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Thoae too ierge to be entirely Included In one expoeure ere filmed beginning ki the upper left hand comer, left to right end top to bottom, aa many framea aa reqMlred. The foHowHng diegrama Wuetrata tha method: Lee cartaa. planclies. tabiaeux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmic A des taux da riduction dlff Arants. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un soul clichA. 11 est fiimA A partir da I'angie supArieur geuche. do gauche A droite, et do heut en bev, en prenent le nombre dimagae nAcaeaafire. Lea diagrammes suivants illuatrant le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 mmmmmm &ciU>oi JiK' J ViMiahed by Datvsan Bros. ' By professor ANDREW, 0/ the University of McGill College, nie New Dramatio Beader ; Comprising a Selec- tion of Pieces for Practice in Elocution, with intro- ductory hints to Readers. Price, 75 cents. ^ By J. D. MORELL, LL.D., H. M, Inspector of Schools^ England, A Oomplete Manual of Spelling on the Prin- ciples of Contrast and Comparison; with numerous Exercises. Price, 30 cents. By F. C. EMBSRSON, M.A., Inspector of Schools in the Province of Quebec, The Art of Teaching;: A Manual for the use of Teachers and School Commissioners. Price 50 cents. « Oanadian Elementary School Atlas ; For the use of Junior Classes, containing 16 Maps. Price, 25 cents. A cheap and yet very complete elementary Atlas. The Maps, which are similar to those in Keith Johnston's ele- mentary Atlases, are clear and attractive. . ' cryJL SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGEDY OP" HAMLET. ^tranged for Heading in 0ci)ddl0, WITH NOTES. BY n-\^ , J®HN ANDREW, Instructor in Elocution in McGill University and Normal School, and the High Schools of Montreal. in Pontreal: DAWSON BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS. 1881. irt /3 .Jipwin— "Mi j u ' w i' . ii » -. ' ■'? "" >»'' IF' ik \ A <^ ■ courtiers. DRAMATIS PERSON-ffi. Claudius, ki|^ of Denmark. Hamlet, son to the former, and nephew to the present king. PoLONius, lord chamberlain. KoRATio, friend to Hamlet. Laertes, son to Polonius. voltimand, Cornelius, rosencrantz, guildenstern, Osric, A Gentleman, A Priest. Francisco, a soldier. Reynaldo, servant to Polonius. Players. Two Clowns, grave-diggers. FoRTiNBRAS, prince of Norway. A Captain. English Ambassadors. , Gertrude, queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet. Ophelia, daughter to Polonius. Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. Ghost of Hamlet's Father. Scene — Ehinorej except in the fourth scene of the fourth act, where it is a plain in Denmark. "^•^ w HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. ACT I. Scene I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle. Francisco at his post. Enter to kim Bernardo. Ber. Who's there ? Fran. Nay, answer me : stand, and unfold yourself." Ber. Long live the king ! ^ Fran. Bernardo? Ber. He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve ; get thee to bed, Fran- cisco. Fran. For this relief much thanks : 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard ? Fran. Not a mouse stirring. Ber. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals ' of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them. — Stand, ho! Who it there ? Enter Horatio and Marcellus. HOR. Friends to this ground. 1 The sentinel challenges. ^ The watchword. * Eivals are associates or partners. A brook, rivulet, or river, rivust being a natural boundary between different proprietoi^, was owned by them in common: that is, they were partners la the right and use of it From the strifes thus engendered, tit partners came to be contenders : hence the ordinary sense of rival. ■"fi i I ^^ HAMLET. [Act I M ' Mar. And liegemen to the Dane.i Fran. Give you good night.^ Mar. O, farewell, honest soldier : Who hath reliev'd you ? Fran. Bernardo has my place. Give you good night \,ExiU Mar. Holla! Bernardo! Ber. Say, — What, is Horatio there ? HoR. A piece of him.^ Ber. Welcome, Horatio : — welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. What,^ has this thing appear'cl again to-night ? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,*^ And will not let behef take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us : Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night ; That, if again this apparition come. He may approve our eyes,^ and speak to it. HoR. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear. Ber. Sit down awhile \ And let us once again assail your ears, That are so fortified against our story. What we two nights have seen. HoR. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Last night of all, When yond same star that's westward from the pole Had made his course t' illume that part of heaven - Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one, — Mar. Peace, bresJc thee o£E ; look, where it comes again ! Enter Ghost. Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead|i Mar. Thou art a scholar ; ^ speak to it, Horatio. ^ The chief Dane : the king. > God give vou good night * Said jestingly, a German editor finds a deeper meaning. ^ An exclamation. '^ Imagination * Assure himself of what we have seen. "* i.e. able to speak Latin ; in which language the formidae of ezorcisi:! prescribed by the Church was written. mmmm Scene i] CAMLET. Ber. Looks it not like the king ? mark it, Horatio. HoR. Most like : — it harrows me with fear and wonder. Ber. It would be spoke to.^ Mar. Question it, Horatio, HoR. What art thou, that usurp'st ^ this time of night. Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark ^ Did sometimes march ? by heaven I charge thee, speak t Mar. It is offended. Ber. See, it stalks away I HoR. Stay ! speak, speak ! I charge thee, speak ! [Exti Ghost Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio ! you tremble, and look pale : Is not this something more than fantasy ? What think you on't? HoR. Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensiole and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king ? HoR. As thou art to thyself : Such was the very armour he had on When he th' ambitious Norway^ombated ; So frown'd he once, when in an angry parle/^ He smote the sledded PolacksL&on the ice. 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and jumpj,at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. HoR. In what particular thought to work I know not ; But, in the gross and scope of my opinion. This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this same strict and most observant watch So nightly toilsii^the subject the Sunday from the week ; What might be toward,* that this sweaty haste Doth make the night joint-laborer with the day : Who is 't that can inform me ? HoR. That can I ; At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, Whose image even but now appear'd to us, Was, as you know, bv Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prick'd on ^ by a most emulate * pride, Dar'd to the combat ; in which our valiant Hamlet— For so this side of our known world esteem 'd him — Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd .ompact, Well ratified by law and heraldrj^ Did forfeit, witn his life, all those his lands Which he stood seiz'd of;Lto the conqueror : Aeainst the which, a moiety competent^. Was gag^d by our king; which had return'd To the mheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher ; as, by the sime covenant, And carriage of the article design'd^S His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimprovM mettled hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, Shark'd upJ^ list of lawless resolutes,ttt For food and diet,ii,to some enterprise That hath a stomach in't,U. which is no other-r As it doth well appear unto our state — But to recover oi us, by strong hand And terms compulsative," those foresaid lands So by his father lost : and this, I take it, Is the main motive of our preparations, The source of this our watch, and the chief head * Impressment. ^ Distinguish. ' Near at hand. Comins on. ^ Spurred on. ^ Emulous. * Civil law and the law of arms. "^ Possessed of. * Portion of territory equivalent. * By the imi>ort of the article drawn up. ^ Undisciplined courage. w Scared up. " To shark " is " to thieve." u Desperadoes: ^ por no pay but their keep. ^* Some enterprise that requires stomacn, u e» courage. 1* Compulsory. V SCBNI l] HAMLET, Of this post-haste and romafe ^ in the land. Bbr. I think it be no other but e'en so : Well may it sort * that this portentous figure Comes arm^d through our watch ; so like the king That was and is the question of these wars. HoR. A mote * it is to trouble the mind's eye. In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead Did squeak and gibber ^ in the Roman streets : As, stars with trains of fire, and dews of blood,* ] Disasters in the sun ; and the moist star,^ Upon whose influence Neptune's empire standfly was sick almost to doomsday ^ with eclipse : And even the like precurse of fierce events— As harbingers preceding still the fates. And prologue to the omen ^ coming* on — Have heaven and earth together demonstrated Unto our climature * and countrymen. — But, softy behold ! lo, where it comes again 1 He-enter Ghost. I'll cross it, though it blast me.^° — Stay, illusion I If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, Speak to me : . If there be anv good thing to be done, That may to tnee do ease, and grace ^^ to mey Speak to me : If thou art privy to thy country's fate. Which, happily,!^ foreknowing may avoid,^ O, speak i Or ii thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure ^* in the womb of earth, 1 Disturbance. ^ Fit, suit or agree. * A small matter. * To utter inarticulate sounds. * It is supposed a line has been omitted here. * The moon. ^ The Day of Judgment. * Here used for the calamity which the omen indicated. * Possibly those who live under the same climate. "^ To cross the path of a spectre was supposed to subject a person to its malignant influence. ^ Good turn, kinoness. ^ Haply. ^ Which perhaps our foreknowing it may enable 1IB to avoid. ^* Treasure obtained by injustice. I' •= **^ HAMLET. [Act I For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, \Cock crows. Speak of it : — stay, and speak ! — Stop it, Marcellus. Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan ? ^ HoRo Do, if it will not stand. 3er. 'Tis here ! Hon 'Tis here ! Mar. 'Tis gone ! \Exit Ghost. We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence ; For it is, as the air, invulnerable. And our vain blows malicious mockery. Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. HoR. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. I have heard. The cock, that is the ^'■umpet to the mom. Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat Awake the god of day ; and at his warning, Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, Th' extravagant and erring ^ spirit hies To his confine : and of the truth herein This present object made probation.^ Mar. It fadea on the crowing of the cock.* Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated. The bird of dawning singeth all night long : And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad ; The nights are wholesome ; then no planets strike,^ No fairy takes,* nor witch hath power to charm ; So hallo w'd and so gracious is the time. Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad. Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill : Break we cur watch up : and, by my advice. Let us impart what we have seen to-night * Unto young Hamlet ; for, upon my life. This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him : Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it. As needful in our loves, fitting our duty ? Mar. Let's do't, I pray ; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most conveniently. \Exeuni, * Halberd. ^ Wandering and straying. • Proof. * A very ancient superstition. ^ Blast or smite with disease* * Practi'cally=' Strikes,' as in line before. Scene 2] HAMLET. Scene II. The same. A room of state in the castle. Enter the King, Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Vol- TiMAND, Cornelius, Lords, and Attendants. King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green ; and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe ; ^ Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, That we with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queeiu Th' imperial jointress ^ of this warlike state, / Have we, as 'twere with a defeated ^ joy,-^**^^'^-' With one auspicious,^ and one dropping eye. With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage. In equal scale weighing delight and dole,^ — Taken to wife : nor have we herein barr'd « Your better wisdoms, which have freely eone With this affair along : — for all, our thanks. Now follows, that you know,^ young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal ^ of our worth, Or thinlcing by our late dear brother's death Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, Colleagu^d with the dream of his advantage,' He 10 hath not fail'd to pester i^ us with message, Importing " the surrender of those lands Lost by his father, with all bands of law. To our most valiant brother. So much for him. Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting : Thus much the business is : — we have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fontinbras, — Who, impotent 1* and bed-rid, scarcely hears Of this his nephew's purpose, — to suppress His further gait^^ herein ; in that the levies, The lists, and full proportions, are all made 1 Mourning brow. • Joint possessor. • Disfigured, marred. * Cheerful. * Grief. • Excluded. "^ That which you already know. ^ Notion. • Imagining also that he will make something out of it >° The pronoun is superfluous. ^^ Trouble. "^ Having for import. M Invalid, ** Advance. ii i( 'yv S HAMLET. [Act X I Out of his subject :~and we here dispatch You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand, For bearers of this greeting to old Norway ; Giving to you no further ^^rsonal power To business with the k.ag, more than the scope Of these dilated^ articles allow.' Farewell ; and let your haste commend your duty. Cor. Vol. In that and all things will we snow our duty. King. We doubt it nothing : heartily farewell. [Exeunt Vcltimand and Cornelius. And now, Laertes, what's the news with you ? You told us of some suit ; what is't, Laertes ? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, And lose your voice : ■ what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking ? The head is not more native to the heart. The hand more instrumental to the mouth. Than is the throne of Denmaik to thy father. What wouldst thou have, Laertes ? Laer. Dread my lord. Your leave and favour to return to France : From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, To show my duty in vour coronation ; Yet now, I must confess, that duty done. My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, And bow them to your gracious leave * and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius ? Pol. He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave By lauoursome ^ petition ; and, at last. Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent : I oio beseech you, give him leave to go. King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes ; time be thine. And thy best graces spend it at thy will ! • — But now, my cousin ^ Hamlet, and my son, — ^ Dilate or delate, to speak at large. ^ Should be " allows." * Speak in vain. ^ i. e.. Leave to depart. ^ Laborious. ^ Let your best accomplishments employ the time as you please. ■'This word was used to denote "uncle" and "aunt," «4 nephew " and "niece," as well as in the modern sense. [Act X I ow our Cornelius, aertes, ord, irk, ice^ on. lat says >w laave iiae. • allows." depart. e as you "aunt," e. Scene 2] Ham. [aside] a kind.i HAMLET. little more than kin, auJ less than King. How is it that the clouds still hans on you ? Ham. Not so, my lord ; I am too much r the sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.^ Do not for ever with thy vailed * lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust : Thou know'st 'tis common, — all that live must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen. If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee? Ham. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not "seems." 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother. Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath. No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected haviour* of the visage. Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief. That can denote me truly : these, indeed, seem, For they are actions that a man might play : But I have that within which passeth show ; These but the trappings and the suits of woe. King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your natttre, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father : But, you must know, your father lost a father ; That father lost, lost his ; and the survivor bound, In filial obligation, for some term To do obsequious ^ sorrow : but to pers^ver In obstinate condolement,^ is a course Of impious stubbornness ; 'tis unmanly grief : It shows a will most incorrect to heaven ; A heart unfortified, a mind impatient ; An understanding simple and unschool'd : For what we know must be, and is as common As any the most vulgar thing to sense, ^ He is more than kinsman on account of his marriage with Hamlet's mother, and less than kind because his marriage is out of kind, or unnatural. ' The king of Denmark. • Cast down. ♦ Aspect. ' Pertaining to funeral obsequies. * Grief. (n M r "","» .« Ji; '♦rjr«r-j^ji;jif»*.,<.^fc„- 10 HAMLET. [Act I K Iff Why should we, in our peevish opposition, Take it to heart ? Fie ! 'tis a fault to heaven, A fault against the dead, a fault to nature. To reason most absurd ; whose common theme Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried, From the first corse till he that died to-day, " This must be so." We pray you, throw to earth This unprevailing * woe ; and think of us As of a father : for let the world take note, You are the most immediate to our throne ; And with no less nobility of love Than that which dearest father bears his son, Do I impart toward you. For your intent In going back to scHool in Wittenberg, It is most retrograde to our desire : And we beseech you, bend you to remain Here, in the cheer and comfort of our eye. Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet : I pray thee, stay with us ; go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, madam King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply : Be as ourself in Denmark. — Madam, come ; This gentle and unforc'd accord of Hamlet Sits smilinsr to my heart : in grace whereof, No jocund nealth that Denmark drinks today, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell ; And the king's rouse 2 the heavens shall bruit « again, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. \Exeunt all except Hamlet, Ham. O, that this too-too « solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew ! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon ° 'gainst self-slaughter ! O God ! O God ! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world ! Fie on't ! O, fie ! 'tis an unweeded garden. That grows to seed ; thingstrankjand gross in nature I I 1 1 Unavailing. •To bruit IS to 3 Draueht to one's health, noise : " to bruit again '^ is to echo. * A common reduplication. * Law enforced by religious sanction. a \ Scene 2] HAMLET. XI [Act I Camlet : tain, Hamlet, elt, d! :ure lealth. Possess it merely.^ That it should come to this ! But t wo months de ad I— nav. biot so muchL aoTTwo : So excellent a king I mat was^o this, ^ • HypSnon ^ 10 a satyr : so loving to my mother. That he might not beteem ^ the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth ! Must I remember ? why, she would hang on him, As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on : and yet, within a month, — Let me not think on't, — Frailty, thy name is woman !— A little month ; or e'er those shoes were old With which she follow'd my poor father's body, Like Niobe, all tears ; — why she, even she — O God ! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,^ Would have mourn'd longer — married with my uncle. My father's brother ; but no more like my father Than I to Hercules : within a month ; Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled ^ eyes, She married : — It is not, nor it cannot come to, good ; But break, my heart, — for I must hold my tongue ! Enter HoRATio, Marcellus, and Bernardo. HoR. Hail to your lordship ! Ham. I'm glad to see you well : Horatio,— or I do forget myself. HoR. