William Shakespeare - Hamlet (English)

VOLUME IV BOOK III 

H AMLET

By William Shakespeare

Dramatis Personae

CLAUDIUS king of Denmark. (KIN G CLAUDIUS)

FRANCISCO a soldier.

H AMLET son to the late, and nephew to the present king.

REYNALDO servant servant to Poloniu Polonius. s.

lord cham chambe berla rlain. in. (LORD POLONIUS) POLONIUS lord

Players. (FIRST PLAYER), (PLAYER KING), (PLAYER QUEEN)

H ORATIO friend to Hamlet. LAETES son to Polonius.

Two Clowns, grave-diggers. (FIRST CLOWN), (SECOND CLOWN)

LUCIANUS nephew to the king.

FORTINBRAS prince of Norway. (PRINCE FORTINBRAS)

VOLTIMAND CORNELIUS ROSENCRANTZ

A Captain.

courtiers.

English English Ambas Am bassado sadors rs.. (FIRST AMBASSA AM BASSADOR) DOR)

GUILDENSTERN

GERTRUDE queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet. (QUEE (Q UEEN N GERT GERTRUDE) RUDE)

OSRIC A Gentleman. (GENTLEMAN)

daught er to Poloniu Polonius. s. OPHELIA daughter

A Pries Priest. t. ( FIRST PRIEST)

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. (LORD), (FIRST SAILOR), (MESSENGER)

MARCELLUS BERNARDO

officers.

Ghost Ghost of Ham let’s let’s Father. ath er. (GHOST (GH OST )

SCENE Denmark.

Hamlet

ACT I SCENE I Elsinore. A platform before the castle. [FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNA BERNARDO] RDO] BERNARDO

MARCELLUS

And liege liegemen men to t o the th e Dane.

FRANCISCO

Give Give you you good night. n ight.

O, farewell, honest soldier: Who hath h ath reli r eliev eved ed you?

MARCELLUS

Who’s there?

Bernardo ernard o has h as my place. place. Give Give you you good night. n ight.

FRANCISCO

Nay, answer answer me: stand, stand , and unfold un fold yourself. yourself.

FRANCISCO

[Exit]

BERNARDO

Long on g live live the th e king!

FRANCISCO

Bernardo?

BERNARDO

He.

FRANCISCO

You come most carefully upon your hour.

MARCELLUS

Say, What, is Horatio th ere? ere?

BERNARDO

HORATIO

A piece of him. him .

Welcome, Welcome, Horat H oratio: io: welcome, welcome, good Marcellus.

BERNARDO

’Tis now struck str uck twel t welve; ve; get thee th ee to bed, Francisco.

BERNARDO

For this th is relief relief much mu ch thanks: th anks: ’tis ’tis bitter bitt er cold, And I am sick at heart.

MARCELLUS

FRANCISCO

What, has this th is thing appear’d appear’d again again to-night? to -night?

BERNARDO

Have you had quiet guard?

BERNARDO

FRANCISCO

Not a mouse mou se stirring. stirring.

MARCELLUS

Well, Well, good good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, watch, bid them th em make m ake haste.

BERNARDO

I think thin k I hear them. Stand, Stand, ho! h o! Who’s Who’s th ere? FRANCISCO

I have seen seen noth n othing. ing.

Horatio Hor atio says says ’tis ’tis but bu t our o ur fant fantasy asy,, And will will not let belief belief take hold of o f him Touchin g this dreaded dr eaded sight sight,, twice seen seen of us: u s: Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes min utes of this night; That if again this apparition come, He may m ay app approve rove our eyes eyes and speak to it.

HORATIO

[Ent [Enteer HORAT HORA T IO and MARCE MA RCELLUS LLUS]]

Holla! Bernard Bernardo! o!

Tush, tush, tu sh, ’twill ’twill not no t appear. app ear.

Sit down awhile; And let us once again assail your ears,

BERNARDO HORATIO

Friends Friends to th is groun groun d.

Volume Volum e III Book Book III

5

Ha Hamle mlet: ACT ACT I

That are so fortified fortified against our story sto ry What we have have two nights n ights seen. seen.

When he t he ambitious Norwa Nor way y combated; combated; So frown’d frown’d he h e once, when, in an angry parle, He smote smot e the sledded sledded Polacks Polacks on the t he ice. ice. ’Tis strange.

Well, sit sit we down, do wn, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

HORATIO

Last night of all, When yond same star star that t hat’’s wes westward tward from the th e pole Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Where now no w it burn bu rns, s, Marcellus Marcellus and m yself yself,, The bell then th en beating one,— on e,—

BERNARDO

[Enter Ghost] Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again!

MARCELLUS

BERNARDO MARCELLUS BERNARDO

In t he same figur figure, e, like like the th e king that’ th at’ss dead. Thou art a scholar; scholar; speak speak to it, H oratio. Looks it not n ot like the th e king? Mark it, Horat H oratio. io.

Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder.

HORATIO

BERNARDO MARCELLUS HORATIO

It would be spoke to.

of night, Togeth Together er with th at fair and warlike warlike form form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did som etimes etim es march? By By heaven heaven I charge ch arge thee, th ee, speak! speak!

BERNARDO HORATIO

It is offended. offended. See, it stalks away!

Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee, speak!

[Exit [Exit Ghost] Ghost] MARCELLUS BERNARDO

’Tis gone, and will not answer. How Ho w now, Horatio! Horatio ! You tremble t remble and

look pale p ale:: Is not t his something something more mo re than fantasy fantasy?? What thin k you you on’ o n’t? t? Before efore my m y God, I might not no t this t his believe believe Without the sensible sensible and and true tru e avouch avouch Of mine own eyes.

HORATIO

MARCELLUS

Is it not like the th e king?

As thou art to t o thys th yself elf:: Such was the very very armou r he h e had on

HORATIO

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Thus twice before, and jump at this

dead dead hour, h our, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. In what particular thought to t o work I know not; not ; But in the t he gross and scope of my opinion, opinion , This bodes some strange strange eruption to our o ur state. state.

HORATIO

MARCELLUS

Good now, sit down, and tell me, he

that knows, knows, Why this same strict strict and an d most m ost observant watch So nightly n ightly toils the subject subject of o f the land, land , And why such such daily d aily cast cast of o f brazen brazen cannon, canno n, And foreign foreign mart m art for imp lements of war; war; Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Does not divide the Sun Sunday day from from the th e week week;; What might m ight be toward, th at this th is swe sweaty aty haste Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day: Who is’t that can inform me? That can I; At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, Whose image even even but bu t now n ow appear’d appear’d to t o us, u s, Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prick’d on by a most emulate pride, Dared to t he combat; in which which ou r valiant valiant Hamle H amlet— t— For so this side of our known kn own world esteem’d esteem’d him— h im— Did slay this Fortinbras; who by a seal’d compact, Well ratified by law and heraldry, Did forfeit, with h is life, life, all those his lands Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror: Against gainst the t he which, a moiety mo iety comp competent etent Was gage gaged d by our ou r king; kin g; which had return retu rn’’d To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; vanqu isher; as, as, by the th e same same covenan covenant, t, And carriage of the article design’d, His fell fell to Hamlet. H amlet. Now, sir, you young ng Fortinbras, Fortin bras, Of unimpr oved oved mettle mett le hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Shark’ har k’d d up u p a list of lawless lawless resolutes, resolu tes, For food and an d diet, d iet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in’t; which is no other— As it doth well appear unto our state— But to recover recover of us, by str stron ong g hand And terms term s comp compulsatory, ulsatory, those foresaid foresaid lands So by his father lost: and this, th is, I take it, Is the main motive m otive of our preparations, The source of this th is our watch and the th e chief chief head Of this post-haste and and romage in the land.

HORATIO

Question it, Horatio.

What art thou that usurp’ u surp’st st this time

MARCELLUS

MARCELLUS



I think thin k it be no ot her but e’en e’en so: Well may it sort that this portentous figure Comes armed through our watch; so like the king That was and is th e question of these wars. wars.

BERNARDO

A mote mot e it is to trou tr ouble ble the min d’s d’s eye. eye. In the t he most high h igh and palmy p almy state state of Rome, Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves graves stood tenantless tenan tless and the th e sheeted sheeted dead d ead Did squeak and gibber in the t he Roman streets: As stars with with trains tr ains of fire and dews of blood, Disasters Disasters in the sun; sun ; and th e moist star Upon whose influence Neptun e’s e’s emp empire ire stands Was sick sick almost to t o doom d oomsday sday with with eclipse: eclipse: And even the like precurse of fierce events, As harbingers preceding still the fates And prologue to the omen coming on, Have heav heaven en and earth earth together together demonstrated Unto ou r climatures climatures and and coun trymen.— But soft, behold! Lo, where it comes again!

HORATIO

[Re-enter Ghost] I’ll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion! If thou th ou hast h ast any soun soun d, or u se of voice, voice, Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, That may m ay to thee t hee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me:

And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearf fearful ul summ ons. on s. I have heard, The cock, cock, that is the trumpet trum pet to the th e morn, Doth with his lofty lofty and shrill-s shrill-soun ounding ding thr oat Awake the god of day; and, at his warning, Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, The extravaga extravagant nt and erring err ing spirit hies To his confine: confine: and and of the tru th herein This present present obje o bject ct made pr obation.

HORATIO

It faded on the th e crowing crowing of the cock. Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes Wherein our o ur Saviour aviour’’s birth is celebrated, celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth singeth all night night long: And then, th en, they th ey say, say, no spirit d ares stir stir abroad; abr oad; The nights are wholesome; wholesome; then no n o planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.

MARCELLUS

So have I heard and an d do d o in part believe believe it. But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill: Break we our watch watch up; up ; and by my advice, advice, Let us impart imp art what we have seen seen to-night to- night Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This spirit spirit,, dumb dum b to us, will will speak to him. Do you consent we shall shall acquain acquaintt him h im with it, As needful needful in our loves, loves, fittin fittin g our dut d uty? y?

HORATIO

Let’s et’s do’t, do’t, I pray pr ay;; and I this t his mornin mor ning g know Where we shall shall find find him most conveniently.

MARCELLUS

[Cock crows] If thou art privy to thy th y cou count ntry’ ry’ss fate, fate, Which, happily, h appily, forekno foreknowing wing may avoid, avoid, O, speak! Or if thou hast uphoarded upho arded in thy t hy lif lifee Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which, they th ey say say,, you spirits spirit s oft walk walk in death, Speak of it: it : stay, and speak! sp eak! Stop to p it, it , Marcellus. MARCELLUS HORATIO

Do, if it will will not stan d.

BERNARDO HORATIO

Shall I strike at it with my m y partisan?

’Tis here!

’Tis gone!

[Exit [Exit Ghost] Ghost] We do it wrong, being so majestical, majestical, To offer it the show of violence; For it is, as the air, invulnerable, in vulnerable, And our vain vain blows malicious malicious mocke mo ckery. ry. BERNARDO

SCENE II A room of state in the castle. [Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, HAMLET, HA MLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants] KING CLAUDIUS

’Tis here!

MARCELLUS

[Exeunt]

It was about to speak, when when the th e cock crew. crew.

Though yet of Hamlet our dear

brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom To be contracted contr acted in on e brow of woe, woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with with wisest wisest sorrow thin k on him, h im, Togeth Together er with remembr r emembrance ance of ourse our selv lves es.. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, The imperial imp erial jointres jointr esss to this t his warlike warlike state, state, Have we, as ’twere ’twere with a defe d efeated ated joy,— With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth mirt h in funeral and and with with dirge in in marriage, marriage,


7


In equal scale scale weighing weighing delight delight and dole,— Taken Taken to wife: wife: nor have we we herein barr’d Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this t his affai affairr along. For all, our thanks. th anks. Now follows follows,, that you know, young Fortinbras, Fortin bras, Holding Ho lding a weak weak sup supposal posal of our ou r worth, worth , Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death Our state to be disjoint disjoint and out of frame, frame, Colleagued Colleagued with the t he dream dr eam of his advantage, He hath h ath not no t fail’d fail’d to t o pes p ester ter us u s with with message message,, Importing Import ing the surrender of those lands lands Lost by his father, with all bonds of law, To our most valiant valiant brot her. So So mu ch for for him. h im. Now for our self self and for this th is time of meeting: Thus Thu s much mu ch the t he busines bu sinesss is: we have have here writ To Nor way, way, uncle of you young ng Fortinbras,— Fortin bras,— Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears Of this his nephew’ n ephew’ss purpose,—to pur pose,—to suppress supp ress His further furth er gait gait herein; herein ; in that the th e lev levies ies,, The lists lists and full propor pro portion tions, s, are are all made Out Ou t of his subject: subject: and we here dispatch You, good Cornelius, Cor nelius, and you, Voltimand, Voltimand , For bearers of this greetin greeting g to old Norwa Nor way; y; Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king, more than the scope Of these delated articles allow. Farewe Farewell, ll, and let your haste commend your du ty. and VOLTIMAND In that t hat and an d all things thin gs will will we show our dut d uty. y.

CORNELIUS

LORD POLONIUS

He hath, hath , my lord, lord, wrung from me my

slow leave By labou laboursome rsome petition, petit ion, and an d at last last Upon his will will I seal’ seal’d d my m y hard con sent sent:: I do beseech you, give him leave to go. KING CLAUDIUS

Take thy fair fair h our, our , Laertes; Laertes; time

be thine, And thy th y best best graces graces spend spend it at thy th y will! will! But now, no w, my cousin Hamlet, Ham let, and my m y son,— [Aside] A little more th an kin, kin , and less than kind.

HAMLET

KING CLAUDIUS

How is it that the clouds still hang

on you? HAMLET

Not so, my lord; I am am too t oo mu ch i’ the sun.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Good

Hamlet, cast thy nighted

colour off, off, And let thin e eye eye look like like a friend friend on Denmark. Denm ark. Do not n ot for ever ever with th y vaile vailed d lids Seek for thy th y noble no ble father father in the th e dust: Thou know’st know’st ’tis ’tis common; commo n; all that lives lives must die, d ie, Passi Passing ng through thr ough nature n ature to eternity. eternity. HAMLET

Ay, madam, madam , it is comm comm on. on .

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE If

it be, Why seems seems it so particular par ticular with thee? th ee? Seems, madam! Nay it is; I know not “seems.” ’Tis not alone alon e my inky cloak, cloak, good good mother, mot her, Nor customary custom ary suit suitss of solemn solemn blac b lack, k, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor n or the t he fruitful river in th e eye, eye, Nor the dejected ’havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denot d enotee me truly tru ly:: these indeed ind eed seem, seem, For they are action actionss that a man might play p lay:: But I have that within with in which passeth show; These but the th e trappings trapp ings and and the th e suits suits of woe. woe.

HAMLET KING CLAUDIUS

We doubt doub t it noth no thing: ing: heartily farewe farewell. ll.

[Exeunt [Exeunt VOLTIMA V OLTIMAND ND and CORNELIUS] CORNELIUS] And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you? You told us of some suit; what is’t, Laertes? You cann ot speak of reason reason to t o the th e Dane, And loose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, That shall not be my offer, offer, not thy th y asking? asking? The head is not more nativ n ativee to the th e heart, The hand hand more instrumental instrumental to the mout h, Than is the throne thr one of Denm Denmark ark to th y father. father. What wouldst would st thou th ou have, Laertes? My dread lord, Your leave leave and favou favourr to return retu rn to France Fran ce;; From whence though tho ugh willingly willingly I came to Denm ark, To show my duty in your coron ation, Yet now, no w, I must confess, confess, that duty du ty done, don e, My thought th oughtss and wishes wishes bend again toward France And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.

LAERTES

KING CLAUDIUS

says Polonius? 8

Have you your father’ father ’s leave? leave? What

’Tis swe sweet et and an d commend com mendable able in your nature, natu re, Hamlet, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, ut , you you must m ust know, kn ow, your your father lost a father; father; That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound In filial obligation obligation for some term To do obse ob sequiou quiou s sorr sorrow: ow: but to perse p erseve verr In obstinate o bstinate condolement condolement is a course Of impiou s stu stubbor bbornn nnes ess; s; ’tis ’tis unman un manly ly grief; grief; It shows a will will most incorrect incorr ect to heav h eaven, en, A heart unfortif u nfortified, ied, a mind impatient, im patient, An understanding simple and unschool’d: KING CLAUDIUS



For what we kno know w must be and an d is as comm comm on As any the most m ost vulgar vulgar thin t hing g to sense, Why shou shou ld we in ou r peevish peevish opposition opp osition Take it to t o heart h eart?? Fie! ’Tis a fault to t o heave h eaven n, A fault fault against the th e dead, a fault fault to t o natur nat ure, e, To reason reason most absurd: whose whose common theme Is death of fath fathers, ers, and who still hath cried, From the th e first first corse till he that th at died to-d t o-day ay,, “This must be so.” We pray you, you, thro t hrow w to earth This unprevai unp revailing ling woe, woe, and thin t hink k of us As of a father: father: for let t he world take t ake note, You are the most imm ediate ediate to our ou r throne; th rone; And with no less nobility of love Than that t hat which dearest father bears his son son,, Do I impart toward you. you. For your intent In going back to schoo schooll in Wittenberg, Witten berg, It is most retrograde to our desire: And we beseech beseech you you,, bend you to remain Here, in th e cheer cheer and comfort of o f our eye, eye, Our chiefe chiefest st courtier, cousin, cousin, and an d our o ur son. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE

Let not thy mother lose her

prayers, Hamlet: I pray thee, stay with with us; go go not n ot to t o Wittenberg. Witt enberg. HAMLET

I shall in all my best best obey o bey you, you, madam. madam .

Why, ’tis a loving and a fair reply: Be as ourself in in Denmark. Denm ark. Madam, come; This gentle gentle and u nforced accord accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart: in grace whereof, No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day, But the th e great great cannon cann on to the t he clouds shall tell, And the th e king’s king’s rouse rou se the heavens heavens all bruit bru it again, Re-speaking Re-speaking earthly thu nder. nd er. Come away. away. KING CLAUDIUS

Let me not n ot thin t hink k on’ on ’t—Frailty, t—Frailty, thy th y name is woman woman!!— A little mon th, th , or ere those tho se shoes shoes were were old With which she follow’d my poor father’s body, Like Niobe, Niob e, all tears:—why she, even even she— sh e— O, God! A beast, beast, that th at wants want s discourse of reason reason,, Would have mourn’d longer—married with my uncle, My father’s father’s broth bro ther, er, but no more mor e like like my father father Than I to Hercules: Hercules: within within a month: mont h: Ere yet yet the t he salt salt of most unr u nrighteous ighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. mar ried. O, most m ost wicked wicked speed, to post p ost With such dex d exterit terity y to ince in cestuou stuou s sheets! sheets! It is not nor it cannot canno t come to good: good: But break, my heart; for for I must m ust hold h old my ton gue.

[Ent [Enteer HORAT HORA T IO, MARCEL M ARCELLUS, LUS, and BERNARDO] HORATIO

I am glad to see you you well: well: Horatio,—or Ho ratio,—or I do forget myself myself..

HAMLET

The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.

HORATIO

Sir, my m y good good friend; I’ll I’ll change that name nam e with you: And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus?

HAMLET

MARCELLUS

O, that th at this th is too too solid fles flesh h would melt m elt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that t hat the t he Everlas Everlastin ting g had not n ot fix’d fix’d His canon ’gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, weary, stale, flat flat and unpr un profitable ofitable,, Seem to me all the th e uses of this world! Fie on’t! Ah Ah fie! ’Tis an un weeded weeded garden, garden , That grows to seed; seed; things rank and gross in natur n aturee Posses Possesss it merely. That That it should shou ld come to t o this! t his! But two mont hs dead: nay, not so much, not two: So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr; so loving loving to my m y mother mot her That he h e might not n ot beteem bet eem the winds of heav heaven en Visit her face face too roughly. r oughly. Heaven Heaven and earth! Must I remember? remem ber? Why, she she would hang han g on him, him , As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on: and yet, with within in a mont mo nth— h—

HAMLET

My good good lord— lor d—

I am very glad to see you. Good even, sir. But what, in faith, make you you from Wittenberg? Witten berg?

HAMLET

HORATIO

[Exeunt all but HAMLET]

Hail to your lordship!

A truant tru ant disposition, disposition, good my lord.

I would not n ot hear h ear your enemy enem y say say so, Nor shall you you do d o mine min e ear ear that th at violence, violence, To make it truster of your your own report Against gainst yourse your self lf:: I know you you are no truan tr uant. t. But what is your affair in Elsinore? We’ll We’ll teach teach you to t o drink dr ink deep ere you depart. depar t.

HAMLET

HORATIO

My lord, I came t o see you yourr father’s fun funeral. eral.

I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student; I think th ink it was to see see my mother’ mot her’ss weddin wedding. g.

HAMLET

HORATIO

Indeed, my lord, it follow’d hard upon.

Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral baked meats Did coldly fur furnish nish forth fort h the t he marriage mar riage tables. Would I h ad met m et my dearest foe in heav h eaven en Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio! My father!—methinks I see my father.

HAMLET


9

Ha Hamle mlet: ACT ACT I HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO

Where, my lord lord??

As I do live, my honour hono ur’’d lord, lor d, ’tis ’tis tru e; And we did think it writ down in our ou r duty du ty To let you know kno w of it.

HORATIO

In my m y mind’s eye, eye, Horatio. Horat io. I saw him once; he was a goodly king.

He was a man, take t ake him for all in all, I shall not no t look upon u pon his like like again. again.

HAMLET

HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET

My lord lord,, I think th ink I saw him yesternight. yesternight. Saw? Who?

Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you th e watch watch to-n ight? ight?

HAMLET

HAMLET

My lord lord,, the king you yourr father.

HAMLET

The king my father!

HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET

For God’s love, let me hear. HORATIO

Two nights together had t hese gent gentlemen, lemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the t he dead vast vast and an d middle m iddle of the nig n ight, ht, Been thus th us encount encou nter’ er’d. d. A figure figure like your your father, Armed rm ed at point p oint exactly exactly,, cap-à-pé, Appears pp ears before before them, and an d with solemn march m arch Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk’d By their oppress’d and fear-surprised eyes, Within his tru ncheon’ ncheon ’s length length;; whilst whilst they th ey,, distilled distilled Almost to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb d umb and speak not to him. him . This to me In dreadful d readful secrec secrecy y impart they th ey did; And I with with them the t he third night kept the th e watch; watch; Where, as they th ey had deliver’ deliver’d, d, both bot h in time, Form of the thing, each each word made true tru e and good, The apparition apparit ion comes com es:: I knew your father; These hands han ds are not more mor e like. like.

HORATIO

My lord, lord, upon up on the t he platform platform where where

we watch’d. HAMLET

10

’Tis very strange.

HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET

Then saw you not n ot his face? face? O, yes, yes, my lord; lord ; he wore his beaver beaver u p. What, look’d look’d he frowningly? frowningly? A countenance countenan ce more in sorrow than in anger. Pale or red? r ed? Nay, very pale. And fix’d his eyes upon you? Most constantly. I would I had been been there.

HORATIO

It would have h ave much mu ch amazed you. you.

HAMLET

Very like, very like. Stay’d it long?

While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. hun dred.

HORATIO

MARCELLUS and BERNARDO Longer,

HAMLET

longer.

Not when I saw’t. saw’t. His beard was grizzled—no?

It was, as I have seen seen it in his life, A sable silver’d.

My lord lord,, I did; But answer made it none: yet once methought It lifted lifted up u p its head and did addr ess ess Itself Itself to motion m otion , like as as it would speak; But even then the morning cock crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away, And vanish’d vanish’d from our sight sight..

HAMLET

HORATIO

My lord lord,, from from head to foot.

HORATIO

Did you not speak speak to it?

HORATIO

HAMLET

HORATIO

But where was this?

MARCELLUS

Arm’d, my lord.

From top to toe?

MARCELLUS and BERNARDO BERNARDO

Season eason your adm iration for awhile awhile With an attent atten t ear, till I may deliver, deliver, Upon the th e witn witnes esss of thes th esee gentlemen, gentlemen, This marvel to you.

HAMLET

Arm’d, say you?


HORATIO

HAMLET

We do, my lord lord..


I will will watch watch to-n t o-night; ight; Perchan ce ’twill ’twill walk again.

HAMLET

HORATIO

I warrant it will. will.

If it assume my noble n oble father’s father’s person, I’ll I’ll speak speak to it, thou t hough gh hell itself itself should gape And bid me m e hold my peace. peace. I pray pr ay you you all, If you you have hithert o concea con ceal’ l’d d this t his sight sight,, Let it be tenable in your silence still;

HAMLET



And whatsoever whatsoever else else shall hap to-n t o-night, ight, Give Give it an u nderstanding, but n o ton gue: gue: I will requite requit e your loves. loves. So, So, fare you well: Upon the th e platform, platform , ’twixt ’twixt eleve eleven n and twelve twelve,, I’ll visit you. ALL

Our dut y to your your honour. hon our.

HAMLET

Your ou r loves, as mine min e to you: farewell. farewell.

[Exeunt all but HAMLET] My fath father’ er’ss spirit in arms! arm s! All is not well; well; I doubt dou bt some som e foul foul play p lay:: would would the th e night were come! Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise, Though Thou gh all the earth o’erwhel o’erwhelm m them, t hem, to t o men’ m en’ss eyes eyes..

[Exit]

SCENE III A room in POLONIUS’ house.

May give his saying deed; which is no further Than the th e main voice of Denmark Denm ark goes with withal. al. Then weigh weigh what loss your your hon our ou r may sustain, If with with too t oo credent creden t ear you list his songs songs,, Or lose your your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unm aster’ aster’d d importu imp ortunity. nity. Fear Fear it, it , Ophelia, Op helia, fear fear it, m y dear sister, sister, And keep keep you in the th e rear of you yourr affection, affection, Out of the shot and danger danger of desire. desire. The chariest chariest maid m aid is prodigal eno enough, ugh, If she she unmask un mask her her beauty to th e moon: Virtue itself ’scapes not calumnious strokes: The canker galls galls the infa in fant ntss of the spring, sprin g, Too oft before their butt bu tton onss be disclosed, disclosed, And in the th e morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blas blastment tmentss are most imminent. immin ent. Be wary then; th en; best safety safety lies in fear: Youth out h to t o itself rebels, rebels, though th ough none no ne else near. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, As watchm watchman an to t o my heart. But But,, good good m y brother, broth er, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me th e steep steep and an d thor t horny ny way way to heaven; heaven; Whiles, like a puff’d and reckless libertine, Himse Him self lf the th e primrose primr ose path of dalliance treads, tr eads, And recks not no t his h is own own rede. r ede.

OPHELIA

[Ent [Enter er LAERT LAERTE ES and OPHELIA OPHELIA]] My neces n ecessaries saries are embark’ embar k’d: d: farewell: And, sister, as the winds give benefit And convoy is assis assistan tant, t, do d o not n ot sleep, sleep, But let me hear from you.

LAERTES

O, fear me not. I stay too long: but h ere my father father comes.

LAERTES OPHELIA

Do you you doubt that?

For Hamlet Ham let and the t he trif tr ifling ling of his favour, favour, Hold it a fashion fashion and a toy t oy in in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more.

LAERTES

[Enter POLONIUS] A double blessing is a double grace, Occasion Occasion smiles smiles upon up on a secon second d leave leave.. LORD POLONIUS

OPHELIA

No more but so?

