Philological Analysis of Shakespeare's Texts

Edition: ham-1611-22277x-bli-c01

Act 1

Scene 1

BAR:

VVHose there?

FRA:

Nay answer me. Stand and vnfold your selfe.

BAR:

Long liue the King.

FRA:

Barnardo.

BAR:

Hee.

FRA:

You come most carefully vpon your houre,

BAR:

Tis now strooke twelue, get thee to bed Francisco.

FRA:

For this reliefe much thanks, tis bitter cold,

FRA:

And I am sick at heart.

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 riuals 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 Leegemen to the Dane,

FRA:

Giue you good night.

MAR:

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

FRA:

Bernardo 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 sayes tis but a fantasie,

MAR:

And will not let beleefe take hold 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 apparition come,

MAR:

Hee may approue our eyes and speake to it.

HOR:

Tush, tush, twill not appeare.

BAR:

Sit downe awhile,

BAR:

And let vs once againe assaile your eares,

BAR:

That are so fortified against our story,

BAR:

What wee haue two nights seene.

HOR:

Well sit wee downe,

HOR:

And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this.

BAR:

Last night of all,

BAR:

When yond same starre thats westward 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 off looke where it comes a­ (gaine,

BAR:

In the same figure like the King thats dead.

MAR:

Thou art a Scholler speake to it Horatio.

HOR:

Most like, it horrowes me with feare & 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 Maiesty of buried Denmarke

HOR:

Did sometimes march: by heauen I charge the 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 something more then phantasie?

BAR:

What thinke you of it?

HOR:

Before my God I might not this beleeue,

HOR:

Without the sencible and true auouch

HOR:

Of mine owne eyes.

MAR:

Isit not like the King?

HOR:

As thou art to thy selfe:

HOR:

Such was the very Armor hee had on,

HOR:

When hee the ambitious Norway combated,

HOR:

So frownde hee once when in an angry parle

HOR:

Hee smote the sleaded pollax on the ice.

HOR:

Tis strange.

MAR:

Thus twice before and iump at this dead houre,

MAR:

With Martiall stauke hath hee 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 hee that knowes,

MAR:

Why this same strict and most obseruant watch

MAR:

So nightly toyles the subiect of the land,

MAR:

And with such dayly cost of brazen Cannon

MAR:

And forraine marte for implements of warre,

MAR:

Why such impresse of ship‐wrights, whose sore taske

MAR:

Does not deuide the Sunday from the weeke,

MAR:

What might bee 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 appea'd to vs,

HOR:

Was as you know by Fortinbrasse of Norway,

HOR:

Thereto prickt on by a most emulate pride

HOR:

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

HOR:

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

HOR:

Did slay this Fortinbrasle, who by a seald compact

HOR:

Well ratified by law and Heraldry

HOR:

Did forfait (with his life) all these his lands

HOR:

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

HOR:

Against the which a moity competent

HOR:

Was gaged by our King, which had returne

HOR:

To the inheritance of Fortinbrasse,

HOR:

Had hee beene vanquisher; as by the same comart,

HOR:

And carriage of the articles deseigne,

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 lawlesse resolutes

HOR:

For food and diet to some enterprise

HOR:

That hath a stomake in't, which 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 cheefe head

HOR:

Of this post‐hast and romeage in the land.

BAR:

I thinke it be no other but euen so;

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 tennantlesse, and the sheeted dead

HOR:

Did squeake and gibber in the Romane streets

HOR:

As starres with traines of fire, and dewes of bloud

HOR:

Disasters in the Sunne; and the moist starre,

HOR:

Vpon whose influence Neptunes Empier stands,

HOR:

Was sick almost to doomesday with eclipse.

HOR:

And euen the like precurse of fearce euents

HOR:

As harbingers preceading still the fates

HOR:

And prologue to the Omen comming on

HOR:

Haue heauen and earth together demonstrated

HOR:

Vnto our Climatures and contrimen.

HOR:

But soft, behold, lo 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 voice,

HOR:

Speake to mee, if there be any good thing to bee done

HOR:

That may to thee doe ease and grace to mee,

HOR:

Speake to mee.

HOR:

If thou art priuy to thy contryes 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 crew:

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 throate

HOR:

Awake the God of day, and at his warning

HOR:

Whether in fea or fire, in earth or ayre,

HOR:

Th'extrauagant and erring spirit hyes

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 abroade

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 beleeue it,

HOR:

But looke the morne in russet mantle clad

HOR:

Walkes ore the dew of yon high Eastward hill:

HOR:

Breake wee our watch vp and by my aduise

HOR:

Let vs impart what wee haue seen to night

HOR:

Vnto yong Hamlet, for vpon my life

HOR:

This spirit dumb to vs, will speake to him:

HOR:

Doe you consent wee shall acquaint him with it

HOR:

As needfull in our loues fitting our duety.

MAR:

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

MAR:

Where wee shall find him most conuenient.Exeunt.

Back to Top

Scene 2

CLA:

Though yet of Hamlet our deare brothers death

CLA:

The memory bee greene, and that it vs befitted

CLA:

To beare our hearts in greefe and our whole kingdome,

CLA:

To be contracted in one browe of woe,

CLA:

Yet so farre hath discretion fought with nature,

CLA:

That wee with wisest sorrow 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 wee as twere with a defeated ioy

CLA:

With an auspitious, and a dropping eye,

CLA:

With mirth in funerall, and with dirge in mariage,

CLA:

In equall scale waighing delight and dole

CLA:

Taken to wife: nor haue wee herein bard

CLA:

Your better wisdomes, which haue freely gone

CLA:

With this affaire along (for all our thankes)

CLA:

Now followes that you know yong Fortinbrasse,

CLA:

Holding a weake supposall of our worth

CLA:

Or thinking by our late deare brothers death

CLA:

Our state to bee disioynt, and out of frame

CLA:

Colegued with this dreame of his aduantage

CLA:

Hee hath not faild to pester vs with message

CLA:

Importing the surrender of those lands

CLA:

Lost by his father, with all bands of law

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 here 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 allow:

CLA:

Farwell, and let your hast commend your duty.

COR, VOL:

In that, and all things will we show our duty.

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 would'st thou begge Laertes?

CLA:

That shall not be my offer, not thy asking,

CLA:

The head is not more natiue to the heart

CLA:

The hand more instrumentall to the mouth

CLA:

Then is the throne os Denmarke to thy father,

CLA:

What would'st thou haue Laertes?

LAE:

My dread Lord.

LAE:

Your leaue and fauour to returne to France,

LAE:

From whence though willingly I came to Denmarke,

LAE:

To show my duty in your Coronation;

LAE:

Yet now I must confesse, that duty done

LAE:

My thoughts and wishes bend againe toward France,

LAE:

And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon.

CLA:

Haue you your fathers leaue, what saies Polonius?

POL:

He hath my Lord wrung from me my slow 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 CosinHamlet, and my sonne.

HAM:

A little more then kin, and lesse then kinde.

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 dye,

GER:

Passing through nature to eternitie.

HAM:

I Maddam, it is common.

GER:

If it bee

GER:

Why seemes it so perticuler with thee.

HAM:

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

HAM:

Tis not alone my incky cloake could smother,

HAM:

Nor customary sutes of solemne black,

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, shapes of griefe

HAM:

That can deuote me truely, these indeed 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 know your father lost a father,

CLA:

That fathcr lost, lost his, and the suruiuer bound

CLA:

In filliall obligation for some tearme

CLA:

To doe obsequious sorrowes, but to perseuer

CLA:

In obstinate condolement, is a course

CLA:

Of impious stubbornesse, tis vnmanly griese,

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 know must be, and is as common

CLA:

As any the most vulgar thing to sence,

CLA:

Why should we in our peeuish 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 dyed 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 nobility 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 to 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 heart, in grace whereof,

CLA:

No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day,

CLA:

But the great Cannon to the clowdes 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 dew,

HAM:

Or that the euerlasting had not fixt

HAM:

His cannon gainst seale slaughter, ò 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 seed, things ranck 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:

Hyperion to a Satire, so louing to my mother;

HAM:

That he might not beteeme the winds of heauen

HAM:

Visit 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 body

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 Oh! most wicked speed; to post

HAM:

With such dexterity to incestious sheetes,

HAM:

It is not, nor it cannot come to good,

HAM:

But breake my heart for I must hold my tongue.

HOR:

Haile to your Lordshippe.

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 enemie say so,

HAM:

Nor shall you do my eare that violence

HAM:

To make it truster of your owne report

HAM:

Against your selfe, I know you are no truant;

HAM:

But what is your affaire in Elsonoure?

HAM:

Weele teach you sor to drinke ere you depart.

HOR:

My Lord, I came to see your fathers funerall.

HAM:

I prethee doe not mocke me fellow student,

HAM:

I thinke it was to my mothers wedding.

HOR:

Indeed my Lord it followed hard vpon.

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 vpon 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 attentiue eare till I may deliuer

HOR:

Vpon the witnesse of these gentlemen

HOR:

This maruaile to you.

