111631Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
17121632The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
17131633Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
17141634And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--
17151635No more--and by a sleep to say we end
17161636The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
17171637That flesh is heir to; 'tis a consummation
17181638Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep;
17191639To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,
17201640For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
17211641When we have shuffled off this mortal coil
17221642Must give us pause. There's the respect
17231643That makes calamity of so long life.
17241644For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
17251645Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
17261646The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
17271647The insolence of office, and the spurns
17281648That patient merit of th'unworthy takes,
17291649When he himself might his quietus make
17301650With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,
17311651To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
17321652But that the dread of something after death,
17331653The undiscovered country from whose bourn
17341654No traveler returns, puzzles the will,
17351655And makes us rather bear those ills we have
17361656Than fly to others that we know not of.
17371657Thus conscience does make cowards,
17381658And thus the native hue of resolution
17391659Is sickl[i]ed o'er with the pale cast of thought,
17401660And enterprises of great pitch and moment
17411661With this regard their currents turn awry
17421662And lose the name of action. Soft you now,
17431663The fair Ophelia!--Nymph, in thy orisons
Good my lord,
17461666How does your honor for this many a day?
I humbly thank you well.
My lord, I have remembrances of yours
17491669That I have longèd long to redeliver.
No, not I. I never gave you aught.
My honored lord, you know right well you did,
17531673And with them words of so sweet breath composed
17541674As made these things more rich. Their perfume lost,
17551675Take these again, for to the noble mind
17561676Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind,
102.1[She offers Hamlet the remembrances.] Ha, ha! Are you honest?
My lord?
Are you fair?
What means your lordship?
That if you be honest and fair, you should admit
17631683no discourse to your beauty.
Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce
17651685than with honesty?
Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform
17671687honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can
17681688translate beauty into his likeness. This was sometime a paradox, but now the
17691689time gives it proof. I did love you once.
Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.
You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so
17731692evocutate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you not.
I was the more deceived.
Get thee [to] a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of
17771695sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of
17781696such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am
17791697very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck
17811698than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape,
17821699or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling
17831700between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves; believe none of us.
17841701Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where's your father?
At home, my lord.
Let the doors be shut upon him,
1704that he may
1788play the fool nowhere but in's own house.
1705Farewell.
Oh, help him, you sweet heavens!
If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy
17911708dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape
17921709calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, farewell. Or if thou wilt needs marry,
17931710marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you
17951711make of them. To a nunnery go, and quickly too. Farewell.
Heavenly powers restore him!
I have heard of your paintings well enough. God hath
17991714given you one face, and you make yourselves another. You jig and
18001715amble, and you lisp, you nickname God's creatures, and make your
18011716wantonness ignorance. Go to, I'll no more on't; it hath made me mad.
18031717I say we will have no mo marriage. Those that are married already, all
18041718but one, shall live; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go.
Oh, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!
18071720The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword,
18081721Th'expectation and rose of the fair state,
18091722The glass of fashion and the mold of form,
18101723Th'observed of all observers, quite, quite down,
18111724And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,
18121725That sucked the honey of his musicked vows,
18131726Now see what noble and most sovereign reason
18141727Like sweet bells jangled out of time, and harsh,
18151728That unmatched form and stature of blown youth
18161729Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me
18171730T'have seen what I have seen, see what I see!
18181731Enter King and Polonius [stepping forward from concealment]. Love? His affections do not that way tend,
18201733Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little,
18211734Was not like madness. There's something in his soul
18221735O'er which his melancholy sits on brood,
18231736And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose
18241737Will be some danger; which for to prevent,
18261739Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England,
18271740For the demand of our neglected tribute.
18281741Haply the seas, and countries different,
18291742With variable objects, shall expel
18301743This something-settled matter in his heart,
18311744Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus
18321745From fashion of himself. What think you on't?
It shall do well. But yet do I believe
18341748the origin and commencement of his grief
18351749Sprung from neglected love.--How now, Ophelia?
18361750You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said,
18371751We heard it all.--My lord, do as you please,
18381752But if you hold it fit, after the play
18391753Let his queen-mother all alone entreat him
18401754To show his grief. Let her be round with him,
18411755And I'll be placed (so please you) in the ear
18421756Of all their conference. If she find him not,
18431757To England send him, or confine him where
It shall be so;
18461760Madness in great ones must not unmatched go.
1761Enter Hamlet, and three of the Players. Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you,
18501763trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of our players do,
18511764I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air
18521765too much with your 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
1856may give it smoothness. Oh, it
1768offends me to the soul
1857to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow
1769tear a
1858passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the
18591770groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but
18601771inexplicable dumb-shows and noise. I would have such a fellow whipped for
18611772o'erdoing Termagant. It out-Herods Herod. Pray you avoid it.
I warrant your honor.
Be not too tame, neither, but let your own discretion be
18651775your tutor. Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with
18661776this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of
18671777nature. For anything so o'erdone is from the purpose of playing,
18681778whose end, both at the first and now, was and is to hold as 'twere
18701779the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her feature, scorn her own
18711780image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.
18721781Now this overdone, or come tardy off, though it makes the
18741782unskillful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve, the censure of
18751783which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theater of
18761784others. Oh, there be players that I have seen play, and heard others
18771785praised, and that highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither
18781786having th'accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor
18801787man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of
18811788nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they
18821789imitated humanity so
1883abhominably.
I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us.
Oh, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns
18871792speak no more than is set down for them; for there be of them that
18881793will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators
18891794to laugh too, 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
1893it. Go make you ready.
[To Polonius] How
18951797now, my lord, will the King hear this piece of work?
6.118941798Enter Polonius, Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz. And the Queen to[o], and that presently.
Bid the players make haste.
Bid the players make haste. Will you two help to hasten them?
Ay, my lord.
What ho, Horatio!
Here, sweet lord, at your service.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man
19051805As e'er my conversation coped withal.
Oh, my dear lord--
Nay, do not think I flatter,
19081808For what advancement may I hope from thee
19091809That no revenue hast but thy good spirits
19101810To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered?
19111811No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp
19121812And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
19131813Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?
19141814Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice
19151815And could of men distinguish her election,
19161816Sh'hath sealed thee for herself, for thou hast been
19171817As one in suff'ring all that suffers nothing,
19181818A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards
19191819Hast ta'en with equal thanks; and blest are those
19201820Whose blood and judgment are so well commeddled
19211821That they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger
19221822To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
19231823That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
19241824In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,
19251825As I do thee.--Something too much of this.--
19261826There is a play tonight before the King.
19271827One scene of it comes near the circumstance
19281828Which I have told thee of my father's death.
19291829I prithee, when thou see'st that act afoot,
19301830Even with the very comment of thy soul
19311831Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt
19321832Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
19331833It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,
19351835As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note,
19361836For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,
19371837And after we will both our judgments join
Well, my lord,
19401840If 'a steal aught the whilst this play is playing
19411841And scape detected, I will pay the theft.
46.119421842Enter trumpets and kettledrums, King, Queen, 1843Polonius, Ophelia[, Rosencrantz, 1943Guildenstern, and others]. 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.
19521851These words are not mine.
No, nor mine now.
19541853[To Polonius] My lord, you played once i'th' university, you say?
That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor.
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.
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 dev'l wear black, for I'll have a
19841879suit of sables. Oh, heavens! Die two months ago, and not forgotten yet?
19851880Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a
19861881year. But, by'r Lady, 'a must build churches then, or else shall 'a suffer
19881882not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is, "For oh, for
19891883oh, the hobby-horse is forgot."
72.119901884The trumpets sounds. Dumb-show follows. 19911885Enter [Players as] a King and a Queen, the Queen embracing him, and he her. He 19931886takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck. He lies him down 19941887upon a bank of flowers. She, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon come in 19951888another man, takes off his crown, kisses it, pours poison in the sleeper's ears, 19961889and leaves him. The Queen returns, finds the King dead, makes passionate 19981890action. The poisoner, with some three or four, come in again, seem to 19991891condole with her. The dead body is carried away. The poisoner woos the Queen 20011892with gifts. She seems harsh awhile, but in the end accepts love. [Exeunt players.] What means this, my lord?
Marry, this munching mallico, it means mischief.
Belike this show imports the argument of the play.
75.1Enter [a Player as] Prologue. We shall know by this fellow.
20091897The 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 you ashamed
20121900to show, he'll not shame to tell you what it means.
You are naught, you are naught. I'll mark the play.
For us and for our tragedy,
[Exit.]
Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?
'Tis brief, my lord.
As woman's love.
Enter [two Players as] King and Queen.
Full thirty times hath Phoebus' cart gone round
20251910Neptune's salt wash and Tellus orbed the ground,
20261911And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen
20271912About the world have times twelve thirties been
20281913Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands
20291914Unite commutual in most sacred bands.
So many journeys may the sun and moon
20311916Make us again count o'er ere love be done!
20321917But woe is me, you are so sick of late,
20331918So far from cheer and from our former state,
20341919That I distrust you. Yet though I distrust,
20351920Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must.
2035.11921For women fear too much, even as they love,
20361922And women's fear and love hold quantity:
20371923Either none, in neither aught, or in extremity.
20381924Now what my lord is, proof hath made you know,
20391925And as my love is sized, my fear is so.
2039.11926Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;
2039.21927Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.
Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly to[o];
20411929My operant powers their functions leave to do.
20421930And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,
20431931Honored, beloved; and haply one as kind
Oh, confound the rest!
20461934Such love must needs be treason in my breast.
20471935In second husband let me be accurst!
20481936None wed the second but who killed the first.
That's wormwood.
The instances that second marriage move
20511938Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.
20521939A second time I kill my husband dead
20531940When second husband kisses me in bed.
I do believe you think what now you speak,
20551942But what we do determine, oft we break.
20561943Purpose is but the slave to memory,
20571944Of violent birth, but poor validity,
20581945Which now the fruit unripe sticks on the tree,
20591946But fall unshaken when they mellow be.
20601947Most necessary 'tis that we forget
20611948To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt.
20621949What to ourselves in passion we propose,
20631950The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.
20641951The violence of either grief or joy
20651952Their own enactures with themselves destroy.
20661953Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;
20671954Grief joy, joy grieves, on slender accident.
20681955This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange
20691956That even our loves should with our fortunes change;
20701957For 'tis a question left us yet to prove
20711958Whether love lead fortune, or else fortune love.
20721959The great man down, you mark his favorite flies;
20731960The poor advanced makes friends of enemies;
20741961And hitherto doth love on fortune tend,
20751962For who not needs shall never lack a friend,
20761963And who in want a hollow friend doth try
20781965But orderly to end where I begun,
20791966Our wills and fates do so contrary run
20801967That our devices still are overthrown;
20811968Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own;
20821969So, think thou wilt no second husband wed,
20831970But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.
Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light,
20851972Sport and repose lock from me day and night,
2085.21974And anchor's cheer in prison be my scope!
20861975Each opposite that blanks the face of joy
20871976Meet what I would have well, and it destroy!
20881977Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,
20891978If once I be a widow, ever I be a wife!
If she should break it now!
'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile.
20931980My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile
Sleep rock thy brain,
20961983And never come mischance between us twain!
160.1 [The Player King] sleeps. 160.2Exit [Player Queen]. 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 offense in't?
No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest, no
2103offense i'th' world.
What do you call the play?
21051990HamletThe Mousetrap. Marry, how? Tropically. This play is the image
21061991of a murder done in Vienna. Gonzago is the Duke's name, his wife
21071992Baptista. You shall see anon. 'Tis a knavish piece of work, but what of
21081993that? Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches us not.
21101994Let the galled jade winch, our withers are unwrung.
21121995--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 mistake your husbands.--Begin, murderer, leave
21212004thy damnable faces and begin. Come, the croaking raven doth bellow
21222005for revenge.
Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing,
21262007Considerate season, else no creature seeing,
21272008Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,
21282009With Hecate's ban thrice blasted, thrice invected,
21292010Thy natural magic and dire property
21302011On wholesome life usurps immediately.
179.12131[Pours the poison in his ears. Exit.] '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.
How fares my lord?
Give o'er the play.
Give me some light. Away!
Lights, lights, lights!
185.1Exeunt all but Hamlet and Horatio. "Why, let the strucken deer go weep,
21452022For some must watch while some must sleep;
2147Would not this, sir, and a forest of
2024feathers--if the rest of
2148 my fortunes turn Turk with me--with provincial
21492025roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry
2150of players?
Half a share.
A whole one, I.
21532028For thou dost know, O Damon dear,
2030Of Jove himself, and now reigns here
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 pois'ning.
I did very well note him.
Aha, come, some music! Come, the recorders.
21652039For if the King like not the comedy,
21662040Why, then belike he likes it not, perdy.
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, with choler.
Your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify
21762051this to the doctor, for, for me to put him
2177to his purgation would
2052perhaps plunge him into
2178more choler.
Good my lord, put your discourse into some frame,
21802054and stare 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 the right breed. If
21862060it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do your
21872061mother's commandment. If not, your pardon and my return shall
21882062be the end of 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 mother! But is there
21992071no sequel at the heels of this
2201mother'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.
22062076HamletAnd 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 something
22142085musty.--Oh, 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 would drive
22182087me 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 you make of
22352101me! You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops,
22362102you would pluck out the heart of my mystery, you would sound me
22372103from my lowest note to my compass, and there is much music,
22392104excellent voice in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. 'Sblood,
22402105do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what
22412106instrument you will, though you fret me, you cannot play upon me.
[To Polonius, as he enters] 22422107God 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.
22542116Hamlet 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. Leave me, friends.
2257I will, say so. "By and by" is easily said.
22592120'Tis now the very witching time of night,
22602121When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breaks out
22612122Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,
22622123And do such business as the bitter day
22632124Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.
22642125O heart, loose not thy nature! Let not ever
22652126The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.
22672128I will speak dagger to her, but use none.
22682129My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites:
22692130How in my words somever she be shent,
22702131To give them seals never my soul consent!
2132Enter King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. I like him not, nor stands it safe with us
22732134To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you.
22742135I your commission will forthwith dispatch,
22752136And he to England shall along with you.
22762137The terms of our estate may not endure
22772138Hazard so near's as doth hourly grow
Out of his brows. 22792140Guildenstern We will ourselves provide.
22802141Most holy and religious fear it is
22812142To keep those many many bodies safe
22822143That live and feed upon your majesty.
The single and peculiar life is bound
22852145With all the strength and armor of the mind
22862146To keep itself from noyance, but much more
22872147That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests
22882148The lives of many. The cess of majesty
22892149Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw
22902150What's near it with it, or it is a massy wheel
22912151Fixed on the summit of the highest mount,
22922152To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things
22932153Are mortised and adjoined, which, when it falls,
22942154Each small annexment, petty consequence,
22952155Attends the boist'rous ruin. Never alone
22962156Did the king sigh, but [with] a general groan.
Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage,
22982158For we will fetters put about this fear
We will haste us.
26.1Exeunt gentlemen [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern]. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet.
23032163Behind the arras I'll convey myself
23042164To hear the process. I'll warrant she'll tax him home.
23052165And, as you said--and wisely was it said--
23062166'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother,
23072167Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear
23082168The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege.
23092169I'll call upon you ere you go to bed,
Thanks, dear my lord.
23122172Oh, my offense is rank! It smells to heaven.
23132173It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,
23142174A brother's murder. Pray can I not,
23152175Though inclination be as sharp as will;
23162176My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,
23172177And like a man to double business bound
23182178I stand in pause where I shall first begin,
23192179And both neglect. What if this cursèd hand
23202180Were thicker than itself with brother's blood,
23212181Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
23222182To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy
23232183But to confront the visage of offense?
23242184And what's in prayer but this twofold force,
23252185To be forestallèd ere we come to fall,
23262186Or pardon[ed] being down? Then I'll look up.
23272187My fault is past. But, oh, what form of prayer
23282188Can serve my turn? "Forgive me my foul murder"?
23292189That cannot be, since I am still possessed
23302190Of those effects for which I did the murder:
23312191My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.
23322192May one be pardoned and retain th'offense?
23332193In the corrupted currents of this world,
23342194Offense's gilded hand may shove by justice,
23352195And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself
23362196Buys out the law. But 'tis not so above:
23372197There is no shuffling, there the action lies
23382198In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled,
23392199Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults,
23402200To give in evidence. What then? What rests?
23412201Try what repentance can. What can it not?
23422202Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?
23432203O wretched state, O bosom black as death,
23442204O limèd soul, that, struggling to be free,
23452205Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay.
23462206Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel,
23472207Be soft as sinews of the newborn babe!
[He kneels.]
Now might I do it. But now 'a is a-praying,
[He draws his sword.]
