THE YALE SHAKESPEARE HAM-LET PRINZE OF DENMARK EDITED BY JACK RANDALL CRAWFORD 1 UNIVERSITY QFCAUFORNf AT LOS ANGELES THE YALE SHAKESPEARE Edited by Wilbur L. Cross Tucker Brooke WlLLARD HlGLEY DURHAM Published under the Direction OF THE Department of English, Yale University, on the Fund Given to the Yale University Press in 1917 by the Members of the Kingsley Trust Association (Scroll and Key Society of Yale College) To Commemorate the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Society • : The Yale Shakespeare : • THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET PRINCE OF DENMARK EDITED BY JACK RANDALL CRAWFORD NEW HAVEN • YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON • HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Copyright, 1917 By Yale University Press First published, October, 1917 Second printing, June, 1933 PR . 2754 V.1 Cop. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS The Text Notes Appendix A. Appendix B. Appendix C. Appendix D. Reading Sources History of the Play . The Text Suggestions for Collateral Index of Words Glossed page 1 155 177 181 183 186 187 305073 TJie facsimile opposite represents the title-page of the Elizabethan Club copy of the Second Quarto (160 4). Only three copies of this edition are known to survive. THE Tragicall Hiftorie of HAMLET, Trince ofTienmarhg. By William Shakefpeare. Newly imprinted and enlarged to almoft as much againe as it was, according to the true and perfect Coppie. AT LONDON, Printed by I. R. for N. L. and are to be fold at his fhoppe vnder Saint Dunftons Church in Fleetftrccf. 1604. Courtiers [DRAMATIS PERSONS Claudius, King of Denmark Hamlet, Son to the late, and Nephew to the present King Fortinbras, Prince of Norway Horatio, Friend to Hamlet Polonius, Lord Chamberlain Laertes, his Son Voltimand, Cornelius, rosencrantz, GuiLDENSTERN, OSRIC, A Gentleman, A Priest Marcellus, ) ■n f Officers Bernardo, ) " Francisco, a Soldier Reynaldo, Servant to Polonius A Captain English Ambassadors Players. Two Clowns, Grave-diggers Gertrude, Queen of Denmark and Mother to Hamlet Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailor, Messenger, and Attendants Ghost of Hamlet's Father Scene: Denmark.'] Dramatis Personae; cf. n. The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark ACT FIRST Scene One [Elsinore. A Platform of the Castle] Enter Bernardo and Francisco, two Sentinels. Ber. Who's there? Fran. Nay, answer me; stand, and unfold yourself. Ber. Long live the king! Fran. Bernardo? 4 Ber. He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. ^ Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; &et thee to bedj Francisco. . f~ -fd* . */ fL £/H Fran. For this relief much thanks ; 'tis bitter cold, 8 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, 12 The rivals of my watch,ibid them make hastei Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there ? Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And liegemen to the Dane. Fran. Give you good-night. Mar. O ! farewell, honest soldier : 16 S. d. Platform: level space on castle ramparts 3 Long . . . king!; c/.n. 13 rivals: partners 15 Friends . . . Dane; cf. n. 16 Give you : Cod give you The Tragedy of Hamlet, Who hath reliev'd you? Fran. Bernardo has my place. Give you good-night. Exit Francisco. Mar. Holla ! Bernardo ! Ber. Say, What ! is Horatio there ? Hor. A piece of him. Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Mar- cellus. 20 Mar. What ! has this thing appear'd again to-night ? • Ber. I have seen nothing. < c tcit~f~-' Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him 24 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, 28 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 jour ears, That are so fortified against our story, 32 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 36 Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one, — Enter the Ghost. - Mar. Peace ! break thee off ; look, where it comes again ! 40 19 piece; cf. n. 23 fantasy: imagination 29 approve: confirm 37 his; cf. n. Prince of Denmark, I. i Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio. Hor. Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder. 44 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 war-like form In which the majesty of buried Denmark 48 Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak ! Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it stalks away. Hor. Stay ! speak, speak ! I charge thee, speak ! Exit the Ghost. Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. 52 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 56 Without the sensible 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 60 When he the ambitious Norway combated; So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. 'Tis strange. 64 42 scholar; cf. n. 43 mark: observe closely 45 It . . . to; cf. n. 49 sometimes : formerly 57 sensible: involving the use of one of the senses avouch: assurance 62 parle: parley 63 sledded Polacks: Poles on sledges (?) ; cf. n. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Mar. Thus twice before, and jump 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, 68 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 toils the subject of the land; 72 And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, And foreign mart for implements of war; Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Does not divide the Sunday from the week; 78 What might be toward, that this sweaty haste "\ Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day: Who is 't that can inform me? Hor. That can I; At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, 80 Whose image even but now appear'd to us, Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, Dar'd to the combat ; in which our valiant Hamlet — 84 For so this side of our known world esteem'd him — Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact, Well ratified by law and heraldry, Did forfeit with his life all those his lands 88 Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror ; 65 jump: just 67 thought: train of thinking 68 gross and scope : general drift 70 Good now ; cf. n. 72 toils: causes to toil subject: people, subjects 73 cast: founding 74 mart: traffic, buying and selling 75 impress: enforced service 77 toward: in preparation 83 prick'd on : incited emulate: ambitious 87 law and heraldry; cf. n. 89 seiz'd of: possessed of Prince of Denmark, I. i Against the which, a moiety competent Was gaged by our king; which had return'd To the inheritance of Fortinbras, 92 Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant, And carriage of the article design'd, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle hot and full, 96 Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in 't ; which is no other — As it doth well appear unto our state — 101 But to recover of us, by strong hand And terms compulsative, those foresaid lands So by his father lost. And this, I take it, 104 Is the main motive of our preparations, The source of this our watch and the chief head Of this post-haste and romage in the land. [Ber. I think it be no other but e'en so ; 108 Well may it sort that this portentous figure Comes armed 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. 112 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; lie 90 moiety competent: equal amount 91 gaged : staked 94 carriage: import design'd: drawn up 96 unimproved: unproved (?) ; cf. n. hot and full: exceedingly ardent 97 skirts: outskirts 98 Shark'd up: picked up at haphazard list; cf. n. resolutes: desperadoes 99 For . . . diet; cf. n. 100 stomach; cf. n. 103 compulsative: involving compulsion 106 head: origin 107 romage: commotion, bustle 109 sort: fit 112 mote: minute particle of dust 113 palmy state : flourishing sovereignty The Tragedy of Hamlet, As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, Disasters in the sun; and the moist star Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse ; 120 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 climatures and countrymen.] 125 Enter Ghost again. But, soft! behold! lo! where it comes again. I'll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion ! If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, 128 It spreads his arms. Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, That may to thee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me: 132 If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Which happily foreknowing may avoid, O! speak; Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life 136 Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, The cock crows. Speak of it: stay, and speak! Stop it, Marcellus. 139 Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? Hor. Do, if it will not stand. Ber. 'Tis here! H or. 'Tis here! 117 As . . . blood; cf. n. 118 Disasters: unfavorable aspects; cf. n. moist star: moon 120 sick . . . doomsday; cf. n. 121 precurse: heralding 122 still : constantly 123 prologue: introduction 125 climatures: regions (?) ; cf. n. 127 cross: meet, face; cf. n. 131 [do] grace: do honor to 134 happily: haply 136 uphoarded; cf. n. 140 partisan; cf. n. Prince of Denmark, I. i Exit Ghost. Mar. 'Tis gone! We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence; 144 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, 149 The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat Awake the god of day; and at his warning, 152 Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine; and of the truth herein This present object made probation. 