HAM:

For Gods loue let me heare?

HOR:

Two nights together had these gentlemen 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 Cap apea

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 this 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 secrecy 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 knew your father,

HOR:

These hands are not more like.

HAM:

But where was this?

MAR:

My Lord vpon the platforme where wee watcht,

HAM:

Did you not speake to it?

HOR:

My Lord I did,

HOR:

But answer made it none, yet once mee thought

HOR:

It lifted vp it head and did addresse

HOR:

It selfe to motion, like as it would speake:

HOR:

But euen then then the morning Cock crew loude,

HOR:

And at the sound it shruncke 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 wee did thinke it writ downe in our duety

HOR:

To let you know of it.

HAM:

Indeede sirs but this troubles me,

HAM:

Hold you the watch to night?

HOR, MAR, BAR:

Wee 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 foott.

HAM:

Then saw you not his face?

HOR:

O yes my Lord, hee wore his beauer vp.

HAM:

What look't hee 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 amaz'd you.

HAM:

Very like, staid 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 griss'ld, no.

HOR:

It was as I haue seene it in his life

HOR:

A sable siluer'd.

HAM:

I will watch to night

HAM:

Perchance twill walke againe.

HOR:

I warn't it will

HAM:

If it assume my noble fathers person,

HAM:

Ile speke to it though hell it selfe should gape

HAM:

And bid mee hold my peace; I pray you all

HAM:

If you haue hetherto conceald this sight

HAM:

Let it be tenable in your filence still,

HAM:

And what what soeuer els shall hap to night,

HAM:

Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue,

HAM:

I will requite your loues, so fare you well:

HAM:

Vpon the platforme twixt a leauen and twelue

HAM:

Ile visit you.

HOR, MAR, BAR:

Our duety to your homor.Exeunt.

HAM:

Your loues as mine to you, farewell.

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, foule deedes will rise

HAM:

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

Back to Top

Scene 3

LAE:

My necessaries are inbarckt, farewell,

LAE:

And sister as the winds giue benefit

LAE:

And conuay, in assistant do not sleepe

LAE:

But let me heare 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, sweet, not lasting,

LAE:

The perfume and suppliance of a minute

LAE:

No more.

OPH:

Mo more but so.

LAE:

Thinke it no more.

LAE:

For nature cressant does not grow alone,

LAE:

In thewes and bulkes, but as this temple waxes

LAE:

The inward seruice of the mind soule

LAE:

Growes wide withall, perhaps hee loues you now,

LAE:

Ane now no soyle nor cautell doth besmerch

LAE:

The vettue of his will, but you must feare,

LAE:

His greatnes waid, his will is not his owne.

LAE:

He may not as vnualewed persons doe,

LAE:

Craue for himselfe, for on his choise depends

LAE:

The safety and health of this whole state,

LAE:

And therefore must his choise be circmscrib'd,

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 beleeue 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 heart, 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 enough

LAE:

If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone

LAE:

“Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious strokes

LAE:

“The canker gaules the infant of the spring

LAE:

Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd,

LAE:

And in the morne and liquid dew of youth

LAE:

Contagious blastments are most iminent,

LAE:

Be wary then, best safety lies in feare,

LAE:

Youth to it selfe rebels though none else neare.

OPH:

I shall the effect of this good lesson keepe,

OPH:

As watchmen to my heart: but good my brother

OPH:

Doe not as some vngracious pastors doe,

OPH:

Show me the steepe 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 here Laertes? a bord, a bord for shame,

POL:

The wind sits in the shoulder of your saile,

POL:

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

POL:

And these few 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 adoption tried,

POL:

Grapple them vnto thy soule with hoopes of steele,

POL:

But do not dull thy palme with entertainement

POL:

Of each new hatcht vnfledgd courage; beware

POL:

Os entrance to a quarrell, but beeing in,

POL:

Bear't that th'opposer may beware of thee.

POL:

Giue euery man thy eare, but few thy voyce,

POL:

Take each mans censure, but reserue thy iudgement,

POL:

Costly thy habite as thy purse can buy,

POL:

But not exprest in fancy; rich not gaudy,

POL:

For the apparrell oft proclaimes the man:

POL:

And they in France of the best ranck and station,

POL:

Ar of a most select and generous, cheefe in that:

POL:

Neither a borrower nor a lender boy,

POL:

For loue oft looses both it selfe, and friend,

POL:

And borrowing dulleth the edge of husbandry:

POL:

This aboue all, to thine owne selfe be true

POL:

And it must follow as the night the day

POL:

Thou canst not then bee false to any man:

POL:

Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.

LAE:

Most humbly do I take my leaue my Lord.

POL:

The time inuests you, goe, your seruants tend,

LAE:

Farewell Ophelia, and remember well

LAE:

What I haue said to you.

OPH:

Tis in my memory lockt

OPH:

And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it.

LAE:

FarewellExit. Laertes.

POL:

what ist Ophelia hee hath said to you?

OPH:

So please you, fomething touching the Lord Hamlet.

POL:

Marry well bethought

POL:

Tis told me hee hath very oft of late

POL:

Giuen priuate time to you, and you your selfe

POL:

Haue of your audience beene most free and bountios,

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 know 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, youle 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‐cocks, I doe know

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 tak't for fire: from this time

POL:

Be some‐thing scanter of your maiden presence

POL:

Set your intreatments at a higher rate

POL:

Then a command to parle; for Lord Hamlet,

POL:

Belieue so much in him, that he is young,

POL:

And with a larger teder may he walke

POL:

Then may be giuen you: in few Ophelia,

POL:

Doe not belieue his vowes, for they are brokers

POL:

Not of that die which their inuestments show

POL:

But meere implorators of vnholy suites,

POL:

Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds

POL:

The better to beguile: this is for all,

POL:

I would not in plaine termes from this time foorth

POL:

Haue you so slaunder any moments 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.

Back to Top

Scene 4

HAM:

The ayre bites shroudly, it is very colde.

HOR:

It is nipping, and an eager ayre.

HAM:

What hour now?

HOR:

I thinke it lackes of twelue.

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 trum­ pets and 2. peeces goes off.

HOR:

What does this meane my Lord?

HAM:

The King doth walke 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 mind, 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 reuelle East and West

HAM:

Makes vs tradu'cd and taxed of other Nations,

HAM:

They clip vs drunkards and with swinish phrase

HAM:

Soyle our addition, and indeed it takes

HAM:

From our atchieuements, though perform'd at height

HAM:

The pith and marow of our attribute,

HAM:

So oft it chances in particuler men,

HAM:

That for some vitious mole of nature in them

HAM:

As in their birth wherein they are not guilty,

HAM:

(Sinc nature cannot choose his origen)

HAM:

By their ore‐grow'th of some complexion

HAM:

Oft breaking downe the Pales and Forts of reason,

HAM:

Or by some habite 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 infinit as man may vndergoe,

HAM:

Shall in the generall censure take corruption

HAM:

From that particular fault: the dram of ease

HAM:

Doth all the noble substance of a doubt

HAM:

To his owne scanall,

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, ò answere mee,

HAM:

Let mee 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 wee 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 wee fooles of nature

HAM:

So horridly to shake our disposition

HAM:

With thoughtes beyond the reaches of our soules,

HAM:

Say why is this, wherefore, what should wee doe?Beckons.

HOR:

It beckons 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 follow it.

HOR:

Doe not my Lord.

HAM:

Why? what should bee 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 follow it.

HOR:

What if it tempt you towards the flood my Lord,

HOR:

Or to the dreadfull somnet of the cleefe

HOR:

That bettels ore his base into the sea,

HOR:

And there assume some other horrible forme

HOR:

Which might depriue your soueraignty of reason,

HOR:

And draw you into madnesse, 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 follow 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 artyre in this body

HAM:

As hardy as the Nemean 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 one, Ile follow thee.Exit Ghost and Hamlet.

HOR:

He waxes desperate with imagination.

MAR:

Lets follow, 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,

Back to Top

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 sulphrous and tormenting flames

GHO:

Must render vp my selfe.

HAM:

Alasse poore Ghost,

GHO:

Pitty me not, but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall vnfold.

HAM:

Speake I am bound to here,

GHO:

So art thou to reuenge, when thou shalt heare.

HAM:

What?

GHO:

I am thy fathers spirit,

GHO:

Doomd for a certaine tearme to walke the night,

GHO:

And for the day confind to fast in fires,

GHO:

Till the foule crimes done in my daies 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 particular 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, O 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 shouldest 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 abused: but know thou noble Youth,

GHO:

The Serpent that did sting thy fathers life

GHO:

Now weares his Crowne.

