Edition ham-1604-22276x-hun-c01

Edition: ham-1604-22276x-hun-c01

Act 1

Scene 1

BAR:

VVHose there?

FRA:

Nay answere me. Stand and vnfolde your selfe.

BAR:

Long liue the King,

FRA:

Barnardo.

BAR:

Hee.

FRA:

You come most carefully vpon your houre,

BAR:

Tis now strooke twelfe, get thee to bed Francisco,

FRA:

For this reliefe much thanks, tis bitter cold,

FRA:

And I am sick at hart.

BAR:

Haue you had quiet guard?

FRA:

Not a mouse stirring.

BAR:

Well, good night:

BAR:

If you doe meete Horatio and Marcellus,

BAR:

The riualls of my watch, bid them make hast.

FRA:

I thinke I heare them, stand ho, who is there?

HOR:

Friends to this ground.

MAR:

And Leedgemen to the Dane,

FRA:

Giue you good night.

MAR:

O, farwell honest souldiers, who hath relieu'd you?

FRA:

Barnardo hath my place; giue you good night.Exit Fran.

MAR:

Holla, Barnardo.

BAR:

Say, what is Horatio there?

HOR:

A peece of him.

BAR:

Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus,

HOR:

What, ha's this thing appeard againe to night?

BAR:

I haue seene nothing.

MAR:

Horatio saies tis but our fantasie,

MAR:

And will not let beliefe take holde of him,

MAR:

Touching this dreaded sight twice seene of vs,

MAR:

Therefore I haue intreated him along,

MAR:

With vs to watch the minuts of this night,

MAR:

That if againe this apparision come,

MAR:

He may approoue our eyes and speake to it.

HOR:

Tush, tush, twill not appeare.

BAR:

Sit downe a while,

BAR:

And let vs once againe assaile your eares,

BAR:

That are so fortified against our story,

BAR:

What we haue two nights seene.

HOR:

Well, sit we downe,

HOR:

And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this.

BAR:

Last night of all,

BAR:

When yond same starre thats weastward from the pole,

BAR:

Had made his course t'illume that part of heauen

BAR:

Where now it burnes, Marcellus and my selfe

BAR:

The bell then beating one.

MAR:

Peace, breake thee of, looke where it comes againe.

BAR:

In the same figure like the King thats dead.

MAR:

Thou art a scholler, speake to it Horatio.

BAR:

Lookes a not like the King? marke it Horatio.

HOR:

Most like, it horrowes me with feare and wonder.

BAR:

It would be spoke to.

MAR:

Speake to it Horatio.

HOR:

What art thou that vsurpst this time of night,

HOR:

Together with that faire and warlike forme,

HOR:

In which the Maiestie of buried Denmarke

HOR:

Did sometimes march, by heauen I charge thee speake.

MAR:

It is offended.

BAR:

See it staukes away.

HOR:

Stay, speake, speake, I charge thee speake.Exit Ghost.

MAR:

Tis gone and will not answere.

BAR:

How now Horatio, you tremble and looke pale,

BAR:

Is not this somthing more then phantasie?

BAR:

What thinke you‐ont?

HOR:

Before my God I might not this belieue,

HOR:

Without the sencible and true auouch

HOR:

Of mine owne eies.

MAR:

Is it not like the King?

HOR:

As thou art to thy selfe.

HOR:

Such was the very Armor he had on,

HOR:

When he the ambitious Norway combated,

HOR:

So frownd he once, when in an angry parle

HOR:

He smot the sleaded pollax on the ice.

HOR:

Tis strange.

MAR:

Thus twice before, and iump at this dead houre,

MAR:

With martiall stauke hath he gone by our watch.

HOR:

In what perticular thought, to worke I know not,

HOR:

But in the grosse and scope of mine opinion,

HOR:

This bodes some strange eruption to our state.

MAR:

Good now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes,

MAR:

Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch

MAR:

So nightly toiles the subiect of the land,

MAR:

And with such dayly cost of brazon Cannon

MAR:

And forraine marte, for implements of warre,

MAR:

Why such impresse of ship‐writes, whose sore taske

MAR:

Does not deuide the Sunday from the weeke,

MAR:

What might be toward that this sweaty hast

MAR:

Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day,

MAR:

Who ist that can informe mee?

HOR:

That can I.

HOR:

At least the whisper goes so; our last King,

HOR:

Whose image euen but now appear'd to vs,

HOR:

Was as you knowe by Fortinbrasse of Norway,

HOR:

Thereto prickt on by a most emulate pride

HOR:

Dar'd to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet,

HOR:

(For so this side of our knowne world esteemd him)

HOR:

Did slay this Fortinbrasse, who by a seald compact

HOR:

Well ratified by lawe and heraldy

HOR:

Did forfait (with his life) all these his lands

HOR:

Which he stood seaz'd of, to the conquerour.

HOR:

Against the which a moitie competent

HOR:

Was gaged by our King, which had returne

HOR:

To the inheritance of Fortinbrasse,

HOR:

Had he bin vanquisher; as by the same comart,

HOR:

And carriage of the article desseigne,

HOR:

His fell to Hamlet; now Sir, young Fortinbrasse

HOR:

Of vnimprooued mettle, hot and full,

HOR:

Hath in the skirts of Norway heere and there

HOR:

Sharkt vp a list of lawelesse resolutes

HOR:

For foode and diet to some enterprise

HOR:

That hath a stomacke in't, which is no other

HOR:

As it doth well appeare vnto our state

HOR:

But to recouer of vs by strong hand

HOR:

And tearmes compulsatory, those foresaid lands

HOR:

So by his father lost; and this I take it,

HOR:

Is the maine motiue of our preparations

HOR:

The source of this our watch, and the chiefe head

HOR:

Of this post hast and Romadge in the land.

BAR:

I thinke it be no other, but enso;

BAR:

Well may it sort that this portentous figure

BAR:

Comes armed through our watch so like the King

BAR:

That was and is the question of these warres.

HOR:

A moth it is to trouble the mindes eye:

HOR:

In the most high and palmy state of Rome,

HOR:

A little ere the mightiest Iulius fell

HOR:

The graues stood tennatlesse, and the sheeted dead

HOR:

Did squeake and gibber in the Roman streets

HOR:

As starres with traines of fier, and dewes of blood

HOR:

Disasters in the sunne; and the moist starre,

HOR:

Vpon whose influence Neptunes Empier stands,

HOR:

Was sicke almost to doomesday with eclipse.

HOR:

And euen the like precurse of feare euents

HOR:

As harbindgers preceading still the fates

HOR:

And prologue to the Omen comming on

HOR:

Haue heauen and earth together demonstrated

HOR:

Vnto our Climatures and countrymen.

HOR:

But soft, behold, loe where it comes againe

HOR:

Ile crosse it though it blast mee: stay illusion,It spreads his armes.

HOR:

If thou hast any sound or vse of voyce,

HOR:

Speake to me, if there be any good thing to be done

HOR:

That may to thee doe ease, and grace to mee,

HOR:

Speake to me.

HOR:

If thou art priuie to thy countries fate

HOR:

Which happily foreknowing may auoyd

HOR:

O speake:

HOR:

Or if thou hast vphoorded in thy life

HOR:

Extorted treasure in the wombe of earth

HOR:

For which they say your spirits oft walke in death.The cocke crowes.

HOR:

Speake of it, stay and speake, stop it Marcellus.

MAR:

Shall I strike it with my partizan?

HOR:

Doe if it will not stand.

BAR:

Tis heere.

HOR:

Tis heere.

MAR:

Tis gone.

MAR:

We doe it wrong being so Maiesticall

MAR:

To offer it the showe of violence,

MAR:

For it is as the ayre, invulnerable,

MAR:

And our vaine blowes malicious mockery.

BAR:

It was about to speake when the cock crewe.

HOR:

And then it started like a guilty thing,

HOR:

Vpon a fearefull summons; I haue heard,

HOR:

The Cock that is the trumpet to the morne,

HOR:

Doth with his lofty and shrill sounding throat

HOR:

Awake the God of day, and at his warning

HOR:

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or ayre

HOR:

Th'extrauagant and erring spirit hies

HOR:

To his confine, and of the truth heerein

HOR:

This present obiect made probation.

MAR:

It faded on the crowing of the Cock.

MAR:

Some say that euer gainst that season comes

MAR:

Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated

MAR:

This bird of dawning singeth all night long,

MAR:

And then they say no spirit dare sturre abraode

MAR:

The nights are wholsome, then no plannets strike,

MAR:

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charme

MAR:

So hallowed, and so gratious is that time.

HOR:

So haue I heard and doe in part belieue it,

HOR:

But looke the morne in russet mantle clad

HOR:

Walkes ore the dewe of yon high Eastward hill

HOR:

Breake we our watch vp and by my aduise

HOR:

Let vs impart what we haue seene to night

HOR:

Vnto young Hamlet, for vppon my life

HOR:

This spirit dumb to vs, will speake to him:

HOR:

Doe you consent we shall acquaint him with it

HOR:

As needfull in our loues, fitting our duty.

MAR:

Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning knowe

MAR:

Where we shall find him most conuenient.Exeunt.

Scene 2

CLA:

Though yet of Hamlet our deare brothers death

CLA:

The memorie be greene, and that it vs befitted

CLA:

To beare our harts in griefe, and our whole Kingdome,

CLA:

To be contracted in one browe of woe

CLA:

Yet so farre hath discretion fought with nature,

CLA:

That we with wisest sorrowe thinke on him

CLA:

Together with remembrance of our selues:

CLA:

Therefore our sometime Sister, now our Queene

CLA:

Th'imperiall ioyntresse to this warlike state

CLA:

Haue we as twere with a defeated ioy

CLA:

With an auspitious, and a dropping eye,

CLA:

With mirth in funerall, and with dirdge in marriage,

CLA:

In equall scale waighing delight and dole

CLA:

Taken to wife: nor haue we heerein bard

CLA:

Your better wisdomes, which haue freely gone

CLA:

With this affaire along (for all our thankes)

CLA:

Now followes that you knowe young Fortinbrasse,

CLA:

Holding a weake supposall of our worth

CLA:

Or thinking by our late deare brothers death

CLA:

Our state to be disioynt, and out of frame

CLA:

Coleagued with this dreame of his aduantage

CLA:

He hath not faild to pestur vs with message

CLA:

Importing the surrender of those lands

CLA:

Lost by his father, with all bands of lawe

CLA:

To our most valiant brother, so much for him:

CLA:

Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting,

CLA:

Thus much the busines is, we haue heere writ

CLA:

To Norway Vncle of young Fortenbrasse

CLA:

Who impotent and bedred scarcely heares

CLA:

Of this his Nephewes purpose; to suppresse

CLA:

His further gate heerein, in that the leuies,

CLA:

The lists, and full proportions are all made

CLA:

Out of his subiect, and we heere dispatch

CLA:

You good Cornelius, and you Valtemand,

CLA:

For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,

CLA:

Giuing to you no further personall power

CLA:

To busines with the King, more then the scope

CLA:

Of these delated articles allowe:

CLA:

Farwell, and let your hast commend your dutie.

COR, VOL:

In that, and all things will we showe our duie.

CLA:

We doubt it nothing, hartely farwell.

CLA:

And now Laertes whats the newes with you?

CLA:

You told vs of some sute, what ist Laertes?

CLA:

You cannot speake of reason to the Dane

CLA:

And lose your voyce; what wold'st thou begge Laertes,?

CLA:

That shall not be my offer, not thy asking,

CLA:

The head is not more natiue to the hart

CLA:

The hand more instrumentall to the mouth

CLA:

Then is the throne of Denmarke to thy father,

CLA:

What would'st thou haue Laertes?

LAE:

My dread Lord,

LAE:

Your leaue and fauour to returne to Fraunce,

LAE:

From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke,

LAE:

To showe my dutie in your Coronation;

LAE:

Yet now I must confesse, that duty done

LAE:

My thoughts and wishes bend againe toward Fraunce

LAE:

And bowe them to your gracious leaue and pardon.

CLA:

Haue you your fathers leaue, what saies Polonius?

POL:

Hath my Lord wroung from me my slowe leaue

POL:

By laboursome petition, and at last

POL:

Vpon his will I seald my hard consent,

POL:

I doe beseech you giue him leaue to goe.

CLA:

Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine

CLA:

And thy best graces spend it at thy will:

CLA:

But now my Cosin Hamlet, and my sonne.

HAM:

A little more then kin, and lesse then kind.

CLA:

How is it that the clowdes still hang on you.

HAM:

Not so much my Lord, I am too much in the sonne.

GER:

Good Hamlet cast thy nighted colour off

GER:

And let thine eye looke like a friend on Denmarke,

GER:

Doe not for euer with thy vailed lids

GER:

Seeke for thy noble Father in the dust,

GER:

Thou know'st tis common all that liues must die,

GER:

Passing through nature to eternitie.

HAM:

I Maddam, it is common.

GER:

If it be

GER:

VVhy seemes it so perticuler with thee.

HAM:

Seemes Maddam, nay it is, I know not seemes,

HAM:

Tis not alone my incky cloake coold mother

HAM:

Nor customary suites of solembe blacke

HAM:

Nor windie suspiration of forst breath

HAM:

No, nor the fruitfull riuer in the eye,

HAM:

Nor the deiected hauior of the visage

HAM:

Together with all formes, moodes, chapes of griefe

HAM:

That can deuote me truely, these indeede seeme,

HAM:

For they are actions that a man might play

HAM:

But I haue that within which passes showe

HAM:

These but the trappings and the suites of woe.

CLA:

Tis sweete and commendable in your nature Hamlet,

CLA:

To giue these mourning duties to your father

CLA:

But you must knowe your father lost a father,

CLA:

That father lost, lost his, and the suruiuer bound

CLA:

In filliall obligation for some tearme

CLA:

To doe obsequious sorrowe, but to perseuer

CLA:

In obstinate condolement, is a course

CLA:

Of impious stubbornes, tis vnmanly griefe,

CLA:

It showes a will most incorrect to heauen

CLA:

A hart vnfortified, or minde impatient

CLA:

An vnderstanding simple and vnschoold

CLA:

For what we knowe must be, and is as common

CLA:

As any the most vulgar thing to sence,

CLA:

Why should we in our peuish opposition

CLA:

Take it to hart, fie, tis a fault to heauen,

CLA:

A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,

CLA:

To reason most absurd, whose common theame

CLA:

Is death of fathers, and who still hath cryed

CLA:

From the first course, till he that died to day

CLA:

This must be so: we pray you throw to earth

CLA:

This vnpreuailing woe, and thinke of vs

CLA:

As of a father, for let the world take note

CLA:

You are the most imediate to our throne,

CLA:

And with no lesse nobilitie of loue

CLA:

Then that which dearest father beares his sonne,

CLA:

Doe I impart toward you for your intent

CLA:

In going back to schoole in Wittenberg,

CLA:

It is most retrogard to our desire,

CLA:

And we beseech you bend you to remaine

CLA:

Heere in the cheare and comfort of our eye,

CLA:

Our chiefest courtier, cosin, and our sonne.

GER:

Let not thy mother loose her prayers Hamlet,

GER:

I pray thee stay with vs, goe not to Wittenberg.

HAM:

I shall in all my best obay you Madam.

CLA:

Why tis a louing and a faire reply,

CLA:

Be as our selfe in Denmarke, Madam come,

CLA:

This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet

CLA:

Sits smiling to my hart, in grace whereof,

CLA:

No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day,

CLA:

But the great Cannon to the cloudes shall tell.

CLA:

And the Kings rowse the heauen shall brute againe,

CLA:

Respeaking earthly thunder; come away.Florish.Exeunt all, but Hamlet.

HAM:

O that this too too sallied flesh would melt,

HAM:

Thaw and resolue it selfe into a dewe,

HAM:

Or that the euerlasting had not fixt

HAM:

His cannon gainst seale slaughter, ô God, God,

HAM:

How wary, stale, flat, and vnprofitable

HAM:

Seeme to me all the vses of this world?

HAM:

Fie on't, ah fie, tis an vnweeded garden

HAM:

That growes to seede, things rancke and grose in nature,

HAM:

Possesse it meerely that it should come thus

HAM:

But two months dead, nay not so much, not two,

HAM:

So excellent a King, that was to this

HAM:

Hiperion to a satire, so louing to my mother,

HAM:

That he might not beteeme the winds of heauen

HAM:

Visite her face too roughly, heauen and earth

HAM:

Must I remember, why she should hang on him

HAM:

As if increase of appetite had growne

HAM:

By what it fed on, and yet within a month,

HAM:

Let me not thinke on't; frailty thy name is woman

HAM:

A little month or ere those shooes were old

HAM:

With which she followed my poore fathers bodie

HAM:

Like Niobe all teares, why she

HAM:

O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason

HAM:

Would haue mourn'd longer, married with my Vncle,

HAM:

My fathers brother, but no more like my father

HAM:

Then I to Hercules, within a month,

HAM:

Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous teares,

HAM:

Had left the flushing in her gauled eyes

HAM:

She married, ô most wicked speede; to post

HAM:

With such dexteritie to incestious sheets,

HAM:

It is not, nor it cannot come to good,

HAM:

But breake my hart, for I must hold my tongue.

HOR:

Haile to your Lordship.

HAM:

I am glad to see you well; Horatio, or I do forget my selfe.

HOR:

The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer.

HAM:

Sir my good friend, Ile change that name with you,

HAM:

And what make you from WittenbergHoratio?

HAM:

Marcellus.

MAR:

My good Lord.

HAM:

I am very glad to see you, (good euen sir)

HAM:

But what in faith make you from Wittenberg?

HOR:

A truant disposition good my Lord.

HAM:

I would not heare your enimie say so,

HAM:

Nor shall you doe my eare that violence

HAM:

To make it truster of your owne report

HAM:

Against your selfe, I knowe you are no truant,

HAM:

But what is your affaire in Elsonoure?

HAM:

Weele teach you for to drinke ere you depart.

HOR:

My Lord, I came to see your fathers funerall.

HAM:

I pre thee doe not mocke me fellowe studient,

HAM:

I thinke it was to my mothers wedding.

HOR:

Indeede my Lord it followed hard vppon.

HAM:

Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funerall bak't meates

HAM:

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables,

HAM:

Would I had met my dearest foe in heauen

HAM:

Or euer I had seene that day Horatio,

HAM:

My father, me thinkes I see my father.

HOR:

Where my Lord?

HAM:

In my mindes eye Horatio.

HOR:

I saw him once, a was a goodly King.

HAM:

A was a man take him for all in all

HAM:

I shall not looke vppon his like againe.

HOR:

My Lord I thinke I saw him yesternight.

