Enfolded Hamlet: First Folio Text

Enfolded Hamlet: First Folio Text


The Tragedie of
H A M L E T

Prince of Denmarke.


1                                       Actus Primus. Scoena Prima. [nn4[v]

2               Enter Barnardo and Francisco two Centinels. 3                   Barnardo.
4               VVHo's there?                                        1.1.1
5                Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold                 
6               your selfe.                                     
7                Bar. Long liue the King. 
8                Fran. Barnardo?                         
9                Bar. He.                             
10              Fran. You come most carefully vpon your houre. 
11              Bar. 'Tis now strook twelue, get thee to bed Francisco.
12              Fran. For this releefe much thankes: 'Tis bitter cold,
13             And I am sicke at heart. 
14              Barn. Haue you had quiet Guard?
15              Fran. Not a Mouse stirring. 
16              Barn. Well, goodnight. If you do meet Horatio and
17             Marcellus, the Riuals of my Watch, bid them make hast.    
18             Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
19              Fran. I thinke I heare them. Stand: who's there?                
20              Hor. Friends to this ground. 
21              Mar. And Leige-men to the Dane. 
22              Fran. Giue you good night. 
23              Mar. O farwel honest Soldier, who hath relieu'd you?                  
24              Fra. Barnardo ha's my place: giue you goodnight.
25             Exit Fran.
26              Mar. Holla Barnardo
27              Bar. Say, what is Horatio there? 
28              Hor. A peece of him. 
29              Bar. Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus.
30              Mar. What, ha's this thing appear'd againe to night.      
31              Bar. I haue seene nothing. 
32              Mar. Horatio saies, 'tis but our Fantasie,                        
33             And will not let beleefe take hold of him 
34             Touching this dreaded sight, twice seene of vs,                        
35             Therefore I haue intreated him along 
36             With vs, to watch the minutes of this Night,                        
37             That if againe this Apparition come,                        
38             He may approue our eyes, and speake to it.      
39              Hor. Tush, tush, 'twill not appeare.      
40              Bar. Sit downe a-while,                        
41             And let vs once againe assaile your eares,                        
42             That are so fortified against our Story,                        1.1.32
43             What we two Nights haue seene. 
44              Hor. Well, sit we downe,                        
45             And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this. 
46              Barn. Last night of all,                        
47             When yond same Starre that's Westward from the Pole 
48             Had made his course t'illume that part of Heauen 
49             Where now it burnes, Marcellus and my selfe,                        
50             The Bell then beating one. 
51              Mar. Peace, breake thee of:                        Enter the Ghost
52             Looke where it comes againe. 
53              Barn. In the same figure, like the King that's dead.                 
54              Mar. Thou art a Scholler; speake to it Horatio.
55              Barn. Lookes it not like the King? Marke it Horatio.
56              Hora. Most like: It harrowes me with fear & wonder
57              Barn. It would be spoke too. 
58              Mar. Question it Horatio
59              Hor. What art thou that vsurp'st this time of night,                        
60             Together with that Faire and Warlike forme 
61             In which the Maiesty of buried Denmarke 
62             Did sometimes march: By Heauen I charge thee speake. 
63              Mar. It is offended. 
64              Barn. See, it stalkes away.       
65              Hor. Stay: speake; speake: I Charge thee, speake.             51
66                                                             Exit the Ghost.
67              Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer.   
68              Barn. How now Horatio? You tremble & look pale:
69             Is not this something more then Fantasie? 
70             What thinke you on't?                      
71              Hor. Before my God, I might not this beleeue 
72             Without the sensible and true auouch 
73             Of mine owne eyes.                              
74              Mar. Is it not like the King? 
75              Hor. As thou art to thy selfe,                        
76             Such was the very Armour he had on,                        
77             When th'Ambitious Norwey combatted:                        
78             So frown'd he once, when in an angry parle 
79             He smot the sledded Pollax on the Ice. 
80             'Tis strange.                                    