HAM:

O my prophetike soule! my Vncle:

GHO:

I that incestuous, that adulterate beast,

GHO:

With witchraft of his wits, with trayterous gifts,

GHO:

O wicked wit, and giftes that haue the power

GHO:

So to seduce; wonne to his shamfull lust

GHO:

The will of my most seeming vertuous Queene;

GHO:

O Hamlet, what falling off was there

GHO:

Ftom me whose loue was of that dignity

GHO:

That it went hand in hand, euen with the vow

GHO:

I made to her in marriage, and to decline

GHO:

Vpon a wretch whose natutall 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 scent 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 enmity 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 barkt 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:

Vnnuzled, disappointed, vn‐anueld,

GHO:

No reckning made, but sent to my account

GHO:

With all my imperfections on my head,

GHO:

O horrible, O 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 how someuer 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 pricke and sting her: fare thee well at once,

GHO:

The Gloworme shewes the matine to be neere

GHO:

And gins to pale his vneffectuall fire,

GHO:

Adiew, adiew, adiew, remember me.

HAM:

O all you host of heauen! O earth! what else,

HAM:

And shall I coupple hell, O fie! hold, my heart,

HAM:

And you my sinnowes; grow 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 sawe 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 prenicious woman.

HAM:

O' villaine, villaine, smiling damned villaine,

HAM:

My tables, meet it is I set it downe

HAM:

LThat 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:

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 needs no Ghost my Lord, come from the grau

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 businesse and desire shall point you,

HAM:

For euery man hath businesse 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 Lo

HAM:

I am sorry they offend you heartily,

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 know what is betweene vs,

HAM:

Ore‐maister 't 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:

Wee haue sworne my Lord already.

HAM:

Indeed vppon my sword, indeed.

GHO:

Sweare.

HAM:

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

HAM:

Come on, you heare this fellow 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 said old Mole, canst worke it'h earth fo 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 thinges in heauen and earth Horatio

HAM:

Then are dream't of in your Philosophy: 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 Antike disposition on

HAM:

That you at such timesseeing mee, neuer shall

HAM:

With armes incombred thus, or this head shake,

HAM:

Or by pronouncing of some doubtfull phase,

HAM:

As, well, well wee know, or wee could and if wee would,

HAM:

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

HAM:

Or such ambiguous giuing out, to note)

HAM:

That you knowe ought of mee, this do sweare,

HAM:

So grace and mercy at your most neede helpe you.

GHO:

Sweare.

HAM:

Rest, rest perturbed spirit: so Gentlemen,

HAM:

With all 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 lacke: let vs goe in together,

HAM:

And still your fingers on your lips I pray,

HAM:

The time is out of ioynt. O cursed spight!

HAM:

That euer I was borne to set it right.

HAM:

Nay come, lets goe together.Exeunt.

Back to Top

Act 2

Scene 1

POL:

Giue him this mony, and these two notes Reynaldo.

REY:

I will my Lord.

POL:

You shall doe maruelous 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 Paris.

POL:

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

POL:

What company, 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:

Addicted so and so, and there put on him

POL:

What forgeries you please, marry none so ranck

POL:

As may dishonour him, take heed 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 farre.

REY:

My Lord, that would dishonour him.

POL:

Fayh as you may season it in the charge.

POL:

You must not put another scandall on him,

POL:

That he is open to incontinency,

POL:

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

POL:

That they may seeme the taints of liberty,

POL:

The flash and out‐beake of a fiery mind,

POL:

A sauagenes in vnreclamed blood,

POL:

Of generall assault.

REY:

But my good Lord.

POL:

Wherefor should you doe this?

REY:

I my Lord, I would know that.

POL:

Marry sir, heer's my drift,

POL:

And I beleeue it is a fetch of wit,

POL:

You laying these slight sullies on my sonne

POL:

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

POL:

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

POL:

Hauing euer seene in the prenominat crimes

POL:

The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd

POL:

He closes with you in this cosequence,

POL:

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

POL:

According to the phrase, or the addition

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 or 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 wisdome, and of reach,

POL:

With windlesses: and with assaies of bias,

POL:

By indirects 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 yee, far yee 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:

Farwell. 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 gyred to his ankle,

OPH:

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

OPH:

And with a looke so pittious in purport

OPH:

As if he had beene loosed out of hell

OPH:

To speake of horrors, he comes before me.

POL:

Mad for thy loue?

OPH:

My Lord I do 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 raised a sigh so pittious and profound,

OPH:

As it did seeme to shatter all his bulke,

OPH:

And end his being; that done, he lets me go,

OPH:

And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd

OPH:

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

OPH:

For out a doores he went without their helps,

OPH:

And to the last bended their light on me.

POL:

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

POL:

ObliqueThis is the very extacy of loue,

POL:

Whose violent property forgoes it selfe,

POL:

And leads 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 wracke 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.

Back to Top

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 hasty 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 the' vnderstanding of himselfe

CLA:

I cannot dreame of: I entreat you both,

CLA:

That beeing of so young daies brought vp with him,

CLA:

And sith so neighbored to his youth and haur,

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 vnkowne afflicts him thus,

CLA:

That opend lies within our remedy.

GER:

Good gentlemen, he hath much talkt of you,

GER:

And sre I am, two men there are not liuing,

GER:

To whome he more adheres, if it will please you

GER:

To shew vs so much gentry and good will,

GER:

As to extend your time with vs a while,

GER:

For the supply and profit of our hope,

GER:

Your visitaion shall receiue such thankes

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 intreaty.

GUI:

But we both obey,

GUI:

And here giue vp our selues in the full bent,

GUI:

To lay our seruice freely at your feete

CLA:

Thankes Rosencraus, and gentle Guyldensterne,

GER:

Thankes Guyldensterne, and gentle Roscencraus.

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 makur presence and our practices

GUI:

Pleasant and helpfull to him.

GER:

I Amen.Exeunt Ros. and Guyld.

POL:

Th'embassadors srom Norway my good Lord,

POL:

Are ioyfully returnd.

CLA:

Thou still hast beene the father of good newes.

POL:

Haue I my Lord? I assure my good Liege

POL:

I hold my duty as I hold my soule.

POL:

Both to my God, and to my gracious King;

POL:

And I doe thinke, or else 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 lunacy,

CLA:

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

POL:

Giue first admittance to th'embassadors,

POL:

My newes shall be the frute to that great feast,

CLA:

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

CLA:

He tells me my decree: Gertrud 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 hasty 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 highnesse, whereat greeu'd

VOL:

That so his sicknesse, age, and impotence

VOL:

Was falsely 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 Maiesty:

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 entreaty herein 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 maiesty should be, what duety is,

POL:

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

POL:

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

POL:

Therefore breuity is the soule of wit,

POL:

And tediousnes the limmes and outward florishes:

POL:

I will be breefe your noble sonne is mad:

POL:

Mad call I it, for to define true madnes,

POL:

What ist but to be nothing else 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 grant him then, and now remaines

POL:

That wee 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 duety 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 mooue,

POL:

Doubt truth to be a lyer,

POL:

But neuer doubt I loue.

POL:

This in obedience hath my daughter shown 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 hot 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 deare Maiesty your Queene heere thinke,

POL:

If I had plaid the Deske, or Table booke,

POL:

Or giuen my heart 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 yong Mistrisse this I did bespeake,

POL:

Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy starre,

POL:

This must not bee: and then I prescripts gaue her

POL:

That she should locke her selfe from his resort,

POL:

Admit no messengers, receiue no tokens.

POL:

Which done she tooke the fruites of my aduise,

POL:

And hee repel'd. a short tale to make,

POL:

Fell into a sadnes, then into a fast,

POL:

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakenesse,

POL:

Thence to lightnes, and by this declension,

POL:

Into the madnes wherein now hee raues,

POL:

And all wee mourne for.

CLA:

Doe you thinke this?

GER:

It may bee very like.

POL:

Hath there beene such a time, I would faine know that,

POL:

That I haue positiuely said, tis so,

POL:

When it prou'd otherwise?

CLA:

Not that I know.

POL:

Take this, from this, if this be otherwise;

POL:

If circumstances leade mee, I will find

POL:

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede

POL:

Within the Center.

CLA:

How may wee try it forther?

POL:

You know sometimes hee walkes foure houres together

POL:

Heere in the Lobby.

GER:

Soe he does 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 bee not from his reason falne thereon

POL:

Let me be no assistant for a state

POL:

But keepe a farme and carters.

CLA:

Wee will trye it.

GER:

But looke where sadly the poore wretch comes reading

POL:

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

POL:

Ile bord him presently, oh giue me leaue,

POL:

How does my good Lord Hamlet?

HAM:

Well, God a mercy.

POL:

Doe you know 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.

POL:

I haue my Lord.

HAM:

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

HAM:

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

HAM:

Words, words, words.

POL:

What is the matter my Lord,

HAM:

Betweene who.

POL:

I meane the matter that you read my Lord.

HAM:

Into my graue.

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 exelent good friends, how dost thou Guildersterne?

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.

GUI:

What should we say my Lord?

ROS:

To what end my Lord?

ROS:

What say you?

HAM:

Nay then I haue an eye of you, if you loue me hold not off.

GUI:

My Lord wee were sent for.

ROS:

My Lord there was no such stuffe in my thoughts.