And now I'll do't. And so 'a goes to heaven,
23522212And so am I revenge[d]. That would be scanned:
23532213A villain kills my father, and for that,
23542214I, his sole son, do this same villain send
2216Why, this is base and silly, not revenge.
23562217 'A took my father grossly full of bread,
23572218With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
23582219And how his audit stands, who knows save heaven?
23592220But in our circumstance and course of thought
23602221 'Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
23612222To take him in the purging of his soul,
23622223When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
[He sheathes his sword.]
23632225Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent.
23642226When he is drunk, asleep, or in his rage,
23652227Or in th'incestuous pleasure of his bed,
23662228At game a-swearing, or about some act
23672229That has no relish of salvation in't,
23682230Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven,
23692231And that his soul may be as damned and black
23702232As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays.
23712233This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
23732235Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
2236Enter Gertrude and Polonius. 'A will come straight.
2376Look you lay home to him.
23772238Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with,
23782239And that your grace hath screened and stood between
23792240Much heat and him. I'll silence me even here.
I'll wait you. Fear me not.
[Polonius conceals himself behind the arras.]
Now mother, what's the matter?
Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.
Mother, you have my father much offended.
Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.
Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.
Why, how now, Hamlet?
What's the matter now?
Have you forgot me?
No, by the rood, not so.
23942254You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife,
23952255And, would it were not so, you are my mother.
Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak.
Come, come, and sit you down. You shall not budge.
23992258You go not till I set you up a glass
24002259Where you may see the [in]most part of you.
What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?
[Behind the arras] What ho! Help!
How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!
24.1[Hamlet thrusts through the arras with his sword and fatally stabs Polonius.] [Behind the arras] Oh, I am slain!
Oh, me, what hast thou done?
Nay I know not. Is it the King?
Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this!
A bloody deed--almost as bad, good mother,
24102269As kill a king, and marry with his brother.
As kill a king?
Ay, lady, it was my word.
30.1[He parts the arras and discovers the dead Polonius.] 24132272Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!
24142273I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune.
24152274Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger.
24162275[To the Queen] Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit you down,
24172276And let me wring your heart, for so I shall
24182277If it be made of penetrable stuff,
24192278If damnèd custom have not brassed it so
24202279That it be proof and bulwark against sense.
What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue
Such an act
24242283That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,
24252284Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose
24262285From the fair forehead of an innocent love
24272286And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows
24282287As false as dicers' oaths--oh, such a deed
24292288As from the body of contraction plucks
24302289The very soul, and sweet religion makes
24312290A rhapsody of words. Heaven's face does glow
24322291O'er this solidity and compound mass
24332292With heated visage, as against the doom,
Ay me, what act,
2295That roars so loud and
2436thunders in the index?
[Showing her two likenesses, of Hamlet senior and Claudius]
Look here upon this picture, and on this,
24382297The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
24392298See what a grace was seated on this brow:
24402299Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself,
24412300An eye like Mars to threaten and command,
24422301A station like the herald Mercury
24432302New lighted on a heaven-kissing hill,
24452304Where every god did seem to set his seal
24462305To give the world assurance of a man.
24472306This was your husband. Look you now what follows:
24482307Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear,
24492308Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?
24502309Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed
24512310And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes?
24522311You cannot call it love, for at your age
24532312The heyday in the blood is tame, it's humble,
24542313And waits upon the judgment, and what judgment
24552314Would step from this to this? Sense, sure, you have,
2455.12315Else could you not have motion, but sure that sense
2455.22316Is apoplexed, for madness would not err,
2455.32317Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thralled
2455.52319To serve in such a difference. What devil was't
24562320That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?
2456.12321Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,
2456.22322Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,
2456.42324Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush?
24582326If thou canst mutine in a matron's bones,
24592327To flaming youth let virtue be as wax
24602328And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame
24612329When the compulsive ardor gives the charge,
24622330Since frost itself as actively doth burn,
Oh, Hamlet speak no more!
24652333Thou turn'st my very eyes into my soul,
24662334And there I see such black and grievèd spots
24672335As will leave there their tinct.
Nay, but to live
24692337In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed
24702338Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love
Oh, speak to me no more!
24732341These words like daggers enter in my ears.
A murderer and a villain,
24762344A slave that is not twentieth part the kith
24772345Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings,
24782346A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
24792347That from a shelf the precious diadem stole
No more!
A king of shreds and patches--
24842352[Seeing the Ghost] Save me and hover o'er me with your wings,
24852353You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?
Alas, he's mad!
Do you not come your tardy son to chide,
24882356That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by
24892357Th'important acting of your dread command?
Oh, say!
Do not forget. This visitation
24912359Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.
24922360But look, amazement on thy mother sits.
24932361Oh, step between her and her fighting soul!
24942362Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.
How is it with you, lady?
Alas, how is't with you,
24982366That you do bend your eye on vacancy,
24992367And with th'incorporal air do hold discourse?
25002368Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep,
25012369And, as the sleeping soldiers in th'alarm,
25022370Your bedded hair, like life in excrements,
25032371Start up and stand on end. O gentle son,
25042372Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper
25052373Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?
On him, on him! Look you how pale he glares!
25072375His form and cause conjoined, preaching to stones,
25082376Would make them capable.
[To the Ghost] Do not look upon me,
25092377Lest with this piteous action you convert
25102378My stern effects. Then what I have to do
25112379Will want true color, tears perchance for blood.
To whom do you speak this?
Do you see nothing there?
Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.
Nor did you nothing hear?
No, nothing but ourselves.
Why, look you there, look how it steals away!
25182386My father in his habit as he lived.
25192387Look where he goes, even now out at the portal!
This is the very coinage of your brain.
Is very cunning in.
My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time,
25242391And makes as healthful music. It is not madness
25252392That I have uttered. Bring me to the test,
25262393And [I] the matter will reword, which madness
25272394Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace,
25282395Lay not that flattering unction to your soul
25292396That not your trespass but my madness speaks.
25302397It will but skin and film the ulcerous place,
25312398Whiles rank corruption, mining all within,
25322399Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven,
25332400Repent what's past, avoid what is to come,
25342401And do not spread the compost on the weeds
25352402To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue,
25362403For in the fatness of these pursy times
25372404Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,
25382405Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.
Oh, Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
Oh, throw away the worser part of it,
25422408And leave the purer with the other half.
25432409Good night. But go not to my uncle's bed;
25442410Assume a virtue if you have it not.
2544.12411That monster custom, who all sense doth eat,
2544.32413That to the use of actions fair and good
25452416And that shall lend a kind of easiness
25462417To the next abstinence; the next more easy:
2546.12418For use almost can change the stamp of nature,
2546.22419And either [ ] the devil, or throw him out
2546.32420With wondrous potency. Once more good night,
25472421And when you are desirous to be blest,
25482422I'll blessing beg of you. For this same lord,
25492423I do repent; but heaven hath pleased it so
25502424To punish me with this, and this with me,
25512425That I must be their scourge and minister.
25522426I will bestow him, and will answer well
25532427The death I gave him. So, again, good night.
25542428I must be cruel only to be kind.
25552429This bad begins, and worse remains behind.
What shall I do?
Not this, by no means, that I bid you do:
25582433Let the bloat King tempt you again to bed,
25592434Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse,
25602435And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses,
25612436Or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers,
25622437Make you to ravel all this matter out
25632438That I essentially am not in madness,
25642439But mad in craft. 'Twere good you let him know,
25652440For who that's but a queen, fair, sober, wise,
25662441Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib,
25672442Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so?
25682443No, in dispite of sense and secrecy,
25692444Unpeg the basket on the house's top,
25702445Let the birds fly, and like the famous ape,
25712446To try conclusions, in the basket creep,
Be thou assured, if words be made of breath
25742449And breath of life, I have no life to breathe
I must to England. You know that?
Alack, I had forgot.
2453'Tis so concluded on.
There's letters sealed, and my two schoolfellows,
2577.22455Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged,
2577.32456They bear the mandate; they must sweep my way
2577.62459Hoist with his own petar[d], and't shall go hard
2577.72460But I will delve one yard below their mines,
2577.82461And blow them at the moon. Oh 'tis most sweet
2577.92462When in one line two crafts directly meet.
25792464I'll lug the guts into the neighbor room.
25802465Mother, good night indeed. This counselor
25812466Is now most still, most secret, and most grave,
25822467Who was in life a most foolish prating knave.--
25832468Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.--
2470Enter King, and Queen, with Rosencrantz 2586.12471and Guildenstern. There's matter in these sighs, these profound heaves.
25892473You must translate; 'tis fit we understand them.