81              Mar. Thus twice before, and iust at this dead houre,                        
82             With Martiall stalke, hath he gone by our Watch. 
83              Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know not:                        
84             But in the grosse and scope of my Opinion,                        
85             This boades some strange erruption to our State. 1.1.69
86              Mar. Good now sit downe, & tell me he that knowes
87             Why this same strict and most obseruant Watch,                        
88             So nightly toyles the subiect of the Land,                        
89             And why such dayly Cast of Brazon Cannon 
90             And Forraigne Mart for Implements of warre:                        
91             Why such impresse of Ship-wrights, whose sore Taske       
92             Do's not diuide the Sunday from the weeke,                        
93             What might be toward, that this sweaty hast  
94             Doth make the Night ioynt-Labourer with the day:                        
95             Who is't that can informe me?  
96              Hor. That can I,                                                
97             At least the whisper goes so: Our last King,                        [nn5
98             Whose Image euen but now appear'd to vs,                        
99             Was (as you know) by Fortinbras of Norway,                        
100           (Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate Pride)                        
101           Dar'd to the Combate. In which, our Valiant Hamlet,                        
102           (For so this side of our knowne world esteem'd him)                        
103           Did slay this Fortinbras: who by a Seal'd Compact,                        
104           Well ratified by Law, and Heraldrie,                        
105           Did forfeite (with his life) all those his Lands    
106           Which he stood seiz'd on, to the Conqueror:                        
107           Against the which, a Moity competent      
108           Was gaged by our King: which had return'd                       
109           To the Inheritance of Fortinbras,                        
110           Had he bin Vanquisher, as by the same Cou'nant                    
111           And carriage of the Article designe,                        
112           His fell to Hamlet. Now sir, young Fortinbras,                        
113           Of vnimproued Mettle, hot and full,                        
114           Hath in the skirts of Norway, heere and there,                        
115           Shark'd vp a List of Landlesse Resolutes,                        
116           For Foode and Diet, to some Enterprize     
117           That hath a stomacke in't: which is no other      
118           (And it doth well appeare vnto our State)                        
119           But to recouer of vs by strong hand 
120           And termes Compulsatiue, those foresaid Lands   
121           So by his Father lost: and this (I take it)                        
122           Is the maine Motiue of our Preparations,                        
123           The Sourse of this our Watch, and the cheefe head    
124           Of this post-hast, and Romage in the Land. 107                                                                         1.1.108                                                                         109                                                                         110                                                                         111                                                                         112                                                                         113                                                                         114                                                                         115                                                                         116                                                                         117                                                                         118                                                                         119                                                                         120                                                                         121                                                                         122                                                                         123                                                                         124                                                                         
125           Enter Ghost againe.
126           But soft, behold: Loe, where it comes againe:                        
127           Ile crosse it, though it blast me. Stay Illusion:                        
128           If thou hast any sound, or vse of Voyce,                        1.1.128
129           Speake to me. If there be any good thing to be done,                        
130           That may to thee do ease, and grace to me; speak to me.           
131           If thou art priuy to thy Countries Fate 
132           (Which happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh speake.             
133           Or, if thou hast vp-hoorded in thy life 
134           Extorted Treasure in the wombe of Earth,                        
135           (For which, they say, you Spirits oft walke in death)                        