HAM:

Why did yee laugh then, when I said man delights not me.

ROS:

Euen those you were wont to take such delight in, the Trage­ dians of th Citty.

HAM:

How chances it the trauaile? their residence both in repu­ tation and profit was better both wayes.

ROS:

I thinke their inhibition, comes by the meanes of the late innouation.

ROS:

No indeede are they not.

GUI:

There are the players

GUI:

In what my deare Lord.

HAM:

I am but mad North North west; when the wind is Sou­ therly, I know a Hauke, from a hand‐saw.

POL:

Well be with you Gentlemen.

POL:

My Lord I haue newes to tell you.

HAM:

My Lord I haue newes to tell you: when Rossius was an Actor in Rome.

POL:

The Actors are come hether my Lord.

HAM:

Buz, buz,

POL:

Vppon my honor.

HAM:

Then came each Actor on his Asse.

HAM:

O Ieptha Iudge of Israell, what a treasure hadst thou?

POL:

What a treasure had he my Lord?

HAM:

Why one faire daughter and no more, the which hee lo­ ued passing well.

POL:

Still on my daughter.

HAM:

Am I not i'th right old Ieptha?

POL:

What followes then my Lord?

PLA:

What speech my good lord?

HAM:

Blacke as his purpose did the night resemble,

HAM:

When hee lay couched in th'ominous horse,

HAM:

Hath now this dread and black complection smeard,

HAM:

With heraldy more dismall head to foote,

HAM:

Now is hee totall Gules, horridly trickt

HAM:

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes,

HAM:

Bak'd and embasted with the parching streetes

HAM:

Than lend a tirranous 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 Carbunckles, the hellish Pyrrhus

HAM:

Old grandsire Priam seekes; so proceed 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 command; vnequall matcht,

PLA:

Pirrhus at Priam driues, in rage strikes wide,

PLA:

But with the whiffe and wind of his fell sword,

PLA:

Th'vnnerued father falls:

PLA:

Seeming to feele this blow, with flaming top

PLA:

Stoopes to his base; and with a hiddious crash

PLA:

Takes prisoner Pirrhus eare, for lo his sword

PLA:

Which was declining on the milkie head

PLA:

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

PLA:

So as a painted tirant Pirrhus stood

PLA:

Like a newtrall to his will and matter,

PLA:

Did nothing:

PLA:

But as wee often see against some storme,

PLA:

A silence in the heauens, the racke stand still,

PLA:

The bould winds speechlesse, and the orbe belowe

PLA:

As hush as death, anone 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 folles from her wheele,

PLA:

And boule the round naue downe the hill of heauen

PLA:

As lowe as to the fiends.

POL:

This is too long.

PLA:

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

HAM:

The mobled Queene.

POL:

That's good.

PLA:

Runne barefoote vp and downe, threatning the flames

PLA:

With Bison rhume, a clout vpon 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 pronounc'd;

PLA:

But if the gods themselues did see her then,

PLA:

When she saw Pirhus make malicious sport

PLA:

In mincing with his sword her husbands limmes,

PLA:

The instant burst of clamor that she made,

PLA:

Vnlesse thing mortall mooue them not at all,

PLA:

Would haue made milch the burning eyes of heauen

PLA:

And passion in the gods,

POL:

My Lord, I will vse them according to their desert.

POL:

Come sirs.

HAM:

Follow him friends, weele here a play to morrow; dost thou

HAM:

heare me old friend, can you play the murther of Gonzago?

PLA:

I my Lord.

PLA:

I my Lord.

ROS:

Good my Lord.

HAM:

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

HAM:

O what a rogue and pesant slaue an 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, and 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 appeale the free,

HAM:

Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed,

HAM:

The very faculties of eyes and eares; yet I,

HAM:

A dull and muddy mettled 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 calls 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 throate

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 lacke gall

HAM:

To make oppression bitter, or ere this

HAM:

I should haue fatted all the region kytes

HAM:

With this slaues offall, bloody, baudy villaine,

HAM:

Remorselesse, treacherous, letcherous, kindlesse vlllaine.

HAM:

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

HAM:

That I the sonne of a deere father murthered,

HAM:

Prompted to my reuenge by heauen and hell,

HAM:

Must like a whore vnpack my heart with words,

HAM:

And fall a cursing like a very drabbe; a stallion, 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 somthing like the murther of my father

HAM:

Before mine Vncle, Ile obserue his lookes,

HAM:

Ile tent him to the quicke, if a do blench

HAM:

I know my course. The spirit that I haue seene

HAM:

May be a diuell, and the diuell hath power

HAM:

T'assume a pleasing shape; yea and perhaps,

HAM:

Out of my weakenesse and my melancholly,

HAM:

As hee is very potent with such spirits,

HAM:

Abuses mee to damne mee; Ile haue grounds

HAM:

More relatiue then this, the play's the thing

HAM:

Wherein Ile catch the conscience of the King.Exit.

Back to Top

Act 3

Scene 1

CLA:

And can you by no drift of conference

CLA:

Get from him why hee 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 do wee find him forward to be sounded,

GUI:

But with a crafty 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 demands

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 heart,

CLA:

And it doth much content me

CLA:

To heare him so inclin'd.

CLA:

Good gentlemen giue him a futher 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 out selues, that seeing vnseene,

CLA:

We may of their encounter franckely 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 my 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 collour

POL:

Your lowlinesse; 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 Diuell 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 calamity 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 office, and the lawes delay,

HAM:

The insolence of office, and the spurnes

HAM:

That patient merrit of th'vnworthy takes,

HAM:

When himselfe might his quietas make

HAM:

With a bare bodkin; who would fardels beare,

HAM:

To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life?

HAM:

But that the dread of something after death,

HAM:

The vndiscouer'd country, from whose borne

HAM:

No trauailer returnes, puzzels the will,

HAM:

And makes vs ather beare those ills we haue,

HAM:

Then flie to others that wee 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 their 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 re‐deliuer,

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?

OPH:

Could beauty my Lord haue better comerce

OPH:

Then with honesty?

OPH:

Indeed my Lord you made me beleeue so.

HAM:

You should not haue beleeu'd me, for vertue cannot so euacuat our old stock, but we shall relish of it: I loued you not.

OPH:

I was the more deceiued.

OPH:

At home my Lord.

HAM:

Let the doers 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 othrowne!

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 huny of his muickt 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 extacy. O wo is me

OPH:

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

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:

Will be some danger; which for to preuent,

CLA:

I haue in quick determination

CLA:

Thus set downe: he shall with speed 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 beleeue the origen and comencement of it

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.

Back to Top

Scene 2

PLA:

I warrant your honour.

PLA:

I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with vs.

POL:

And the Queene to, and that presently,

HAM:

Bid the Plaiers make hast. Wil you two help to hasten them.

ROS:

I my LordExeunt those two.

HAM:

What how, Horatio.Enter Horatio.

HOR:

Heere sweete 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, do 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 cloathe thee, why should the poore be flattred?

HOR:

No, let the candied tongue lick obsurd pompe,

HOR:

And crooke the pregnant hinges of the knee

HOR:

Where thrift may follow fauning, doost thou heare,

HOR:

Since my deere soule was mistris of her choyce,

HOR:

And could of men distinguish her election

HOR:

S hath seald thee for her felfe, for thou hast beene

HOR:

As one in suffering all that suffers nothing,

HOR:

A man that Fortunes buffets and rewardsX

HOR:

Hast tane with equall thankes; and blest are those

HOR:

Whose bloud and iudgement are so well comedled,

HOR:

That they are not a pipe for Fortunes finger

HOR:

To sound what stoppe shee please: giue me that man

HOR:

That is not passions slaue, and I will weare him

HOR:

In my hearts core, I in my heart of heart

HOR:

As I do 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 wee 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 wee 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 cousin Hamlet?

HAM:

Excellent yfaith.

HAM:

Of the Camelions dish, I eate the ayre,

HAM:

Promis‐cram'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 Vniuersity 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 me.

HAM:

It was a brute part of him to kill so Capitall a calfe there.

HAM:

Be the Players ready?

ROS:

I my Lord, they stay vpon your patience.

GER:

Come hether my deare Hamlet, sit by me.

HAM:

No good mother heere's mettle more attractiue.

POL:

O, oh, 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 faire 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:

What meanes this my Lord?

HAM:

Marry tis 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 us what this show meant?

OPH:

You are naught, you are naught, Ile marke 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 thirty times hath Phœbus Cart gone round

PLK:

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

PLK:

And thirty dosen moones with borrowed sheene

PLK:

About the world haue times twelue thirties beene

PLK:

Since loue our hearts, 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 bee doone,

PLQ:

But woe is me you are so sicke of late,

PLQ:

So farre from cheere, and from your 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 quantity,

PLQ:

Either none, in neither ought, or in extremity,

PLQ:

Now what my Lord is proofe hath made you know,

PLQ:

And as my loue is ciz'st, 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 fare 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 beleeue you thinke what now you speake,

PLK:

But what we doe determine, oft we breake,

PLK:

Purpose is but the slaue to memory,

PLK:

Of violent birth, but poore validity,

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 either, 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 flender 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 else fortune loue.