156 Mar. It faded 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; 160 And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad; The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. 164 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 our watch up ; and by my advice 168 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. ISO cock; cf. n. 154 extravagant: vagrant erring: wandering hies: hastens 155 confine: place of confinement 156 probation: proof 158 'gainst that: by the time thai 162 planets strike; cf. n. 163 takes: bewitches 164 gracious: instinct with goodness 8 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, As needful in our loves, fitting our duty ? 173 Mar. Let's do 't, I pray; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most conveniently. Exeunt. Scene Two [A Room of State in the Castle] Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and his sister, Ophelia, [and] Lords attendant. 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, 4 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 queen, The imperial jointress of this war-like state, 9 Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy, With one auspicious and one dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, 12 In equal scale weighing delight and dole, Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along: for all, our thanks. 16 Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal of our worth, Or thinking by our late dear brother's death 4 brow of woe: aspect of woe 9 jointress: joint possessor, or. dowager 10 defeated : disfigured 11 auspicious : happy dropping: tearful 13 dole: grief 18 weak supposal: low opinion Prince of Denmark, I. ii 9 Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, 20 Colleagued with the dream of his advantage, He hath not fail'd to pester us with message, Importing the surrender of those lands Lost by his father, with all bands of law, 24 To our most valiant brother. So much for him. Enter Voltimand and Cornelius. Now for ourself and for this time of meeting. Thus much the business is : we have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras, 28 Who, impotent 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 32 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 personal power 3« To business with the king more than the scope Of these delated articles allow. Farewell and let your haste commend your duty. [Cor.] ) In that and all things will we show our Vol. ) duty. 40 King. We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell. Exeunt Voltimand 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, 44 And lose your voice ; what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? 20 disjoint: at loose ends frame: order 21 Colleagued: allied dream of his advantage: imaginary superiority 23 Importing: bearing as its purport 24 bands: agreements 31 gait: proceeding 32 proportions: supplies, forces 38 delated: expressly stated 44 the Dane: the king of Denmark 45 lose your voice : speak to no purpose io The Tragedy of Hamlet, The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth, 48 Than is the throne of Denmark 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, 52 To show my duty in your 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. 56 King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius ? Pol. He hath, my lord, [wrung from me my slow leave By laboursome petition, and at last Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:] 60 I do 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, — 64 Ham. [Aside.] A little more than kin, and less than kind. King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Ham. Not so, my lord ; I am too much i' the sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, 68 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: 47 native: closely and congenitally connected 48 instrumental : serviceable 50 Dread my lord : my dread lord 51 leave and favour: kind permission 56 leave and pardon: indulgence [to depart] 60 hard : given with difficulty 63 graces: virtues 65 kin . . . kind; cf. n. 67 i* the sun; cf. n. 70 vailed: down-cast Prince of Denmark , 1, ii 1 1 Thou know'st 'tis common ; all that lives must die, 72 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.' 76 '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, 80 Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shows of grief, That can denote me truly; these indeed seem, For they are actions that a man might play: 84 But I have that within which passeth show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe. King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: 88 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 persever 92 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, 98 An understanding simple and unschool'd: For what we know must be and is as common As any the most vulgar thing to sense, 72 common: the common lot 75 particular : personal 79 windy suspiration : tempestuous sighing forc'd : against one's will 80 fruitful: copious 81 haviour: behavior 83 denote: portray 92 obsequious: dutiful 93 condolement: sorrowing 99 vulgar thing: common experience 1 2 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Why should we in our peevish opposition 100 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, 104 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, 108 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 112 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, 116 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 smiling to my heart ; in grace whereof, 124 No j ocund health that Denmark drinks to-day, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, And the king's rouse the heavens shall bruit again, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. 128 Exeunt [all except Hamlet.] 105 corse: corpse 107 unprevailing: unavailing 109 immediate: next in succession 112 impart: bestow 113 Wittenberg; cf. n. 114 retrograde: contrary 115 bend: incline 127 rouse: bumper bruit: echo Prince of Denmark, I, ii 18 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 ! 132 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; things rank and gross in nature 136 Possess it merely. That it should come to this ! But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two: So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr ; so loving to my mother 140 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 144 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 ere those shoes were old With which she follow'd my poor father's body, Like Niobe, all tears; why she, even she, — 149 O God ! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn'd longer, — married with mine uncle, My father's brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: within a month, 153 Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. O ! most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets. 157 130 resolve: dissolve 132 canon: law 134 uses: usages 137 merely: entirely 140 Hyperion; cf. n. 141 beteem: allow 149 Niobe; cf. n. 150 discourse of reason : reasoning power 155 flushing: rednes* galled: sore with zveeping 156 post: hasten 157 dexterity : facility 14 The Tragedy of Hamlet, It is not nor it cannot come to good; But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue ! Enter Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus. Hor. Hail to your lordship ! Ham. I am glad to see you well. 160 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 what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus ? 165 Mar. My good lord, — Ham. I am very glad to see you. [To Bernardo.~\ Good even, sir. But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg? Hor. A truant disposition, good my lord. 169 Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so, Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, To make it truster of your own report 172 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. 176 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. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral bak'd meats 180 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven 161 forget myself ; cf. n. 169 disposition: temperament, mood 180 bak'd meats: meat pies; cf. n. 182 dearest: direst Prince of Denmark, I. ii 15 Ere I had ever seen that day, Horatio! My father, methinks I see my father. 184 Hor. O! where, my lord? Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. 188 Hot. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Ham. Saw? Who? Hor. My lord, the king your father. Ham. The king, my father? Hor. Season your admiration for a while 192 With an attent ear, till I may deliver, Upon the witness of these gentlemen, This marvel to you. Ham. For God's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, 196 Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encounter'd: a figure like your father, Arm'd at all points exactly, cap-a-pe, 200 Appears before them, and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, dis- till'd 204 Almost to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secrecy impart they did, And I with them the third night kept the watch; Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time, 209 192 Season: temper, qualify admiration : wonder, astonishment 193 attent: attentive 198 vast: waste; cf. n. 200 cap-a-pe: from head to foot 204 truncheon : officer's staff distill'd: melted 205 act: operation 1 6 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes. I knew your father; These hands are not more like. Ham. But where was this ? Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. 213 Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hot. My lord, I did; But answer made it none ; yet once methought It lifted up it head and did address 216 Itself to motion, like as it would speak; But even then the morning cock crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away And vanish'd from our sight. Ham. 'Tis very strange. 220 Hot. As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true ; And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it. Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. 224 Hold you the watch to-night? t> ' f We do, my lord. Ham. Arm'd, say you ? B "*' j- Arm'd, my lord. Ham. From top to toe ? „ ' r My lord, from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not his face? 228 Hot. O yes ! my lord ; he wore his beaver up. Ham. What! look'd he frowningly? Hot. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale or red? 232 216 it: its 229 beaver: face-guard of a helmet Prince of Denmark, I. ii 17 Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you ? Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had been there. Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. Ham. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long ? 236 Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Mar. r Longer, longe Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzled, no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, 240 A sable silver'd. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchance 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant it will. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape 244 And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight, Let it be tenable in your silence still; And whatsoever else shall hap to-night, 248 Give it an understanding, but no tongue: I will requite your loves. So, fare you well. Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, I'll visit you. All. Our duty to your honour. 252 Ham. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell. Exeunt [all but Hamlet]. My father's spirit in arms ! all is not well ; I doubt some foul play: would the night were come! 237 tell: count 239 grizzled: grey 241 sable: heraldic term for black 247 tenable: t hat which may be kept 18 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise, 256 Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. Exit. Scene Three [Polonius' Apartment in the Castle] Enter Laertes and Ophelia. Laer. My necessaries are embark'd ; farewell : And, sister, as the winds give benefit And convoy is assistant, do not sleep, But let me hear from you. Oph. Do you doubt that? 4 Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, 8 The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more. Oph. No more but so? Laer. Think it no more: For nature, crescent, does not grow alone In thews and bulk ; but, as this temple waxes, 12 The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will ; but you must fear, 16 His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own, For he himself is subject to his birth; He may not, as unvalu'd persons do, 2 give benefit: are favorable 3 convoy: means of conveyance 6 fashion: mere form toy in blood: passing amorous fancy 7 violet; cf. n. primy: early 8 Forward : precocious 9 suppliance: diversion 11 crescent: growing 12 thews: bodily strength temple: body 14 withal: also 15 soil : ble mish cautel : trickery 16 virtue of his will : his virtuous intentions 19 unvalu'd: of low rank Prince of Denmark, I. Hi 19 Carve for himself, for on his choice depends 20 The safety and the health of the whole state; And therefore must his choice be circumscrib'd Unto the voice and yielding of that bod Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, 24 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. 28 Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain, If with too credent ear you list his songs, Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unmaster'd importunity. 32 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 36 If she unmask her beauty to the moon; Virtue herself 'scapes not calumnious strokes; The canker galls the infants of the spring Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd, 40 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. 44 Oph. I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep, As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, 23 voice and yielding: approval and compliance 26 place: position as a prince; cf. n. 27 deed: effect 30 credent: trustful list: listen to 32 unmaster'd: unrestrained 36 chariest: most scrupulous 39 canker: 'worm' that destroys leaves and buds, particularly the rose galls: injures infants: young plants 40 buttons: buds disclos'd: opened 41 liquid dew: while the dew is still fresh 42 b'astments: blights 47 ungracious: graceless 20 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, 49 Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, And recks not his own rede. Laer. O ! fear me not. Enter Polonius. I stay too long; but here my father comes. 52 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, 56 And you are stay'd for. There, my blessing with thee! And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. 60 Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar; The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment 64 Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade. 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 voice; 68 Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy ; rich, not gaudy ; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, 72 49 puff'd : bloated from excess 50 primrose path : path of pleasure 51 recks: heeds rede: counsel 53 double; cf. n. 54 Occasion: opportunity 56 wind . . . of ; cf. n. 58 precepts; cf. n. 59 character: inscribe 60 unproportion'd: inordinate 61 familiar: friendly 64 dull thy palm: make thy palm less sensitive to true hospitality 65 unfledg'd : immature 69 censure: opinion 71 express'd in fancy: singular in design Prince of Denmark, I. Hi 21 And they in France of the best rank and station Are most select and generous, chief in that. Neither a borrower, nor a lender be ; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, 76 And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. 80 Farewell ; my blessing season this in thee ! 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. 86 Laer. Farewell. Exit Laertes. Pol. What is 't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? Oph. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. Pol. Marry, well bethought: 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you; and you yourself 92 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 96 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. 100 74 Are . . . that; cf. n. 77 husbandry: thrift 83 tend : are in waiting 90 Marry: an oath derived from the name of Saint Mary 92 private time: time in private visits 94 put on: impressed on 99 tenders: offers; cf. n. 22 The Tragedy of Hamlet, 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. 104 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, Roaming it thus, — you'll tender me a fool. 109 Oph. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love In honourable fashion. Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it : go to, go to. Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, 113 With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul 116 Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, Giving 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 120 Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence; Set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Believe so much in him, that he is young, 124 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, 101 green: inexperienced 102 Unsifted: untried circumstance: state of affairs 107 sterling: legal currency Tender: have a regard for 115 springes: snares woodcocks; cf. n. 122 entreatments: conversations, interviews 126 in few: briefly 127 brokers: go-betweens, procurers 128 investments: vestments, clothes Prince of Denmark, I. iv 23 But mere implorators of unholy suits, 129 Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds, The better to beguile. This is for all : 1 would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Have you so slander any moment's leisure, 133 As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. Look to 't, I charge you; come your ways. Oph. I shall obey, my lord. Exeunt. Scene Four \_A Platform of 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. 4 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 two pieces [o/ ordnance] go off. What does this mean, my lord? Ham. The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, 8 Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. 129 implorators: solicitor s 133 slander : bring reproach upon 2 eager : sharp 8 wake : hold a revel by night 9 Keeps wassail: holds a drinking-bout up-spring: wild dance of German origin , 10 Rhenish: Rhine wine 12 pledge: toast 24 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Hor. Is it a custom? 12 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. 16 [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 20 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, 24 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 29 The form of plausive manners ; that these men, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being nature's livery, or fortune's star, 32 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 eale 36 Doth all the noble substance of a doubt, To his own scandal.] Enter Ghost. 