136           Speake of it. Stay, and speake. Stop it Marcellus
137            Mar. Shall I strike at it with my Partizan? 
138            Hor. Do, if it will not stand.  
139            Barn. 'Tis heere.              
140            Hor. 'Tis heere.              
141            Mar. 'Tis gone.               Exit Ghost.      
142           We do it wrong, being so Maiesticall   
143           To offer it the shew of Violence,                        
144           For it is as the Ayre, invulnerable,                        
145           And our vaine blowes, malicious Mockery.     
146            Barn. It was about to speake, when the Cocke crew.   
147            Hor. And then it started, like a guilty thing    
148           Vpon a fearfull Summons. I haue heard,                        
149           The Cocke that is the Trumpet to the day,                        
150           Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding Throate 
151           Awake the God of Day: and at his warning,                        
152           Whether in Sea, or Fire, in Earth, or Ayre,                        
153           Th'extrauagant, and erring Spirit, hyes                   
154           To his Confine. And of the truth heerein,                        
155           This present Obiect made probation. 
156            Mar. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke. 
157           Some sayes, that euer 'gainst that Season comes 
158           Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated,                        
159           The Bird of Dawning singeth all night long:                        
160           And then (they say) no Spirit can walke abroad,                        
161           The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike,                        
162           No Faiery talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme:                        
163           So hallow'd, and so gracious is the time. 
164            Hor. So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it. 
165           But looke, the Morne in Russet mantle clad,                        
166           Walkes o're the dew of yon high Easterne Hill,                        
167           Breake we our Watch vp, and by my aduice    168
168           Let vs impart what we haue seene to night 
169           Vnto yong Hamlet. For vpon my life,                        
170           This Spirit dumbe to vs, will speake to him:                        
171           Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,                        1.1.172
172           As needfull in our Loues, fitting our Duty?      
173            Mar. Let do't I pray, and I this morning know 
174           Where we shall finde him most conueniently. Exeunt

175                                   Scena Secunda.

176           Enter Claudius King of Denmarke, Gertrude the Queene,
177           Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister O- 178              phelia, Lords Attendant.
179            King. Though yet of Hamlet our deere Brothers death 1.2.1
180           The memory be greene: and that it vs befitted 
181           To beare our hearts in greefe, and our whole Kingdome 
182           To be contracted in one brow of woe:                        
183           Yet so farre hath Discretion fought with Nature,                        
184           That we with wisest sorrow thinke on him,                        
185           Together with remembrance of our selues. 
186           Therefore our sometimes Sister, now our Queen,                        
187           Th'Imperiall Ioyntresse of this warlike State,                        
188           Haue we, as 'twere, with a defeated ioy,                        
189           With one Auspicious, and one Dropping eye,                        
190           With mirth in Funerall, and with Dirge in Marriage,                        
191           In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole 
192           Taken to Wife; nor haue we heerein barr'd                       
193           Your better Wisedomes, which haue freely gone 
194           With this affaire along, for all our Thankes.   
195           Now followes, that you know young Fortinbras,                        
196           Holding a weake supposall of our worth;                        
197           Or thinking by our late deere Brothers death,                        
198           Our State to be disioynt, and out of Frame,                        
199           Colleagued with the dreame of his Aduantage;                        
200           He hath not fayl'd to pester vs with Message,                        
201           Importing the surrender of those Lands 
202           Lost by his Father: with all Bonds of Law  
203           To our most valiant Brother. So much for him. 
204           Enter Voltemand and Cornelius.
205           Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting 
206           Thus much the businesse is. We haue heere writ 
207           To Norway, Vncle of young Fortinbras,                        
208           Who Impotent and Bedrid, scarsely heares        
209           Of this his Nephewes purpose, to suppresse           
210           His further gate heerein. In that the Leuies,                        
211           The Lists, and full proportions are all made 1.2.32
212           Out of his subiect: and we heere dispatch  
213           You good Cornelius, and you Voltemand,                        
214           For bearing of this greeting to old Norway,                        
215           Giuing to you no further personall power 
216           To businesse with the King, more then the scope    
217           Of these dilated Articles allow:                        
218           Farewell and let your hast commend your duty. 
219            Volt. In that, and all things, will we shew our duty.
220            King. We doubt it nothing, heartily farewell.     
221           Exit Voltemand and Cornelius.
222           And now Laertes, what's the newes with you?   
223           You told vs of some suite. What is't Laertes?       [nn5[v]
224           You cannot speake of Reason to the Dane,                        
225           And loose your voyce. What would'st thou beg Laertes,                        
226           That shall not be my Offer, not thy Asking?        
227           The Head is not more Natiue to the Heart,                        
228           The Hand more Instrumentall to the Mouth,                        
229           Then is the Throne of Denmarke to thy Father. 
230           What would'st thou haue Laertes
231            Laer. Dread my Lord,                        
232           Your leaue and fauour to returne to France,                        
233           From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke 
234           To shew my duty in your Coronation,                        
235           Yet now I must confesse, that duty done,                        
236           My thoughts and wishes bend againe towards France,                        
237           And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon. 
238            King. Haue you your Fathers leaue? 
239           What sayes Pollonius
240            Pol. He hath my Lord:                        58                                                                         1.2.59                                                                         60