HAM:

saw, who?

HOR:

My Lord the King your father.

HAM:

The King my father?

HOR:

Season your admiration for a while

HOR:

With an attent eare till I may deliuer

HOR:

Vppon the witnes of these gentlemen

HOR:

This maruile to you.

HAM:

For Gods loue let me heare?

HOR:

Two nights together had these gentlemen

HOR:

Marcellus, and Barnardo, on their watch

HOR:

In the dead wast and middle of the night

HOR:

Beene thus incountred, a figure like your father

HOR:

Armed at poynt, exactly Capapea

HOR:

Appeares before them, and with solemne march,

HOR:

Goes slowe and stately by them; thrice he walkt

HOR:

By their opprest and feare surprised eyes

HOR:

Within his tronchions length, whil'st they distil'd

HOR:

Almost to gelly, with the act of feare

HOR:

Stand dumbe and speake not to him; this to me

HOR:

In dreadfull secresie impart they did,

HOR:

And I with them the third night kept the watch,

HOR:

Whereas they had deliuered both in time

HOR:

Forme of the thing, each word made true and good,

HOR:

The Apparision comes: I knewe your father,

HOR:

These hands are not more like.

HAM:

But where was this?

MAR:

My Lord vppon the platforme where we watc

HAM:

Did you not speake to it?

HOR:

My Lord I did,

HOR:

But answere made it none, yet once me thought

HOR:

It lifted vp it head, and did addresse

HOR:

It selfe to motion like as it would speake:

HOR:

But euen then the morning Cock crewe loude,

HOR:

And at the sound it shrunk in hast away

HOR:

And vanisht from our sight.

HAM:

Tis very strange.

HOR:

As I doe liue my honor'd Lord tis true

HOR:

And we did thinke it writ downe in our dutie

HOR:

To let you knowe of it.

HAM:

Indeede Sirs but this troubles me,

HAM:

Hold you the watch to night?

HOR, MAR, BAR:

We doe my Lord.

HAM:

Arm'd say you?

HOR, MAR, BAR:

Arm'd my Lord.

HAM:

From top to toe?

HOR, MAR, BAR:

My Lord from head to foote.

HAM:

Then sawe you not his face

HOR:

O yes my Lord, he wore his beauer vp.

HAM:

What look't he frowningly?

HOR:

A countenance more in sorrow then in anger.

HAM:

Pale, or red?

HOR:

Nay very pale.

HAM:

And fixt his eyes vpon you?

HOR:

Most constantly.

HAM:

I would I had beene there.

HOR:

It would haue much a maz'd you.

HAM:

Very like, stayd it long?

HOR:

While one with moderate hast might tell a hundreth.

MAR, BAR:

Longer, longer.

HOR:

Not when I saw't.

HAM:

His beard was grissl'd, no.

HOR:

It was as I haue seene it in his life

HOR:

A sable siluer'd.

HAM:

I will watch to nigh

HAM:

Perchaunce twill walke againe.

HOR:

I warn't it will.

HAM:

If it assume my noble fathers person,

HAM:

Ile speake to it though hell it selfe should gape

HAM:

And bid me hold my peace; I pray you all

HAM:

If you haue hetherto conceald this sight

HAM:

Let it be tenable in your silence still,

HAM:

And what someuer els shall hap to night,

HAM:

Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue,

HAM:

I will requite your loues, so farre you well:

HAM:

Vppon the platforme twixt a leauen and twelfe

HAM:

Ile visite you.

HOR, MAR, BAR:

Our dutie to your honor.Exeunt.

HAM:

Your loues, as mine to you, farwell.

HAM:

My fathers spirit (in armes) all is not well,

HAM:

I doubt some foule play, would the night were come,

HAM:

Till then sit still my soule, fonde deedes will rise

HAM:

Though all the earth ore‐whelme them to mens eyes.Exit.

Scene 3

LAE:

My necessaries are inbarckt, farwell,

LAE:

And sister, as the winds giue benefit

LAE:

And conuay, in assistant doe not sleepe

LAE:

But let me heere from you.

OPH:

Doe you doubt that?

LAE:

For Hamlet, and the trifling of his fauour,

LAE:

Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood

LAE:

A Violet in the youth of primy nature,

LAE:

Forward, not permanent, sweete, not lasting,

LAE:

The perfume and suppliance of a minute

LAE:

No more.

OPH:

No more but so.

LAE:

Thinke it no more.

LAE:

For nature cressant does not growe alone

LAE:

In thewes and bulkes, but as this temple waxes

LAE:

The inward seruice of the minde and soule

LAE:

Growes wide withall, perhapes he loues you now,

LAE:

And now no soyle nor cautell doth besmirch

LAE:

The vertue of his will, but you must feare,

LAE:

His greatnes wayd, his will is not his owne,

LAE:

He may not as vnualewed persons doe,

LAE:

Carue for himselfe, for on his choise depends

LAE:

The safty and health of this whole state,

LAE:

And therefore must his choise be circumscribd

LAE:

Vnto the voyce and yeelding of that body

LAE:

Whereof he is the head, then if he saies he loues you,

LAE:

It fits your wisdome so farre to belieue it

LAE:

As he in his particuler act and place

LAE:

May giue his saying deede, which is no further

LAE:

Then the maine voyce of Denmarke goes withall.

LAE:

Then way what losse your honor may sustaine

LAE:

If with too credent eare you list his songs

LAE:

Or loose your hart, or your chast treasure open

LAE:

To his vnmastred importunity.

LAE:

Feare it Ophelia, feare it my deare sister,

LAE:

And keepe you in the reare of your affection

LAE:

Out of the shot and danger of desire,

LAE:

“The chariest maide is prodigall inough

LAE:

If she vnmaske her butie to the Moone

LAE:

“Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious strokes

LAE:

“The canker gaules the infants of the spring

LAE:

Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd,

LAE:

And in the morne and liquid dewe of youth

LAE:

Contagious blastments are most iminent,

LAE:

Be wary then, best safety lies in feare,

LAE:

Youth to it selfe rebels, though non els neare.

OPH:

I shall the effect of this good lesson keepe

OPH:

As watchman to my hart, but good my brother

OPH:

Doe not as some vngracious pastors doe,

OPH:

Showe me the step and thorny way to heauen

OPH:

Whiles a puft, and reckles libertine

OPH:

Himselfe the primrose path of dalience treads.

OPH:

And reakes not his owne reed.Enter Polonius.

LAE:

O feare me not,

LAE:

I stay too long, but heere my father comes

LAE:

A double blessing, is a double grace,

LAE:

Occasion smiles vpon a second leaue.

POL:

Yet heere Laertes? a bord bord for shame

POL:

The wind sits in the shoulder of your saile,

POL:

And you are stayed for, there my blessing with thee,

POL:

And these fewe precepts in thy memory

POL:

Looke thou character, giue thy thoughts no tongue,

POL:

Nor any vnproportion'd thought his act,

POL:

Be thou familier, but by no meanes vulgar,

POL:

Those friends thou hast, and their a doption tried,

POL:

Grapple them vnto thy soule with hoopes of steele,

POL:

But doe not dull thy palme with entertainment

POL:

Of each new hatcht vnfledgd courage, beware

POL:

Of entrance to a quarrell, but being in,

POL:

Bear't that th'opposed may beware of thee,

POL:

Giue euery man thy eare, but fewe thy voyce,

POL:

Take each mans censure, but reserue thy iudgement,

POL:

Costly thy habite as thy purse can by,

POL:

But not exprest in fancy; rich not gaudy,

POL:

For the apparrell oft proclaimes the man

POL:

And they in Fraunce of the best ranck and station,

POL:

Or of a most select and generous, chiefe in that:

POL:

Neither a borrower nor a lender boy,

POL:

For loue oft looses both it selfe, and friend,

POL:

And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry;

POL:

This aboue all, to thine owne selfe be true

POL:

And it must followe as the night the day

POL:

Thou canst not then be false to any man:

POL:

Farwell, my blessing season this in thee.

LAE:

Most humbly doe I take my leaue my Lord.

POL:

The time inuests you goe, your seruants tend.

LAE:

Farwell Ophelia, and remember well

LAE:

What I haue sayd to you.

OPH:

Tis in my memory lockt

OPH:

And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it.

LAE:

Farwell.Exit Laertes.

POL:

What ist Ophelia he hath sayd to you?

OPH:

So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.

POL:

Marry well bethought

POL:

Tis tolde me he hath very oft of late

POL:

Giuen priuate time to you, and you your selfe

POL:

Haue of your audience beene most free and bountious,

POL:

If it be so, as so tis put on me,

POL:

And that in way of caution, I must tell you,

POL:

You doe not vnderstand your selfe so cleerely

POL:

As it behooues my daughter, and your honor,

POL:

What is betweene you giue me vp the truth,

OPH:

He hath my Lord of late made many tenders

OPH:

Of his affection to me.

POL:

Affection, puh, you speake like a greene girle

POL:

Vnsifted in such perrilous circumstance,

POL:

Doe you belieue his tenders as you call them?

OPH:

I doe not knowe my Lord what I should thinke.

POL:

Marry I will teach you, thinke your selfe a babie

POL:

That you haue tane these tenders for true pay

POL:

Which are not sterling, tender your selfe more dearely

POL:

Or (not to crack the winde of the poore phrase

POL:

Wrong it thus) you'l tender me a foole.

OPH:

My Lord he hath importun'd me with loue

OPH:

In honorable fashion.

POL:

I, fashion you may call it, go to, go to.

OPH:

And hath giuen countenance to his speech

OPH:

My Lord, with almost all the holy vowes of heauen.

POL:

I, springs to catch wood‐cockes, I doe knowe

POL:

When the blood burnes, how prodigall the soule

POL:

Lends the tongue vowes, these blazes daughter

POL:

Giuing more light then heate, extinct in both

POL:

Euen in their promise, as it is a making

POL:

You must not take for fire, from this time

POL:

Be something scanter of your maiden presence

POL:

Set your intreatments at a higher rate

POL:

Then a commaund to parle; for Lord Hamlet,

POL:

Belieue so much in him that he is young,

POL:

And with a larger tider may he walke

POL:

Then may be giuen you: in fewe Ophelia,

POL:

Doe not belieue his vowes, for they are brokers

POL:

Not of that die which their inuestments showe

POL:

But meere imploratotors of vnholy suites

POL:

Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds

POL:

The better to beguide: this is for all,

POL:

I would not in plaine tearmes from this time foorth

POL:

Haue you so slaunder any moment leasure

POL:

As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet,

POL:

Looke too't I charge you, come your wayes.

OPH:

I shall obey my Lord.Exeunt.

Scene 4

HAM:

The ayre bites shroudly, it is very colde.

HOR:

It is nipping, and an eager ayre.

HAM:

What houre now?

HOR:

I thinke it lackes of twelfe.

MAR:

No, it is strooke.

HOR:

Indeede; I heard it not, it then drawes neere the season,

HOR:

Wherein the spirit held his wont to walkeA florish of trumpets and 2. peeces gos of.

HOR:

What does this meane my Lord?

HAM:

The King doth wake to night and takes his rowse.

HAM:

Keepes wassell and the swaggring vp‐spring reeles:

HAM:

And as he draines his drafts of Rennish downe,

HAM:

The kettle drumme, and trumpet, thus bray out

HAM:

The triumph of his pledge.

HOR:

Is it a custome?

HAM:

I marry ist,

HAM:

But to my minde, though I am natiue heere

HAM:

And to the manner borne, it is a custome

HAM:

More honourd in the breach, then the obseruance.

HAM:

This heauy headed reueale east and west

HAM:

Makes vs tradust, and taxed of other nations,

HAM:

They clip vs drunkards, and with Swinish phrase

HAM:

Soyle our addition, and indeede it takes

HAM:

From our atchieuements, though perform'd at height

HAM:

The pith and marrow of our attribute,

HAM:

So oft it chaunces in particuler men,

HAM:

That for some vicious mole of nature in them

HAM:

As in their birth wherein they are not guilty,

HAM:

(Since nature cannot choose his origin)

HAM:

By their ore‐grow'th of some complextion

HAM:

Oft breaking downe the pales and forts of reason,

HAM:

Or by some habit, that too much ore‐leauens

HAM:

The forme of plausiue manners, that these men

HAM:

Carrying I say the stamp of one defect

HAM:

Being Natures liuery, or Fortunes starre,

HAM:

His vertues els be they as pure as grace,

HAM:

As infinite as man may vndergoe,

HAM:

Shall in the generall censure take corruption

HAM:

From that particuler fault: the dram of eale

HAM:

Doth all the noble substance of a doubt

HAM:

To his owne scandle.

HOR:

Looke my Lord it comes.

HAM:

Angels and Ministers of grace defend vs:

HAM:

Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd,

HAM:

Bring with thee ayres from heauen, or blasts from hell,

HAM:

Be thy intents wicked, or charitable,

HAM:

Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,

HAM:

That I will speake to thee, Ile call thee Hamlet,

HAM:

King, father, royall Dane, ô answere mee,

HAM:

Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell

HAM:

Why thy canoniz'd bones hearsed in death

HAM:

Haue burst their cerements? why the Sepulcher,

HAM:

Wherein we saw thee quietly interr'd

HAM:

Hath op't his ponderous and marble iawes,

HAM:

To cast thee vp againe? what may this meane

HAM:

That thou dead corse, againe in compleat steele

HAM:

Reuisites thus the glimses of the Moone,

HAM:

Making night hideous, and we ooles of nature

HAM:

So horridly to shake our disposition

HAM:

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our soules,

HAM:

Say why is this, wherefore, what should we doe?Beckins.

HOR:

It beckins you to goe away with it

HOR:

As if it some impartment did desire

HOR:

To you alone.

MAR:

Looke with what curteous action

MAR:

It waues you to a more remooued ground,

MAR:

But doe not goe with it.

HOR:

No, by no meanes.

HAM:

It will not speake, then I will followe it.

HOR:

Doe not my Lord.

HAM:

Why what should be the feare,

HAM:

I doe not set my life at a pinnes fee,

HAM:

And for my soule, what can it doe to that

HAM:

Being a thing immortall as it selfe;

HAM:

It waues me forth againe, Ile followe it.

HOR:

What if it tempt you toward the flood my

HOR:

Or to the dreadfull somnet of the cleefe

HOR:

That bettles ore his base into the sea,

HOR:

And there assume some other horrable forme

HOR:

Which might depriue your soueraigntie of reason,

HOR:

And draw you into madnes, thinke of it,

HOR:

The very place puts toyes of desperation

HOR:

Without more motiue, into euery braine

HOR:

That lookes so many fadoms to the sea

HOR:

And heares it rore beneath.

HAM:

It waues me still,

HAM:

Goe on, Ile followe thee.

MAR:

You shall not goe my Lord.

HAM:

Hold of your hands.

HOR:

Be rul'd, you shall not goe.

HAM:

My fate cries out

HAM:

And makes each petty arture in this body

HAM:

As hardy as the Nemeon Lyons nerue;

HAM:

Still am I cald, vnhand me Gentlemen

HAM:

By heauen Ile make a ghost of him that lets me,

HAM:

I say away, goe on, Ile followe thee.Exit Ghost and Hamlet.

HOR:

He waxes desperate with imagion.

MAR:

Lets followe, tis not fit thus to obey him.

HOR:

Haue after, to what issue will this come?

MAR:

Something is rotten in the state of Denmarke.

HOR:

Heauen will direct it.

MAR:

Nay lets follow him.Exeunt.

Scene 5

HAM:

Whether wilt thou leade me, speake, Ile goe no further,

GHO:

Marke me.

HAM:

I will.

GHO:

My houre is almost come

GHO:

When I to sulphrus and tormenting flames

GHO:

Must render vp my selfe.

HAM:

Alas poore Ghost.

GHO:

Pitty me not, but lend thy serious hearing

GHO:

To what I shall vnfold.

HAM:

Speake, I am bound to heare.

GHO:

So art thou to reuenge, when thou shalt hea

HAM:

What?

GHO:

I am thy fathers spirit,

GHO:

Doomd for a certaine tearme to walke the night,

GHO:

And for e day confind to fast in fires,

GHO:

Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of nature

GHO:

Are burnt and purg'd away: but that I am forbid

GHO:

To tell the secrets of my prison house,

GHO:

I could a tale vnfolde whose lightest word

GHO:

Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy young blood,

GHO:

Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,

GHO:

Thy knotted and combined locks to part,

GHO:

And each particuler haire to stand an end,

GHO:

Like quils vpon the fearefull Porpentine,

GHO:

But this eternall blazon must not be

GHO:

To eares of flesh and blood, list, list, ô list:

GHO:

If thou did'st euer thy deare father loue.

HAM:

O God.

GHO:

Reuenge his foule, and most vnnaturall murther.

HAM:

Murther.

GHO:

Murther most foule, as in the best it is,

GHO:

But this most foule, strange and vnnaturall.

HAM:

Hast me to know't, that I with wings as swift

HAM:

As meditation, or the thoughts of loue

HAM:

May sweepe to my reuenge.

GHO:

I find thee apt,

GHO:

And duller shouldst thou be then the fat weede

GHO:

That rootes it selfe in ease on Lethe wharffe,

GHO:

Would'st thou not sturre in this; now Hamlet heare,

GHO:

Tis giuen out, that sleeping in my Orchard,

GHO:

A Serpent stung me, so the whole eare of Denmarke

GHO:

Is by a forged processe of my death

GHO:

Ranckely abusde: but knowe thou noble Youth,

GHO:

The Serpent that did sting thy fathers life

GHO:

Now weares his Crowne.

HAM:

O my propheticke soule! my Vncle?

GHO:

I that incestuous, that adulterate beast,

GHO:

With witchcraft of his wits, with trayterous gifts,

GHO:

O wicked wit, and giftes that haue the power

GHO:

So to seduce; wonne to his shamefull lust

GHO:

The will of my most seeming vertuous Queene;

GHO:

O Hamlet, what falling off was there

GHO:

From me whose loue was of that dignitie

GHO:

That it went hand in hand, euen with the vowe

GHO:

I made to her in marriage, and to decline

GHO:

Vppon a wretch whose naturall gifts were poore,

GHO:

To those of mine; but vertue as it neuer will be mooued,

GHO:

Though lewdnesse court it in a shape of heauen

GHO:

So but though to a radiant Angle linckt,

GHO:

Will sort it selfe in a celestiall bed

GHO:

And pray on garbage.