Think it no more; For natu re, crescent, crescent, does not grow alon alonee In thews t hews and bulk, but, bu t, as this temple temp le waxe waxes, s, The inward service service of the mind min d and soul Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his h is will will:: but you mu st fear, fear, His greatness weigh’d, his will is not his own; For he himse him self lf is subject subject to his birth : He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for for himsel h imself; f; for on his choice depends The safety safety and health of this th is whole whole state; And theref th erefore ore mu st his choice be circum circumsc scribed ribed Unto the voice and yielding of that body Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it As he in his part icular act and place

LAERTES

Yet here, Laertes! Aboard, aboard,

for shame! The wind sits in th e shou shoulder lder of you yourr sail, And you are stay’d for. There; my blessing with thee! And thes th esee few few precepts in thy t hy memory memor y See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion unprop ortioned ed thought his act. act. Be thou tho u familiar, but by no means m eans vulgar. vulgar. Those friends friends thou hast, and and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy t hy sou soull with with hoop h oopss of steel; steel; But do d o not dull thy palm palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch’d, unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a qu arrel, arrel, but being in, in, Bear’t ear’t that t hat the th e opposed opp osed may beware beware of thee. th ee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each each man’ man ’s censur censure, e, but reserve reserve thy judgment . Costly thy th y habit as thy purse pu rse can can bu y, But not no t expr expres ess’ s’d d in fancy; fancy; rich, not n ot gaud gaudy; y; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they th ey in France of the best best rank ran k and station stat ion


11


Are of a most mo st selec selectt and an d generous generou s chief in that. t hat. Neither a borrower nor a lender lender be; For loan oft loses both itse it self lf and friend friend,, And borrowing borr owing dulls the th e edge edge of husbandr hu sbandry. y. This above all: all: to th ine ownself be true, tr ue, And it must m ust follow, follow, as the night t he day, Thou canst not no t then th en be fals falsee to any man. Farewell: my blessing season this in thee! LAERTES

My lord, lord, he hath importun import uned ed me with with love love In honou h onourable rable fas fashion. hion.

OPHELIA

LORD POLONIUS

go to. OPHELIA

The time tim e invites you you;; go; you yourr

servants tend. Farewell, Ophelia; and remember well What I h ave said said to t o you.

LAERTES

’Tis in my m y memory memo ry lock’d, lock’d, And you yourself shall keep the key of it.

OPHELIA

LAERTES

Farewell.

[Exit] LORD POLONIUS

And hath given given countenan coun tenance ce to his h is speech, speech,

my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

Most hu mbly do I take t ake my leav leave, e, my lord lord..

LORD POLONIUS

What is’t, is’t, Ophelia, Op helia, be hath said to you?

So please you, somethin g touchin g the Lord Hamlet. OPHELIA

Marry, well well bethought: bethou ght: ’Tis told me, m e, he hath very very oft of late Given Given priva pr ivate te time tim e to you; and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous: If it be so, as so so ’tis ’tis put pu t on o n m e, And that th at in way of caut caution, ion, I must m ust tell t ell you, You do d o not no t und u nderstand erstand your self self so clea clearly rly As it behoves my daughter and your honour. What is between between you? Give Give me up the t he tru th. th .

LORD POLONIUS

LORD POLONIUS

OPHELIA

I shall obey, obey, my lord. lord .

[Exeunt]

SCENE SCENE IV IV T he platform. platform.

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affe affection ction to me. Affection! Pooh! You speak like a

green girl, Unsifted in such perilous perilou s circumstan circumstan ce. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? OPHELIA

I do not n ot know, kn ow, my lord, what what I should t hink.

LORD POLONIUS

Marry, I’ll teach you: think yourself

a baby; That you have ta’en ta’en th ese ese tenders tend ers for for tru t ruee pay, Which are not n ot sterling. Tender yourse your self lf more mor e dearly; dearly; Or—not to crack the wind wind of the poor po or phrase ph rase,, Running Runn ing it thus—y th us—you’l ou’lll tender me m e a fool. fool.

12

Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I

do know, When the blood bu rns, how prodigal prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, Giving Giving more light light than heat, extinct extinct in both, Even ven in their th eir promise, pro mise, as it is a-making, You must m ust not n ot take t ake for for fire. From From this th is time Be somewhat somewhat scant scanter er of your maiden presence; Set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Believ elievee so much in him, that t hat he is you young ng And with with a larger larger tether t ether m ay he walk walk Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia, Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers, Not of that dye d ye which their investments investment s show, show, But mere implorators of unholy suits, Breathing reathin g like like sanctified sanctified and an d pious p ious bawds, The better bett er to beguile. beguile. This is for all: I would not, in plain plain terms, t erms, from from this time forth forth,, Have you you so sland slander er any mom ent leisure, As to give words or talk with the t he Lord Lord Hamlet. Ham let. Look to’t, I charge you: come your ways.

OPHELIA

LORD POLONIUS

Ay, fashion fashion you may m ay call call it; go to, t o,

[Enter [Enter HAMLET, HAMLET, HORATIO, HORAT IO, and MARCELLUS] HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET

The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. It is a nippin g and and an eager eager air. What hour now? I think it lacks of twelve. No, it is str struck. uck.



Indeed? I heard it not: then it draws near the season Wherein th e spirit spirit held his won wontt to t o walk. walk.

HORATIO

[A flourish flourish of trum t rumpets pets,, and an d ordnance shot shot off, within] What does this mean, my lord? The king doth wake to-n ight ight and takes takes his rouse rou se,, Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; And, nd , as he drains his drau ghts of Rhenish Rhenish down, d own, The kettle kettle-dru -drum m and trum tr umpet pet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge.

HAMLET

HORATIO

Is it it a custom? custom ?

Ay, marry, is’t: But to my m y mind, thou gh I am native here here And to the th e manner born , it is a custom custom More honour’ hono ur’d d in the breach than the observance observance.. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduced and tax’d of other nations: They clepe clepe us drun kards, and with with swinish swinish ph rase Soil our addition; and indeed it takes From our achievements, though perform’d at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. attribut e. So, oft it chances in particular part icular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As, in in their t heir birth—wherein birt h—wherein they th ey are not guilty, Since natu re cannot canno t choose choo se his origin— By the o’ergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down th e pales pales and forts of reason reason,, Or by some habit that too much o’er-leavens The form form of plausive plausive manners, mann ers, that th at thes th esee men, Carrying, I say, say, the th e stamp of one on e defect, defect, Being nature’s livery, or fortune’s star,— Their virtues else—be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may m ay undergo— Shall in th e general general censur censuree take corr corrup uption tion From that particular fault: the dram of eale Doth all the noble substance of a doubt To his own scandal. Look, my m y lord, it comes!

[Enter Ghost]

It beck b eckons ons you t o go away with it, As if it some impartm impar tment ent did d id desire To you alone. Look, with what courteou cour teouss action action It waves waves you to a more m ore remove remo ved d ground grou nd:: But do n ot go with with it.

MARCELLUS

HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO

No, by no means. It will not speak; then I will follow it. Do not , my lord. lord.

Why, what what should be b e the fear? fear? I do not set my life in a pin’s fee; And for my soul, soul, what what can it do d o to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? It waves me forth fort h again: again : I’ll I’ll follow it.

HAMLET

HORATIO

What if it tempt you toward the flood,

my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles beetles o’er o’er his base into int o the t he sea, And there assume some other horrible form, Which might m ight deprive d eprive your your sovereig sovereignt nty y of reason reason And draw you int o madness mad ness?? Think of o f it: The very place place puts pu ts toys to ys of desperation, desperation , Without more motive, into every brain That looks so many fatho fathoms ms to the t he sea sea And hears it roar beneath. It waves waves me still. Go on ; I’ll I’ll follow follow thee. th ee.

HAMLET

Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health health or goblin damn d amn’’d, Bring with t hee airs from from heaven heaven or blasts blasts from hell, Be thy int ents wicked wicked or charitable, Thou comest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I’ll call thee Hamlet,

HAMLET

[Ghost beckons HAMLET] HORATIO

HAMLET

HORATIO

King, father, royal Dane: O, answer me! Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell Why thy canon canon ized ized bones, bo nes, hearsed hearsed in death , Have burst t heir cerements; why why the sepulchre, Wherein we saw saw thee quietly inurn inu rn’’d, Hath oped his ponderous pon derous and marble jaws jaws,, To cast cast thee th ee up again. again. What m ay this th is mean, mean, That thou t hou,, dead corse, again again in complete com plete steel steel Revis Revisit’ it’st st thus th us the t he glimpses of the th e moon, moo n, Making night hideous; hid eous; and and we fools of nature natu re So horrid ho rridly ly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Say, why why is this? th is? Wherefore? Wher efore? What should shou ld we do?

MARCELLUS HAMLET HORATIO

You shall not go, my lord.

Hold off your hands. Be ruled; ru led; you you shall not go.


13


My fate cries out, And makes each each petty artery in th is body As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve. Still am I call’ call’d. d. Un hand han d m e, gentlemen. gentlemen. By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me! I say, away! Go on; I’ll follow thee.

HAMLET

[Exeunt [Exeunt Ghos Ghost and HAMLET] HA MLET]

Make thy two eyes, eyes, like stars, stars, start from t heir spheres sph eres,, Thy knot knotted ted and combined locks locks to part And each each particul part icular ar hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine: But this eternal eternal blazon blazon must not n ot be To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love— HAMLET

HORATIO

He waxes waxes desperate desperate with imagination. imagination . GHOST

MARCELLUS

Reve Revenge nge his foul foul and most un natural natu ral murder. murd er.

Let’s follow; ’tis not fit thus to obey him. HAMLET

HORATIO

Have after. To what issue will this come?

O God!

Murder!

Murder Mur der most m ost foul, as in the t he best it is; But this most foul, strange strange and u nnatural. nn atural.

GHOST

Something is rotten in the t he state of Denmark.

MARCELLUS

Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep sweep to t o my m y revenge.

HAMLET HORATIO

Heaven Heaven will will direct it. it .

MARCELLUS

Nay, let’s let’s follow him. him .

[Exeunt]

SCENE V Another part of the platform. [Enter Ghost and HAMLET] Where Wher e wilt th ou lead me? m e? Speak; I’ll I’ll go no further.

HAMLET

GHOST

Mark me.

HAMLET

HAMLET

I will.

is almost almost come, com e, When I to sulphuro us and tormenting tor menting flames flames Must render ren der up u p myself myself.. Alas, poor ghost!

Pity me not, but bu t lend t hy serious serious hearing hearing To what I shall unfold.

GHOST

HAMLET GHOST HAMLET

Speak; peak; I am bound bou nd to hea h ear. r. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. What?

I am thy t hy father’s father’s spirit spirit,, Doom’d for a certain term to walk the night, And for the th e day con confined fined to fast fast in fires, fires, Till the th e foul foul crimes don e in my m y days days of nature natur e Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets secrets of my prison-h ouse ou se,, I could a tale unfold un fold whose lightest lightest word Would harrow h arrow up thy th y soul, freez freezee thy you young ng blood, GHOST

14

O my m y proph etic soul! soul! My uncle un cle!!

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with with traitoro trait orous us gifts,— gifts,— O wicked wicked wit and an d gifts, gifts, that th at have h ave the th e power So to seduce!—won to his shameful lust The will will of my most seeming-virtuous seeming-virtuo us queen: qu een: O H amlet, what a falling-off falling-off was there! th ere! From me, m e, whose whose love was was of that dignity That it went went hand in hand han d even even with the t he vow I made to h er in marriage, marriage, and to decline decline Upon a wretch whose whose natur nat ural al gifts gifts were were poor To those th ose of mine! min e! But virtue, as it never will will be moved, m oved, Though Thou gh lewdn lewdnes esss court it in a shape of heaven, heaven, So lust, though th ough to t o a radiant radian t ange an gell link’ link’d, d, Will sate itself in a celestial bed, And prey on garbage. garbage. But, ut , soft! soft! Methinks Methin ks I sce scent nt the th e morning morn ing air; Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard, My custom custom alway alwayss of the afternoon, afternoo n, Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice ju ice of cursed hebenon in a vial, And in the t he porches por ches of my ears did pour pou r GHOST

GHOST My hou r

HAMLET

I find find thee apt; And duller duller shouldst th ou be b e than the fat weed weed That roots root s itself itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Now, Hamlet, hear: hear: ’Tis give given n out that, th at, sleeping sleeping in my orchard , A serpen serpentt stung stu ng me; so the whole ear ear of Denmark Denm ark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpen serpentt that t hat did stin g thy father’s father’s life life Now wears his crown. GHOST



The leperous distilment; whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man That swift swift as quicksilv quicksilver er it courses through thr ough The natur nat ural al gates gates and alleys alleys of the bod y, And with a sudden vigour doth posset And curd, curd , like like eage eagerr dropp dr oppings ings int into o milk, The thin and wholesome blood: so did it mine; And a most instant t etter bark’d bark’d about , Most lazar-like, lazar-like, with with vile vile and loathsome loathsom e crust, All my smoo smooth th body. Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch’d: Cut off even even in the th e blossoms blossoms of my sin, Unhousel’d, disappointed, unanel’d, No reckoning made, but sent to t o my m y acc accoun ountt With all my imp imperfe erfections ctions on my head: O, horrible! hor rible! O, horrible! hor rible! Most horrible! hor rible! If thou hast nature natur e in thee, bear it not; Let not no t the t he royal bed bed of Denmark Denmar k be A couch for luxury luxur y and and damn ed incest. incest. But, ut , howsoeve howsoeverr thou th ou pur p ursues suestt this th is act, act, Taint Taint not thy mind, nor no r let thy soul soul contrive Against gainst thy t hy mother mot her aught: au ght: leave leave her to t o heav h eaven en And to those th ose thorns thor ns that in her bosom lodge, lodge, To prick pr ick and sting stin g her. Fare thee well well at once on ce!! The glow-w glow-worm orm shows the th e matin to be near, n ear, And ’gins to pale his uneffectual fire: Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember remem ber me.

HORATIO and MARCE MA RCELL LLUS US MARCELLUS HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET

So, un cle, cle, there th ere you you are. Now to my m y word word;; It is “Adieu, adieu! Remember me.” I have sworn ’t.

[Within] Heaven Heaven secure him! him !

So be it! [Within] Hillo, ho, ho, my lord!

Hillo, ho, ho, h o, boy! Come, bird, bird , come.

MARCELLUS HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO

How Ho w is’ is’t, my m y noble lord?

What n ews, ews, my lord lord?? O, wonderful! Good my m y lord lord,, tell it. No; you’ you ’ll reveal it. Not I, my lord, by heaven. heaven.

MARCELLUS

Nor I, my lord.

How Ho w say say you, then; th en; wou would ld heart of man once think it? But you’ll you’ll be secret?

HAMLET

HORATIO and MARCELLUS MARCELLUS

O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews sinews,, grow not in stant old, But bear me m e stiffl stiffly y up. Remember thee! th ee! Ay, thou poor poo r ghost, while memor y holds a seat seat In this t his distracted globe. Remember Remember thee! t hee! Yea, from from the th e table of my memory memor y I’ll I’ll wipe away away all trivial fond records, recor ds, All saws saws of books, boo ks, all for forms, ms, all pr essur essures es past, That youth and observation observation copied copied there; t here; And thy th y comm command andment ment all alone alone shall live live Within the th e book and volume of my brain, Unmix’d with baser matter: yes, by heaven! O most m ost pernicious woman! woman! O villain, villain, villain, villain, smiling, damn ed villain! villain! My tables,—meet tables,—meet it is I set set it down, d own, That one o ne may m ay smile, smile, and smile, smile, and be a villain; villain; At least I’m I’m sure su re it may m ay be so so in Denmark: Denmar k:

[Writing]

[Within] Lord Hamlet,—

[Ent [Enteer HORAT HORA T IO and M ARCELLUS] ARCELLUS]

[Exit] HAMLET

[Within] My lord lord,, my lord,—

Ay, by heaven heaven , my lord. lor d.

There’s ne’er a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he’s he’s an arrant arr ant knave.

HAMLET

HORATIO

There needs no ghost, my lord, come from

the th e grave grave To tell us this. Why, right; you you are i’ the th e right; And so, witho without ut more mor e circum circumstance stance at all, all, I hold it fit that we shake shake hands and part: p art: You, as your business and des d esire ire shall point you; For every every man has busines bu sinesss and desire, Such as it is; and for mine min e own own poor p oor part, p art, Look you, I’ll go go pray. p ray.

HAMLET

HORATIO

These are but wild wild and an d whirling words,

my lord. I’m sorry they offend you, heartily; Yes, ’faith heartily.

HAMLET

HORATIO

There’s no offence, my lord.

Yes, es, by Saint Saint Patrick, but there th ere is, Horatio, Horat io, And much mu ch offence offence too. Touchin g this visi vision on here, It is an hon est est ghost, that th at let me tell you: you:

HAMLET


15


For your des d esire ire to kn ow what what is between between us, O’ermaster O’ermaster ’t as you you may. And And now, no w, good good friends, As you are friends, scholars and soldiers, Give Give me one poor poo r reques requ est. t. HORATIO

What is’t, is’t, m y lord? lord ? We will. will.

GHOST

[Beneath] Swear.

HAMLET

Well said, old mole! Canst work i’ the earth

so fast? A worthy worth y pioner! Once more mor e remove, good good friends. O day and nig n ight, ht, but bu t this th is is is wondrous strange!

HORATIO

Never Never make m ake known what you h have ave seen seen to-n t o-nig ight. ht.

HAMLET

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come; Here, as before, never, so help you mercy m ercy,, How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself, As I perchance perchan ce hereafter hereafter shall th ink meet m eet To put an antic an tic disposition disposition on, That you, at such times t imes seeing seeing me, nev n ever er shall, With arms encumber’d thus, or this headshake, Or by pron ounci oun cing ng of some some dou btful phrase, As “Well, “Well, well, well, we know,” kno w,” or “We cou ld, an if we would,” Or “If we we list list to t o speak,” or “There be, b e, an if they th ey might,” Or such ambiguous givi giving ng out, out , to note That you know aught aught of me: this not to do, d o, So grace and mercy at your most need help h elp you, Swe Swear. ar.

HAMLET HORATIO and MARCELLUS MARCELLUS HAMLET

My lord, we will not.

Nay, but swear’t.

In faith, My lord, not I.

HORATIO

MARCELLUS HAMLET

Upon my sword. sword.

MARCELLUS HAMLET GHOST

Nor I, my lord, in faith.

We have sworn, my lord, already.

Indeed, upon my sword, sword, ind eed. eed.

[Beneath] Swear.

Ah, ha, h a, boy! Say’ Say’st st tho t hou u so? Art Art thou th ou there, truepenny truepenn y? Come on —you —you hear this t his fellow fellow in th e cellarag cellarage— e— Consent t o swear. swear.

HAMLET

HORATIO

Never Never to t o speak of this that th at you have seen, seen, Swear by my m y swor sword. d. [Beneath] Swear.

Hic et ubique? u bique? Then we’ll we’ll shift shift our ou r ground grou nd.. Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hand h andss again again upon u pon my sword: sword: Never Never to t o speak of this that you have heard, Swear by my m y swor sword. d.

HAMLET

[Beneath] Swear.

HAMLET

Rest, rest, perturbed spirit!

[They swear]

Propose the oath, m y lord. lord.

HAMLET

GHOST

GHOST

So, gentlemen, With all my love love I do comm end me m e to you: And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do, to express express his love love and friending to you, God willing, willing, shall not lack. lack. Let Let us u s go in t ogether; And still your your fingers fingers on your lips, I pray pr ay.. The time is out of o f joint joint:: O cursed spite, spite, That ever ever I was born to set it right! right ! Nay, come, let’s go together.

[Exeunt]

16


Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT II

ACT II That they t hey may seem seem the th e taints taint s of liberty, liberty, The flash flash and outbreak out break of a fiery fiery mind, A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault.

SCENE I A room in POLONIUS’ house. [Ent [Enteer POLON POLONIUS IUS and REYNALDO] REYN ALDO] Give Give him th is money and th ese ese notes, no tes, Reynaldo. Reynaldo.

LORD POLONIUS

REYNALDO

I will, my lord.

LORD POLONIUS

You shall do marvel mar vellou louss wisely wisely,,

Marry, well said; very well said. Look

you, sir, Inquire Inqu ire me first what what Danskers are in Paris; And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, keep, What company, at what expense; and finding By this th is encom encompassment passment and an d drift dr ift of question That they t hey do know my son son,, come you you m ore nearer Than your p articular articular demands deman ds will will touch it: Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him; As thus, thu s, “I know his fath father er and his friend friends, s, And in part him”;—do you mark this, Reynaldo? REYNALDO

Ay, very well, my lord.

LORD POLONIUS

“And in part him; but”, you may say

“not well: But, ut , if’t if’t be he h e I mean, m ean, he’ h e’ss very very wild; Addicted so and so”; and there t here put on him h im What forgeries you you please; please; marry, non e so rank As may dishonou dishon ourr him; him ; take heed of that; that ; But, ut , sir, sir, such wanton, wanto n, wild and usual slips slips As are compan companions ions noted not ed and most known To youth and liberty. REYNALDO

As gaming, my lord.

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing: Drabbin g: you you may go so far.

LORD POLONIUS

REYNALDO

My lord, that would dishonour him.

LORD POLONIUS

LORD POLONIUS

Wherefore should you do this?

Ay, my lord, lord , I would would know kno w that.

Marry, sir, here’s my drift; And I believe, believe, it is a fetch of wit: You laying these slight sullies on my son, As ’twere ’twere a thin t hing g a little soil’d soil’d i’ the working, wor king, Mark Mar k you, Your ou r party par ty in converse, converse, him you would sound sou nd,, Having ever ever seen seen in the t he prenom pr enominat inatee crimes crimes The youth you breath e of guilty, guilty, be assured assured He closes closes with with you in this th is con conse sequen quence ce;; “Good sir,” or so, or “friend “friend,” ,” or “gent “gentleman,” leman,” According ccording to the phrase ph rase or the t he addition Of man and countr y.

LORD POLONIUS

My lord, lord, I did in tend it.

LORD POLONIUS

But, ut , my good good lord,—

REYNALDO

good Reynaldo, Reynaldo, Before efore you visit visit him, h im, to make inqu ire Of his behavior. REYNALDO

REYNALDO

Faith Faith,, no; no ; as you you may season season it in

the th e charge charge You mu st not pu t another anoth er sca scandal ndal on him, That he is open to t o incont inency; inency; That’s not no t my m y meaning: meanin g: but breathe breath e his faults faults so quaintly

REYNALDO

Very Very good, my m y lord.

And then, th en, sir, does he this— th is— he does—what was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something: where did I leave?

LORD POLONIUS

At “closes “closes in the t he conse con sequen quence, ce,”” at “friend or so,” and “gentleman “gentleman.” .”

REYNALDO

LORD POLONIUS

At “closes in the consequence,”

ay, marry; He closes closes thus: thu s: “I know th e gent gentleman; leman; I saw him yesterday, or t’other day, Or then, t hen, or then; th en; with with such, or such; and, as you you say, There was a’ gaming; there o’ertook in’s rouse; There falli falling ng out at tennis”: ten nis”: or perchance, p erchance, “I saw him enter such a house ho use of sale sale,” ,” Videlicet, idelicet, a brot hel, or so forth. forth . See you n ow; Your ou r bait of fals falsehood ehood takes this carp carp of truth tru th:: And thus th us do we of wisdom wisdom and an d of reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out: So by b y my form former er lecture and an d advic ad vice, e, Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? REYNALDO

My lord, I h ave. ave.

LORD POLONIUS


God be wi’ you; fare you well. well. 17

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT II REYNALDO

Good my lord!

LORD POLONIUS REYNALDO

I shall, my lord lord..

LORD POLONIUS REYNALDO

Observe his inclination inclination in your self self..

No, my good good lord, bu t, as you you did d id command, command , I did repel rep el his fetters fetters and d enied His access to me. OPHELIA

And let him ply p ly his music mu sic..

Well, Well, my lord. lord .

LORD POLONIUS

Farewell!

[Ent [Enter er OPHELIA] OPHELIA] How Ho w now, Ophelia! What’s the th e matter? matt er? O, my lord, lord , my lord, I have been been so affrig affright hted! ed!

LORD POLONIUS

That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment I had n ot qu oted him: him : I fea fear’ r’d d he h e did but bu t trif t rifle le,, And meant to wreck wreck thee; th ee; but, but , beshrew my jeal jealousy! ousy! By heaven, heaven, it is as proper pro per to t o ou r age To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions As it is comm comm on for the th e youn youn ger ger sort To lack discretion discretion.. Come, go we to th e king: This must mu st be known; kno wn; which, which, being kept close, close, might move More grief grief to hide h ide than hate to utter utt er love. love.

LORD POLONIUS

[Exit REYNALDO]

OPHELIA

As oft as any passion passion under un der heav h eaven en That does d oes affl afflict ict our natur nat ures es.. I am sorry. What, have h ave you given given him any hard words of late? late?

With what, what , i’ the th e name of God?

My lord, lord , as I was sewing sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced; No hat h at upon u pon his head; his stockings stockings foul’ foul’d, d, Ungarter’d, and down-gy down- gyve ved d to t o his h is ancle; ancle; Pale as his shirt; his h is knees kno knocking cking each each other; oth er; And with with a look so piteous in purport pu rport As if he had been loose loo sed d out o ut of hell To speak of horrors,—he horr ors,—he comes before before me. m e.

[Exeunt]

OPHELIA

LORD POLONIUS

Mad for t hy love? love?

My lord, lord, I do not know; But truly, tr uly, I do fear fear it. What said he?

He took m e by the wrist wrist and held me hard; Then goes he to the t he length of all his arm; arm; And, with his other hand thus o’er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would wou ld draw d raw it. Long Lon g stay’d stay’d he h e so; At last, last, a little shaking of mine min e arm And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raised a sigh so piteous and profound As it did seem seem to shatter all his bulk And end his h is being: being: that done, don e, he lets lets me go: And, nd , with with his h is head over over his shou shou lder turn tu rn’’d, He seem’d to find his way without his eyes; For out o ut o’ doors he went without their helps, And, to the last, bended their light on me. OPHELIA

LORD POLONIUS

Come, Com e, go with m e: I will will go seek seek

the king. This is the t he very ecstasy of love, Whose violent violent p roperty rop erty fordoes itself itself And leads leads the th e will will to desperate undertakin un dertakings gs 18

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, ROSEN ROSEN CRANTZ, CRANT Z, GUILD GUILDE EN STERN STERN , and Attendants] Welcome, Welcome, dear Rosencrantz Rosencrant z and Guildenstern! Guildenstern! Moreover that we much mu ch did long lon g to see see you, you, The need we have have to use u se you you did provoke p rovoke Our Ou r hasty h asty send sending. ing. Someth Something ing have you you heard Of Hamlet’ Ham let’ss transf tran sform ormation ation;; so call call it, Sith nor n or th e exteri exterior or nor n or the t he inward inward man m an Rese Resembles mbles that it was. What What it should shou ld be, More than his father’ father’ss death, death, that th at thus th us hath p ut him So much from the understanding of himself, I cann cannot ot dream d ream of: I entreat you both, both , That, being of so young days brought up with him, And sith so neighbour’d to his youth and havior, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little litt le time: so so by your compan com panies ies To draw him on to ple p leas asures, ures, and to gather, gather, So much m uch as from from occasion occasion you may m ay glea glean, n, Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus, That, open’ op en’d, d, lies within ou r remedy. remed y. KING CLAUDIUS

OPHELIA

LORD POLONIUS

SCENE II A room room in the th e cas castle. tle.

gentle lemen, men, he hath QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Good gent

much

talk’d of you; And sure I am two men there are not living To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gent gentry ry and good will will As to expend your time t ime with u s awhile, awhile,



For the t he supply and profit p rofit of our hope, hop e, Your ou r visitation visitation shall receiv receivee such thanks th anks As fits a king’s king’s remembr remem brance. ance.

them in.