PLK:

The great man downe, you marke his fauourite flies,

PLK:

The poore aduanced makes friends of enemies,

PLK:

And hethertoo doth loue on fortune tend,

PLK:

For who not needs, shall neuer lacke a friend,

PLK:

And who in want a hollow friend doth try,

PLK:

Directly seasons him his enemie.

PLK:

But orderly to end where I begunne,

PLK:

Our willes and fates doe so contrary runne,

PLK:

That our deuices 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 mee day, and night,

PLQ:

To desperation turne my trust and hope,

PLQ:

And Anchors cheere in prison be my scope,

PLQ:

Each opposite that blanckes 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 bee a widdow, euer I be a wife.

PLK:

Tis deepely sworne, sweet leaue mee heare a while,

PLK:

My spirits grow dull and faine I would beguyle

PLK:

The tedious day with sleepe,

PLQ:

Sleepe rock thy braine,

PLQ:

And neuer come mischance betwixt vs twane.Exeunt.

HAM:

Maddam, how like you this play?

GER:

The Lady doth protest too much me thinkes.

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 world.

CLA:

What do 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 puppits 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 rancke, of midnight weeds collected,

LUC:

With Hecats ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,

LUC:

Thy naturall magicke, and die property,

LUC:

On wholesome life vsurps immediately.

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. and Horatio.

HAM:

Why let the stroken deere goe weepe,

HAM:

The Hart vngauled play,

HAM:

For some must watch whilst some must sleepe,

HAM:

Thus runnes the world away. Would not this sir and a forrest of fea­

HAM:

thers, if the rest of my fortunes turne Turke with me, with prouinci­

HAM:

all Roses, on my raz'd shooes, get me a fellowship in a city of players?

HOR:

Halfe a share.

HAM:

A whole one I.

HAM:

For thou dost know oh Damon deere

HAM:

This Realme dimantled was

HAM:

Of Ioue himselfe, and now raignes heere

HAM:

A very very paiok.

HOR:

You might haue rim'd.

HOR:

Very well my Lord.

HAM:

Vppon the talke of the poysoning.

HOR:

I did very well note him.

HAM:

Ah ha, come some musique, com the Recorders,

HAM:

For if the King like not the Comedy,

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 history.

GUI:

The King sir.

HAM:

I sir, what of him?

GUI:

Is in his retirement meruailous distempred.

HAM:

With drinke fir?

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.

ROS:

Then thus she saies, your behauiour hath strooke her into a­ mazement and admiration.

ROS:

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

HAM:

We shall obey, were she ten times our mother, haue you any further trade with vs?

ROS:

my Lord you once did loue me.

HAM:

And doe still by these pickers and stealers.

HAM:

Sir I lacke aduancement.

GUI:

O my lord if my duty be too bold, my loue is too vnmanerly.

HAM:

I do not well vnderstand that, will you play vpon this pipe?

GUI:

My Lord I cannot.

HAM:

I pray you.

GUI:

Beleeue me I cannot.

HAM:

I beseech you.

GUI:

I know no touch of it my Lord.

GUI:

But these cannot I commaund to any vtrance of harmonie,

GUI:

I haue not the skill.

POL:

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

HAM:

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

POL:

By'th masse and tis like a Camell indeede,

HAM:

Me thinkes it is like a Wezell.

POL:

It is black 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 and 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 businesse 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,

Back to Top

Scene 3

CLA:

I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs

CLA:

To let his madnesse 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 feed vpon your Maiesty.

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 Maiesty

ROS:

Dies not alone; but like a gulfe doth draw

ROS:

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

ROS:

Fixt on the somnet of the highest mount,

ROS:

To whose hugh spokes, tenn thousand lesser things

ROS:

Are morteist and adioynd, which when it falls,

ROS:

Each small annexment, pety consequence

ROS:

Attends the boystrous raine, neuer alone

ROS:

Did the King sigh, but a generall growne.

CLA:

Arme you I pray you to this speedy voi age,

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, he's going to his mothers closet,

POL:

Behind the Arras I'le conuay my selfe

POL:

To here the prossesse, I'le warrant shee'le tax him home,

POL:

And as you said, and wisely was it sayd,

POL:

Tis meete that some more audience then a mother,

POL:

Since nature makes them partiall, should ore‐heare

POL:

The speech of vantage; fare you well my Leige,

POL:

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

POL:

And tell you what I know.Exit.

CLA:

Thankes deere my Lord.

CLA:

O my offence is rancke, 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 stronge entent,

CLA:

And like a man to double busines 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 sweee Heauens

CLA:

To wash it white as snow? whereto serues mercy

CLA:

But to confront the visage of offence?

CLA:

And what's in praier but this two‐fold force

CLA:

To be forestalled ere we come to fall,

CLA:

Or pardon being downe, then Ile looke vp.

CLA:

My faults 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 affects for which I did the murther;

CLA:

My Crowne, mine owne ambition, and my Queene;

CLA:

May one be pardoned and retaine th'offence?

CLA:

In the corrupted currents of this world,

CLA:

Offences guided hand may show by iustice,

CLA:

And oft tis seene the wicked prize it selfe

CLA:

Buyes out the law, 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 forehead 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, O bosome blacke as death,

CLA:

O limed soule, that struggling to be free,

CLA:

Art more ingaged! helpe Angles make assay,

CLA:

Bow stubborne knees and hart with strings of steele,

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 grosely .full of bread,

HAM:

Withall his crimes broad 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 seasoned for his passage?

HAM:

No,

HAM:

Vp sword, and know 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 heele mas kick at heauen,

HAM:

And that his soule may be as damnd and blacke

HAM:

As hell whereto it goes; my mother staies,

HAM:

This phisicke but prolongs thy sickly daies.Exit.

CLA:

My words fly vp, my thoughts remaine below

CLA:

Words without thoughts neuer to heauen goe.Exit.

Back to Top

Scene 4

POL:

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

POL:

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

POL:

And that your grace hath screen'd and stood betweene

POL:

Much heate and him, Ile silence me euen heere,

POL:

Pray you be round.

GER:

Ile waite you, feare me not,

GER:

With‐draw, 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 answer 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 hoe.

POL:

What hoe 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 know 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 farewell,

HAM:

I tooke thee for thy better, take thy fortune,

HAM:

Thou find'st to bee too busie is some danger.

HAM:

Leaue wringing of your hands, peace sit you downe,

HAM:

And let me wring your heart, for so I shall

HAM:

If it be made of penetrable stuffe,

HAM:

If damned custome haue nor brasd it so,

HAM:

That it be proofe and bulwark against sence.

GER:

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

GER:

In noyse so rude against me?

HAM:

Such an act

HAM:

That blurres the grace and blush of modesty,

HAM:

Calls vertue hipocrit, takes of the Rose

HAM:

From the faire forhead of an innocent loue,

HAM:

And sets a blister there, makes mariage vowes

HAM:

As false as dicers oathes, Oh such a deed!

HAM:

As from the body of contraction pluckes

HAM:

The very soule: and sweet religion makes

HAM:

A rapsody of words; heauens face dooes glow

HAM:

Ore this solidiry 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'de and thunders in the Index,

HAM:

Looke here vpon this Picture, and on this,

HAM:

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers,

HAM:

See what a grace was feated on his browe,

HAM:

Hiperions curles, the front of Ioue him‐selfe,

HAM:

An eye like Mars, to threten and command,

HAM:

A station like the herald Mercury,

HAM:

New lighted on a heaue, a kissing hill,

HAM:

A combination and fo rme indeede,

HAM:

Where euery God didseeme 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 wholesome brother: haue you eyes?

HAM:

Could you on this faire mountaine leaue to feede,

HAM:

And batton 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 waites vpon the iudgement, and what iudgement

HAM:

Would step from this to this? sence sure you haue

HAM:

Els could you not haue motion, but sure that sence

HAM:

Is appoplext, for madnesse would not erre

HAM:

Nor senc to extacie was neere so thral'd

HAM:

But it reseru'd some quantity of choyce

HAM:

To serue in such a difference. What diuell wast

HAM:

That thus hath cosond 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. Oh 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 bune,

HAM:

And reason pardons will.

GER:

O Hamlet speake no more,

GER:

Thou turn'st my very eyes into my soule,

GER:

And there I see such black and greeued spots

GER:

As will leaue there their tin'ct.

HAM:

Nay but to liue

HAM:

In the rancke sweat of an incestuous bed

HAM:

Stewed in corruption, honying and making loue

HAM:

Ouer the nasty stie.

GER:

O speake to mee no more,

GER:

These words like daggers enter in my eares,

GER:

No more sweet 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.

HAM:

A King of shreds and patches,

HAM:

Saue me and houer ore me with your wings

HAM:

You heauenly gards: what would your gratious figure?