GHO:

But soft, me thinkes I sent the morning ayre,

GHO:

Briefe let me be; sleeping within my Orchard,

GHO:

My custome alwayes of the afternoone,

GHO:

Vpon my secure houre, thy Vncle stole

GHO:

With iuyce of cursed Hebona in a viall,

GHO:

And in the porches of my eares did poure

GHO:

The leaprous distilment, whose effect

GHO:

Holds such an enmitie with blood of man,

GHO:

That swift as quicksiluer it courses through

GHO:

The naturall gates and allies of the body,

GHO:

And with a sodaine vigour it doth possesse

GHO:

And curde like eager droppings into milke,

GHO:

The thin and wholsome blood; so did it mine,

GHO:

And a most instant tetter barckt about

GHO:

Most Lazerlike with vile and lothsome crust

GHO:

All my smooth body.

GHO:

Thus was I sleeping by a brothers hand,

GHO:

Of life, of Crowne, of Queene at once dispatcht,

GHO:

Cut off euen in the blossomes of my sinne,

GHO:

Vnhuzled, disappointed, vnanueld,

GHO:

No reckning made, but sent to my account

GHO:

Withall my imperfections on my head,

GHO:

O horrible, ô horrible, most horrible.

GHO:

If thou hast nature in thee beare it not,

GHO:

Let not the royall bed of Denmarke be

GHO:

A couch for luxury and damned incest.

GHO:

But howsomeuer thou pursues this act,

GHO:

Tain't not thy minde, nor let thy soule contriue

GHO:

Against thy mother ought, leaue her to heauen,

GHO:

And to those thornes that in her bosome lodge

GHO:

To prick and sting her, fare thee well at once,

GHO:

The Gloworme shewes the matine to be neere

GHO:

And gines to pale his vneffectuall fire,

GHO:

Adiew, adiew, adiew, remember me.

HAM:

O all you host of heauen, ô earth, what els,

HAM:

And shall I coupple hell, ô fie, hold, hold my hart,

HAM:

And you my sinnowes, growe not instant old,

HAM:

But beare me swiftly vp; remember thee,

HAM:

I thou poore Ghost whiles memory holds a seate

HAM:

In this distracted globe, remember thee,

HAM:

Yea, from the table of my memory

HAM:

Ile wipe away all triuiall fond records,

HAM:

All sawes of bookes, all formes, all pressures past

HAM:

That youth and obseruation coppied there,

HAM:

And thy commandement all alone shall liue,

HAM:

Within the booke and volume of my braine

HAM:

Vnmixt with baser matter, yes by heauen,

HAM:

O most pernicious woman.

HAM:

O villaine, villaine, smiling damned villaine,

HAM:

My tables, meet it is I set it downe

HAM:

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villaine,

HAM:

At least I am sure it may be so in Denmarke.

HAM:

So Vncle, there you are, now to my word,

HAM:

It is adew, adew, remember me.

HAM:

I haue sworn't.

HOR:

My Lord, my Lord.

MAR:

Lord Hamlet.

HOR:

Heauens secure him.

HAM:

So be it.

MAR:

Illo, ho, ho, my Lord.

HAM:

Hillo, ho, ho, boy come, and come.

MAR:

How i'st my noble Lord?

HOR:

What newes my Lord?

HAM:

O, wonderfull.

HOR:

Good my Lord tell it.

HAM:

No, you will reueale it.

HOR:

Not I my Lord by heauen.

MAR:

Nor I my Lord.

HAM:

How say you then, would hart of man once thinke it,

HAM:

But you'le be secret.

HOR, MAR:

I by heauen.

HAM:

There's neuer a villaine,

HAM:

Dwelling in all Denmarke

HAM:

But hee's an arrant knaue.

HOR:

There needes no Ghost my Lord, come from the graue

HOR:

To tell vs this.

HAM:

Why right, you are in the right,

HAM:

And so without more circumstance at all

HAM:

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part,

HAM:

You, as your busines and desire shall poynt you,

HAM:

For euery man hath busines and desire

HAM:

Such as it is, and for my owne poore part

HAM:

I will goe pray.

HOR:

These are but wilde and whurling words my Lord.

HAM:

I am sorry they offend you hartily,

HAM:

Yes faith hartily.

HOR:

There's no offence my Lord.

HAM:

Yes by Saint Patrick but there is Horatio,

HAM:

And much offence to, touching this vision heere,

HAM:

It is an honest Ghost that let me tell you,

HAM:

For your desire to knowe what is betweene vs

HAM:

Oremastret as you may, and now good friends,

HAM:

As you are friends, schollers, and souldiers,

HAM:

Giue me one poore request.

HOR:

What i'st my Lord, we will.

HAM:

Neuer make knowne what you haue seene to night.

HOR, MAR:

My Lord we will not.

HAM:

Nay but swear't.

HOR:

In faith my Lord not I.

MAR:

Nor I my Lord in faith.

HAM:

Vppon my sword.

MAR:

We haue sworne my Lord already.

HAM:

Indeede vppon my sword, indeed.Ghost cries vnder the Stage.

GHO:

Sweare.

HAM:

Ha, ha, boy, say'st thou so, art thou there trupenny?

HAM:

Come on, you heare this fellowe in the Sellerige,

HAM:

Consent to sweare.

HOR:

Propose the oath my Lord.

HAM:

Neuer to speake of this that you haue seene

HAM:

Sweare by my sword.

GHO:

Sweare.

HAM:

Hic, & vbique, then weele shift our ground:

HAM:

Come hether Gentlemen

HAM:

And lay your hands againe vpon my sword,

HAM:

Sweare by my sword

HAM:

Neuer to speake of this that you haue heard.

GHO:

Sweare by his sword.

HAM:

Well sayd olde Mole, can'st worke it'h earth so fast,

HAM:

A worthy Pioner, once more remooue good friends.

HOR:

O day and night, but this is wondrous strange.

HAM:

And therefore as a stranger giue it welcome,

HAM:

There are more things in heauen and earth Horatio

HAM:

Then are dream't of in your philosophie, but come

HAM:

Heere as before, neuer so helpe you mercy,

HAM:

(How strange or odde so mere I beare my selfe,

HAM:

As I perchance heereafter shall thinke meet,

HAM:

To put an Anticke disposition on

HAM:

That you at such times seeing me, neuer shall

HAM:

With armes incombred thus, or this head shake,

HAM:

Or by pronouncing of some doubtfull phrase,

HAM:

As well, well, we knowe, or we could and if we would,

HAM:

Or if we list to speake, or there be and if they might,

HAM:

Or such ambiguous giuing out, to note)

HAM:

That you knowe ought of me, this doe sweare,

HAM:

So grace and mercy at your most neede helpe you.

GHO:

Sweare.

HAM:

Rest, rest, perturbed spirit: so Gentlemen,

HAM:

Withall my loue I doe commend me to you,

HAM:

And what so poore a man as Hamlet is,

HAM:

May doe t'expresse his loue and frending to you

HAM:

God willing shall not lack, let vs goe in together,

HAM:

And still your fingers on your lips I pray,

HAM:

The time is out of ioynt, ô cursed spight

HAM:

That euer I was borne to set it right.

HAM:

Nay come, lets goe together.Exeunt.

Act 2

Scene 1

POL:

Giue him this money, and these notes Reynaldo.

REY:

I will my Lord.

POL:

You shall doe meruiles wisely good Reynaldo,

POL:

Before you visite him, to make inquire

POL:

Of his behauiour.

REY:

My Lord, I did intend it.

POL:

Mary well said, very well said; looke you sir,

POL:

Enquire me first what Danskers are in Parris,

POL:

And how, and who, what meanes, and where they keepe,

POL:

What companie, at what expence, and finding

POL:

By this encompasment, and drift of question

POL:

That they doe know my sonne, come you more neerer

POL:

Then your perticuler demaunds will tuch it,

POL:

Take you as t'were some distant knowledge of him,

POL:

As thus, I know his father, and his friends,

POL:

And in part him, doe you marke this Reynaldo?

REY:

I, very well my Lord.

POL:

And in part him, but you may say, not well,

POL:

But y'ft be he I meane, hee's very wilde,

POL:

Adicted so and so, and there put on him

POL:

What forgeries you please, marry none so ranck

POL:

As may dishonour him, take heede of that,

POL:

But sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,

POL:

As are companions noted and most knowne

POL:

To youth and libertie.

REY:

As gaming my Lord.

POL:

I, or drinking, fencing, swearing,

POL:

Quarrelling, drabbing, you may goe so far.

REY:

My Lord, that would dishonour him.

POL:

Fayth as you may season it in the charge.

POL:

You must not put another scandell on him,

POL:

That he is open to incontinencie,

POL:

That's not my meaning, but breath his faults so quently

POL:

That they may seeme the taints of libertie,

POL:

The flash and out‐breake of a fierie mind,

POL:

A sauagenes in vnreclamed blood,

POL:

Of generall assault.

REY:

But my good Lord.

POL:

Wherefore should you doe this?

REY:

I my Lord, I would know that.

POL:

Marry sir, heer's my drift,

POL:

And I belieue it is a fetch of wit,

POL:

You laying these slight sallies on my sonne

POL:

As t'were a thing a little soyld with working,

POL:

Marke you, your partie in conuerse, him you would sound

POL:

Hauing euer seene in the prenominat crimes

POL:

The youth you breath of guiltie, be assur'd

POL:

He closes with you in this consequence,

POL:

Good sir, (or so,) or friend, or gentleman,

POL:

According to the phrase, or the addistion

POL:

Of man and country.

REY:

Very good my Lord.

POL:

And then sir doos a this, a doos, what was I about to say?

POL:

By the masse I was about to say something,

POL:

Where did I leaue?

REY:

At closes in the consequence.

POL:

At closes in the consequence, I marry,

POL:

He closes thus, I know the gentleman,

POL:

I saw him yesterday, or th'other day,

POL:

Or then, or then, with such or such, and as you say,

POL:

There was a gaming there, or tooke in's rowse,

POL:

There falling out at Tennis, or perchance

POL:

I saw him enter such a house of sale,

POL:

Videlizet, a brothell, or so foorth, see you now,

POL:

Your bait of falshood take this carpe of truth,

POL:

And thus doe we of wisedome, and of reach,

POL:

With windlesses, and with assaies of bias,

POL:

By indirections find directions out,

POL:

So by my former lecture and aduise

POL:

Shall you my sonne; you haue me, haue you not?

REY:

My Lord, I haue.

POL:

God buy ye, far ye well.

REY:

Good my Lord.

POL:

Obserue his inclination in your selfe.

REY:

I shall my Lord.

POL:

And let him ply his musique.

REY:

Well my Lord.Exit Rey.

POL:

Farewell. How now Ophelia, whats the matter?

OPH:

O my Lord, my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted,

POL:

With what i'th name of God?

OPH:

My Lord, as I was sowing in my closset,

OPH:

Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd,

OPH:

No hat vpon his head, his stockins fouled,

OPH:

Vngartred, and downe gyued to his ancle,

OPH:

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

OPH:

And with a looke so pittious in purport

OPH:

As if he had been loosed out of hell

OPH:

To speake of horrors, he comes before me.

POL:

Mad for thy loue?

OPH:

My lord I doe not know,

OPH:

But truly I doe feare it.

POL:

What said he?

OPH:

He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard,

OPH:

Then goes he to the length of all his arme,

OPH:

And with his other hand thus ore his brow,

OPH:

He falls to such perusall of my face

OPH:

As a would draw it, long stayd he so,

OPH:

At last, a little shaking of mine arme,

OPH:

And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe,

OPH:

He raisd a sigh so pittious and profound

OPH:

As it did seeme to shatter all his bulke,

OPH:

And end his beeing; that done, he lets me goe,

OPH:

And with his head ouer his shoulder turn'd

OPH:

Hee seem'd to find his way without his eyes,

OPH:

For out adoores he went without theyr helps,

OPH:

And to the last bended their light on me.

POL:

Come, goe with mee, I will goe seeke the King,

POL:

This is the very extacie of loue,

POL:

Whose violent propertie fordoos it selfe,

POL:

And leades the will to desperat vndertakings

POL:

As oft as any passions vnder heauen

POL:

That dooes afflict our natures: I am sorry,

POL:

What, haue you giuen him any hard words of late?

OPH:

No my good Lord, but as you did commaund

OPH:

I did repell his letters, and denied

OPH:

His accesse to me.

POL:

That hath made him mad.

POL:

I am sorry, that with better heede and iudgement

POL:

I had not coted him, I fear'd he did but trifle

POL:

And meant to wrack thee, but beshrow my Ielousie:

POL:

By heauen it is as proper to our age

POL:

To cast beyond our selues in our opinions,

POL:

As it is common for the younger sort

POL:

To lack discretion; come, goe we to the King,

POL:

This must be knowne, which beeing kept close, might moue

POL:

More griefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue,

POL:

Come.Exeunt.

Scene 2

CLA:

Welcome deere Rosencraus, and Guyldensterne,

CLA:

Moreouer, that we much did long to see you,

CLA:

The need we haue to vse you did prouoke

CLA:

Our hastie sending, something haue you heard

CLA:

Of Hamlets transformation, so call it.

CLA:

Sith nor th'exterior, nor the inward man

CLA:

Resembles that it was, what it should be,

CLA:

More then his fathers death, that thus hath put him

CLA:

So much from th'vnderstanding of himselfe

CLA:

I cannot dreame of: I entreate you both

CLA:

That beeing of so young dayes brought vp with him,

CLA:

And sith so nabored to his youth and hauior,

CLA:

That you voutsafe your rest heere in our Court

CLA:

Some little time, so by your companies

CLA:

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather

CLA:

So much as from occasion you may gleane,

CLA:

Whether ought to vs vnknowne afflicts him thus,

CLA:

That opend lyes within our remedie.

GER:

Good gentlemen, he hath much talkt of you,

GER:

And sure I am, two men there is not liuing

GER:

To whom he more adheres, if it will please you

GER:

To shew vs so much gentry and good will,

GER:

As to expend your time with vs a while,

GER:

For the supply and profit of our hope,

GER:

Your visitation shall receiue such thanks

GER:

As fits a Kings remembrance.

ROS:

Both your Maiesties

ROS:

Might by the soueraigne power you haue of vs,

ROS:

Put your dread pleasures more into commaund

ROS:

Then to entreatie.

GUI:

But we both obey.

GUI:

And heere giue vp our selues in the full bent,

GUI:

To lay our seruice freely at your feete

GUI:

To be commaunded.

CLA:

Thanks Rosencraus, and gentle Guyldensterne.

GER:

Thanks Guyldensterne, and gentle Rosencraus.

GER:

And I beseech you instantly to visite

GER:

My too much changed sonne, goe some of you

GER:

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

GUI:

Heauens make our presence and our practices

GUI:

Pleasant and helpfull to him.

GER:

I Amen.Exeunt Ros. and Guyld.

POL:

Th'embassadors from Norway my good Lord,

POL:

Are ioyfully returnd.

CLA:

Thou still hast been the father of good newes.

POL:

Haue I my Lord? I assure my good Liege

POL:

I hold my dutie as I hold my soule,

POL:

Both to my God, and to my gracious King;

POL:

And I doe thinke, or els this braine of mine

POL:

Hunts not the trayle of policie so sure

POL:

As it hath vsd to doe, that I haue found

POL:

The very cause of Hamlets lunacie.

CLA:

O speake of that, that doe I long to heare.

POL:

Giue first admittance to th'embassadors,

POL:

My newes shall be the fruite to that great feast.

CLA:

Thy selfe doe grace to them, and bring them in.

CLA:

He tells me my deere Gertrard he hath found

CLA:

The head and source of all your sonnes distemper.

GER:

I doubt it is no other but the maine

GER:

His fathers death, and our hastie marriage.

CLA:

Well, we shall sift him, welcome my good friends,

CLA:

Say Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?

VOL:

Most faire returne of greetings and desires;

VOL:

Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse

VOL:

His Nephews leuies, which to him appeard

VOL:

To be a preparation gainst the Pollacke,

VOL:

But better lookt into, he truly found

VOL:

It was against your highnes, whereat greeu'd

VOL:

That so his sicknes, age, and impotence

VOL:

Was falsly borne in hand, sends out arrests

VOL:

On Fortenbrasse, which he in breefe obeyes,

VOL:

Receiues rebuke from Norway, and in fine,

VOL:

Makes vow before his Vncle neuer more

VOL:

To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie:

VOL:

Whereon old Norway ouercome with ioy,

VOL:

Giues him threescore thousand crownes in anuall fee

VOL:

And his commission to imploy those souldiers

VOL:

So leuied (as before) against the Pollacke,

VOL:

With an entreatie heerein further shone,

VOL:

That it might please you to giue quiet passe

VOL:

Through your dominions for this enterprise

VOL:

On such regards of safety and allowance

VOL:

As therein are set downe.

CLA:

It likes vs well,

CLA:

And at our more considered time, wee'le read,

CLA:

Answer, and thinke vpon this busines:

CLA:

Meane time, we thanke you for your well tooke labour,

CLA:

Goe to your rest, at night weele feast together,

CLA:

Most welcome home.Exeunt Embassadors.

POL:

This busines is well ended.

POL:

My Liege and Maddam, to expostulate

POL:

What maiestie should be, what dutie is,

POL:

Why day is day, night, night, and time is time,

POL:

Were nothing but to wast night, day, and time,

POL:

Therefore breuitie is the soule of wit,

POL:

And tediousnes the lymmes and outward florishes,

POL:

I will be briefe, your noble sonne is mad:

POL:

Mad call I it, for to define true madnes,

POL:

What ist but to be nothing els but mad,

POL:

But let that goe.

GER:

More matter with lesse art.

POL:

Maddam, I sweare I vse no art at all,

POL:

That hee's mad tis true, tis true, tis pitty,

POL:

And pitty tis tis true, a foolish figure,

POL:

But farewell it, for I will vse no art,

POL:

Mad let vs graunt him then, and now remaines

POL:

That we find out the cause of this effect,

POL:

Or rather say, the cause of this defect,

POL:

For this effect defectiue comes by cause:

POL:

Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus

POL:

Perpend,

POL:

I haue a daughter, haue while she is mine,

POL:

Who in her dutie and obedience, marke,

POL:

Hath giuen me this, now gather and surmise,

GER:

Came this from Hamlet to her?

POL:

Good Maddam stay awhile, I will be faithfull,

POL:

Doubt thou the starres are fire, Letter.

POL:

Doubt that the Sunne doth moue,

POL:

Doubt truth to be a lyer,

POL:

But neuer doubt I loue.

POL:

This in obedience hath my daughter showne me,

POL:

And more about hath his solicitings

POL:

As they fell out by time, by meanes, and place,

POL:

All giuen to mine eare.

CLA:

But how hath she receiu'd his loue?

POL:

What doe you thinke of me?

CLA:

As of a man faithfull and honorable.