Both your majesties majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread d read pleas pleasures ures more into comm and Than to entreaty. entreaty.

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and an d source sour ce of all your your son’s son’s distemper.

But we both bot h obey o bey,, And here give give up ourse our selv lves es,, in the th e full bent To lay our service freely at your you r feet, To be comm commanded. anded.

KING CLAUDIUS

KING CLAUDIUS

Thyself Thyself do grace to them, them , and br ing

[Exit [Exit POLON POLONIUS] IUS]

ROSENCRANTZ

GUILDENSTERN

Thanks, Than ks, Rosencrant Rosencrantzz and gent gentle le Guildenstern. Guildenstern .

Thanks, Guildenstern and gent gentle le Rosencran Rosencrantz: tz: And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much mu ch changed son. Go, some some of you you,, And bring brin g these gent gentlemen lemen where Hamlet is. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE

Heavens Heavens make our ou r prese p resence nce and

our practises Pleasant and helpful to him! QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE

Ay, amen! amen !

[Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and so some ATT EN DANTS] DAN TS] [Enter POLONIUS] LORD POLONIUS

The ambassador ambassadorss from from Norwa Nor way, y, my

good lord, Are joyfully return’d. KING CLAUDIUS

Most fair return retur n of o f greetings greetings and des d esires. ires. Upon our first, he sent sent out to suppres suppr esss His nephew’s levies; which to him appear’d To be a preparation prepar ation ’gainst gainst the t he Polack; But, better look’d into, he truly found It was against your highness: whereat grieved, That so his sickness sickness,, age and impotence impo tence Was fals falsely ely borne bor ne in hand, han d, sends out arrests On Fortinbras; Fortin bras; which which he, h e, in brief br ief,, obeys; obeys; Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine Makes vow before before his h is uncle un cle never never more m ore To give the assay of arms against your majesty. Whereon old Norway No rway,, overcome with with joy, joy, Gives Gives him thr t hree ee thousand thou sand crowns in ann ual fee, fee, And his commission to employ those tho se soldiers, soldiers, So levied as before, against the t he Polack: Po lack: With an entreaty, entreaty, herein further shown, VOLTIMAND

Have I, my lord? I assure my

That it might plea p lease se you to give give quiet pass p ass Through your dominions domin ions for for this t his ent enterpris erprise, e, On such regards of safety and allowance As therein are set set down. d own. It likes us well; And at our ou r more m ore consider’d consider’d time t ime well well read, read, Answer, and think upon this business. Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: Go to your rest; at night n ight we’ll we’ll feas feastt together: Most welcome welcome home! ho me! KING CLAUDIUS

O, speak speak of that; that do I long to hea h ear. r.

Give Give first first admittan adm ittance ce to the th e ambassadors; ambassadors; My news news shall be the th e fruit t o that t hat great feast. feast.

LORD POLONIUS

Welcome, my good friends! Say, ay, Voltiman Voltimand, d, what from ou r broth br other er Norway? Norway?

[Giving a paper]

good liege, liege, I hold my m y duty, du ty, as I hold my m y soul, soul, Both to my m y God and to my m y gracious gracious king: And I do think, or else this brain of mine Hun ts not the trail tr ail of policy policy so so sure As it hath used to do, that I have found The very cause of Hamlet’ Ham let’ss lunacy lun acy.. KING CLAUDIUS

Well, we we shall sift him .

Thou still hast been the father of

good news. LORD POLONIUS

doubt it is no other oth er but the main; His father’s father’s death, and an d our o ur o’erhasty o’erhasty marriage.

[Re-ente [Re-enterr POLONIUS, POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAN VOLTIM AND D and CORN ELIUS]

KING CLAUDIUS

GUILDENSTERN

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE I

[Exe [Exeunt unt VOLTIMAN VOLT IMAN D and CORNELIUS] CORNELIUS] This business is well ended. My lieg liege, e, and madam, m adam, to t o expostulate

LORD POLONIUS


19


What maje m ajesty sty shou shou ld be, what what duty du ty is, is, Why day is day, day, night n ight, and time is time, Were Were nothing not hing but to waste waste night, day and t ime. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness tediou sness the th e limbs limbs and outward out ward flour flourishes ishes,, I will will be brief: your n oble son is mad: mad : Mad call I it; for, to def d efine ine true tr ue madness, m adness, What is’t is’t but bu t to t o be nothin n othing g els elsee but mad? But let that go. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE More

matter, mat ter, with less less art.

Madam, I swear swear I use u se no art at all. That he is mad, ’tis true: ’tis true ’tis pity; And pity ’tis ’tis true: a foolish figure; But farewell it, for I will use no art. Mad let let us u s grant grant him, then: and now remains That we find ou t the t he cause of this effe effect, ct, Or rather rath er say, say, the th e cause of this defect, defect, For this t his effect effect defe d efective ctive comes by cause: Thus it remains, and and the remainder th us. Perpend. Perpend. I have a daughter—have dau ghter—have while while she is mine— Who, in her h er duty dut y and obedience, obedience, mark, Hath Hat h given given me th is: now no w gather, gather, and an d surm ise. ise.

LORD POLONIUS

[Reads] “To the th e celes celestial tial and my soul’s soul’s idol, the th e most beautified Ophelia,” Op helia,”— — That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase; “beautified” is a vile vile phrase phr ase:: but you shall hear. Thus:

LORD POLONIUS

What do you think th ink of me? me?

KING CLAUDIUS

As of a man faithful and hon ourable. ou rable.

LORD POLONIUS

I would fain prove pr ove so. so. But But what might

you think, th ink, When I had seen seen this th is hot love on the th e wing— wing— As I perceived perceived it, I m ust tell t ell you you that, th at, Before efore my daughter daught er told me—w m e—what hat might m ight you, Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, If I had play p lay’’d the t he desk or t able-book, Or given given my heart a winking, mute and dumb, dum b, Or look’ loo k’d d upon u pon this th is love love with with idle sight; sight; What might you thin k? No, I went went roun d to work, And my youn youn g mistress mistress thus thu s I did bespeak: “Lord “Lord Hamlet Ham let is a prince, prin ce, out of thy star; star; This must not n ot be”: b e”: and then th en I prec pr ecepts epts gave gave her, That she should shou ld lock herself herself from his h is resort resort,, Admit dm it n o mes m esse sengers, ngers, receive receive no tokens. t okens. Which done, do ne, she took the t he fruits of my advice; advice; And he, repulsed—a shor shortt tale t ale to make— m ake— Fell Fell into a sadness, sadness, then th en into in to a fast, fast, Thence to a watch, thence then ce into a weakness weakness,, Thence to a light lightness, ness, and and,, by this declension, declension, Into Int o the th e madnes madn esss wherein wherein n ow he raves raves,, And all we mou rn for. KING CLAUDIUS

LORD POLONIUS

“In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.” QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Came

this from from Hamlet to her? h er?

Good madam, stay awhile; I will

KING CLAUDIUS

[Reads]

LORD POLONIUS

“Doubt t hou the stars are fire; fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt trut t ruth h to be a liar; liar; But never doubt dou bt I love. O dear Ophelia, Op helia, I am ill at these numbers; nu mbers; I have not art to reckon reckon my m y groans: groans: but th at I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu. Thine evermore m ost dear lady, whilst whilst this th is machine is to him, him , HAMLE HAMLET.” This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me, And more mor e above, hath h is solicitings solicitings,, As they fell out by time, by means and place, All given to mine ear.

may be, very likely. likely.

Hath Hat h there t here been such a time—I’ t ime—I’d d fain

know that— That I have h ave positively said said “’Tis “’Tis so,” When it proved otherwise?

be faithful.

20

Do you th ink ’tis ’tis this?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE It

[Reads]

LORD POLONIUS

But how hath she Received his love? KING CLAUDIUS

Not that th at I know. know.

[Pointing to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, t his, if this be otherwis oth erwise: e: If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were were hid indee ind eed d Within th e centre. centre. KING CLAUDIUS

How Ho w may we try it further? furt her?

LORD POLONIUS

You know, sometimes he walks four

hours hour s together together Here in the lobby. h e does indeed. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE So he LORD POLONIUS

to him:


At such a time I’ll loose my daughter


Be you and I behind an arras then; Mark the th e encou encount nter: er: if he love her not n ot And be not from his reason fall’ fall’n n thereon t hereon,, Let me m e be no assistant assistant for a state, But keep keep a farm and an d carters. KING CLAUDIUS

HAMLET

Between who? who ?

LORD POLONIUS

my lord. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that th at old m en have grey grey beards, beards, that th at their t heir faces faces are are wrinkled, their eyes eyes purging pur ging thick amber and plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak weak hams: ham s: all all which, sir, though th ough I most mo st powerfully and potently pot ently believe believe,, yet yet I hold it n ot honesty h onesty to hav h avee it thus thu s set set down, for yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward. backward.

HAMLET

We will try tr y it.

But, ut , look, where sadly sadly the poor poo r wretch comes reading. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE

Away, way, I do beseech beseech you, you , both bot h away: I’ll I’ll board him presently.

LORD POLONIUS

[Exeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERT GERTRUDE RUDE,, and Attendants] At tendants] [Enter HAMLET, reading] O, give me leave: How does my good good Lord H amlet?

[Aside] Though Thou gh this th is be madness, yet yet there th ere is method meth od in ’t. Will you you walk walk out of the air, my lord?

LORD POLONIUS

HAMLET

Into Int o my m y grave. grave.

LORD POLONIUS HAMLET

[Aside]

Do you know kno w me, my lord?

Excell Excellent ent well; well; you you are a fishmon fishm onger. ger.


Not I, my lord.

Then I would you were so so honest ho nest a man. man .

LORD POLONIUS

Hones Hon est, t, my lord!

Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked picked out of ten ten thousand. th ousand.

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

That’s very very true, tr ue, my m y lord.

For if the sun breed b reed maggots maggots in a dead dog, do g, being a god kissing kissing carrion,—Have carrion ,—Have you you a daughter? dau ghter?

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

I have, my lord lord..

Let her not no t walk i’ the th e sun: conception is a blessing: blessing: but not no t as your daughter daught er may conceive. conceive. Friend Friend,, look to’ to ’t.

Ho w say you by b y that? that ? Still [Aside] How harping harp ing on my m y daughter: yet yet he knew me not at first; first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and tru ly in my m y yout youth h I suffered suffered much m uch extremity extremit y for for love; very near this. I’ll speak to him again. What do you read, my lord? lord?

LORD POLONIUS

thin g that I HAMLET You cann ot, sir, take from me any thing will more willingly part withal: except my m y life, life, except except my life, except my life. LORD POLONIUS HAMLET

Fare you well, my lord.

These tedious old fools! fools!

LORD POLONIUS

You go to seek seek the Lord H amlet;

there th ere he is. is. ROSENCRANTZ

[To POLONIUS] God save you, sir!

[Exit [Exit POLON POLONIUS] IUS] GUILDENSTERN ROSENCRANTZ

My honoured hon oured lord! My most dear lord!

My exce excelle llent nt goods friend friends! s! How Ho w dost th ou, ou , Guildenstern? Guildenstern ? Ah, Rosencrantz! Rosencrant z! Good lads, how do ye both?

HAMLET

Words, words, words.

LORD POLONIUS

How Ho w pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness happ iness that often often m adness hits on, which reason reason and sanity could n ot so prosperously pro sperously be delive delivered red of. I will leave leave him, him , and suddenly sud denly con contrive trive the means of meeting between him and my daughter.—My hon ourable our able lord lord,, I will will most hu mbly take my leav leavee of you.

[Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN]

HAMLET

HAMLET

Indeed, that is out o’ the air.

Well, God-a-mercy.


I mean, the matter th at you read,

What is the matter, matt er, my lord? lord?


21


As the indifferent indifferent children of the th e earth earth..

ROSENCRANTZ

Happy, in that th at we are are not over-happ over-happy y; On fortune’s cap we are not the very button.

GUILDENSTERN

HAMLET

Nor the th e soles soles of her shoe?

ROSENCRANTZ and ROSENCRANTZ and GULDENSTERN GULDENSTERN We’ll We’ll wait wait

Neither, my lord.

ROSENCRANTZ

Then you live about her waist, or in the middle midd le of her favou favours? rs? Faith, her privates we.

No such matter: m atter: I wil willl not sort you with the th e rest of my servants, servants, for, to speak to you like an h ones on estt man, man , I am am most mo st dreadfully attended. atten ded. But But,, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinor lsinore? e?

ROSENCRANTZ To visit visit you, my lord; no

In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she is a str strum umpet. pet. What’ What ’s the new n ews? s?

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ

upon up on you.

HAMLET

HAMLET

GUILDENSTERN

Then are ou r beggars beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars’ shadows shado ws.. Shall Shall we to t he court cou rt?? For, by my m y fay, fay, I cann cannot ot reason.

HAMLET

None, my lord, but that the world’s world’s

grown grown hones hon est. t. Then is doom sday near: but your new n ewss is not true. Let me question more mor e in particular: part icular: what what have h ave you, my good good friends, friend s, deserved deserved at the th e hands hand s of fortune, fortu ne, that she sends sends you you to t o prison hither? h ither?

other oth er occasion. occasion.

Begga eggarr that t hat I am, am , I am even even poor poo r in than t hanks; ks; but I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. halfpenn y. Were you you not no t sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.

HAMLET

HAMLET

GUILDENSTERN HAMLET

Prison, my lord!

Denmark’ Denm ark’ss a prison.

ROSENCRANTZ

Then is the world one.

We think not so, my lord.

Why, then, ’tis ’tis non e to you; for for there t here is nothing not hing either either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me m e it is a prison.

HAMLET

Why then, your your ambition m akes akes it one; ’tis too n arrow for for your mind.

ROSENCRANTZ

O God, I could be bounded bound ed in a nu t shell shell and count coun t mys m yself elf a king of infinit infinitee space, space, were were it not no t that t hat I have bad dreams.

HAMLET

for GUILDENSTERN Which dreams indeed are ambition , for the th e very very substan substance ce of the th e ambitiou s is merely the th e shadow of a dream. A dream itself is but a shadow.

Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light light a quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow’s shado shadow. w.

ROSENCRANTZ

22

Why, anythin g, but to the t he purpo pu rpose se.. You You were sent sent for; and there t here is a kind of confession confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I know the th e good good king and qu een have sent sent for you. you. To what end, my lord?

That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellow fellowship, ship, by the consonancy con sonancy of our yout h, by the obligation of our ever-pr ever-pres eserve erved d love, love, and by what mor e dear a better proposer pr oposer could charge you you with withal, al, be eve even n an d direct dir ect with with me, whether you were sent sent for, or no? no ?

HAMLET

A goodly one; in which there are man y confines, wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ the worst.

HAMLET

What should sho uld we say, say, my lord?

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ

GUILDENSTERN

ROSENCRANTZ

[Aside to GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] What

say you you?? [Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.—If you love me, hold not no t off.

HAMLET

GUILDENSTERN

My lord, we were sent for.

I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, discovery, and and your secrecy secrecy to the t he king and queen moult no feather. I have of late—but wherefore wherefore I know kn ow not—lost not —lost all my mirth, mirt h, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excell excellent ent canopy, the th e air, look you, th is brave o’erhan o’erhanging ging firmam firmament, ent, this t his majestical majestical roof fretted with golden fire, fire, why, why, it appears no ot her thin t hing g to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piec p iecee of work work is a man! man ! How noble n oble in reason! How Ho w infinite infinite in faculty! In form and m oving how

HAMLET



express express and admirable! ad mirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehen ap prehension sion how ho w like like a god! god! The beauty of the world! The The paragon p aragon of o f animals! And yet, yet, to t o me, m e, what is this quint qu intes esse sence nce of dust? du st? Man deli d elights ghts not no t me: no, nor woman neither, thou gh by your your smiling smiling you seem to say so. ROSENCRANTZ

My lord lord,, there th ere was was no such stuff in

better—their writers writers do them th em wrong, to make them exclaim exclaim against their t heir own success succession? ion? Faith, Faith, there has been been m uch to do on both sides sides;; and the nation n ation holds ho lds it it no n o sin to tarre t arre them to controversy cont roversy:: there was, was, for a while, no mon m oney ey bid for argument argument,, unle un less ss the poet po et and the player player went went to cuffs cuffs in the ques qu estion tion..

ROSENCRANTZ

my thoughts. HAMLET

Why did you laugh then, then , when when I said “man delights not me”?

HAMLET

To think, th ink, my lord, if you you deli d elight ght not n ot in man, what lenten entertainment the players shall receive receive from you: we coted th em on the th e way; way; and hither hith er are th ey coming, to offer offer you service. service.

been much m uch throwing th rowing about about GUILDENSTERN O, there has been of brains.

ROSENCRANTZ

He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty majesty shall shall have tribut trib utee of me; the adventurou adventu rouss knight shall use his foil and target; t arget; the lover lover shall not sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part in peac p eace; e; the clown shall make those tho se laugh laugh whose lungs are tickled o’ the sere; and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for’t. What players are they?

HAMLET

Even ven those t hose you you were were wont to take t ake delight delight in, the th e tragedians of the city. city.

ROSENCRANTZ

How chances it they travel? Their residence, both in reputation r eputation and profit, p rofit, was was better better both bo th ways. ays.

HAMLET

I think t heir inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation.

ROSENCRANTZ

Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the th e city? Are they t hey so followed? followed?

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ HAMLET

No, indeed, are they not. not .

HAMLET

Do the boys carry it away?

ROSENCRANTZ

Ay, that t hey do, my lord; H ercules and

his load load too. t oo. It is not n ot very very strange; for for m ine uncle u ncle is king king of Denmark, and t hose that would make mows at at him h im while my father fath er lived, give twenty, fort y, fifty, fifty, an hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little. ’Sblood, there t here is somet somethin hing g in in this t his more mor e than natural, natu ral, if if philosophy philosophy could find find it out. ou t.

HAMLET

[Flourish of trumpets within] GUILDENSTERN

There are the t he play p layers. ers.

Gentlemen, you are welcome welcome to Elsinor lsinore. e. Your hands, han ds, come come then: th en: the appu rtenance rten ance of welcome welcome is fashion fashion an d ceremon y: let me comply comp ly with you in this th is garb, garb, lest lest my m y extent extent to the th e players, players, which, which, I tell t ell you, must mu st show fairly fairly outward, out ward, should more m ore appear app ear like like entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my uncl un cle-f e-father ather and an d aunt-mot aunt -mother her are d eceiv eceived. ed.

HAMLET

GUILDENSTERN

In what, my dear lord?

I am but mad northnor th-nort north-wes h-west: t: when when the wind is southerly south erly I know a hawk from from a handsaw han dsaw..

HAMLET

How comes com es it? Do they t hey grow grow rusty? ru sty?

Nay, their th eir endeavour keeps in in the t he wonted p ace: ace: but there th ere is, is, sir, an aery of children children,, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically t yrannically clapped clapped for’t: for’t: thes th esee are now no w the fashion, fashion, and an d so berattle beratt le the common stages stages—so —so they call call them—that them —that many man y wearing wearing rapiers are afraid afraid of goose-qu goose-quills ills and dare scarce come thither. th ither.

ROSENCRANTZ

What, are they t hey children children?? Who maintain m aintainss ’em? ’em? how are th ey escoted? escoted? Will they th ey pursue pu rsue the th e quality no longer than th an they t hey can can sing? Will they not say afterwards, afterwards, if they should grow themselves themselves to common com mon players—as it is most like, if their means are no

HAMLET

Is’t Is’t possible po ssible??

[Enter POLONIUS] LORD POLONIUS

Well Well be with you, you , gent gentlemen! lemen!

Hark Har k you you,, Guildenstern; and you too: to o: at each each ear a hearer: that th at great baby you see there is not yet yet out of his swaddling-cl swaddling-clout outs. s.

HAMLET

Happily Hap pily he’s he’s the second second time come to to them; th em; for they th ey say an old o ld man is twice twice a child.

ROSENCRANTZ

I will will proph pro phes esy y he comes to tell t ell me of th e players; mark it. You say right, sir: o’ Monday mornin mor ning; g; ’twas ’twas so so indeed. in deed.

HAMLET


23

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT II LORD POLONIUS

My lord, I have news to tell you.

My lord, I h ave ave news to tell t ell you. you. When Roscius was was an actor in Rome,—

HAMLET


Upon mine honour,—

Then came each each actor on his ass,— ass,—

The best best actors actor s in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, p astoral-comical, historical-pastoral, historical-pastor al, tragi tr agical cal-h -historical, istorical, tragi tr agical cal-comical-historical-pastoral, scene scene individable, in dividable, or poem unlimit u nlimited: ed: Seneca Seneca cann cannot ot be b e too heav h eavy, y, nor Plautus Plautu s too light. For For the t he law of writ writ and an d th e liberty, these are the th e only men.

LORD POLONIUS

O Jeph Jephth thah, ah, judge jud ge of Israel, Israel, what what a treasure hadst hadst thou! th ou!

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

What a treasure had he, my lord?

Why, “One fair fair daughter and no more, The which he loved passing p assing well.” well.”

HAMLET


[Aside] Still on my m y daughter. dau ghter.

Am I not n ot i’ the th e right, old Jepht Jephthah? hah?

LORD POLONIUS If you you

call call me Jeph Jephth thah, ah, my lord, lord , I have a daughter dau ghter that t hat I love passing passing well. well.

HAMLET

Nay, that follows follows not. not .

LORD POLONIUS

What follows, follows, then, then , my lord?

Why, “As by lot, God wot,” and then, th en, you you know, kn ow, “It came to pass, as most like it was,”— the th e first first row r ow of the pious pio us chanson will will show you you more; mor e; for for look, where my abridgement comes.

HAMLET

[Enter four or five Players] You are welcome, masters; m asters; welcome, welcome, all. I am glad to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! friend ! Thy face face is valenced valenced since I saw thee th ee last: last: comest comest thou t hou to beard me m e in Denmark? What, my young youn g lady and m istress! By’r y’r lady, lad y, you yourr ladys lad yship hip is nearer to t o heaven than th an when I saw you you last, last, by the altitude altitud e of a chopine. chopin e. Pray God, God, your voice, voice, like like apiece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring. rin g. Masters, you are all welcome. We’l We’lll e’en e’en 24

FIRST PLAYER

What speech, my lord lord??

I heard thee th ee speak speak me a speech speech once, on ce, but it was never acted; or, if it was, was, not no t above abo ve once; for the th e play, play, I remember, remem ber, pleased pleased not n ot the th e million; ’twas ’twas caviare to the general: but it was—as I received it, and others, whose judgments in such matters cried in t he top to p of o f mine—an excelle excellent nt play, play, well well digested digested in the th e scenes, scenes, set set down do wn with as mu ch modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there were were no sallets sallets in in the t he lines to make th e matter matt er savoury savoury,, nor no matter in the phras phr asee that mig m ight ht indict the author of affectation; but called it an hon est est method m ethod,, as wholesome wholesome as swe sweet, et, and by very very much more m ore handsome hand some than fine. One speec speech h in it I chiefly loved: loved: ’twas ’twas Aeneas’ Aeneas’ tale to Dido; Dido ; and an d thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of Priam’s slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin at this line: let me see, let me see— “The rugg ru gged ed Pyrrhu s, like like the Hyrca H yrcanian nian beast,”— beast,”— it is not so:—it so:—it begins with with Pyrrh Pyrrhus:— us:— “The rugg ru gged ed Pyrrhu s, he whose sable sable arms, Black lack as his purpose, pur pose, did the t he night n ight resemble When he lay couched in the ominous horse, Hath Hat h now n ow this dread and black complexion smear’d smear’d With heraldry more dismal; head to foot Now is he total gules; horridly trick’d With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Baked and impasted im pasted with the th e parching streets, That lend a tyrannou s and damn ed light light To their lord’s murder: roasted in wrath and fire, And thus th us o’ o ’er-sized er-sized with coagulate coagulate gore, With eyes eyes like like carbun cles, cles, the hellish hellish Pyrrhus Pyrrhu s Old grandsire Priam seeks seeks.” .” So, proceed p roceed you.

HAMLET

Buz, buz!


The actors are come come hither, h ither, my m y lord lord..

to’ to ’t like French Fren ch falconers, falconer s, fly fly at any thin t hing g we we see: see: we’ll we’ll have a speech straight : come, give us a taste of your quality; q uality; come, come, a p assionat assionatee speech. speech.

’Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.

LORD POLONIUS

“Ano “Anon n he h e find findss him Striking trikin g too short shor t at Greeks; Greeks; his antique ant ique sword sword,, Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, Repugnant t o command: comman d: unequal un equal match’d, match’d, Pyrrh Pyrrhus us at Priam drives; drives; in rage r age str strikes ikes wide; But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unn u nnerve erved d father falls. falls. Then sensele senseless ss Ilium Ilium,, Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top Stoops too ps to h is base, base, and with a h ideous crash Takes prisoner Pyrrhus’ ear: for, lo! His sword, Which was declining declining on the th e milky head head Of reverend reverend Priam, seem’d seem’d i’ the th e air to t o stick: FIRST PLAYER



So, as a painted paint ed tyrant, tyrant , Pyrrh Pyrrh us stood, And like a neutral neut ral to his h is will will and matter, matt er, Did nothing. But, as we often see, against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, The bold winds wind s speechle speechless ss and and the th e orb below As hush as death, anon the dreadf dr eadful ul thun th under der Doth rend the th e region, region, so, after after Pyrrhu s’ pause pau se,, Arouse rou sed d vengeance vengeance sets sets him h im new a-work; And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall On Mars his armou armourr forged forged for pr oof eterne eterne With less less remorse remor se than Pyrrhus’ Pyrrhu s’ bleedin bleeding g sword sword Now falls falls on Priam. Out, out, o ut, thou t hou strumpet, strump et, Fortu Fortune! ne! All All you you gods, In general general synod take away her power; p ower; Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, And bowl the round rou nd nave down the th e hill of heaven, heaven, As low as to the th e fiends!” LORD POLONIUS

time: after you yourr death you were bett better er have a bad epitaph than th an their t heir ill report while you you live. LORD POLONIUS

My lord, I will use them th em according to to

their desert. God’s God’s bodykins, man, m uch better: use u se eve every ry man after his desert, desert, and who should ’scape scape whipping? whippin g? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in.

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

Come, sirs.

Follow him, frien ds: we’ we’ll hear a play to-morrow to-morro w.

HAMLET

[Exit [Exit POLON POLONIUS IUS with all the Players but the First] Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the Murder of Gonzago?

This is too long.

It shall to the t he barber’s, barber’s, with with your beard. beard . Prithee, say on: he’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba.

HAMLET

“But “But who, O, who who had h ad seen seen the t he mobled quee qu een—” n—” FIRST PLAYER

HAMLET

FIRST PLAYER

That’s good; “mobled qu een” is good good..