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. Ham. Sir, my good friend ; I'll change that name with you :« And wnat make you from Wittenberg, Horatio ? — Marcellus ? Mar. My good lord, — Ham. I'm very glad to see you. — Good even, sir* — But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg ? HoR. A truant disposition, good my lord. Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so ; Nor shall you do mine ear that violence * Entirely. ^ A Homeric name for Apollo. ^ Permit. ♦ The reasoning faculty. * Sore with weeping. •You shall be my friend, and I will be your servant. — Clark and Wright. The following reading is suggested : " Sir, my f^QxA friend ; 111 change that name with you." I' ri ?y/ ■\ h I 12 HAMLET, [Act I To make it truster of your own report Against yourself : I know you are no truant. But what is your affair in Elsinore ? We*ll teach you to drink deep ere you depart. HoR. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student ; I think it was to see my mother's wedding. HoR. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon.i Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio ! the funeral bak'd meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriw^'^e tables. Would I had met my dearest ^ foe in heaven Or e Then if he says he loves you. It fits your wisdom so far to believe it. As he in his particular act and place May give his saying deed ; ' which is no further Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain, If with too credent ' ear you list his songs ; Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister ; And keep you in the rear of your affection, Out of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal enough, If she unmask her beauty to the moon : Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes : The canker ^ galls the infants of the spring. Too oft before their buttons w be disclos'd; And in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most imminent. Be wary, then ; best safety lies in fear : Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. "Oph. I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep, ^ What supplies, or fills up, a minute. ^ Sinews. ^ Deceit ^ His virtuous intention. * Of no worth: ^ His choice must be approved of by his people. ^ Believe his promises only so far as his position allows him to fulfil them. ^ Credulous. * Canker worm. ^<) Buds. n •M. ! I' m ' 1» I ' I . in i6 HAMLET. f.ACT I As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious i pastors do, • Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven ; Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine. Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads. And recks not his own rede.^ Laer. O, fear me not.* I stay too long : — but here my father comes. Enter Polonius. A double blessing is a double grace ; Occasion smiles upon a second leave. Pol. Yet here, Laertes ! aboard, aboard, for shame ! The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail. And you are stay'd for. There, — my blessing with thee f [Laying his hand on Laertes* head^ And these few preceojjg in thy memory See thou chardcter.* (Sive thy though ts( no to^igue, Norkmyjunproportioa'd'^ thoug"htihis ac;. Be thou familiar, (butl by no meankWyl^rf The friends/'tliou'haaltJand their adbotior^ tqed,« Grapple themjto thy sbiLl|with hoopslof steeh Butido notjdull thy palnJ with entertannment Of Jachlnew-hatch'dJ unfledg'd comrdde^f Beware Of entrance to a quarrel ; but being in, Bear't, that th* opposed « may beware of thee. Give every man thine ear, but few thy vojce : Take each 'man's censure,® but reserve thy judgment- Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy ; rich, not gaudy: For the apparel oft proclaims the man ; And they in France of the best rank and station Jilx& most select and generous, chief in th^^i^ friend ; Phiskbove alll-^-to^ thine ownself jbe true ;f 10 ^ Graceless. ^ Regards not his own lesson. 8 Fear not for me. * Engrave. * Unsuitable. • And whose adoption thou hast tried. ■^ Do not blunt thy feeling by admitting every new acquaint- ance to the intimacy of a friend. " Opponent. • Opinion. i*> Economy f Act I her, shame ! nrith thee f ertes^ head^ gue, u*e ment. sson. >le. acquaint- Scene 3] HAMLET, jy And it must followi as the nieht the day, Thou canst not/thni |be falsejto ajw man. Farewell p my blessing season > thia in thee 1 Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. Pol. The time invites you ; go, your servants tend*. Laer. Farewell, Ophelia ; and remember well What I have said to you. Oph. 'Tis in my memory lock'd, And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Laer. Farewell. \Exit. Pol. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you ? Oph. So please you, something touching Cat Lord Hamlet. Pol. Marry, well bethought : Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you ; and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous : If it be so, — as so 'tis put on me,> And that in way of caution,— I must tell you, You do not understand yourself so clearly As it behoves my daughter and your honour. What is between you ? give me up the truth. Oph. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. Pol. Affection ! pooh ! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted* in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them ? Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Pol. Marry, I'll teach you : think yourself a baby ; That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender * yourself more dearly ; Or — not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus— vou'll tender me a fool. Oph. My lord, he hath impdrtun'd me with love In honourable fashion. Pol. Ay, fashion you may call't ; go to, go to.® Oph. And hath given countenance to his spee :h, my lord. With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Pol. Ay, springes 7 to catch woodcocks. I do know, 1 Ripen. * Wait. • Impressed upon me. * Inexperienced. * Regard. * An exclamation of contempt and impatience. ^ Sn&res. I J y . %\ .1 I HAMLET. [Act I When the blood burns, how prodigal ^ the soul Lends the toneue vows : these blazes, daughter, Givine more light than heat,— extinct in both, Even In their promise, as it is a-making, — You must not take for fire. From this time Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence ; Set your entreatments » at a higher rate Than a command to parlev. For Lord Hamlet, Believe so much in him, that he is young ; And with a larger tether may he walk Than may be given you : in few,« Ophelia, Do not believe his Vows ; for they are brokers,*— Not of that dye which their investments * show. But mere implorators of unholy suits. Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds. The better to beguile. This is for all,— I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth. Have you so slander • any moment's leisure As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet Look to't, I charee you : come your ways. Oph. I shall oBey, my lord. {Exeunt, Scene IV. The same. The platform before the castle. Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. Ham. The air bites shrewdly ; '^ it is very cold. HoR. It is a nipping and an eager * air. Ham. What hour now ? HoR. I think it lacks of twelve. Mar. No, it is struck. HoR. Indeed ? I heard it not : then it draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. \A flourish of trumpets^ and ordnance shot offy within. What does this mean, my lord ? Ham. The king doth wake^ to-night, and takes his rouse. Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels ; lo And, as he drains his draughts ofRhenish down, ^ Adjective for adverb. > Solicitations. * In short. ^ Go-betweens. ^ Vesture, dress. Misuse. 7 Keenly. " Sharp. • Feast late. "^ Holds a revel, and reels through the swaggering dance. [Act I Scene 4] HAMLET, «9 t, h, L [Exeunt, the castle. JS. d. elve. s near the off, within. takes his ils ; w 'I !n short. Misuse. dance. The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge.^ HoR. Is it a custom ? Ham. Ay, marry, is't : But to my mind, — though I am native here, And to the manner born,— it is a custom More honour'd in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduc'd and tax'd''' of other nations : They clepe " us drunkards, and with swinish phrase Soil our addition ; ^ and, indeed, it takes From our achievements, though perform'd at height," The pith and marrow of our attribute.* So, oft it chances in particular men. That, for some vicious mole of nature "^ in them, As, in their birth, — wherein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin, — By the o'ergrowth of some complexion. Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason ; Or by some habit, that too much o'er-leavens The form of plausive * manners ; — that these men,— Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect. Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,* — Their virtues else — be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo *" — Shall in the general censure ^^ take corruption From that particular fault : the dram of evil Doth all the noble substance oft debase To his own scandal. HoR. Look, my lord, it comes i Enter Ghost. . 4. Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us !— Be thou a spirit of health i^ or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, ^ The universal acceptance of his pledge. * Censured. * Call. ♦ Title. Stain our name by calling us swine. * To the utmost. ' The best part of the praise that would be otherwise attrib- uted to us. ''Natural blemish. ^ Pleasing. * A defect which is either natural or accidental. 10 £ndare. ^ Opinion. " A saved spirit. i ''-^l !»t ao HAMLET, [Act X ( 111 n 'A s Thou com'st in such a questionable ^ shape, That I will speak to thee : I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father ; royal Dane, O, answer me ! Let me not burst in ignorance ; but tell Why thy candniz'd » bones, hearsed in death. Have burst their cerements ; ^ why the sepulchre, Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urn'd,* Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again ! What may this mean. That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon. Making night hideous ; and we fools of nature * So horridly %o shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls ? Say, why is this ? wheref6re ? what should we do ? \Ghost beckons Hamlet, HoR. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment ^ did desire To you alone. Mar. Look, with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed "^ ground : But do not go with it. HoR. No, by no means. Ham. It will not speak ; then I will follow it HoR. Do not, my lord. Ham. Why, what should be the fear ? I do not set my life at a pin's fee ; ^ And for my soul, what can it do to that. Being a thing iniaiortal as itself ? It waves me forth again; — I'll follow it. HoR. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles * o'er his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form. Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason,^® And draw you into madness ? think or it : ^ Inviting question. * Sainted. ^ From a Latin word meaning wax^ and was so applied from the use of wax or pitch in sealing up coffins. * Interred. * Playthings of nature, who are completely under her influ- ence. * Communication. '^ Retired. * A pin's worth. ® Projects. ^^ The control which reason exercises over a sane mind. I I ■ [Act I let^ ;hre, Bl, Is? do? kom HamieU m e the fear? my lord, >n,w jplied from iterred. r her influ- mind. SCEN me, 4] HAMLBT, 2X The very place p«te \0f%^ of despcfaltai Without more motive, mto every brain, That looks so many fathoms to the sea. And hears it roar beneath. Ham. It waves me still. — Go on ; I'll follow thee. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. Ham. Hold off your hands. HoR. Be rul'd ; you shall not go. Ham. My fate cries out, And makes each petty artery in this body As hardy as the Ndmean lion's nerve. — ^ \Ghost beckons. Still am I call'd : — unhand me, gentlemen ;— \Br taking from them. By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me : * — I say, away ! — Go on ; I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet, HOR. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Let's follow ; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. HoR. Have after. — To what issue will this come ? Mar. Something is rotte " in the state of Denmark. HoR. Heaven will direct it.* -< Nay, let's follow him.* \ [Exeunt, Mar. Scene V. The same. A more remote part of the platform. Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Ham. Where wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further. Ghost. Mark me. Ham. I will. Ghost. My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Ham. Alas, poor ghost ! Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak ; I am bound to hear. 1 Idle fancies. * Muscle. ' Hinders me. ^ i. e.f the issue. ' Let us not leave it to heaven, but do something ourselves. I.; '■ i 23 HAMLET, [Act I »• i, Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear* Ham. What? Ghost. I am th)r father's spirit ; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day cuufined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I CO aid a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy youn^ blood ; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres ; Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each partfcular hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine : ^ But this eternal blazon 2 must not be To ears of flesh and blood. — List, list, O, list ! — If thou didst ever thy dear father love, — Ham. O God ! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Ham. Murder! Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is ; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love. May sweep to my revenge. Ghost. I find thee apt ; And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this, ^ow, Hamlet, hear : *Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me ; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly ^ abus'd : but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now weats his crown. Ham. O my prophetic soul ! My uncle ? Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, — O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power * Porcupine. ^ Revelation of eternity. » Grossly. [Act I Shalt hear. Scene 4] HAMLET. 23 >rbid blood ; spheres ; il murder. is; 5 as swift lear : lark east, rossly. So to seduce ! — won to his shameful love The will of my .most seeming-virtuous queen O Hamlet, what a falling-^ i f was there ! from me, whose love was ot that dignity, That it went hand in hand even with the vow i made to her in marriage ; and to decline Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were ;.oor To ^ those of mine ! But, sqft ! methinks I scent the morning air ; Briefjet me be. — Sleeping within my orchard^ Myjajstom always in the afternoon, Upon my secure ^ hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursfed hebenop^ in a vial. And in the porches of mine ears did pour The leperous distilment ; whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man, That, swift as quicksilver, it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body; And, with a sudden vigour.* it doth posset And curd, like eager ^ droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood : so did it mine $ And a most instant® tettcf ' bark'd about. Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust All my smooth body. Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatched : Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhouseird,* disappointed,* unan^lM ; *•' No reckoning made,^Jl>ut sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. Ham. O, horrible ! O, horrible ! most horrible! Ghost. If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; Let not the royal bed cf Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. Bui, howsoever thou pursu'st this act. Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive * Compared to. ^ 2 Unsuspicious. 8 Supposed to mean henbane. * Rapid and violent action. * French, aigre^ sojir. • Instantaneous. "^ Eruption like ringworm. • Without the Eucharist. • U nprepared. ^° Without having received extreme unction. % (( 24 HAMLET. [Act I i:/ Against thy mother aught : leave her to heaven, And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once 1 The glow-worm snows the matin ^ to be near, And gins to pale his uneffectual fire : Adieu, adieu, adieu ! remember me. \ExiU Ham. O all you host of heaven ! O earth ! what else ? And shall I couple hell ? — O, fie ! — Hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant ^ old. But bear me stiffly up. — Remember thee ! Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat In this distracted globe.* Remember thee ! Yea, from the table * of my memory I'll wipe away all trivial fond® records, All saws ^ of books, all forms, all pressures ^ past, That youth and observation copied there ; And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmix'd with baser matter : yes, by heaven ! — O most pernicious woman ! villain, villain, smiling, damned villain ! My tables,® — meet it is I set it down. That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark: \Writing, So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word ; • It is, " Adieu, adieu ! remember me : " 1 have sworn't. My lord, my lord, — Lord Hamlet, — Heaven secure him ! So be it ! lUo, ho, ho, my lord ' HoR. \within Mar. Xivithin HoR. \within Mar. \within HoR. \witMn Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy ! come, bird, come.^** Enter HoRATio and Marcellus. \ Mar. How is't, my noble lord ? HoR. What news, my lord ? 1 Morning. ^ Instantly. ■ Here Hamlet puts his hand upon his head. * Tablet, fi Foolish. * Sayings, proverbs. ^ Impressions. • Memorandum-book. ® Watchword. "^^ The call of the falconer to his hawks. [Act I I gcENE 4l HAMLET, ven. ncel lExiu ! what else ? heart; eat >ast, n. [Writing, Jcure him I 10 my lord ? rablet. )ns. 25 Ham. O, wonderful ! HoR. Good my lord, tell it. Ham. No ; you'll reveal it. HoR. Not I, my lord, by heaven. * Mar. Nor I, my lord. Ham. How say you, then ; would heart of man once think it ?— But you'll be secret ? HoR. Mar. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Ham. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave. HoR. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. Ham. Why, right ; you're i' the right ; And so, without more circumstance ^ at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part : You, as your business and desire shall point you.— For every man hath business and desire. Such as it is ; — and for mine own poor part. Look you, ril go pray. HoR. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Ham. I'm sorry they offend you, heartily ; Yes, faith, heartily. HoR. There's no offence, my lord. Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, — It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you : For your desiie to know what is between us, O'ermaster 't as you may. And now, good friends. As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request. HoR. What is't, my lord? we wil]. Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night. HoR. Mar. My lord, we will not. Ham. Nay, bui swear *t. HoR. In faith, My lord, not I. MAR. Nor I, my lord, in faith, Ham. Upon my sword.^ * Circumlocution. ^ Because the hilt of his sword was in the form of a cross. ,"1 1, ' ti P ■■ 26 HAMLET, f Act I 1 r y Mar, We've sworn, my lord, already. Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost, \beneath] Swear. Ham. An, ha, boy ! say'st thou so ? art thou there, truepenny ? — Come on, — ^j^ou hear this fellow in the cellarage, — Consent to swear. HoR. Propose the oath, my lord. Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. Ghost, ybeneath'^ Swear. Ham. Hie et ubtquef then we'll shift our ground.— Come hither, gentlemen. And lay your hands again upon my sword : Never to speak of this that you have heard. Swear by my sword. Ghost. \beneath'\ Swear. Ham. Well said, old mole ! canst work i* th' earth so fast? A worthy pioner ! ^ — Once more remove, good friends. HoR. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange I Ham. And therefore a-' a stranger give it welcome.