GER:

Alasse hee's mad.

HAM:

Doe youe 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. O 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 sighing soule!

GHO:

Conceit in weakest bodies strongest workes,

GHO:

Speake to her Hamlet.

HAM:

How is it with you Lady?

GER:

Alasse how i'st with you?

GER:

That you doe bend your eye on vacancy.

GER:

And with th'incorporall ayre doe hold discourse,

GER:

Foorth at your eyes your spirrits wildly peep,

GER:

And as the sleeping souldiers in th'alarme,

GER:

Your beaded haire like life in excrements

GER:

Starts vp and stands an end: O gentle sonne!

GER:

Vpon the heate 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 conioyned, 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 collour, teares perchance for blood.

GER:

To whome doe you speake this?

HAM:

Doe you see nothing there?

GER:

Nothing at all, yet all that is there 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 liue'd,

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, extacy 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 rancke 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 throw 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:

Assume 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 frocke 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 Maister the diuell, or throw 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 pleas'd it so

HAM:

To punish me with this, and this with me,

HAM:

That I must be their scourge and minister,

HAM:

I will bestow him and will answer well

HAM:

The death I gaue him; so againe good night

HAM:

I must be cruell onely 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 reechy kisses,

HAM:

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

HAM:

Make you to oell all this matter out

HAM:

That I essentially am not in madnesse,

HAM:

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

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 know that,

GER:

Alacke 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 sweepe 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 blow them at the Moone: O 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.

Back to Top

Act 4

Scene 1

CLA:

There's matter in thesesighes, 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 Gertrad, 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:

Whips out his Rapier, cryeis a Rat, a Rat,

GER:

And in this brainish apprehension kills

GER:

The vnseene good old man.

CLA:

O heauy deed!

CLA:

It had beene so with v had we beene there,

CLA:

His liberty 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 madnesse like some ore

GER:

Among a minerall of mettals base,

GER:

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

CLA:

Gertrad, com away,

CLA:

The Sunne no sooner shall the mountaines touch,

CLA:

But wee will shippe him hence, and this vile deede

CLA:

Wee must with all our Maiesty and skillEnter Ros. & Guyld.,

CLA:

Both countenance 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 closset hath hee drag'd him,

CLA:

Goe seeke him out speake sayre 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 wee meane to do

CLA:

And whats vntimely done,

CLA:

Whose whisper ore the worlds Diameter,

CLA:

As leuell as the Cannon to his blanck,

CLA:

Transports his poysned shot, may misse our name,

CLA:

And hit the woundlesse ayre, O come away,

CLA:

My soule is full of discord and dismay.Exeunt.

Back to Top

Scene 2

HAM:

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

HAM:

O heere they come.

ROS:

What haue you done my Lord with the dead body?

HAM:

Compounded it with dust whereto it is kin.

ROS:

Tell vs where tis that wee may take it thence,

ROS:

And beare it to the Chappell.

HAM:

Do not beleeue it.

ROS:

Beleeue what?

ROS:

Take you me for a spunge my Lord?

ROS:

I vnderstand you not my Lord.

HAM:

I am glad of it, a knauish speech sleepes in a foolish eare.

ROS:

My Lord, you must tell vs where the body is, and go with vs to the King,

GUI:

A thing my Lord.

HAM:

Of nothing, bring me to him.Exeunt.

Back to Top

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:

Who like not in their iudgement, but their 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 desperate growne,

CLA:

By desperate 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:

We cannot get from him.

CLA:

But where is he?

ROS:

Without my Lord, guarded to know your pleasure.

CLA:

Bring him before vs.

ROS:

Hoe, bring in the Lord.They Enter.

CLA:

Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?

HAM:

At supper.

CLA:

At supper where.

CLA:

Alasse, alasse.

CLA:

What dost thou meane by this?

HAM:

Nothing but to shew you how a King may go a progresse

HAM:

through the guttes of a begger.

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 wee do tender, as wee deerely greeue

CLA:

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

CLA:

Therefore prepare thy selfe,

CLA:

The barke is ready, and the wind at helpe,

CLA:

Th'assotiats 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 them, 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 abourd,

CLA:

Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night.

CLA:

Away, for euery thing is seald and done

CLA:

That els leanes on the affaire, 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 freee awe

CLA:

Payes homage to vs, thou maist not coldly set

CLA:

Our soueraigne processe, which imports at full

CLA:

By letters congruing to that effect

CLA:

The present death of Hamlet, do it England,

CLA:

For like the Hectique in my blood hee rages,

CLA:

And thou must cure me till I know tis done,

CLA:

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

Back to Top

Scene 4

FOR:

Goe Captaine, from mee greet the Danish King,

FOR:

Tell him, that by his lycence Fortinbrasse

FOR:

Craues the conueyance of a promis'd march

FOR:

Ouer his kingdome, you know the rendezuous,

FOR:

If that his maiesty would ought with vs,

FOR:

Wee shall expresse our duty in his eye,

FOR:

And let him know so.

CAP:

I will doo't my Lord.

FOR:

Goe softly on.

HAM:

Good sir whose powers are these?

CAP:

The are of Norway sir.

HAM:

How proposd sir I pray you?

CAP:

Aainst some part of Poland.

HAM:

Who commands them sir?

CAP:

The Nephew to old Norway, Fortinbrasse.

HAM:

Goes it against the maine of Poland sir?

HAM:

Or for some frontire?

CAP:

Truely 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 bee sould in fee.

HAM:

Why then the Pollacke neuer will defend it.

CAP:

Yes it is already garisond.

HAM:

Two thousand soules and twenty thousand duckets

HAM:

Will not debate the question of this straw,

HAM:

This is th'impostume of much wealth and peace,

HAM:

That inward breakes and shewes no cause w ithout

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 do informe against mee,

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 feed, a beast, no more:

HAM:

Sure he that made vs with suh large discourse

HAM:

Looking before and after, gaue vs not

HAM:

That capability and God‐like reason

HAM:

To fust in vs vnusd, now whether it be

HAM:

Bestiall obliuion, or some crauen scruple

HAM:

Of thinking too precisely on th'euent,

HAM:

A thought which quartered hath but one part wisdome,

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 wil 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 inuisible 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. O from this time forth,

HAM:

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

Back to Top

Scene 5

GER:

I will not speake with her,

GE1:

She is importunat,

GE1:

Indeed distract, her moode will needes be pittied.

GER:

What would she haue?

GE1:

,She speakes much of hcr father, sayes shee heares

GE1:

There's tricks i'th world, and hems, and beats her heart,

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 their owne thoughts,

GE1:

Which as winckes, 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 she may strew

HOR:

Dangerous coniectures in ill‐breeeding 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 iealosie is guilt,

GER:

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

OPH:

Where is the beauteous Maiesty of Denmarke?

GER:

How now Ophelia.she sings.

OPH:

How should I your true loue know from another one,

OPH:

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

GER:

Alasse sweet Lady, what imports this song?

OPH:

Say you, nay pray you marke,

OPH:

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

OPH:

At his head a grasse greene 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:

Alasse 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?

OPH:

Well good dild you, they say the Owle was a Bakers daugh­ ter, Lord wee know what wee are, but know not what we may be,

OPH:

God be at your table

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 mayd 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:

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

OPH:

By gis and by Saint charity, alacke and fie for shame,

OPH:

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

OPH:

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

OPH:

(He answers) So should I a done by yonder sunne

OPH:

And thou hadst not come to my bed.

CLA:

How long hath she beene thus?

OPH:

Come my Coach, God night Ladies, God night.

OPH:

Sweet Laides God night, God night.

CLA:

Follow her elose, 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, O Gertrard, Gertrard,

CLA:

When sorrowes come, they come not single spies,

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 vnwholesome 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:

Without 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 France,

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: O my deare Gertrard, this

CLA:

Like to a murdring‐peece in many places

CLA:

Giues me superfluous death.A noyse within.

CLA:

Attend, where are 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:

Eates not the flats with more impetuous ast

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 mee leaue.

ALL:

We will, we will.

LAE:

I thanke you: keepe the doore, O thou vile King,

LAE:

Giue me my father.

GER:

Calmely good Laertes.

LAE:

That drop of blood thats calme proclaimes me Bastard,

LAE:

Cries cuckold to my father, brands the Harlot

LAE:

Euen heere betweene the chast vnsmerched browe

LAE:

Of my true mother.

CLA:

What is the cause Laertes

CLA:

That thy rebellion lookes so Giant‐like?

CLA:

Let him goe Gertrard, do not feare our person,

CLA:

There's such diuinity doth hedge a King,

CLA:

That treason cannot 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? Ile not be iugled with,

LAE:

To hell alegiance, vowes to the blackest diuell,

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 reuengd

LAE:

Most throughly for my father.

CLA:

Who shall stay you?

LAE:

My will, not all the worlds:

LAE:

And for my meanes Ile husband them so well,

LAE:

The 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 soope‐stake, 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‐rendering 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 sencible 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, tear es seauen times salt

LAE:

Burne out the sence and vertue of mine eye.