We’ll We’ll ha’t ha’t to-m t o-morr orrow ow night. You You could, for a need, stud y a speech speech of some dozen or sixteen sixteen lines, which I would set down and insert in’t, could you not? Ay, my lord. lord .

Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him him not. n ot.

HAMLET

“Run “Run barefoot barefoot up u p and down, threatening

the th e flames flames With bisson bisson rheum; a clout clout upon that hea h ead d Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe, About bou t her h er lank and all o’er-teemed o’er-teemed loins, loin s, A blanket, in t he alarm of fear fear caught u p; Who th is had seen, seen, with with ton gue in veno venom m steep’d, steep’d, “’Gainst “’Gainst Fortun Fort une’ e’ss state would wou ld treason t reason have have pronou nced: But if the gods th emselv emselves es did see her then t hen When she saw Pyrrh Pyrrhus us make malic m alicious ious sport In mincing m incing with with his sword sword her h er husband’s hu sband’s limbs, The instant instant burst of clamour clamour that she made, made, Unless things mortal move them not at all, Would have h ave made milc m ilch h the t he burn bu rning ing eyes eyes of heaven, heaven, And passion passion in the th e gods.” gods.” Look, whether whether he has not turned tur ned his colour an d has h as tears in’s in’s eyes eyes.. Pray you, you, n o more. m ore.

LORD POLONIUS

’Tis well: well: I’ll I’ll have thee th ee speak out the th e rest soon . Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for they th ey are the abstract and an d brief br ief chronicl chron icles es of the

HAMLET

Ay, my lord. lord .

HAMLET

FIRST PLAYER

“The mobled queen”?

LORD POLONIUS

FIRST PLAYER

[Exit First Player] My good friends, I’ll leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore. ROSENCRANTZ HAMLET

Good my lord!

Ay, Ay, so, God be wi’ ye; ye;

[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSEN ROSEN CRANTZ CRANT Z and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] Now I am alone. O, what a rogue ro gue and peas p easant ant slave slave am I! Is it it not n ot monstrou m onstrouss that th is play player er here, But in a fiction fiction,, in a dream of passion passion,, Could force his soul so to his h is own own concei con ceitt That from her working all his visage wann’d, Tears in his eyes, distraction in’s aspect, A broken bro ken voice, voice, and and his whole whole function suiting suitin g With form s to his conceit? And all for for n othing! oth ing! For Hecuba! What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he h e shou shou ld weep weep for her? What would h e do,


25

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT III

Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I h ave? ave? He would drown d rown the t he stage with tears And cleav cleavee the th e general general ear with horrid hor rid speech, speech, Make mad th e guilty guilty and appal the th e free, free, Confound the ignorant, and amaze amaze indeed indeed The very faculties faculties of o f eyes eyes and ears. Yet Yet I, I, A dull du ll and and muddy-m mu ddy-mettled ettled rascal, rascal, peak, peak, Like John John -a-dreams, -a-d reams, unp regnant of my cause, cause, And can say nothin not hing; g; no, no , not for a king, Upon whose whose property and most dear life life A damn’d defeat was made. Am I a coward? Who calls me villain? villain? Breaks Breaks my pate p ate across? acr oss? Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face? Tweaks me by the nose? Gives me the lie i’ the throat, As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this? Ha! ’S ’Swounds, wound s, I shou should ld take it: for it cann ot be But I am pigeon-liver’d and lack gall To make oppression bitter, or ere this I should have fatted fatted all the region region kites With this th is slave’ slave’ss offal: offal: blood y, bawdy villain! villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! O, vengeance! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murder’d,

Prompt Prom pted ed to my m y revenge revenge by heaven heaven and an d hell, Must, like a whor whore, e, unpack unp ack my heart heart with with words, And fall a-cursing, like a very drab, A scullion scullion!! Fie upon’t! Foh! About, my brain! I have heard That guilty creatures sitting at a play p lay Have by the very cunn ing of the scene Been een struck str uck so to th e soul soul that t hat prese p resent ntly ly They have proclaim’d proclaim’d their th eir male m alefac faction tions; s; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculou s organ. I’ll I’ll have these players players Play somethin g like like the mu rder of my father father Before min e uncle: un cle: I’ll I’ll observe his looks; I’ll I’ll tent him h im to the th e quick: if he but bu t blench, I know kno w my cour course se.. The spirit t hat I have seen seen May be the devil: devil: and the th e devil devil hath power To assume a plea p leasing sing shape; shape; yea, yea, and perhaps perhap s Out Ou t of o f my weaknes weaknesss and my melancholy, As he is very very potent pot ent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me: I’ll I’ll have grounds groun ds More relative than t his: the play’ play’s the thing th ing Wherein I’ll I’ll catch catch the th e conscience conscience of th e king.

[Exit]

ACT III SCENE I A room room in the th e cas castle. tle.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE ROSENCRANTZ

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN]

Did he receiv r eceivee you well?

Most like a gentleman gentleman..

But with with much mu ch forcing of his disposition. GUILDENSTERN

ROSENCRANTZ

Niggard Niggard of ques qu estion tion;; but, of

And can you, by no drift d rift of circumstance, Get Get from him why he puts put s on this t his confusion, confusion, Grating so harshly all his days of quiet With turbulent tu rbulent and an d dange dan gerous rous lunacy? lunacy?

our demands, Most free in his reply.

He does d oes confes con fesss he feels himself distracted; But from what cause he will by no means m eans speak.

ROSENCRANTZ

KING CLAUDIUS

ROSENCRANTZ

GUILDENSTERN

Nor do d o we find find him h im forward forward to

be soun sounded, ded, But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof, When we wou would ld bring brin g him on to some confe con fess ssion ion Of his true state.

26

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE

Did you assay assay him?

To any pastime? Madam, it so fell fell out, th at cert certain ain play p layers ers We o’er-rau o’er-raught ght on the th e way way:: of these we we told him; And there th ere did seem seem in him h im a kind of o f joy joy To hear of it: they are are about the court , And, nd , as I thin k, they have already already order This night to play before him.



’Tis most tr ue: And he beseech’ beseech’d d me m e to entr en treat eat your m ajesties ajesties To hear and see the matter.

LORD POLONIUS

With all my heart; and and it doth dot h much content content m e To hear him so inclined. Good gentlemen, give him a further furth er edge, edge, And drive his purpose purp ose on to t hese delight delights. s.

LORD POLONIUS

I hear him coming: let’s let’s withd withdraw, raw,

my lord.

[Exeunt [Exeunt KIN KING G CLAUDIUS CLAUDIUS and POLONIUS] POLONI US]

KING CLAUDIUS

ROSENCRANTZ

We shall, my lord.

[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSEN ROSEN CRANT Z and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] Sweet Gertrude, leave us too; For we have close closely ly sent sent for Hamlet H amlet hither, h ither, That he, as ’twere by accident, may here Affron ffrontt Ophelia Oph elia:: Her father and myself, lawful espials, Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing, unseen, We may of their encoun en counter ter frankly judge, And gather by him, him , as he is behaved, behaved, If ’t be the affliction of his love or no That thu t huss he suffe suffers rs for. KING CLAUDIUS


shall obey you. And for your part, p art, Oph O pheli elia, a, I do wish wish That your good beauties beaut ies be the happy hap py cause cause Of Hamlet’s wildness: so shall I hope your virtues Will bring brin g him to his wonted way agai again, n, To both your honours. OPHELIA

Madam, I wish it m ay. ay.

[Exit QUEEN GERTRUDE] LORD POLONIUS

Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so

please you you,, We will bestow our o urselv selves. es.

[To OPHELIA] Read on this book; That show of such an exercise exercise may colour colour Your loneliness. loneliness. We are oft to blame in t his,— ’Tis too m uch proved—that pr oved—that with dev d evotion otion ’s visag visagee And pious piou s action action we do sugar o’er o’er The devil d evil himself.

[Enter [Enter HAMLET] HA MLET] To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler nob ler in the th e mind to suffer suffer The slings slings and and arrows arro ws of outrage outr ageous ous fortune, fortu ne, Or to t o take arms arm s against against a sea of troubles, tro ubles, And by opposing oppo sing end them? t hem? To die: to sleep; sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache heart-ache and the t he thou sand sand natural natu ral shocks shocks That flesh flesh is heir to, t o, ’tis ’tis a consumm ation Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; To sleep: sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s there’s the ru b; For in th at sleep sleep of death what dr eams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there’s the respect That makes calamity of so long life; For who who would wou ld bear the th e whips whips and scorn scornss of time, tim e, The oppress opp ressor’s or’s wrong, the proud pr oud man’ man ’s con contu tumely mely,, The pan p angs gs of despised love, th thee law’s law’s delay, The insolence of office office and the th e spurn s That patient merit of the u nworthy takes, takes, When he h e himself himself might might his h is quietus make With a bare bar e bodkin? bodkin ? Who would fardels bear, To grunt grun t and an d sweat sweat und u nder er a weary weary life life,, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover’d country from whose bourn No travel t raveller ler return retu rns, s, puzzles puzzles the will And makes us rath er bear those t hose ills we we have Than fly to others ot hers that we know not no t of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sickl sicklied ied o’er o’er with the th e pale cast cast of o f thought tho ught,, And enterprises enterprises of great great pith and m oment With this th is rega regard rd their currents current s turn awry, awry, And lose the th e name of o f action action.—S .—Soft oft you n ow! The fair fair Opheli Oph elia! a! Nymph, Nymph , in thy th y orison orisonss Be all my sins remember’d. remem ber’d.

HAMLET

Good my lord, How does your your honour hon our for this many a day? day? OPHELIA

HAMLET

I hu mbly mb ly thank than k you; well, well, well, well. well.

My lord lord,, I have remembrances remembr ances of you yours, rs, That I h ave ave longed long to re-deliv r e-deliver; er; I pray pr ay you you,, now no w receiv receivee them. them . OPHELIA

[Aside] O, ’tis ’tis too tru t rue! e! How smart a lash lash that t hat speech speech doth do th give give my conscience! conscience! The harlot ’s cheek, cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more mo re ugly ugly to the thing th ing that helps it Than is my deed deed to t o my m y most painted word: O heavy burthen! burt hen! KING CLAUDIUS

No, not I; I never gave you aught.

HAMLET


27

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT III OPHELIA

My honou r’d r’d lord, lord , you you kn ow right right well well

you did; d id; And, nd , with with them, th em, words of so so sweet sweet breath compose compo sed d As made the th ings more rich: their perfume perfum e lost, lost, Take thes th esee again; again; for for to t o the th e noble mind min d Rich Rich gifts gifts wax poor when givers givers prove un kind. There, my lord lord.. HAMLET

Ha, ha! h a! Are you honest? h onest?

OPHELIA

My lord lord??

HAMLET

Are you fair?

OPHELIA

What means your lordship?

marry, marr y, marry a fool; for for wise wise men know well well enough enou gh what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and quickly too. Farewell. OPHELIA

O heav h eavenly enly powers, powers, restore him! him !

I have heard of your paintin p aintings gs too, too , well well enough; enou gh; God God has h as give given n you one on e face face,, and you make yourselve yourselvess another: anot her: you jig, you you amble, and you lisp, and n ick-name God’s God’s creatu creatures, res, and make you yourr wantonness wanton ness your your ignorance. ignoran ce. Go to, I’ll I’ll no more m ore on’ on ’t; it hath made me m e mad. I say, say, we will will have no more mo re marriag marr iages es:: those that are ar e married already, all all but on e, shall live; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunn nu nnery ery,, go. go.

HAMLET

That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse discourse to your beauty. beauty.

HAMLET

Could beauty, beau ty, my lord, have better commerce comm erce than with with hones hon esty? ty? OPHELIA

Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform hon esty esty from from what it is to a bawd bawd than th an the th e force of hones hon esty ty can can tran t ransl slate ate beauty into his likeness: likeness: this th is was was sometim sometimee a paradox, but bu t now n ow the time gives gives it proof. pr oof. I did love you you once.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

Indeed, Ind eed, my lord, you m ade me believe believe so.

You should not no t have h ave believe believed d me; m e; for for virtue virt ue cannot canno t so inoculate inocu late our old o ld stock but we shall shall relish relish of it: I loved loved you not. no t.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

I was the more deceived.

Get Get thee t hee to a n unnery: un nery: why wouldst wouldst thou t hou be a breeder of sinn ers? I am myself myself indifferent indifferent hon est; est; but yet yet I could accuse me of such things th ings that it were were better my mother h ad not borne me: m e: I am very very proud pro ud,, revengef revengeful, ul, ambitious, ambit ious, with more m ore offences offences at my beck beck than I have thoughts thou ghts to put t hem in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows fellows as I do crawling between between earth and heaven? heaven? We are arrant arran t knave kn aves, s, all; all; believe believe none non e of us. Go thy t hy ways ways to a nu nn ery. Where’s your father? At home, h ome, my lord.

Let the doors be shut shut upon him, that h e may play the fool no n o where bu t in’ in ’s own house. h ouse. Farewe Farewell. ll.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

O, help h elp him, you sweet sweet heav h eavens! ens!

If thou tho u dost marry, marr y, I’ll I’ll give give thee this plag p lague ue for thy th y dowry: dowry: be thou tho u as chaste chaste as ice, ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape escape calumn calumny. y. Get thee to a nunn nu nn ery, ery, go: farewe farewell. ll. Or, if thou wilt wilt needs n eeds

HAMLET

28

O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown! The cou rtier’ rt ier’s, s, soldier’s, soldier’s, scho scholar’s lar’s,, eye, eye, tongu to ngue, e, swor sword; d; The expectan expectancy cy and rose of the fair state, The glass glass of fashion fashion and an d the t he mould mo uld of o f form form,, The observed of all observers observers,, quite, qu ite, quite qu ite down! do wn! And I, of ladies ladies most deje d eject ct and wretched, That suck’d suck’d the t he hon h oney ey of his music vows, vows, Now see see that n oble and most m ost sovereig sovereign n reas r eason on,, Like swe sweet et bells jangle jangled, d, ou t of tune tu ne and an d harsh; h arsh; That un match’d match’d form and feature feature of blown blown youth Blasted with ecstasy: ecstasy: O, woe is m e, To have h ave seen seen what I have seen, see what what I see! OPHELIA

[Re-enter [Re-enter KING CLAUDIUS and POLONIUS] KING CLAUDIUS

HAMLET

OPHELIA

[Exit]

Love! His affections do not that

way tend; tend ; Nor what he spake, thou gh it lack’d lack’d form a little, Was not like madness. There’s There’s something somethin g in his h is soul, soul, O’er O’er which his melancholy sits sits on broo b rood; d; And I do doubt d oubt the hatch and the disclos disclosee Will be some some danger: d anger: which which for t o preve p revent nt,, I have in quick determination Thus Thu s set set it down: d own: he shall with with speed speed to t o England England,, For the t he demand of o f our neg n egle lected cted tribute Haply Hap ly the th e seas seas and countr coun tries ies different different With variable objects shall expel This something-settled matter in his heart, Whereon Whereon his brains still still beating beating puts him thus thu s From fashion fashion of himself. himself. What thin t hink k you you on’t? o n’t? It shall do well: but yet do I believe The origin and commencement of his grief Spru ng from neglected neglected love. love. How Ho w now, Opheli Oph elia! a! You need not n ot tell t ell us what Lord Lord Hamlet Ham let said; said; We heard it all. My lord, do as you please; But, ut , if you hold ho ld it fit, after the play Let his queen moth mo ther er all alone entreat entr eat him

LORD POLONIUS



To show his grief: grief: let let her be roun ro und d with him ; And I’ll be placed, so please you, in the ear Of all all their confe con ference. rence. If she find find him not, no t, To England send him, or confine him where Your ou r wisdom best shall thin k.

I hope hop e we we have reformed that t hat indiff ind ifferently erently with us, sir.

FIRST PLAYER

It shall be so: Madness in in great ones on es must mu st not unwatch’ un watch’d d go. KING CLAUDIUS

[Exeunt]

SCENE II II A hall in the th e cas castle. tle.

[Exeunt Players]

[Ent [Enter er HAMLE HAM LET T and Playe Players rs]] Speak the speech, I pray you, as I prono pro noun unce ced d it to you, trippingly on the t he tongue: but if you mout m outh h it, as many of your your players players do, I had h ad as lief lief the town-crier town- crier spoke my lines. Nor do not n ot saw the air too m uch with your hand, h and, th us, but use all all gently gently;; for in the t he very very torrent tor rent,, tempes temp est, t, and, an d, as I may say say,, the th e whirlwind whirlwind of o f passion, passion, you m ust acquire acquir e and beg b eget et a temperance temp erance that may give give it smoot hnes hn ess. s. O, it offends offends me to the soul to hear a robustious robu stious periwig-pat periwig-pated ed fellow fellow tear a passion passion to tatters, tatt ers, to very very rags, rags, to split the th e ears of the groun dlings, who who for the t he most part p art are capable capable of nothing nothin g but inexplicable inexplicable dum bshows and n oise: oise: I would h ave such such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant; it out-herods out- herods Herod: pr ay you, you, avoid it.

HAMLET

FIRST PLAYER

[Enter POLONIUS, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] How Ho w now, my lord! I will will the king hear t his piece of work? LORD POLONIUS HAMLET

And the queen too, to o, and that t hat pres pr esently ently..

Bid the players make haste.

[Exit [Exit POLON POLONIUS] IUS] Will you two help to hasten them? ROSENCRANTZ and ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN GUILDENSTERN

We will, will, my lord. lord .

[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSEN ROSEN CRANTZ CRANT Z and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] HAMLET

I warrant your honour.

Be not t oo tame neither, n either, but let your your own discretion discretion be your your tutor: tut or: suit suit the t he action action to t o the th e word, word, the th e word to t o the th e action action;; with with this th is special special o’erstep o’erstep not no t the th e modesty of natur nat ure: e: for any thing thin g so so overdone overdon e is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first first and an d now, n ow, was was and is, to hold, as ’twere, ’twere, the mirror up to nature; n ature; to show virtue virtue her own featur feature, e, scorn scorn her own image, and the th e very very age age and body b ody of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone, or come tardy tar dy off, off, thou th ough gh it make the un skillf skillful ul laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censur censuree of the th e which which on e must in your allowance allowance o’erwe o’erweigh igh a whole theatre of o f others. O, there t here be players players that I have seen seen play, play, and heard oth o thers ers praise, and and that th at highly, not to speak it profa pro fanely, nely, that, neither having the accent of Christians nor the th e gait gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, man , have so strutted and bel b ellow lowed ed that I have thought some of nature’ natu re’ss journ journ eymen eymen had m ade men and n ot made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.

HAMLET

O, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns speak speak no more m ore than th an is set set down for them; t hem; for there th ere be of them that th at will themselve themselvess laugh, laugh, to to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered: that’ th at’ss vill villanou anou s, and and shows a most pitiful p itiful ambition in the t he fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.

HAMLET

What ho! Horatio!

[Enter HORATIO] HORATIO

Here, sweet lord, at your service.

Horatio, thou t hou art e’en e’en as just just a m an As e’er my conversation coped withal.

HAMLET

HORATIO

O, my dear lord,—

Nay, Nay, do not n ot think t hink I flatter; flatter; For what advancement may I hope from thee That no n o revenu revenuee hast but thy good spirits, spirits, To feed feed and clothe thee? th ee? Why shou should ld the th e poor be flatter’d? No, let let the t he candied tongue lick lick absurd pom p, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift th rift may follow follow fawning. fawning. Dost thou tho u hear? h ear? Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice And could of men distinguish, d istinguish, her election election Hath Hat h seal’d seal’d thee t hee for herself; herself; for for thou t hou hast been As one, in suffering suffering all, that suffers suffers nothin not hing, g, A man that th at fortune’ fortu ne’ss buffets buffets and rewards

HAMLET


29


Hast ta’en ta’en with equal equ al thanks: than ks: and blest blest are those th ose Whose blood and judgment are so so well well commingl commin gled, ed, That they t hey are not a pipe p ipe for fortune’ fortu ne’ss finger finger To sound soun d what stop sto p she please. please. Give Give me that th at man m an That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him In m y heart’s heart’s core, ay, ay, in m y heart of heart, heart , As I do th ee.—S ee.—Someth omething ing too much mu ch of this.— There is a play to-night to- night before the king; One On e scene scene of it comes near the th e circum circumstance stance Which I have h ave told thee th ee of my father’s father’s death: I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, Even ven with the th e very very comm comment ent of o f thy sou soull Observe mine uncle: u ncle: if his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech, It is a damn ed ghost that th at we have seen, seen, And my imaginations imagination s are as foul As Vulcan’s stithy. Give him heedful note; For I mine m ine eyes will will rivet to his face, And after we we will will both our o ur judgment s join In censure of his seemin seeming. g. Well, my lord: If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, And ’scape detecting, I will pay the theft.

HORATIO

They are are coming comin g to th e play; play; I must be b e idle: Get you a place.

HAMLET

[Danish march. A flourish. Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and others] KING CLAUDIUS

How fares our cousin Hamlet?

Excell Excellent ent,, i’ faith; of the t he cham eleon’s dish: I eat the air, promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so.

HAMLET

It was a brute bru te part of him to kill so capital capital a calf there. th ere. Be Be the th e players ready?

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ

Ay, my lord; they stay upon

your patience. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Come

hither, hit her, my dear Hamlet, Ham let, sit sit

by me. No, good moth m other, er, here’s here’s metal more attractive.

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

ho ! Do you you [To KING CLAUDIUS] O, ho!

mark that? HAMLET

Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

[Lying down at OPHELIA’s feet] OPHELIA

No, my lord.

HAMLET

I mean, my head head upon u pon your lap? lap?

OPHELIA

Ay, my lord. lord .

HAMLET

Do you think I meant coun try matters?

OPHELIA

I think n othing, othin g, my lord. lord.

That’s a fair thought tho ught to lie betwee between n maid ma ids’ s’ legs.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

What is, my lord lord??

HAMLET

Nothing.

OPHELIA

You are merry, merr y, my lord lord..

HAMLET

Who, I?

OPHELIA

Ay, my lord. lord .

O God, your only o nly jig-maker. jig-maker. What should shou ld a man do but b ut be merry? For, look you, you, how h ow cheerfully cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within these two hours.

HAMLET

I have noth no thing ing with with this t his answer, answer, Hamlet; these words are not mine.

KING CLAUDIUS

HAMLET

No, nor mine m ine now.

OPHELIA

[To POLON POLONIUS] IUS]

Nay, ’tis ’tis twice two mon ths, th s, my lord.

So long? Nay then, let the devil wear black, for I’ll have a suit of sables. O heavens! Die two months ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there’s hope hop e a great man’ m an’ss memory memor y may outliv out livee his life life half a year: year: but, but , by’r by’r lady, he mu st build bu ild chur ches, ches, then; th en; or else shall he suffe sufferr not n ot thin t hinking king on, with the th e hobby-horse, hobb y-horse, whose whose epitaph is “For, “For, O, for, O, O, the th e hobby-horse hobby-ho rse is is forgot.” forgot.”

HAMLET

My lord, you played once i’ the university, you say? LORD POLONIUS

That did d id I, my lord; and was accoun accoun ted

a good actor. HAMLET

What did you enact? enact?

I did enact Julius Caesar: I was killed i’ the th e Capitol; Bru Brutu tuss killed killed me. m e.

LORD POLONIUS

[Hautboys play. The dumb-show enters] 30



[Enter a King and a Queen very lovingly; the Queen embracing him, and he her. She kneels, and m akes show of protes protestat tation ion unt u nto o him. him . He H e takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck: lays him down upon a bank of flowers: she, seeing him aslee asleep, p, leaves him . Anon A non comes om es in a fellow, takes tak es off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the King’s ears, and exit. The Queen returns; finds the King dead, and makes passionate action. The Poisoner, with some two or three Mutes, comes in again, seeming to lament with her. The dead body is carried away. The Poisoner wooes the Queen with gifts: she seems loath and unwilling awhile, but in the end accepts his love] [Exeunt] OPHELIA

What means this, my lord?

And thirty dozen moons with borrow’d sheen About bou t the t he world hav h avee times twelve twelve thirties thirt ies been, Since love love our hearts and Hy H ymen did d id our hands Unite commut ual in most sacred sacred bands. PLAYER QUEE QU EEN N

So many m any journeys jour neys may the th e sun

and moon Make us again again count cou nt o’er o’er ere love be done! But, ut , woe is me, you are ar e so sick of late, So far from from cheer and from your former state, stat e, That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust, Discomf Discomfort ort you, my m y lord, lord, it nothing not hing must: mu st: For women’s women’s fear fear and love holds qu antity; ant ity; In neither n either aught, or in extremity. extremity. Now, what what my love love is, is, proof pro of hath made you kn ow; An d as my m y love is sized, sized, my m y fear fear is so: Where love is great, great, the t he littles litt lestt doubts dou bts are fear; Where little fears grow great, great love grows there. PLAYER PLAYER KING KIN G

Faith Faith,, I must m ust leave thee, love, love, and

the th e play. play.

shortly too; My operant operan t powe po wers rs their function fun ctionss leav leavee to do: And thou th ou shalt live in this t his fair fair world behind, behind , Hon our’ our ’d, beloved; beloved; and haply h aply one on e as kind For husba hu sband nd shalt thou— thou —

[Enter Prologue]

PLAYER QUEE QU EEN N

Marry, this th is is miching mallecho; mallecho; it means mischief.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

Belike elike this show show import impo rtss the argument of

We shall know kno w by this fellow: fellow: the th e players cannot keep counsel; they’ll tell all.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

Will he tell us what what this t his show meant?

HAMLET

Ay, or any an y show show that t hat you’ll you’ll show show him: h im: be not n ot you ashamed to t o show, he’ll he’ll not shame to t ell you what it means.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

You are naught, nau ght, you are ar e naught: nau ght: I’ll I’ll mark

the th e play. play.

[Aside] Wormwood, wormwood.

PLAYER QUEE Q UEEN N

[Exit] HAMLET

Is this a prologue, or t he posy of a ring?

OPHELIA

’Tis brief, my lord. lord .

HAMLET

As woman’s love.

[Enter two Players, King and Queen] Full thirty thirt y times hath Phoebus’ Ph oebus’ cart

gone round Neptune’ Neptu ne’ss salt salt wash wash and an d Tellus’ orbed ground, groun d,

The instances that secon second d

marriag marr iagee move Are base respects respects of thrif thr ift, t, bu t n one of o f love: love: A second second time I kill my husband dead, When secon second d hu sband kisses kisses me in bed. PLAYER PLAYER KING KIN G

For us, and for our tragedy, Here stooping stoop ing to your clemency, We beg your hearing h earing patient ly. ly. PROLOGUE

PLAYER PLAYER KING KIN G

O, confoun confound d the th e rest! rest! Such love must n eeds be treason in my breast: In second husband let me be accurst! None Non e wed wed the th e second second bu t who kill’d kill’d the t he first.