POL:

I would faine proue so, but what might you thinke

POL:

When I had seene this hote loue on the wing,

POL:

As I perceiu'd it (I must tell you that)

POL:

Before my daughter told me, what might you,

POL:

Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere thinke,

POL:

If I had playd the Deske, or Table booke,

POL:

Or giuen my hart a working mute and dumbe,

POL:

Or lookt vppon this loue with idle sight,

POL:

What might you thinke? no, I went round to worke,

POL:

And my young Mistris thus I did bespeake,

POL:

Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy star,

POL:

This must not be: and then I prescripts gaue her

POL:

That she should locke her selfe from her resort,

POL:

Admit no messengers, receiue no tokens,

POL:

Which done, she tooke the fruites of my aduise:

POL:

And he repell'd, a short tale to make,

POL:

Fell into a sadnes, then into a fast,

POL:

Thence to a wath, thence into a weakenes,

POL:

Thence to lightnes, and by this declension,

POL:

Into the madnes wherein now he raues,

POL:

And all we mourne for.

CLA:

Doe you thinke this?

GER:

It may be very like.

POL:

Hath there been such a time, I would faine know tha,

POL:

That I haue positiuely said, tis so,

POL:

When it proou'd otherwise?

CLA:

Not that I know.

POL:

Take this, from this, if this be otherwise;

POL:

If circumstances leade me, I will finde

POL:

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede

POL:

Within the Center.

CLA:

How may we try it further?

POL:

You know sometimes he walkes foure houres together

POL:

Heere in the Lobby.

GER:

So he dooes indeede.

POL:

At such a time, Ile loose my daughter to him,

POL:

Be you and I behind an Arras then,

POL:

Marke the encounter, if he loue her not,

POL:

And be not from his reason falne thereon

POL:

Let me be no assistant for a state

POL:

But keepe a farme and carters.

CLA:

We will try it.

GER:

But looke where sadly the poore wretch comes reading.

POL:

Away, I doe beseech you both away,Exit King and Queene.

POL:

Ile bord him presently, oh giue me leaue,

POL:

How dooes my good Lord Hamlet?

HAM:

Well, God a mercy.

POL:

Doe you knowe me my Lord?

HAM:

Excellent well, you are a Fishmonger.

POL:

Not I my Lord.

HAM:

Then I would you were so honest a man.

POL:

Honest my Lord.

HAM:

I sir to be honest as this world goes,

HAM:

Is to be one man pickt out of tenne thousand.

POL:

That's very true my Lord.

HAM:

For if the sunne breede maggots in a dead dogge, being a good kissing carrion. Haue you a daughter?

POL:

I haue my Lord.

HAM:

Let her not walke i'th Sunne, conception is a blessing,

HAM:

But as your daughter may conceaue, friend looke to't.

POL:

Fare you well my Lord.

HAM:

These tedious old fooles.

POL:

You goe to seeke the Lord Hamlet, there he is.

ROS:

God saue you sir.

GUI:

My honor'd Lord.

ROS:

My most deere Lord.

HAM:

My extent good friends, how doost thou Guyldersterne?

HAM:

A Rosencraus, good lads how doe you both?

ROS:

As the indifferent children of the earth.

GUI:

Happy, in that we are not euer happy on Fortunes lap,

GUI:

We are not the very button.

HAM:

Nor the soles of her shooe.

ROS:

Neither my Lord.

HAM:

Then you liue about her wast, or in the middle of her fa (uors.

GUI:

Faith her priuates we.

HAM:

In the secret parts of Fortune, oh most true, she is a strumpet,

HAM:

What newes?

ROS:

None my Lord, but the worlds growne honest.

HAM:

Then is Doomes day neere, but your newes is not true;

HAM:

But in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsonoure?

ROS:

To visit you my Lord, no other occasion.

HAM:

Black as his purpose did the night resemble,

HAM:

When he lay couched in th'omynous horse,

HAM:

Hath now this dread and black complection smeard,

HAM:

With heraldy more dismall head to foote,

HAM:

Now is he totall Gules horridly trickt

HAM:

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes,

HAM:

Bak'd and empasted with the parching streetes

HAM:

That lend a tirranus and a damned light

HAM:

To their Lords murther, rosted in wrath and fire,

HAM:

And thus ore‐cised with coagulate gore,

HAM:

With eyes like Carbunkles, the hellish Phirrhus

HAM:

Old grandsire Priam seekes; so proceede you.

POL:

Foregod my Lord well spoken, with good accent and good (discretion.

PLA:

Anon he finds him,

PLA:

Striking too short at Greekes, his anticke sword

PLA:

Rebellious to his arme, lies where it fals,

PLA:

Repugnant to commaund; vnequall matcht,

PLA:

Pirrhus at Priam driues, in rage strikes wide,

PLA:

But with the whiffe and winde of his fell sword,

PLA:

Th'vnnerued father fals:

PLA:

Seeming to feele this blowe, with flaming top

PLA:

Stoopes to his base; and with a hiddious crash

PLA:

Takes prisoner Pirrhus eare, for loe his sword

PLA:

Which was declining on the milkie head

PLA:

Of reuerent Priam, seem'd i'th ayre to stick,

PLA:

So as a painted tirant Pirrhus stood

PLA:

Like a newtrall to his will and matter,

PLA:

Did nothing:

PLA:

But as we often see against some storme,

PLA:

A silence in the heauens, the racke stand still,

PLA:

The bold winds speechlesse, and the orbe belowe

PLA:

As hush as death, anon the dreadfull thunder

PLA:

Doth rend the region, so after Pirrhus pause,

PLA:

A rowsed vengeance sets him new a worke,

PLA:

And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall,

PLA:

On Marses Armor forg'd for proofe eterne,

PLA:

With lesse remorse then Pirrhus bleeding sword

PLA:

Now falls on Priam.

PLA:

Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune, all you gods,

PLA:

In generall sinod take away her power,

PLA:

Breake all the spokes, and follies from her wheele,

PLA:

And boule the round naue downe the hill of heauen

PLA:

As lowe as to the fiends.

PLA:

But who, a woe, had seene the mobled Queene,

PLA:

Runne barefoote vp and downe, threatning the flames

PLA:

With Bison rehume, a clout vppon that head

PLA:

Where late the Diadem stood, and for a robe,

PLA:

About her lanck and all ore‐teamed loynes,

PLA:

A blancket in the alarme of feare caught vp,

PLA:

Who this had seene, with tongue in venom steept,

PLA:

Gainst fortunes state would treason haue pronounst;

PLA:

But if the gods themselues did see her then,

PLA:

When she saw Pirrhus make malicious sport

PLA:

In mincing with his sword her husband limmes,

PLA:

The instant burst of clamor that she made,

PLA:

Vnlesse things mortall mooue them not at all,

PLA:

Would haue made milch the burning eyes of heauen

PLA:

And passion in the gods.

ROS:

Good my Lord.Exeunt.

HAM:

I so God buy to you, now I am alone,

HAM:

O what a rogue and pesant slaue am I.

HAM:

Is it not monstrous that this player heere

HAM:

But in a fixion, in a dreame of passion

HAM:

Could force his soule so to his owne conceit

HAM:

That from her working all the visage wand,

HAM:

Teares in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,

HAM:

A broken voyce, an his whole function suting

HAM:

With formes to his conceit; and all for nothing,

HAM:

For Hecuba.

HAM:

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

HAM:

That he should weepe for her? what would he doe

HAM:

Had he the motiue, and that for passion

HAM:

That I haue? he would drowne the stage with teares,

HAM:

And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech,

HAM:

Make mad the guilty, and appale the free,

HAM:

Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeede

HAM:

The very faculties of eyes and eares; yet I,

HAM:

A dull and muddy metteld raskall peake,

HAM:

Like Iohn‐a‐dreames, vnpregnant of my cause,

HAM:

And can say nothing; no not for a King,

HAM:

Vpon whose property and most deare life,

HAM:

A damn'd defeate was made: am I a coward,

HAM:

Who cals me villaine, breakes my pate a crosse,

HAM:

Pluckes off my beard, and blowes it in my face,

HAM:

Twekes me by the nose, giues me the lie i'th thraote

HAM:

As deepe as to the lunges, who does me this,

HAM:

Hah, s'wounds I should take it: for it cannot be

HAM:

But I am pidgion liuerd, and lack gall

HAM:

To make oppression bitter, or ere this

HAM:

I should a fatted all the region kytes

HAM:

With this slaues offall, bloody, baudy villaine,

HAM:

Remorslesse, trecherous, lecherous, kindlesse villaine.

HAM:

Why what an Asse am I, this is most braue,

HAM:

That I the sonne of a deere murthered,

HAM:

Prompted to my reuenge by heauen and hell,

HAM:

Must like a whore vnpacke my hart with words,

HAM:

And fall a cursing like a very drabbe; a stallyon, fie vppont, foh.

HAM:

About my braines; hum, I haue heard,

HAM:

That guilty creatures sitting at a play,

HAM:

Haue by the very cunning of the scene,

HAM:

Beene strooke so to the soule, that presently

HAM:

They haue proclaim'd their malefactions:

HAM:

For murther, though it haue no tongue will speake

HAM:

With most miraculous organ: Ile haue these Players

HAM:

Play something like the murther of my father

HAM:

Before mine Vncle, Ile obserue his lookes,

HAM:

Ile tent him to the quicke, if a doe blench

HAM:

I know my course. The spirit that I haue seene

HAM:

May be a deale, and the deale hath power

HAM:

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

HAM:

Out of my weakenes, and my melancholy,

HAM:

As he is very potent with such spirits,

HAM:

Abuses me to damne me; Ile haue grounds

HAM:

More relatiue then this, the play's the thing

HAM:

Wherein Ile catch the conscience of the King.Exit.

Act 3

Scene 1

CLA:

An can you by no drift of conference

CLA:

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,

CLA:

Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet

CLA:

With turbulent and dangerous lunacie?

ROS:

He dooes confesse he feeles himselfe distracted,

ROS:

But from what cause, a will by no meanes speake.

GUI:

Nor doe we find him forward to be sounded,

GUI:

But with a craftie madnes keepes aloofe

GUI:

When we would bring him on to some confession

GUI:

Of his true state.

GER:

Did he receiue you well?

ROS:

Most like a gentleman.

GUI:

But with much forcing of his disposition.

ROS:

Niggard of question, but of our demaunds

ROS:

Most free in his reply.

GER:

Did you assay him to any pastime?

ROS:

Maddam, it so fell out that certaine Players

ROS:

We ore‐raught on the way, of these we told him,

ROS:

And there did seeme in him a kind of ioy

ROS:

To heare of it: they are heere about the Court,

ROS:

And as I thinke, they haue already order

ROS:

This night to play before him.

POL:

Tis most true,

POL:

And he beseecht me to intreat your Maiesties

POL:

To heare and see the matter.

CLA:

With all my hart,

CLA:

And it doth much content me

CLA:

To heare him so inclin'd.

CLA:

Good gentlemen giue him a further edge,

CLA:

And driue his purpose into these delights.

ROS:

We shall my Lord.Exeunt Ros. & Guyl.

CLA:

Sweet Gertrard, leaue vs two,

CLA:

For we haue closely sent for Hamlet hether,

CLA:

That he as t'were by accedent, may heere

CLA:

Affront Ophelia; her father and my selfe,

CLA:

Wee'le so bestow our selues, that seeing vnseene,

CLA:

We may of their encounter franckly iudge,

CLA:

And gather by him as he is behau'd,

CLA:

Ift be th'affliction of his loue or no

CLA:

That thus he suffers for.

GER:

I shall obey you.

GER:

And for your part Ophelia, I doe wish

GER:

That your good beauties be the happy cause

GER:

Of Hamlets wildnes, so shall I hope your vertues,

GER:

Will bring him to his wonted way againe,

GER:

To both your honours.

OPH:

Maddam, I wish it may.

POL:

Ophelia walke you heere, gracious so please you,

POL:

We will bestow our selues; reade on this booke,

POL:

That show of such an exercise may cullour

POL:

Your lowlines; we are oft too blame in this,

POL:

Tis too much proou'd, that with deuotions visage

POL:

And pious action, we doe sugar ore

POL:

The deuill himselfe.

CLA:

O tis too true,

CLA:

How smart a lash that speech doth giue my conscience.

CLA:

The harlots cheeke beautied with plastring art,

CLA:

Is not more ougly to the thing that helps it,

CLA:

Then is my deede to my most painted word:

CLA:

O heauy burthen.

POL:

I heare him comming, with‐draw my Lord.

HAM:

To be, or not to be, that is the question,

HAM:

Whether tis nobler in the minde to suffer

HAM:

The slings and arrowes of outragious fortune,

HAM:

Or to take Armes against a sea of troubles,

HAM:

And by opposing, end them, to die to sleepe

HAM:

No more, and by a sleepe, to say we end

HAM:

The hart‐ake, and the thousand naturall shocks

HAM:

That flesh is heire to; tis a consumation

HAM:

Deuoutly to be wisht to die to sleepe,

HAM:

To sleepe, perchance to dreame, I there's the rub,

HAM:

For in that sleepe of death what dreames may come

HAM:

When we haue shuffled off this mortall coyle

HAM:

Must giue vs pause, there's the respect

HAM:

That makes calamitie of so long life:

HAM:

For who would beare the whips and scornes of time,

HAM:

Th'oppressors wrong, the proude mans contumely,

HAM:

The pangs of despiz'd loue, the lawes delay,

HAM:

The insolence of office, and the spurnes

HAM:

That patient merrit of th'vnworthy takes,

HAM:

When he himselfe might his quietas make

HAM:

With a bare bodkin; who would fardels beare,

HAM:

To grunt and sweat vnder a wearie life,

HAM:

But that the dread of something after death,

HAM:

The vndiscouer'd country, from whose borne

HAM:

No trauiler returnes, puzzels the will,

HAM:

And makes vs rather beare those ills we haue,

HAM:

Then flie to others that we know not of.

HAM:

Thus conscience dooes make cowards,

HAM:

And thus the natiue hiew of resolution

HAM:

Is sickled ore with the pale cast of thought,

HAM:

And enterprises of great pitch and moment,

HAM:

With this regard theyr currents turne awry,

HAM:

And loose the name of action. Soft you now,

HAM:

The faire Ophelia, Nimph in thy orizons

HAM:

Be all my sinnes remembred.

OPH:

Good my Lord,

OPH:

How dooes your honour for this many a day?

HAM:

I humbly thanke you well.

OPH:

My Lord, I haue remembrances of yours

OPH:

That I haue longed long to redeliuer,

OPH:

I pray you now receiue them.

HAM:

No, not I, I neuer gaue you ought.

OPH:

My honor'd Lord, you know right well you did,

OPH:

And with them words of so sweet breath composd

OPH:

As made these things more rich, their perfume lost,

OPH:

Take these againe, for to the noble mind

OPH:

Rich gifts wax poore when giuers prooue vnkind,

OPH:

There my Lord.

HAM:

Ha, ha, are you honest.

OPH:

My Lord.

HAM:

Are you faire?

OPH:

What meanes your Lordship?

HAM:

That if you be honest & faire, you should admit no discourse to your beautie.

OPH:

Could beauty my Lord haue better comerse

OPH:

Then with honestie?

OPH:

Indeed my Lord you made me belieue so.

OPH:

I was the more deceiued.

OPH:

At home my Lord.

HAM:

Let the doores be shut vpon him,

HAM:

That he may play the foole no where but in's owne house,

HAM:

Farewell.

OPH:

O helpe him you sweet heauens.

OPH:

Heauenly powers restore him.

OPH:

O what a noble mind is heere orethrowne!

OPH:

The Courtiers, souldiers, schollers, eye, tongue, sword,

OPH:

Th'expectation, and Rose of the faire state,

OPH:

The glasse of fashion, and the mould of forme,

OPH:

Th'obseru'd of all obseruers, quite quite downe,

OPH:

And I of Ladies most deiect and wretched,

OPH:

That suckt the honny of his musickt vowes;

OPH:

Now see what noble and most soueraigne reason

OPH:

Like sweet bells iangled out of time, and harsh,

OPH:

That vnmatcht forme, and stature of blowne youth

OPH:

Blasted with extacie, ô woe is mee

OPH:

T'haue seene what I haue seene, see what I see.Exit.

CLA:

Loue, his affections doe not that way tend,

CLA:

Nor what he spake, though it lackt forme a little,

CLA:

Was not like madnes, there's something in his soule

CLA:

Ore which his melancholy sits on brood,

CLA:

And I doe doubt, the hatch and the disclose

CLA:

VVill be some danger; which for to preuent,

CLA:

I haue in quick determination

CLA:

Thus set it downe: he shall with speede to England,

CLA:

For the demaund of our neglected tribute,

CLA:

Haply the seas, and countries different,

CLA:

With variable obiects, shall expell

CLA:

This something setled matter in his hart,

CLA:

Whereon his braines still beating

CLA:

Puts him thus from fashion of himselfe.

CLA:

What thinke you on't?

POL:

It shall doe well.

POL:

But yet doe I belieue the origin and comencement of his greefe,

POL:

Sprung from neglected loue: How now Ophelia?

POL:

You neede not tell vs what Lord Hamlet said,

POL:

We heard it all: my Lord, doe as you please,

POL:

But if you hold it fit, after the play,

POL:

Let his Queene‐mother all alone intreate him

POL:

To show his griefe, let her be round with him,

POL:

And Ile be plac'd (so please you) in the eare

POL:

Of all their conference, if she find him not,

POL:

To England send him: or confine him where

POL:

Your wisedome best shall thinke.

CLA:

It shall be so,

CLA:

Madnes in great ones must not vnmatcht goe.Exeunt.

Scene 2

POL:

And the Queene to, and that presently.

HAM:

Bid the Players make hast. Will you two help to hasten thēthem.

ROS:

I my Lord.Exeunt they two.

HAM:

What howe, Horatio.Enter Horatio.

HOR:

Heere sweet Lord, at your seruice.

HAM:

Horatio, thou art een as iust a man

HAM:

As ere my conuersation copt withall.

HOR:

O my deere Lord.

HOR:

Nay, doe not thinke I flatter,

HOR:

For what aduancement may I hope from thee

HOR:

That no reuenew hast but thy good spirits

HOR:

To feede and clothe thee, why should the poore be flatterd?

HOR:

No, let the candied tongue licke absurd pompe,

HOR:

And crooke the pregnant hindges of the knee

HOR:

Where thrift may follow fauning; doost thou heare,

HOR:

Since my deare soule was mistris of her choice,

HOR:

And could of men distinguish her election.