* There are more things in heaven and earth, Koratio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come ; — Here, as before, never, so help you mercy. How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, — As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet To put an antic ® disposition on,* — That you, at such times seeing me, never shall. With arms encumber'd ^ thus, or this head-shake. Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase. As " Well, well, we know," or " We could, an if we would," Or " If we list to speak," or " There be, an if they might," Or such ambiguous giving out,* to note W ^ Pioneer. The levity displayed by Hamlet is at once the natural expression of a mind oppressed with horror (Uke the jests of dying men and hysterical laughter), and is also a cun- ning device to deceive his friends as to the purport of his com- munication with the ghost. — Clarke 6^ Wright, • And therefore receive it without doubt or question. • Disguised. * Put on : assume. * Folded. * Indication. Scene i] U AM LET, n That you know aught of me : — this not to do, * - So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear. ' \ Ghost. Ipeneathl Swear. Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit ! — So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you : And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do t' express his love and friending ^ to you, God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together ; And still your fingers on your lips, I pray. The time is out of joint :— O cursM spite, That ever I was born to set it right ! — Nay, come, let's go together. [Exeunt. ACT II. Scene I. Elsinore. A room in Polonius* house. Enter PoLONlus ^ and Reynaldo. Pol. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo. Rey. I will, my lord, Pol. You shall* do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquiry Of his behaviour. Rey. My lord, I did intend it. Pol. Marry, well said ; very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers * are in Paris ; And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, ^ What company, at what expense ; and finding. By this encompassment and drift « of question, That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it : Take ' you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him , As thus, " I know his father and his friends, And in part him ; "^kIo you mark this, Reynaldo ? - Friendliness. 2 " Polonius is a man bred in courts, exercised in business, stored with observation, confident in his knowledge, proud of his eloquence, and declining into dotage. * ♦ * The idea of dotage encroaching upon wisdom will solve all the phenomena of the character of Polonius." — Johnson. 8 We should now say " will." * Danes. ^ Live. ® Scope and tendency. '' Assume. i^r 3' 'I If*'' hi r Ha 38 HAMLET [Acr II ls| Rey. Ay, very well, my lord. Pol. "And in part him; — but," you may say, "not well: But, if't be he I mean, he's very wild ; Addicted so and so ; " — and there put on him What forgeries you please ; marry, none so rank As may dishonour him ; take heed of that ; But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips « As are companions noted and most known To youth and liberty. Rey. As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drink:.jg, fencing, swearing, quarrelling : — You may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him. Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge. You must not put another scandal on him. That he is open to incontinency ; That's not my meaning : but breathe his faults so quaintly. That they may seem the taints ^ of liberty ; The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind ; A savageness in unreclaimed '-^ blood, Of general assault.^ Rey. But, my good lord, — Pol. Wherefore should you do this 1 Rey. Ay, my lord, I would know that. Pol. Marry, sir, here's my drift ; And, I believe, it is a fetch of warrant : You laying these slight sullies on my son, As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working, Mark you, Your party in converse,* him ^ you would sound, Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes . The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd He closes with you in this consequence ; " Good sir,'* or so ; or " friend," or " gentleman," — According to the phrase, or the addition,^ Of man and country. Rey. Very good, my lord. 1 Blemishes. 2 Untamed. ^ Such as generally attack youth. ♦ Conversation. ^ He whom. ^ Title. Mil ay say, In rank larrelling ;— e charge. i so quaintly. my lord, ft; d, Scene i] HAMLET. 29 Pol. And then, sir, does he this, — he does — What was I about to sav ? — By the mass, I was About to say something : — where did I leave ? * Rey. At "closes in the consequence,'* At " friend or so," and " gentleman." Pol. At *• closes in consequence," — ay, marry ; • He closes with you thus ; "1 know the 'gentleman; I saw hjm yesterday, or t'other day. Or then, or then ; with such, or such ; and, as you say, There was he gaming ; there o'ertook in*s rouse ; * There falling out at tennis : " — or so forth. — See you now ; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth : And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,* With windlasses * and with assays of bias,* By indirections • find directions out : So, by my former lecture and advice. Shall you my son. You have me,^ have you not? Rey. My lord, I have. Pol. God b* wi* you ! fare you well. Rey. Good my lord ! Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself.* Rey. I shall, my lord. Pol. .\nd let him ply his music. Rey. Well, my lord. Pol. Farewell! [Exit Reynaldo. Enter Ophelia. How now, Ophelia ! what's the matter? Oph. Alas, my lord, I have been so affrighted ! Pol. With what, i' the name of God ? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my chamber, Lord Hamlet, — with his doublet all unbrac'd ; ® 1,"- ack youth. Title. 1 Leave off. 2 /_ g^ by intoxication. * Far-sighted. * Windings and circuitous ways. * A metaphor from the game of bowls, in which the player does not aim directly, but in a curve, so that the bias or weight on one side brings the ball round. 6 Indirect methods. We find out indirectly what we wish to knew directly. "^ You understand me ? 8 Observe him for yourself as well as learn from others. ® Unfastened. ifii 30 HAMLET. [Act II lg( No hat upon his head ; his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd, and down-gyv^d to his ancle ; ^ Pale as his shirt ; his knees knocking each other ; And with a look so piteous in purp6rt As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, — he comes before me. Pol. Mad for thy love ? Oph. My lord, I do not know ; But, truly, I do fear it. Pol. What said he } Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard ; Then goes he to the length of all his arm ; And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal ^ of my face ' As he would draw it. Lon^ stay'5ffiTe so ; At last, — a little shaking 01 miiie^m, And thrice his head thus waving up and down, — He rais'd a sigh so piteous and profound, That it did seem to shatter all his bulk. And end his being • that done, he lets me go : And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd, He seem'd to find his way without his eyes ; For out o' doors he went without their help, And, to the last, bended their light on me. Pol. Come, go with me : I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstasy ^ of love ; Whose violent property fordoes * itself, And leads the will to desperate undertakings, As oft as any passion under heaven That does afflict our natures. I am sorry, — What, have you given him any hard words of late ? Oph. No, my good lord ;• but, as you did command, I did repel his letters, and denied His access^ to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. — I'm sorry that with better heed and judgment I had not quoted ^ him : I fear'd he did out trifle, Itl T( A T Ti Ml C( 1 Hanging like gyves, or fetters, about his ancle. 2 Examination. * Madness. * Destroys. ^ Shakespere accents this word sometimes on the first and sometimes on the second syllable. • Observed. ; '^ ■-r^'yam lACT II |s^,£j,j. 2] HAMLET, n other ; 5t know ; me hard ; n,— • : : king. late ? >mmandy ie, le first and )served. And meant to wreck thee ; but, beshrew my jealousy 1 1 It seems it is as proper to our age ITo cast " beyond ourselves in our opinions, IAs it is common for the younger sort ITo lack discretion. Come, go we to the king : This must be known ; which, oeing kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love.' I Come. {Exeunt. Scene II. The same. A room in the cattle. Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Attendants. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern I Moreover that we much did long to see you. The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation ; so I call it. Since nor th' exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from th' understanding of himself, I cannot dream of : I entreat you both, > That, being of so young days brought up with him And since so neignbour'd^ to his youth and humour, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time : so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather. So much as from occasion you may glean, Whether au£;ht, to us unknown, afflicts him thus, That, open'd, lies within our remedy. Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you ; And sure I am two men there are not living To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry ^ and good will As to expend ycur time with us awhile. For the supply and profit of our hope, * Suspicion. ^ Plan. ' This passage is obscure. The sense seems to be — Ham> let's mad conduct might cause more ^rief if it were hidden, than the revelation of his love for Ophelia would cause hatred. * Intimately associated. ^ Courtesy. \ % HAMLET, [Act II '!■■ \ Your visitation shall receive such thanks As fits a king's remembrance. Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of * us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty. GuiL. But we both obey, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent. To lay our service freely at your feet, To be commanded. King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and eentle Guildenstem. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern andgentle Rosencrantz : And I beseech you instantly to visit My too-much-changed son. — Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. GuiL. Heavens make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him ! Queen. Ay, amen I {Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern^ and some Attendants, Enter POLONIUS. Pol. Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord. Are joyfully return'd. King. Thou still ^ hast been the father of good news. Pol. Have I, my lord ? Assure you, my good liege, I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, Both to my God and to mv gracious king : And I do think— or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure As it hath us'd to do — that I have found The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. King. O, speak of that ; that do I long to hear. Pol. Give first admittance to th' ambassadors ; My news shall be the fruit ^ to that great feast King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. \Exit PolonUa* He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your son's distemper. Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main ; * — His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage. King. Well, we shall sift him. ^Over. 3 Constantly. ^Desert. * Main cause. I 1 [Act hIscene 2] HAMLET, 33 ^ majesties md It, Guildenstern. Rosencrantz : s. ur practices •w^ Attendants. good lord, good news, good liege, lear. ors; t them in. xit Polonittf* )er. 4 »n cause. Re-enter POLONIus, w/M Voltimand and CORNELIUS. Welcome, my good friends \ I Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? VOLT. Most fair return of greetings and desires. Upon our first,i he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies ; which to him appeared To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack ; But, better loolc'd into, he truly * found It was against vour highness : whereat gricv u, — That so his sickness, age, and impotence, Was falsely borne in hand,* — sends out arrests On Fortinbras ; which he, in brief, obeys ; Receives rebuke from Norway ; and, in fine, Makes vow before his uncle never more To give th' assay of arms * against j^our majesty. Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, Gives him. three thousand crowns in annual fee ; And his commission to employ thos; soldiers, So levied as before, against the Polack : With an entreaty, herein further shown, \Gvves a paper. That it might please ^'ou to give quiet pass • Through your dominions for this enterprise, On such regards of safety and allowance « As therein are set down. King. It likes us well ; And at our more considerM time '^ we'll read, Answer, and think upon this business. Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour : Go to your rest ; at night we'll feast together : Most welcome home ! [Exeunt (^o/timaud and Cornelius, Pol. This business is well ended. — My liege, and madam, — to expostulate ^ What majesty should be, what duty is. Why day is aay, night night, and time is time, Were nothing out to waste night, day, and time. 1 Upon the first expression of our request. 2 This adverb belongs to " was," not to " found." * Deluded. * To put the quarrel to the test of war. * Passage. ^ Terms securing the safety of the country and regulating the passage of troups through it. ■^ When we have more leisure. ^ Discuss freely. 13? ;* .1*1 34 HAMLET. [Act II Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,^ And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief : — your noble son is mad : Mad call I it ; for, to define true madness, What is*t but to be nothing else but mad ? But let that go. Queen. More matter, with less art. Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true : 'tis true 'tis pity; And pity 'tis 'tis true : a foolish figure ; "" But farewell it, for I will use no art. Mad let us ^rant him, then : and now remains That we find out the cause of this effect, — Or rather say, the cause of this defect. For this effect defective comes by cause : Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend.* I have a daughter, — have whilst she is mine, — Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, Hath given me this : now gather, and surmise. \Reads. ** To tTie celestial and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,"— That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, — " beautified " is a vile phrase : but you shall hear. Thus : [Reads. ** In her ej^cellent-white bosom, these," &c. — Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her ? FoL* Good madam, stay awhile : I will be faithful. [Reads. " Doubt 8 thou the stars are fire ; Doubt that the sun doth move ; Doubt truth to be a liar ; But never doubt I love." " Oh dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not art to reckon my groans : but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu. " Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machint is to him,* Hamlet." This, in obedience, hath my ' aughter shown me : And more above, hath his solicitmgs. As they fell out by time, by means, and place, 1 Knowledge. 8 Suspect. " Consider * Whilst this body belongs to him. ^1 [Act II ISCENE 2] HAMLET. Irishes, IS {Reads. it beautified 2d "is a vile {Reads. thful. {Reads. 5« I have thee best, >s machint e: ig* to him. 35 All given to mine ear. King. But how hath she Receiv'd his love ? Pol. What do you think of me ? King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think^ When I had seen this hot love on the wing, — As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that. Before my daughter told me, — what might you. Or my dear majesty your queen here, think. If I had play'd the desk or table-book ; 1 Or given my heart a winking, ^ mute and dumb ; Or look'd upon this love with idle sight ; — What might you think ? No, I went round * to work, And my young mistress thus I did bespeak :* *' Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star ; * This must not be : " and then I precepts gave her, That she should lock herself from his resort. Admit no messenger, receive no tokens. Which done, she took the fruits of my advice ;• And he, repulsM, — a short tale to make, — Fell into a sadness ; then into a fast ; Thence to a watch ; ' thence into a weakness ; Thence to a lightness ; ^ and, by this declension, Into the madness wherein now he raves. And 9 all we mourn for. King, Do you think 'tis this ? Queen It may be, very likely. Pol. Hath there been such a time — I'd fain know that— That I have positively said, "'Tis so," When it prov'd otherwise ? King. Not that I know. Pol. {^pointing to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise : If circumstances lead me, I will find ,_ Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. ^ If I had been the agent ci their correspondence. ^ Connivance. ' Direct. ^ Address. ^ Probably " above the position in which fortune has placed you." * i.e.f Took my advice with its consequences. ^ Want of sleep. • Light-hcadedness. » Supply " which." n ' H ll 1 , r .1! !:i !:l 36 HAMLET, [Act II King. How may we try it further ? Pol. You know, sometimes he walKS four^ hours together Here in the lobby. Queen. So he does, indeed. Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him : Be you and I behind an arras'* then ; ^ ,, ^ . Mark the encounter : if he love her not, * And be not from his reason fall'n thereon Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm and carters. ^ King. We will try it. Queen. But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away : ; I'll board • him presently :— O, give me leave. \Exeunt King^ Queen, and Attendants, .< Enter IUkmlet reading. How does my good Lord Hamlet ? Ham. Well, God-a-mercy. Pol. Do 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. Ay, sir ; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. " For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god-kissing carrion," * — Have you a daughter ? Pol. 1 have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun : friend, look to *t» Pol. [aside] How say you by that ? Still harping on my daughter: — yet he knew me not at first; he said I was at fishmonger : he is far gone, far gone : and truly in 1 « For " in some editions. ^ Tapestry ; so called because the most famous factory wa» at the town of Arras. • Accost. * Mr. Staunton is the authority for printing this as a quota* tion from the book Hamlet is reading. 1:1 [Act II ler? ours together 'r to him : )CENE 2] HAMLET, retch comes i Attendants, man. goes, is to dead dog, lighter? look to 't. arping on he said I id truly in ictory wa» a quota* 37 ly youth I suffered much extremity for love ; very near this. I'll speak to him again. — What do you read, my lord? HAM. Words, words, words. Pol. What is the matter,^ my lord ? Ham. Between who? Pol. I mean the matter that you read, my lord ? Ham. Slanders, sir : for the satirical rogue says here, Ithat old men have grey beards; that their faces are Iwrinkled ; their eyes purging* thick amber and plum-tree gum ; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together [with most weak hams : all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down ; for you yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward. Pol. \aside\ Though this be jna dnessy yet -there is melhudiiL't.— Will you walk out of the air, my lord ? Ham. Into my grave ? Pol. Indeed, that is out o* the air. — \Aside\ How pregnant sometimes his replies are ! a happiness 'i^that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him snd my daughter.— My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you. Ham. You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal, — except my life, except my life, except my life. Pol. Fare you well, my lord. Ham. These tedious old fools ! Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet ; there he is. Ros. \to Polonius\ God save you, sir ! \Exit Polonius, GuiL. My honoured lord ! Ros. My most dear lord ! Ham. My excellent good friends ! How dost thou, Guildenstern ? Ah, Rosencrantz ! Good lads, how do ye both ? r— ^i»— -^ — — ^M^^— ^^^ ■ I Mill I ■ I ■ I » ■■»■■ 1 1 I ■ i.«^— — — j^^^— ^ 1 Hamlet purposely misunderstands the word to mean ** cause of dispute." "^ Discharging. • Felicity of expression. fl I rll t ; 1 ffAMLET. |l;;/.fi inii (i'i'i w|f [Act i{ Ros^V?^"?''';':'** prison. H?t 4 '* ** "orid one "a-°^-f5urmiir^ ="»'"«°" makes it one; •«, J cou;tl,°e.?a1J^^^^^^^^^ m a nut-sheli, and have bad dreams. * "'*""' «?"