I do believe believe you you thin t hink k what what n ow

you speak; But what we do determine determ ine oft we break. Purpose Purp ose is is but the t he slave slave to memory, m emory, Of violent birth, but poor validity; Which now, no w, like fruit unr u nripe, ipe, sticks sticks on the th e tree; But fall, fall, unshaken, un shaken, when they t hey mellow mellow be. Most n ecessary ecessary ’tis ’tis that t hat we for forget get To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt: What to t o oursel ou rselve vess in passion passion we propose, pro pose, The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. The violence of either grief or joy Their own enactures enactur es with with themse th emselv lves es destro destroy: y: Where joy most revels, revels, grief grief doth most lament; Grief joys, joys, joy grieves, grieves, on slender slend er accident. acciden t. This world world is not n ot for aye, nor ’tis not strange str ange That even our loves should with our fortunes change;


31


For ’tis ’tis a question left left us u s yet yet to prove pro ve,, Whether love lead lead fortun fort une, e, or else else fort fortun unee love. love. The great man down, you mark h is favourite favourite flies; flies; The poor poo r advanced makes m akes friends of enemies. enemies. And hitherto h itherto dot h love love on fortune tend; For who not n ot needs shall never never lack a friend, friend, And who in want a hollow friend doth try, Directly seasons him his enemy. But, ut , orderly to end where I begun, Our Ou r wills wills and fates do so contrary contr ary run That our o ur devices devices still still are overt overthro hrown; wn; Our thoughts thou ghts are are ours, their ends ends non e of our own: o wn: So think th ink thou th ou wilt wilt no second second husband h usband wed; But die thy thought th oughtss when when thy t hy first first lord is dead. PLAYER QUEE QU EEN N

Nor earth to m e giv givee food, food, nor n or

heaven heaven light light!! Sport and repose lock from me day and night! To desperation desperation turn tu rn my m y trust tru st and hope! An anchor’ ancho r’ss cheer cheer in prison be my scope! scope! Each opposite opp osite that blanks the th e face face of joy joy Meet what I would have well well and it des d estro troy! y! Both here and hence pursue pu rsue me lasting strife, strife, If, once on ce a widow, ever I be wife! HAMLET

OPHELIA

You are as good good as a chorus, my lord. lord .

I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see the pupp pu ppets ets dallying. dallying.

HAMLET

OPHELIA

You are keen, my lord, lord , you are keen.

It would cost you a groaning groanin g to take off my edge.

HAMLET

Still better, and worse. worse.

So you m ust take t ake you yourr husband h usbands. s. Beg Begin, in, murderer; mu rderer; pox, p ox, leave leave thy th y damnable damn able face faces, s, and beg b egin. in. Come: ’th ’thee croaking raven doth do th bellow for revenge. revenge.

Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing; agreeing; Confederate season season,, else else no n o creature creatu re seeing; seeing; Thou mixture mixtu re rank, of midn ight weeds weeds colle collected, cted, With H ecate’ ecate’ss ban thrice t hrice blasted, thrice thr ice infected, infected, Thy natural mag m agic ic and dire p roperty, On wholesome wholesome life usurp immediately imm ediately..

LUCIANUS

’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me

[Pours the poison into the sleeper’s ears]

[Sleeps]

He poisons p oisons him i’ the th e garden garden for’s for’s estate. estate. His H is name’ nam e’ss Gonzago: Gonzago: the th e story is extant extant,, and writ in choice Italian: Italian: you shall see see anon how the th e murderer mur derer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife.

HAMLET

Sleep leep rock r ock thy th y brain, And never come mischance between between us u s twain!

PLAYER QUEE QU EEN N

[Exit] Madam, how h ow like you this th is play? play?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE The

lady protests pr otests too

OPHELIA

The king rises.

HAMLET

What, frighted with false fire!

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE How fares my lord?

much, methin ks. ks. HAMLET

This is one on e Lucianu Lucianus, s, nephew to th e king.

HAMLET

here awhile; My spirit spiritss grow grow dull, du ll, and fain I would beguile The tedious tedio us day with sleep. sleep.

HAMLET

[Ent [Enteer LUCIANUS] LUCIAN US]

OPHELIA

If she she should shou ld break it n ow!

PLAYER PLAYER KING KIN G

that? Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches tou ches us not: let th e gall galled ed jade wince, wince, our withers with ers are unwrung.

LORD POLONIUS

Give o’er o’er the t he play. p lay.

KING CLAUDIUS

Give me some light: light : away! away!

O, but bu t she’ll she’ll keep keep her word.

Have you you heard h eard the th e argum argument? ent? Is Is there no offence offence in ’t?

KING CLAUDIUS

No, no, they do but jest, jest, poison poison in jest; jest; no offen offen ce i’ the th e world.

HAMLET

ALL

Lights, lights, light s, light lights! s!

[Exe [Exeunt unt all all but HAMLE HA MLET T and HORATIO] HORAT IO] Why, let let the th e stricken deer go weep, The hart ungal un galled led play; play; For some mu st watch, while while some must mu st sleep: sleep: So run r unss the world away. away. Would n ot this, t his, sir, sir, and a forest forest of feathers— feathers— if the rest of my fortu fortunes nes turn Turk with me—with me—with two t wo

HAMLET KING CLAUDIUS

What do d o you call the play? play?

The Mou se-t se-trap. rap. Marry, how? ho w? Tropical Trop ically ly.. This play is the image of a murder mu rder don d onee in Vienn Vienn a: Gonzag Gon zago o is th e duke’ du ke’ss name; nam e; his wife, wife, Bapt Baptista: ista: you shall see anon; ’tis a knavish piece of work: but what o’

HAMLET

32



Provincial roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship fellowship in a cry of players, sir? sir?

HAMLET

You are welcome.

Nay, good good my lord, th is cour courtesy tesy is not of the rig r ight ht breed. If it shall please please you you to make me a wholesome wholesome answ an swer, er, I will do your mother’ mot her’ss commandm ent: if if not, not , your your pardon pard on and m y return shall be the end of my business. business. GUILDENSTERN

Half a share.

HORATIO

A whole on e, I. For thou th ou dost do st know, know, O Damon dear, d ear, This realm dismant led was was Of Jove himself; and now reigns here A very, very—pajock.

HAMLET

HAMLET

Sir, I cannot .

GUILDENSTERN

You might have rhymed.

HORATIO

What, my lord?

Make you a wholesome wh olesome answ an swer; er; my wit’s wit’s diseased: but, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command; comm and; or, rather, r ather, as you you say, my mother: mot her: therefore no m ore, but to t o the th e matter: my mother, you you say,— say,—

HAMLET

O good Horatio, Hor atio, I’ll I’ll take the ghost’s ghost’s word word for a thousand tho usand poun p ound. d. Didst perceive perceive??

HAMLET

Very Very well, my lord. lord .

HORATIO HAMLET

Then thu t huss she she says; says; your behavior hath h ath struck her into amazement amazement and an d admiration. admiration .

ROSENCRANTZ

Upon the talk of the poisoning? poisoning? I did very very well well note not e him.

HORATIO

O wonderful son, that can so astonish a mother! mot her! But But is there no sequel sequel at the t he heels of this mother’s admiration? Impart.

HAMLET

Ah, ha! Come, some music! Come, the recorders! For if the king like like not the th e comedy, Why then, then , belike, belike, he likes likes it not, n ot, perdy. p erdy. Come, some mu sic! sic!

HAMLET

She desires to speak with with you in her closet, closet, ere you you go to bed.

ROSENCRANTZ

shall obey, obey, were were she ten t imes our HAMLET We shall

[Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] GUILDENSTERN

Have you any further trade with us? ROSENCRANTZ

Good my lord, vouchsaf vouch safee me a word HAMLET

with with you. HAMLET

HAMLET

The king, sir,—

Ay, sir, what of him?

HAMLET

Is in his retirement marvellous marvellous distempered. distemp ered.

How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark?

No, my lord, rather with choler.

Your wisdom wisdom should show itself itself more mor e richer to signify signify this to his doctor; doctor ; for, for, for me to put pu t him h im to his h is purgation purgation would perhaps plun plunge ge him into in to far more choler.

HAMLET

Good my lord, put your discourse discourse into some frame and start not so wildly wildly from from my affai affair. r. GUILDENSTERN

HAMLET

I am tame, t ame, sir: sir: pronoun prono unce ce..

The queen, your your mother, moth er, in most great affl affliction iction of spirit, hath hat h sent me m e to you.

GUILDENSTERN

Sir, I lack advancement.

ROSENCRANTZ

With drin k, sir? sir?

GUILDENSTERN

So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.

Good m y lord lord,, what is you yourr cause of distemper? You do, d o, surely, surely, bar the th e door u pon your own liberty, if you you deny your griefs to your friend. friend .

GUILDENSTERN

HAMLET

My lord lord,, you you once on ce did love me.

ROSENCRANTZ

Sir, a whole history.

GUILDENSTERN

mother. mot her.

Ay, but sir, “While the grass grows,”—the proverb is something musty.

HAMLET

[Re-enter Players with recorders] O, the t he rec r ecord orders! ers! Let me m e see see one. on e. To withdraw withdr aw with with you:—why you:—why do you go abou t to t o recover the wind of o f me, as if you would drive d rive me into a t oil? O, my lord, if my duty du ty be too bold, m y love is too unmannerly.

GUILDENSTERN

I do not well well understand that. t hat. Will you play upon this pipe? pipe?

HAMLET


33

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT III GUILDENSTERN HAMLET

HAMLET

[Exit [Exit POLON POLONIUS] IUS]

Believe me, I cannot.

Leave me, friends. frien ds.

I do beseech beseech you you..

GUILDENSTERN

[Exeunt all but HAMLET]

I know no touch t ouch of it, my lord. lord.

’Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your lingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these t hese are the stops.

HAMLET

But thes t hesee cannot cannot I command to t o any utteran ut terance ce of harmony; harmo ny; I have not the t he skill. skill.

GUILDENSTERN

Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You You would play p lay upon up on me; you you would seem seem to kn ow my stop stops; s; you would pluck plu ck out the t he heart of my mystery; mystery; you you would soun d me m e from my m y lowes lowestt note not e to the t he top of my compass compass:: and th ere is much music mu sic,, excell excellent ent voice, voice, in this t his little orga or gan; n; yet cannot cann ot you make it speak. ’sblood, ’sblood, do you think th ink I am easier easier to be played played on than th an a pipe? Call me what what instru ment you will, will, though th ough you can fret me, yet yet you cann cannot ot play upon me.

HAMLET

[Enter POLONIUS]

My lord lord,, the th e queen would speak with with you, and prese p resent ntly ly..

LORD POLONIUS

Do you see yon yonder der cloud that’ th at’ss almost almost in shape of a camel?

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

HAMLET

It is backed like a wease weasel. l.

Very like a whale.

Then I will come to my m y mother moth er by and by. They fool fool me to t o the th e top of my bent. I will come by and by.

LORD POLONIUS

34

I will say so.

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] I like him n ot, nor n or stands stan ds it safe safe with with us us To let his madn ess ess range. Therefore Therefore prepare you; I your your commission will will fort forthwith hwith dispatch, d ispatch, And he to England England shall along with with you: The terms of our estate estate may not endu re Hazard so dangerous as doth hourly grow Out Ou t of his lunacie lun acies. s.

The single and peculiar life life is bound, boun d, With all the strength and armo ur of the mind , To keep keep itself from noyance; n oyance; but much mu ch more mor e That spirit upon whose weal depend and rest The lives of many. The cease of majesty Dies not no t alone; but, but , like like a gulf, gulf, doth d raw What’s near it with it: it is a massy wheel, Fix’ ix’d on the summit summ it of the hig h ighes hestt moun m ount, t, To whose huge spokes spokes ten thou t housand sand lesser lesser things th ings Are mort m ortise ised d and adjoin’d; which, which, when it falls, falls,

ROSENCRANTZ

Or like a whale?

HAMLET

SCENE III A room room in the th e cas castle. tle.

GUILDENSTERN

Methinks Meth inks it is like a wease weasel. l.

LORD POLONIUS

[Exit]

We will will ourselve ou rselvess provide: pro vide: Most holy h oly and and religious religious fear it is To keep those th ose many many man y bodies safe safe That live and and feed feed upon up on your majes m ajesty. ty.

By the th e mass, and an d ’tis like a

camel, indeed.

LORD POLONIUS

’Tis now the very witching time of night, When chu rchyards yawn yawn and hell itself itself breathes breath es out Contagion to this t his world: world: now could could I drink dr ink hot blood, And do such bitter bit ter busines bu sinesss as the th e day Would qu ake to look on. Soft! Soft! Now to my m y mother. mot her. O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom: Let me be cruel, not u nnatural: nn atural: I will will speak speak daggers daggers to her, h er, but bu t use u se none; non e; My tongue and soul in th is be hypocrites; How Ho w in my words soever soever she be shent, To give them seals never, my soul, consent!

KING CLAUDIUS

God bless you, sir!

HAMLET

By and by is easily said.

I pray you.

GUILDENSTERN HAMLET

My lord, I cannot.



Each small annexment, annexment , petty pett y consequen consequence ce,, Attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone Did the th e king sig sigh, h, but bu t with a general groan. KING CLAUDIUS

Arm you, I pray you, you, to t o this th is

speedy speed y voyage; voyage; For we will will fetters fetters put pu t upon u pon this th is fear, fear, Which now n ow goes goes too free-footed. free-footed. ROSENCRANTZ and ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN GUILDENSTERN

We will haste us. u s.

[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSENCRAN ROSENCRAN TZ and GUILDE GUILDEN STERN] [Enter POLONIUS] My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet: Behind ehin d the th e arras arr as I’ll I’ll convey myself, myself, To hear the t he proces pr ocess; s; and warrant she’ll she’ll tax him home: ho me: And, nd , as you you said, and an d wisely was it said, ’Tis meet that some more audience than a m other, Since natu re makes them partial, p artial, should o’ o ’erhear The speech, of o f vantage. Fare you well, well, my liege: liege: I’ll I’ll call call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you you what I know. kn ow.

Offence’s Offence’s gilded gilded hand han d may m ay sho shove ve by just justice, ice, And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself Buys out the th e law: law: but ’tis not no t so above abo ve;; There is no shuff shu ffling, ling, there the th e action lies In h is true tru e natu re; and we oursel ou rselve vess compell’d, compell’d, Even ven to t o the th e teeth and forehead of our faults, To give give in evidence. evidence. What then? th en? What rests? Try what repentance can: what can it not? Yet what can it when one can not repent? O wretched state! stat e! O bosom bo som black as death death!! O limed soul, th at, strugg stru ggling ling to be free, Art more mo re engag en gaged! ed! Help, an gels! gels! Make assay! assay! Bow, stu stubbor bborn n knees; and, and , heart with strings strin gs of steel, steel, Be soft as sinews of the newborn babe! All All may m ay be well.

LORD POLONIUS

KING CLAUDIUS

Thanks, dear my lord.

[Exit [Exit POLONIUS] OLON IUS] O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven; It hath the primal pr imal eldes eldestt curse upon ’t, A brother’ brot her’ss murder. mur der. Pray can can I not, n ot, Though Thou gh inclination be as sharp sharp as will: will: My stronge stron gerr guilt defeats defeats my stro strong ng intent; int ent; And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause p ause where where I shall first first begin, And both bot h neg n eglec lect. t. What if this cursed hand han d Were thicker than itself itself with with brot b rother’ her’ss blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy But to confront confron t the th e visage visage of offe offence? nce? And what’s what’s in praye p rayerr bu t this t his two-fold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall, Or pardo p ardon’d n’d being down? Then I’ll I’ll look up; My fault fault is past. But But,, O, what form of prayer Can serve my turn ? “Forgive “Forgive me my m y foul foul mur m urder”? der”? That cannot be; since I am still possess’d Of those tho se effe effects cts for for which I did d id the t he murder, mu rder, My crown, crown, mine own ambition and m y queen. queen. May one on e be pardon ’d and retain the t he offence? offence? In the th e corru corrupted pted current s of this world world

[Retires and kneels] [Ent [Enteer HAMLET] HA MLET] Now might I do it pat, pat , now he is praying; praying; And now I’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I rev r evenged. enged. That would be scann scann’’d: A vill villain ain kills my fath father; er; and for that, t hat, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heav h eaven. en. O, this th is is hire and an d salary, salary, not no t rev r evenge. enge. He took t ook my m y father father grossly grossly,, full of bread; With all his crimes broad blown, as flush flush as May; And how his audit aud it stands stan ds who knows kn ows save save heaven? heaven? But in ou r circumstance and and course of thou ght, ’Tis heavy heavy with with him: him : and am I then t hen revenged, revenged, To take him in the th e purging pur ging of his soul, soul, When he is fit and season’d for his passage? No! Up, sw sword; and know thou a mor e horrid hent: When he h e is dru nk asleep, asleep, or in his rage, rage, Or in the th e incestu incestuou ouss pleasure pleasure of his bed; At gaming, gamin g, swe swearing, aring, or about some act That has no relish relish of o f salv salvation ation in’t; in’t; Then trip t rip him, h im, that th at his heels may kick kick at heaven, heaven, And that th at his h is sou soull may be as as damn’ damn ’d and an d black As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays: This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.

HAMLET

[Exit] KING CLAUDIUS

[Rising] My word wordss fly fly up, up , my thought tho ughtss

remain below: below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.


[Exit]

35

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT III [Drawing] How Ho w now! no w! A rat? rat ? Dead, for a ducat, dead!

SCENE IV The Queen’s closet.

HAMLET

[Ent [Enteer QUEE QUEEN MARGARE MA RGARET T and POLONIUS] LORD POLONIUS

He will come straight. Look you lay

home to him: Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that th at your grace hath screen’d screen’d and stood stoo d between Much heat h eat and him. him . I’ll I’ll sconce sconce me even even here. Pray you, be round rou nd with him. h im. HAMLET

[Within] Mother, mother, mother!

warrant you, Fear Fear me not: n ot: withdraw, withdr aw, I hear him coming.

hast thy father father

Mother, Moth er, you you have h ave my father father much m uch offend offended. ed.

swer with an QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Come, come, you an swer idle tongue. Go, go, you you question with with a wicke wicked d ton t ongue. gue. how now, Hamlet!

What’s the matter now?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Have

No, by the rood, not so: You are the th e queen, your husband h usband’’s brother’ brot her’ss wife wife;; And—would nd —would it were not so!—y so!—you ou are ar e my mother. moth er. then, I’ll I’ll set set those th ose to you that t hat

can speak. Come, come, and sit you you down; you shall not budge bu dge;; You go not till I set set you up a glass glass Where you you may m ay see see the inmost inm ost part of you. you.

HAMLET

wilt thou do? Thou wilt not

murder me? Help, help, ho!

36

As kill a king!

[Lifts up the array and discovers POLONIUS] Thou wretched, rash, intr uding ud ing fool, farewe farewell! ll! I took t hee for for thy t hy better: take take thy fortune; Thou find’st find’st to be b e too busy b usy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands: peace! Sit you down, And let me wring your h eart; for so I shall, If it be made mad e of penetrable penetr able stu stuff ff,, If damned custom custo m have h ave not no t brass br ass’’d it so That it is proof and bulwark against against sense. sense. What have I done, don e, that thou th ou dares d arestt

wag thy th y ton gue In noise n oise so rude rud e against against me?

you you forgot me?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE What

O, what a rash and bloody b loody deed

Ay, lady, ’twas my word.


HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS

Nay, I know not : Is it the th e king?

HAMLET

HAMLET

much offended.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Why,

O me, what what hast thou tho u don e?

A bloody deed! Almost Almost as bad, good mother, mot her, As kill kill a king, and and marry marr y with with his brother. brot her.

Now, mother, what’s the matter?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Nay,



QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Hamlet, thou

HAMLET

[Falls and dies]

HAMLET

[Ent [Enteer HAMLET] HA MLET]

HAMLET

[Behind] O, I am slain!

is this!

[POLONIUS [POLONI US hides hi des behin behind d the t he arras arras]]

HAMLET

LORD POLONIUS


QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE I’ll

HAMLET

[Makes a pass through the arras]

Such an act That blurs blu rs the grace and blush of modes mod esty, ty, Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose From the fair forehead of an innocent love And sets sets a blister blister there, th ere, makes marriag marr iage-vow e-vowss As false false as dicers’ oaths: oath s: O, such a deed d eed As from from the th e body of contraction cont raction plucks The very soul, and sweet religion makes A rhapsody rhap sody of words: word s: heaven’s heaven’s face face doth dot h glow: Yea, this solidity solidity and compou com pound nd mass, With tristful visage visage,, as against against the t he doom, do om, Is thought-sick at the act.

HAMLET

Ay me, what act, act , That roars so so loud, and thun t hun ders in in the t he index? QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE

h o! Help, help, help! [Behind] What, ho!



Look here, upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit counterfeit pres pr esentment entment of two brothers broth ers.. See, what a grace was seated on this brow; Hyperion’s curls; the front of Jove himself; An eye like Mars, to threaten th reaten and an d command comm and;; A station like the th e herald Mercury New-lighted New-lighted on o n a heav h eaven-kissi en-kissing ng hill h ill;; A combination and an d a form indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal, To give give the th e world world assur assurance ance of a man: man : This was was your your husband. hu sband. Look you n ow, what what follows follows:: Here is your husband; hu sband; like a mildew’d mildew’d ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, And batten batt en on this th is moor? moor ? Ha! Have you you eyes eyes?? You cannot canno t call it love; for for at your age The hey-day in in the t he blood is tame, it’s it’s humble, hum ble, And waits upon the judgment: and what judgment Would step from this th is to this? th is? Sense, sur sure, e, you you have, Else lse could could you n ot hav h avee motion; mot ion; but bu t sure, that th at sense Is apoplex’d; apoplex’d; for madness m adness would would not no t err, err , Nor sense to ecstasy was was ne’er ne’er so thr t hrall’ all’d d But it res r eserve erved d some som e quantity quan tity of choice, To serve in such su ch a diff d ifferen erence. ce. What d evil was’ was’tt That thu s hath cozen’ cozen’d d you at hoodm an-blind? Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight, Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all, Or bu t a sickly sickly part of one true tr ue sense sense Could not so mope. O shame! Where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, If thou canst canst mutin m utinee in a matron ’s bones, bones, To flaming youth let virtue be b e as wax, wax, And melt in her h er own fire: procla pro claim im no n o shame When the t he compulsiv comp ulsivee ardour ardou r gives gives the th e charge, charge, Since frost itself as actively doth burn And reason pan ders will. will.

HAMLET

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE No HAMLET

Nay, but to t o live In the t he rank ran k sweat sweat of an enseamed enseamed bed, Stew’d tew’d in corrupt corru ption, ion, hon h oney eying ing and m aking love love Over the th e nasty sty,—

HAMLET

O, speak speak to me no more; These words, like daggers, enter in mine ears; No more, m ore, sweet sweet Hamlet!

A king king of shreds and an d patches,—

[Enter Ghost] Save me, and hover o’er me with your wings, You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure? QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Alas, he’s mad!

Do you not come your your tardy son son to chide, That, lapsed in time t ime and passion passion,, lets lets go by The impor tant tan t acting of your your dread comm and? and ? O, say! say!

HAMLET

Do not n ot forget: this visi visitatio tation n Is but to whet thy th y almost almost blunted pu rpose. But, look, amazement on thy mother sits: O, step between between her an d her fighting soul: Conceit in weakes weakestt bodies stron gest gest works: Speak to her, h er, Hamlet. GHOST

HAMLET

How Ho w is it with you, lady?

is’t with wit h QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Alas, how is’t

you, That you do d o bend your eye on vacancy And with the incorporal air do hold discourse? Forth at your eyes eyes your your spirits wildly wildly peep; And, nd , as the sleeping sleeping soldiers in th e alarm, Your bedded hair, like life life in excrement excrements, s, Starts up, up , and stands on end. O gentle son, son, Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle prin kle cool cool patience. pat ience. Whereon Whereon do you look? On him, him , on him! h im! Look Look you, how pale he glares! glares! His form and cause conjoin’ conjoin ’d, preaching to stones, sto nes, Would make them capable. capable. Do not look up on me; Lest est with t his piteous piteou s action action you convert My stern stern effe effects: cts: then what I have to do do Will want want true tr ue colour; tears perchance for blood. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE To HAMLET

whom do d o you speak this?

Do you see nothing there?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Nothing HAMLET

A murderer mu rderer and an d a villain; villain; A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe Of your p recedent recedent lord; a vice vice of kings; kings;

more!

HAMLET

O Hamle H amlet, t, speak speak no more: Thou turn tu rn’’st mine min e eyes eyes int into o my m y very very soul; soul; And there th ere I see see such such blac b lack k and grained spots As will not leave their tinct. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE


A cutpurse cutpur se of the empire and the rule ru le,, That from a shelf the th e precious diadem stole, And put it in his h is pocket! pocket!

at all; yet all that is I see.

Nor did you nothing not hing hear?

HAMLET

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE No,


nothing but ourselves.

37


Why, look you there! Look, how it steals away! My father, father, in his habit as he lived! lived! Look, where he goes, goes, eve even n n ow, out at the th e portal! port al!

HAMLET

[Exit [Exit Ghost] Ghost]

The death I gave gave him. So, again, again, good n ight. I must mu st be cruel, only on ly to be kind: kind : Thus bad begins and worse remains behind. One word more, good lady. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE What

coinage of your your QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE This the very coinage

brain: brain :

Not this, t his, by no m eans, eans, that I bid you d o: Let the th e bloat king tempt you again again to t o bed; Pinch wanton wanto n on o n your cheek; cheek; call call you his mouse mou se;; And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses, Or paddling p addling in your neck with with his h is damn’d fingers, fingers, Make you you to t o ravel all this th is matter ou t, That I essent essentiall ially y am not in madness, m adness, But mad in craft. ’Tw ’Twere ere good you let h im know; kn ow; For who, that’s t hat’s but a queen, fair, sober, wise, wise, Would from a paddock, paddo ck, from a bat, a gib, Such dear d ear concernings concernin gs hide? Who would do so? No, in despite of sense and secrecy, Unpeg Unp eg the th e basket basket on t he house hou se’’s top. Let the t he birds bir ds fly, fly, and, and , like the famous famou s ape, To try tr y con conclusi clusion ons, s, in the th e basket basket creep, And break your your own neck n eck down.

HAMLET

This bodiless creation ecstasy Is very very cun cunnin ning g in. Ecstasy! My pulse, pulse, as you yours, rs, doth dot h temperately t emperately keep keep time, tim e, And makes as healthful mu sic: sic: it is not madn ess ess That I have utter’d: bring me to the test, And I the matter m atter will re-word; which madn ess ess Would gambol from. Mot her, for love of grace, grace, Lay not that mattering unction un ction to your soul, That not n ot your tres tr espass pass,, but my madnes madn esss speaks: speaks: It will but skin and film film the t he ulcerous place, Whilst Whilst rank corruption corru ption,, mining all within, within, Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven; Repent Repent what’s what’s past; avoid avoid what is to come; com e; And do not n ot spread the compost on the weeds weeds,, To make them th em ranker. ran ker. Forgive Forgive me this th is my virtu virtue; e; For in the t he fatness of these pursy times Virtu Virtu e itself itself of vice vice must pardon p ardon beg, Yea, cur curb b and woo for leave leave to do d o him good.

HAMLET

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE O

shall I do?

tho u QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Be thou

of breath, And breath of life, life, I have no life to breath e What thou hast said said to me.

Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart

I must to England; you know that?

in twa t wain. in.