18 traduc'd and tax'd: defamed and censured 19 clepe: call swinish: gross 20 Soil our addition: blemish our good name 22 attribute: reputation 24 mole: blemish 27 complexion: natural tendency 28 pales: palings 29 o'er-leavens: makes too light 30 plausive: pleasing 32 nature's livery : natural attributes fortune's star: the position in which one is placed by fortune 34 undergo: bear the weight of 36 dram of eale; cf. n. Prince of Denmark, I. iv 25 Hor. Look, my lord, it comes. Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us ! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, 40 Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, 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 : 45 Let me not burst in ignorance ; but tell Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements ; why the sepulchre, Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd, 49 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 52 Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous; and we fools of nature So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls ? 56 Say, why is this? wherefore? 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 60 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, will I follow it. 39 ministers of grace: messengers of God 40 spirit of health : good spirit goblin : evil spirit 43 questionable : inviting question 47 canoniz'd: buried according to the Church's rule hearsed: coffined 48 cerements : grave-clothes 49 inurn'd : interred 53 glimpses of the moon: the earth by night 56 reaches: capacities 59 impartment: communication 26 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Hor. Do not, my lord. Ham. Why, what should be the fear? 64 I do not set my life at a pin's fee ; And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. 68 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, 72 Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And draw you into madness ? think of it ; [The very place puts toys of desperation, Without more motive, into every brain 76 That looks so many fathoms to the sea And hears it roar beneath.] Ham. It wafts me still. Go on, I'll follow thee. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. Ham. Hold off your hands ! 80 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 Nemean lion's nerve. Still am I call'd. Unhand me, gentlemen, 84 [Breaking 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. 88 65 at . . . fee: at even a trifling value 69 flood: sea 71 beetles: overhangs threateningly 73 deprive . . . reason: dethrone reason from its sovereignty 75 toys of desperation: whims involving thoughts of self-destruction 83 Nemean lion's; cf. n. nerve: sinew, tendon 85 lets: hinders Prince of Denmark, I. v 27 Hor. Have after. To what issue will this come? Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Hor. Heaven will direct it. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. Exeunt. Scene Five [A more remote Part of the Platform} Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Ham. Whither 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. 4 Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak; I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ham. What? 8 Ghost. I am thy father's spirit ; Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confin'd 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 13 To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, 16 Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, 89 issue: outcome 17 spheres: orbits 28 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular hair to stand an end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine : 20 But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O list ! If thou didst ever thy dear father love — Ham. O God! 24 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. 28 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 rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, 33 Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: 'Tis given out that, sleeping in mine orchard, A serpent stung me ; so the whole ear of Denmark 38 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 wears his crown. Ham. O my prophetic coul! 40 My uncle ! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, 18 knotted: neatly arranged combined: smoothly combed 19 an: on 20 porpentine: porcupine 21 eternal blazon: revelation of eternity; cf. n. 25 unnatural: i.e., for one brother to kill another 31 apt: ready to learn 32 fat weed; cf. n. 33 Lethe; cf. n. wharf : bank 35 orchard : garden 37 process: narrative 38 abus'd: deceived 42 adulterate: adulterous Prince of Denmark, I. v 29 With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, — O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power 44 So to seduce ! — won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. Hamlet ! what a f alling-off was there ; From me, whose love was of that dignity 48 That it went hand in hand even with the vow 1 made to her in marriage ; and to decline Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine ! 52 But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd, Will sate itself in a celestial bed, 56 And prey on garbage. But, soft ! methinks I scent the morning air ; Brief let me be. Sleeping within mine orchard, My custom always in the afternoon, 60 Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebona in a vial, And in the porches of mine ears did pour The leperous distilment; whose effect 64 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 68 And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood : so did it mine ; And a most instant tetter bark'd about, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, All my smooth body. 73 62 hebona: yew, notorious for its poisonous properties 64 leperous: causing leprosy 67 gates and alleys; cf. n. 68 posset: curdle 69 eager: sovr 71 instant: instantaneous tetter: skin eruption 72 lazar-like: leprous-like 30 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Thus was 1, sleeping, by a brother's hand, Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd; Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, 76 Unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd, No reckoning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head: O, horrible ! O, horrible ! most horrible ! 80 If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, 84 Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive 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 ! The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, 89 And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire ; Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me. Exit. Ham. O all you host of heaven ! O earth ! What else ? 92 And shall I couple hell? O fie! Hold, 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! 97 Yea, from the table of my memory I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, 75 dispatch'd: bereft 77 Unhousel'd: without having received the Holy Communion disap- pointed: unprepared unanel'd: without having received extreme unction 78 reckoning: conf ession and absolution 80 horrible; cf.n. 83 luxury: lasciviousness 89 matin : morning 90 uneffectual: losing its effect 97 distracted globe: confused head 98 table: writing-ta blet 99 fond: foolish Prince of Denmark, I.v 31 All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there; 101 And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmix'd with baser matter : yes, by heaven ! 104 O most pernicious woman ! villain, villain, smiling, damned villain ! My tables, 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: 109 [Writing. ] So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; It is, 'Adieu, adieu ! remember me.' 1 have sworn 't. • 112 Hor. and Mar. (Within.) My lord! my lord! Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Mar. Lord Hamlet! Hor. Heaven secure him! Mar. So be it ! Hor. Hillo, ho, ho, my lord ! Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy ! come, bird, come. Mar. How is 't, my noble lord? Hor. What news, my lord? 117 Ham. O! wonderful. Hor. Good my lord, tell it. Ham. No; you will reveal it. Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven ! Mar. Nor I, my lord. 120 Ham. How say you, then; would heart of man once think it? But you'll be secret? 100 saws: maxims pressures: impressions — as of a seal 110 word: watch-word 115 Hillo, ho, ho: falconer's hunting call 116 come, bird, come: call which falconers use to their hawk in the air 82 The Tragedy of Hamlet, r Ay, by heaven, my lord. Hor. Mar. Ham. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Den- mark, But he 's an arrant knave. 124 Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave, To tell us this. Ham. Why, right; you are i' the right; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part ; 128 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, I'll go pray. 132 Hor. These are but wild and hurling words, my lord. Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily; Yes, faith, heartily. Hor. There's no offence, my lord. Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, 136 And much offence, too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you ; For your desire to know what is between us, O'ermaster 't as you may. And now, good friends, 140 As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request. Hor. What is 't, my lord? we will. Ham. Never make known what you have seen to- night. 