[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] Bestow this place on us a little while.
4.1[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] 25912476Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight!
What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?
Mad as the sea and wind when both contend
25942479Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,
25952480Behind the arras hearing something stir,
25962481Whips out his rapier, cries, "A rat, a rat!"
25972482And in this brainish apprehension kills
Oh, heavy deed!
26002485It had been so with us had we been there.
26012486His liberty is full of threats to all--
26022487To you yourself, to us, to everyone.
26032488Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?
26042489It will be laid to us, whose providence
26052490Should have kept short, restrained, and out of haunt
26062491This mad young man. But so much was our love,
26072492We would not understand what was most fit,
26082493But like the owner of a foul disease,
26092494To keep it from divulging, let it feed
26102495Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?
To draw apart the body he hath killed,
26122497O'er whom his very madness, like some ore
26142499Shows itself pure: 'a weeps for what is done.
Oh, Gertrude, come away!
26162501The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch
26172502But we will ship him hence, and this vile deed
26182503We must with all our majesty and skill
26192504Both countenance and excuse.--Ho, Guildenstern!
32.1Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 26212505Friends both, go join you with some further aid.
26222506Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,
26232507And from his mother's closet hath he dragged him.
26242508Go seek him out, speak fair, and bring the body
26252509Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.
37.1[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] 26262510Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends
26272511And let them know both what we mean to do
2628.12513Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter,
2628.32515Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name
2628.42516And hit the woundless air. Oh, come away!
26292517My soul is full of discord and dismay.
2518Enter Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and others. Safely stowed. But soft, what noise? Who calls on Hamlet?
26342520Oh, here they come.
Rosencrantz
What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
Compound[ed] it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence
Do not believe it.
Believe what?
That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides,
26422528to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by
26432529the son of a king?
Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
Ay, sir, that soaks up the King's countenance, his rewards, his
26462532authorities. But such officers do the King best service in the end: he
26472533keeps them, like [an ape] an apple in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed to be
26482534last swallowed. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but
26502535squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.
I understand you not, my lord.
I am glad of it. A knavish speech sleeps in a
2653foolish ear.
My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with us
26552539to the King.
The body is with the King, but the King is not with the
26572541body. The King is a thing.
A thing, my lord?
Of nothing. Bring me to him.
2544Enter King, and two or three. I have sent to seek him and to find the body.
26632546How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!
26642547Yet must not we put the strong law on him;
26652548He's loved of the distracted multitude,
26662549Who like not in their judgment but their eyes,
26672550And where 'tis so, th'offender's scourge is weighed,
26682551But never the offense. To bear all smooth and even,
26692552This sudden sending him away must seem
26702553Deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown
26712554By desperate appliance are relieved,
11.12556Enter Rosencrantz and all the rest. How now, what hath befall'n?
Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord,
But where is he?
Without, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure.
Bring him before us.
[Calling] Ho! Bring in the lord.
15.12681They [Guildenstern and Guards] enter [with Hamlet]. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?
At supper.
At supper? Where?
Not where he eats, but where 'a is eaten. A certain
26862568convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only
26872569emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat
26882570ourselves for maggots. Your fat king
2689and your lean beggar is but
2571variable service: two dishes
2690but to one table. That's the end.
Alas, alas!
A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and
2690.32574eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.
What dost thou mean by this?
Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress
26932577through the guts of a beggar.
Where is Polonius?
In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger find him
26962580not there, seek him i'th' other place yourself. But if indeed you find
26972581him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the
26982582stairs into the lobby.
[To some attendants] Go seek him there.
'A will stay till you come.
Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety--
27022586Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve
27032587For that which thou hast done--must send thee hence.
27052589The bark is ready, and the wind at help,
27062590Th'associates tend, and everything is bent
For England!
Ay, Hamlet.
Good.
So is it if thou knew'st our purposes.
I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England!
27132597Farewell, dear mother.
Thy loving father, Hamlet.
My mother. Father and mother is man and wife,
27162600man and wife is one flesh, so, my mother.
2601Come, for England!
Exit.
Follow him at foot.
27192603Tempt him with speed aboard.
27202604Delay it not. I'll have him hence tonight.
27212605Away! For everything is sealed and done
27222606That else leans on th'affair. Pray you, make haste.
45.1[Exeunt all but the King.] 27232607And England, if my love thou hold'st at aught,
27242608As my great power thereof may give thee sense,
27252609Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red
27262610After the Danish sword, and thy free awe
27272611Pays homage to us, thou mayst not coldly set
27282612Our sovereign process, which imports at full
27292613By letters congruing to that effect
27302614The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England,
27312615For like the hectic in my blood he rages,
27322616And thou must cure me. Till I know 'tis done,
27332617Howe'er my haps, my joys will ne'er begin.
2618Enter Fortinbras [and a Captain] with his army over the stage. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish King.
27362620Tell him that by his license Fortinbras
27372621Craves the conveyance of a promised march
27382622Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.
27392623If that his majesty would aught with us,
27402624We shall express our duty in his eye;
I will do't, my lord.
[To his soldiers] Go softly on.
[Exeunt all but the Captain.]
[To the Captain] Good sir, whose powers are these?
They are of Norway, sir.
How purposed, sir, I pray you?
Against some part of Poland.
Who commands them, sir?
The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.
Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,
Truly to speak, and with no addition,
2743.132640To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it,
Why then the Polack never will defend it.
Yes, it is already garrisoned.
Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats
2743.202647This is th'impostume of much wealth and peace,
2743.212648That inward breaks, and shows no cause without
God buy you, sir.
Will't please you go, my lord?
I'll be with you straight. Go a little before.
[Exeunt all but Hamlet.]
2743.302657Sure he that made us with such large discourse,
2743.362663A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom
2743.392666Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means
2743.462673To all that fortune, death, and danger dare,
2743.502677When honor's at the stake. How stand I, then,
2743.512678That have a father killed, a mother stained,
2743.562683Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot
2743.592686To hide the slain? Oh, from this time forth,
2688Enter Horatio, [Queen] Gertrude, and a Gentleman. I will not speak with her.
She is importunate,
2691Indeed, distract. Her mood
2747will needs be pitied.
What would she have?
She speaks much of her father, says she hears
27502694There's tricks i'th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
27512695Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
27522696That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
27532697Yet the unshapèd use of it doth move
27542698The hearers to collection; they yawn at it,
27552699And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
27562700Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
27572701Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
27582702Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.
'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
27602704Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.
[Exit Gentleman.]
[Aside] To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is,
27632708Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
27642709So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
27652710It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.
Enter Ophelia.
Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?
How now, Ophelia?
She sings.
How should I your true love know
From another one?
And his sandal shoon.
Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?
Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
He is dead and gone, lady,
He is dead and gone.
At his heels a stone.
Nay, but Ophelia--
Pray you, mark.
Song.
2778White his shroud as the mountain snow--
Alas, look here, my lord.
Song.
Larded all with sweet flowers,
27812725Which bewept to the ground did not go
How do you, pretty lady?
Well Good dild you. They say the owl was a baker's
27852729daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.
Conceit upon her father.
Pray let's have no words of this, but when they ask you
27892733what it means, say you this:
Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's Day,
2735All in the morning betime,
2737To be your Valentine.
27922738Then up he rose, and donned his close
And dupped the chamber door,
27932739Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
Pretty Ophelia--
Indeed? Without an oath I'll make an end on't.
By Gis and by Saint Charity,
27982744Young men will do't if they come to't;
28002746Quoth she, "Before you tumbled me,
2801You promised me to wed."
"So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
28032748An thou hadst not come to my bed."
How long hath she been thus?
I hope all will be well. We must be patient. But I cannot choose
28062751but weep to think they would lay him i'th' cold ground. My brother
28072752shall know of it. And so I thank you for your good counsel. Come,
28082753my coach! Good night, ladies, good night,
28092754sweet ladies, good night, good night.
[To Horatio] Follow her close.
2812Give her good watch, I pray you.
28132756Oh, this is the poison of deep grief! It springs
death and now behold!
Oh, Gertrude, Gertrude,
28152758When sorrows come, they come not single spies
28162759But in battalions. First, her father slain;
28172760Next, your son gone, and he most violent author
28182761Of his own just remove; the people muddied,
28192762Thick and unwholesome in thoughts and whispers
28202763For good Polonius' death, and we have done but greenly
28212764In hugger-mugger to inter him; poor Ophelia
28222765Divided from herself and her fair judgment,
28232766Without the which we are pictures or mere beasts;
28242767Last, and as much containing as all these,
28252768Her brother is in secret come from France,
28262769Feeds on this wonder, keeps himself in clouds,
28272770And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
28282771With pestilent speeches of his father's death,
28292772Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,
28302773Will nothing stick our person to arraign
28312774In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this,
28322775Like to a murd'ring piece, in many places
A noise within.