HAMLET

O, throw th row away away the worser worser part p art of o f it, And live the purer with the other half. Good night: but go not to m ine uncl un cle’ e’ss bed; Assum ssumee a virtue, if you you have it not. no t. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat, Of habits devil, is angel yet in this, That to t o the th e use of action actionss fair fair and good He likewise gives a frock or livery, That aptly is put on. Refrain Refrain to-n t o-nig ight, ht, And that th at shall lend lend a kind of easiness easiness To the th e next abstinence: the nex n extt more m ore easy; easy; For use almost almost can change chan ge the th e stamp stamp of nature, natu re, And either either …th e devil, devil, or throw thro w him out ou t With wondrou s potency. potency. Once more, good night: And when you are desirous to t o be bles b less’ s’d, d, I’ll I’ll blessing blessing beg of you. For this th is same lord, lord ,

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Alack,

HAMLET

[Pointing to POLONIUS] I do repent: but heaven hath pleased it so, To pun ish ish me m e with with this t his and this with with me, That I must m ust be their th eir scourge scourge and and minister. I will besto bestow w him, him , and an d will answer well well

38

assur assured, ed, if word wordss be made

I had forgot: forgot : ’tis ’tis so concluded on . There’ Ther e’ss letters seal’d: seal’d: and an d my my two schoolfellows, schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fang’d, They bear the th e mandate; man date; they th ey must sweep sweep my m y way way,, And marshal me m e to kn avery. avery. Let Let it work; For ’tis ’tis the sport spor t to t o have the engineer Hoist Ho ist with with his h is own own petard: p etard: and ’t shall go go hard har d But I will delve one yard below their mines, And blow them at the th e moon : O, ’tis ’tis most sweet, sweet, When in one on e line two crafts crafts directly meet. meet. This man shall set set me m e packing: I’ll lug the guts into the neighbour room. Mother, good night. Indeed this counsellor Is now most mo st still, still, most mo st secret secret and most grave, grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave. Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you. Good night, night, mother. mot her.

HAMLET

[Exeunt severally; HAMLET dragging in POLONIUS]


Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT IV

ACT IV

[Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN]

SCENE I A room room in i n the th e cas castle. tle. [Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, ROSEN ROSEN CRANT Z, and GUILDE GUILDEN N STERN] STERN] There’s matter in these sighs, these profound heaves: You must mu st transl tran slate: ate: ’tis ’tis fit fit we und erstand them. th em. Where is you yourr son?

Friends both, go join you with some further aid: Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain, slain, And from his h is mother’ moth er’ss close closett hath h ath he dragg dr agg’’d him: h im: Go seek seek him out; ou t; speak fair, fair, and bring brin g the body Into Int o the th e chapel. chapel. I pray you you,, haste in this.

KING CLAUDIUS


Bestow this place on us a little while.

[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSENCRAN ROSENCRAN TZ and GUILDE GUILDEN STERN] Ah, my m y good good lord, what h ave ave I seen seen to-n to -night! ight! KING CLAUDIUS

What, Gertrud Gertr ude? e? How Ho w does Hamlet? Ham let?


Mad as the th e sea sea and wind, when

both contend Which is the mightier: in his lawless fit, Behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out ou t his h is rapier, cries, cries, “A rat, a rat!” r at!” And, in this brainish apprehension, kills The unseen unseen good old m an.

Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends; And let let them t hem know, both what we mean mean to t o do, And what’s what’s untimely unt imely don e … Whose whisper o’er o’er the t he world’s diameter, As leve levell as the cannon cann on to his blank, Transports his poison’d shot, may miss our name, And hit the th e woundles wound lesss air. O, come away! away! My soul soul is full of discord an d dismay.

[Exeunt]

SCENE II Another A nother room room in the castle. castle. [Ent [Enteer HAMLET] HA MLET] HAMLET

O heavy deed! It had been so with with u s, had we been been there: t here: His liberty is full full of th reats to all; all; To you yourse your self lf,, to us, to every every one. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer’d? It will be laid laid to us, whose providence Should hou ld have kept kept short, res r estrain’ train’d d and an d out ou t of haun t, This mad young youn g man: but so much was our love, We would would not n ot understand un derstand what was was most fit; fit; But, like the owner of a foul disease, To keep it from divulging, divulging, let it feed feed Even on the pith of Life. Where is he gone? KING CLAUDIUS


[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSEN ROSEN CRANTZ CRANT Z and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN]

Safely stowed. stowed .

ROSENCRANTZ and ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN GUILDENSTERN [Within] Hamlet!

Lord Hamlet! What noise no ise?? Who calls on Hamlet? H amlet? O, here th ey come.

HAMLET

[Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN] ROSENCRANTZ

dead body? HAMLET

Compounded Compou nded it with du st, whereto whereto ’tis ’tis kin.

ROSENCRANTZ

To draw apart the body he

Tell us where ’tis, that we may take

it thence And bear it to the chapel.

hath kill’ kill’d: O’er whom his very madness, like some ore Amon g a mineral min eral of metals base, base, Shows itself pure; he weeps for what is done.

HAMLET

Do not n ot believe believe it.

ROSENCRANTZ

O Gertr ude, ud e, come away away!! The sun sun no sooner shall the mou ntains touch, tou ch, But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed We must, with all our majesty majesty and skill, skill, Both countenance and excuse. Ho, Guildenstern! KING CLAUDIUS

What have you done, my lord, with the

Believe what?

That I can keep your your counsel counsel and n ot mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! What replication shou ld be made by the son of a king?

HAMLET


39

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT IV ROSENCRANTZ

Take you you me for a spon ge, ge, my lord?

Ay, sir, sir, that t hat soaks up the t he king’s king’s countenan coun tenance ce,, his rewards, his autho rities. But But such office officers rs do the th e king best service service in th e end: he h e keeps keeps them, th em, like an ape, in the t he corner corn er of his jaw; jaw; first first mou thed, th ed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, gleaned, it is but bu t squeez squ eezing ing you, and , sponge, you you shall be dry again.

ROSENCRANTZ

Without, m y lord; lord; guarded, to know

your plea p leasure. sure.

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ

I unders und erstand tand you not, no t, my lord. lord.

I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.

HAMLET

ROSENCRANTZ My lord, you mu st tell us where the body

is, and go with with us u s to the th e king. The body is with the th e king, but bu t the th e king is is not with the th e body. The king is a thing— th ing—

HAMLET

GUILDENSTERN HAMLET

A thing, th ing, my lord!

Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and

all after after..

KING CLAUDIUS ROSENCRANTZ

Ho, Ho , Guildenstern! Brin Bring g in my lord lord..

[Ent [Enteer HAMLE HAM LET T and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] KING CLAUDIUS HAMLET

Now, Hamlet, H amlet, where’s where’s Polonius? Polon ius?

At supper.

KING CLAUDIUS

At supper! supp er! Where?

Not where he eats, eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convoca con vocation tion of politic worms are e’en e’en at him. h im. Your worm is your only on ly emp emperor eror for diet: we fat fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: maggots: your your fat fat king kin g and your lean lean beggar beggar is but variable variable service service,, two dishes d ishes,, but bu t to t o one o ne table: t able: that’s the end.

HAMLET

KING CLAUDIUS

Alas, alas!

A man may fish fish with with the t he worm that t hat hath h ath eat of a king, king, and cat of the fish fish th at hath hat h fed of that worm. worm .

HAMLET

[Exeunt]

KING CLAUDIUS

SCENE III Anoth A nother er roo room m in the th e cas castle. tle.

Nothin Not hing g but to t o show you you how h ow a king king may go go a progres pro gresss through thro ugh the t he guts of a beggar. beggar.

KING CLAUDIUS KING CLAUDIUS

I have sent sent to seek him, him , and to t o find

the body. How Ho w dangerou dangerouss is it that th at this th is man goes loose! Yet must n ot we put t he strong law law on him: He’s He’s loved loved of the distracted distr acted multitu mu ltitude, de, Who like not in their judgment, but bu t their t heir eyes eyes;; An d where’ wh ere’ tis so, the t he off o ffend ender’ er’ss scourge scour ge is weigh’ weigh’d, d, But never the th e offence. offence. To bear all smoo smooth th and even, even, This sud sudden den sendin g him away must mu st seem seem Deliberate pause: diseases desperate grown By desperate appliance are relieved, Or not n ot at all.

In heaven; heaven; send h ither to see: see: if your messenger messenger find find him n ot there, t here, seek seek him i’ the th e other place yourself. yourself. But But indeed, ind eed, if you find him h im not n ot within with in this mont h, you shall shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. KING CLAUDIUS

HAMLET

He will stay till ye come.

[Exeunt [Exeunt Attendants] At tendants]

How Ho w now! What What hath befall’ befall’n? n?

KING CLAUDIUS

Where th e dead body b ody is bestow’d, bestow’d,

But where is he?

Go seek seek him there. t here.

[To some Attendants]

Hamlet, this deed, deed, for thine th ine especial safety,— Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve For that t hat which thou hast done,—must send send thee hence With fiery fiery quicknes qu ickness: s: therefore pr epare thyse t hyself lf;; The bark is ready, ready, and th e wind wind at help, The associates associates tend, and an d every thing th ing is bent For England England.. KING CLAUDIUS

my lord, We cannot cannot get from him. him .

Where is Polonius?

HAMLET

[Enter ROSENCRANTZ]

ROSENCRANTZ

What dost you m ean ean by this?

HAMLET

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS, attended]

40

Bring rin g him bef b efore ore us. u s.


Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT IV HAMLET

For England England!! Ay, Hamlet.

KING CLAUDIUS HAMLET

PRINCE FORTINBRAS

[Exeunt FORTINBRAS and Soldiers]

Good.

KING CLAUDIUS

So is it, if thou tho u knew kn ew’’st our ou r pur p urposes poses..

I see a cherub that th at sees sees them. But, ut , come; for for England! Farewell, dear mother.

HAMLET

KING CLAUDIUS

Thy loving loving father, Hamlet. H amlet.

My mother: moth er: father father and moth er is man and an d wife wife;; man and wife wife is one flesh; flesh; and so, my mot her. Come, for England England!!

HAMLET


Go softly on.

Follow him at foot; tempt him with

speed aboard; Delay Delay it not; no t; I’ll I’ll have him hence to-n to -night: ight: Away! way! For For every every thing th ing is seal’d seal’d an d done do ne That else else leans leans on the th e affai affair: r: pray pr ay you you,, make haste.

[Exe [Exeunt unt ROSENCRAN ROSENCRAN TZ and GUILDEN GUILDEN STERN] And, nd , England, England, if my love thou hold’st hold’st at aught— As my great power p ower ther t hereof eof may give give thee th ee sense, sense, Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red After the th e Danish sword sword,, and thy th y free free awe awe Pays Pays homage to us—thou u s—thou mayst mayst not n ot coldly set set Our sovereig sovereign n proces pro cess; s; which which impor im ports ts at full, By lett letters ers congruin g to that t hat effe effect, ct, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England England;; For like the hectic in my m y blood he h e rages, rages, And thou th ou must m ust cure cur e me: till I know ’tis ’tis done, don e, Howe’ Ho we’er er my m y haps, my m y joys joys were were ne’ n e’er er begun .

[Enter [Enter HAMLET, HAMLET, ROSEN ROSEN CRANT Z, GUILDENSTERN, and others] HAMLET

Good sir, whose whose powe po wers rs are these t hese??

CAPTAIN

They are of Norway, No rway, sir. sir.

HAMLET

How Ho w purposed, purp osed, sir, sir, I pray you? you?

CAPTAIN

Against gainst some som e part of o f Poland Poland..

HAMLET

Who command s them, sir? sir?

CAPTAIN

The nephew neph ewss to old Norway N orway,, Fortinbras. Fortinb ras.

Goes it against the th e main of o f Poland Poland,, sir, sir, Or for some frontier?

HAMLET

Truly to speak, speak, and and with with no addition, We go go to gain a little patch of groun d That hath in it n o profit profit but the name. To pay p ay five five ducats, five five,, I would not no t farm it; Nor will will it yield yield to Norway Nor way or the t he Pole A ranker ran ker rate, should it be sold in fee. CAPTAIN

HAMLET

Why, then the th e Polack Polack never will will defend defend it.

CAPTAIN

Yes, it is already alr eady garrison ’d.

Two Two thousand th ousand souls and twenty thousand ducats Will not no t debate debat e the question of this str straw: aw: This is the th e imposthum imposth umee of much mu ch wealth wealth and peace, peace, That inward in ward breaks, and shows no cause without withou t Why the man dies. I humbly hu mbly thank than k you, you, sir.

HAMLET

CAPTAIN

God be b e wi’ you, sir.

[Exit]

SCENE IV IV A plain in Denmark.

[Exit] ROSENCRANTZ HAMLET

I’ll be with you straight go a little before.

[Enter [Enter FORT FORTIN INBRAS, BRAS, a Captain, and Soldiers, Soldiers, m archin arching g] PRINCE FORTINBRAS

[Exeunt all except HAMLET]

Go, captain, from me greet the

Danish king; Tell Tell him that, th at, by his licence, licence, Fort Fortinbr inbras as Craves Craves the con veya veyance nce of a pr omised march m arch Over his kingdom. You You know the th e rendezvous. If that his h is majesty majesty would would aught with us, We shall express our duty in his eye; And let him know kn ow so. so. CAPTAIN

Wilt please please you go, my lord? lord ?

How Ho w all all occasi occasion onss do inform against against me, m e, And spur my dull du ll revenge! revenge! What is a man, m an, If his chief chief good good and market of o f his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more. Sure, ur e, he that made us u s with with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability capability and god-like reason reason To fust in us unused. Now, whether it be Bestial estial oblivion, or o r some craven scruple

I will do’t, my lord.


41


Of thinking thin king too precis p recisely ely on the th e eve event nt,, A thou ght which, which, quart er’d, er’d, hath but one part wisdom isdom And ever three parts coward, I do not know Why yet I live to say “This thing’s to do;” Sith I have cause cause and will and strength and means To do’ d o’t. t. Examples gross gross as eart earth h exhort exhor t me: Witness this army of such mass m ass and charge Led by a delicate delicate and tender t ender prin p rince, ce, Whose spirit spirit with with divine ambition puff pu ff’’d Makes mou ths th s at the th e invisible invisible eve event nt,, Exposing what is mortal and unsure To all that fortune, ortu ne, death and d anger anger dare, Even Even for an egg-shell. egg-shell. Right Rightly ly to be great Is not to stir withou withoutt great great argument, But greatly to find quarrel quar rel in a straw When hon our’s at the th e stake stake.. How stand I then, That have a father father kill’ kill’d, a moth m other er stain’d, Excitement xcitementss of my reason and my blood, An d let all sleep? sleep? While, to my shame, sham e, I see The imminent death of twent twenty y thou sand sand men, That, for a fantasy and trick tr ick of fame, fame, Go to their th eir graves graves like like beds, fight fight for a plot Whereon Whereon the nu mbers cannot cannot try the cause, cause, Which Which is not tomb enou gh and continent To hide th e slain? slain? O, from this t his time forth, forth , My thoughts be bloody, bloody, or be n othing othin g worth worth!!

[Exit]

’Twere good she were spoken with; for she may strew Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

HORATIO

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Let

[Exit [Exit HORATIO] HORA TIO] To my m y sick sick soul, as sin’ sin’ss tru e natur nat uree is, Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss: So full of o f artles art lesss jealousy is guilt guilt,, It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.

[Re-enter HORATIO, with OPHELIA] OPHELIA

Where is the beauteou s majesty majesty of Denmark? Denm ark?

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE How OPHELIA

now, no w, Opheli Oph elia! a!

[Sings] How should I your true love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Alas,

sweet lady, what imports

this th is son song? g? OPHELIA

Say you you?? Nay, pray pr ay you you,, mark. mar k.

[Sings]

SCENE V Elsinore. A room in the castle.

He is dead and an d gone, lady, He is dead and gone; At his h is head a grass-green grass-green tu rf, At his heels a stone.

[Ent [Enteer QUEEN QUEEN GERT GERTRUDE RUDE,, HORAT H ORAT IO, and a Gentleman] QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE I

her come com e in.

but , QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Nay, but,

will will not speak with with her. h er.

She is importunate, indeed distract: Her mood m ood will needs needs be pitied.

OPHELIA

Opheli Oph elia,— a,—

Pray you, you, mark. m ark.

GENTLEMAN

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE What GENTLEMAN

would wou ld she have? have?

White his shroud shroud as the moun tain snow,—

She speaks much of her father; says

she hears There’s There’s tricks i’ the th e world; and hems, and beats her heart; Spurn pu rnss enviou enviousl sly y at straws; straws; speaks speaks things thin gs in doub d oubt, t, That carry carr y but half h alf sense: sense: her speech speech is noth ing, Yet the th e unshaped unshap ed use of it doth do th m ove The hearers to collection collection;; they aim aim at it, And botch the th e words words up fit to th eir own own thoughts; t houghts; Which, as her winks, and and nods, no ds, and gestu gestures res yield yield them, them , Indeed would would make m ake one think th ink there might be thou ght, Though nothing no thing sure, yet yet much u nhappily nhapp ily.. 42

[Sings]

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS] QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Alas, OPHELIA

look here, my lord.

[Sings] Larded with sweet flowers Which bewept to t he grave did go With true-love showers.

KING CLAUDIUS

How Ho w do you, you, prett p retty y lady?

Well, God ’ild you! They say the owl was a baker’s baker’s daughter. daught er. Lord Lord,, we know what we are, but know not n ot what we may be. God God be b e at your table! t able! OPHELIA


Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT IV KING CLAUDIUS

Conceit Conceit upon up on her h er father. father.

Pray you, let’s have no words of this; but when th ey ask you you what it means, say you this: th is: OPHELIA

[Sings] To-morr To-m orrow ow is Saint Saint Valentin Valentin e’s e’s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valent Valentine. ine. Then up he rose, and donn’d his clothes, And dupp’d d upp’d the chamber-door; Let in the m aid, that out a maid Never Never departed m ore. KING CLAUDIUS

Divided Divided from h erself erself and her fair judgment, judgment , Withou t th e which which we are are pictur es, es, or mere m ere beasts: beasts: Last, and as much containing cont aining as all these, these, Her broth br other er is in secret secret come from France; Fran ce; Feeds Feeds on his wonder, keeps keeps himse him self lf in clouds, And want wantss not buzzers to infect infect his h is ear ear With pestilent pestilent speeches speeches of his father’s father’s death; Wherein necessity, of matter beggar’d, Will nothing stick our person to arraign In ear and ear. O my dear Gertru Gertru de, this, Like to a mur m urderin dering-piec g-piece, e, in many m any places places Gives Gives me superfluous death. d eath.

[A noise within]

Pretty Ophelia!


Indeed, Ind eed, la, la, with without out an oath, oat h, I’ll I’ll make an an end on ’t: OPHELIA

[Sings]

KING CLAUDIUS

Alack, what noise is this?

Where Wher e are my m y Switzers? Switzers? Let them t hem guard

the door.

[Ent [Enter er another Gentleman Gentleman]] By Gis and by Saint Charity, Alack, and fie for shame! Youn g men will will do’t, if they th ey come to’t; By cock, they are to blame. Quoth Quot h she, before before you tum bled bled m e, You promised me to wed. So would I ha’ done, by yond yonder er sun, An thou th ou hadst not come to my bed. bed.

KING CLAUDIUS

What is the matter?

How long hath she been been thus? th us?

I hope ho pe all will will be well well.. We must mu st be patient: p atient: bu t I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i’ the th e cold grou ground nd.. My broth bro ther er shall kno know w of it: and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies; good night, good night.

OPHELIA


Save you yourself rself,, my m y lord: lord : The ocean, overpeering of his list, Eats not the flats with more impetuous haste Than youn g Laertes, Laertes, in a riot ous head, O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord; And, nd , as the world were were now no w but t o begin, Antiquity nt iquity forgot, forgot, custom n ot known, The ratifiers and prop p ropss of eve every ry word, They cry “Choose “Cho ose we: Laertes Laertes shall be b e king: kin g:”” Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds: “Laert “Laertes es shall be king, kin g, Laert Laertes es king!” GENTLEMAN

Follow her close; give give her good watch,

I pray you you..


How Ho w cheerfully cheerfully on the t he false false trail

they th ey cry! O, this th is is counter, coun ter, you false false Danish dogs d ogs!! KING CLAUDIUS

The doors are broke.

[Noise [Noise within] within ] [Exit [Exit HORAT IO]

O, this th is is the th e poison of deep grief; grief; it springs sprin gs All from from her father’s death. O Gertrude, Gertru de, Gertrude, Gertru de, When sorr ows come, come, they t hey come come not n ot single single spies spies But in battalions. bat talions. First, First, her father fath er slain: slain: Next, your son gone; and he most violent author Of his own own just ju st remove: the th e people muddied, mud died, Thick Thick and u nwholesome nwholesome in their thoughts tho ughts and whispers, whispers, For good Polonius’ Polon ius’ death; and an d we have done don e but greenly, greenly, In hu gger-mugge gger-muggerr to inter him: him : poor Oph elia elia

[Enter LAERTES, armed; Danes following] LAERTES DANES

No, let’s come in.

LAERTES DANES

Where is this th is king? Sirs, stand you all with withou out. t.

I pray p ray you, give give me leave.

We will, we will.

[They retire without the door] I thank you: keep the door. O thou vile king, Give me my father!

LAERTES


43

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT IV QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Calmly, good

Laertes. aert es.

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard, Cries cuckold to my m y father, father, brand br andss the harlot Even ven here, h ere, between between the chaste unsmirched un smirched brow bro w Of my true tru e mother.

It shall as leve levell to your judgment ju dgment pierce As day does to your eye. eye.

LAERTES

What is the cause, Laertes, That thy th y rebellion rebellion looks so giant-like? Let him go, Gertrude; do not fear our person: There’s There’s such divinity do th hedge a king, That treason can can but b ut peep to what it would, Acts litt le of his h is will. will. Tell me, Laertes, aert es, Why thou art thus incensed. Let him go, Gertrude. Speak, man. KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

Where is my father?

KING CLAUDIUS

Dead.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE But KING CLAUDIUS

DANES

[Within] Let her come com e in.

LAERTES

[Re-enter OPHELIA] O heat, h eat, dry up my brains! brain s! Tears sev seven en times t imes salt, salt, Burn ur n ou t the t he sense sense and virtue virtu e of mine min e eye eye!! By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight, Till our ou r scale scale turn tur n the t he beam. O rose r ose of May! May! Dear maid, m aid, kind sister, sister, sweet sweet Ophelia! Op helia! O heave h eavens! ns! Is’t Is’t possible, p ossible, a you young ng maid’s m aid’s wits Should be as moral as an old man’s life? Nature Natu re is fine in love, and where ’tis ’tis fine, It sends some precious p recious instance instan ce of itsel itself f After the th e thing th ing it loves. loves. OPHELIA

n ot by him.

LAERTES

KING CLAUDIUS

Hadst thou th ou thy t hy wits, wits, and and didst persuade revenge, revenge, It could not move m ove thus. thu s.

LAERTES

OPHELIA

LAERTES

Good Laertes, If you you des d esire ire to know kn ow the certainty certaint y Of your dear father’s death, death , is’t is’t writ in your rev r evenge, enge, That, swoopstake, you you will will draw both friend friend and foe, Winner and loser? loser? KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

Why, now you speak Like a good good child and a tru e gentleman gentleman.. That I am guiltless guiltless of you yourr father’ fath er’ss death, And am most m ost sensible in in grief grief for for it, 44

There’ Ther e’ss rosemary, rosemar y, that’ that ’s for remembran rememb rance ce;; pray, pray, love, love, remember: rememb er: and t here is pansies. pansies. that’ th at’ss for thoughts thou ghts.. OPHELIA

There’s There’s fenn fenn el for for you, and columbin es: es: there’ th ere’ss rue for you; you ; and h ere’s ere’s som somee for me: we may call it herb-grace h erb-grace o’ Sundays un days:: O you mu st wear wear your rue ru e with a difference. There’ Th ere’ss a daisy: I would give give you some violets, violets, but they th ey withered all when when my fath father er died: they th ey say he made m ade a good end,— en d,— OPHELIA

To his good friends friend s thus thu s wide wide I’ll I’ll ope my arms; And like the kind life-rend life-rendering ering pelican, pelican, Repast Repast them th em with my blood. KING CLAUDIUS

This nothing’s nothing’s more than th an matter. m atter.

A document in madnes m adness, s, thoughts and remembrance fitted.

Will you know them then?

LAERTES

LAERTES

LAERTES

None but his enemies.

KING CLAUDIUS

[Sings] You must sing a-down a-down, An you call him a-down-a. O, how h ow the th e wheel becomes becomes it! It is the false false steward, steward, that t hat stole his master’s daughter. daught er.

Who shall stay you?

My will, not all the world: And for my m y means, I’ll I’ll husband them th em so well, well, They shall go far with little.

[Sings] They bore him barefaced on the bier; Hey non non ny, nonny, hey nonn y; And in his h is grave grave rain’d many a tear:— Fare you well, my dove!

Let him demand deman d his h is fill fill..

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with: To hell, h ell, allegiance! allegiance! Vows, Vows, to the th e blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this th is point I stand, stand, That both bot h the t he worlds I give give to neglige negligence, nce, Let come com e what comes; only on ly I’ll I’ll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father.

How Ho w now! What noise n oise is that?

[Sings] For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.



Thought Thou ght and an d affl affliction, iction, pass p assion, ion, hell itself itself,, She turns tu rns to favour favour and to prettiness p rettiness..

LAERTES

OPHELIA

[Sings]

[Exit Servant]

[Enter [Enter Sailors] Sailors] FIRST SAILOR

His beard was as white as snow, All All flaxen was his poll: p oll: He is gone, he is gone, gone, And we cast away moan: God ha’ h a’ mercy on h is soul! soul!

HORATIO

God bless you, sir.

Let him bless bless thee too. too .

p lease him. him . There’ Ther e’ss a FIRST SAILOR He shall, sir, an ’t please

And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi’ ye.

[Exit] Do you see this, O God?

KING CLAUDIUS

Let them th em come in.

I do n ot know kno w from from what part of the world I should be b e greeted, greeted, if not from Lord Ham let.

And will will he not come again? And will will he not come again? No, no, he is dead: Go to th y death-bed: death-bed: He n ever ever will come again.

LAERTES

HORATIO

Laertes, I must mu st commu ne with

your grief, Or you deny me right. right. Go but bu t apart, Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will. And they th ey shall hear and judge ’twix ’twixtt you and me: If by direct or by collateral collateral hand han d They find us touch’d, we will our kingdom give, Our crown, our life, life, and and all that th at we can ours, our s, To you in satisfaction; satisfaction; but if not, no t, Be you content to lend your patience to us, And we shall joint jointly ly labour with your soul sou l To give give it due du e content . Let this be so; His means of death, his h is obscur obscuree fun funeral— eral— No trophy, tr ophy, sw sword, nor n or hatchment h atchment o’ o ’er his bones, No noble nob le rite nor formal ostentation ostentation— — Cry to be heard, heard , as ’twere ’twere from from heaven heaven to t o earth, earth , That I must m ust call’ call’t in question. question .