241           I do beseech you giue him leaue to go. 
242            King. Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine,
243           And thy best graces spend it at thy will:                        
244           But now my Cosin Hamlet, and my Sonne?          
245            Ham. A little more then kin, and lesse then kinde.  
246            King. How is it that the Clouds still hang on you? 
247            Ham. Not so my Lord, I am too much i'th'Sun.                    
248            Queen. Good Hamlet cast thy nightly colour off,
249           And let thine eye looke like a Friend on Denmarke. 
250           Do not for euer with thy veyled lids 
251           Seeke for thy Noble Father in the dust;                        
252           Thou know'st 'tis common, all that liues must dye,                        
253           Passing through Nature, to Eternity.           
254            Ham. I Madam, it is common.          1.2.74
255            Queen. If it be;                                                
256           Why seemes it so particular with thee. 
257            Ham. Seemes Madam? Nay, it is: I know not Seemes:                        
258           'Tis not alone my Inky Cloake (good Mother)                        
259           Nor Customary suites of solemne Blacke,                        
260           Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath,                        
261           No, nor the fruitfull Riuer in the Eye,                        
262           Nor the deiected hauiour of the Visage,                        
263           Together with all Formes, Moods, shewes of Griefe,                        
264           That can denote me truly. These indeed Seeme,                        
265           For they are actions that a man might play:                        
266           But I haue that Within, which passeth show;                        
267           These, but the Trappings, and the Suites of woe. 
268            King. 'Tis sweet and commendable 
269           In your Nature Hamlet,                        
270           To giue these mourning duties to your Father:                        
271           But you must know, your Father lost a Father,                        
272           That Father lost, lost his, and the Suruiuer bound 
273           In filiall Obligation, for some terme         
274           To do obsequious Sorrow. But to perseu er 
275           In obstinate Condolement, is a course            
276           Of impious stubbornnesse. 'Tis vnmanly greefe,                        
277           It shewes a will most incorrect to Heauen,                        
278           A Heart vnfortified, a Minde impatient,                        
279           An Vnderstanding simple, and vnschool'd:                        
280           For, what we know must be, and is as common       
281           As any the most vulgar thing to sence,                        
282           Why should we in our peeuish Opposition 
283           Take it to heart? Fye, 'tis a fault to Heauen,                        
284           A fault against the Dead, a fault to Nature,                        
285           To Reason most absurd, whose common Theame    
286           Is death of Fathers, and who still hath cried,                        
287           From the first Coarse, till he that dyed to day,                        
288           This must be so. We pray you throw to earth 
289           This vnpreuayling woe, and thinke of vs       
290           As of a Father; For let the world take note,                        
291           You are the most immediate to our Throne,                        
292           And with no lesse Nobility of Loue,                        
293           Then that which deerest Father beares his Sonne,                        
294           Do I impart towards you. For your intent 
295           In going backe to Schoole in Wittenberg,                        
296           It is most retrograde to our desire:                        
297           And we beseech you, bend you to remaine    1.2.115
298           Heere in the cheere and comfort of our eye,                        
299           Our cheefest Courtier Cosin, and our Sonne.         
300            Qu. Let not thy Mother lose her Prayers Hamlet:                        118
301           I prythee stay with vs, go not to Wittenberg.  
302            Ham. I shall in all my best 
303           Obey you Madam.                                 
304            King. Why 'tis a louing, and a faire Reply,                        
305           Be as our selfe in Denmarke. Madam come,                        
306           This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet   123