HOR:

S'hath seald thee for herselfe, for thou hast been

HOR:

As one in suffring all that suffers nothing,

HOR:

A man that Fortunes buffets and rewards

HOR:

Hast tane with equall thanks; and blest are those

HOR:

Whose blood and iudgement are so well comedled,

HOR:

That they are not a pype for Fortunes finger

HOR:

To sound what stop she please: giue me that man

HOR:

That is not passions slaue, and I will weare him

HOR:

In my harts core, I in my hart of hart

HOR:

As I doe thee. Something too much of this,

HOR:

There is a play to night before the King,

HOR:

One scene of it comes neere the circumstance

HOR:

Which I haue told thee of my fathers death,

HOR:

I prethee when thou seest that act a foote,

HOR:

Euen with the very comment of thy soule

HOR:

Obserue my Vncle, if his occulted guilt

HOR:

Doe not it selfe vnkennill in one speech,

HOR:

It is a damned ghost that we haue seene,

HOR:

And my imaginations are as foule

HOR:

As Vulcans stithy; giue him heedfull note,

HOR:

For I mine eyes will riuet to his face,

HOR:

And after we will both our iudgements ioyne

HOR:

In censure of his seeming.

HOR:

Well my lord,

HOR:

If a steale ought the whilst this play is playing

HOR:

And scape detected, I will pay the theft.

HAM:

They are comming to the play. I must be idle,

HAM:

Get you a place.

CLA:

How fares our cosin Hamlet?

HAM:

Excellent yfaith,

HAM:

Of the Camelions dish, I eate the ayre,

HAM:

Promiscram'd, you cannot feede Capons so.

CLA:

I haue nothing with this aunswer Hamlet,

CLA:

These words are not mine.

HAM:

No, nor mine now my Lord.

HAM:

You playd once i'th Vniuersitie you say,

POL:

That did I my Lord, and was accounted a good Actor,

HAM:

What did you enact?

POL:

I did enact Iulius Cæsar, I was kild i'th Capitall,

POL:

Brutus kild mee.

HAM:

It was a brute part of him to kill so capitall a calfe there,

HAM:

Be the Players readie?

ROS:

I my Lord, they stay vpon your patience.

GER:

Come hether my deere Hamlet, sit by me.

HAM:

No good mother, heere's mettle more attractiue.

POL:

O ho, doe you marke that.

HAM:

Lady shall I lie in your lap?

OPH:

No my Lord.

HAM:

Doe you thinke I meant country matters?

OPH:

I thinke nothing my Lord.

HAM:

That's a fayre thought to lye betweene maydes legs.

OPH:

What is my Lord?

HAM:

Nothing.

OPH:

You are merry my Lord.

HAM:

Who I?

OPH:

I my Lord.

OPH:

Nay, tis twice two months my Lord.

OPH:

VVhat meanes this my Lord?

HAM:

Marry this munching Mallico, it meanes mischiefe.

OPH:

Belike this show imports the argument of the play.

HAM:

We shall know by this fellow,Enter Prologue.

HAM:

The Players cannot keepe, they'le tell all.

OPH:

Will a tell vs what this show meant?

HAM:

I, or any show that you will show him, be not you asham'd to show, heele not shame to tell you what it meanes.

OPH:

You are naught, you are naught, Ile mark the play.

PRO:

For vs and for our Tragedie,

PRO:

Heere stooping to your clemencie,

PRO:

We begge your hearing patiently.

HAM:

Is this a Prologue, or the posie of a ring?

OPH:

Tis breefe my Lord.

HAM:

As womans loue.

PLK:

Full thirtie times hath Phebus cart gone round

PLK:

Neptunes salt wash, and Tellus orb'd the ground,

PLK:

And thirtie dosen Moones with borrowed sheene

PLK:

About the world haue times twelue thirties beene

PLK:

Since loue our harts, and Hymen did our hands

PLK:

Vnite comutuall in most sacred bands.

PLQ:

So many iourneyes may the Sunne and Moone

PLQ:

Make vs againe count ore ere loue be doone,

PLQ:

But woe is me, you are so sicke of late,

PLQ:

So farre from cheere, and from our former state,

PLQ:

That I distrust you, yet though I distrust,

PLQ:

Discomfort you my Lord it nothing must.

PLQ:

For women feare too much, euen as they loue,

PLQ:

And womens feare and loue hold quantitie,

PLQ:

Eyther none, in neither ought, or in extremitie,

PLQ:

Now what my Lord is proofe hath made you know,

PLQ:

And as my loue is ciz'd, my feare is so,

PLQ:

Where loue is great, the litlest doubts are feare,

PLQ:

Where little feares grow great, great loue growes there.

PLK:

Faith I must leaue thee loue, and shortly to,

PLK:

My operant powers their functions leaue to do,

PLK:

And thou shalt liue in this faire world behind,

PLK:

Honord, belou'd, and haply one as kind,

PLK:

For husband shalt thou.

PLQ:

O confound the rest,

PLQ:

Such loue must needes be treason in my brest,

PLQ:

In second husband let me be accurst,

PLQ:

None wed the second, but who kild the first.

HAM:

That's wormwood

PLQ:

The instances that second marriage moue

PLQ:

Are base respects of thrift, but none of loue,

PLQ:

A second time I kill my husband dead,

PLQ:

When second husband kisses me in bed.

PLK:

I doe belieue you thinke what now you speake,

PLK:

But what we doe determine, oft we breake,

PLK:

Purpose is but the slaue to memorie,

PLK:

Of violent birth, but poore validitie,

PLK:

Which now the fruite vnripe sticks on the tree,

PLK:

But fall vnshaken when they mellow bee.

PLK:

Most necessary tis that we forget

PLK:

To pay our selues what to our selues is debt,

PLK:

What to our selues in passion we propose,

PLK:

The passion ending, doth the purpose lose,

PLK:

The violence of eyther, griefe, or ioy,

PLK:

Their owne ennactures with themselues destroy,

PLK:

Where ioy most reuels, griefe doth most lament,

PLK:

Greefe ioy, ioy griefes, on slender accedent,

PLK:

This world is not for aye, nor tis not strange,

PLK:

That euen our loues should with our fortunes change:

PLK:

For tis a question left vs yet to proue,

PLK:

Whether loue lead fortune, or els fortune loue.

PLK:

The great man downe, you marke his fauourite flyes,

PLK:

The poore aduaunc'd, makes friends of enemies,

PLK:

And hetherto doth loue on fortune tend,

PLK:

For who not needes, shall neuer lacke a friend,

PLK:

And who in want a hollow friend doth try,

PLK:

Directly seasons him his enemy.

PLK:

But orderly to end where I begunne,

PLK:

Our wills and fates doe so contrary runne,

PLK:

That our deuises still are ouerthrowne,

PLK:

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our owne,

PLK:

So thinke thou wilt no second husband wed,

PLK:

But die thy thoughts when thy first Lord is dead.

PLQ:

Nor earth to me giue foode, nor heauen light,

PLQ:

Sport and repose lock from me day and night,

PLQ:

To desperation turne my trust and hope,

PLQ:

And Anchors cheere in prison be my scope,

PLQ:

Each opposite that blancks the face of ioy,

PLQ:

Meete what I would haue well, and it destroy,

PLQ:

Both heere and hence pursue me lasting strife,

HAM:

If she should breake it now.

PLQ:

If once I be a widdow, euer I be a wife.

PLK:

Tis deeply sworne, sweet leaue me heere a while,

PLK:

My spirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile

PLK:

The tedious day with sleepe.

PLQ:

Sleepe rock thy braine,

PLQ:

And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine.Exeunt.

HAM:

Madam, how like you this play?

GER:

The Lady doth protest too much mee thinks.

HAM:

O but shee'le keepe her word.

CLA:

Haue you heard the argument? is there no offence in't?

HAM:

No, no, they do but iest, poyson in iest, no offence i'th wld.

CLA:

What doe you call the play?

OPH:

You are as good as a Chorus my Lord.

HAM:

I could interpret betweene you and your loue

HAM:

If I could see the puppets dallying.

OPH:

You are keene my lord, you are keene.

HAM:

It would cost you a groning to take off mine edge.

OPH:

Still better and worse.

LUC:

Thoughts black, hands apt, drugges fit, and time agreeing,

LUC:

Considerat season els no creature seeing,

LUC:

Thou mixture ranck, of midnight weedes collected,

LUC:

VVith Hecats ban thrice blasted, thrice inuected,

LUC:

Thy naturall magicke, and dire property,

LUC:

On wholsome life vsurps immediatly.

OPH:

The King rises.

GER:

How fares my Lord?

POL:

Giue ore the play.

CLA:

Giue me some light, away.

POL:

Lights, lights, lights.Exeunt all but Ham. & Horatio.

HAM:

Why let the strooken Deere goe weepe,

HAM:

The Hart vngauled play,

HAM:

For some must watch while some must sleepe,

HOR:

Halfe a share.

HAM:

A whole one I.

HAM:

For thou doost know oh Damon deere

HAM:

This Realme dismantled was

HAM:

Of Ioue himselfe, and now raignes heere

HAM:

A very very paiock.

HOR:

You might haue rym'd.

HOR:

Very well my Lord.

HAM:

Vpon the talke of the poysning.

HOR:

I did very well note him.

HAM:

Ah ha, come some musique, come the Recorders,

HAM:

For if the King like not the Comedie,

HAM:

Why then belike he likes it not perdy.

HAM:

Come, some musique.

GUI:

Good my Lord, voutsafe me a word with you.

HAM:

Sir a whole historie.

GUI:

The King sir.

HAM:

I sir, what of him?

GUI:

Is in his retirement meruilous distempred.

HAM:

With drinke sir?

GUI:

No my Lord, with choller,

GUI:

Good my Lord put your discourse into some frame,

GUI:

And stare not so wildly from my affaire.

HAM:

I am tame sir, pronounce.

GUI:

The Queene your mother in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.

HAM:

You are welcome.

HAM:

Sir I cannot.

ROS:

What my Lord.

POL:

My Lord, the Queene would speake with you, & presently.

HAM:

Do you see yonder clowd that's almost in shape of a Camel?

POL:

By'th masse and tis, like a Camell indeed.

HAM:

Mee thinks it is like a Wezell.

POL:

It is backt like a Wezell.

HAM:

Or like a Whale.

POL:

Very like a Whale.

POL:

Then I will come to my mother by and by,

POL:

They foole me to the top of my bent, I will come by & by,

POL:

Leaue me friends.

POL:

I will, say so. By and by is easily said,

POL:

Tis now the very witching time of night,

POL:

When Churchyards yawne, and hell it selfe breakes out

POL:

Contagion to this world: now could I drinke hote blood,

POL:

And doe such busines as the bitter day

POL:

Would quake to looke on: soft, now to my mother,

POL:

O hart loose not thy nature, let not euer

POL:

The soule of Nero enter this firme bosome,

POL:

Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall,

POL:

I will speake dagger to her, but vse none,

POL:

My tongue and soule in this be hypocrites,

POL:

How in my words someuer she be shent,

POL:

To giue them seales neuer my soule consent.Exit.

Scene 3

CLA:

I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs

CLA:

To let his madnes range, therefore prepare you,

CLA:

I your commission will forth‐with dispatch,

CLA:

And he to England shall along with you,

CLA:

The termes of our estate may not endure

CLA:

Hazerd so neer's as doth hourely grow

CLA:

Out of his browes.

GUI:

We will our selues prouide,

GUI:

Most holy and religious feare it is

GUI:

To keepe those many many bodies safe

GUI:

That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie.

ROS:

The single and peculier life is bound

ROS:

With all the strength and armour of the mind

ROS:

To keepe it selfe from noyance, but much more

ROS:

That spirit, vpon whose weale depends and rests

ROS:

The liues of many, the cesse of Maiestie

ROS:

Dies not alone; but like a gulfe doth draw

ROS:

What's neere it, with it, or it is a massie wheele

ROS:

Fixt on the somnet of the highest mount,

ROS:

To whose hough spokes, tenne thousand lesser things

ROS:

Are morteist and adioynd, which when it falls,

ROS:

Each small annexment petty consequence

ROS:

Attends the boystrous raine, neuer alone

ROS:

Did the King sigh, but a generall grone.

CLA:

Arme you I pray you to this speedy viage,

CLA:

For we will fetters put about this feare

CLA:

Which now goes too free‐footed.

ROS:

We will hast vs.Exeunt Gent.

POL:

My Lord, hee's going to his mothers closet,

POL:

Behind the Arras I'le conuay my selfe

POL:

To heare the processe, I'le warrant shee'letax him home,

POL:

And as you sayd, and wisely was it sayd,

POL:

Tis meete that some more audience then a mother,

POL:

Since nature makes them parciall, should ore‐heare

POL:

The speech of vantage; farre you well my Leige,

POL:

I'le call vpon you ere you goe to bed.

POL:

And tell you what I knowe.Exit.

CLA:

Thankes deere my Lord.

CLA:

O my offence is ranck, it smels to heauen,

CLA:

It hath the primall eldest curse vppont,

CLA:

A brothers murther, pray can I not,

CLA:

Though inclination be as sharp as will,

CLA:

My stronger guilt defeats my strong entent,

CLA:

And like a man to double bussines bound,

CLA:

I stand in pause where I shall first beginne,

CLA:

And both neglect, what if this cursed hand

CLA:

Were thicker then it selfe with brothers blood,

CLA:

Is there not raine enough in the sweete Heauens

CLA:

To wash it white as snowe, whereto serues mercy

CLA:

But to confront the visage of offence?

CLA:

And what's in prayer but this two fold force,

CLA:

To be forestalled ere we come to fall,

CLA:

Or pardon being downe, then I'le looke vp.

CLA:

My fault is past, but oh what forme of prayer

CLA:

Can serue my turne, forgiue me my foule murther,

CLA:

That cannot be since I am still possest

CLA:

Of those effects for which I did the murther;

CLA:

My Crowne, mine owne ambition, and my Queene;

CLA:

May one be pardond and retaine th'offence?

CLA:

In the corrupted currents of this world,

CLA:

Offences guilded hand may showe by iustice,

CLA:

And oft tis seene the wicked prize it selfe

CLA:

Buyes out the lawe, but tis not so aboue,

CLA:

There is no shufling, there the action lies

CLA:

In his true nature, and we our selues compeld

CLA:

Euen to the teeth and forhead of our faults

CLA:

To giue in euidence, what then, what rests,

CLA:

Try what repentance can, what can it not,

CLA:

Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?

CLA:

O wretched state, ô bosome blacke as death,

CLA:

O limed soule, that struggling to be free,

CLA:

Art more ingaged; helpe Angels make assay,

CLA:

Bowe stubborne knees, and hart with strings of steale,

CLA:

Be soft as sinnewes of the new borne babe,

CLA:

All may be well.

HAM:

Now might I doe it, but now a is a praying,

HAM:

And now Ile doo't, and so a goes to heauen,

HAM:

And so am I reuendge, that would be scand

HAM:

A villaine kills my father, and for that,

HAM:

I his sole sonne, doe this same villaine send

HAM:

To heauen.

HAM:

Why, this is base and silly, not reuendge,

HAM:

A tooke my father grosly full of bread,

HAM:

Withall his crimes braod blowne, as flush as May,

HAM:

And how his audit stands who knowes saue heauen,

HAM:

But in our circumstance and course of thought,

HAM:

Tis heauy with him: and am I then reuendged

HAM:

To take him in the purging of his soule,

HAM:

When he is fit and seasond for his passage?

HAM:

No.

HAM:

Vp sword, and knowe thou a more horrid hent,

HAM:

When he is drunke, a sleepe, or in his rage,

HAM:

Or in th'incestious pleasure of his bed,

HAM:

At game a swearing, or about some act

HAM:

That has no relish of saluation in't,

HAM:

Then trip him that his heels may kick at heauen,

HAM:

And that his soule may be as damnd and black

HAM:

As hell whereto it goes; my mother staies,

HAM:

This phisick but prolongs thy sickly daies.Exit.

CLA:

My words fly vp, my thoughts remaine belowe

CLA:

Words without thoughts neuer to heauen goe.Exit.

Scene 4

POL:

A will come strait, looke you lay home to him,

POL:

Tell him his prancks haue beene too braod to beare with,

POL:

And that your grace hath screend and stood betweene

POL:

Much heate and him, Ile silence me euen heere,

POL:

Pray you be round.

GER:

Ile wait you, feare me not,

GER:

With‐drawe, I heare him comming.

HAM:

Now mother, what's the matter?

GER:

Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

HAM:

Mother, you haue my father much offended.

GER:

Come, come, you answere with an idle tongue.

HAM:

Goe, goe, you question with a wicked tongue.

GER:

Why how now Hamlet?

HAM:

What's the matter now?

GER:

Haue you forgot me?

HAM:

No by the rood not so,

HAM:

You are the Queene, your husbands brothers wife,

HAM:

And would it were not so, you are my mother.

GER:

Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.

HAM:

Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not boudge,

HAM:

You goe not till I set you vp a glasse

HAM:

Where you may see the most part of you.

GER:

What wilt thou doe, thou wilt not murther me,

GER:

Helpe how.

POL:

What how helpe.

HAM:

How now, a Rat, dead for a Duckat, dead.

POL:

O I am slaine.

GER:

O me, what hast thou done?

HAM:

Nay I knowe not, is it the King?

GER:

O what a rash and bloody deede is this.

HAM:

A bloody deede, almost as bad, good mother

HAM:

As kill a King, and marry with his brother.

GER:

As kill a King.

HAM:

I Lady, it was my word.

HAM:

Thou wretched, rash, intruding foole farwell,

HAM:

I tooke thee for thy better, take thy fortune,

HAM:

Thou find'st to be too busie is some danger,

HAM:

Leaue wringing of your hands, peace sit you downe,

HAM:

And let me wring your hart, for so I shall

HAM:

If it be made of penitrable stuffe,

HAM:

If damned custome haue not brasd it so,

HAM:

That it be proofe and bulwark against sence.

GER:

What haue I done, that thou dar'st wagge thy tongue

GER:

In noise so rude against me?

HAM:

Such an act

HAM:

That blurres the grace and blush of modesty,

HAM:

Cals vertue hippocrit, takes of the Rose

HAM:

From the faire forhead of an innocent loue,

HAM:

And sets a blister there, makes marriage vowes

HAM:

As false as dicers oathes, ô such a deede,

HAM:

As from the body of contraction plucks

HAM:

The very soule, and sweet religion makes

HAM:

A rapsedy of words; heauens face dooes glowe

HAM:

Ore this solidity and compound masse

HAM:

With heated visage, as against the doome

HAM:

Is thought sick at the act

GER:

Ay me, what act?