144 124 arrant: thoroughgoing 127 without more circumstance: without further details 133 hurling: violent 136 Saint Patrick; cf. n. 138 honest ghost; cf. n. 140 O'ermaster 't: conquer it Prince of Denmark, I.v 33 r My lord, we will not. Hor. Mar. Ham. Nay, but swear 't. Hor. In faith, My lord, not I. Mar. Nor I, my lord, in faith. Ham. Upon my sword. Mar. We have sworn, my lord, already. Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. 148 Ghost. Swear. Ghost cries under the stage. Ham. Ah, ha, boy ! sayst thou so ? art thou there, true-penny ? Come on, — you hear this fellow in the cellarage, — Consent to swear. Hor. Propose the oath, my lord. 152 Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. Ghost. [Beneath.'] Swear. Ham. Hie et ubique? then we'll shift our ground. 156 Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword: Never to speak of this that you have heard, Swear by my sword. 160 Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Well said, old mole ! canst work i' the earth so fast? A worthy pioner ! once more remove, good friends. Hor. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange ! 164 Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. ISO true-penny: honest fellow 154 sword; cf. n. 156 Hie et ubique: here and everywhere 163 pioner: digger, miner 84 The Tragedy of Hamlet, There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come ; 168 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, 172 That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumber'd thus, or thus, head shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As, 'Well, well, we know/ or, 'We could, an if we would ;' 176 Or, 'If we list to speak/ or, 'There be, an if they might ;' Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me : this not to do, So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear. 180 Ghost. [Beneath. ] Swear. [They 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 184 May do, to 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 j oint ; O cursed spite, 188 That ever I was born to set it right ! Nay, come, let's go together. Exeunt. 167 your; cf. n. 171 meet: proper 172 antic: fantastic 174 encumber'd: probably folded 175 doubtful: ambiguous 177 an if: an intensive form of if 178 to note: to give a sign 188 spite: vexatious circumstance Prince of Denmark, II. i 35 ACT SECOND Scene One [Polonius' Apartment in the Castle] Enter Polonius and Reynaldo. Pol. Give him this money and these notes, Rey- naldo. Rey. I will, my lord. Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Rey- naldo, Before you visit him, to make inquiry 4 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, 8 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: 12 Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him; As thus, 'I know his father, and his friends, And, in part, him;' do you mark this, Reynaldo? Rey. Ay, very well, my lord. 16 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 7 Danskers: Danes 8 keep:/jV* 10 encompassment: 'talking round' a subject 12 demands: questions 13 Take: assume 19 put on: impute to 36 The Tragedy of Hamlet, What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank As may dishonour him; take heed of that; 21 But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips As are companions noted and most known To youth and liberty. Rey. As gaming, my lord? 24 Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrel- ling, Drabbing; you may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him. Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge. 28 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, 32 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? Rey. Ay, my lord, 36 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, 40 Mark you, 20 forgeries: invented tales rank: excessive 22 wanton: unrestrained 26 Drabbing: associating with immoral women 30 incontinency: habitual loose behavior 31 quaintly: ingeniously 32 taints of liberty: blemishes due to freedom 34 unreclaimed: untamed 35 Of general assault: to which all arc liable; cf. n. 38 fetch of warrant: justifiable trick 39 sullies: blemishes Prince of Denmark, II. i 3 ? Your party in converse, him you would sound, Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd, 44 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. 48 Pol. And then, sir, does he this, — he does, — what was I about to say? By the mass I was about to say something: where did I leave? Rey. At 'closes in the consequence.' 52 At 'friend or so,' and 'gentleman.' Pol. At 'closes in the consequence,' ay, marry; He closes with you thus: 'I know the gentleman; I saw him yesterday, or t' other day, 56 Or then, or then ; with such, or such ; and, as you say, There was a' gaming; there o'ertook in 's rouse; There falling out at tennis ;' or perchance, 'I saw him enter such a house of sale,' 60 Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, 64 With windlasses, and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out: 50 by my former lecture and advice Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? Rey. My lord, I have. 43 prenominate: aforesaid 45 closes: agrees consequence: conclusion 51 leave: leave off 58 a': he o'ertook in 's rouse: drunk 60 house of sale: house of ill fame 61 Videlicet: namely 64 reach: ability 65 windlasses: roundabout ways assays of bias: indirect attempts 66 indirections: devious courses directions: straight courses — i.e., the truth 67 lecture: instruction R 305073 88 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Pol. God be wi' you; fare you well. c:> Rey. Good my lord ! Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself. Rey. I shall, my lord. 72 Pol. And 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, in the name of God? 76 Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd; No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ankle; 80 Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other; And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, he comes before me. 84 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, 88 And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so; At last, a little shaking of mine arm, 92 And thrice his head thus waving up and down, 71 inclination in yourself: character for yourself 73 ply his music: go hi s own gait 77 closet: apartment 78 doublet : close-fitting coat unbracM: unfastened 80 down-gyved: hanging down like gyves or fetters 90 perusal : scrutiny Prince of Denmark, II. i 39 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, 96 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. 100 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 105 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 com- mand, 108 I did repel his letters and denied His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad I am sorry that with better heed and judgment I had not quoted him ; I f ear'd he did but trifle, And meant to wrack thee; but, beshrew my jealousy! 113 By heaven, it is as proper to our age To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions As it is common for the younger sort 116 To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king: This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love. Come. Exeunt. 95 bulk: breast 102 ecstasy: madness 103 property: nature fordoes: destroys 112 quoted: observed 113 wrack: ruin beshrew: curse jealousy: suspicion, mistrust 115 cast beyond: be over subtle 1 ly More . . . love; cf. n. 40 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Scene Two \_A Room in the Castle] Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, with others. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guilden- stern ! 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, 5 Since nor the exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be More than his father's death, that thus hath put him 8 So much from the understanding of himself, I cannot dream of: I entreat you both, That, being of so young days brought up with him, And since so neighbour'd to his youth and humour, 12 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, 16 [Whether aught 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 20 To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry and good will As to expend your time with us awhile, For the supply and profit of our hope, 24 II of so young days: from such early youth 12 neighbour'd . . . humour: near in age and temperament 13 vouchsafe your rest : please to reside 18 open'd: revealed 22 gentry: courtesy 24 supply and profit: aid and successful outcome Prince of Denmark, II. ii 41 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, 29 And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To lay our service freely at your feet, To be commanded. 32 King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guilden- stern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosen- crantz ; And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much, changed son. Go, some of you, 36 And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. Guil. Heavens make our presence, and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him ! Queen. Ay, amen ! Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, [and some Attendants.] Enter Polonius. Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, 40 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, 44 Both to my God, one to my gracious king; And I do think — or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure 30 in the full bent: to the utmost degree of mental capacity 47 policy: conduct of public affairs 42 The Tragedy of Hamlet, As it hath us'd to do — that I have found 48 The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. King. O ! speak of that ; that do I long to hear. Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. 52 King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [Exit Polonius.] He tells me, my sweet queen, that 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. Enter Polonius, Voltimand, and Cornelius. Welcome, my good friends ! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway ? Volt. Most fair return of greetings, and desires. 60 Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack; But, better look'd into, he truly found 64 It was against your highness: whereat griev'd, That so his sickness, age, and impotence Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys, 68 Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine, Makes vow before his uncle never more To give the assay of arms against your majesty. Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, 72 Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee, And his commission to employ those soldiers, So levied as before, against the Polack; 52 fruit: dessert^ 56 main: the chief point 67 borne in hand: deluded 69 in fine: in conclusion 71 assay: trial 73 fee: payment Prince of Denmark, II. ii 43 With an entreaty, herein further shown, 76 [Giving a paper. ,] That it might please you 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 ; 80 And at our more consider'd 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 Ambassadors. Pol. This business is well ended. 85 My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief. Your noble son is mad: 92 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. 96 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 grant him, then ; and now remains That we find out the cause of this effect, 101 Or rather say, the cause of this defect, 79 regards . . . allowance; cf. n. 81 consider'd: fit for considering 86 expostulate: set forth one's views 90 wit: judgment, understanding 91 nourishes: embelli s hments 98 figure: figure of speech ** The Tragedy of Hamlet, For this effect defective comes by cause; Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend. 105 I have a daughter, have while she is mine; Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, Hath given me this : now, gather, and surmise. The Letter. "To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beauti- fied Ophelia. — " 109 That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile phrase ; but you shall hear. Thus : "In her excellent white bosom, these, &c. — " 112 Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move ; 116 Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. O 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 machine is to him, Hamlet." This in obedience hath my daughter shown me; And more above, hath his solicitings, As they fell out by time, by means, and place, All given to mine ear. King. But how hath she 128 Receiv'd his love? 105 Perpend: consider 109 beautified: beautiful, or, accomplished 112 these: i.e., these lines 119 ill at: unskilled at making numbers: verses 120 reckon: number metrically , scan 123 machine: bodily frame; cf. n. 126 more above: moreover 127 fell out: occurred means: opportunities of access Prince of Denmark, II. ii *s 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, 131 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, 136 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 : 140 '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 messengers, receive no tokens. 144 Which done, she took the fruits of my advice ; And he, repulsed, — a short tale to make, — Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, 148 Thence to a lightness ; and by this declension Into the madness wherein now he raves, And all we wail for. King. Do you think 'tis this? Queen. It may be, very likely. 152 Pol. Hath there been such a time, — I'd fain know that, — That I have positively said, ' 'Tis so,' When it prov'd otherwise? 137 winking: with eyes shut, i.e., allowed my heart to connive 139 round: straightforwardly 140 bespeak: address 141 out of thy star : above the position allotted thee by fortune 148 watch: state of sleeplessness 149 lightness: lightheadedness declension: decline 46 The Tragedy of Hamlet, King. Not that I know. Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise: [Pointing to his head and shoulder.] If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. King. How may we try it further? Pol. You know sometimes he walks four hours together 160 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, 164 And be not from his reason fallen thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm, and carters. King. We will try it. Enter Hamlet reading on a book. Queen. But look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. 168 Pol. Away ! I do beseech you, both away. I'll board him presently. Exeunt King, Queen, [and Attendants.] O ! give me leave. How does my good Lord Hamlet? Ham. Well, God a-mercy. 172 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. 177 1S9 centre: middle point of the earth 163 arras: hanging tapestry 164 encounter: manner of behavior 170 board: accost presently: immediately 174 fishmonger; cf. n. Prince of Denmark, II. ii 47 Pol. Honest, my lord! Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thou- sand. 181 Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion, — Have you a daughter? 185 Pol. I have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing; but not as your daughter may con- ceive. Friend, look to 't. 189 Pol. [Aside.] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and truly in my 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. 196 Pol. What is the matter, my lord? Ham. Between who? Pol. I mean the matter that you read, my lord. 200 Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, 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, 184 good kissing; cf. n. 187 conception; cf. n. 197 matter: substance 198 Between who ?; cf. n. 203 purging: discharging 204 amber . . . gum; cf. n. 207 honesty: decency 48 The Tragedy of Hamlet, should be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward. 210 Pol. [Aside. "\ Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord? Ham. Into my grave? 214 Pol. Indeed, that is out o' the air. [Aside.] How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness 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 and my daughter. My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you. 222 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. [Going.'] Ham. These tedious old fools ! Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. 228 Ros. [To Polonius.] God save you, sir! [Exit Polonius.] Guil. Mine honoured lord! Ros. My most dear lord! Ham. My excellent good friends ! How dost thou, Guildenstern ? Ah, Rosencrantz ! Good lads, how do ye both ? 234 Ros. As the indifferent children of the earth. 216 pregnant: full of meaning 217 happiness: appropriateness 218 prosperously: successfully 224 withal: with 23S indifferent: ordinary, average Prince of Denmark, II. ii 49 Guil. Happy in that we are not over happy; on Fortune's cap we are not the very button. Ham. Nor the soles of her shoe? 238 Ros. Neither, my lord. Ham. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favours ? 241 Guil. Faith, her privates we. Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? O! most true ; she is a strumpet. What news ? 244 Ros. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest. Ham. Then is doomsday near; but your news is not true. Let me question more in particular: what have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune, that she sends you to prison hither ? Guil. Prison, my lord! 252 Ham. Denmark's a prison. Ros. Then is the world one. Ham. A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst. 257 Ros. We think not so, my lord. Ham. Why, then, 'tis none to you ; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison. 261 Ros. Why, then your ambition makes it one; 'tis too narrow for your mind. Ham. O God! I could be bounded in a nut- shell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. Guil. Which dreams, indeed, are ambition, 237 on . . . button; cf. n. 244 strumpet; cf. n. so The Tragedy of Hamlet, for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. 269 Ham. A dream itself is but a shadow. Ros. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow's shadow. 273 Ham. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to the court ? for, by my fay, I cannot reason. 277 Ros. ) , TT ... r -j \ We 11 wait upon you. Ham. No such matter; I will not sort you with the rest of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully at- tended. But, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore? Ros. To visit you, my lord; no other occa- sion. 285 Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak. Guil. What should we say, my lord? 292 Ham. Why anything, but to the purpose. You were sent for; and there is a kind of con- fession in your looks which your modesties have 272 quality: nature 274 beggars bodies ; cf. n. 275 outstretched: strutting 276 fay: faith 277 reason : argue 278 wait upon: accompany 279 sort: class 282 beaten way: ordinary course 288 too dear a halfpenny; cf. n. 290 free: voluntary Prince of Denmark, II. ii 51 not craft enough to colour: I know the good king and queen have sent for you. 297 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 obli- gation 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 ! 