307           Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof,                        
308           No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day,                        
309           But the great Cannon to the Clowds shall tell,                        
310           And the Kings Rouce, the Heauens shall bruite againe,                        
311           Respeaking earthly Thunder. Come away. Exeunt.          
312                                   Manet Hamlet.    
313            Ham. Oh that this too too solid Flesh, would melt,                        
314           Thaw, and resolue it selfe into a Dew:                        
315           Or that the Euerlasting had not fixt 
316           His Cannon 'gainst Selfe-slaughter. O God, O God!                        
317           How weary, stale, flat, and vnprofitable       
318           Seemes to me all the vses of this world? 
319           Fie on't? Oh fie, fie, 'tis an vnweeded Garden  
320           That growes to Seed: Things rank, and grosse in Nature   
321           Possesse it meerely. That it should come to this:                        
322           But two months dead: Nay, not so much; not two,                        
323           So excellent a King, that was to this       139 324              Hiperion to a Satyre: so louing to my Mother,                        
325           That he might not beteene the windes of heauen 
326           Visit her face too roughly. Heauen and Earth 
327           Must I remember: why she would hang on him,                        
328           As if encrease of Appetite had growne 
329           By what it fed on; and yet within a month? 
330           Let me not thinke on't: Frailty, thy name is woman.     
331           A little Month, or ere those shooes were old,                        
332           With which she followed my poore Fathers body 
333           Like Niobe, all teares. Why she, euen she.              
334           (O Heauen! A beast that wants discourse of Reason 
335           Would haue mourn'd longer) married with mine Vnkle,                        
336           My Fathers Brother: but no more like my Father,                        
337           Then I to Hercules. Within a Moneth? 
338           Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous Teares 
339           Had left the flushing of her gauled eyes,                        
340           She married. O most wicked speed, to post                1.2.156
341           With such dexterity to Incestuous sheets:                        
342           It is not, nor it cannot come to good. 
343           But breake my heart, for I must hold my tongue. 
344           Enter Horatio, Barnard, and Marcellus.
345            Hor. Haile to your Lordship. 
346            Ham. I am glad to see you well:                        160 347              Horatio, or I do forget my selfe. 
348            Hor. The same my Lord,                        
349           And your poore Seruant euer. 
350            Ham. Sir my good friend,                        
351           Ile change that name with you:                        
352           And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio
353            Marcellus.                           [nn6
354            Mar. My good Lord. 
355            Ham. I am very glad to see you: good euen Sir.         
356           But what in faith make you from Wittemberge
357            Hor. A truant disposition, good my Lord.          
358            Ham. I would not haue your Enemy say so;                        
359           Nor shall you doe mine eare that violence,                        
360           To make it truster of your owne report 
361           Against your selfe. I know you are no Truant:                        
362           But what is your affaire in Elsenour
363           Wee'l teach you to drinke deepe, ere you depart.        
364            Hor. My Lord, I came to see your Fathers Funerall. 
365            Ham. I pray thee doe not mock me (fellow Student)                        
366           I thinke it was to see my Mothers Wedding. 
367            Hor. Indeed my Lord, it followed hard vpon. 
368            Ham. Thrift, thrift Horatio: the Funerall Bakt-meats
369           Did coldly furnish forth the Marriage Tables;                        
370           Would I had met my dearest foe in heauen,                        
371           Ere I had euer seene that day Horatio
372           My father, me thinkes I see my father.  
373            Hor. Oh where my Lord? 
374            Ham. In my minds eye (Horatio)                        
375            Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly King.  
376            Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all:                        