HAM:

That roares so low'd, and thunders in the Index,

HAM:

Looke heere vpon this Picture, and on this,

HAM:

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers,

HAM:

See what a grace was seated on this browe,

HAM:

Hiperions curles, the front of Ioue himselfe,

HAM:

An eye like Mars, to threaten and command,

HAM:

A station like the herald Mercury,

HAM:

New lighted on a heaue, a kissing hill,

HAM:

A combination, and a forme indeede,

HAM:

Where euery God did seeme to set his seale

HAM:

To giue the world assurance of a man,

HAM:

This was your husband, looke you now what followes,

HAM:

Heere is your husband like a mildewed eare,

HAM:

Blasting his wholsome brother, haue you eyes,

HAM:

Could you on this faire mountaine leaue to feede,

HAM:

And batten on this Moore; ha, haue you eyes?

HAM:

You cannot call it loue, for at your age

HAM:

The heyday in the blood is tame, it's humble,

HAM:

And waits vppon the iudgement, and what iudgement

HAM:

Would step from this to this, sence sure youe hue

HAM:

Els could you not haue motion, but sure that sence

HAM:

Is appoplext, for madnesse would not erre

HAM:

Nor sence to extacie was nere so thral'd

HAM:

But it reseru'd some quantity of choise

HAM:

To serue in such a difference, what deuill wast

HAM:

That thus hath cosund you at hodman blind;

HAM:

Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,

HAM:

Eares without hands, or eyes, smelling sance all,

HAM:

Or but a sickly part of one true sence

HAM:

Could not so mope: ô shame where is thy blush?

HAM:

Rebellious hell,

HAM:

If thou canst mutine in a Matrons bones,

HAM:

To flaming youth let vertue be as wax

HAM:

And melt in her owne fire, proclaime no shame

HAM:

When the compulsiue ardure giues the charge,

HAM:

Since frost it selfe as actiuely doth burne,

HAM:

And reason pardons will.

GER:

O Hamlet speake no more,

GER:

Thou turnst my very eyes into my soule,

GER:

And there I see such blacke and greeued spots

GER:

As will leaue there their tin'ct.

HAM:

Nay but to liue

HAM:

In the ranck sweat of an inseemed bed

HAM:

Stewed in corruption, honying, and making loue

HAM:

Ouer the nasty stie.

GER:

O speake to me no more,

GER:

These words like daggers enter in my eares,

GER:

No more sweete Hamlet.

HAM:

A murtherer and a villaine,

HAM:

A slaue that is not twentith part the kyth

HAM:

Of your precedent Lord, a vice of Kings,

HAM:

A cut‐purse of the Empire and the rule,

HAM:

That from a shelfe the precious Diadem stole

HAM:

And put it in his pocket.

GER:

No more.

HAM:

A King of shreds and patches,

HAM:

Saue me and houer ore me with your wings

HAM:

You heauenly gards: what would your gracious figure?

GER:

Alas hee's mad.

HAM:

Doe you not come your tardy sonne to chide,

HAM:

That lap'st in time and passion lets goe by

HAM:

Th'important acting of your dread command, ô say.

GHO:

Doe not forget, this visitation

GHO:

Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose,

GHO:

But looke, amazement on thy mother sits,

GHO:

O step betweene her, and her fighting soule,

GHO:

Conceit in weakest bodies strongest workes,

GHO:

Speake to her Hamlet.

HAM:

How is it with you Lady?

GER:

Alas how i'st with you?

GER:

That you doe bend your eye on vacancie,

GER:

And with th'incorporall ayre doe hold discourse,

GER:

Foorth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep,

GER:

And as the sleeping souldiers in th'alarme,

GER:

Your bedded haire like life in excrements

GER:

Start vp and stand an end, ô gentle sonne

GER:

Vpon the heat and flame of thy distemper

GER:

Sprinckle coole patience, whereon doe you looke?

HAM:

On him, on him, looke you how pale he glares,

HAM:

His forme and cause conioynd, preaching to stones

HAM:

Would make them capable, doe not looke vpon me,

HAM:

Least with this pittious action you conuert

HAM:

My stearne effects, then what I haue to doe

HAM:

Will want true cullour, teares perchance for blood.

GER:

To whom doe you speake this?

HAM:

Doe you see nothing there?

GER:

Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.

HAM:

Nor did you nothing heare?

GER:

No nothing but our selues.

HAM:

Why looke you there, looke how it steales away,

HAM:

My father in his habit as he liued,

HAM:

Looke where he goes, euen now out at the portall.Exit Ghost.

GER:

This is the very coynage of your braine,

GER:

This bodilesse creation extacie is very cunning in.

HAM:

My pulse as yours doth temperatly keepe time,

HAM:

And makes as healthfull musicke, it is not madnesse

HAM:

That I haue vttred, bring me to the test,

HAM:

And the matter will reword, which madnesse

HAM:

Would gambole from, mother for loue of grace,

HAM:

Lay not that flattering vnction to your soule

HAM:

That not your trespasse but my madnesse speakes,

HAM:

It will but skin and filme the vlcerous place

HAM:

Whiles ranck corruption mining all within

HAM:

Infects vnseene, confesse your selfe to heauen,

HAM:

Repent what's past, auoyd what is to come,

HAM:

And doe not spread the compost on the weedes

HAM:

To make them rancker, forgiue me this my vertue,

HAM:

For in the fatnesse of these pursie times

HAM:

Vertue it selfe of vice must pardon beg,

HAM:

Yea curbe and wooe for leaue to doe him good.

GER:

O Hamlet thou hast cleft my hart in twaine.

HAM:

O throwe away the worser part of it,

HAM:

And leaue the purer with the other halfe,

HAM:

Good night, but goe not to my Vncles bed,

HAM:

Assune a vertue if you haue it not,

HAM:

That monster custome, who all sence doth eate

HAM:

Of habits deuill, is angell yet in this

HAM:

That to the vse of actions faire and good,

HAM:

He likewise giues a frock or Liuery

HAM:

That aptly is put on to refraine night,

HAM:

And that shall lend a kind of easines

HAM:

To the next abstinence, the next more easie:

HAM:

For vse almost can change the stamp of nature,

HAM:

And either the deuill, or throwe him out

HAM:

With wonderous potency: once more good night,

HAM:

And when you are desirous to be blest,

HAM:

Ile blessing beg of you, for this same Lord

HAM:

I doe repent; but heauen hath pleasd it so

HAM:

To punish me with this, and this with me,

HAM:

That I must be their scourge and minister,

HAM:

I will bestowe him and will answere well

HAM:

The death I gaue him; so againe good night

HAM:

I must be cruell only to be kinde,

HAM:

This bad beginnes, and worse remaines behind.

HAM:

One word more good Lady.

GER:

What shall I doe?

HAM:

Not this by no meanes that I bid you doe,

HAM:

Let the blowt King temp't you againe to bed,

HAM:

Pinch wanton on your cheeke, call you his Mouse,

HAM:

And let him for a paire of reechie kisses,

HAM:

Or padling in your necke with his damn'd fingers.

HAM:

Make you to rouell all this matter out

HAM:

That I essentially am not in madnesse,

HAM:

But mad in craft, t'were good you let him knowe,

HAM:

For who that's but a Queene, faire, sober, wise,

HAM:

Would from a paddack, from a bat, a gib,

HAM:

Such deare concernings hide, who would doe so,

HAM:

No, in dispight of sence and secrecy,

HAM:

Vnpeg the basket on the houses top,

HAM:

Let the birds fly, and like the famous Ape,

HAM:

To try conclusions in the basket creepe,

HAM:

And breake your owne necke downe.

GER:

Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath

GER:

And breath of life, I haue no life to breath

GER:

What thou hast sayd to me.

HAM:

I must to England, you knowe that.

GER:

Alack I had forgot.

GER:

Tis so concluded on.

HAM:

Ther's letters seald, and my two Schoolefellowes,

HAM:

Whom I will trust as I will Adders fang'd,

HAM:

They beare the mandat, they must sweep my way

HAM:

And marshall me to knauery: let it worke,

HAM:

For tis the sport to haue the enginer

HAM:

Hoist with his owne petar, an't shall goe hard

HAM:

But I will delue one yard belowe their mines,

HAM:

And blowe them at the Moone: ô tis most sweete

HAM:

When in one line two crafts directly meete,

HAM:

This man shall set me packing,

HAM:

Ile lugge the guts into the neighbour roome;

HAM:

Mother good night indeed, this Counsayler

HAM:

Is now most still, most secret, and most graue,

HAM:

Who was in life a most foolish prating knaue.

HAM:

Come sir, to draw toward an end with you.

HAM:

Good night mother.Exit.

Act 4

Scene 1

CLA:

There's matter in these sighes, these profound heaues,

CLA:

You must translate, tis fit we vnderstand them,

CLA:

Where is your sonne?

GER:

Bestow this place on vs a little while.

GER:

Ah mine owne Lord, what haue I seene to night?

CLA:

What Gertrard, how dooes Hamlet?

GER:

Mad as the sea and wind when both contend

GER:

Which is the mightier, in his lawlesse fit,

GER:

Behind the Arras hearing some thing stirre,

GER:

Whyps out his Rapier, cryes a Rat, a Rat,

GER:

And in this brainish apprehension kills

GER:

The vnseene good old man.

CLA:

O heauy deede!

CLA:

It had beene so with vs had wee been there,

CLA:

His libertie is full of threates to all,

CLA:

To you your selfe, to vs, to euery one,

CLA:

Alas, how shall this bloody deede be answer'd?

CLA:

It will be layd to vs, whose prouidence

CLA:

Should haue kept short, restraind, and out of haunt

CLA:

This mad young man; but so much was our loue,

CLA:

We would not vnderstand what was most fit,

CLA:

But like the owner of a foule disease

CLA:

To keepe it from divulging, let it feede

CLA:

Euen on the pith of life: where is he gone?

GER:

To draw apart the body he hath kild,

GER:

Ore whom, his very madnes like some ore

GER:

Among a minerall of mettals base,

GER:

Showes it selfe pure, a weepes for what is done.

CLA:

O Gertrard, come away,

CLA:

The sunne no sooner shall the mountaines touch,

CLA:

But we will ship him hence, and this vile deede

CLA:

We must with all our Maiestie and skillEnter Ros. & Guild.

CLA:

Both countenaunce and excuse. Ho Guyldensterne,

CLA:

Friends both, goe ioyne you with some further ayde,

CLA:

Hamlet in madnes hath Polonius slaine,

CLA:

And from his mothers closet hath he dreg'd him,

CLA:

Goe seeke him out, speake fayre, and bring the body

CLA:

Into the Chappell; I pray you hast in this,

CLA:

Come Gertrard, wee'le call vp our wisest friends,

CLA:

And let them know both what we meane to doe

CLA:

And whats vntimely doone,

CLA:

Whose whisper ore the worlds dyameter,

CLA:

As leuell as the Cannon to his blanck,

CLA:

Transports his poysned shot, may misse our Name,

CLA:

And hit the woundlesse ayre, ô come away,

CLA:

My soule is full of discord and dismay.Exeunt.

Scene 2

HAM:

Safely stowd, but soft, what noyse, who calls on Hamlet?

HAM:

O heere they come.

ROS:

What haue you doone my Lord with the dead body?

HAM:

Compound it with dust whereto tis kin.

ROS:

Tell vs where tis that we may take it thence,

ROS:

And beare it to the Chappell.

HAM:

Doe not beleeue it.

ROS:

Beleeue what.

Scene 3

CLA:

I haue sent to seeke him, and to find the body,

CLA:

How dangerous is it that this man goes loose,

CLA:

Yet must not we put the strong Law on him,

CLA:

Hee's lou'd of the distracted multitude,

CLA:

VVho like not in their iudgement, but theyr eyes,

CLA:

And where tis so, th'offenders scourge is wayed

CLA:

But neuer the offence: to beare all smooth and euen,

CLA:

This suddaine sending him away must seeme

CLA:

Deliberate pause, diseases desperat growne,

CLA:

By desperat applyance are relieu'd

CLA:

Or not at all.

CLA:

How now, what hath befalne?

ROS:

Where the dead body is bestowd my Lord

ROS:

VVe cannot get from him.

CLA:

But where is hee?

ROS:

Without my lord, guarded to know your pleasur.

CLA:

Bring him before vs.

ROS:

How, bring in the Lord.They enter.

CLA:

Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?

HAM:

At supper.

CLA:

At supper, where.

CLA:

Alas, alas.

CLA:

King. VVhat doost thou meane by this?

CLA:

Where is Polonius?

CLA:

Goe seeke him there.

HAM:

A will stay till you come.

CLA:

Hamlet this deede for thine especiall safety

CLA:

Which we do tender, as we deerely grieue

CLA:

For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence.

CLA:

Therefore prepare thy selfe,

CLA:

The Barck is ready, and the wind at helpe,

CLA:

Th'associats tend, and euery thing is bent

CLA:

For England.

HAM:

For England.

CLA:

I Hamlet.

HAM:

Good.

CLA:

So is it if thou knew'st our purposes.

HAM:

I see a Cherub that sees thēthem, but come for England,

HAM:

Farewell deere Mother.

CLA:

Thy louing Father Hamlet.

HAM:

My mother, Father and Mother is man and wife,

HAM:

Man and wife is one flesh, so my mother:

HAM:

Come for England.Exit.

CLA:

Follow him at foote,

CLA:

Tempt him with speede abord,

CLA:

Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night.

CLA:

Away, for euery thing is seald and done

CLA:

That els leanes on th'affayre, pray you make hast,

CLA:

And England, if my loue thou hold'st at ought,

CLA:

As my great power thereof may giue thee sence,

CLA:

Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red,

CLA:

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe

CLA:

Payes homage to vs, thou mayst not coldly set

CLA:

Our soueraigne processe, which imports at full

CLA:

By Letters congruing to that effect

CLA:

The present death of Hamlet, doe it England,

CLA:

For like the Hectique in my blood he rages,

CLA:

And thou must cure me; till I know tis done,

CLA:

How ere my haps, my ioyes will nere begin.Exit.

Scene 4

FOR:

Goe Captaine, from me greet the Danish King,

FOR:

Tell him, that by his lycence Fortinbrasse

FOR:

Craues the conueyance of a promisd march

FOR:

Ouer his kingdome, you know the randeuous,

FOR:

If that his Maiestie would ought with vs,

FOR:

We shall expresse our dutie in his eye,

FOR:

And let him know so.

CAP:

I will doo't my Lord.

FOR:

Goe softly on.

Scene 5

HAM:

Good sir whose powers are these?

CAP:

They are of Norway sir.

HAM:

How purposd sir I pray you?

CAP:

Against some part of Poland.

HAM:

Who commaunds them sir?

CAP:

The Nephew to old Norway, Fortenbrasse.

HAM:

Goes it against the maine of Poland sir,

HAM:

Or for some frontire?

CAP:

Truly to speake, and with no addition,

CAP:

We goe to gaine a little patch of ground

CAP:

That hath in it no profit but the name

CAP:

To pay fiue duckets, fiue I would not farme it;

CAP:

Nor will it yeeld to Norway or the Pole

CAP:

A rancker rate, should it be sold in fee.

HAM:

Why then the Pollacke neuer will defend it.

CAP:

Yes, it is already garisond.

HAM:

Two thousand soules, & twenty thousand duckets

HAM:

VVill not debate the question of this straw,

HAM:

This is th'Impostume of much wealth and peace,

HAM:

That inward breakes, and showes no cause without

HAM:

Why the man dies. I humbly thanke you sir.

CAP:

God buy you sir.

ROS:

Wil't please you goe my Lord?

HAM:

Ile be with you straight, goe a little before.

HAM:

How all occasions doe informe against me,

HAM:

And spur my dull reuenge. What is a man

HAM:

If his chiefe good and market of his time

HAM:

Be but to sleepe and feede, a beast, no more:

HAM:

Sure he that made vs with such large discourse

HAM:

Looking before and after, gaue vs not

HAM:

That capabilitie and god‐like reason

HAM:

To fust in vs vnvsd, now whether it be

HAM:

Bestiall obliuion, or some crauen scruple

HAM:

Of thinking too precisely on th'euent,

HAM:

A thought which quarterd hath but one part wisedom,

HAM:

And euer three parts coward, I doe not know

HAM:

Why yet I liue to say this thing's to doe,

HAM:

Sith I haue cause, and will, and strength, and meanes

HAM:

To doo't; examples grosse as earth exhort me,

HAM:

Witnes this Army of such masse and charge,

HAM:

Led by a delicate and tender Prince,

HAM:

Whose spirit with diuine ambition puft,

HAM:

Makes mouthes at the invisible euent,

HAM:

Exposing what is mortall, and vnsure,

HAM:

To all that fortune, death, and danger dare,

HAM:

Euen for an Egge‐shell. Rightly to be great,

HAM:

Is not to stirre without great argument,

HAM:

But greatly to find quarrell in a straw

HAM:

When honour's at the stake, how stand I then

HAM:

That haue a father kild, a mother staind,

HAM:

Excytements of my reason, and my blood,

HAM:

And let all sleepe, while to my shame I see

HAM:

The iminent death of twenty thousand men,

HAM:

That for a fantasie and tricke of fame

HAM:

Goe to their graues like beds, fight for a plot

HAM:

Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,

HAM:

Which is not tombe enough and continent

HAM:

To hide the slaine, ô from this time forth,

HAM:

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.Exit.

GER:

I will not speake with her.

GE1:

Shee is importunat,

GE1:

Indeede distract, her moode will needes be pittied.

GER:

What would she haue?

GE1:

She speakes much of her father, sayes she heares

GE1:

There's tricks i'th world, and hems, and beates her hart,

GE1:

Spurnes enuiously at strawes, speakes things in doubt

GE1:

That carry but halfe sence, her speech is nothing,

GE1:

Yet the vnshaped vse of it doth moue

GE1:

The hearers to collection, they yawne at it,

GE1:

And botch the words vp fit to theyr owne thoughts,

GE1:

Which as her wincks, and nods, and gestures yeeld them,

GE1:

Indeede would make one thinke there might be thought

GE1:

Though nothing sure, yet much vnhappily.

HOR:

Twere good she were spoken with, for shee may strew

HOR:

Dangerous coniectures in ill breeding mindes,

HOR:

Let her come in.

GER:

‘To my sicke soule, as sinnes true nature is,

GER:

‘Each toy seemes prologue to some great amisse,

GER:

‘So full of artlesse iealousie is guilt,

GER:

‘It spills it selfe, in fearing to be spylt.

OPH:

Where is the beautious Maiestie of Denmarke?

GER:

How now Ophelia?shee sings.

OPH:

How should I your true loue know from another one,

OPH:

By his cockle hat and staffe, and his Sendall shoone.

GER:

Alas sweet Lady, what imports this song?