LAE:

By heauen thy madnes shall be payd with weight

LAE:

Till 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‐fac'd 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 prettinesse.

OPH:

And will a not come againe,Song.

OPH:

And will 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 all Christians soules,

OPH:

God buy yous.

LAE:

Doe you this O God.

CLA:

Laertes, I must commune with your griefe,

CLA:

Or you deney me right, goe but a part,

CLA:

Make choice of whome 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 kindome 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 trophæ, sword, nor hachment 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.

Back to Top

Scene 6

HOR:

What 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 make you way for these your letters,

HOR:

And doo't the speedier that you may direct me

HOR:

To him from whome you brought them.Exeunt.

Back to Top

Scene 7

CLA:

Now must y our conscience my acquittance seale,

CLA:

And you must put me in your heart for friend,

CLA:

Sith you haue heard and with a knowing eare,

CLA:

That he which hath your noble father slaie

CLA:

Pusued my life.

LAE:

It well appeares: but tell me

LAE:

Why you proceede not against these feates

LAE:

So criminall and so capitall in nature,

LAE:

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

LAE:

You mainly were stirr'd vp.

CLA:

O for two speciall reasons

CLA:

Which may to you perhaps seeme much vnsinnow'd,

CLA:

But yet to me tha'r strong, the Queene his mother

CLA:

Liues almost by his lookes, and for my selfe,

CLA:

My vertue or my plague, be it either 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 their affection,

CLA:

Worke like the spring that turneth wood to stone,

CLA:

Conuert his Giues to graces, so that my arrowes

CLA:

Too slightly tymbered for so loued armes,

CLA:

Would haue reuerted to my bow againe,

CLA:

But not where I haue aym'd them.

LAE:

And so haue I a noble father lost,

LAE:

A sister driuen into desperat termes,

LAE:

VVhose 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 berd be shooke with danger,

CLA:

And thinke it pastime, you shortly shall heare more,

CLA:

I lou'd your father, and we loue our selfe,

CLA:

And that I hope will teach you to imagine.

ME2:

These to your Maiesty, 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 here he saies 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 heart

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 liking not his voyage, and that he meanes,

CLA:

No more to vnder take 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 quality

CLA:

Wherein they say you shine, your summe of parts

CLA:

Did not together plucke such enuy from him

CLA:

As did that one, and that in my regard

CLA:

Of the vnworthiest siedge.

LAE:

What part is that my Lotd?

CLA:

A very riband in the cap of youth,

CLA:

Yet needfull too, for youth no lesse bomes

CLA:

The light and carelesse liuery that it weares

CLA:

Then settled age, his sables, and his weedes

CLA:

Importing health and grauenes; two monthes since

CLA:

Heere was a Gcntleman of Normandy,

CLA:

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

CLA:

And they can well on horse‐backe, 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 forgery of shapes and tricks

CLA:

Come short of what he did.

LAE:

A Norman wast?

CLA:

A Norman.

LAE:

Vpon 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 consession of you,

CLA:

And gaue you such a maisterly report

CLA:

For art and exercise in your defence,

CLA:

And for your Rapier most especiall,

CLA:

That he cryd out t'would be a sight indeed

CLA:

If one could match you; the Scrimers of their nation

CLA:

He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye,

CLA:

If you oppos'd them; sir this report of his

CLA:

Did Hamlet so enuenom with his enuy,

CLA:

That he could nothing do, 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, deere to you?

CLA:

Or are you like the painting of a sorrowe,

CLA:

A face without a heart?

LAE:

Why aske you this?

CLA:

Not that I thinke you did not loue your father,

CLA:

But that I know, loue is begunne by time,

CLA:

And that I see in passages of proofe,

CLA:

Time quallifies the sparke and fire of it,

CLA:

There liues within the very flame of loue

CLA:

A kind of weeke or snuffe 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 wee 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‐thrifts sigh,

CLA:

That hurrs by easing; but to the quicke of th'vlcer,

CLA:

Hamlet comes back what would you vndertake

CLA:

To show your selfe indeed your fathers sonne

CLA:

More then in words?

LAE:

To cut his throat i'th Church–

CLA:

No place indeede should murther sanctuarize,

CLA:

Reuengde should haue no bounds: but good Laertes

CLA:

Will you doe this, keepe close within your chamber

CLA:

Hamlet return'd, shall know 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 in fine ogether

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 the purpose, Ile annoynt my sword.

LAE:

I bought an vnction of a Mountibancke

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 conueiance 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 backe 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 hau't, 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 preferd him

CLA:

A Challice for the once, whereon but sipping,

CLA:

If he by chance escape your venom'd stucke,

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, O where?

GER:

There is a Willow growes ascaunt the Brooke,

GER:

That showes his hoary leaues in the glassy streame,

GER:

There with fantastique garlands did she make

GER:

Of Crowflowers, Nettles, Dasies, 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 coronet weeds

GER:

Clambring to hang, an enuious sluer broke,

GER:

When downe her weedy trophæs and her selfe,

GER:

Fell in the weeping Brooke, her clothes spred wide,

GER:

And Mermaide‐like a while 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 element, but long it could not be

GER:

Till that her garments heauy with their drinke,

GER:

Puld the poore wench from her melodious lay

GER:

To muddy death.

LAE:

Alas then is she 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 speecha fire that fainewould blase,

LAE:

But that this folly drownes itExit.

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.

Back to Top

Act 5

Scene 1

GR1:

How can that be, vnlesse she drown'd herselfe in her owne defence.

GR2:

Why tis found so.

GR2:

Nay, but heare you good man deluer.

GR2:

But is this law?

GR1:

I marry i'st, Crowners quest law.

GR2:

Was he a gentleman?

GR1:

A was the first that euer bore armes.

GR1:

Ile put another question to thee, if thou answerest me not to the pur­

GR1:

pose, confesse thy selfe.

GR2:

Goe to.

GR1:

what is he that builds stronger then either the Mason, the

GR1:

Shipwright, or the Carpenter.

GR2:

the gllowes‐maker, for that out‐liues a thousand tennants.

GR2:

Who buildes stronger then a Mason, a Shipwright, or a

GR2:

Carpenter.

GR1:

I, tell me that and vnyoke.

GR2:

Marry now I can tell.

GR2:

Too't.

GR1:

Masse I cannot tell.

GR1:

Cudgell thy braines no more about it, for your dull asse will not mend his pace with beating, and when you are askt this question next, say a graue‐maker, the houses he makes last tell Doomesday.

GR1:

Goe get thee in and fetch me a soope of liquer.

GR1:

In youth when I did loue did loue,Song.

GR1:

Me thought it was very sweet

GR1:

To contract O the time for a my behoue,

GR1:

O me thought there a was nothing a meet.

HAM:

Has this fellow no feeling of his busines? a sings in graue­ making

HOR:

Custome hath made it in him a property of easines.

HAM:

Tis een so, the hand of little imploiment hath the daintier sence

GR1:

But age with his stealing steppesSong.

GR1:

hath clawed mee in his clutch,

GR1:

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

HOR:

It might my Lord.

HOR:

I my Lord.

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.

HOR:

Not a iot more my Lord.

HAM:

Is not parchment made of sheepe‐skinnes?

HOR:

I my Lord, and of Calue‐skinnes too.

GR1:

Mine sir, or a pit of clay for to be made.

HAM:

I thinke it be thine indeede for thou lyest in't.

GR1:

You lye out ont sir, and therefore tis not yours; for my part

GR1:

I doe not lye in't, yet it is mine.

GR1:

Tis a quicke lye sir, twill away againe from me to you.

HAM:

What man dost thou digge it for?

GR1:

For no man sir.

HAM:

What woman then?

GR1:

For none neither.

HAM:

Who'is to be buried in't?

GR1:

One that was a woman sir, but rest her soule shee's dead.

GR1:

Of the dayes i'th yeare I came too't that day that our last?

GR1:

King Hamlet ouercame Fortinbrasse.

HAM:

How long is that since?

HAM:

I marry why was he sent into England?

HAM:

Why?

GR1:

Twill not be seene in him there, there the are men as mad (as hee.

HAM:

How came he mad?

GR1:

Very strangely they say,

HAM:

How strangely?

GR1:

Faith eene with loosing his wits.

HAM:

Vpon what ground?

HAM:

How long will a man lie i'th earth ere he ro?

HAM:

Why he more then another?

HAM:

Whose was it?

GR1:

A whorson mad fellowes it was, whose do you think it was?

HAM:

Nay I know not.

GR1:

A pestilence on him for a mad rogue, a pourd a flagon of

GR1:

Renish on my head once; this same skull sir, was sir Yoricks skull, the

GR1:

Kings Iester.

HAM:

This?

GR1:

Een that.

HAM:

Prethee Horatio tell me one thing.

HOR:

What's that my Lord?

HAM:

Doost thou thinke Alexander lookt a this fashon i'th earth?