Attend!
Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door.
What is the matter? 28382780Messenger Save yourself, my lord!
28392781The ocean, overpeering of his list,
28402782Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste
28412783Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
28422784O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord,
28432785And, as the world were now but to begin,
28442786Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
28452787The ratifiers and props of every word,
28462788The[y] cry, "Choose we! Laertes shall be king!"
28472789Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:
28482790"Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!"
How cheerfully on the false trail they cry!
A noise within.
28502792Oh, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!
The doors are broke.
Where is this king?--Sirs, stand you all without.
No, let's come in.
I pray you, give me leave.
We will, we will.
I thank you. Keep the door.
109.1[Exeunt followers and Messenger.] I thank you. Keep the door. O thou vile king,
Calmly, good Laertes.
That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard,
28622803Cries "Cuckold!" to my father, brands the harlot
28632804Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow
What is the cause, Laertes,
28662807That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?--
28672808Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person.
28682809There's such divinity doth hedge a king
28692810That treason can but peep to what it would,
28702811Acts little of his will.--Tell me, Laertes,
28712812Why thou art thus incensed?--Let him go, Gertrude.--
Speak, man. Where is my father?
Dead.
But not by him.
Let him demand his fill.
How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with.
28782819To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
28792820Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
28802821I dare damnation. To this point I stand,
28812822That both the worlds I give to negligence,
28822823Let come what comes, only I'll be revenged
Who shall stay you?
My will, not all the world's.
28862827And for my means, I'll husband them so well
Good Laertes,
2889If you desire to know the certainty
28902830Of your dear father, is't writ in your revenge
28912831That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,
None but his enemies.
Will you know them, then?
To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms,
28962836And, like the kind life-rend'ring pelican,
Why, now you speak
28992839Like a good child and a true gentleman.
29002840That I am guiltless of your father's death,
29012841And am most sensibly in grief for it,
29022842It shall as level to your judgment 'pear
A noise within.
Let her come in.
29072847O heat, dry up my brains! Tears seven times salt
29082848Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!
29092849By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight
29102850Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,
29112851Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
29122852O heavens, is't possible a young maid's wits
29132853Should be as mortal as a poor man's life?
2914Nature is fine in love, and where 'tis fine
2915It sends some precious instance of itself
2916After the thing it loves.
Song.
They bore him bare-faced on the bier,
29192855And in his grave rained many a tear.
Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
You must sing "a-down, a-down,"
2860an you call
2924him "a-down-a." Oh, how the wheel becomes it!
2861It is
2925the false steward that stole his master's daughter.
This nothing's more than matter.
There's rosemary; that's for remembrance. Pray you, love,
29282864remember. And there is pansies; that's for thoughts.
A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted.
There's fennel for you, and columbines. There's rue for
29332867you, and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace o'Sundays.
29342868You may wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy. I would
29352869give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died.
29372870They say 'a made a good end.
29382871For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.
Thought and afflictions, passion, hell itself
29402873She turns to favor and to prettiness.
Song.
And will 'a not come again?
Go to thy deathbed,
And we cast away moan.
2949And of all Christians' souls, I pray God.
29502882God b'wi'you!
183.1[Exit Ophelia, followed by the Queen.] Do you [see] this, O God?
Laertes, I must commune with your grief,
29532885Or you deny me right. Go but apart,
29542886Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,
29552887And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me.
29562888If by direct or by collateral hand
29572889They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,
29582890Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours
29592891To you in satisfaction; but if not,
29602892Be you content to lend your patience to us,
29612893And we shall jointly labor with your soul
Let this be so.
29642896His means of death, his obscure funeral--
29652897No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
29662898No noble rite, nor formal ostentation--
29672899Cry to be heard as 'twere from heaven to earth,
So you shall,
29702902And where th'offense is, let the great ax fall.
2904Enter Horatio, and others [including a Gentleman]. What are they that would speak with me?
Seafaring men, sir. They say they have letters for you.
Let them come in.
29762908I do not know from what part of the world
29772909I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
God bless you, sir.
Let him bless thee to[o].
'A shall, sir, an please him. There's a letter for you, sir. It came
29822913from th'ambassador that was bound for England, if your name be
29832914Horatio, as I am let
2984to know it is.
[Reads the letter]
Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these
29872916fellows some means to the King; they have letters for him. Ere we
29882917were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave
29892918us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled
29902919valor, and in the grapple I boarded them. On the instant they got
29912920clear of our ship, so I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt
29922921with me like thieves of mercy, but they knew what they did: I am to
29932922do a turn for them. Let the King have the letters I have sent, and
29952923repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest fly death.
29962924I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb, yet are
29972925they much too light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows
29982926will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their
29992927course for England. Of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.
30012928He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet.
Come, I will [give] you way for these your letters,
30042930And do't the speedier that you may direct me
30052931To him from whom you brought them.
Exeunt.
2932Enter King and Laertes. Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,
30082934And you must put me in your heart for friend,
30092935Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,
30102936That he which hath your noble father slain
It well appears. But tell me
30132939Why you proceed not against these feats
30142940So criminal and so capital in nature,
30152941As by your safety, greatness, wisdom, all things else,
Oh for two special reasons,
30182944Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed,
30192945But yet to me they're strong. The Queen his mother
30202946Lives almost by his looks, and for myself--
30212947My virtue or my plague, be it either which--
30222948She is so conjunct to my life and soul
30232949That, as the star moves not but in his sphere,
30242950I could not but by her. The other motive
30252951Why to a public count I might not go
30262952Is the great love the general gender bear him,
30272953Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
30282954Work, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,
30292955Convert his gyves to graces, so that my arrows,
30302956Too slightly timbered for so lovèd armed,
30312957Would have reverted to my bow again,
30322958But not where I have aimed them.
And so have I a noble father lost,
30342960A sister driven into desp'rate terms,
30352961Whose worth, if praises may go back again,
30362962Stood challenger on mount of all the age
30372963For her perfections. But my revenge will come.
Break not your sleeps for that. You must not think
30402965That we are made of stuff so flat and dull
30412966That we can let our beard be shook with danger
30422967And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more.
30432968I loved your father, and we love ourself,
30442969And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine--
These to your majesty, this to the Queen.
[He gives letters.]
From Hamlet! Who brought them?
Sailors, my lord, they say. I saw them not.
30512974They were given me by Claudio. He received them
Laertes, you shall hear them. [To the Messenger] Leave us.
[Exit Messenger.]
High and mighty, you shall know I am set naked on your kingdom.
30552978Tomorrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes, when I shall first,
30562979asking you pardon, thereunto recount the occasion of my sudden
30572980return. [Hamlet.]
What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?
30602982Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?
Know you the hand?
'Tis Hamlet's character. "Naked!"
2985And in a postscript here he says "alone."
I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come.
30652988It warms the very sickness in my heart
30662989That I live and tell him to his teeth
If it be so, Laertes--
2992As how should it be so, how otherwise?--
Ay, my lord,
So you will not o'errule me to a peace.
To thine own peace. If he be now returned
30722996As checking at his voyage, and that he means
30732997No more to undertake it, I will work him
30742998To an exploit, now ripe in my device,
30752999Under the which he shall not choose but fall;
30763000And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,
30773001But even his mother shall uncharge the practice
My lord, I will be ruled,
It falls right.
3078.53007You have been talked of since your travel much,
3078.63008And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality
3078.73009Wherein they say you shine. Your sum of parts
3078.83010Did not together pluck such envy from him
3078.93011As did that one, and that, in my regard,
What part is that, my lord?
A very riband in the cap of youth,
3078.163018Importing health and graveness. Two months since
30793019Here was a gentleman of Normandy.
30803020I have seen myself, and served against, the French,
30813021And they can well on horseback, but this gallant
30823022Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto his seat,
30833023And to such wondrous doing brought his horse
30843024As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured
30853025With the brave beast. So far he topped my thought
30863026That I in forgery of shapes and tricks
A Norman was't?
A Norman.
Upon my life, Lamord.
The very same.
I know him well. He is the brooch indeed
He made confession of you,
30953035And gave you such a masterly report
30963036For art and exercise in your defense,
30973037And for your rapier most especial,
30983038That he cried out 'twould be a sight indeed
30993039If one could match you. Th'escrimers of their nation,
3099.13040He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye
3099.23041If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his
31003042Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy
31013043That he could nothing do but wish and beg
31023044Your sudden coming o'er to play with you.