=«. were it not that I gos. GuiL. We'll waVSno„''^°"°* ''^^^on. ' ""* Ham. No such mo^Jl ^°" y^u. rest of my ser^ants™';^^^:,^ ^"\not sort you with th. of ..faith..^'^' --P'-on Of the French/,.-, „, an abbreviation HAMLET, 39 »e earth, •happy ; tton. or in the middle I's grown honest, our news is not Liiar; what have Ids of Fortune, many confines,! o the worst. here is nothing 5o ; to me it is 'tone; »tis too nut-shell, and 't not that I tion ; for the ne shadow of y and light a ur monarchs s. Shall we 1. 5u with the 5 an honest the beaten ibbreviation Ros. To visit you, my lord ; no other occasion. Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks ; but thank you : and sure, dear friends, my thanks^re too lear a halfpenny. Were j'ou not sent for ? Ins your )wn inclining ? Is it a free visitation ? Come, deal justly nth me : come, come ; nay, speak. GuiL. What should we say, my lord ? Ham. Why, any thing — but to the purpose. You were sent for ; ana there is a kind of confession in your looks, [which your modesties have not craft enough to colour : I [know tne good king and queen have sent for you. Ros. To what end, my lord ? Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer ^ could charge you withal, be even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no ? Ros. [aside to GuiL"] What say you ? Ham. t«JM5f] Nay, then, I have an eye of you. — If you love me, hold not off. GuiL. My lord, we were sent for. Ham. I will tell you why ; so shall my anticipation pre- vent your discovwy, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather. I have of late — but wherefore I know not — lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of ex- ercises ; and, indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposi- tion, that this goodlj^ frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory ; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majes- tical roof fretted * with golden fire, — why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What^ pific e^of work is man ! how noble in reason! how mfinite in faculties! in torih and moving how express ^ and admirable ! in action how like an angel ! in apprehension how like a god I the beauty of the world ! the paragon ^ of animals ! And yet, to me, what is this ! One who has greater power of exposition. ' In architecture^ a fret is an ornament consisting of small fillets intersecting each other at right angles. 3 Exact, fitted to its purpose. * Perfection. r I \ t m % »■ *. i\ \ 40 HAMLET. [Act ij '^:( \ r M i\ Mi quintessence ^ of dust ? man delights not me ; no, noij woman neither, though by your smiling you seem tc s?y so. R« '. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts] Ham. Why did you laugh, then, when I said "mai delights not me .'' " Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten ^ entertainment the players shall receive froml you : we coted • them on the way ; and hither are theyl coming, to offer you service. Ham. He that plays the king shall be welcome, — ^hisl majesty shall have tribute of me ; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis ; the humorous man shall end his part in peace ; the clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' the sere ; * and the ladv shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall bait mr 't. — What players are they ? Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the tragedians of the city. Ham. How chances it they travel ? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways. Ros. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation. Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city "i are they so followed ? Ros. No, indeed, they are not. Ham. How comes it ? do they grow rusty ? Ros. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace : but there is, sir, an aery* of children, little eyases,^ thr.t cry out on the top of question,'^ and are most tyrannically clapped ^ for *t : these are now the fashion ; and so berattle the common stages, — so they call them, — that many wear- 2 A term in alchemy, signifying the subtle essence which re- mained after the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water, had been removed from any substance. ^ Meagre like the far* proper to Lent. • Came up with. * Sere is the catch of a gunlock which keeps the hammer on half or full cock and is released by the trigger. "Lungft tickle o' the sere " are therefore luugs easily moved to laughter^ like a gun that goes off with the least touch. * Nest of hawks ; a young brood. ^ Unfledged birds. "^ Means probably that they speak in a high key. • Violently applauded. art in peace : ?s are tickle und freely, or ers are they ? SQch deligit '»• J^sidence, 1 ways. F means of 'ey did when >nted pace • rases.e thn.t yrannically soberattle nany wear- c which re- water, had »« HP with. lammer on " Lungs t> laughter, t>irds. rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare me thither. Ham. What, are they children ? who maintains 'em ? w are they escoted ? 1 Will they pursue the quality longer than they can sing ? will they not say afterwards, they should grow themselves to common players, — as it most like, it their means are no better, — their writers o them wrong, to make them exclaim against their own Accession ? Ros. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides ; nd the nation holds it no sin to tarre ^ them to contro- ersy : there was, for a while, no money bid for argument, nless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the ques- lon. Ham. Is't possible ? GuiL. O, there has been much throwing about of brains. Ham. Do the boys carry it away ? • Ros. Ay, that they do, my lord ; Hercules and his load too. Ham. It is not very strange ; for my uncle is king of Denmark, and those that would make mows * at him while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred du- cats a-piece for his picture in little.* 'Sblood,® there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. [Flourish of trumpets within, GuiL. There are the players. Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come : the appurtenance ' of welcome is fashion and ceremony : let me comply with you in this garb ; 8 lest my extent » to the players, which, I tell you, must show fairly outward, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome : but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. GuiL. In what, my dear lord ? ^ 1 Paid for. ^ get on to fight. « Gain the victory. • Mouths. ® Miniature. • God's blood, one of the many forms of oath by the elements of the Eucharist. '' Proper accompaniment. • Use ceremony with you in this fashion. ® Condescension. I l! I' i m 42 HAMLET. [Act Ham. I am but mad north-north-west : when the win| is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.^ Enter PoLONius. Pol. Well be with )^ou, gentlemen ! Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern ; — and you too;— at ead car a hearer : that great baby you see there is not yet ouj of his swaddling-clouts. Ros. Happily "^ he's the second time come to them ; foi they say an old man is twice a child. I Ham. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the play-l ers; mark it. — You say right, sir: o' Monday morning;] 'twas then, indeed. Pol. My lord, I have news to tell you. Ham. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Ros-l cius was an actor in Rome, — Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord. Ham. Buz, buz ! ^ Pol. Upon mine honour, — Ham. Then came each actor on his ass, — ^ Pol. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pas- toral, tragical - historical, tragical - comical-historical-pas- toral, scese individable,^ or poem unlimited : « Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the liberty, these are the only men. Ham. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou ! Pol. What treasure had he my lord ? Ham. Why, " One fair daughter, and no more, The whi^h he loved passing well.'* Pol. \aside\ Still on my daughter. Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah? iiiii 1 A corruption of " heronshaw: " a heron. * Haply. ■ Blackstone says " Buz used to be an interjection at Oxford when any one began a story that was generally known before." * Probably a line from a ballad. * A play where the unity of place is observed, and ^ Where no such restriction is imposed. m (Act when the wini (ene 2] HAMLET. 43 'Utoo;-ateac. eisnotyetou »e to them; foj ^e of the play, 'aay morning; d. .4 Pol. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daugh- r that I love passine well. Ham. Nay, that follows not. Pol. What follows, then, my lord ? Ham. Why, « As by lot, God wot," d then, you know, • "It came to pass, as most like it was," — e first row of tiie pious chanson * will show you more ; r look, where my abridgment ^ comes. Enter four or five Players. ou are welcome, masters ; welcome, all ; I am glad to _>ee ye well ; welcome, good friends. — O, my old friend ! ^hen JRos* thy face is valanced ^ since I saw thee last ; comest thou o beard me in Denmark? — What, my young lady and istress ! * * By 'r lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last by the altitude of a chopine.^ Pray God, your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring.« — Masters, you are all wel- come. We'll e'en to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see : we'll have a speech straight : come, give us a taste of your quality ; come, a passionate "^ speech. First Play. What speech, my lord ? Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, — but it was for tra^ ^istoricai-pas igedy, li-Daa- i|storical-pas t-' Seneca ^or the Jaw n. ^ treasure » flaply. » at Oxford n before." ^ The first " row " or stanza of the " pious chanson " is as follows ; * Have you not heard these many years ago Jephthah was judge of Israel ? He had one only daughter and no mOf The which he lov€d -dassing well : Andy as by lotty Godwotf It so came to pass. As GocTs will was. That great wars there should be. And none should be chosen chief but he.* * Means " a dramatic performance." ^ Fringed with a beard. Valance means the hangings of a bed, except the curtain. ^ A boy. The first woman who ever appeared on the English stage played Desdemona, 1660. ' A high cork shoe. ^ Become too manly for the performance of female char- acters. T Full of feeling. l\ t\ % M i-i I *t' 44 HAMLET, ted ; or, if it was, not above once ; for the play, ;r, pleased not the million ; 'twas caviare * to tl; t i ; never acted remembei general : ** but it was — as I received it, and others, whos judgments in such matters cried in the top of mine * — aj excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down witl as nuicli modesty as cunning. I remember, one said ther) were no sallets*4n the lines to make the matter savour\ nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the authc of 5 affection :® but called it an honest method, as whoh some as sweet, and by very much more handsome thail fine. One speech in it I chiefly loved : 'twas iEnea.s'tal( to Dido ; and thereabout of it especially where he speaks of Priam's slaughter : if it live in your memory, begin at this line ; — let me see, let me see ; " The rugged Pyrrhus, like th* Hyrcanian beast," » — ^'tis not so ; — it begins with Pyrrhus ; " The rugeed Pyrrhus, — he whose sable arms. Black as his purpose, did the night resemble When he lay couched in the ominous ^ horse, — Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd With heraldry more dismal ; head to foot Now is "he total gules ; ^ horridly trick'd ^ With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets. That lend a tyrannous and damned light To their vile murders : roasted in wrath and fire, And thus o'er-siz^d ^^ with coagulate gore. With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks." — So, proceed you. Pol. 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good ac- cent and good discretion. First Play. " Anon he finds him Striking too short at Greeks ; his antique sword, Rebellious to his arm, lies where rt falls, ; Repugnant to command : unequal match'd, Pyrrhus at Priam drives ; in rage strikes wide ; * A dish t io •■s, sons, reets, and fire, e, rrhus thgood Js him sword. authority, ffectation. r *red.» \* opposed HAMLET. But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword Th' imnervM father falls. Then senseless Ilium, Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top Stoops to his base ; and with a hideous crash Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear : for, lo ! his sword, Which was declinmg on the milky head Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' ih' air to stick: . So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood ; And, like a neutral ^ to his will and matter. Did nothing. But, as we often see, against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still. The bold winds speechless, and the orb below As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region ; so, after Pyrrhus' pause, Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work ; And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall On Mars his armour, forg'd for proof eterne, With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword Now falls on Priam. — Out, out, upon thee. Fortune ! All you gods, In general synod, take away her power ; Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel. And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven. As low as to the fiends ! " Pol. This is too long. Ham. It shall to the barber's, with your beard. — Prithee, say on : — he's for a jig,* or he sleeps : — say on ; come to Hecuba. First Play. " But who, O, who had seen the mobled » queen^ — " Ham. " The mobled queen ? " Pol. That's good ; " mobled queen " is good. First Play. <^ Run barefoot up ana down, threatening the flames With bisson * rheum ; a clout upon that head Where late the diadem stood ; and for a robe. About her lank and all o'er-teem^d loins, A blanket, in th' alarm of fear caught up ; — Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd, ^ Indifferent to both. * A ballad sung to the fiddle. * Probably a corruption of ' muffled.' ^ Blinding. «, «' ivH 46 HAMLET, [Act III Scj .'I t n m t. w ■4l 'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pro-| nounc'd : But if tlie gods themselves did see her then, When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs, The instant ^ burst of clamour that she made — Unless things mortal move them not at all — Would have made milch '^ the burning eyes of heaven, I And passion in the gods." Pol. Look, whether he has not turned his colour, and has tears in's eyes. — Pray you, no more. Ham. 'Tis well ; 111 have thee speak out the rest of this soon. — Good my lord, will vou see the plavers well be- stowed ? Do you hear, let them be well used ; for they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time : after your death you were better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live. Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. Ham. God's bodykins, man, better: use every man after his desert,* and who should scape whipping ? Use them after your own honour and dignity : the less they de- serve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in. Pol. Come, sirs. Ham. Follow him, friends : we'll hear a play to-morrow. \Exit Polonius with all the Plavers except the First. Dost thou hear me, old friend ; can you play the Murder of Gonzago ? First Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down and insert in't, could you not ? First Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. Very well. — Follow that lord ; and look you mock him not. \^Exit First Player."] My good friends, I'll leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore. Ros. Good my lord ! Ham. Ay, so, God b' wi' ye ! [Exunt Rosen, andGuiLI Now I am alone. O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I ! Is it not monstrous, that this player here, ^ Instantaneous. ^ Milk-giving, thence * moist.' * According to his desert. [Act iiH Scenk 2] HAMLET. 47 n have pro.l then, sport s limbs, made — all— es of heaven, colour, and e rest of this !rs well be- for they are : after your >an their ill their desert, every man •ing ? Use ess they de- e them in. to-morrow. / the First. e Murder I )uld, for a een lines, ou not ? look you »d friends, sinore. indGuiL] But in a fiction, in a dream of passion. Could force his soul so to his own conceit, That, from her working, all his visage wann'd ; Tears in his eyes, distraction in' aspect, A broken v -ice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit ? ^ and all for nothing I For Hecuba! ' What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her ? What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I have ? He would drown the stage with tears And cleave the general ear with horrid speech ; Make mad the guilty, and appal the free,^ Confo'.ind the ignorant ; and amaze," indeed, The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,* Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant or my cause,* And can say nothing ; no, not for a king. Upon whose property * and most dear life A damn'd d'Cfeat''' was made. Am I a coward? Who calls me villain ? breaks my pate across ? Plucks jaff my beard, and blows it in my face ? Tweaks me^y'ffie'^osY? giveslne !Ee ife i'the throat. As deep as to the lungs ? who does me this, ha ? 'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be But I am pigeon-liver'd, and lack gall ^ To make oppression bitter; or, ere this, I should have fatted all the region kites With this slave's offal :— bloody, blood j-- villain ! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless ^ villain t 0, vengeance ! »^ Why, what an ass am I ! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murder'd. Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must fall a-cursiag, like a very drab, A scullion ! r 3' J n I ■ i i loist.' 1 Idea of the character. 2 The innocent. ^ Confound * Pine away. * Having no living thoughts within relating to my cause. « Kingly right ' Destruction. ^ Courage. ^ Unnatural. i 48 HAMLET, [Act hi » i ♦t; M c III " Fie upon't ! foh !— About,i my brain ! I've heard That guilty creatures sitting at a play Have Dy the very cunnine of the scene Been ,:truck so to the soul, that presently 2 They have proclaim'd their malefactions ; * For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks ; I'll tent* him to the quick : if he but blench,^ I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be the devil : and the devil hath power T' assume a pleasing shape ; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses ^ me to damn me : I'll have grounds More relative' than this : — the play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. \ExiU ACT III. > Scene I. Elsinote. A room in the castle* Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and GUILDENSTERN. King. And can you, by no drift of circumstance,* Get from him why he puts on this confusion,® Grating so harshly all his days of quiet With turbulent and dangerous lunacy? Ros. He does confess he feels himself distracted ; But from what cause he will by no means speak. GuiL. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded j But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof, When we wjuld bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Queen. Did he receive you well ? Ros. Most like a gentleman. 1 Set to work. ^ Immediately. 8 Haywood, in his " Apology for Actors," gives two exam- ples of murder being discovered in this way. * Probe. ^ Flinch. ® Deceives. ' To the purpose. B Roundabout method. ^ Confusion of mind. [Act III ■ Scene i] HAMLET. 49 Guii.. But with much forcing of his disposition. ^ Ros. Niggard of question ; but, of our demands, Most free in his reply. Queen. Did you assay him. To any pastime ? '^ • Ros. Madam, it so fell out, that certain players We o'er-raught * on the way : of these we told him j And there did seem in him a kind of joy To hear of it : they are about the court ; And, as I think, they have already order This night to play before him. Pol. *Tis most true : And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties To hear and see the matter. King. With all my heart; and it doth much content ms To hear him so inclin'd. — Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,* And drive his purpose on to these delights. Ros. We shall, my lord. \_Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. King. Sweet Gertrude, leave us too ; For we have closely ® sent for Hamk t hither. That he, as 'twere by accident, may here Affront ^ Ophelia : Her father and myself — lawful espials "^ — Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing, unseen, We may of their encounter frankly judge ; And gather by him, as he is behav'd. If 't be th' affliction of his love or no That thus he suffers for. Queen. I shall obey you : — And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish That your good beauties ^ the happy cause Of Hamlet's wildness : ^ so shall I hope your virtues Will bring him to his wonted way again. To both your honours. Oph. Madam, I wish it may. {Exit Queen, Pol, Ophelia, walk you here. — Gracious, « so please you> ^ Mood. 2 Did you try him by the test of any pastime ? * Overtook. * Whet him on. ^ Secretly. \ Confront, meet. "^ Spies. ^ Madness. ^. I W "I ® Addressed to the king. 1^. ■%»l^ so HAMLET, [Act III I '. \\ ! I We will bestow ourselves.