377           I shall not look vpon his like againe. 
378            Hor. My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight. 
379            Ham. Saw? Who? 
380            Hor. My Lord, the King your Father.  
381            Ham. The King my Father? 1.2.191
382            Hor. Season your admiration for a while 
383           With an attent eare; till I may deliuer     
384           Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen,                        
385           This maruell to you.    
386            Ham. For Heauens loue let me heare. 
387            Hor. Two nights together, had these Gentlemen    
388           (Marcellus and Barnardo) on their Watch         
389           In the dead wast and middle of the night 
390           Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father,                        
391           Arm'd at all points exactly, Cap a Pe,                        
392           Appeares before them, and with sollemne march 
393           Goes slow and stately: By them thrice he walkt,                        
394           By their opprest and feare-surprized eyes,                        
395           Within his Truncheons length; whilst they bestil'd                       
396           Almost to Ielly with the Act of feare,                        
397           Stand dumbe and speake not to him. This to me 
398           In dreadfull secrecie impart they did,                        
399           And I with them the third Night kept the Watch,                        
400           Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time,                        
401           Forme of the thing; each word made true and good,                        
402           The Apparition comes. I knew your Father:                        
403           These hands are not more like. 
404            Ham. But where was this? 
405            Mar. My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watcht. 
406            Ham. Did you not speake to it? 
407            Hor. My Lord, I did;                        
408           But answere made it none: yet once me thought    
409           It lifted vp it head, and did addresse       
410           It selfe to motion, like as it would speake:                        
411           But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd;                        
412           And at the sound it shrunke in hast away,                        
413           And vanisht from our sight. 
414            Ham. Tis very strange. 
415            Hor. As I doe liue my honourd Lord 'tis true;                        
416           And we did thinke it writ downe in our duty 
417           To let you know of it.  
418            Ham. Indeed, indeed Sirs; but this troubles me.  
419           Hold you the watch to Night? 
420            Both. We doe my Lord. 
421            Ham. Arm'd, say you?               
422            Both. Arm'd, my Lord.               
423            Ham. From top to toe? 
424            Both. My Lord, from head to foote.    1.2.228
425            Ham. Then saw you not his face? 
426            Hor. O yes, my Lord, he wore his Beauer vp. 
427            Ham. What, lookt he frowningly?   
428            Hor. A countenance more in sorrow then in anger. 
429            Ham. Pale, or red?                
430            Hor. Nay very pale. 
431            Ham. And fixt his eyes vpon you? 
432            Hor. Most constantly. 
433            Ham. I would I had beene there. 
434            Hor. It would haue much amaz'd you.                  
435            Ham. Very like, very like: staid it long?         (dred.                   
436            Hor. While one with moderate hast might tell a hun-
437            All. Longer, longer.                
438            Hor. Not when I saw't.                      
439            Ham. His Beard was grisly? no. 
440            Hor. It was, as I haue seene it in his life,                        
441           A Sable Siluer'd.                                              (gaine.                  
442            Ham. Ile watch to Night; perchance 'twill wake a-           
443            Hor. I warrant you it will. 
444           Ham. If it assume my noble Fathers person,                        
445           Ile speake to it, though Hell it selfe should gape 
446           And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,                        
447           If you haue hitherto conceald this sight;                        
448           Let it bee treble in your silence still:                        
449           And whatsoeuer els shall hap to night,                        
450           Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue;                        
451           I will requite your loues; so, fare ye well:                        
452           Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue,                        
453           Ile visit you.          
454            All. Our duty to your Honour. Exeunt.          
455            Ham. Your loue, as mine to you: farewell.              
456           My Fathers Spirit in Armes? All is not well:                        
457           I doubt some foule play: would the Night were come;                        
458           Till then sit still my soule; foule deeds will rise,                        
459           Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies. Exit

460           Scena Tertia.