What out of this, my lord?
Laertes, was your father dear to you?
31063048Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
Why ask you this?
Not that I think you did not love your father,
31103052But that I know love is begun by time,
31113053And that I see, in passages of proof,
31123054Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.
3112.13055There lives within the very flame of love
3112.23056A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it,
3112.33057And nothing is at a like goodness still,
3112.53059Dies in his own too much. That we would do
3112.63060We should do when we would, for this "would" changes
3112.83062As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents,
3112.93063And then this "should" is like a spendthrift's sigh,
3112.103064That hurts by easing. But to the quick of th'ulcer:
31133065Hamlet comes back. What would you undertake
31143066To show yourself indeed your father's son
To cut his throat i'th' church.
No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize.
31183070Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
31193071Will you do this: keep close within your chamber.
31203072Hamlet returned shall know you are come home.
31213073We'll put on those shall praise your excellence
31223074And set a double varnish on the fame
31233075The Frenchman gave you, bring you in fine together,
31243076And wager o'er your heads. He being remiss,
31253077Most generous, and free from all contriving,
31263078Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,
31273079Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
31283080A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice
I will do't,
31313083And for [that] purpose I'll anoint my sword.
31323084I bought an unction of a mountebank
31333085So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,
31343086Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
31353087Collected from all simples that have virtue
31363088Under the moon, can save the thing from death
31373089That is but scratched withal. I'll touch my point
31383090With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly,
Lets further think of this.
31413092Weigh what convenience both of time and means
31423093May fit us to our shape. If this should fail,
31433094And that our drift look through our bad performance,
31443095'Twere better not assayed. Therefore this project
31453096Should have a back or second, that might hold
31463097If this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see.
31473098We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings--
31483099I ha't! When in your motion you are hot and dry--
31493100As make your bouts more violent to that end--
31503101And that he calls for drink, I'll have preferred him
31513102A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,
31523103If he by chance escape your venomed stuck,
31533104Our purpose may hold there.
[A cry within.] But stay, what noise?
One woe doth tread upon another's heel,
31563107So fast they follow. Your sister's drowned, Laertes.
Drowned! Oh, where?
There is a willow grows askant the brook
31593110That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream.
31603111Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
31613112Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
31623113That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
31633114But our cull-cold maids do dead men's fingers call them.
31643115There on the pendent boughs her crownet weeds
31653116Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke,
31663117When down her weedy trophies and herself
31673118Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
31683119And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up,
31693120Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds,
31703121As one incapable of her own distress,
31713122Or like a creature native and endued
31723123Unto that element. But long it could not be
31733124Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
31743125Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
Alas, then she is drowned.
Drowned, drowned.
Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
31793130And therefore I forbid my tears. But yet
31803131It is our trick; nature her custom holds,
31813132Let shame say what it will.
[He weeps.] When these are gone,
31823133The woman will be out. Adieu, my lord.
31833134I have a speech o'fire that fain would blaze,
Exit.
Let's follow, Gertrude.
31863137How much I had to do to calm his rage!
31873138Now fear I this will give it start again;
Exeunt.
3140Enter two Clowns [with spades and mattocks]. Is she to be buried in Christian burial, when she willfully
31913142seeks her own salvation?
I tell thee she is; therefore make her grave straight. The
31933144crowner hath sat on her, and finds it Christian burial.
How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own
31963146defense?
Why, 'tis found so.
It must be so offended, it cannot be else, for here lies the
31993149point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath
32003150three branches: it is to act, to do, and to perform. Argal, she drowned
32013151herself wittingly.
Nay, but hear you, good man delver.
Give me leave. Here lies the water; good. Here stands the
32053154man; good. If the man go to this water and drown himself, it is, will
32063155he, nill he, he goes. Mark you that. But if the water come to him and
32073156drown him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of
32093157his own death shortens not his own life.
But is this law?
Ay, marry, is't, crowner's quest law.
Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a
32133161gentlewoman, she should have been buried
3214out o'Christian burial.
Why, there thou say'st, and the more pity that great folk
32163163should have count'nance in this world to drown or hang themselves
32173164more than their even-Christen. Come, my spade. There is no
32183165ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and gravemakers. They hold
32193166up Adam's profession.
Was he a gentleman?
'A was the first that ever bore arms. I'll put another
3227question to thee. If thou answerest me not to the purpose,
3228confess thyself.
Go to.
What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the
32313173shipwright, or the carpenter?
The gallows-maker, for that outlives a thousand tenants.
I like thy wit well, in good faith, the gallows does well.
32353176But how does it well? It does well to those that do ill. Now, thou
32363177dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church. Argal,
32373178the gallows may do well to thee. To't again, come.
"Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a
32403180carpenter?"
Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.
Marry, now I can tell.
To't.
Mass, I cannot tell.
Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will
32473186not mend his pace with beating; and when you are asked this question
32483187next, say "a grave-maker." The houses he makes lasts till doomsday.
32493188Go get thee in, and fetch me a soope of liquor.
23.2[The First Clown digs.] In youth when I did love, did love,
32543191To contract--oh--the time for-a--my behove,
32553192Oh, methought there--a--was nothing--a--meet.
3245Enter Hamlet and Horatio. Has this fellow no feeling of his business? 'A sings in
32573195grave-making.
Custom hath made it in him a property of
3259easiness.
'Tis e'en so. The hand of little employment hath
3261the daintier sense.
Song.
But age with his stealing steps
32653200And hath shipped me into the land,
34.1[The Clown throws up a skull.] That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once. How the
32683203knave jowls it to the ground, as if 'twere Cain's jawbone, that did the
32693204first murder! This might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now
32703205o'erreaches, one that would circumvent God, might it not?
It might, my lord.
Or of a courtier, which could say, "Good morrow, sweet lord,
32743208how dost thou, sweet lord?" This might be my Lord Such-a-one, that
32753209praised my Lord Such-a-one's horse when 'a went to beg it, might it not?
Ay, my lord.
Why, e'en so. And now my Lady Worm's, chopless, and knocked
32793212about the massene with a sexton's spade. Here's fine revolution, an
32803213we had the trick to see't. Did these bones cost no more the breeding
32813214but to play at loggets with them? Mine ache to think on't.
Song.
A pickax and a spade, a spade,
32873217Oh, a pit of clay for to be made
[He throws up another skull.]
There's another. Why may not that be the
3290skull of a lawyer?
3220Where be his quiddities now, his
3291quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his
3221tricks? Why
3292does he suffer this mad knave now to knock him
3222about
3293the sconce with a dirty shovel, and will not tell him of
3294his
3223action of battery? H'm! This fellow might be
3295in's time a great buyer of
3224land, with his statutes, his
3296recognizances, his fines, his double
3225vouchers, his
3297recoveries, to have his fine pate full of fine dirt? Will
32993226vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases, and double ones too, than the length
33003227and breadth of a pair of indentures? The very conveyances of his
33013228lands will scarcely lie in this box, and must th'inheritor himself have
33033229no more, ha?
Not a jot more, my lord.
Is not parchment made of sheepskins?
Ay, my lord, and of calves' skins too.
They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance in
33083234that. I will speak to this fellow.--Whose grave's this, sirrah?
Mine, sir.
3311Oh, a pit of clay for to be made --
I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in't.
You lie out on't, sir, and therefore 'tis not yours. For my part, I
33153238do not lie in't, yet it is mine.
Thou dost lie in't, to be in't and say it is thine. 'Tis for the dead,
33173240not for the quick; therefore thou liest.
'Tis a quick lie, sir; 'twill away again from me to you.
What man dost thou dig it for?
For no man, sir.
What woman, then?
For none, neither.
Who is to be buried in't?
One that was a woman, sir, but, rest her soul, she's dead.
[To Horatio] How absolute the knave is! We must speak by the card, or
33293249equivocation will undo us. By the Lord, Horatio, this three years I
33303250have took note of it, the age is grown so picked that the toe of the
33313251peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier he galls his kibe.--How
33333252long hast thou been grave-maker?
Of the days i'th' year, I came to't that day that our last King
33353254Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.
How long is that since?
Cannot you tell that? Every fool can tell that. It was that
33383257very day that young Hamlet was born--he that is mad and sent into
33393258England.
Ay, marry, why was he sent into England?
Why, because 'a was mad. 'A shall recover his wits there, or if
33423261'a do not, 'tis no great matter there.