305 Ros. [Aside to Guildenstern.'] What say you? Ham. Nay, then, I have an eye of you. If you love me, hold not off. 309 Guil. My lord, we were sent for. Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my antici- pation prevent your discovery, 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 exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firma- ment, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason ! how infinite in faculty ! in form and 296 colour: disguise 300 conjure: adjure 301 consonancy of youth: being of the same age 303 better proposer: more skillful exhorter 304 even: straightforward 308 have an eye of you: have an eye upon you 312 prevent: precede discovery: disclosure 319 brave: splendid 320 fretted: adorned 324 faculty: capacity 52 The Tragedy of Hamlet, moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals ! And yet, to me, what is this quintes- sence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though, by your smiling, you seem to say so. 331 Ros. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. Ham. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me?' 335 Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to offer you service. 340 Ham. He that plays the king shall be wel- come; his 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 lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for 't. What players are they ? 349 Ros. Even those you were wont to take delight in, the tragedians of the city. Ham. How chances it they travel? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways. 354 325 express: well-modelled 326 apprehension: understanding 328 quintessence ; cf. n. 332 stuff: matter 337 lenten: meagre 338 coted: passed 343 foil and target: sword and shield 344 humorous man: actor of whimsical characters 345 clown : low comedian 346 tickle o' the sere: yield easily to any impulse; cf. n. 348 halt: limp 353 residence: remaining in one place Prince of Denmark, II. ii 53 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? Are they so followed? Ros. No, indeed they are not. 359 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, that 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 wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither. 368 Ham. What ! are they children ? who main- tains 'em? how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common players, — as it is most like, if their means are no better, — their writers do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession? 376 Ros. Faith, there has been much to-do on both sides: and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy : there was, for a while, no money bid for argument, unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question. 381 355 inhibition : formal prohibition 356 innovation; cf. n. 357 estimation: reputation 362 aery: nest; cf. n. 363 eyases: young hawk s cry . . . question : recite at the highest pitch of the voice ; cf. n. 364 tyrannically: outrageously 365 berattle: fill with din common stages: public theatres 367 afraid of goose-quills: afraid of being satirized 370 escoted: maintained 371 quality: profession 373 common players: prof essional players 376 succession: future, or, inheritance 379 tarre: incite 380 argument: subject-matter, plot 381 cuffs: blows 64 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Ham. Is it possible? Guil. O ! there has been much throwing about of brains. 384 Ham. Do the boys carry it away? Ros. Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too. 387 Ham. It is not 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 ducats a-piece for his picture in little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. Flourish for the Players. Guil. There are the players. 395 Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsi- nore. Your hands, come then ; the appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players — which, I tell you, must show fairly outward — should more appear like entertain- ment than yours. You are welcome; but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. Guil. In what, my dear lord ? 404 Ham. I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw. Enter Polonius. Pol. Well be with you, gentlemen ! 408 385 carry it away: carry the day 386 Hercules and his load; cf.n. 390 mows: grimaces 391 ducats: gold or silver coins 392 in little: in miniature 'Sblood: God's blood 394 Flourish: a trumpet call 397 appurtenance: proper accompaniment 399 comply: observe the formalities of courtesy garb: manner extent: showing of kindness 407 handsaw: saw managed with one hand; cf. n. Prince of Denmark, II. ii . 55 Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern ; and you too; at each ear a hearer: that great haby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts. 411 Ros. Happily he's the second time come to them; for they say an old man is twice a child. Ham. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players; mark it. You say right, sir; o' Monday morning; 'twas so indeed. 416 Pol. My lord, I have news to tell you. Ham. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome, — Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord. Ham. Buzz, buzz ! 421 Pol. Upon my 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-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene indi- vidable, 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 ! 432 Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord? Ham. Why "One fair daughter and no more, The which he loved passing well." 436 Pol. [Aside.] Still on my daughter. 411 swaddling-clouts: bandages in which newborn children were wrapped 419 Roscius; cf. n. 421 Buzz, buzz : an exclamation of contempt 427 scene individable; cf. n. 428 poem unlimited; cf. n. Seneca; cf. n. 429 Plautus; cf. n. law of writ and the liberty; cf. n. 431 Jephthah: title of an old ballad; cf. n. 436 passing: surpassing 56 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah ? Pol. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. 440 Ham. Nay, that follows not. Pol. What follows, then, my lord? Ham. Why, "As by lot, God wot." 444 And then, you know, "It came to pass, as most like it was. — " The first row of the pious chanson will show you more; for look where my abridgments come. Enter four or five Players. You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad to see thee well: welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! Thy face is valanced since I saw thee last: comest thou to beard me in Denmark ? What ! my young lady and mistress ! By 'r lady, your ladyship is nearer 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 welcome. We'll e'en to 't like French falconers, fly at anything we see: we'll have a speech straight. Come, give us a taste of your quality; come, a passionate speech. 461 First Play. What speech, my lord? Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted; or, if it was, not above 446 'as most like it was': as was most probable 447 row: stanza, verse, column of print (?) chanson: song 448 abridgments: means of whiling away the time 451 valanced: 'curtained,' with a beard 454 By 'r lady: By our Lady (The Virgin) 455 chopine: a Venetian raised shoe often worn by actors 456 uncurrent: not passable as lawful coinage 457 cracked . . . ring; cf. n. 460 straight: immediately Prince of Denmark, II. ii 57 once; for the play, I remember, pleased not the million ; 'twas caviare to the general : but it was — as I received it, and others, whose judgments in such matters cried in the top of mine — an ex- cellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of affecta- tion; but called it an honest method, [as whole- some as sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine.] One speech in it I chiefly loved; 'twas ./Eneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it espe- cially, where he speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this line: let me see, let me see: — 480 "The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast, — " 'Tis not so, it begins with Pyrrhus: — "The rugged Pyrrhus, he, whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble When he lay couched in the ominous horse, 485 Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd With heraldry more dismal ; head to foot Now is he total gules ; horridly trick'd 488 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, 492 466 caviare . . . general ; cf. n. 468 cried in the top of: spoke with a louder voice of authority than 469 digested: arranged; cf. n. 470 modesty: without exaggeration, moderation cunning: skill in technique 471 sallets . . . savoury; cf. n. 473 indict: convict 475 handsome; cf. n._ 476 fine: elaborately fashioned 477 Eneas' tale to Dido; cf. n. 481 Hyrcanian; cf n. 485 ominous horse; cf. n. 488 gules: re d trick'd : spotted 490 impasted: made into a paste 58 The Tragedy of Hamlet, And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore, With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks." [So proceed you.] 496 Pol. 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken; with good accent and good discretion. First Play. "Anon, he finds him Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword, Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, 500 Repugnant to command. Unequal match'd, Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide; But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium, 504 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 declining on the milky head 508 Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick: So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood, And like a neutral to his will and matter, Did nothing. 