461           Enter Laertes and Ophelia.
462            Laer. My necessaries are imbark't; Farewell:                        1.3.1
463           And Sister, as the Winds giue Benefit,                        
464           And Conuoy is assistant; doe not sleepe,                        
465           But let me heare from you. 1.3.4
466            Ophel. Doe you doubt that? 
467            Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his fauours,
468           Hold it a fashion and a toy in Bloud;                        
469           A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature;                        
470           Froward, not permanent; sweet not lasting      
471           The suppliance of a minute? No more. 
472            Ophel. No more but so. 
473            Laer. Thinke it no more:                        
474           For nature cressant does not grow alone,                        
475           In thewes and Bulke: but as his Temple waxes,                        
476           The inward seruice of the Minde and Soule 
477           Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now,                        
478           And now no soyle nor cautell doth besmerch 
479           The vertue of his feare: but you must feare     
480           His greatnesse weigh'd, his will is not his owne;                        [nn6[v]
481           For hee himselfe is subiect to his Birth:                        
482           Hee may not, as vnuallued persons doe,                        
483           Carue for himselfe; for, on his choyce depends  
484           The sanctity and health of the weole State. 
485           And therefore must his choyce be circumscrib'd                       
486           Vnto the voyce and yeelding of that Body,                        
487           Whereof he is the Head. Then if he sayes he loues you,                        
488           It fits your wisedome so farre to beleeue it;                        
489           As he in his peculiar Sect and force 
490           May giue his saying deed: which is no further,                        
491           Then the maine voyce of Denmarke goes withall. 
492           Then weigh what losse your Honour may sustaine,                        
493           If with too credent eare you list his Songs;                        
494           Or lose your Heart; or your chast Treasure open 
495           To his vnmastred importunity. 
496           Feare it Ophelia, feare it my deare Sister,                        
497           And keepe within the reare of your Affection;                        
498           Out of the shot and danger of Desire. 
499           The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough,                        
500           If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone:                        
501           Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious stroakes,                        
502           The Canker Galls, the Infants of the Spring 
503           Too oft before the buttons be disclos'd,                        
504           And in the Morne and liquid dew of Youth,                        
505           Contagious blastments are most imminent. 
506           Be wary then, best safety lies in feare;                        
507           Youth to it selfe rebels, though none else neere. 
508            Ophe. I shall th'effect of this good Lesson keepe,                        
509           As watchmen to my heart: but good my Brother    
510           Doe not as some vngracious Pastors doe,                        
511           Shew me the steepe and thorny way to Heauen;                        
512           Whilst like a puft and recklesse Libertine 
513           Himselfe, the Primrose path of dalliance treads,                        
514           And reaks not his owne reade. 
515            Laer. Oh, feare me not.          
516           Enter Polonius.
517           I stay too long; but here my Father comes:                        
518           A double blessing is a double grace;                        
519           Occasion smiles vpon a second leaue. 
520            Polon. Yet heere Laertes? Aboord, aboord for shame,
521           The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile,                        
522           And you are staid for there: my blessing with you;                        
523           And these few Precepts in thy memory,                        
524           See thou Character. Giue thy thoughts no tongue,                        
525           Nor any vnproportion'd thought his Act:                        
526           Be thou familiar; but by no meanes vulgar:                        
527           The friends thou hast, and their adoption tride,                        
528           Grapple them to thy Soule, with hoopes of Steele:                        
529           But doe not dull thy palme, with entertainment     
530           Of each vnhatch't, vnfledg'd Comrade. Beware       
531           Of entrance to a quarrell: but being in           
532           Bear't that th'opposed may beware of thee. 
533           Giue euery man thine eare; but few thy voyce:                        
534           Take each mans censure; but reserue thy iudgement:                        
535           Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy;                        
536           But not exprest in fancie; rich, not gawdie:                        
537           For the Apparell oft proclaimes the man. 
538           And they in France of the best ranck and station,                        
539           Are of a most select and generous cheff in that. 
540           Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;                        