HOR:

Een so.

HAM:

And smelt so: pah.

HOR:

Een so my Lord.

HOR:

Twere to consider too curiously to consider so.

HAM:

They not stoppe a Beare‐barrell?

HAM:

Impeious 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 King Quee. Laertesand 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 Ceremony else?

HAM:

That is Laertes a very noble youth, make.

LAE:

What Ceremony else?

DOC:

Her obsequies haue beene as farre inlarg'd

DOC:

As we haue warranty, her death was doubtfull,

DOC:

And but that great command ore‐swayes the order,

DOC:

She should in ground vnsanctified beene 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 beene my Hamlets wife,

GER:

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

GER:

And not haue strew'd thy graue.

LAE:

O trebble 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 Emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow

HAM:

Coniures the wandring starres, and makes them stand

HAM:

Like wonder wounded hearers? tis I

HAM:

Hamlet the Dane.

LAE:

The Diuell take thy soule,

HAM:

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

HAM:

For though I am not spleenatiuash,

HAM:

Yet haue I in me something dangerous,

HAM:

Which let thy wisedome feare; hold off thy hand?

CLA:

Plucke 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 lou'd Ophelia: forty thousand brothers

HAM:

Could not with all their quantity 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'out 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 Aeres on vs, till our ground

HAM:

Sindging his pate against the burning Zone

HAM:

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

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 Doe

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 mater,

HAM:

Let Hercules himselfe doe what he may

HAM:

The Cat will mew, a dogge will haue his day.Exit Hamlet, and 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 thereby shall we see

CLA:

Tell then in patience our proceeding be.Exeunt.

Back to Top

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 heart there was a kind of fighting

HAM:

That would not let me sleepe, me thought I lay

HAM:

Worse then the mutines in the bilbo's, rashly,

HAM:

And praysd be rashnes for it: let vs know,

HAM:

Our indiscretion sometime serues vs well

HAM:

When our deepe plots doe fall, and 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 goblins 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 commmission, read it at more leasure,

HAM:

But wilt thou heare now how I did proceed.

HOR:

I beseech you.

HAM:

Being thus be‐netted 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 yemans 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 model of that Danish seale,

HAM:

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

HAM:

Subscrib'd 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 insinuation growe,

HAM:

Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes

HAM:

Betweene the passe and fell incenced poynts

HAM:

Os mighty opposits.

HOR:

Why what a King is this!

HAM:

Dooes it not thinke thee stand me now vppon?

HAM:

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

HAM:

Pop't in betweene the election and my hopes,

HAM:

Throwne out his Angle for my proper life,

HAM:

And with such cosnage, i'st not perfect conscicnce?

OSR:

Your Lordshippe is right welcome backe to Denmarke,

HAM:

I humbly thanke you sir.

HAM:

Doo'st know this water‐fly?

HOR:

No my good Lord,

HAM:

I will receiue it sir with all dilligence of spirrit, your bonnet to his right vse, tis for the head.

OSR:

I thanke your Lordship, it is very hot.

HAM:

No beleeue me, tis very cold, the wind is Northerly.

OSR:

It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed,

HAM:

But yet me thinkes it is very soultry and hot, or my com­ plexion.

HAM:

I beseech you remember.

OSR:

Your Lordship speakes most infallibly of him.

HAM:

The concernancy sir, why do wee wrap the Gentleman in our more rawer breath?

OSR:

Sir.

HOR:

Ist not possible to vnderstand in another tongue, you will doo't sir really.

HAM:

What imports the nomination of this Gentleman?

OSR:

Of Laertes.

HOR:

His purse is empty already, all's golden words are spent.

HAM:

Of him sir.

OSR:

I know you are not ignorant.

HAM:

I would you did sir, yet in fayth if you did, it would not much approoue me, well sir.

OSR:

You are ignorant of what excellence Laertes is

HAM:

What's his weapon?

OSR:

Rapiar and Dagger.

HAM:

That's two of his weapons, but well.

HAM:

What call you the carriages?

HOR:

I knew you must be edified by the margent ere you had done.Prince of Denmarke. done.

OSR:

The carriage sir are the hangers.

HAM:

How if I answere no?

OSR:

I meane my Lord the opposition of your person in tryall.

OSR:

Shall I deliuer you so?

HAM:

To this effect sir, after what florish your nature will.

OSR:

I commend my duty to your Lordshippe.

HAM:

Yours doo's well to commend it himselfe, there are no tongues els for's turne.

HOR:

This Lapwing runnes away with the shell on his head.

LOR:

The King and Queene and all are comming downe.

HAM:

In happy time.

HAM:

Shee well instructs me,

HOR:

You will loose my Lord.

HOR:

Nay good my 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 punisht

HAM:

Wiih a sore distraction: what I haue done

HAM:

That might your nature, honor. and exception

HAM:

Roughly awake I heere proclaime was madnes,

HAM:

Wast Hamlet wronged Laertes? neuer Hamlet.

HAM:

If Hamlet from himselfe be tane away,

HAM:

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

HAM:

Then Hamlet doo's it not, Hamlet denies it,

HAM:

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

HAM:

Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged,

HAM:

His madnesse is poore Hamlets enemie,

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 vngor'd: but all that time

LAE:

I doe rciue your offerd loue, like loue,

LAE:

And will not wrong it.

HAM:

I embace 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 Ham.

CLA:

You know the wager,

HAM:

Very well my Lord.

HAM:

Your grace has layde the ods a'th weaker 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 the table,

CLA:

If Hamlet giue the first or second hit,

CLA:

Or quit in answer 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 Onixe shall he throw,

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 heauens 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:

Com 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.Each lose his rapier and take up the contrary.

HAM:

Nay come againe.

OSR:

Looke to the Queene there hoe.

HOR:

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

OSR:

Host ist Laeres?

LAE:

Why as a woodcock to mine owne sprindge. Ostrick

LAE:

I am iustly kild with mine owne treachery.

HAM:

How does the Queene?

CLA:

She sounds to see them bleed.

GER:

No, no, the drink, the drinke, O my deare Ham

GER:

The drinke, the drinke, I am poysned.

HAM:

O villanie! hoe let the dore be lock't,

HAM:

Treachery, seeke it out.

LAE:

It is heere Hamlet, thou art slaine,

LAE:

No medcin in the world can do thee good,

LAE:

In thee there is not halfe an houres life,

LAE:

The treacherous instrument is in mthy hand

LAE:

Vnbated and enuenom'd, the foule practise

LAE:

Hath turn'd it selfe on me, loe here I lye

LAE:

Neuer to rise againe: thy mother's poysned,

LAE:

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

HAM:

The point enuenom'd to, then venom to thy worke.

ALL:

Treason, treason.

CLA:

O yet defend me friends, I am but hurt.

HAM:

Here 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 himsefe.

LAE:

Exchange forgiuenes 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. O I could tell you!

HAM:

But let it be; Horatio I am dead,

HAM:

Thou liuest, report me and my cause aright

HAM:

To the vnsatisfied.

HOR:

Neuer beleeue it;

HOR:

I am more an antike Romane then a Dane,

HOR:

Heere's yet some liquor 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 didst euer hold me in thy heart,

HAM:

Absent thee from felicity a while,

HAM:

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

HAM:

To tell my story: what warlike noise is this?

OSR:

Young Fortinbrasse with conquest come from Poland,

OSR:

Th th'embassadors of England giues this warlike volly.

HAM:

O I die Horatio,

HAM:

The potent poyson quite ore‐growes my spirit,

HAM:

I cannot liue to heare the newes from England,

HAM:

But I do prophesie the election lights

HAM:

On Fortinbrasse, he has my dying voyce,

HAM:

So tell him with th'occurants more and lesse

HAM:

Whch haue solicited, the rest is silence.

HOR:

Now cracks a noble heart, good night sweet Prince,

HOR:

And flights of Angels singe thee to thy rest.

HOR:

Why dooes the drumme come hethe?

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, O proud death

FOR:

What feast is toward in thine eternall cell,

FOR:

That thou so many Princes at a shot

FOR:

So bloudily hast strooke?

AMB:

The sight is dismall

AMB:

And our affaires from England come too late,

AMB:

The eares are sencelesse rhat should giue vs hearing,

AMB:

To tell him his commandement is fulfilld,

AMB:

That Rosencraus and Guyldenstirne are dead,

AMB:

Where should wee 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 Pollock 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 mee speake, to th'yet vnknowing wor ld

HOR:

How these things came about; so shall you heare

HOR:

Of cruell, 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 the inuenters heads: all this can I

HOR:

Truely deliuer.

FOR:

Let vs hast to heare it,

FOR:

And call the noblest to the audience,

FOR:

For me with sorrow I embrace my fortune,

FOR:

I haue some rights of memory in this kingdome,

FOR:

Which now to claime my vantage doth inuite me.

HOR:

Of that I shall haue also cause to speake,

HOR:

And from his mouth, whose voyce will draw 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 errors 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 musique 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.

Back to Top