— [T*? Ophelia] Read on this book ; That show of such an exercise may colour Your loneliness. — We're oft to blame in this, — »Tis too much prov'd, ^ — that with devotion's visage And pious action we do sugar o'er The devil himself. King, {aside'] O, 'tis too true ! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience I The wanton's cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word ; O heavy burden ! Pol. I hear him coming : let's withdraw, my lord. [Exeunt King and PolordHS, Enter TIamlet. Ham. To be, or not to be, — that is the question : — Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles. And by opposing end them ? — To die, —to sleep,— No more ; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, — 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, — to sleep ; — To sleep i perchance to dream : — ay, there's the rub; * For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, ^ , . , Must give us pause : there's the respect * That makes calamity of so long life ; ^ For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despis'd ^ love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,^ When he himself might his quietus make ' With a bare bodkin f ** who would fardels ^^ bear, 1 Proved by too frequent examples. 2 A term at bowls, meaning a collision hindering the bowl in its course. ^ Entanglement, turmoil. * Consideration. ^ So long-lived. ^ The times. ^ Some editions have "disprized." * Puts up with. ^ An old word for dagger. ^o Burdens. ""iJC Scene i] HAMLET, SI To grunt and sweat tinder a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, — The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn ^ No traveller returns, — puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of ? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all ; And thus the native hue '^ of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought ; * And enterprises of great pith and moment. With this regard, their currents turn awry. And lose the name of action. — Soft you now ! * The fair Ophelia ! — Nymph, in thy orisons ^ Be all my sins remember'd. Oph. Good my lord. How does your honour for this many a day ? Ham. I humbly thank you ; well, well, well. Oph. My lord, I have remembrances ^ of yours, That I have longed long to re-deliver ; I pray you, now receive them. Ham. No, not I I never gave you aught. Oph. My honour'd lord, you know right well you did ; And, with them, words of so sweet breath compos 'd As made the things more rich : their perfume ' lost, Take these again ; for to the noble mind Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord. Ham. Ha, ha! are you honest ?^ Oph. My lord ? Ham. Are you fair ? Oph. What means your lordship ? Ham. That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty. Oph. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce » than with honesty ? Ham. Av truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform nonesty from what it is, than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness : this % Ji \M\ \ '»■-;, m. m \\ > Boundary, ^ Natural colour. ' Care. * Hush, be quiet. ^ Prayers. * Mementos. '^ The perfume of the words. 8 Virtuous. ® Conversation. s Hi ■ hi Wl ,tvl i'''l'( .1 I iP 52 HAMLET, [Act III was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love vou once. Oph. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. Ham. You should not have believed me ; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock, but we shall relish of it : 1 I loved you not. Oph. I \.as the more deceived. Ham. Get thee to a nunnery : why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners ? I am myself indifferent ^ honest : but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were better my mother had not borne me : I am very proud, revenge- ful, ambitious ; with more ofEences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven ? We are ar- rant knaves, all ; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where's your father ? Oph. At home, my lord. Ham. Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool no where but in*s own house. Farewell. Oph. O, help him, you sweet heavens ! Ham. If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry, — be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go : farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool ; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go ; and quickly too. Farewell. Oph. O heavenly powers, restore him ! Ham. I have heard of your paintings too, well enough ; God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another : you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nickname * God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignor- ance. Go to, I'll no more on't ; it hath made me mad. I say, we will have no more marriages : those that are married already, all but one, shall live ; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go. \Exit, Oph. O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown ! The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's eye, tongue, sword; Th' expectancy and rose of the fair state,* 1 Retain a trace of it. ^ Fairly. ^ A nickname is originally ' an eke name ' — an additional name. It means misname in the text. * Chief flower and ornament of the state. Scene i] HAMLET. 53 The fflass of fashion and the mould of form, Th' observ'd of all observers, — quite, quite down ! And I, of ladies most deject i and wretched, That suck'd the honey of his music vows. Now see tha* noble and most sovereign reason, Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh ; That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy : O, woe is me T' have seen what I have seen, see what I see ! Re-enter King and PoLONius. King. Love ! his affections do not that way tend ; Nor what he spake, though it lack'd form a little. Was not like madness. There's something in his soul. O'er which his melancholy sits on brood ; '^ And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose Will be some danger : which for to prevent, I have in quick determination Thus set it down : — he shall with speed to England, For the demand of our neglected tribute : Haply, the seas, and countries different, With variable 8 objects, shall expel This something-settled matter in his heart ; Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus From fashion of himself.* What think you on't ? Pol. It shall do well : but yet do I believe The origin and commencement of his grief Sprung from neglected love. — How now, Ophelia! You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said ; We heard it all. — My lord, do as you please ; But, if you hold it fit, after the play, i Let his queen mother all alone entreat him To show his grief : let her be round with him ; And rU be plac'd, so please you, in the ear Of all their conference. If she find him not,^ To England send him ; or confine him where Your wisdom best shall think. King. It shall be so : Madness in great ones must not un watch 'd go. \ExeunU 41 3 • ^ ' Mi 1 Dejected. ^ Brooding. ^ Various. * If the does not discover his secret. Ordinary habits. ■*!! S4 HAMLET, [Act hi W\ III'! ■ I "Hi;:!. 'ftii Hl!l Scene II. The same, A hallin the same. Enter Hamlet and several Players. Ham. Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue : but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief ^ the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus ; but use all gently : for in the very tor- rent, tempest, and, as I may say, the whirlwind of pas- sion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated 2 fellow tear a passion to tat- ters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, » who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but inex- plicable dumb-shows and noise; I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant ;* it out-herods Herod : ^ pray you, avoid it. First Play. I warrant your honour. Ham. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discre- tion be your tutor : suit the action to the word, the word to the action ; with this special observance, that you o'er- step not the modesty of nature : for any thing so overdone is from ^ the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature ; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now, this overdone, or come tardy off,7 though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve ; the censure « of the which one must, in your allowance, o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I have seen play, — and heard others praise, and that highly, — not to speak it profanely,* that, neither having the accent of Christians, nor the gait 1 From the Saxon loef^ dear. 2 Periwigs were worn by actors, not as yet commonly by gentlemen. * Those who stood on the ground in the pit of the theatre. It seems they paid one penny for admission. * A deity supposed to be worshipped by the Saracens. * A favourite character in the mystery plays, and of course a furious tyrant. * Contrary to. "^ Feebly represented. * Judgment. * The profanity of alluding to Christians. Scene 2} HAMLET "t^l |o£ Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bel- llowed, that 1 have thought some of nature's journeymen Ihad made men,i and not made them well, they imitated [humanity so abominably. First Play. I hope we have reformed that indiffer- |ently with us, sir. Ham. O, reform it altogether. And let those that play I your clowns * speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren 8 spectators to laugh too ; though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered : that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready. \Exmnt Players, Enter Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. How now, my lord ! will the king hear this piece of work ? Pol. And the queen too, and that presently. Ham. Bid the players make haste. \Exit Polonius.'\ Will you two help to hasten them ? Ros. GuiL. We will, my lord. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Ham. What, ho, Horatio ! tl I'M Enter H0RATI0» Hor. Here, sweet lord, at your service. Ham. Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man As e'er my conversation * cop'd withal, s Hor. O, my dear lord, — Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter • For what advancement may I hope from thee, That no revenue hast, but thy good rpirits. To feed and clothe thee ? Why should the poor be flat- ter'd ? No, let the candied ® tongue lick absurd pomp ; And crook the pregnant "' hinges of the knee 1 1 ffffl 1 " Had made them," or " had made the men," is suggested. 2 In the infancy of the English drama, the clown made fun for the audience by extemporized buffooiwry. * Converse, intercourse. » Encountered with. 8 Foolish. } Fit ' fiw opposite of stubborn. I I 'li' !1 I' '■I'Ht! ! ;«!'';' Ml ¥^ f till Ml' dish : I eat the air, p romise-crammed ; you cannot feed capons so. ^ Gain. ^ Passion and reason. * With all thy powers of observation. * Concealed. ^ Smithy, forge. * Judgment, opinion. ' Appearance. ^ p^y the thing stolen. * Light-headed, crazy ; a sense in which it is still .used in Suffolk. "^^ This animal was popularly believed to live on air. .iiSV [Act ii^ecene 2] HAMLET. Vt King. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet ; these trords are not mine. Ham. No, nor mine now. — \To Palonius\ My lord, you )layed once i' the university,^ you say? Pol. That did I, my lord ; and was accounted a good ictor. Ham. And what did you enact ? 2 Pol. I did enact Julius Caesar: I was killed i' the [Capitol ; Brutus killed me. Ham. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf [there. — Be the players ready ? Ros. Ay, my lord ; they stay upon your patien :e. Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me. Ham. No, good mother ; here's metal more attractive. {Lying dawn at Ophelia*s feet. Pol. \to the JCing] O, ho ! do you mark that ? Oph. You are merry, my lord. Ham. Who, I? Oph. Ay, my lord. Ham. O God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry ? for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within's two hours. Oph. Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord. Ham. So long ? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for I'll have a suit of sables. O heavens! die two months ago, and not forgotten yet ? Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year : but, by'r lady, he must build churches, then ; or else shall he suffer not thinking on,^ with the hobby-horse, whose epi- taph is, " For, O, for, O, the hobby-horse * is forgot." Hautboys play. The dumb-show enters. Enter a King and a Queen very lovingly ; the Queen embracing him ^ and he her. She kneels^ and makes show of protestation unto him. He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck : lays him down upon a bank of flowers • she, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the King's ears, and exit. The ■ I i if li ^ The halls of the colleges at Oxford and Cambridge were the scenes of theatrical performances on special occasions. # * Perform. ^ Remembrance. ^ A^gure in the country morris-dances and May-games. S8 HAMLET, [Act II ' Si pit tfllltl! I' ■■ . M 15 I lilljl Queen returns ; finds the King ^<^a )irectly seasons 1 him his enemy. i .: Jut, orderly to end where I begun, — )ur wills and fates do so contrary run, 'hat our devices still are overthrown ; )ur thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own : ^ Ripens, brings to maturity his true character. ' f. > i" m ■H 'i id the king sigh, but with a general groan. King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage ; 'or we will fetters put upon this fear, "^hich now goes too free-footed. Ros. GuiL. We will haste us. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, 1 Rebuked. Shamed. 2 To give seals to, or confirm his words, by action, would be |o use daggers as well as speak them. * The private individual. * Harm. 5 The king dying. ® Whirlpool. "^ Massive. i rJI liilllji I i iitiiiiiiii ■ • i ■ ■■J I pi 66 HAMLET. [Act nil nil Enter Polonius. Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet : Behind the arras I'll convey myself, To hear the process ; I'll warrant she'll tax him home • ^1 And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear The speech of vantage. Fare you well my liege : I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you what I know. King. Thanks, dear my lord. \Exit Po!omm\ O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven ; It hath the primal eldest curse upon't, — A brother's murder! — Pray can I not, Though inclination be as sharp as will : My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent ; And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin. And both neglect. What if this cursed hand Were thicker than itself with brother's blood. Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow ? Whereto serves mercy But to confront the visage of offence ?^ And what's in prayer but this twofold force, — To be forestalled ere we come to fall. Or pardon'd being down ? Then I'U look up ; My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer Can serve my turn ? " Forgive me my foul murder ? "- That cannot be ; since I am still possess'd Of those effects for which I did the murder, — My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardon'd, and retain th' offence ? * In the corrupted 'currents of this world Offence's gilded hand may shove-by justice ; And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself Buys out the law : but 'tis not so above ; There is no shuffling, — there the action lies In his true nature ; and we ourselves compell'd. 1 Thoroughly. 2 To oppose diie^jtly, and so to break down, the * Retain the advantages gained by the offence. JCENE 3] HAMLET. 67 iven to the teeth and forehead of our faults, '0 give in evidence. What then ? what rests ? ^ Try what repentance can : what can it not ? fet what can it when one can not repent ? wretched state \ O bosom black as death ! lim^d soul,2 that, struggling to be free, ^rt more engag'd ! ^ Help, angels ! Make assay : Jow, stubborn knees ; and, heart with strings of steel, \t soft as sinews of the new-born babe ! Ul may be well. \Retires and kneels. Enter Hamlet. Ham. Now might I do it pat,'^ now he is praying ; tnd now I'll do 't : — and so he goes to heaven ; ind so am I reveng'd : — that would be scann'd : ^ 1 villain kills my father ; and, for that, |, his sole son, do this same villain send "o heaven. ' ' ), this is hire and salary, not revenge. le took my father grossly, full of bread ; Mth all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May ; Lnd how his audit stands who knows save heaven ? lut, in our circumstance and course of thought,® "is heavy with him : and am I, then, reveng'd, "o take him in the purging of his soul, ^hen he is fit and season'd for his passage ? io. Fp, sword ; and know thou a more horrid hent : '' ^hen he is drunk, asleep, or in his rage ; Lt gaming, swearing ; or about some act 'hat has no relish of salvation in 't ; — 'hen trip ^ him, that his heels may kick at heaven Lnd that his soul may be as damn'd and black LS hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays : 'his physic but prolongs thy sickly days.^ ^Exit. [ The King rises and advances. 1 Remains. ^ Caught with birdlime. ^ Hampered. * Now. * Ought to be closely examined. ® From our human point of view and according to our line of lought. ■^ Grip ; Hamlet, as he leaves hold of his sword, bids it wait )r a more terrible occasion to be grasped again. ^ Xrip up. ® This forbearance of mine is like a medicine that merely lelays the fatal end of the disease. ^'riJI" iiii ?;•■■* « ;:if I ■I r i if i;!l i'' i ) J Mv •ilsiir '^! 'iil: 6S HAMLET. [Act iiJ King. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below : Words without thoughts never to heaven go. {Exit Scene IV. Another room in the same- Enter Queen and Polonius. Pol. He will come straight. Look you lay home to him: Tell him his pranks have been too broad * to bear with, And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between Much heat and him. I'll sconce ^ me even here. Pray you, be round with him. Ham \within'\ Mother, mother, mother ! Queen. I'll warrant you Fear me not : — wi^ndraw, I hear him coming. {Polonius goes behind the arras\ Enter Hamlet. Ham. Now, mother, what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Ham. Mother, you have my father much offended. Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.] Ham. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet ! Ham. What's the matter now \ Queen. Have you forgot me ? Ham. No, by the rood,' not so| You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife ; And — would it were not so ! — you are my mother. Queen. Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speakl Ham. Come, come, and sit you down ; you shall noj budge ; * You go not till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do ? thou wilt not murder me — Help, help, ho ! Pol. {behind'] What, ho ! help, help, help ! Ham. {drawing] How now ! a rat ? Dead for a dticatJ dead ! {Makes a pass through the arrasl Pol. {behind] O, I am slain ! {Fat/s and dies\ SUEEN. O me, what hast thou done ? AM. Nay, I know not ; Is it the king ? Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this ! 1 Unrestrained. ^ Conceal. ^ Cross. * Stir. [Act iiB Scene 4] HAMLET. 69 hind the arrasl e matter now! t murder me i Ham. a bloody deed !— almost as bad, good mother |As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Queen. As kill a king ! Ham. Ay, lady, *twas my word. — [Lifts up the arras^ and sees Folonius, I Thou wretchea, rash-intruding fool, farewell ! I took thee for thy better : take thy fortune ; Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger. — Leave wringing of your hands : peace ; sit vou down, And let me wring your heart : for so I shall. If it be made of penetrable stuff ; ! If damndd custom have not braz'd it so, I That it is proof and bulwark against sense.^ Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me ? Ham. Such an act I That blurs the grace and blush of modesty ; Calls virtue hypocrite ; takes off the rose From the fair forehead of an innocent love. And sets a blister there ; makes marriage-vows As false as dicers' oaths : O, such a deed As from the body of contraction '^ plucks The very soul ; and sweet reli&^ion makes A rhapsody of words : heaven's face doth glow Yea, this solidity and compound mass,^ ' With tristful ♦ visage, as against the doom. Is thought-sick fi at the act. Queen. Ay me, what act. That roars so loud, and thunders in the index ?« Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this. The counterfeit presentment "^ of two brothers. See, what a grace was seated on this brow ; Hyperion's curls ; the front of Jove himself ; An eye like Mars, to threaten and command ; A station » like the herald Mercury New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill ; \ * Feeling. '^ The making of the marriage contract. ■ The earth. * Sorrowful. ^ Sick with anxiety. ^ * The index was usually prefixed to the book in Shakespere's time. Hence what Hamlet has said is termed the index or preface to his coming speech. ^ Pictured representation. ^ Attitude in standing, j t I »l: m 1 I I ' ' < > \ ii'ii [ 'H!'!1|1 70 HAMLET, A combination and a form indeed. Where every god did seem to set his seal, To give the world assurance of a man : This was your husband. — Look you now, what follows : Here is your husband ; like a mildew'd ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes ? Could you on this fair mountain leave ^ to feed. And batten on this moor ? Ha ! have you eyes ? You cannot call it love ; for at your age The hey-day in the blood is tame, it 's humble, And waits upon the judgment : and what judgment Would step from this to this ? Sense,a sure, you have^ Else could you not have motion : but, sure, that sense Is apoplex'd : for madness would not err ; ■ Nor sense to ecstasy* was ne'er so thrall'd But it reserv'd some quantity ^ of choice. To serve in such a difference. What devil was *t That thus hath cozen'd « you at hoodman-blind ? ''-' Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight. Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all, Or but a sickly part of one true sense Could not so mope. 8 O shame ! where is thy blush ? Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more : | Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul ; And there I see such black and grained ^ spots As will not leave their tinct.^*^ Ham. Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseam^d life. Queen. O, speak to me no more ; These words, like daggers, enter in mine ears ; No more, sweet Hamlet ! Ham. A murderer and a villain ; A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe Of your precedent lord ; a vice of kings ; " - ! ""IU|,,|I' * Leave off. « Feeling. » Would not err so. * Madness. Portion. « Cheated. "^ Blind man's buff. * Dyed in grain. ^^ Dye. 11 A buffoon king. The * vice ' in a play was the clown, the name being handed down from the moralities, when virtues and vices were personified. ^ Be stupid. Ico^ [Acr iiflscENB 4] HAMLET, 71 hat follows : cutpurse of the empire and the rule, ;hat xrom a shelf 1 the precious 4iadem stole, Lnd put it in his pocket ! gUEEN. No more ! AM. A king of shreds and patches, — , • Enter Ghost. ave me, and hover o'er me with your wings, ou heavenly guards ! — What would your gracious figure ? Queen. Alas, he's mad ! Ham. Do ^ou not come you:<' tardy son to chide. That, laps'd m time and passion,^ lets go by iTh' important ^ acting of your dread command ? |0, say! Ghost. Do not forget. This visitation |ls but to whet thy £dmost blunted purpose. ut, look, amazement on thy mother sits : p, step between her and her fighting soul, — bnceit * in weakest bodies strongest works, — peak to her, Hamlet. Ham. How is it with yo lady ? Queen. Alas, how is't with you, hat you do bend your eye on vacancy, nd, with th' incorporal ^ air do hold discourse ? Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep ; And as th^ sleeping soldiers in th' alarm, Your bedaed « hair, like life in excrements,' Starts up, and stands on end. O gentle son. Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look ? Ham. On him, on him ! Look you, now pale he glares ! His form and cause conjoin 'd, preaching to stones. Would make them capable.^ — Do not look upon me ; Lest with this piteous action you convert My stern efl^ects : » then what I have to do Will want true colour ; tears perchance for blood. Queen. To whom do you speak this ? Ham. Do you see nothing there ? 1 He stole the crown " from the shelf," and had not the courage to take it by violence. I * The indulgence of mere passion has diverted him from the [execution of his purpose. ^ Urgent. * Imagination. * Incorporeal.. * Matted. ' Excresences, outgrowths. * Of feeling; * The accomplishment of my stern purposes. 1,111 \ % !,!' ■y >\ ii i 4''ii| :i ! \ "i I- ii ■I <^ Mill 'ill'' ^'1 ll* i ' ■ \ ■''■■. \v '■ " ill lili 72 HAMLET, [Act III Queen. Nothing at all ; yet all that is I see Ham. Did you nothing hear ? Queen. No, nothing but ourselves. Ham. Why, look you there ! look, how it steals away ! My father, in his habit as he liv'd ! Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal ! \Exit Ghost, Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain : This bodiless creation, ecstasy Is very cunning in. Ham. Ecstasy ! My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, And makes as healthful music: 'tis not madness That I have utter'd : bring me to the test. And I the matter will re-word ; ^ which madness Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace, Lay not that flattering unction to your soul. That not your trespass, but my madness speaks : It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, Whilst rank corruption, mining all within, Infects unseen. Confess vourself to heaven ; Repent what's past; avoici what is to come ; And do not spread the compost on the weeds, To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue ; For in the fatness of these pursy * times Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg. Yea, curb and woo » for leave to do nim good. Queen. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Ham. O throw away the worser part of it. And live the purer with the other half. Good night Assume a virtue, if you have it not. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat, Of habits devil, is aneel yet in this. That to the use of actions fair and good He likewise gives a frock or livery. That aptly is put on.* Once more, good night And when you are desirous to be bless'd,^ 1 Repeat word for word. * Swelled with pampering. ' Bend and truckle. ^ The meaning seems to be : That monster, custom, who de- stroys all sensibility (or sensitiveness), the evil genius of our habits (that is, bad ones) is yet an angel in this respect, that it tends to give to our good actions also the ease and readiness of habit. Rolfe» * Repentant. Vil! [Act ni ■ scene 4] HAMLET. 1 pampering. 11 I'll blessing beg of you.— For this same lord, {Pointing to Polonius, I do repent : but heaven hath pleas'd it so, To punish me with this, and this with me,* That I must be their scourge and minister. I will bestow him, and will answer well The death I gave him. So, again, good night — I must be cruel, only to be kind : Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind. — ' One word more, good lady. Queen. What shall I do ? Ham. Not this, by no means, that I bid you do : Let the king ravel all this matter out,* That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft. 'Twere good you let him know ; For who, that's but a queen,, fair, sober, wise. Would from a paddock,* from a bat, a eib,^ Such dear concernings hide ? who Vvould do so ? No, in despite of sense and secrecy. Unpeg the basket on the house's top. Let the birds fly, and, like the famous ape, To try conclusions,^ in the basket creep. And break your own neck down.« Queen. Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath. And breath of life, I have no life to breathe What thou hast said to me. Ham. I must to England ; you know that? Queen. Alack, I had forgot : 'tis so concluded on. Ham. There's letters seal'd : and my two schoofellows— Whom I will trust as I will adders fangM, — They bear the mandate ; they must sweep my way. And marshal me to knavery. Let it work ; For 'tis the sport to have the engineer Hoist with his own petar : "^ and 't shall go hard But I will delve one yard below their mines, ^ To punish me by making me the instrument of this man's death, and to punish this man by my hand. 2 To unravel, as a tangled skein. » Toad. * Tom-cat. * To make experiments as to what the result will be. • The reference must be to some fable. ^ Petard. An engine made like a bell or mortar wherewith strong gates are burst open. I I!' I : ' ! •:( ¥ ■m\ #ii!ii mm I'll mi IvT, m U 74 HAMLET, [Act IV li :!" f*'' ii; >t'i> 1 f m-u , |if|mi,i.:,i,;. And blow them at the moon : O, 'tis most sweet When in one line two crafts directly meet. — This man shall set me packing : ^ I'll lug the body to the neighbour ^ room. — Mother, good nic^ht. — Indeed, this counsellor Is now most still, most secret, and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave. Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you. — Good night, mother. [Exeunt severally ; Hamlet dragging in Polonius. ACT IV. Scene I. Elsinore. A room in the castle. Enter King, Queen, Rosenorantz, and Guildenstern. King. There's matter in these sighs, these profound heaves : You must translate : 'tis fit we understand them. Where is your son ? Queen. Bestow this place on us a little while. \To Rosencrantz and Guilderstern^ who exeunt. Ah, my good lord, what have I seen to-night ! King. What, Gertrude ? How does Hamlet ? Queen. Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend Which is the mightier : in his lawless fit. Behind the arras hearing something stir. Whips out his rapier, cries " A rat, a rat ! " And, in his brainish " apprehension, kills The unseen good old man. King. O heavy deed ! It had been so with us, had we been there : His liberty is full of threats to all ; - , To you yourself, to us, to every one. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd ? It will be laid to us, whose providence Should have kept short,* restrain'd, and out of haunt ^ This mad young man : but so much was our love. We would not understand what was most fit ; But, like the owner of a foul disease, To keep it from divulging,* let it feed ^ Contriving, plotting. * Neighbouring. * Kept under control ; opposed to * A-way from the haunts of men. " Imaginary. ' loose.* * Being divulged. HAMLET, jp^ EVen on the pith of life. Where is he gone ? Queen. To draw apart the body he hath kill'd : O'er whom his very madness, like some ore ^ Among a mineral of metals base, Shows itself pure ; he weeps for what is done. King. O Gertrude, come away ! The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, But we will ship him hence : and this vile deed With all our majesty and skill, Both countenance and excuse. — Ho, Guildenstern ! Re-enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Friends both, eo join you with some further aid : Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain, \nd from his mother's closet hath he dragg'd him Go seek him out; speak fair, and bring the body Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends ; And let them know, both what we mean to do. And what's untimely done : so, haply slander — Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter. As level as the cannon to his blank,^ Traasports his poison'd shot — may miss our name, And hit the woundless air.' — O, come away ! My soul is full of discord and dismay. {Exeunt, Scene II. The same. Another room in the same. Enter Hamlet. Ham. Safely stowed. Ros. GuiL. {withinX Hamlet ! Lord Hamlet ! Ham. What noise r who calls on Hamlet ? 0, here they come. Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body ? Ham. Compounded it with the dust, whereto 'tis kin. Ros. Tell us where 'tis ; that we may take it thence, And bear it to the chapel. Ham. Do not believe it. Ros. Believe what ? ^ Precious metal. 2 The white mark at which shot or arrows were aimed. * Invulnerable air. \ I :' lit \ ' 'I !"" !i I tl»' : : 76 HAMLET. Ham. That I can keep your counsel, and not miiie own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge ! — what repli- cation 1 should be made by the son of a king ? Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord .? Ham. Ay, sir ; that soaks up the king's countenance,^ his rewards, his authorities.^ But such officers do the king best service in the end : he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw ; first mouthed, to be last swal- lowed : when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. Ros. I understand you not, my lord. Ham. I am glad of it : a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear. Ros. My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with us to the king. Ham. The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.* The king is a thing — GuiL. A thing, my lord ! Ham. Of nothing : ^ bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.® . {^Exeunt. Scene HI. The same. Another' room in the same. Enter King, attended. Kiig. I've sent to seek him, and to find the body. How dangerous is it that this man goes loose ! Yet must not we put the strong law on him : He's lov'd of the distracted multitude. Who like not in their judgement, but their eyes ; And where 'tis so, th' offender's scourge is weigh'd, But lever the offence. To bear all smooth anaeven, This sudden sending him away must seem Deliberate pause : ^ diseases desperate grown By desperate appliance are relieved. Or not at ail. ^«/^r ROSENCRANTZ. How now ! what hath befalPn ? Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord, We cannot get from him. 1 Reply. 2 Favour. 8 Offices of authority. * Hamlet is talking non.'sense designedly. * Of no value. « a children's game like " Hide and Seek.* ^ A matter of deliberate arrangement. \ I \ \ cer Yoi tun you I" I ak Y \ pro Y I ger sel; 01 ob I I I W Fo W Th Th Fo I m:\ [Act (itKcenk 3] HAMLET. d not m\i —what repli- > 9untenance,'^ cers do the like an ape, )e last swal- ed, it is but again. sleeps in a body is, and king is not ide fox, and \Exeunt, % the same. he body. ires; iveigh'd, ana even, n ? ly lord, ide and Seek.' King. But where is he ? [ure. Ros. Without, my lord ; guarded, to know your pleas<- King. Bring him before us. Ros. Ho, Guildenstern ! bring in my lord. Enter Hamlet and Guildenstern. King. Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius ? Ham. At supper. King. At supper! where? Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten : a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet : we fat all crea- tures else to lat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots : your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service, ^two dishes, but to one table : that's the end. King. Alas, alas ! Ham. a man may fish with the worm that bath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of th?A' worm. King. What dost thou mean by this ? Ham. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through a beggar. King. Where is Polonius ? Ham. In heaven ; send thither to see : if your messen- ger find him not there, seek him i' the other place your- self. But, indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose ^ him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. King. Go seek him there. \To some Attendants. Ham. He will stay till ye come. {Exeunt Attendants. King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety, — Which we do tender, as we dearly ^ grieve For that which thou hast done, — must send thee hence With fiery quickness : ' therefore prepare thyself ; The bark is ready, and the wind at help, Th' associates tend,* and everything is bent For England. Ham. For England ! King. Ay, Hamlet. Ham. Good. King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes. 1 Smell. '^ With hot haste. Heartily. * Wait. I ''vri i i II 'm i t l\t\ ill m mA i'l i 111 78 HAMLET, [Act IV r: M.'i ii : ;■■ ^«,i '"iWiih ^:m Ham. I see a cherub that sees them.— But, come ; for England ! — Farewell, dear mother. King. Thy loving father, Hamlet. Ham. My mother : father and mother is man and wife ; man and wife is one flesh ; and so, my mother. — Come, for England ! \Exit. King. Follow him at foot;i tempt him with speed aboard ; Delay it not ; I'll have him hence to-night: Away ! for every thing is seal'd and done / That else leans on th' affair : pray you, make haste. / \Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught,^ As my great power thereof may give thee sense, Since yet thy cicatrice ^ looks raw and red After the Danish sword, — and thy free awe * Pays homage to us, — thou mayst not coldly set ^ Our sovereign process ;^ which imports at full. By letters cdnjuring ^ to that effect. The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England ; For like the hectic in my blood he rages. And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done, Howe'er my haps,8 my joys were ne'er begun.^ [^Exit. Scene IV. A plain in Denmark. Enter Fortinbras, a Captain, and Forces, marching. Fort. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish king ; Tell him that, by his license, Fortinbras Claims the conveyance of a promis'd march Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous. If that his majesi^ would pught with us. We shall express our duty in his eye ; i*^ And let him know so. Cap. I will do't, my lord. For. Go softly on.^^ [Exeunt Fortinbras and Forces. ^ Close to his steps. 2 At any value. * Scar of a wound. * Awe still felt though no longer enforced by the presence of Danish armies. ^ Treat with indifference. ^ Procedure, action. "^ " Congruing " in some editions. ^ Johnson conjectured ' hopes.' ^ * Will ne'er begin,* in some editions. ^•^ In his presence. ii Slowly. T [Act IV ome; for and wife ; . — Come, [Exif. th speed aste. lildenstern. Scene 4] HAMLET. [Exif. rching. >h king ; and Forces. le presence ce. ditions. 11 Slowly. Enter Hamlet Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and others. Ham. Good sir, whose powers ^ ar^^ these ? Cap. They of Norway, sir. Ham. Kow purpos'd, sir, I pray you ' Cap. Against some part of Poland. Ham. Who commands them, sir? Cap. The nephew to old Norway,'^ Fortinbras. Ham. Goes it against the main ^ of Poland, sir, Or for some frontier? !, Cap. Truly to speak, sir, and with no addition, We go to gain a little patch of ground That hath in it no profit but the name. To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it ; * Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole A ranker ^ rate, should it be sold in fee.® Ham. Why, then, the Polack never will defend it. Cap. Yes, 'tis already garrison'd. Ham. Two thousand souls and twenty thousand aucats Will not debate the question of this straw : This is th' imposthume ^ of much wealth and peace, That inward breaks, and shows no cause without Why the man dies. — I hum;.ly thank you, sir. Cap. God b' wi' you, sir. {Exit. Ros. Will't please you go, my lord ? Ham. ril be with you straight. Go a little before. [Exeunt all except Hamlet., How all occasions do inform agaimst me And spur my dull revenge ! What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time^ Be but to sleep and feed ? a beast, no more. Sure, he that made us with such large discourse,® Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust 1'^ in us unus'd. Now, wliether it be Beastial oblivion, or some craven scruple Of thinking too precisely on th' event,- l 11 1 Forces. 2 The old King of Norway. * The chief power. ^ *I would not farm it on the condition of paying a rent of [five ducats, only five.' ^ Richer. *» With absolute possession. ' An abscess. ^ ' The business in which he employs his time.* ^ Range of reasoning faculty. ^'^ Grow stale and mouldy. 11 Issue. ilili ! 1 P fii! ■11;; m 1 ■mt 1 !•<■ -LIP t . 