OPH:

Say you, nay pray you marke,

OPH:

He is dead & gone Lady, he is dead and gone,Song.

OPH:

At his head a grasgreene turph, at his heeles a stone.

OPH:

O ho.

GER:

Nay but Ophelia.

OPH:

Pray you marke. White his shrowd as the mountaine snow.

GER:

Alas looke heere my Lord.

OPH:

Larded all with sweet flowers,

OPH:

Which beweept to the ground did not goSong.

OPH:

With true loue showers.

CLA:

How doe you pretty Lady?

CLA:

Conceit vpon her Father.

OPH:

Pray lets haue no words of this, but when they aske you what it meanes, say you this.

OPH:

To morrow is S. Valentines day,Song.

OPH:

All in the morning betime,

OPH:

And I a mayde at your window

OPH:

To be your Valentine.

OPH:

Then vp he rose, and dond his close, and dupt the chamber doore,

OPH:

Let in the maide, that out a maide, neuer departed more.

CLA:

Pretty Ophelia.

OPH:

Indeede without an oath Ile make an end on't,

OPH:

By gis and by Saint Charitie, alack and fie for shame,

OPH:

Young men will doo't if they come too't, by Cock they are too blame.

OPH:

Quoth she, Before you tumbled me, you promisd me to wed,

OPH:

(He answers.) So would I a done by yonder sunne

OPH:

And thou hadst not come to my bed.

CLA:

How long hath she beene thus?

CLA:

Follow her close, giue her good watch I pray you.

CLA:

O this is the poyson of deepe griefe, it springs all from her Fathers death, and now behold, ô Gertrard, Gertrard,

CLA:

When sorrowes come, they come not single spyes,

CLA:

But in battalians: first her Father slaine,

CLA:

Next, your sonne gone, and he most violent Author

CLA:

Of his owne iust remoue, the people muddied

CLA:

Thick and vnwholsome in thoughts, and whispers

CLA:

For good Polonius death: and we haue done but greenly

CLA:

In hugger mugger to inter him: poore Ophelia

CLA:

Deuided from herselfe, and her faire iudgement,

CLA:

VVithout the which we are pictures, or meere beasts,

CLA:

Last, and as much contayning as all these,

CLA:

Her brother is in secret come from Fraunce,

CLA:

Feeds on this wonder, keepes himselfe in clowdes,

CLA:

And wants not buzzers to infect his eare

CLA:

With pestilent speeches of his fathers death,

CLA:

Wherein necessity of matter beggerd,

CLA:

Will nothing stick our person to arraigne

CLA:

In eare and eare: ô my deare Gertrard, this

CLA:

Like to a murdring peece in many places

CLA:

Giues me superfluous death.A noise within.

CLA:

Attend, where is my Swissers, let them guard the doore,

CLA:

What is the matter?

ME1:

Saue your selfe my Lord.

ME1:

The Ocean ouer‐peering of his list

ME1:

Eaes not the flats with more impitious hast

ME1:

Then young Laertes in a riotous head

ME1:

Ore‐beares your Officers: the rabble call him Lord,

ME1:

And as the world were now but to beginne,

ME1:

Antiquity forgot, custome not knowne,

ME1:

The ratifiers and props of euery word,

ME1:

The cry choose we, Laertes shall be King,

ME1:

Caps, hands, and tongues applau'd it to the clouds,

ME1:

Laertes shall be King, Laertes King.

GER:

How cheerefully on the false traile they cry.A noise within.

GER:

O this is counter you false Danish dogges.

CLA:

The doores are broke.

LAE:

Where is this King? sirs stand you all without.

ALL:

No lets come in.

LAE:

I pray you giue me leaue.

ALL:

VVe will, we will.

LAE:

I thanke you, keepe the doore, ô thou vile King,

LAE:

Giue me my father.

GER:

Calmely good Laertes.

LAE:

That drop of blood thats calme proclames me Bastard,

LAE:

Cries cuckold to my father, brands the Harlot

LAE:

Euen heere betweene the chast vnsmirched browe

LAE:

Of my true mother.

CLA:

VVhat is the cause Laertes

CLA:

That thy rebellion lookes so gyant like?

CLA:

Let him goe Gertrard, doe not feare our person,

CLA:

There's such diuinitie doth hedge a King,

CLA:

That treason can but peepe to what it would,

CLA:

Act's little of his will, tell me Laertes

CLA:

Why thou art thus incenst, let him goe Gertrard.

CLA:

Speake man.

LAE:

Where is my father?

CLA:

Dead.

GER:

But not by him.

CLA:

Let him demaund his fill.

LAE:

How came he dead. I'le not be iugled with,

LAE:

To hell allegiance, vowes to the blackest deuill,

LAE:

Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit

LAE:

I dare damnation, to this poynt I stand,

LAE:

That both the worlds I giue to negligence,

LAE:

Let come what comes, onely I'le be reueng'd

LAE:

Most throughly for my father.

CLA:

Who shall stay you?

LAE:

My will, not all the worlds:

LAE:

And for my meanes I'le husband them so well,

LAE:

They shall goe farre with little.

CLA:

Good Laertes, if you desire to know the certainty

CLA:

Of your deere Father, i'st writ in your reuenge,

CLA:

That soopstake, you will draw both friend and foe

CLA:

Winner and looser.

LAE:

None but his enemies,

CLA:

Will you know them then?

LAE:

To his good friends thus wide I'le ope my armes,

LAE:

And like the kind life‐rendring Pelican,

LAE:

Repast them with my blood.

CLA:

Why now you speake

CLA:

Like a good child, and a true Gentleman.

CLA:

That I am guiltlesse of your fathers death,

CLA:

And am most sencibly in griefe for it,

CLA:

It shall as leuell to your iudgement peare

CLA:

As day dooes to your eye.A noyse within.

LAE:

Let her come in.

LAE:

How now, what noyse is that?

LAE:

O heate, dry vp my braines, teares seauen times salt

LAE:

Burne out the sence and vertue of mine eye,

LAE:

By heauen thy madnes shall be payd with weight

LAE:

Tell our scale turne the beame. O Rose of May,

LAE:

Deere mayd, kind sister, sweet Ophelia,

LAE:

O heauens, ist possible a young maids wits

LAE:

Should be as mortall as a poore mans life.

OPH:

They bore him bare‐faste on the Beere,Song.

OPH:

And in his graue rain'd many a teare,

OPH:

Fare you well my Doue.

LAE:

Hadst thou thy wits, and did'st perswade reuenge

LAE:

It could not mooue thus.

OPH:

You must sing a downe a downe,

OPH:

And you call him a downe a. O how the wheele becomes it,

OPH:

It is the false Steward that stole his Maisters daughter.

LAE:

This nothing's more then matter.

LAE:

A document in madnes, thoughts and remembrance fitted.

OPH:

For bonny sweet Robin is all my ioy.

LAE:

Thought and afflictions, passion, hell it selfe

LAE:

She turnes to fauour and to prettines.

OPH:

And wil a not come againe,Song.

OPH:

And wil a not come againe,

OPH:

No, no, he is dead, goe to thy death bed,

OPH:

He neuer will come againe.

OPH:

His beard was as white as snow,

OPH:

Flaxen was his pole,

OPH:

He is gone, he is gone, and we cast away mone,

OPH:

God a mercy on his soule, and of all Christians soules,

OPH:

God buy you.

LAE:

Doe you this ô God.

CLA:

Laertes, I must commune with your griefe,

CLA:

Or you deny me right, goe but apart,

CLA:

Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,

CLA:

And they shall heare and iudge twixt you and me,

CLA:

If by direct, or by colaturall hand

CLA:

They find vs toucht, we will our kingdome giue,

CLA:

Our crowne, our life, and all that we call ours

CLA:

To you in satisfaction; but if not,

CLA:

Be you content to lend your patience to vs,

CLA:

And we shall ioyntly labour with your soule

CLA:

To giue it due content.

LAE:

Let this be so.

LAE:

His meanes of death, his obscure funerall,

LAE:

No trophe sword, nor hatchment ore his bones,

LAE:

No noble right, nor formall ostentation,

LAE:

Cry to be heard as twere from heauen to earth,

LAE:

That I must call't in question.

CLA:

So you shall,

CLA:

And where th'offence is, let the great axe fall.

CLA:

I pray you goe with me.Exeunt.

Scene 6

HOR:

VVhat are they that would speake with me?

GE2:

Sea‐faring men sir, they say they haue Letters for you.

HOR:

Let them come in.

HOR:

I doe not know from what part of the world

HOR:

I should be greeted. If not from Lord Hamlet.Enter Saylers.

SAI:

God blesse you sir.

HOR:

Let him blesse thee to.

HOR:

Come I will you way for these your letters,

HOR:

And doo't the speedier that you may direct me

HOR:

To him from whom you brought them.Exeunt.

Scene 7

CLA:

Now must your conscience my acquittance seale,

CLA:

And you must put me in your hart for friend,

CLA:

Sith you haue heard and with a knowing eare,

CLA:

That he which hath your noble father slaine

CLA:

Pursued my life.

LAE:

It well appeares: but tell mee

LAE:

Why you proceede not against these feates

LAE:

So criminall and so capitall in nature,

LAE:

As by your safetie, greatnes, wisdome, all things els

LAE:

You mainely were stirr'd vp.

CLA:

O for two speciall reasons

CLA:

Which may to you perhaps seeme much vnsinnow'd,

CLA:

But yet to mee thar strong, the Queene his mother

CLA:

Liues almost by his lookes, and for my selfe,

CLA:

My vertue or my plague, be it eyther which,

CLA:

She is so concliue to my life and soule,

CLA:

That as the starre mooues not but in his sphere

CLA:

I could not but by her, the other motiue,

CLA:

Why to a publique count I might not goe,

CLA:

Is the great loue the generall gender beare him,

CLA:

Who dipping all his faults in theyr affection,

CLA:

Worke like the spring that turneth wood to stone,

CLA:

Conuert his Giues to graces, so that my arrowes

CLA:

Too slightly tymberd for so loued Arm'd,

CLA:

Would haue reuerted to my bowe againe,

CLA:

But not where I haue aym'd them.

LAE:

And so haue I a noble father lost,

LAE:

A sister driuen into desprat termes,

LAE:

Whose worth, if prayses may goe backe againe

LAE:

Stood challenger on mount of all the age

LAE:

For her perfections, but my reuenge will come.

CLA:

Breake not your sleepes for that, you must not thinke

CLA:

That we are made of stuffe so flat and dull,

CLA:

That we can let our beard be shooke with danger,

CLA:

And thinke it pastime, you shortly shall heare more,

CLA:

I loued your father, and we loue our selfe,

CLA:

And that I hope will teach you to imagine.

ME2:

These to your Maiestie, this to the Queene

CLA:

From Hamlet, who brought them?

ME2:

Saylers my Lord they say, I saw them not,

ME2:

They were giuen me by Claudio, he receiued them

ME2:

Of him that brought them.

CLA:

Laertes you shall heare them: leaue vs.

CLA:

What should this meane, are all the rest come backe,

CLA:

Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?

LAE:

Know you the hand?

CLA:

Tis Hamlets caracter. Naked,

CLA:

And in a postscript heere he sayes alone,

CLA:

Can you deuise me?

LAE:

I am lost in it my Lord, but let him come,

LAE:

It warmes the very sicknes in my hart

LAE:

That I liue and tell him to his teeth

LAE:

Thus didst thou.

CLA:

If it be so Laertes,

CLA:

As how should it be so, how otherwise,

CLA:

Will you be rul'd by me?

LAE:

I my Lord, so you will not ore‐rule me to a peace.

CLA:

To thine owne peace, if he be now returned

CLA:

As the King at his voyage, and that he meanes

CLA:

No more to vndertake it, I will worke him

CLA:

To an exployt, now ripe in my deuise,

CLA:

Vnder the which he shall not choose but fall:

CLA:

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,

CLA:

But euen his Mother shall vncharge the practise,

CLA:

And call it accedent.

LAE:

My Lord I will be rul'd,

LAE:

The rather if you could deuise it so

LAE:

That I might be the organ.

CLA:

It falls right,

CLA:

You haue beene talkt of since your trauaile much,

CLA:

And that in Hamlets hearing, for a qualitie

CLA:

Wherein they say you shine, your summe of parts

CLA:

Did not together plucke such enuie from him

CLA:

As did that one, and that in my regard

CLA:

Of the vnworthiest siedge.

LAE:

What part is that my Lord?

CLA:

A very ribaud in the cap of youth,

CLA:

Yet needfull to, for youth no lesse becomes

CLA:

The light and carelesse liuery that it weares

CLA:

Then setled age, his sables, and his weedes

CLA:

Importing health and grauenes; two months since

CLA:

Heere was a gentleman of Normandy,

CLA:

I haue seene my selfe, and seru'd against the French,

CLA:

And they can well on horsebacke, but this gallant

CLA:

Had witch‐craft in't, he grew vnto his seate,

CLA:

And to such wondrous dooing brought his horse,

CLA:

As had he beene incorp'st, and demy natur'd

CLA:

With the braue beast, so farre he topt me thought,

CLA:

That I in forgerie of shapes and tricks

CLA:

Come short of what he did.

LAE:

A Norman wast?

CLA:

A Norman.

LAE:

Vppon my life Lamord.

CLA:

The very same.

LAE:

I know him well, he is the brooch indeed

LAE:

And Iem of all the Nation.

CLA:

He made confession of you,

CLA:

And gaue you such a masterly report

CLA:

For art and exercise in your defence,

CLA:

And for your Rapier most especiall,

CLA:

That he cride out t'would be a sight indeed

CLA:

If one could match you; the Scrimures of their nation

CLA:

He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye,

CLA:

If you opposd them; sir this report of his

CLA:

Did Hamlet so enuenom with his enuy,

CLA:

That he could nothing doe but wish and beg

CLA:

Your sodaine comming ore to play with you.

CLA:

Now out of this.

LAE:

What out of this my Lord?

CLA:

Laertes was your father deare to you?

CLA:

Or are you like the painting of a sorrowe,

CLA:

A face without a hart?

LAE:

Why aske you this?

CLA:

Not that I thinke you did not loue your father,

CLA:

But that I knowe, loue is begunne by time,

CLA:

And that I see in passages of proofe,

CLA:

Time qualifies the sparke and fire of it,

CLA:

There liues within the very flame of loue

CLA:

A kind of weeke or snufe that will abate it,

CLA:

And nothing is at a like goodnes still,

CLA:

For goodnes growing to a plurisie,

CLA:

Dies in his owne too much, that we would doe

CLA:

We should doe when we would: for this would changes,

CLA:

And hath abatements and delayes as many,

CLA:

As there are tongues, are hands, are accedents,

CLA:

And then this should is like a spend thirfts sigh,

CLA:

That hurts by easing; but to the quick of th'vlcer,

CLA:

Hamlet comes back, what would you vndertake

CLA:

To showe your selfe indeede your fathers sonne

CLA:

More then in words?

LAE:

To cut his thraot i'th Church.

CLA:

No place indeede should murther sanctuarise,

CLA:

Reuendge should haue no bounds: but good Laertes

CLA:

Will you doe this, keepe close within your chamber,

CLA:

Hamlet return'd, shall knowe you are come home,

CLA:

Weele put on those shall praise your excellence,

CLA:

And set a double varnish on the fame

CLA:

The french man gaue you, bring you in fine together

CLA:

And wager ore your heads; he being remisse,

CLA:

Most generous, and free from all contriuing,

CLA:

Will not peruse the foyles, so that with ease,

CLA:

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose

CLA:

A sword vnbated, and in a pace of practise

CLA:

Requite him for your Father.

LAE:

I will doo't,

LAE:

And for purpose, Ile annoynt my sword.

LAE:

I bought an vnction of a Mountibanck

LAE:

So mortall, that but dippe a knife in it,

LAE:

Where it drawes blood, no Cataplasme so rare,

LAE:

Collected from all simples that haue vertue

LAE:

Vnder the Moone, can saue the thing from death

LAE:

That is but scratcht withall, Ile tutch my point

LAE:

With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly, it may be death.

CLA:

Lets further thinke of this.

CLA:

Wey what conuenience both of time and meanes

CLA:

May fit vs to our shape if this should fayle,

CLA:

And that our drift looke through our bad performance,

CLA:

Twere better not assayd, therefore this proiect,

CLA:

Should haue a back or second that might hold

CLA:

If this did blast in proofe; soft let me see,

CLA:

Wee'le make a solemne wager on your cunnings,

CLA:

I hate, when in your motion you are hote and dry,

CLA:

As make your bouts more violent to that end,

CLA:

And that he calls for drinke, Ile haue prefard him

CLA:

A Challice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,

CLA:

If he by chaunce escape your venom'd stuck,

CLA:

Our purpose may hold there; but stay, what noyse?

GER:

One woe doth tread vpon anothers heele,

GER:

So fast they follow; your Sisters drownd Laertes.

LAE:

Drown'd, ô where?

GER:

There is a Willow growes ascaunt the Brooke

GER:

That showes his horry leaues in the glassy streame,

GER:

Therewith fantastique garlands did she make

GER:

Of Crowflowers, Nettles, Daises, and long Purples

GER:

That liberall Shepheards giue a grosser name,

GER:

But our cull‐cold maydes doe dead mens fingers call them.

GER:

There on the pendant boughes her cronet weedes

GER:

Clambring to hang, an enuious sliuer broke,

GER:

When downe her weedy trophies and her selfe

GER:

Fell in the weeping Brooke, her clothes spred wide,

GER:

And Marmaide like awhile they bore her vp,

GER:

Which time she chaunted snatches of old laudes,

GER:

As one incapable of her owne distresse,

GER:

Or like a creature natiue and indewed

GER:

Vnto that elament, but long it could not be

GER:

Till that her garments heauy with theyr drinke,

GER:

Puld the poore wretch from her melodious lay

GER:

To muddy death.

LAE:

Alas, then she is drownd.

GER:

Drownd, drownd.

LAE:

Too much of water hast thou poore Ophelia,

LAE:

And therefore I forbid my teares; but yet

LAE:

It is our tricke, nature her custome holds,

LAE:

Let shame say what it will, when these are gone,

LAE:

The woman will be out. Adiew my Lord,

LAE:

I haue a speech a fire that faine would blase,

LAE:

But that this folly drownes it.Exit.

CLA:

Let's follow Gertrard,

CLA:

How much I had to doe to calme his rage,

CLA:

Now feare I this will giue it start againe,

CLA:

Therefore lets follow.Exeunt.

Act 5

Scene 1

GR1:

In youth when I did loue did loue,Song.