LAERTES

letter for you, sir; it comes from from the th e ambassador ambassador that was bound bou nd for England; England; if your name n ame be Horatio, Hor atio, as I am am let to know kn ow it is. is. [Reads] “Horatio, when tho u shalt have overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the king: they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, sea, a pirate pirat e of very very warlike warlike appointm appoin tment ent gave gave us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled compelled valour, and in the t he grapple I boarded them: on the instant they got clear of our ship; so I alone became their th eir prisoner. prison er. They have have dealt with me like thiev th ieves es of mercy: mercy: but they th ey knew knew what they t hey did; I am to do a good turn tu rn for them. th em. Let Let the king have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me with as much speed speed as thou tho u wouldst fly death. I have word wordss to speak in thine th ine ear will will make thee dumb; dum b; yet yet are they much too light light for the t he bore of the th e matter. matt er. These good good fellow fellowss will will bring thee t hee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England: England: of them I have much to t o tell thee. th ee. Farewell. Farewell. He that th at thou th ou kn owest owest thine, th ine, HAMLE HAMLET.” Come, I will make you way for these your letters; And do’t the speedier, speedier, that th at you may direct me To him from whom whom you brou ght them.

HORATIO

So you shall; And where the offence is let the great axe fall. I pray pr ay you you,, go with with me.

KING CLAUDIUS

[Exeunt]

SCENE VII Another A nother room room in the th e cas castle. tle.

[Exeunt]

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS and LAERTES]

SCENE VI Anoth A nother er roo room m in the th e cas castle. tle.

Now must mu st your your conscience conscience my acquaintance acquaint ance seal, seal, And you must m ust put me in your heart for friend, friend, Sith you have heard, and with a knowing kno wing ear, ear, That he h e which which hath hat h your n oble father father slain Pursued Pur sued my m y life. life. KING CLAUDIUS

[Enter [Enter HORAT HORA T IO and a Servant] Servant] HORATIO

What are th ey that th at would speak with with me? m e?

SERVANT

Sailors, sir: th ey say say they have letters letter s for you.


45

Hamle Hamlet: t: ACT ACT IV LAERTES

It well appears: but tell me Why you you procee pro ceeded ded n ot against against these t hese feats, feats, So crimeful and so capital in natur nat ure, e, As by your safety, safety, wisdo wisdom, m, all thin t hin gs else else,, You mainly were stirr’d up.

your kingly kin gly eyes: eyes: when I shall, first asking your pardon thereunt o, recoun recountt the t he occas occasion ion of my sudd sudden en and m ore strange stran ge return retu rn.. HAML HAMLE ET.” What should sho uld this th is mean? Are all the rest come back? b ack? Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?

O, for two special reason reasons; s; Which may to you, p erhaps, seem seem much mu ch un sinew’ sinew’d, But yet yet to me they th ey are strong. stron g. The queen his mot her Lives almost almo st by his h is looks; and for mys m yself elf— — My virtu virtu e or my m y plague, plague, be it either which— She’s so conjunctive to my life and soul, That, as the star moves not but in his sphere, I could not but by her. her. The other motive m otive,, Why to a public coun countt I mig m ight ht not go, Is the great love the general gender gender bear him; him ; Who, dippin dip ping g all all his faults faults in their t heir affection, affection, Would, like like the spring spring that turneth tur neth wood to stone, Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows, Too slight slightly ly timber’ timb er’d d for so lou d a wind, wind , Would h ave revert reverted ed to my bow again, again, And not where I had aim’d them.

LAERTES

And so have I a noble father lost; A sister sister driven d riven into int o desperate term s, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood too d challenger challenger on m oun t of all the th e age age For her perfection perfections: s: but my revenge revenge will will come.

KING CLAUDIUS

KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

Break not your sleeps sleeps for th at: you must not think That we are made mad e of stu stuff ff so flat flat and an d dull d ull That we can can let our ou r beard be b e shoo shook k with with danger d anger And think th ink it pastime. You You shortly short ly shall hear hear more: m ore: I loved your father, and we love ourself; And that, th at, I hope, ho pe, will will teach teach you to t o imagine— KING CLAUDIUS

How Ho w now! What What news? news? Letters, my lord, from Hamlet: Ham let: This to your maje m ajesty; sty; this th is to the queen. qu een.

MESSENGER

From H amlet! amlet! Who Who brou ght them?

Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not: They were given me by Claudio; he received them Of him him that th at brought them.

MESSENGER

KING CLAUDIUS

Laertes, aert es, you you shall hear them. th em. Leave Leave us.

[Exit Messenger] [Reads] “High and mighty, You You shall know I am set naked n aked on your kingdom. kin gdom. To-mor To- morrow row shall I beg leave leave to see 46

’Tis Hamlets character. “Naked!” And in a postscript h ere, he says says “alon “alone.” e.” Can you advise advise me? KING CLAUDIUS

I’m I’m lost in it, my lord. But let him come; It warms warm s the very sicknes sicknesss in my m y heart, That I shall live live and tell t ell him to his h is teeth teeth,, “Thus didest didest thou.” t hou.”

LAERTES

If it be b e so, Laert Laertes— es— As how should sho uld it be b e so? How Ho w otherwise oth erwise??— Will you you be ruled ru led by me? KING CLAUDIUS

Ay, my lord; lord ; So you will not o’errule me to a peace.

LAERTES

To thine th ine own peac p eace. e. If he be

now return ’d, As checking checking at his voyage voyage,, and that th at he h e means No more to undertake it, I will work him To an exploit, now ripe rip e in my m y device device,, Under Und er the th e which which he shall not choose cho ose but fall: fall: And for his death no n o wind of blame shall shall breathe, But even even his mother mot her shall uncharge unchar ge the th e practise And call call it accident. My lord, I will be ruled; The rather, rat her, if you you could dev d evise ise it it so That I might be the organ.

LAERTES

It falls falls right right.. You have been talk’d of since your travel much, And that th at in H amlet’s amlet’s hearing, for for a quality qu ality Wherein, th ey say, say, you you shine: your your sum of o f parts Did not together pluck such envy from him As did that one, and that, in my regard, regard, Of the u nworthiest nwort hiest siege siege.. KING CLAUDIUS

[Enter a Messenger]

KING CLAUDIUS

Know you the th e hand?

LAERTES

What part is that, my lord? lord?

A very very riband in the t he cap of you youth th,, Yet needf n eedful ul too; t oo; for youth yout h n o less less becomes becomes The light and careless livery that it wears Than settled age his sables and his weeds, Import Imp orting ing health and graveness graveness.. Two Two mont mo nths hs since, since, Here was a gent gentleman leman of Norman Nor mandy: dy:— — I’ve I’ve seen seen mys m yself elf,, and an d served against, against , the th e French, And they th ey can well well on horse hor seback: back: but this t his gallant gallant Had witchcraft witchcraft in’ in ’t; he grew unto unt o his h is seat; seat; KING CLAUDIUS



And to such wondrou s doing brought his horse, As he had been incorpsed and d emi-natured emi-natur ed With the t he brave beast: beast: so so far he topp ’d my thought th ought,, That I, in forgery forgery of shapes shapes and tricks, Come short of what he did. LAERTES

A Norman was’t?

KING CLAUDIUS LAERTES

A Norman. Norman .

Upon my life, life, Lamon Lamond. d.

KING CLAUDIUS

The very same.

I know him well: well: he is the brooch bro och indeed in deed And gem gem of all the th e nation .

LAERTES

He made m ade confession confession of you, And gave gave you you such a m asterly report repor t For art and exercise exercise in your defence defence And for your rapier most especial especially ly,, That he h e cried cried out, ou t, ’twould ’twould be a sight sight indeed, ind eed, If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation, He swore, swore, had had neither mot ion, guard, nor eye, eye, If you opposed opp osed them. Sir, Sir, this th is report of o f his Did Ham let so so envenom with h is envy envy That he could noth ing do but wish wish and beg Your ou r sudden sud den coming com ing o’er, o’er, to play p lay with him. him . Now, out of o f this,— KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

To cut his throat i’ the church.

No plac p lace, e, indeed, should murder mur der sanctuarize sanctuarize;; Reve Revenge nge should have no bound bou nds. s. But But,, good Laert Laertes es,, Will you do t his, keep keep close close within within your chamber. cham ber. Hamlet return’d shall know you are come home: We’ll put on those shall praise your excellence And set set a dou ble varn varnish ish on the t he fame The Frenchman gave gave you, you, brin b ring g you you in fine toge to geth ther er And wager wager on your heads: h eads: he, being being remiss rem iss,, Most generous and free from all contrivi contr iving, ng, Will not p eruse the foils; foils; so that, that , with ease, ease, Or with a little litt le shu shuff ffling, ling, you you may choose A sword sword unbated, un bated, and in a pass p ass of practise Requite him for your father. KING CLAUDIUS

I will do’t: And, nd , for for that t hat pur p urpose, pose, I’ll I’ll ano anoint int my sword. sword. I bought an unction of a moun tebank, So mortal mor tal that, but dip a knife in it, Where it draw dr awss blood no cataplasm cataplasm so rare, Collected Collected from all simples simples that have virtu virtuee Under the t he moon, moon , can can save save the thing thin g from from death That is but scratch’d scratch’d withal: I’ll I’ll touch my poin t With this t his contag cont agion, ion, that t hat,, if I gall gall him slight slightly ly,, It may be death.

LAERTES

Let’s et’s fur furth ther er think th ink of o f this; Weigh what convenience both of time and means May fit fit us u s to ou r shape: if this should fail, fail, And that t hat our ou r drift look through throu gh our bad performance, ’Twere better not assay’d: therefore this project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof. Soft! Let me see: We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings: I ha’t. When in your your motion m otion you are hot and dry dr y— As make your your bouts bout s more violent violent to t o that t hat end— end — And that th at he h e calls calls for for drink, drin k, I’ll I’ll have prepared prepar ed him A chalice chalice for for the t he nonce, no nce, whereon whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venom’d stuck, Our purpose pur pose may hold there. KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

What out of this, my lord?

Laertes, was was your your father dear d ear to you? Or are you like the painting paint ing of a sorrow, A face face witho without ut a heart? heart ?

KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

Why ask you you this? th is?

KING CLAUDIUS

Not that th at I think you did not love

your father; But that th at I know kn ow love love is begun by time; tim e; And that I see, in passages of proof, Time qualifies qualifies the spark and an d fire of it. There lives within the very flame of love A kind of wick wick or snu ff that th at will abate abate it; And noth no thing ing is at a like good goodness ness still; still; For goodnes goodn ess, s, growing growing to a plurisy plu risy,, Dies in his h is own own too t oo much: m uch: that th at we would do We shou should ld do when we wou would; ld; for for this t his “would” “would” changes And hath abatement s and delays delays as many man y As there are ton t ongues gues,, are hands, han ds, are accident accidents; s; And then th en this th is “shou “shou ld” is like like a spend spendth thrift rift sigh, sigh, That hur h urts ts by easing. easing. But But,, to the t he quick qu ick o’ the th e ulcer:— ulcer:— Hamlet Ham let comes back: what would you un dertake, dert ake, To show yourself your father’s son in deed More than in words?

[Ent [Enter er QUEEN QUEEN GERT GERTRUDE] RUDE] How Ho w now, sweet sweet queen! QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE One

woe doth tread upon

another’ anot her’ss hee h eel, l, So fast they th ey follow; follow; your sister’s sister’s drown’d, dr own’d, Laert Laertes. es. LAERTES

Drown’d! O, where?

Ther e is a willow willow grows aslant QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE There a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; There with fantastic garlands garlands did she come


47

Ha Hamle mlet: ACT ACT V

Of crow-flowers crow-flowers,, nettles, n ettles, daisies daisies,, and long pur p urples ples That liberal sheph shepherds erds give give a grosser grosser name, n ame, But our ou r cold m aids do dead d ead men’ men ’s fingers fingers call call them: There, There, on the pendent pend ent boughs bo ughs her coronet weeds weeds Clambering to h ang, an envious slive sliverr broke; br oke; When down d own her weedy weedy trophies trop hies and and herself Fell Fell in th e weeping weeping brook. bro ok. Her cloth clothes es spread spread wide; wide; And, nd , mermaid-like, mermaid -like, awhile awhile they bore her up : Which time tim e she she chanted chant ed snatches of old tunes; tu nes; As one in capable of her own distress, distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that t hat element: element: but long it could not be Till that th at her garments, garmen ts, heavy heavy with their th eir drink, drin k, Pull’d Pull’d the t he poor poo r wretch from her h er melodious melodiou s lay lay To muddy mudd y death. LAERTES

dro wn’d. d. QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Drown’d, drown’ Too much of o f water water hast thou, thou , poor Ophelia O phelia,, And theref th erefore ore I forbid my tears: but yet It is our trick t rick;; nature her custom holds, Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, The woman will be out. Adieu, Adieu, my m y lord lord:: I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, But that th at this th is folly folly douts dou ts it.

LAERTES

[Exit] Let’s et’s follow, Gertrud Gertr ude: e: How much I h ad to do to calm calm his rage! rage! Now fear I this will give it start again; Therefore Ther efore let’s follow. KING CLAUDIUS

Alas, then, she is drown’d?

[Exeunt]

ACT V goes,— goes,—mark mark you that; t hat; but bu t if the water come to him and drown him, he drowns not himself: argal, he that is not guilty of his own own death shortens not no t his h is own life. life.

SCENE I A churchyard. hurchyard. [Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c] Is she she to be buried in Christian Christian burial that wilfully wilfully seeks seeks her own salvatio salvation? n?

FIRST CLOWN

I tell thee she is: and theref th erefore ore make m ake her grave straight: the crowner hath sat on her, and find findss it Christian Christian burial. SECOND CLOWN

How Ho w can can that t hat be, b e, unless she drowned herself herself in her h er own defence? defence?

FIRST CLOWN

SECOND CLOWN

Why, ’tis found so.

It must mu st be “se “se offenden offendendo”; do”; it cann cann ot be else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act: and an act hath hat h thr t hree ee branches bran ches:: it is, to act, to do, to perform: argal, she drowned hersel her selff wittin gly. gly. FIRST CLOWN

SECOND CLOWN FIRST CLOWN

Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,— delver,—

Give me leave. leave. Here Her e lies the th e water;

good: here stands the th e man; good; if the th e man go to t his water, water, and drown dro wn himse him self lf,, it is, will will he, nill he, he 48


But is this th is law? law?

Ay, marry, mar ry, is’t; is’t; crowner cr owner’’s quest qu est law.

SECOND CLOWN

Will you you ha’ the tru th on’ on ’t? If this had

not been been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o’ Christian Christian burial. FIRST CLOWN

Why, there thou tho u say’ say’st: and and the th e more

pity that great great folk shou should ld have cou count ntenance enance in th is world world to to drown or hang themselves, more than their even Christian. Com e, my spade. spade. There is no ancie an cient nt gent gentleman leman but bu t gardeners, ditchers, and grave-m grave-makers akers:: they th ey hold up u p Adam’s Adam’s profession. profession. SECOND CLOWN FIRST CLOWN

Was he a gentleman gentleman??

He was the th e first first that th at ever ever bore bo re arms.

SECOND CLOWN

Why, Why, he had none. n one.

What, art a h eathen? eathen? How dost dost thou t hou understand un derstand the th e Scriptu Scripture? re? The Scriptu Scriptu re says says “Adam “Adam

FIRST CLOWN


Haml Hamleet: ACT ACT V

digged:” digged:” could could he dig without withou t arms? ar ms? I’ll I’ll put another anot her question question to thee: t hee: if thou answere answerest st me not to the t he purpose, confess thyself— SECOND CLOWN

What is he that builds stron stron ger than either either the t he mason, the shipwright, shipwright, or the carpenter?

The gallows gallows-m -maker; aker; for for that th at frame outlives outlives a thousand tenants. SECOND CLOWN

I like thy wit well, in good faith:

the th e gallows gallows does do es well; well; but bu t how h ow does it well? It does d oes well well to tho t hose se that do in: in : now thou tho u dost d ost ill to say the th e gallow gallowss is built stronge stron gerr than t han the th e church: argal, the gallows gallows may do well to thee. th ee. To’ To’tt again, come. “Who builds stron stronge gerr than t han a mason, a shipwright shipwright,, or a carpenter? carpent er?”” SECOND CLOWN

FIRST CLOWN

Ay, tell me that, that , and unyoke un yoke..


Marry, now I can t ell. ell.

SECOND CLOWN

That skull skull had a ton gue in in it, and could sing once on ce:: how the th e knave jowls jowls it to t he groun d, as if it were Cain’s Cain’s jaw-bone, jaw-bone, that th at did t he first first mur m urder! der! It might be the th e pate of o f a politician, which t his ass now o’er-reaches; o’er-reaches; one that th at would circumve circumvent nt God, might might it n ot?

HAMLET

HORATIO

It might, my lord.

Or of a courtier; court ier; which which could cou ld say “Good morrow, mor row, swe sweet et lord! How dost th ou, good lord? lor d?”” This might be my lord such-a-one, that praised praised my lord such-a-one’ such-a-o ne’ss horse, when when he h e meant to beg b eg it; might it not?

HAMLET

Ay, my lord. lord .

Why, e’en e’en so: and an d now n ow my Lady Lady Worm’s Wor m’s;; chapless, chapless, and knocked about abou t the t he mazzard with with a sexton sexton’’s spade: here’s here’s fine fine rev r evolut olution, ion, an we had the t he trick tr ick to see’ see’t. t. Did these t hese bones bon es cost no more m ore the th e breeding, but bu t to play at loggats loggats with ’em? ’em? Mine ache to think thin k on’t. on’t.

HAMLET

Mass, Mass, I cannot cann ot tell.

[Enter [Enter HAMLE HAM LET T and HORAT HO RATIO, IO, at a distance distance]] Cudgel Cudgel thy brains no m ore about it, for your dull d ull ass will will not mend his pace with with beating; b eating; and, when you are asked asked this th is question question next, say “a grave-maker.” grave-maker.” The hou ses ses that he makes last last till t ill doom sday. sday. Go, get get thee t hee to Yaughan: fetch me a stou p of liquor. FIRST CLOWN

[Exit Second Clown] [He digs and sings]

FIRST CLOWN : [Sings]

A pick-axe, pick-axe, and a spade, a spade, For and a shrouding sheet: O, a pit of clay clay for for to t o be made mad e For such a guest is meet.

[Throws [T hrows up another an other sku skull] ll] There’s another: anoth er: why why may not t hat be b e the skull HAMLET There’s

In youth, yout h, when I did love, love, did love, Methou ght it was very very sweet, sweet, To contract, O, the time, for, ah, my behove, O, methou ght, there was was nothing meet.

Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he sings at grave-making?

HAMLET

Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.

HORATIO

’Tis e’en so: the hand of little employment hath the daintier d aintier sense. sense.

HAMLET

[Throws up a skull]

HORATIO

To’t.

[Sings]

But age, with his stealing steps, Hath Hat h claw’ claw’d me m e in his clutch, And h ath shipped me intil the land, As if I had never been such.

Go to.

FIRST CLOWN

FIRST CLOWN

FIRST CLOWN

of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Why does he suffe sufferr this t his rude knave now to knock him about the scon sconce ce with with a dirty dirt y shovel, shovel, and and will will not tell him of his action of battery? batt ery? Hum! Hu m! This fellow fellow might might be in’s time a great buyer b uyer of land, with h is statu statu tes, his recog r ecognizances nizances,, his h is fines, fines, his h is double dou ble vouchers, his recoveries: is this the fine of his fines, and the recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine pate full of fine dirt? dir t? Will Will his vouch vouchers ers vou vouch ch him h im no more of his purchases, purchases, and and double doub le ones too, than th an the length and breadth of a pair of indentures? The very con convey veyan ances ces of his lands lan ds will hardly hard ly lie lie in


49


this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more, ha? HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO

Not a jot more, my lord. Is not parchment made of sheepskins?

They are sheep and calves which seek out assur assurance ance in that. th at. I will will speak speak to this th is fell fellow. ow. Whose grave’s grave’s this, th is, sirrah? sirrah ?

HAMLET

Why, because he was mad: he shall recover recover his h is wits wits there; th ere; or, if he do n ot, it’ it ’s no great great matter there. HAMLET

Why?

’Twill, Twill, a not be seen seen in him there; th ere; there th ere the th e men are as mad as he.

HAMLET

O, a pit of o f clay clay for for to t o be mad e For such a guest is meet.

How came he mad?

FIRST CLOWN

I think it be thine, indeed; for thou liest in’t.

FIRST CLOWN

Ay, marry, why was he sent into England?

FIRST CLOWN

Mine, sir.

[Sings]

HAMLET

HAMLET

FIRST CLOWN

Ay, my lord, and of calf-skins too.

FIRST CLOWN

Cannot Cann ot you tell t ell that? Eve Every ry fool can tell that: th at: it was the th e very very day that th at young youn g Hamlet was born; bor n; he that is mad, and and sent sent into England. ngland. FIRST CLOWN

You lie out ou t on ’t, sir, and theref th erefore ore it

is not yours: for for my m y part, I do not n ot lie in’t, in’t, and yet yet it is mine. min e.

HAMLET

How strangely?

FIRST CLOWN HAMLET

Very Very strangely, str angely, they th ey say. say.

Faith, e’en with losing his wits.

Upon what ground?

Why, here in Denmark: Den mark: I have h ave been sexton sexton here, h ere, man and an d boy, thirty thir ty years. years.

FIRST CLOWN

Thou dost lie in’t, in’t, to t o be in’t and say it is thin e: ’tis for for the t he dead, not no t for the th e quick; theref th erefore ore thou th ou liest.

HAMLET

FIRST CLOWN

’Tis a quick qu ick lie, sir; ’twill away gain, gain , from

What man dost thou th ou dig it for? for?

FIRST CLOWN HAMLET

HAMLET

For no n o man, man , sir. sir.

I’ faith faith,, if he be not rotten rot ten bef b efore ore he die—as we have many pocky corses now-a-days, that will scarce hold the laying in—he will last you some eight eight year year or nine nin e year: year: a tann er will will last last you nine nin e year. year.

HAMLET

What woman, woman, then? th en?

FIRST CLOWN

Why he more than anot her?

Why, sir, sir, his hide is so tann ed with his trade, trad e, that h e will will keep keep out water a great great while; and your water is a sore decayer decayer of your whoreson dead body. Here’s a skull now; this skull has lain in the th e earth earth three th ree and twe t went nty y years. years. FIRST CLOWN

For none, n one, neither.

Who is to be buried bu ried in’t?

One On e that was a woman, sir; but, rest her soul, she’ sh e’ss dead. FIRST CLOWN

HAMLET

How Ho w absolut absolutee the th e knave is! is! We We must mu st speak by the th e card, card, or o r equivocation will will undo und o us. u s. By By the Lord Lord,, Horatio, Ho ratio, these t hese three th ree years years I have taken taken a note n ote of it; the age is grown so picked picked that t hat the t he toe to e of the peasant peasant comes so so near n ear the heel of the th e cour courtier, tier, he gaffs gaffs his kibe. How long hast thou t hou been a grave-maker?

HAMLET

FIRST CLOWN

Of all the th e days i’ the th e year, year, I came cam e to’ to ’t

that day that our last king Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.

Whose was it?

A who whoreson reson mad fellow’ fellow’ss it was: was: whose do you think it was? FIRST CLOWN

HAMLET

Nay, I know not .

A pestilence pestilence on him for a mad m ad rogue! ro gue! A’ poured pou red a flagon flagon of Rhenish Rhenish on my head once on ce.. This same skull, sir, was Yorick’s skull, the king’s jester.

FIRST CLOWN

HAMLET

This?

FIRST CLOWN HAMLET

50

lie i’ i’ the th e earth ere he rot? r ot?

FIRST CLOWN

me to you. HAMLET

HAMLET How long will will a man

How Ho w lon long g is that th at since?


E’en that.

Haml Hamleet: ACT ACT V HAMLET

Let me see.

The corse they follow follow did with d esperate esperate hand h and Fordo Ford o its it s own life: ’twas ’twas of some estate. estat e. Couch we awhile, awhile, and mark. m ark.

[Takes [T akes the th e sku skull] ll] Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me m e on his back a thou sand sand times; and n ow, how abhorred abhor red in my imagination it is! My gorge gorge rims at it. Here hu ng those tho se lips that I have h ave kisse kissed d I know kno w not how oft. Where Wh ere be your gibes gibes now? Your gambols? gambo ls? Your ou r songs son gs?? Your ou r flashes of merrimen merr iment, t, that were wont wont to set the table on a roar? Not one o ne now, to mock m ock you yourr own grinn ing? Quite Quit e chap-fallen? chap-fallen? Now get get you to t o my m y lady’ lady’ss chamber, an d tell t ell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this th is fav favour our she must come; make her laugh at that. Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing. HORATIO

What’s that, th at, my lord?

Dost thou think Alexander looked o’ this fashion fashion i’ the th e earth?

HAMLET

HORATIO HAMLET

LAERTES

What ceremon ceremon y else else??

That is Laert Laertes, es, A very very noble youth: yout h: mark. mar k.

HAMLET

LAERTES

What ceremon ceremon y else else??

Her obsequies have been as far enlarged As we have warrantise: her death was doubtful; And, nd , but that th at great comman d o’erswa o’ersways ys the th e order, She should in ground groun d unsanctified u nsanctified have lodged Till the th e last last trum tr umpet: pet: for charitable pray pr ayers, ers, Shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown on her; Yet here h ere she is allow’d allow’d her h er virgin crants, cran ts, Her maiden strewments strewments and t he bringing home Of bell bell and burial. bu rial. FIRST PRIEST

LAERTES

E’en E’en so.

Must there no more m ore be done?

No more be done: We shou should ld profane pr ofane the th e servic servicee of the dead d ead To sing a requiem an d such rest to h er As to peace-par peace-parted ted souls. FIRST PRIEST

And smelt so? Pah!

[Puts down the skull] HORATIO

[Retiring with HORATIO]

E’en E’en so, m y lord.

Lay her i’ the earth: And from her fair and unpolluted flesh May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest, A ministering angel shall my sister be, When thou liest howling.

LAERTES

To what base uses we may return, retur n, Horat H oratio! io! Why may not imagination imagination t race the noble dust of Alexand lexander, er, till he find find it stoppin stop ping g a bung-hole? bung-h ole?

HAMLET

’Twere Twere to consider too to o curiously cur iously,, to consider so.

HORATIO

HAMLET

What, th e fair fair Opheli Oph elia! a!

No, faith, faith, not a jot; but to follow follow him thither t hither QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE Sweets to the sweet: farewell! with with modes mod esty ty enough, and likelihood likelihood t o lead it: as [Scattering flowers] thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexa lexander nder returneth return eth into int o dust; du st; the dust is earth; earth; of hop ed thou th ou shouldst h ave been my Hamlet’ Ham let’ss wife wife;; earth we make loam; loam; and why of that loam, loam , whereto whereto h e I hoped I thought tho ught thy t hy bride-bed to t o have deck’ deck’d, d, sweet sweet maid, was was con conve verted, rted, might m ight they th ey not stop a beer-barrel? beer-bar rel? And not have strew’d thy grave. Imperious Imperio us Caesar, Caesar, dead and turn tu rn’’d to clay, clay, Might Might stop a hole h ole to keep the th e wind wind away: away: tr eble woe woe LAERTES O, treble O, that that earth, which which kept the world in awe, awe, Fall Fall ten times treble on that t hat cursed cu rsed head, Shou ld patch pat ch a wall to expel the wint winter er flaw! flaw! Whose wicke wicked d deed d eed thy th y most in geniou geniou s sense sense But soft! But But soft! Aside: Aside: here comes com es the kin g. Deprived thee of! Hold Ho ld off the earth awhile, awhile, Till I have caught her on ce more mor e in mine min e arms:

HAMLET

[Enter Priest, &c. in procession; the Corpse of OPHELIA OPHELIA,, LAE LA ERTE RT ES and M ourners ourners following following;; KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, their trains, &c.]