1 p. :{ vS? \iivf , I 1 ' (■■ < ■ 1 ' i If i i •• : ^ 8o HAMLET. [Act IV \ A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom, And ever three parts coward, — I do not know Why yet I live to say " This thing's to do ; " 'Sith ^ I have cause, and will, and strength, and means To do't. Examples, gross ^ as earth, exhort me : AVitness this army, of such mass and charge, Led by a delicate and tender prince ; Whose spirit, with divine ambition puff'd, Makes mouths at the invisible event ; ^ Exposing what is mortal and unsure * To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be great *• Is not to stir without great argument,^ But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honour's at the stake. How stand I, then, That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd, Excitements of my reason and my blood,® And let all sleep ? while, to my shame, I see The imminent death ot twenty thousand men, That for a fantasy and trick of fame ' Go to their graves like beds ; fight for a plot ^ Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent ^ x^To hide the slain ? — O, from this time forth. My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth ! [Exii, Scene V. Elsinore. A room in the castle. Enter Q«een and Horatio. Queen. I will not speak with her. HoR. She is importunate, indeed distract; Her mood will needs be pitied. Queen. What would she have ? HoR. She speaks much of her father; says she hears There's tricks i' the world ; and hems, and beats her heart ; Spurns enviously lo at straws ; speaks things in doubt, 1 Since. ^ Large, obvious. 8 Scorns the uncertainty of the result of the war. * Insecure, uncertain. fi Matter in dispute. ^ Blood stirred with passion. ' A deceptive appearance or artifice which promises fame. 8 Of ground. ^ That which holds or contains. 1*^ Envy frequently means ' hatred,' * malice.' In her distrac- tion she conceives hatred of the most trivial and innocent things. \ J" ■••» rs Act IV iom, ;ans Scene 5] HAMLET. 81 \ExU, le. le have ? le hears ;ats her loubt, on. 2s fame. »r distrac- ;nt things. That carry but half sense : her speech is nothing, Yet the unshapfed use of it doth move The hearers to collection ; 1 they aim 2 at it, And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts ; Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them, . Indeed would make one think there might be thought, Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.* 'Twere good she were spoken with ; for she may strew Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.'* Queen. Let her come in. {Exit Horatio. To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is, Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss : 6 So full of artless jealousy ® is guilt. It spills itself in fearing to be spilt. Re-enter Horatio, with Ophelia. Oph. Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark .? Queen. How now, Ophelia ! Oph. How should I your true-love know [Sings, From another one ? By his cockle hat and staff. And his sandal shoon? Queen. Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song ? Oph. Say you ? nay, pray you, mark. He is dead and gone, lady, \Sings. He is dead and gone j At his head a grass-green turf i ^ At his heels a stone. Queen. Nay, but, Ophelia, — Oph. Pray you, mark. White his shroud as the mountain snow, [Sings, Enter King. Queen. Alas, look here, my lord. « ■ ., ■ ^ ■ , , , -II . ll^l■^ mm 1 Attempt to gather meaning from her disjointed speech. 2 Guess, 8 * Her words and gestures lead one to infer that some great misfortune has happened to her ' * Minds that conceive mischief. ^ Each trifle seems prelude to some great disaster. ® Suspicion. '' Shoes. \mm iPl':! i Winner and loser ? ^ Laer. None but his enemies. King. Will you know them, then ? Laer. To his ^ood friends thus wide I'll ope my arms^ And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,^ Repast * them with my blood. i, King. Why, now you speak Like a good child and a true gentleman. That I am guiltless of your father's death, And am most sensibly ^ in erief for it, It shall as level to your judgment 'pear* As day does to your eye. Danes, {withinl Let her come in. Laer. How now! what noise is that ? Re-enter Ov'A^iaPl. i. O heat, dry up my brains ! tears seven-times salt, Burn out the sense and virtue ' of mine eye ! — By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight, Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May ! Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia ! — O heavens ! is 't possible a young maid's wits Should be as mortal as an old man's life ? Nature is fine ® in love ; and, where 'tis fine, It sends some precious instance ® of itself After the thing it loves. Oph. [Sings, They bore him barefaced on the bier ; Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny ; And in his grave rained many a tear^ Fare you well, my dove ! Laer. Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge. It could not move thus. 1 The metaphor is from a game of cards where the winner ** sweeps " or draws the whole stake. 2 * Are you determined to involve both friend and foe in your revenge.' 8 Alluding to the fable of the pelican piercing her own breast to feed her young. * Feed. ^ Feelingly. 8 Sometimes 'pierce.* "^ Power. * Delicately tender. " Sample. Hi . m '■ i'l 1: -;i S6 HAMLET, [Act IV m 4fth 'Ji Oph. You must sing, " Down a-down, and you call him a-down-a." O, how the wheel ^ becomes it I It is the false steward, that stole his master's daughter.* Laer. This nothing's more than matter. Oph. There's rosemary,* that's for remembrance ; pray you, love, remember : and there is pansies, that's for thoughts.* Laer. A document ^^ in madness, — thoughts and re- membrance fitted. Oph. There's fennel for you, and columbines : • — laisy : — l would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died : — they say he made a good end, — For bonny sweet Robin is all myjoy^^-— [Sings, Laer. Thought " and affliction, passion, hell itself, She turns to favour and to prettiness- Oph. And will he not come again ? [Sings, And will he not come again ? No^ no, he is dead: Go to thy death-bed : " He never will come again. , His beard was as white as snoro, All flaxen was his poll : , . ' i. He is gone, he is gone, • : And we cast away moan : ' God, ha* mercy on his soul ! And of all Christian souls, I pray God. — God b' wi' ye. [Exit, 1 Perhaps the refrain or burden- of the song, or a spinning- wheel to which the song might be sung. 2 Nothing is known of this story, * It was supposed to strengthen the memory. * She gives rosemary and pansies to her brother. 5 Instruction, precept. ® She gives these to the king. ' Rue to the queen, 8 To rue is to repent, therefore it was called herb-grace. * A term in heraldry meaning the slight change made in a coat of arms to distinguish one member of a family from an- other. Ophelia means that the queen and she had different causes of ruth. ^^ A well-known ballad. ^i Care. SCliNE 6] HAMLET. 87 Laer. Do you see this, O God ? King. Laertes, I must commune with your grief, Or you deny me right. Go but apart, Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will, And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me : If by direct or by collateral hand They find us touch'd, we will our kingdom give, Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours, To you in satisfaction ; but if not, Be you content to lend your patience to us, And we shall jointly labour with your soul To give it due content. Laer. Let this be so ; His means of death,^ his ob'scure burial,— No trophy, sword, nor hatchment 2 o'er his bones, No noble rite nor formal ocstentation, — Cry to be heard, as 'twere from heaven to earth, That I must call't in question. King. So you shall ; And where th' offence is let the great axe fall. 1 pray you, go with me. \ExeunU Scene VL The same. Another room in the same. Enter Horatio and a Servant. HoR. What are they that would speak with me ? Serv. Sailors, sir : they say they have letters for you. HoR. Let them come in. — \_Exit Servant, I do not know from what part of the world I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. Enter Sailors. First Sail. God bless you, sir, HoR. Let him bless thee too. First Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter for you, sir, — it comes from the ambassador that was bound for England, — if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know » it is. HoR. [reacts] " Horatio, when thou shalt have over- 1 The means of his death. * An armorial escutcheon used at funerals. • Informed. ■11 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^i t 1.0 1.1 lis ^ iti u Z5 2.2 2.0 IL25 III 1.4 116 Hiotographic Sceices Corporalion 23 WBT MAIN STMIT WI»dlunidt makes " health " prosperity. * Of one body with. * Surpassed. * Invention. ^ An ornament which, being worn in the hat, was of courie very conspicuous. ■^ A report which describes Laertes a master of fence^ ^ Fencers, from the French escrimeurs. m\\ 3. tummiwmimm 93 HAMLET, [Act IV But that I know love is begun by time ; And that I see, in passages of proof. Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.^ There lives within the very flame of love A kind of wick or snu£E that will abate it ; And nothing is at a like goodness still ; For goodness, growing to a plurisy,^ Dies in his own too-much : that we would do, We should do when we would ; for this " would " changes. And hath abatements and delays as many As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents ; And then this " should " is like a spendthrift sigh,3 That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' th' ulcer : — Hamlet comes back : what would you undertake. To show yourself vour father's son in deed More than in woras ? Laer. To cut his throat i* the church. King. No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize ; « Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, Will you do this, keep close within your chamber. Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home : We'll put on those g^U praise your excellence. And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gave you ; bring you, in fine, together. And wager on your heads : he, bemg remiss,^ Most generous, and free from all contriving. Will not peruse ^ the foils : so that, with ease, Or wi^h a little shufHing, you may choose A sword unbated,^ and, in a pass of practice,' Requite him for your father. Laer. I will do 't : And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword. I bought an unction ^ of a mountebank, So mortal, that but dip a knife in it, _ f Where it draws blood no cataplasm "^^ so rare,^ ' Collected from all simples " that have virtue "^ Under the moon, can save the thing from death 1 Circumstances which prove that time abates love- 3 Plethora. ^ Probably means a wasting sigh, alluding to the old notion that every sigh caused the loss of a drop of blood from the heart. * No place should protect murder. • Careless. ® Examine. '^ Unblunted — without a button on the point. * A treacherous thrust. • Ointment. 1® Plaister or poultice. ^^ Herbs. ^^ Medicinal power. 1 SCENB 7] HAMLET. 93 That is but scratched withal : I'll touch my point With this contagion,! that, if I gall him slightly. It may be death. King. Let's further think of this ; Weigh what convenience both of time and means May fit U!J to our shape : 2 if this should fail, And that our drift look through » our bad performance, 'Twere better not assay'd : therefore this project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof.* Soft !— let me see :— We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings, — I ha't : When in your motion you are hot and dry, — As make your bouts more violent to that end, — And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared him A chalice for the nonce ;^ whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,* Our purpose may hold there. Enter Queen. How now, sweet queen I Queen. One woe doth tread upon another's heel. So fast they follow : — your sister's drown'd, Laertes. Laer. Drown'd, O, where ? Queen. There is a willow ^ows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves ' m the glassy stream ; There with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples That liberal * shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them : There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hang, an envious sliver > broke ; When down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide, And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up ; Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes. As one incapable "^^ of her own distress, ^ Thing: which gives contagion. ' Enable us to act our proposed part. ^ Appear through. * A metaphor taken from cannon which burst when being proved. ^ For the occasion. * A fencing term, equivalent to stoccado^ the Spanish term. ^ The underside of the willow is white. ^ licentious. ^ A branch stripped from a tree. ^^ Unable to feel. ■■\' i I till I < A 94 HAMLET. [Act V SCEN] Or like a creature native and indu'd Unto the element : i but long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death. Laer. Alas, then, she is drown'd ? Queen. Drown'd, drown'd. Laer. Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears : but yet It is our trick; ^ nature her custom holds, Let shame say what it will : when these are gone, The woman will be out. — Adieu, my lord : I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, But that th's folly uouts « it. \ExiU King. Let's follow, Gertrude : How much I had to do to calm his rage ! Now fear I this will give it start again ; Therefore let's follow. ACT V. Scene L Elsinore. A churchyard. Enter two Clowns, with spades^ 6^r. First Clo. Is she to be buried in Christian burial that wilfully seeks her own salvation ? * Sec. Clo. I tell thee she is ; and therefore make her grave straight : ^ the crowner bath sat on her, and finds her Christian burial. First Clo. How can that be, unless she drowned her- self in her own defence ? Sec. Clo. Why, *tis found so. First Clo. It must be se offendendo; it cannot be else. For here lies the point : ifl drown myself witting- ly, it argues an act : and an act hath three branches ; it is, to act^ tu do, and to perform : argal,^ she drowned herself wittingly. Sec. Clo. Nay, but hear you, goodman delver, — 1 Endowed with qualities fitting her for living in the water/ 2 Habit. * A contraction of ' do out.' ExtinguislMS. ^ Shakespere is fond of making his clowns use words convey* ing the opposite meaning to that intended. * Immediately. ® Ergo. Scene iJ HAMLET, ^5 First Clo. Give me leave. Here lies the water ; good : here stands the man ; good : if the mah go to this water and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he goes, — m?irk you that ; but if the water come to hirti and drown him, h.» drowns not himself : argal, he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life. Sec. Clo. But is this law ? First Clo. Ay, marry, is't ; crowner's quest ^ law. Sec. Clo. Will you ha' the truth on't ? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of Christian burial. First Clo. Why, there thou sayst : and the more pity that great folk should have countenance ^ in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their even * Chris- tian. — Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers : they hold up^ Adam's profession. Sec. Clo. Was he a gentleman ? First Clo. He was the first that ever bore arms.^ Sec. Clo. Why, he had none. First Clo. Wnat, art a heathen ? Ilow dost thou un- derstand the Scripture? The Scripture says, Adam digged : could he dig without arms ? I'll put another question to thee : if thou answerest me not to the pur- pose, confess tliyself — Sec. Clo. Go to. First Clo. What is he that builds stronger than either tne mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter ? Sec. Clo. Tlie gallows-msHcer ; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants. First Clo. 1 like thy wit well, in good faith : the gal- lows does well ; but iiow does it well ? it does well to those that do ill : now, thou dost ill to say the gallows is Duilt stronger than the church : argal, the gallows may do tvell to thee. To't again, come. Sfec. Clo. " Who ouilds stronger than a mason, a ship- wright, or a carpenter ? " First Clo. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.^ Sec. Clo. Marry, now I can tell. ^ Inquest. ^ Favour, encouragenient. ^ Fellow-Christian. * Maintain. * Adam's spade is mentioned in some books of heraldry as the most ancient form of escutcheon. ® As men do when they have finished their work. n :! 96 HAMLET, [Act V 'VCl I'M t|?i' < 'i#^' »^i| ■^l' First Clo. To't. Sec. Clo. Mass, I cannot tell. Enter Hamlet and Horatio, at some distance- First Clo. Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating ; and when you are asked this question next, say *' a grave- maker : " the houses that he makes last till doomsday. G0| get thee to Yaughan ; ^ fetch me a stoop ^ of liquor. [Exit Sec. Clown. [He digSf and sings. ^Invoutht when I did love, did love^ methought it wcis very sweety To contract f O, the time^for^ ah^ my behove^ Of methought there was nothing meet. Ham. Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he sings at grave-making ? HoR. Custom hath made it in him a property* of easi- ness. Ham. 'Tis e'en so : the hand of little employment hath the daintier s sense. First Clo. But age, with his stealing steps, \Sings Hath clawed me in his clutch. And hath shipped me intil the land, As if I had never been such. [ Throws up a skull ^ Ham. That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once : how the knave jowls ^ it to the ground, as if it were Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder ! It might be the pate of a politician,"^ which this ass now o'er-reaches ; one that would circumvent God, might it not ? HoR. It might, my lord. Ham. Or of a courtier ; which could say " Good mor- row, sweet lord ? " This might be my lord such-aK)ne, that praised my lord such-a-one's horse, when he meant to beg it,--might it not ? HoR. Ay, my lord. ^ Probably an ale house kept by a person of that name. 3 Drinking cup. The word is still used in College halls. 9 The three stanzas sung by the clown are taken from a song in Tottel's Miscellany, printed in 15K7. * Peculiarity. * More delicate. • Knocks. ^ Schemer. Scene i] HAMLET, 97 Ham. Why, e*en so : and now my Lady Worm's ; chap- less, and knocked about the mazard^ with a sexton^i spade : here's fine revolution, an we had the trick '^ to see't. Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but to play at loggats » with 'em? mine ache to think on^t. First Clo, A pkkaxe, and a spade^ a spade^ \,Sings^ For and a shrouding-sheet : Of a pit of clay for to be made For such a guest is meet, [ Throws up another skull. Ham. There'?* another : why may not that be the skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddits* now, his quillets,* his cases, his tenures, and his tricks ? why does he suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce ^ with a dirty shovel, and will not tell him of his action of bat- tery ? Hum I This fellow might be in 's time a great buyer of land, with his statutes, his reco^^nizances^ his fines, his double vouchers, his recoveries : is this the fine of his fines, and the recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine pate full of fine dirt ? will his vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases, and double ones too, than the length and breadth of a pair of indentures ? s The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in this box ; ana must the inheritor « himself have no more, ha? HoR. Not a jot more, my lord. Ham. Is not parchment made of sheep-skins? HoR. Ay, my lord, and of calf-skins too. Ham. They are sheep and calves which seek out as- surance in that. I will speak to this fellow.— Whose grave's this, sirrah ? First Clo. Mine, sir. — O, a pit of clay for to be made [Sings* For such a guest is meet Ham. I think it be thine, indeed ; for thou liest in't. 1 Skull * Skill. • A game resembling bowls which is said to be still played at Norwich. * Subtleties. * Quibbles. • Head. ^ Bonds. B Indentures were agreements made out in duplicate, of which each party kept one. Both were written on the same sheet which was cut in two in a crooked or indented line (whence the name), in order that the fitting of the two parts might prove the genuineness of both in case of dispute. * Possessor. 7 i ! I,! .1! m > 98 HAMLET, [Act V % First Clo. You lie out on't, sir^ and therefore it is not yours : for my part, I do not lie in't, and yet it is mine. Ham. Thou dost lie in% to be in% and say it is thine : 'tis for the dead, not for the quick ; ^ therefore thou liest. First Clo. 