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 fellow1769tear 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?

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,

19341834And my imaginations are as foul

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

19381838In censure of his seeming.

Well, my lord,

19401840If 'a steal aught the whilst this play is playing

19411841And scape detected, I will pay the theft.

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."

What means this, my lord?

Marry, this munching mallico, it means mischief.

Belike this show imports the argument of the play.

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,

20181903Here stooping to your clemency,

20191904We beg your hearing patiently.

Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?

'Tis brief, my lord.

As woman's love.

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

20441932For husband shalt thou--

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

20771964Directly seasons him his enemy.

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,

2085.11973To desperation turn my trust and hope,

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

20941981The tedious day with sleep.

Sleep rock thy brain,

20961983And never come mischance between us twain!

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.

'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!

"Why, let the strucken deer go weep,

21442021The heart ungallèd play,

21452022For some must watch while some must sleep;

21462023Thus runs the world away."

2147Would not this, sir, and a forest of 2024feathers--if the rest of2148 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,

21542029This realm dismantled was

2030Of Jove himself, and now reigns here

21562031A very, very pajock.

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.

21672041Come, some music.

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.

22662127Let me be cruel, not unnatural;

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!