GR1:

Me thought it was very sweet

GR1:

To contract ô the time for a my behoue,

GR1:

O me thought there a was nothing a meet.

GR1:

But age with his stealing steppesSong.

GR1:

hath clawed me in his clutch,

GR1:

And hath shipped me into the land, as if I had neuer been such.

GR1:

A pickax and a spade a spade,Song.

GR1:

for and a shrowding sheet,

GR1:

O a pit of Clay for to be made for such a guest is meet.

HAM:

Imperious Cæsar dead, and turn'd to Clay,

HAM:

Might stoppe a hole, to keepe the wind away.

HAM:

O that that earth which kept the world in awe,

HAM:

Should patch a wall t'expell the waters flaw.

HAM:

But soft, but soft awhile, here comes the King,Enter K. Q. Laertes and the corse.

HAM:

The Queene, the Courtiers, who is this they follow?

HAM:

And with such maimed rites? this doth betoken,

HAM:

The corse they follow, did with desprat hand

HAM:

Foredoo it owne life, twas of some estate,

HAM:

Couch we a while and marke.

LAE:

What Ceremonie els?

HAM:

That is Laertes a very noble youth, marke.

LAE:

What Ceremonie els?

DOC:

Her obsequies haue been as farre inlarg'd

DOC:

As we haue warrantie, her death was doubtfull,

DOC:

And but that great commaund ore‐swayes the order,

DOC:

She should in ground vnsanctified been lodg'd

DOC:

Till the last trumpet: for charitable prayers,

DOC:

Flints and peebles should be throwne on her:

DOC:

Yet heere she is allow'd her virgin Crants,

DOC:

Her mayden strewments, and the bringing home

DOC:

Of bell and buriall.

LAE:

Must there no more be doone?

DOC:

No more be doone.

DOC:

We should prophane the seruice of the dead,

DOC:

To sing a Requiem and such rest to her

DOC:

As to peace‐parted soules.

LAE:

Lay her i'th earth,

LAE:

And from her faire and vnpolluted flesh

LAE:

May Violets spring: I tell thee churlish Priest,

LAE:

A ministring Angell shall my sister be

LAE:

When thou lyest howling.

HAM:

What, the faire Ophelia.

GER:

Sweets to the sweet, farewell,

GER:

I hop't thou should'st haue been my Hamlets wife,

GER:

I thought thy bride‐bed to haue deckt sweet maide,

GER:

And not haue strew'd thy graue.

LAE:

O treble woe

LAE:

Fall tenne times double on that cursed head,

LAE:

Whose wicked deede thy most ingenious sence

LAE:

Depriued thee of, hold off the earth a while,

LAE:

Till I haue caught her once more in mine armes;

LAE:

Now pile your dust vpon the quicke and dead,

LAE:

Till of this flat a mountaine you haue made

LAE:

To'retop old Pelion, or the skyesh head

LAE:

Of blew Olympus.

HAM:

What is he whose griefe

HAM:

Beares such an emphesis, whose phrase of sorrow

HAM:

Coniures the wandring starres, and makes them stand

HAM:

Like wonder wounded hearers: this is I

HAM:

Hamlet the Dane.

LAE:

The deuill take thy soule

HAM:

Thou pray'st not well, I prethee take thy fingers (from my throat,

HAM:

For though I am not spleenatiue rash,

HAM:

Yet haue I in me something dangerous,

HAM:

Which let thy wisedome feare; hold off thy hand,

CLA:

Pluck them a sunder.

GER:

Hamlet, Hamlet.

ALL:

Gentlemen.

HOR:

Good my Lord be quiet.

HAM:

Why, I will fight with him vpon this theame

HAM:

Vntill my eye‐lids will no longer wagge.

GER:

O my sonne, what theame?

HAM:

I loued Ophelia, forty thousand brothers

HAM:

Could not with all theyr quantitie of loue

HAM:

Make vp my summe. What wilt thou doo for her.

CLA:

O he is mad Laertes.

GER:

For loue of God forbeare him.

HAM:

S'wounds shew me what th'owt doe:

HAM:

Woo't weepe, woo't fight, woo't fast, woo't teare thy selfe,

HAM:

Woo't drinke vp Esill, eate a Crocadile?

HAM:

Ile doo't, doost come heere to whine?

HAM:

To out‐face me with leaping in her graue,

HAM:

Be buried quicke with her, and so will I.

HAM:

And if thou prate of mountaines, let them throw

HAM:

Millions of Acres on vs, till our ground

HAM:

Sindging his pate against the burning Zone

HAM:

Make Ossa like a wart, nay and thou'lt mouthe,

HAM:

Ile rant as well as thou.

GER:

This is meere madnesse,

GER:

And this a while the fit will worke on him,

GER:

Anon as patient as the female Doue

GER:

When that her golden cuplets are disclosed

GER:

His silence will sit drooping.

HAM:

Heare you sir,

HAM:

What is the reason that you vse me thus?

HAM:

I lou'd you euer, but it is no matter,

HAM:

Let Hercules himselfe doe what he may

HAM:

The Cat will mew, and Dogge will haue his day.Exit Hamletand Horatio.

CLA:

I pray thee good Horatio waite vpon him.

CLA:

Strengthen your patience in our last nights speech,

CLA:

Weele put the matter to the present push:

CLA:

Good Gertrard set some watch ouer your sonne,

CLA:

This graue shall haue a liuing monument,

CLA:

An houre of quiet thirtie shall we see

CLA:

Tell then in patience our proceeding be.Exeunt.

Scene 2

HAM:

So much for this sir, now shall you see the other,

HAM:

You doe remember all the circumstance.

HOR:

Remember it my Lord.

HAM:

Sir in my hart there was a kind of fighting

HAM:

That would not let me sleepe, my thought I lay

HAM:

Worse then the mutines in the bilbo, rashly,

HAM:

And praysd be rashnes for it: let vs knowe,

HAM:

Our indiscretion sometime serues vs well

HAM:

When our deepe plots doe pall, & that should learne vs

HAM:

Ther's a diuinity that shapes our ends,

HAM:

Rough hew them how we will.

HOR:

That is most certaine.

HAM:

Vp from my Cabin,

HAM:

My sea‐gowne scarft about me in the darke

HAM:

Gropt I to find out them, had my desire,

HAM:

Fingard their packet, and in fine with‐drew

HAM:

To mine owne roome againe, making so bold

HAM:

My feares forgetting manners to vnfold

HAM:

Their graund commission; where I found Horatio

HAM:

A royall knauery, an exact command

HAM:

Larded with many seuerall sorts of reasons,

HAM:

Importing Denmarkes health, and Englands to,

HAM:

With hoe such bugges and goblines in my life,

HAM:

That on the superuise no leasure bated,

HAM:

No not to stay the grinding of the Axe,

HAM:

My head should be strooke off.

HOR:

I'st possible?

HAM:

Heeres the commission, read it at more leasure,

HAM:

But wilt thou heare now how I did proceed.

HOR:

I beseech you.

HAM:

Being thus benetted round with villaines,

HAM:

Or I could make a prologue to my braines,

HAM:

They had begunne the play, I sat me downe,

HAM:

Deuisd a new commission, wrote it faire,

HAM:

I once did hold it as our statists doe,

HAM:

A basenesse to write faire, and labourd much

HAM:

How to forget that learning, but sir now

HAM:

It did me yeans seruice, wilt thou know

HAM:

Th'effect of what I wrote?

HOR:

I good my Lord.

HAM:

An earnest coniuration from the King,

HAM:

As England was his faithfull tributary,

HAM:

As loue betweene them like the palme might florish,

HAM:

As peace should still her wheaten garland weare

HAM:

And stand a Comma tweene their amities,

HAM:

And many such like, as sir of great charge,

HAM:

That on the view, and knowing of these contents,

HAM:

Without debatement further more or lesse,

HAM:

He should those bearers put to suddaine death,

HAM:

Not shriuing time alow'd.

HOR:

How was this seald?

HAM:

Why euen in that was heauen ordinant,

HAM:

I had my fathers signet in my purse

HAM:

Which was the modill of that Danish seale,

HAM:

Folded the writ vp in the forme of th'other,

HAM:

Subcribe it, gau't th'impression, plac'd it safely,

HAM:

The changling neuer knowne: now the next day

HAM:

Was our Sea fight, and what to this was sequent

HAM:

Thou knowest already.

HOR:

So Guyldensterne and Rosencraus goe too't.

HAM:

They are not neere my conscience, their defeat

HAM:

Dooes by their owne insinnuation growe,

HAM:

Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes

HAM:

Betweene the passe and fell incenced points

HAM:

Of mighty opposits.

HOR:

Why what a King is this!

HAM:

Dooes it not thinke thee stand me now vppon?

HAM:

He that hath kild my King, and whor'd my mother,

HAM:

Pop't in betweene th'election and my hopes,

HAM:

Throwne out his Angle for my proper life,

HAM:

And with such cusnage, i'st not perfect conscience?

OSR:

Your Lordship is right welcome backe to Denmarke.

HAM:

I humble thanke you sir.

HAM:

Doost know this water fly?

HOR:

No my good Lord.

CLA:

Come Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.

HAM:

Giue me your pardon sir, I haue done you wrong,

HAM:

But pardon't as you are a gentleman, this presence knowes,

HAM:

And you must needs haue heard, how I am punnisht

HAM:

With a sore distraction, what I haue done

HAM:

That might your nature, honor, and exception

HAM:

Roughly awake, I heare proclame was madnese,

HAM:

Wast Hamlet wronged Laertes? neuer Hamlet.

HAM:

If Hamlet from himselfe be tane away,

HAM:

And when hee's not himselfe, dooes wrong Laertes,

HAM:

Then Hamlet dooes it not, Hamlet denies it,

HAM:

Who dooes it then? his madnesse. Ift be so,

HAM:

Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged,

HAM:

His madnesse is poore Hamlets enimie,

HAM:

Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd euill,

HAM:

Free me so farre in your most generous thoughts

HAM:

That I haue shot my arrowe ore the house

HAM:

And hurt my brother.

LAE:

I am satisfied in nature,

LAE:

Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most

LAE:

To my reuendge, but in my tearmes of honor

LAE:

I stand a loofe, and will no reconcilement,

LAE:

Till by some elder Maisters of knowne honor

LAE:

I haue a voyce and president of peace

LAE:

To my name vngord: but all that time

LAE:

I doe receaue your offerd loue, like loue,

LAE:

And will not wrong it.

HAM:

I embrace it freely, and will this brothers wager franckly play.

HAM:

Giue vs the foiles.

LAE:

Come, one for me.

HAM:

Ile be your foile Laertes, in mine ignorance

HAM:

Your skill shall like a starre i'th darkest night

HAM:

Stick fiery of indeed.

LAE:

You mocke me sir.

HAM:

No by this hand.

CLA:

Giue them the foiles young Ostricke, cosin Hamlet, You knowe the wager.

HAM:

Very well my Lord.

HAM:

Your grace has layed the ods a'th weeker side.

CLA:

I doe not feare it, I haue seene you both,

CLA:

But since he is better, we haue therefore ods.

LAE:

This is to heauy: let me see another.

HAM:

This likes me well, these foiles haue all a length.

OSR:

I my good Lord.

CLA:

Set me the stoopes of wine vpon that table,

CLA:

If Hamlet giue the first or second hit,

CLA:

Or quit in answere of the third exchange,

CLA:

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.

CLA:

The King shall drinke to Hamlets better breath,

CLA:

And in the cup an Vnice shall he throwe

CLA:

Richer then that which foure successiue Kings

CLA:

In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne: giue me the cups,

CLA:

And let the kettle to the trumpet speake,

CLA:

The trumpet to the Cannoneere without,

CLA:

The Cannons to the heauens, the heauen to earth,

CLA:

Now the King drinkes to Hamlet, come beginne.Trumpets the while.

CLA:

And you the Iudges beare a wary eye.

HAM:

Come on sir.

LAE:

Come my Lord.

HAM:

One.

LAE:

No.

HAM:

Iudgement.

OSR:

A hit, a very palpable hit.Drum, trumpets and shot. Florish, a peece goes off.

LAE:

Well, againe.

CLA:

Stay, giue me drinke, Hamlet this pearle is thine.

CLA:

Heeres to thy health: giue him the cup.

HAM:

Ile play this bout first, set it by a while

HAM:

Come, another hit. What say you?

LAE:

I doe confest.

CLA:

Our sonne shall winne.

GER:

Hee's fat and scant of breath.

GER:

Heere Hamlet take my napkin rub thy browes,

GER:

The Queene carowses to thy fortune Hamlet.

HAM:

Good Madam.

CLA:

Gertrard doe not drinke.

GER:

I will my Lord, I pray you pardon me.

CLA:

It is the poysned cup, it is too late.

HAM:

I dare not drinke yet Madam, by and by.

GER:

Come, let me wipe thy face.

LAE:

My Lord, Ile hit him now.

CLA:

I doe not think't.

LAE:

And yet it is almost against my conscience.

HAM:

Come for the third Laertes, you doe but dally.

HAM:

I pray you passe with your best violence

HAM:

I am sure you make a wanton of me.

LAE:

Say you so, come on.

OSR:

Nothing neither way.

LAE:

Haue at you now.

CLA:

Part them, they are incenst.

HAM:

Nay come againe.

OSR:

Looke to the Queene there howe.

HOR:

They bleed on both sides, how is it my Lord?

OSR:

How ist, Laertes?

LAE:

Why as a woodcock to mine owne sprindge Ostrick

LAE:

I am iustly kild with mine owne treachery.

HAM:

How dooes the Queene?

CLA:

Shee sounds to see them bleed.

GER:

No, no, the drinke, the drinke, ô my deare Hamlet,

GER:

The drinke the drinke, I am poysned.

HAM:

O villanie, how let the doore be lock't,

HAM:

Treachery, seeke it out.

LAE:

It is heere Hamlet, thou art slaine,

LAE:

No medcin in the world can doe thee good,

LAE:

In thee there is not halfe an houres life,

LAE:

The treacherous instrument is in my hand

LAE:

Vnbated and enuenom'd, the foule practise

LAE:

Hath turn'd it selfe on me, loe heere I lie

LAE:

Neuer to rise againe, thy mother's poysned,

LAE:

I can no more, the King, the Kings too blame.

HAM:

The point inuenom'd to, then venome to thy worke.

ALL:

Treason, treason.

CLA:

O yet defend me friends, I am but hurt.

HAM:

Heare thou incestious damned Dane,

HAM:

Drinke of this potion, is the Onixe heere?

HAM:

Follow my mother.

LAE:

He is iustly serued, it is a poyson temperd by himselfe,

LAE:

Exchange forgiuenesse with me noble Hamlet,

LAE:

Mine and my fathers death come not vppon thee,

LAE:

Nor thine on me.

HAM:

Heauen make thee free of it, I follow thee;

HAM:

I am dead Horatio, wretched Queene adiew.

HAM:

You that looke pale, and tremble at this chance,

HAM:

That are but mutes, or audience to this act,

HAM:

Had I but time, as this fell sergeant Death

HAM:

Is strict in his arrest, ô I could tell you,

HAM:

But let it be; Horatio I am dead,

HAM:

Thou liuest, report me and my cause a right

HAM:

To the vnsatisfied.

HOR:

Neuer belieue it;

HOR:

I am more an anticke Romaine then a Dane,

HOR:

Heere's yet some liquer left.

HAM:

As th'art a man

HAM:

Giue me the cup, let goe, by heauen Ile hate,

HAM:

O god Horatio, what a wounded name

HAM:

Things standing thus vnknowne, shall I leaue behind me?

HAM:

If thou did'st euer hold me in thy hart,

HAM:

Absent thee from felicity a while,

HAM:

And in this harsh world drawe thy breath in paineA march a farre off.

HAM:

To tell my story: what warlike noise is this?

OSR:

Young Fortenbrasse with conquest come from Poland,

OSR:

To th'embassadors of England giues this warlike volly.

HAM:

O I die Horatio,

HAM:

The potent poyson quite ore‐crowes my spirit,

HAM:

I cannot liue to heare the newes from England,

HAM:

But I doe prophecie th'ellection lights

HAM:

On Fortinbrasse, he has my dying voyce,

HAM:

So tell him, with th'occurrants more and lesse

HAM:

Which haue solicited, the rest is silence.

HOR:

Now cracks a noble hart, good night sweete Prince,

HOR:

And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.

HOR:

Why dooes the drum come hether?

FOR:

Where is this sight?

HOR:

What is it you would see?

HOR:

If ought of woe, or wonder, cease your search.

FOR:

This quarry cries on hauock, ô prou'd death

FOR:

What feast is toward in thine eternall cell,

FOR:

That thou so many Princes at a shot

FOR:

So bloudily hast strook?

AMB:

The sight is dismall

AMB:

And our affaires from England come too late,

AMB:

The eares are sencelesse that should giue vs hearing,

AMB:

To tell him his commandment is fulfild,

AMB:

That Rosencraus and Guyldensterne are dead,

AMB:

Where should we haue our thankes?

HOR:

Not from his mouth

HOR:

Had it th'ability of life to thanke you;

HOR:

He neuer gaue commandement for their death;

HOR:

But since so iump vpon this bloody question

HOR:

You from the Pollack warres, and you from England

HOR:

Are heere arriued, giue order that these bodies

HOR:

High on a stage be placed to the view,

HOR:

And let me speake, to yet vnknowing world

HOR:

How these things came about; so shall you heare

HOR:

Of carnall, bloody and vnnaturall acts,

HOR:

Of accidentall iudgements, casuall slaughters,

HOR:

Of deaths put on by cunning, and for no cause

HOR:

And in this vpshot, purposes mistooke,

HOR:

Falne on th'inuenters heads: all this can I

HOR:

Truly deliuer.

FOR:

Let vs hast to heare it,

FOR:

And call the noblest to the audience,

FOR:

For me, with sorrowe I embrace my fortune,

FOR:

I haue some rights, of memory in this kingdome,

FOR:

Which now to clame my vantage doth inuite me.

HOR:

Of that I shall haue also cause to speake,

HOR:

And from his mouth, whose voyce will drawe no more,

HOR:

But let this same be presently perform'd

HOR:

Euen while mens mindes are wilde, least more mischance

HOR:

On plots and errores happen.

FOR:

Let foure Captaines

FOR:

Beare Hamlet like a souldier to the stage,

FOR:

For he was likely, had he beene put on,

FOR:

To haue prooued most royall; and for his passage,

FOR:

The souldiers musicke and the right of warre

FOR:

Speake loudly for him:

FOR:

Take vp the bodies, such a sight as this,

FOR:

Becomes the field, but heere showes much amisse.

FOR:

Goe bid the souldiers shoote.Exeunt.