The queen, t he courtiers: cour tiers: who who is this they th ey follow? follow? And with with such maimed maim ed rites? This doth betoken

[Leaps into in to the t he grave] grave] Now pile pile your your dust upon u pon the quick and dead, Till of this flat flat a moun m oun tain you have made, To o’ertop o’ertop old Pelion, or the th e sky skyish ish head Of blue Olymp Olympus. us.


51

Ha Hamle mlet: ACT ACT V [Advancing] What is he whose grief Bears such an emphasis? Whose phrase of sorrow Conjures the wandering stars, and makes them stand Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I, Hamlet the Dane.

HAMLET

[Leaps into in to the t he grave] grave] LAERTES

The devil take thy soul!

Anon , as patient as the female dove, When that t hat her h er golden couplets are disclos disclosed, ed, His silence will sit drooping. Hear you, sir; What is the reason reason that you use me thus? I loved loved you ever: ever: but it is no matter; mat ter; Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew and dog will have his day.

HAMLET

[Grappling with him]

[Exit]

Thou pray’st pray’st not n ot well. well. I prithee, prit hee, take thy th y fingers fingers from my throat th roat;; For, though th ough I am not splenitiv splenitivee and ras r ash, h, Yet have I somethin g in me m e dangerous, dangerou s, Which let thy t hy wiseness wiseness fear: fear: hold off thy hand. han d.

HAMLET

KING CLAUDIUS

Pluck Pluck them th em asunder.

Gentlemen,—

HORATIO

I pray you, you, good H oratio, orat io, wait wait

upon him.

[Exit [Exit HORATIO] HORA TIO] [To LAERTES] Strengthen tren gthen your patience in our o ur last last nig n ight ht’’s speech; speech; We’ We’ll put th e matter to the present present push. Good Gertrud Gertr ude, e, set set some watch watch over you yourr son. This grave grave shall have a livi living ng mon m onum ument: ent: An hou r of o f quiet shortly sho rtly shall we we see; see; Till then, in patience our proceeding be.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Hamlet, Hamlet! All

KING CLAUDIUS

Good my lord, be quiet.

[The Attendants At tendants part part the th em , and they t hey come come out of the grave]

[Exeunt]

SCENE II A hall in the th e cas castle. tle.

Why I will will fight fight with with him u pon this th is theme Until my eyelids will no longer wag.

HAMLET

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE O

my son, what theme?

[Enter [Enter HAMLET HAMLET and HORAT IO]

I loved Ophelia: forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum. sum. What wilt wilt thou do for her?

HAMLET

KING CLAUDIUS

O, he is mad, Laertes.

God, forbear QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE For love of God,

HORATIO

him.

’Swounds, wound s, show show me what thou’l th ou’ltt do: d o: Woo’t weep? Woo’t fight? Woo’t fast? Woo’t tear thyself? Woo’t drink up eisel? eat a crocodile? I’ll I’ll do’t. do’t. Dost thou t hou come here to whine? To outface ou tface me with leaping in her grave? Be buried bur ied quick with her, h er, and so will will I: And, if thou p rate of mountains, mou ntains, let let them th em throw Millions Millions of acres acres on us, till our grou nd, nd , Singeing his pate against against the t he burn bu rning ing zone, Make Ossa Ossa like a wart! wart! Nay, an an thou th ou’’lt mout mo uth, h, I’ll rant as well as thou.

HAMLET

mad ness:: QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE This is mere madness And thus th us awhile the th e fit fit will work on h im;

52

So much m uch for this, t his, sir: now shall you you see see the other; You do remember r emember all the circumstance? circum stance?

HAMLET

Rememb Remember er it, my lord?

Sir, in my heart there th ere was was a kind of o f fighting, fighting, That would not let me sleep: methought I lay Worse than t he mutin mu tines es in the t he bilboes. Rashly, Rashly, And praised be rashnes rashn esss for for it, let us u s know, Our Ou r indiscretion in discretion sometimes serves serves us well well,, When our deep deep plots do p all: all: and that t hat should tea t each ch us There’s There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew th em how h ow we will will,— ,—

HAMLET

HORATIO

That is most certain.

Up from my cabin, My sea-g sea-gown own scarf’ scarf’d about abo ut me, in the th e dark Groped I to find ou t them; t hem; had my desire. desire. Finger’ Finger’d d their t heir packet, and in fine withdrew withdr ew To mine own room again; making so bold, My fears fears forgettin forgetting g manners, mann ers, to unseal u nseal

HAMLET



Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,— O royal r oyal knavery! knavery!—an —an exact command comm and,, Larded with m any several several sorts of reas r eason onss Importin Impo rting g Denm Denmark’ ark’ss health health and England’s England’s too, With, h o! Such Such bugs and goblins in m y life life,, That, on the th e sup supervis ervise, e, no leisur leisuree bated, No, not no t to stay the th e grind grinding ing of the axe, axe, My head should be struck stru ck off. off. HORATIO

Is’t Is’t poss po ssible? ible?

Here’s Here’s the commissi com mission on:: read it at more mor e leisure. leisure. But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?

HAMLET

HORATIO

I beseech you.

Being thus thu s be-netted roun r oun d with villanies, villanies,— — Ere I could make m ake a prologue to m y brains, They had begun the t he play—I sat sat me m e down, Devise Devised d a new commiss comm ission, ion, wrote it fair: fair: I once did hold it, as our statists do, A baseness baseness to write fair and labour’ labour ’d much m uch How to forget orget that t hat learning, but, sir, now It did d id me m e yeoman yeoman’’s servic service: e: wilt wilt thou th ou know The effect of what I wrote?

HAMLET

HORATIO

Ay, good my lord.

An earnest conjuration from the king, As England was his faithful tributary, As love love between between them t hem like the th e palm might m ight flourish, As peace should stiff her wheaten garland wear And stand a comma ’tween ’tween their th eir amities, And many such-like as’s of great charge, That, on the th e view view and knowing of these contents, cont ents, Without debatement debatement further, more mor e or less, less, He should the bearers bearers put t o sudden death, Not shriving-time allow’ allow’d. d.

HAMLET

HORATIO

How Ho w was this seal’d? seal’d?

Why, eve even n in that th at was heaven heaven ordin or dinant ant.. I had my father’s father’s signet signet in my purse, pu rse, Which was the th e model mod el of that th at Danish Dan ish seal; seal; Folded the writ up in form of the other, Subscribed it, gave’t the impression, placed it safely, The changeling changeling never known. Now, the th e next day Was our sea-fight; sea-fight; and what to this th is was was sequent sequent Thou know’st know’st already. So Guildenstern and Rosencrant Rosencrantzz go go to’ t o’t. t.

Why, man, th ey did make m ake love love to this employment;

HAMLET

HORATIO

Why, what a king is this!

Does it not, think’st thee, stand me now upon— He that hath kill’d my king and whored my mother, Popp’ Popp ’d in betwe b etween en the th e elec election tion and m y hopes hop es,, Thrown Thro wn out his angle for my proper prop er life, life, And with such cozenage—is’t not perfect conscience, To quit him with this th is arm arm?? And is’t is’t not n ot to t o be damn ’d, To let this canker of our nature come In further furt her evil? evil?

HAMLET

It must mu st be short shortly ly known to h im from England What is th e issue issue of th e business there.

HORATIO

It will be short: the th e interim is mine; min e; And a man’ man ’s life’ life’ss no m ore than t han to say “One.” But I am very sorr sorry, y, good Horat H oratio, io, That to Laertes I forgot myself; For, by th e image of my cause, I see The portr por traitur aituree of his: I’ll I’ll cou court rt his favours. favours. But, ut , sure, the brave br avery ry of his grief grief did put pu t me me Into a towering passion.

HAMLET

HORATIO

Peace! Who comes here?

[Ent [Enter er OSRIC] Your lordship is right welcome welcome back b ack to Denmark. OSRIC

I humbly hu mbly thank you, sir. sir. Dost know this water-fly?

HAMLET

HORATIO

HAMLET

HORATIO

They are not near my m y con consc science; ience; their th eir defeat defeat Does by their own insinuation grow: ’Tis dangerou dangerouss when when the th e baser baser natu n ature re comes Between etween the t he pass p ass and fell fell incensed incensed point p ointss Of mighty opposites opp osites..

No, my good lord.

Thy state is the more gracious; for ’tis a vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile: let a beast beast be b e lord of o f beasts, beasts, and his crib shall stan stand d at the th e king’s king’s mess: ’tis a chough cho ugh;; but, but , as I say, say, spacious spacious in the th e possess possession ion of dirt.

HAMLET

Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

OSRIC

I will receive receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Put your bonnet bon net to t o his right use; ’tis for for the t he head.

HAMLET

OSRIC

I thank your lordship, it is very hot.


53


No, believe me, ’tis very very cold; the th e wind is northerly.

HAMLET

OSRIC

It is indifferent indifferent cold, my lord, ind eed.

I would you did, sir; yet, yet, in faith faith,, if you you did, it would not n ot much m uch approve app rove me. Well, Well, sir?

HAMLET

You are not no t ignorant igno rant of what excell excellence ence Laertes is— OSRIC

But yet yet methin m ethinks ks it is very very sultr sultry y and hot h ot for my complexion complexion..

HAMLET

Exceedingly, Exceedingly, my lord; lord ; it is very sultr y,—as ’twere,—I twere,—I cannot canno t tell t ell how. But But,, my lord, his h is majesty majesty bade me signify signify to you t hat he has laid a great wage wagerr on your head: h ead: sir, sir, this th is is the th e matter,— matt er,— OSRIC

HAMLET

I beseech beseech you, remember— r emember—

I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with with him in excelle excellence; nce; but, t o know kn ow a man well, well, were were to know him self self..

HAMLET

I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation imput ation laid on him b y them, in his h is meed he’s he’s un u n fellowed. fellowed. OSRIC

HAMLET

[HAMLE [HAM LET T m oves oves him to put on his hat] OSRIC

Nay, good good my lord; for m ine ease, ease, in good faith faith.. Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes; believe me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excelle excellent nt differences, of very very soft society and great showing: sho wing: indeed, ind eed, to speak feeli feelingly ngly of him, him , he is the card or calendar calendar of o f gentr gentry, y, for you shall find in him h im the th e continent of what part a gentleman would see.

What’s his weapon?

Rapier Rapier and an d dag d agge ger. r.

OSRIC

HAMLET

That’s two of his weapons: but, well.

The king, sir, hath wagered wagered with him six Barbary Barbary horse hor ses: s: against against the t he which he has impo ned, as I take it, six French rapiers and pon p oniards, iards, with with their t heir assigns, assigns, as girdle, girdle, hange han gers, rs, and so: three thr ee of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the t he hilts, h ilts, most deli d elicate cate carriages carriages,, HAMLET Sir, his definem definement ent suffers suffers no perdition perdit ion in you; thou gh, I know, to divide him inventorially invento rially would and of very liberal conceit. dizzy the th e arithmetic arithm etic of memory, memo ry, and and yet yet but bu t yaw HAMLET What call call you t he carriag carr iages es?? neither, neith er, in respect of his quick sail. sail. But But,, in the t he verity verity of extolm extolment, ent, I take t ake him to be a soul of you must m ust be edified edified by the margent m argent ere HORATIO I knew you great article; article; and his infusion of such dearth and you had done. do ne. rarenes raren ess, s, as, as, to make m ake true diction of him, his OSRIC The carriages, sir, are the hangers. semblable semblable is his mirror ; and who else else would trace tr ace him, his umbrag umbr age, e, nothing more. mor e. would be more mor e german german to t o the th e HAMLET The phrase would matter, matt er, if we we could carry cannon by our sides: I would speaks most infallibly infallibly of him. OSRIC Your lordship speaks it might m ight be hangers h angers till then. But, on : six six Barbary Barbary horses ho rses HAMLET The concernancy, concern ancy, sir? sir? Why do we wrap wrap the th e against against six French sword swords, s, their assigns, assigns, and three th ree gent gentle leman man in our more rawer rawer breath? liberal-con liberal-conce ceited ited carriages; carriages; that’ that ’s the th e French bet against against the t he Danish. Dan ish. Why is this th is “imp “impon oned,”as ed,”as you OSRIC Sir? call it? HORATIO Is’t not possible to understand in sir, hath laid, that in a dozen d ozen passes passes OSRIC The king, sir, another tongue? between between yourself yourself and him, him , he shall not no t excee exceed d you You will do’t, sir, really. three th ree hits: he hath hat h laid on twelve twelve for nine; nin e; and it would come to immediate trial, if your lordship HAMLET What imports the nomination of would vouchsaf vou chsafee the th e answer. answer. this gentleman? OSRIC

HAMLET

Of Laertes?

His pu rse is empty emp ty already; all’ all’ss golden golden words word s are spent.

HORATIO

HAMLET OSRIC

54

Of him, sir.

I know you you are not no t ignorant—

OSRIC

How Ho w if I answer answer “no”? “n o”?

I mean, my lord, the opposition op position of your your person in trial t rial.. OSRIC

Sir, I will walk here in the th e hall: if it please his majesty, majesty, ’tis ’tis the th e breathing breath ing time tim e of day with with me; let the th e foils foils be brought, brou ght, the th e gentleman gentleman willing, willing, and the th e king hold his h is purpose, purp ose, I will will win win for him h im an I can;

HAMLET



if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits. OSRIC

Shall I re-d r e-deliv eliver er you e’en e’en so?

To this effect, sir; after what flourish your natur nat uree will will.. I commend my duty dut y to your your lordship. lord ship.

HAMLET

Yours, yours.

[Exit [Exit OSRIC] He does do es well well to commend comm end it himself; himself; there are no ton gues els elsee for’s for’s turn tu rn.. This lapwing lapwing ru ns away with the t he shell on

HORATIO

his head. He did comply with with his h is dug, before before he sucked it. Thus Thu s has he—and he—and many man y more of the same bevy bevy that I know the dres dr essy sy age dotes dot es on—only on —only got got the t he tune tu ne of the time and ou tward habit of encoun encounter; ter; a kind kind of yesty yesty collec collection tion,, which which carries them throu th rough gh and through thro ugh the most fond and winnowed opinions; and and do but bu t blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out.

HAMLET

[Enter a Lord] My lord, his majesty majesty comm commended ended him h im to you by young Osric, who brings back to him that you attend him in the th e hall: he send sendss to know if your pleasure hold to play with with Laertes, or th at you will take longer longer time. t ime.

LORD

I am constant to my purpose; they follow the king’s king’s pleasure: if his fitness fitn ess speaks, mine min e is ready; now or whensoev when soever, er, provided pro vided I be so able as now. no w.

HAMLET

LORD

The king and queen and all are coming down.

HAMLET

In happy h appy time.

The queen qu een desires you to use some gent gentle le entertainm entert ainment ent to Laert Laertes es before you you fall fall to play.

LORD

HAMLET

She well instructs me.

[Exit [Exit Lord] Lord] HORATIO

You will lose this th is wager, wager, my m y lord.

I do not n ot thin t hink k so: since he went went into int o France, I have been been in continu cont inual al practise: practise: I shall shall win win at the th e odds. odd s. But But thou th ou wouldst would st not think th ink how ho w ill ill all’ all’ss here about my m y heart: heart: but it is no matt er.

HAMLET

HORATIO

Nay, good good my lord,—

If you yourr mind m ind dislike dislike any thin g, obey it: I will will forestall forestall their repair hither, h ither, and an d say you are not fit.

HORATIO

HAMLET

OSRIC

It is but foolery; but it is such such a kind of gaingain-giv giving, ing, as would perh aps trouble tro uble a woman.

HAMLET

Not No t a whit, wh it, we defy augury: there’ th ere’ss a special providence pro vidence in in the th e fall fall of a sparr sparrow. ow. If it it be b e now, ’tis not to come; com e; if if it be not to come, it will will be now; no w; if it be not no t n ow, yet yet it will will come: the readiness is all: all: since since no man has aught of what he leaves, leaves, what what is’t is’t to t o leave betimes? betim es?

HAMLET

[Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, LAERTES, Lords, OSRIC, and ATTENDANTS with foils, &c] KING CLAUDIUS

Come, Hamlet, come, and take this

hand from me.

[KING CLAUDIUS puts LAERTES’ hand into HAMLET’s] Give Give me your pardon pard on,, sir: I’ve I’ve done you wrong; But pardon pard on’’t, as you you are a gent gentleman. leman. This presence knows, And you must mu st needs have heard, how h ow I am pun ish’d ish’d With sore distraction. What I have done, That might your natu re, honour and exception exception Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness. Was’t Was’t H amlet wrong’ wron g’d d Laertes? Never Hamlet H amlet:: If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away, And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes, Then Hamle Ham lett does d oes it it n ot, Hamle H amlett denie d eniess it. Who does it, then? His madness: if’t be so, Hamlet Ham let is of the th e faction faction t hat is wrong’d; wrong’d; His madness mad ness is poor poo r Hamlet’ H amlet’ss enemy. Sir, in this th is audience, Let my m y disclaiming disclaiming from a purpo pu rpose sed d evil Free me so far far in your most generous generou s thoughts, thou ghts, That I have h ave shot mine m ine arrow arro w o’er o’er the house, h ouse, And hu rt my brother.

HAMLET

I am satisfie satisfied d in n ature, atu re, Whose motive mot ive,, in this t his case, case, shou should ld stir me m e most To my revenge: but in my terms of honour I stand aloof; and will will no rec r econ oncil cilement ement,, Till by some some elder masters, of known hono ho nour ur,, I have a voice and p recedent recedent of peace, peace, To keep my name ungored. But till that time, I do d o receiv r eceivee your offer’d offer’d love like love, And will will not wrong it.

LAERTES


55


I embrace it freely; And will this brother’s wager frankly play. Give Give us the t he foils. foils. Come on. o n.

HAMLET

LAERTES

HAMLET OSRIC

A hit, a very palpable hit.

LAERTES

Come, one for me.

I’ll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance Your skill shall, like a star i’ the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed. ind eed.

HAMLET

Judgment.

Well; again.

KING CLAUDIUS

Stay; give give me drink. drin k. Hamlet, Ham let, this th is pearl

is thine; Here’s Here’s to thy t hy health.

LAERTES

You mock me, sir.

[Trumpets sound, and cannon shot off within]

HAMLET

No, by this hand.

Give Give him th e cup cup.. I’ll play this bout first; set it by awhile. Come.

Give Give them th em the t he foils, foils, young youn g Osric. Cousin Cousin Hamlet, You know the wager?

HAMLET

Very well, my lord Your grace hath laid the th e odds odd s o’ the weaker weaker side.

Another not her hit; h it; what say you?

KING CLAUDIUS

HAMLET

I do not n ot fear it; I have have seen seen you you both b oth:: But since he is better’ bett er’d, d, we have theref th erefore ore odds. o dds.

KING CLAUDIUS

LAERTES

This is too heav h eavy, y, let let me see anoth er.

This likes me m e well. well. These Th ese foils foils have all a length length??

HAMLET

[They prepare to play] OSRIC

that table. table. If Hamlet give give the first or second h it, Or quit in answ an swer er of the third t hird exchang exchange, e, Let all the th e battlements battlement s their ordnan ord nance ce fire: The king shall shall drink drin k to Hamlet’ H amlet’ss better breath; breath ; And in the th e cup cup an union un ion shall he throw, Richer Richer than t han that th at which four succes successiv sivee kings In Denmar D enmark’ k’ss crown crown have worn worn . Give Give me the th e cups; And let let the t he kettle to the trum t rumpet pet speak, speak, The trumpet to the t he cannon cannon eer eer withou withou t, The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth, “Now the king dunks to Hamlet.” Come, begin: And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Come on, sir. sir.

LAERTES

Come, my lord.

KING CLAUDIUS

HAMLET

scant scant of breath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows; The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

HAMLET

56

Good madam! Gertrude, do not drink. will, my lord; I pray you,

pardon me. KING CLAUDIUS

[Aside] It is the poison’ p oison’d d cup: cup : it is

too late. HAMLET

I dare not drink yet, madam; by and and by. by.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE Come, LAERTES

let me wipe thy face.

My lord lord,, I’ll I’ll hit him h im now. n ow.

KING CLAUDIUS

I do not t hink’t. hink’t.

[Aside] And yet ’tis ’tis almost alm ost ’gainst ’gainst my conscience.

LAERTES

Come, for the th e third, thir d, Laertes: Laertes: you but bu t dall d ally; y; I pray pr ay you, you, pass with with your bes b estt violence; violence; I am afeard afeard you make a wanton of me.

HAMLET

Say you you so? Come Com e on. on .

[They play]

One. OSRIC

LAERTES

Our Ou r son shall win. win.

QUEEN QUEEN GERTRU GERTRUDE DE He’s He’s fat, fat, and

LAERTES

[They play]

A touch, tou ch, a tou ch, I do confe con fess ss..


Set me the th e stoops of wine wine upon up on

HAMLET

LAERTES

KING CLAUDIUS

Ay, my good lord.

KING CLAUDIUS

[They play]

Nothing, neither way.

No.


Haml Hamleet: ACT ACT V LAERTES

Have at you now! no w!

[LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then in scuffling, they change rapiers, and HAMLET wounds LAERTE LAERT ES] KING CLAUDIUS HAMLET

Part them; t hem; they th ey are incensed.

Nay, come, again.

[QUEEN GERTRUDE falls] OSRIC

OSRIC

They bleed bleed on both b oth sides. sides. How is it, my lord?

How is’t, Laertes?

Why, as a woodcock to m ine own springe, Osric; I am justly kill’ kill’d d with with mine min e own treachery t reachery..

LAERTES

HAMLET

How does the queen?

KING CLAUDIUS

She swou swound ndss to see them blee b leed. d.

drin k,—O O my QUEEN QUEEN GERTRUDE GERTRUDE No, no, the drink, the drink,— dear Hamlet,— The drink, the drink! I am poison’d.

O villany! Ho! Let the door be lock’d: Treachery! Seek it out.

HAMLET

It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain; No medic m edicine ine in the t he world can can do thee t hee good; good; In thee t hee there is not half h alf an hou h ourr of life; life; The treacherous treacherous instrument is in in thy t hy hand, Unbated and envenom’d: the foul practise Hath Hat h tu rn’ rn ’d itself on m e lo, here I lie, lie, Never Never to t o rise r ise agai again: n: thy t hy moth mo ther’ er’ss poison’d: I can no more: mor e: the th e king, the king’s king’s to blame.

LAERTES

The point!—envenom’d too! Then, venom, to thy work.

HAMLET

Treason Treason!! Treason Treason!! O, yet defend me, friends; I am

but hurt. Here, thou incestuous, incestuous, murd erous, damned Dane,

HAMLET

Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu! You that t hat look pale p ale and tremble trem ble at this chance, That are but mutes mut es or audienc aud iencee to this th is act, act, Had I but time—as tim e—as this th is fell fell sergeant, sergeant, death, death , Is strict strict in his arrest—O, I could tell t ell you— But let it be. Horatio, Horat io, I am dead; Thou lives livest; t; report repor t me m e and m y cause cause aright aright To the th e unsatisfied. unsatisfied.

HAMLET

Never believe it: I am more an ant ique Roman Roman than t han a Dane: Here’s yet some liquor left.

HORATIO

As thou’ thou ’rt a man, m an, Give me the th e cup: cup : let go; by heaven, I’ I ’ll have’t. have’t. O good Hor atio, what what a wounded wound ed name, Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me! If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this th is harsh harsh world draw thy breath breath in pain, To tell t ell my stor story. y.

[March afar off, and shot within] What warlike warlike noise is this? Youn g Fort Fortinbr inbras, as, with conqu est est come from Poland, To the t he ambass am bassadors adors of o f England England gives gives This warlike volley. OSRIC

O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o’er-crows my spirit: I cannot live live to hear the t he news from England England;; But I do prop p rophesy hesy the th e election election lights On Fortinbras: Fortin bras: he has my dying voice; voice; So tell him, with t he occurrents, occurr ents, mor e and less, less, Which have solicited. The rest is silence.

HAMLET

[Stabs KING CLAUDIUS]

KING CLAUDIUS

H e is justly served; served; It is a poison po ison temper’ t emper’d d by b y himself. himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and m y father’ father’ss death death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me.

LAERTES

HAMLET

[Dies]

ALL

[KING CLAUDIUS dies]

[Dies]

Look to the quee qu een n there, ho!

HORATIO

Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow Follow my moth er.

[Dies]


57


Now cracks a noble nob le heart. Good n ight sweet prince: And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! Why does does the drum come hither?

HORATIO

[March [March within] wit hin] [Ent [Enter er FORT FORTIN INBRAS, BRAS, the th e Englis English h Ambas Am basssadors adors, and others]

And let me speak to the th e yet yet un knowing world How Ho w these things came about: about : so so shall you you hear Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, Of accident accidental al judgments, judgmen ts, casual casual slaughters, Of deaths deaths put pu t on by cun cunning ning and forced cause, cause, And, in this upshot, purp p urpose osess mistook mistook Fall’ Fall’n n on the th e inventors’ invento rs’ reads: all all this th is can I Truly deliver. Let us haste to hear it, And call call the nobles no blestt to t o the th e audience. For me, with with sorrow sorr ow I embr embrace ace my fort fortun une: e: I have some rights of memory in this th is kingdom kingdom,, Which now no w to claim claim my vant vantage age doth dot h invite in vite me. PRINCE FORTINBRAS

PRINCE FORTINBRAS

Where is this th is sight? sight?

What is it ye would see? If aught of o f woe woe or wonder, cease you yourr search.

HORATIO

PRINCE FORTINBRAS

This quarr y cries cries on h avoc. avoc. O

proud death, What feast feast is toward in thine th ine eternal etern al cell, cell, That thou th ou so many man y princes princes at a shot shot So bloodily bloo dily hast struck? stru ck? The sight is dismal; And our affairs affairs from from England come com e too late: The ears are senseless that should give us hearing, To tell him his h is comm command andment ment is fulfil fulfill’ l’d, d, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead: Where should we have have our than t hanks? ks? FIRST AMBASSADOR

Not from his mouth, Had it the th e ability ability of life life to thank th ank you: He nev n ever er gave gave comm commandment andment for their death. d eath. But since, so jump upon this bloody question, You from the t he Polack wars, wars, and you from England, Are here arrive ar rived d give order that t hat thes th esee bodies High on a stage be placed placed to t o the t he view; view;

HORATIO

58

Of that I shall have also cause to speak, And from his h is mouth mout h whose voice voice will will draw on more; mo re; But let this th is same same be prese p resent ntly ly perform perform’’d, Even while men’s minds are wild; lest more mischance On plots p lots and and errors, error s, happen.

HORATIO

Let four captains capt ains Bear Hamlet, H amlet, like a soldier, soldier, to t o the t he stage; For he was likely likely,, had he h e been put pu t on , To have proved most royally: and, for his passage, The soldiers’ music mu sic and and the th e rites of war Speak loudly loud ly for for him. Take up th e bodies: such a sight sight as this Becomes the field, field, but bu t here shows much mu ch amiss. Go, bid the th e soldiers soldiers shoo shoot. t. PRINCE FORTINBRAS

[A dead dead marc m arch. h. Exeun Exeunt, t, bearing bearing off off the t he dead bodies; after which a peal of ordnance is shot off]


William Shakespeare - Hamlet (English)

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