Why?
'Twill not be seen in him there. There the men are as mad as he.
How came he mad?
Very strangely, they say.
How strangely?
Faith, e'en with losing his wits.
Upon what ground?
Why, here in Denmark. I have been sexton here, man
33523270and boy, thirty years.
How long will a man lie i'th' earth ere he rot?
Faith, if 'a be not rotten before 'a die--as we have many
33553273pocky corses nowadays that will scarce hold the laying in--'a will last you some eight
33563274year, or nine year. A tanner will last you nine year.
Why he more than another?
Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade that 'a will keep
33603277out water a great while; and your water is a sore decayer of your
33613278whoreson dead body.
[He picks up a skull.] Here's a skull
3362now hath lyen you i'th'earth 23 years.
Whose was it?
A whoreson mad fellow's it was. Whose do you think it was?
Nay, I know not.
A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! 'A poured a flagon of
33683283Rhenish on my head once. This same skull, sir, was, sir, Yorick's skull, the
33693284King's jester.
This?
E'en that.
[taking the skull] Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite
33733288jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his back a
33743289thousand times, and now how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge
33753290rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how
33763291oft.--Where be your gibes now? Your gambols, your songs, your
33783292flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one
33793293now to mock your own grinning? Quite chopfall'n? Now get you
33803294to my lady's table and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this
33823295favor she must come. Make her laugh at that.
3296Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.
What's that, my lord?
Dost thou think Alexander looked o'this fashion i'th' earth?
E'en so.
And smelt so? Pah!
89.1[He throws the skull down.] E'en so, my lord.
To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not
33913303imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till 'a find it stopping
33923304a bunghole?
'Twere to consider too curiously to consider so.
No, faith, not a jot. But to follow him thither with modesty
33953307enough, and likelihood to lead it: Alexander died, Alexander was
33963308buried, Alexander returneth to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we
33973309make loam, and why of that loam whereto he was converted might
33993310they not stop a beer-barrel?
34003311Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
34013312Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.
34023313Oh, that that earth which kept the world in awe
34033314Should patch a wall t'expel the water's flaw!
97.1Enter King, Queen, Laertes, and the corse [of Ophelia, in funeral procession, with the "Doctor" or Priest, and others]. 34043315But soft, but soft awhile! Here comes the King,
34073316The Queen, the courtiers. Who is this they follow?
34083317And with such maimèd rites? This doth betoken
34093318The corse they follow did with desp'rate hand
34103319Fordo it own life. 'Twas of some estate.
[Hamlet and Horatio conceal themselves. Ophelia's body is taken to the grave.]
What ceremony else?
[Aside to Horatio] That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark.
What ceremony else?
Her obsequies have been as far enlarged
34163325As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful,
34173326And, but that great command o'ersways the order,
34183327She should in ground unsanctified been lodged
34193328Till the last trumpet. For charitable prayers,
34203329Flints, and pebbles should be thrown on her;
34213330Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants,
34223331Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home
Must there no more be done?
No more be done.
34263335We should profane the service of the dead
34273336To sing a requiem and such rest to her
Lay her i'th' earth,
34303339And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
34313340May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
34323341A minist'ring angel shall my sister be
[To Horatio] What, the fair Ophelia!
[Scattering flowers] Sweets to the sweet! Farewell.
34363345I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife.
34373346I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid,
Oh, treble woe
34403349Fall ten times double on that cursèd head
34413350Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
34423351Deprived thee of!--Hold off the earth awhile,
34433352Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.
3444[He leaps in the grave] 34453353Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead,
34463354Till of this flat a mountain you have made
34473355T'o'ertop old Pelion, or the skyish head
[Coming forward] What is he whose grief
34503358Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow
34513359Conjures the wand'ring stars, and makes them stand
34523360Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,
Hamlet the Dane. 34543362Laertes[Grappling with Hamlet] The devil take thy soul!
Thou pray'st not well. I prithee take thy fingers from my throat,
34573364For, though I am not splenative rash,
34583365Yet have I in me something dangerous,
34593366Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand!
Pluck them asunder.
Hamlet, Hamlet!
Gentlemen!
Good my lord, be quiet.
[Hamlet and Laertes are parted.]
Why, I will fight with him upon this theme
34643372Until my eyelids will no longer wag.
Oh, my son, what theme?
I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
34673375Could not with all their quantity of love
34683376Make up my sum.--What wilt thou do for her?
Oh, he is mad, Laertes.
For love of God, forbear him.
'Swounds, show me what thou'lt do.
34723380Woo't weep? Woo't fight? Woo't fast? Woo't tear thyself?
34733381Woo't drink up eisil? Eat a crocodile?
34743382I'll do't. Dost come here to whine?
34753383To outface me with leaping in her grave?
34763384Be buried quick with her, and so will I.
34773385And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw
34783386Millions of acres on us, till our ground,
34793387Singeing his pate against the burning zone,
34803388Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou'lt mouth,
This is mere madness,
34833391And this awhile the fit will work on him;
34843392Anon, as patient as the female dove
34853393When that her golden couplets are disclosed,
[To Laertes] Hear you, sir,
34883396What is the reason that you use me thus?
34893397I loved you ever. But it is no matter.
34903398Let Hercules himself do what he may,
34913399The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.
I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.
175.1And Horatio [exits too]. 34933401[Aside to Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech;
34943402We'll put the matter to the present push.--
34953403Good Gertrard, set some watch over your son.--
34963404This grave shall have a living monument.
34973405An hour of quiet thereby shall we see;
34983406Till then, in patience our proceeding be.
Exeunt.
3407Enter Hamlet and Horatio. So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.
35013409You do remember all the circumstance?
Remember it, my lord!
Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
35043412That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay
35053413Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly,
35063414And praised be rashness for it: let us know,
35073415Our indiscretion sometime serves us well
35083416When our deep plots do fall, and that should learn us
35093417There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
That is most certain.
Up from my cabin,
35133421My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark
35143422Groped I to find out them, had my desire,
35153423Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew
35163424To mine own room again, making so bold,
35173425My fears forgetting manners, to unfold
35183426Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio--
35193427Ah, royal knavery!--an exact command,
35203428Larded with many several sorts of reasons
35213429Importing Denmark's health, and England's to[o],
35223430With ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
35233431That on the supervise, no leisure bated,
35243432No, not to stay the grinding of the ax,
Is't possible?
[Showing a document] Here's the commission. Read it at more leisure.
35283436But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?
I beseech you.
Being thus benetted round with villains--
35313439Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
35323440They had begun the play--I sat me down,
35333441Devised a new commission, wrote it fair.
35343442I once did hold it, as our statists do,
35353443A baseness to write fair, and labored much
35363444How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
35373445It did me yeoman's service. Wilt thou know
Ay, good my lord.
An earnest conjuration from the King,
35413449As England was his faithful tributary,
35423450As love between them like the palm might flourish,
35433451As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
35443452And stand a comma 'tween their amities,
35453453And many suchlike "as, sir" of great charge,
35463454That on the view and knowing of these contents,
35473455Without debatement further more or less,
35483456He should those bearers put to sudden death,
How was this sealed?
Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
35523460I had my father's signet in my purse,
35533461Which was the model of that Danish seal;
35543462Folded the writ up in the form of th'other,
35553463Subscribe[d] it, gave't th'impression, placed it safely,
35563464The changeling never known. Now the next day
35573465Was our sea fight, and what to this was sequent
So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.
They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
35623469Does by their own insinuation grow.
35633470'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
35643471Between the pass and fell incensèd points
Why, what a King is this!
Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon?
35683475He that hath killed my King and whored my mother,
35693476Popped in between th'election and my hopes,
35703477Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
35713478And with such coz'nage--is't not perfect conscience?
Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
I humbly thank you, sir.
3482[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.
35913485He hath much land, and fertile. Let a beast be lord of beasts, and his
35923486crib shall stand at the King's
3593mess. 'Tis a chough, but, as I say,
3487spacious in the
3594possession of dirt.
Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should
35963489impart a thing to you from his majesty.
I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. [Put] your bonnet
35983491to 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
36043496complexion.
Exceedingly, my lord, it is very sultry, as 'twere--I
36063498cannot tell how. My lord, his majesty bade me signify to you that 'a
36073499has 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
3610.13502come to court Laertes--believe me, an absolute gentlemen, full of most
3610.23503excellent differences, of very soft society and great showing.
3610.33504Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of
3610.43505gentry, for you shall find in him the continent of what part a
3610.53506gentleman would see.
Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you, though I
3610.73508know to divide him inventorially would dazzle th'arithmetic of
3610.83509memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But
3610.93510in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article,
3610.103511and his infusion of such dearth and rareness as, to make true diction
3610.113512of him, his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his
3610.123513umbrage, nothing more.
Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the gentleman in
3610.153516our more rawer breath?
Sir?
[To Hamlet] Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will
3610.183519do'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
3610.253526much approve me. Well, sir?
You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is--
I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with
3612.23529him in excellence. But to know a man well were to know himself.
I mean, sir, for his weapon. But in the imputation laid on
3612.43531him 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,
36173536against the which he has impawned, as I take it, six French rapiers
36183537and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hanger, and so. Three
36193538of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to
36203539the hilts, most delicate carriages,
3621and of very liberal conceit.
What call you the carriages?
[To Hamlet] I knew you must be edified by the margin ere you had
3542done.
The carriage, sir, are the hangers.
The phrase would be more germane to the matter if we
36253545could carry a cannon by our sides; I would it might be "hangers" till
36263546then. But on. Six Barbary horses against six French swords, their
36273547assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages: that's the French
36283548bet against the Danish. Why is this all you call it?
The King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes between
36313550yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits. He hath
36323551laid on twelve for nine, and it would come to
3633immediate trial, if
3552your lordship would vouchsafe the
3634answer.
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
36393556is the breathing time of day with me. Let the foils be brought, the
36403557gentleman willing, and the King hold his purpose, I will win
36413558for him an I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and
36423559the 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
36483564tongues 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
36523567many more of the same breed that I know the drossy age dotes on,
36533568only got the tune of the time and, out of an habit of encounter, a
36543569kind of yeasty collection, which carries them through and through
36563570the most profane and winnowed opinions; and do but blow
36573571them to their trial, the bubbles are out.
Enter a Lord.
My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young
3657.33574Osric, who brings back to him that you attend him in the hall.
3657.43575He sends to know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that
3657.53576you will take longer time?
I am constant to my purposes; they follow the King's
3657.73578pleasure. If his fitness speaks, mine is ready: now or whensoever,
3657.83579provided 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
3657.123583to Laertes before you fall to play.
She well instructs me.
You will lose, my lord.
I do not think so. Since he went into France, I have been
36603587in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. Thou wouldst not
36613588think 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
36653591would perhaps trouble a woman.
If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall their
36673593repair hither and say you are not fit.
Not a whit, we defy augury. There is special
3669providence in
3595the fall of a sparrow. If it be, 'tis not
3670to come; if it be not to come,
3596it will be now; if it
3671be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all,
3597since no man
3672of aught of what he leaves knows what is't to leave
3673betimes.
3673.13598Let be.
124.136743599A table prepared. [Enter] Trumpets, drums, and officers with cushions, 36763600King, Queen, [Osric,] and all the state, foils, daggers, 3601and Laertes. [Wine is borne in.] Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
125.1[The King puts Laertes's hand into Hamlet's.] [To Laertes] Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong,
36793604But pardon't as you are a gentleman. This presence knows,
36813605And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
36823606With a sore distraction. What I have done
36833607That might your nature, honor, and exception
36843608Roughly awake, I hear proclaim was madness.
36853609Was't Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
36863610If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
36873611And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
36883612Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.
36893613Who does it, then? His madness. If't be so,
36903614Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged;
36913615His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
36933616Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
36943617Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
36953618That I have shot my arrow o'er the house
I am satisfied in nature,
36983621Whose motive in this case should stir me most
36993622To my revenge. But in my terms of honor
37003623I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement,
37013624Till by some elder masters of known honor
37023625I have a voice and precedent of peace
37033626To [keep] my name ungored. But all that time
37043627I do receive your offered love like love,
I embrace it freely,
37073630and will this brother's wager
frankly play.--
Come, one for me.
I'll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance
37113634Your skill shall like a star i'th' darkest night
You mock me, sir.
No, by this hand.
Give them the foils, young Osric.
[Foils are handed to Hamlet and Laertes.]
Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
Very well, my lord.
37183641Your grace has laid the odds o'th'weaker side.
I do not fear it;
3720I have seen you both.
37213643But 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.
37283648If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
37293649Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
37303650Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.
37313651The King shall drink to Hamlet's better breath,
37323652And in the cup an onyx shall he throw
37333653Richer then that which four successive kings
37343654In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups,
37363655And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
37373656The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
37383657The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,
37393658"Now the King drinks to Hamlet." Come, begin.
Trumpets the while.
37403659And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
Come on, sir.
Come, my lord.
182.1[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.
188.1[He drinks, and throws a pearl in Hamlet's cup.] 37503668Here's to thy health.--Give him the cup.
I'll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.
37533670Come.
[They fence.] Come, another hit. What say you?
I do confess't.
[To the Queen] Our son shall win.
He's fat and scant of breath.--
37573674Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.
194.1[The Queen takes a cup of wine to offer a toast to Hamlet.] 37583675The 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,
3771Laertes, you do but dally.
37723686I pray you, pass with your best violence;
37733687I am sure you make a wanton of me.
Say you so? Come on.
Nothing neither way.
Have at you now!
209.13777[Laertes wounds Hamlet with his unbated rapier.] In scuffling they change rapiers. [Hamlet wounds Laertes.] Part them! They are incensed.
Nay, come again.
210.1[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
3784to mine own springe, Osric;
37853697I 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,
37893701The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.
Oh, villainy! Ho, let the door be locked.
It is here. Hamlet,
3794thou art slain.
37953705No med'cine in the world can do thee good;
37963706In thee there is not half an hour's life.
37973707The treacherous instrument is in my hand,
37983708Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice
37993709Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie
38003710Never to rise again. Thy mother's poisoned.
38013711I can no more. The King, the King's to blame.
The point envenomed to[o]? Then, venom, to thy work.
Treason, treason!
Oh, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt.
[Forcing the King to drink] Here, thou incestuous,
3808damnèd Dane,
38093716Drink of[f] this potion. Is the onyx here?
He is justly served.
3812It is a poison tempered by himself.
38133719Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
38143720Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.
38173723I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu.
38183724You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
38193725That are but mutes or audience to this act,
38203726Had I but time, as this fell sergeant Death
38213727Is strict in his arrest, oh, I could tell you--
38223728But let it be. Horatio, I am dead,
38233729Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright
Never believe it.
38263732I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
[He attempts to drink from the poisoned cup, but is prevented by Hamlet.]
As thou'rt a man,
3735Give me the cup!
3829Let go! By heaven I'll ha't.
38303736Oh, God, Horatio, what a wounded name,
38313737Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me!
38323738If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
38333739Absent thee from felicity awhile,
38343740And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain
To tell my story. 3837What warlike noise is this?
Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
38403744To th'ambassadors of England gives this warlike volley.
Oh, I die, Horatio.
38423746The potent poison quite o'ercrows my spirit.
38433747I cannot live to hear the news from England,
38443748But I do prophesy th'election lights
38453749On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.
38463750So tell him, with th'occurrents more and less
38473751Which have solicited. The rest is silence.
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
38503753And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
268.138523755Enter Fortinbras, with the [English] Ambassadors, [with Drum, 3853 Colors, and Attendants]. Where is this sight?
What is it you would see?
38563758If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,
38583760What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
38593761That thou so many princes at a shot
The sight is dismal,
38623764And our affairs from England come too late.
38633765The ears are senseless that should give us hearing,
38643766To tell him his commandment is fulfilled,
38653767That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
38663768Where should we have our thanks?
Not from his mouth,
38683770Had it th'ability of life to thank you;
38693771He never gave commandment for their death.
38703772But since so jump upon this bloody question
38713773You from the Polack wars and you from England
38723774Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
38733775High on a stage be placèd the view,
38743776And let me speak to [th']yet unknowing world
38753777How these things came about. So shall you hear
38763778Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
38773779Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
38783780Of deaths put on by cunning and for no cause,
38793781And in this upshot, purposes mistook
38803782Fall'n on th'inventors' heads. All this can I
Let us haste to hear it,
38833785And call the noblest to the audience.
38843786For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.
38853787I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
38863788Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.
Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
38893790And from his mouth
3890whose voice will draw no more.
38913791But let this same be presently performed,
38923792Even while men's minds are wild, lest more mischance
Let four captains
38963795Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,
38973796For he was likely, had he been put on,
38983797To have proved most royal; and for his passage,
39003798The soldiers' music and the rite of war
39023800Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this
39033801Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.