512 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 516 Doth rend the region ; so, after Pyrrhus' pause, Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work; And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall On Mars's armour, forg'd for proof eterne, 520 493 o'er-sized: covered with something like size, a kind of glue 501 Repugnant to: resisting 503 fell: cruel 504 senseless: without physical sensation 510 painted tyrant: picture of a tyrant in a tapestry 511 a neutral: one indifferent matter: task 513 against: just before 514 rack: mass of cloud 516 anon: presently 517 region: the air 520 proof eterne: eternal impenetrability Prince of Denmark, II. ii 69 With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword Now falls on Priam. Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune ! All you gods, In general synod, take away her power; 524 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. 528 Ham. It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee, say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on; come to Hecuba. 532 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 and down, threat'ning the flames 536 With bisson rheum ; a clout upon that head Where late the diadem stood ; and, for a robe, About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins, A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up ; 540 Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd, 'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pro- nounc'd : But if the gods themselves did see her then, When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs, 545 524 synod: assembly 525 fellies: the pieces of wood of which the circumference is made 526 nave: hub 530 jig: lively dance, often accompanied by coarse comic verses or dialogue 531 bawdry: indecency 532 Hecuba; c/.n. 533 mobled: muffled; cf. n. 537 bisson rheum: blinding tears (?) clout: piece of cloth 539 o'er-teemed: exhausted by excessive child-bearing 542 pronounc'd: proclaimed 60 The Tragedy of Hamlet, 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, 548 And passion in the gods." Pol. Look ! wh'er he has not turned his colour and has tears in 's eyes. Prithee, no more. 551 Ham. 'Tis well; I'll have thee speak out the rest soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used ; for they are the abstracts and brief chroni- cles of the time: after your death you were bet- ter have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live. Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. 560 Ham. God's bodikins, man, much better; use every man after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in. 565 Pol. Come, sirs. Ham. Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow. Exit Polonius, [with all the Players but the First.'] Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the Murder of Gonzago? 570 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 six- teen lines, which I would set down and insert in 't, could you not ? 548 made milch: made weep 550 turned . . . colour: grown pale 554 bestowed: lodged 555 abstracts: summary accounts 561 God's bodikins; cf. n. 573 for a need: in case of necessity dozen or sixteen lines; cf. n. Prince of Denmark, II. ii 61 First Play. Ay, my lord. 576 Ham. Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him not. [Exit First Player. To Ro- sencrantz and Guildenstern.'] My good friends, I'll leave you till night; you are welcome to Elsinore. 581 Ros. Good my lord! Exeunt [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.'] Ham. Ay, so, God be wi' ye ! Now I am alone. O ! what a rogue and peasant slave am 1 : 584 Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit 587 That from her working all his visage wann'd, Tears in his eyes, distraction in 's aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit ? and all for nothing ! For Hecuba! 592 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, 596 And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty and appal the free, Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed The very faculties of eyes and ears. 600 Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, 584 peasant: base 587 conceit: imagination 590 function: action of the body suiting: fitting 591 forms: bodily expression 595 cue; cf. n. 597 horrid: horrible 598 free: free from offence, guiltless 602 muddy-mettled : dull-spirited peak: mope about 603 John-a-dreams: dreamy fellow; cf. n. unpregnant of : not quickened by 62 The Tragedy of Hamlet, And can say nothing ; no, not for a king, 604 Upon whose property and most dear life A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward? Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across? Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face ? 608 Tweaks me by the nose ? gives me the lie i' the throat, As deep as to the lungs ? Who does me this ? Ha! 'Swounds, I should take it, for it cannot be 612 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, bawdy villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless vil- lain ! 617 O ! vengeance ! Why, what an ass am I ! This is most brave That I, the son of a dear [father] murder'd, 620 Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, And fall a-cursing, like a very drab, A scullion! 624 Fie upon 't ! f oh ! About, my brain ! I have heard, That guilty creatures sitting at a play Have by the very cunning of the scene Been struck so to the soul that presently 628 They have proclaim' d their malefactions ; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players 6C5 property; cf. n. 606 defeat: destruction 612 Swounds: God's wounds 613 But: but that pigeon-liver'd: meek; cf. n. 614 make oppression bitter: make me feel the bitterness of oppression 615 region kites: kites of the air 617 kindless: unnatural 623 drab: street woman 624 scullion: kitchen servant 625 About, my brain: bestir yourself, my brain, or, my brain, on another tack Prince of Denmark, III. i 63 Play something like the murder of my father 632 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 636 To 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 640 More relative than this : the play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. Exit. ACT THIRD Scene One [A Room in the Castle] Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Lords. 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? 4 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, But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof, 8 When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Queen. Did he receive you well? 634 tent: probe blench : start aside 639 spirits: mental moods 641 relative: relevant, to the purpose 1 drift of circumstance: roundabout method 2 confusion: mental agitation 3 Grating: harassing 7 forward: ready, disposed 64 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Ros. Most like a gentleman. Guil. But with much forcing of his disposition. 12 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 16 We o'er-raught on the way; of these we told him, 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 20 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 me 24 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 Hamlet hither, 29 That he, as 'twere by accident, may here Affront Ophelia. Her father and myself, lawful espials, 32 Will so bestow ourselves, \hat, seeing, unseen, We may of their encounter frankly judge, And gather by him, as he is behav'd, 12 forcing of his disposition: with apparent unwillingness 13 niggard of question: sparing of conversation 14 assay: challenge 17 o'er-raught: overtook 26 edge: incitement 29 closely: privately 31 Affront: meet 32 espials: spies 34 frankly: freely Prince of Denmark , III. i 65 If 't be the affliction of his love or no 36 That thus he suffers for. Queen. I shall obey you. And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish That your good beauties be the happy cause Of Hamlet's wildness ; so shall I hope your virtues 40 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, We will bestow ourselves. [To Ophelia.'] Read on this book; 44 That show of such an exercise may colour Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this, 'Tis too much prov'd, that with devotion's visage And pious action we do sugar o'er 48 The devil himself. King. [Aside.] O! 'tis too true; How smart a lash that speech doth give my con- science ! The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it 52 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 Polonius.] Enter Hamlet. 40 wildness: madness 43 Gracious: a courteous epithet, here used without a substantive 45 exercise: employment 47 too much prov'd: found by too frequent experience 48 pious action: i.e., implies that Ophelia's book was a book of devo- tions 52 to: in comparison with 66 The Tragedy of Hamlet, Ham. To be, or not to be : that is the question : 56 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 61 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 ; 64 To sleep: 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 68 That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, 72 The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin ? who would fardels bear, 76 To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will, 80 And