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

10451078As fits a king's remembrance.

Both your majesties

10471080Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,

10481081Put your dread pleasures more into command

10491082Than to entreaty.

But we both obey,

10511084And here give up ourselves in the full bent

10521085To lay our service freely at your feet

10531086To be commanded.

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

10611093Pleasant and helpful to him!

Ay, amen.

Th'ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,

10651097Are joyfully returned.

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.

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.

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

11021134That it might please you to give quiet pass

11031135Through your dominions for this enterprise

11041136On such regards of safety and allowance

11051137As therein are set down.

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.

11111143Most welcome home!

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?

11221154But let that go.

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.

1165Perpend.

11331166I have a daughter--have while she is mine--

11341167Who in her duty and obedience, mark,

11351168Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.

Came this from Hamlet to her?

Good madam, stay awhile, I will be faithful.

11531182This in obedience hath my daughter shown me,

11541183And more about hath his solicitings,

11551184As they fell out, by time, by means, and place,

11561185All given to mine ear.

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,

11801209And all we mourn for.

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"

11851214When it proved otherwise?

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

11901219Within the center.

How may we try it further?

You know sometimes he walks four hours together

11931222Here in the lobby.

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

12011229But keep a farm and carters.

We will try it.

But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.

Away, I do beseech you both away.

12071234I'll board him presently. Oh, give me leave.--

12081235How does my good Lord Hamlet?

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 thank13201298you; 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,

[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

26414981426With heraldry more dismal head to foot;

26514991427Now is he total gules, horridly tricked

26615001428With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,

26715011429Baked and empasted with the parching streets

26815021430That lend a tyrannous and a damnèd light

26915031431To their lord's murder. Roasted in wrath and fire,

27015041432And thus o'ersizèd with coagulate gore,

27115051433With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus

27215061434Old grandsire Priam seeks.

273So proceed you.

'Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.

Anon he finds him,

27615101437Striking too short at Greeks. His anticke sword,

27715111438Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,

27815121439Repugnant to command. Unequal matched,

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,]

28215161443Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top

28315171444Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash

28415181445Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear; for lo! his sword,

28515191446Which was declining on the milky head

28615201447Of reverent Priam, seemed i'th' air to stick.

28715211448So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood,

28815221449Like a neutral to his will and matter,

2891450Did nothing.

29015231451But as we often see against some storm

29115241452A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,

29215251453The bold winds speechless, and the orb below

29315261454As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder

29415271455Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus' pause,

29515281456A rousèd vengeance sets him new a-work,

29615291457And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall

29715301458On Mars's armor forged for proof eterne

29815311459With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword

29915321460Now falls on Priam.

30015331461Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods

30115341462In general synod take away her power,

30215351463Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,

30315361464And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven

30415371465As low as to the fiends!

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

31115471473With bisson rheum, a clout upon that head

31215481474Where late the diadem stood, and, for a robe,

31315491475About her lank and all-o'erteemèd loins

31415501476A blanket in the alarm of fear caught up--

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,

31815541480When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport

31915551481In mincing with his sword her husband limbs,

32015561482The instant burst of clamor that she made,

32115571483Unless things mortal move them not at all,

32215581484Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven

32315591485And passion in the gods.

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.

Good my lord.

Ay, so, God buy to you.--Now I am alone.

33615901511Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!

33715911512Is it not monstrous that this player here,

33815921513But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,

33915931514Could force his soul so to his own conceit

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,

34415981519For Hecuba.

34515991520What's Hecuba to him, or he to her,

34616001521That he should weep for her? What would he do

34716011522Had he the motive and that for passion

34816021523That I have? He would drown the stage with tears,

34916031524And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,

35016041525Make mad the guilty, and appal the free,

35116051526Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed

35216061527The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,

35316071528A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak

35416081529Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,

35516091530And can say nothing; no, not for a king

35616101531Upon whose property and most dear life

35716111532A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?

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

36116151536As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this,

36216161537Ha? 'Swounds, I should take it; for it cannot be

36316171538But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall

36416181539To make oppression bitter, or ere this

36516191540I should ha' fatted all the region kites

36616201541With this slave's offal. Bloody, bawdy villain!

36716211542Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!

36816231543Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,

36916241544That I, the son of a dear murderèd,

37016251545Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,

37116261546Must like a whore unpack my heart with words,

37216271547And fall a-cursing like a very drab, a stallion. Fie upon't, foh!

37316281548About, my brains! Hum, I have heard

37416291549That guilty creatures sitting at a play

37516301550Have by the very cunning of the scene

37616311551Been struck so to the soul that presently

37716321552They have proclaimed their malefactions;

37816331553For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

37916341554With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players

38016351555Play something like the murder of my father

38116361556Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;

38216371557I'll tent him to the quick. If 'a do blench

38316381558I know my course. The spirit that I have seen

38416391559May be a de'il, and the de'il hath power

38516401560T'assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps,

38616411561Out of my weakness and my melancholy,

38716421562As he is very potent with such spirits,

38816431563Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds

38916441564More relative than this. The play's the thing

39016451565Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.