'Tis a quick lie, sir; 'twill away again, from me to vou. Ham. What man dost thou dig it for ? First Clo. For no man, sir. Ham. What woman, then ? First Clo. For none, neither. Ham. Who is to be buried in't ? First Clo. One that was a woman, sir ; but, rest htr soul, she's dead. Ham. How absolute 'the knave is ! we must speak by the card,> or equivocation will undo us. By the lord, Horatio, these three years I have taken note of it ; the age is grown so picked ; ^ that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he galls his kibe.* — How long hast thou been a grave-maker ? First Clo. Of all the days i' the year, I came to't that day that our last king Hamlet o'ercaine Fortinbras. Ham. How long is that since ? First Clo. Cannot you tell that ? every fool can tell that : it was the very dajr that^oung Hamlet was born, — he that is mad, and sent into Kngland. Ham. Ay, marry, why was he sent into England ? First Clo. Why, because he was mad : he shall re- cover his wits there ; or, if he do not, it's no great matter there. Ham. Why? First Clo. 'Twill not be seen in him there ; there the men are as mad as he. Ham. How came he mad ? First Clo. Very strangely, they say. , Ham. How strangely ? ' First Clo. Faith, e'en with losing his wits. Ham. Upon what ground ? First Clo. Why here in Denmark : I have been sex- ton here, man and boy, thirty years. 1 Living. 2 Positive, with the utmost precision. > Card on the Mariners' compass : * Smart. * Chilblain on the heeU Scene i] HAMLET, 99 Ham. How long will a man lie i' the earth ere he rot? First Clo. T faith, he will last you some eight year or nine year : a tanner will last you nme years. Ham. Why he more than another ? First Clo. Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade that he will keep out water a great while ; and your water is a sore decayer of your dead Dody. Here's a skull now; this skull has lain in the earth three-and-twenty years. Ham. Whose was it ? First Clo. A mad fellow's it was: whose do you think it was ? Ham. Nay, I know not. First Clo. A pestilence on him for a mad ro^ue ! *a poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same skull, sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester. Ham. This? First Clo. E'en that. Ham. Let me see. \Takes the j/&«//.>-Alas, poor Yorick ! — I knew him, Horatio : a fellow ol infinite jest, of most excellent fancy : he hath borne me on his back a thousand times ; and now, how abhorred in my imagina- tion it is ! my gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now ? vour gambols ? your songs ? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar ? Not one now, to mock your own grinning ? quite chap-fallen ? Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to tnis favor ^ she must come; make her laugh at that. — Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing. Hor. What's that, my lord ? Ham. Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion i' the earth ? Hor. E'en so. Ham. And smelt so ? pah ! \Putsdown theskulL Hor. E'en so, my lord. Ham. To what case uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alex- ander till he find it stopping a bung-hole ? 1 Appearance. I ! lOO HAMLET. [Act V HOR. *Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so. Ham. No, faith, not a jot ; but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it : as thu:> ,; Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander re- turneth into dust ; the dust is earth ; of earth we make loam ; and why of that loam whereto he was converted might they not 5?:op a beer-barrel ? Imperious ^ Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away : O, that that earth which kept the v/orld m awe Should patch a wall t' expel the winter's flaw 1 2— But soft ! but soft ! aside : — ^here comes the king. Enter Priests,&c. in procession; the Cb^j^ ^Ophelia, LAERTES and Mouintrs /oliowin^ ; King, Queen, thdr trains^ 6^f. The queen, the courtiers : who is this they follow ? And with such ma' nfed » rites F This doth betoken The corse they follow did with desperate hand Fordo* its own life : 'twas of some estate.^ Couch « we awhile, and mark. {Retiring with Horatia, Laer. What ceremony else ? Ham. That is Laertes, A very noble youth : mark. Laer. What ceremony else ? [larg'd First Priest. Her obsequies have been as far en- As we have warranty : "^ her death was doubtful ; And, but that great command o*ersways the order. She should in ground unsanctified have lodg*d Till the last trumpet ; for charitable prayers, Shards, flints, and pebbles, should be tKrown on her : Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants,* Her maid'm strewments,» and the bringing home Of bell a id burial." Laer. Must there no more be done ? First Priest. No more be done : We should profane the service of the dead To sing a requiem, and such rest to her 1 Imperial. * Destroy. 2 Blast of wind. ■ Imperfect. 6 Rank. ® Hide. ' Permission. B Garlands. ^ Flowers strewed upon the corpse. 10 As the bride was brought home to her husband's house with bell and wedding festivity, so, by a sad parody, the dead jnaiden is brought to her last home 'with bell and burial.' Scene i] HAMLET, lOI As to peace-parted souls. Laer Lay her i' th' earth ;— And from her fair and unpolluted fiesh May violets spring ! — I tell thee, churlish priesti A ministering aneel shall my sister be, When thou liest howling. j Ham. What, the fair Ophelia ! Queen. Sweets to the sweet : farewell ! [Scattering powers, I hop'd thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife ; I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, And not have strew'd thy grave. Laer. O, treble woe Fall ten times treble on that cursed head. Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious i sense Depriv'd thee of !— Hold off the earth awhile, Till I have caught her once more in mine arms : [Leaps into the grave. Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead, Till of this flat a mountain you have made T' o'ertop old Pelion or the skyish ^ head Of blue Olympus. Ham. [advancing] What is he whose grief Bears such an emphasis ; whose phrase of sorrow Conjures the wandering stars,^ and makes them stand Like wonder-wounded hearers ? This is I, Hamlet the Dane. [Leaps into the grave, Laer. The devil take thy soul ! [Grappling with him. Ham. Thou pray'st not well. I prithee, take thy fingers from my throat ; *^ » For, though I am not splenitive * and rash, Yet have I something in me dangerous. Which let thy wisdom fear : hold o£E thy hand I King. Pluck them asunder. Queen. Hamlet, Hamlet ! All. Gentlemen, — HoR. Good my lord, be quiet. [The Attendants part them, and they come out of the grave, ^ Intelligent. ^ Belonging to, or mingling with the sky. ^ Planets ; or perhaps the stars moving through the heavens. ^ The spleen was supposed to be the seat of anger. 193 HAMLET. fAcT V I i Ham. Why, I will fight with him upon this theme Until my eyelids will no longer wag.^ Queen. O my son, what theme ? Ham. I lov'd OpheUa : forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum.— What ^Ht thou do for her ? King. O, he is mad, I .crtes. Queen. For loye of God forbear him. Ham. 'Swounds,^ show me what thoult do : Woo't 8 weep ? woo't fight ? woo't fast ? woo'tteJir thyself? Woo't drink up eisel ?° eat a crocodile ? ril do't. — Dost thou come here to whine ? To outface me with leaping in her ^rave ? Be buried quick with her, and so will I : And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw Millions of acres on us, till our ground. Singeing his pate against the burning zone, Make Qssa like a wart ! Nay, an thou'lt mouth, I'll rant as well as thou. Queen. This is mere madness : And thus awhile the fit will work on him ; Anon, as patient as the female dove When that her golden cou; lets ^ are disclus'd, His silence will sit drooping. Ham. Hear you, air ; What is the reason that you use me thus ? I lov'd you ever : but it is no matter ; Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, and dog will have his day. \Ex%t King. I pray you, good Horatio, wait upon him. \Exit Horatio, [To Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night*» speech ; We'll put the matter to the present push.<^ — Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.-r- This grave shall have a living monument -. , An hour of quiet shortly shall we see ; I Till then, in patience our proceeding be. [Exeunt 1 Move. 2 Profane oaith signifying * God's wounds' 8 A provincial contraction for "wouldest thou" or "wilt thou." ^ Vinegar. This word has occasioned much discussion. ^ The pigeon has only two young ones at a time, vid the newly hatched birds are covered with yellow down. * Instant test. V Scene ii] HAMLET, it if. to. I." be lOJ Scene II. Thg same. A hall in ike castle. Enter Hamlet and Horatio. the Ham. So much for this, sir : now shall you see other ; — You do remember all the circumstance ? HoR. Remember it, m> .ord ! Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting, That would not let me sleep : methought I lay Worse than the mutines ^ in the bilboes.* — Rashly,^ And prais'd be rashness for it ; let us know,* Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, When our deep plots do fail : and that should teach us There's a divinity that shapes our ends. Rough-hew them how we will, — HoR. That is most certain. Ham. Up from my cabin. My sea-gown scarf 'd ^ about me, in the dark Grop'd f to find out them : had my desire ; Finger'd their packet ; and, in fine, withdrew To mine own room again : making so bold. My fears forgetting manners, to unseal Their grand commission ; where I found, Horatio,— O royal knavery ! — an exact command, — Larded with many several sorts of reasons. Importing ^ Denmark's hesdth, and England's too, With, ho ! such bugs ^ and goblins in my life,® That, on the supervise,® no leisure batea,^ No, not to stay ^ the grinding of the axe. My head should be struck off. HOR. Is't possible ? Ham. Here's the commission : read it at more leisnre But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed ? HoR. I beseech you. Ham. Being thus be-netted round with villanies, — ^ Mutineers. ''Stocks or fetters manufactured at Bilboa in Spain. * Hastily. * Recognise and acknov/iedge. * Thrown on like a scarf, i. ^., without putting the arms through the sleeves. * Gravely affecting. ^ Bugbears, objects of terror. * In my continuing to live. * On the first reading. ^*^ The execution must follow immediately without any excep- tion of leisure. *^ Wait for. § I04 HAMLET. [Act V (1; , know Ere I could make a prologue to my brains, They ^ had begun the play, — I sat me down Y"* Devised a new commission ; wrote it fair :— I once did hold it, as our statists ^ do, A baseness to write fair, and laboured much How to forget that learning ; but, sir, now It did me yeoman's service : « — wilt thou k Th' effect of what I wrote ? HoR. Ay, good my lord. Ham. An earnest conjuration from the king, — As England was his faithful tributary ; As love between them like the palm might flourish ; As peace should still her wheaten garland wear, And stand a comma, * 'tween their amities ; And many such-like "as's" of great charge,^ — That, on the view and knowing of these contents, Without debatement further, more or less, He should the bearers put to sudden death. Not shriving-time« allow'd. HoR. How was this seaPd ? Ham. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant. I had my father's signet in my purse. Which was the model ' of that Danish seal ; Folded the writ up in the form of th' other ; Subscribed it; gave't th* impression; plac'd it safely, The changeling never known. Now, the next day Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent* Thou know'st already. HoR. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't. Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this employ- ment; They are not near my conscience ; their defeat Doth by their own insinuation * grow : *Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell-incensfed points Of mighty opposites.^*' / HoR. Why, what a king is this ! * The brains, not the villainies. * Statesmen. B Good and faithful service, such as formerly the yeomen or small freeholders rendered in war. * As opposed to * period * a full stop. ^ Weight. s No time for confessioA. '^ The exact counterpart * Following. " Crooked policy. "^^ Opponents. Scene 2] HAMLET, i^S Ham. Does it not, thinks't thee, stand me now upon,i— He that hath kill'd my king, and stained my mother; Popp'd in between th' election and my hopes ; Thrown out his angle 2 for my proper* life, And with such cozenage, — is^t not perfect conscience * To quit him with this arm ? and is't not to be damn'd To let this canker of our nature come In fi further evil ? HoR. It must be shortly known to him from England What is the issue of the business there. • Ham. It will be short : the interm is mine ; And a man's life's no more than to say " one." But I am very sorrv, good Horatio, That to Laertes I torgot myself ; For, by the image of my cause, I see The portraiture of his : I'll court his favours : But, sure, the bravery « of his grief did put me Into a towering passion. HoR. Peace ! who comes here ? Enter OsRic. OSR. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Ham. I humbly thank you, sir. — \Asideto Hor.'\ Dost know this water-fly ? HoR. \aside to h'am.] No, my good lord. Ham. [astde to Hor."] Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile : let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess: 'tis a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt. OsR. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty. Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use ; 'tis for the head. OsR. I thank your lordship, it is very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold ; the wind is north- erly. OsR. It is indi£Eerent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for iny complexion. * Is it not incumbent on me. ^ Fishing-hook and line. • Own. * Perfectly consistent with a good conscience. ^ Into. ,. ^ Ostentatious display. ! n I' io6 HAMLET, [Act V I C SR. Exceedingly, my lord, it is very sultry, — as 'twere, — I cannot tell how. — But, my lord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that he has laid a great wager on your head : sir, this is the matter, — Ham. I beseech you, remember — [Hamlet moves him toj^t on his hat» OsR. Nay, in good faith ; for mine ease, m good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes ; believe me, an absolute ^gentleman, full of most excellent differences,' of very son society and great showing : indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or cr^endar of gentry,* for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentle- man would see. Ham. Sir, his definement^ suffers no perdition in you ; — though, I know, to divide him inventorially would dizzy the arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw ® neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of his extol- ment, I take him to be a soul of great article ; ® and his infusion ^ of such dearth ^ and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror ; and who else would trace • him, his umbrage,^^' nothing more. OsR. Your lordship speaks most infsulibly of him. Ham. The concernancy, ^* sir ? why do we wrap the gen- tleman in our more rawer breath ? OsR. Sir? HoR. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue ? You will do't, sir, really. Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentleman? OsR. Of Laertes ? HoR. [aside to Hum.'] 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 faith, if you did, it would not much approve me : ^ — well, sir. [is — OsR. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes 1 Perfect. 3 Distinctions marking him out from the rest of men. • Gentility. * Definition. * To ' yaw ' is used of a ship which moves unsteadily. *. Of large comprehension. ^ Essential qualities. 8 Scarcity. » Follow. w Shadow. ^ Meaning, ^ Woula not be much to my credit. Scene 2] HAMLET, 107 Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence ; but, to know a man well, were to know himself. OSR. I mean, sir, for his weapon ; but in the imputa- tion ^ laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed. Ham. What's his weapon ? OSR. Rapier and dagger. Ham. That's two of his weapons : but, well. OsR. The king, sir, hath waeered with him six Barbary horses : afi;ainst the which he has imponed,^ as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assiens,^ as girdle, hangers,^ and so : three of the carriages, m faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit.^ Ham. What call you the carriages ? HoR. {aside to Iiam.'] I knew you must be edified by the margent* ere ^ou had done. OsR. The carnages, sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more germane ^ to the matter, if we could carry cannon by our sides : I would it might be h? igers till then. But, on : six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns, and three libersd conceited carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish. Why is this "imponed," as you call it ? OsB. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes be* tween yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits : he hath laid on twelve for nine,^ and it would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. Ham. How if 1 answer no ? OsR. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial. Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall : if it please his majesty, 'tis the breathing time of day ^ with me ; let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold his purpose, I will wm for him an I can ; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits. * Repute. * StaLed. * Appendages. ^ The straps by which the sword was attached to the girdle. * Elaborate design. * The margin where the comment was frequently given. '' Akin. ^ It seems impossible to explain the terms of this wager. * Time of relaxation. io8 HAMLET, [Act V YJ\ OsR. Shall I rc'deliveri you e'en so? Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your na- ture will. OsR. I commend my duty to your lordship. Ham. Yours, yours. \Exit Usrt'c] — He does well to commend it himself ; there are no tongues else for's turn. HoR. This lapwing ^ runs away with the shell on his head. Ham. He did comply ^ with his dug, before he sucked it. Thus has he — and many more of the same bevy, that, 1 know, the drossy agfe dotes on — only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter ; a kind of yesty ^ collection, which carries them through and through the most fond and winnowed & opinions ; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out. Enter a Lord. Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall : he sends to know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time. Ham. I am constant to my purposes ; they follow the king's pleasure : if his fitness speaks, mine is ready ; now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now. Lord. The king and queen and all are coming down. Ham. In happy time. Lord. The queen desires you to use some gentle en- tertainment 6 to Laertes before you fall to play. Ham. She well instructs me. [Exit Lord, Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord. Ham. I do not think so ; since he went into France, I have been in continual practice ; I shall win at the odds.'' But thou wouldst not think how. ill all's here about my heart : but it is no matter. Hor. Nay, good my lord, — Ham. It is but foolery ; but it is such a kind of gain- giving 8 as would perhaps trouble a woman. Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it : I will fcrestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit. * Report 2 The lapwing runs away with the shell on her head as soon as she is hatched. Hence this bird was a symbol of a forward fellow. * Use compliment, play the courtier. * Frothy. y , ® Foolish and over-refined. » Conciliating behaviour, ' With the advantage that I am allowed, » Misgiving. , c> — — , » 1 \ i^ J \ \ Scene 2] HAMLET, 109 Ham. Not a [wit, we defy augury : there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come ; if it be not to come, it will be now ; if it be not now, yet it will come : the readiness is all : since no man has aught of what he leavts, what is't to leave betimes ? Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords, Osric, and Attendants with foils y • I I V ; t ^ i^ ■■au>-. / 1 ! ./ 4 1 •••^••"t«^M»||iip«f»ir»w-"»"*i*wW»fV'W!!W«*VT^^ • V . / School Booki Published hy Dawson Brothers, By EEV. PEINCIPAL MACVICAR, Presbyterian College^ Montreal, A Primary Arithmetic, including Oral, Slate and • Writtou ExeiHjises. Price, 25 cents. A Complete Arithmetic. 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