541           For lone oft loses both it selfe and friend:                        
542           And borrowing duls the edge of Husbandry. 
543           This aboue all; to thine owne selfe be true:                        
544           And it must follow, as the Night the Day,                        
545           Thou canst not then be false to any man. 
546           Farewell: my Blessing season this in thee. 
547            Laer. Most humbly doe I take my leaue, my Lord.               
548            Polon. The time inuites you, goe, your seruants tend.
549            Laer. Farewell Ophelia, and remember well      
550           What I haue said to you. 
551            Ophe. Tis in my memory lockt,                        1.3.85
552           And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it. 
553            Laer. Farewell. Exit Laer.       
554            Polon. What ist Ophelia he hath said to you? 
555            Ophe. So please you, somthing touching the L.Hamlet.
556            Polon. Marry, well bethought:                        
557           Tis told me he hath very oft of late 
558           Giuen priuate time to you; and you your selfe     
559           Haue of your audience beene most free and bounteous. 
560           If it be so, as so tis put on me;                        
561           And that in way of caution: I must tell you,                        
562           You doe not vnderstand your selfe so cleerely,                        
563           As it behoues my Daughter, and your Honour.       
564           What is betweene you, giue me vp the truth?  
565            Ophe. He hath my Lord of late, made many tenders      
566           Of his affection to me. 
567            Polon. Affection, puh. You speake like a greene Girle,
568           Vnsifted in such perillous Circumstance. 
569           Doe you beleeue his tenders, as you call them?      
570            Ophe. I do not know, my Lord, what I should thinke.
571            Polon. Marry Ile teach you; thinke your selfe a Baby,
572           That you haue tane his tenders for true pay,                        
573           Which are not starling. Tender your selfe more dearly;                        
574           Or not to crack the winde of the poore Phrase,                        
575           Roaming it thus, you'l tender me a foole.    
576            Ophe. My Lord, he hath importun'd me with loue,                        
577           In honourable fashion.  
578            Polon. I, fashion you may call it, go too, go too.                
579            Ophe. And hath giuen countenance to his speech,                        
580            My Lord, with all the vowes of Heauen. 
581            Polon. I, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I doe know 
582           When the Bloud burnes, how Prodigall the Soule 
583           Giues the tongue vowes: these blazes, Daughter,                        
584           Giuing more light then heate; extinct in both,                        
585           Euen in their promise, as it is a making;                        
586           You must not take for fire. For this time Daughter,                        
587           Be somewhat scanter of your Maiden presence;                        
588           Set your entreatments at a higher rate,                        
589           Then a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet,                        
590           Beleeue so much in him, that he is young,                        
591           And with a larger tether may he walke,                        
592           Then may be giuen you. In few, Ophelia,                        
593           Doe not beleeue his vowes; for they are Broakers,                        
594           Not of the eye, which their Inuestments show:                        1.3.128
595           But meere implorators of vnholy Sutes,                        
596           Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds,                        
597           The better to beguile. This is for all:                        
598           I would not, in plaine tearmes, from this time forth,                        
599           Haue you so slander any moment leisure,                        
600           As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet:                        
601           Looke too't, I charge you; come your wayes.       
602            Ophe. I shall obey my Lord. Exeunt.          
603           Enter Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus.
604            Ham. The Ayre bites shrewdly: is it very cold?       1.4.1
605            Hor. It is a nipping and an eager ayre. 
606            Ham. What hower now? 
607            Hor. I thinke it lacks of twelue. 
608            Mar. No, it is strooke.         (season,                        
609            Hor. Indeed I heard it not: then it drawes neere the 
610           Wherein the Spirit held his wont to walke. 
611           What does this meane my Lord? (rouse,                        [oo1
612            Ham. The King doth wake to night, and takes his          
613           Keepes wassels and the swaggering vpspring reeles,                        
614           And as he dreines his draughts of Renish downe,                        
615           The kettle Drum and Trumpet thus bray out 
616           The triumph of his Pledge. 
617            Horat. Is it a custome? 
618            Ham. I marry ist;                        
619           And to my mind, though I am natiue heere,                        
620           And to the manner borne: It is a Custome        
621           More honour'd in the breach, then the obseruance.   16                                                                         1.4.17                                                                         18                                                                         19                                                                         20                                                                         21                                                                         22                                                                         23                                                                         24                                                                         25                                                                         26                                                                         27                                                                         28                                                                         29                                                                         30                                                                         31                                                                         1.4.32                                                                         33                                                                         34                                                                         35                                                                         36                                                                         37                                                                         38
622                                   Enter Ghost.
623            Hor. Looke my Lord, it comes.              
624            Ham. Angels and Ministers of Grace defend vs:                        
625           Be thou a Spirit of health, or Goblin damn'd,                        
626           Bring with thee ayres from Heauen, or blasts from Hell,                        
627           Be thy euents wicked or charitable,                        
628           Thou com'st in such a questionable shape 
629           That I will speake to thee. Ile call thee Hamlet,                        
630           King, Father, Royall Dane: Oh, oh, answer me,                        
631           Let me not burst in Ignorance; but tell               
632           Why thy Canoniz'd bones Hearsed in death,                        
633           Haue burst their cerments, why the Sepulcher      
634           Wherein we saw thee quietly enurn'd,                        
635           Hath op'd his ponderous and Marble iawes,                        
636           To cast thee vp againe? What may this meane? 1.4.51
637           That thou dead Coarse againe in compleat steele,                        
638           Reuisits thus the glimpses of the Moone,                        
639           Making Night hidious? And we fooles of Nature,                        
640           So horridly to shake our disposition,                        
641           With thoughts beyond thee; reaches of our Soules,                        
642           Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we doe? 
643                                   Ghost beckens Hamlet
644            Hor. It beckons you to goe away with it,                        
645           As if it some impartment did desire 
646           To you alone.                                   
647            Mar. Looke with what courteous action 
648           It wafts you to a more remoued ground:                        
649           But doe not goe with it. 
650            Hor. No, by no meanes.          
651            Ham. It will not speake: then will I follow it. 
652            Hor. Doe not my Lord. 
653            Ham. Why, what should be the feare? 
654           I doe not set my life at a pins fee;                        
655           And for my Soule, what can it doe to that? 
656           Being a thing immortall as it selfe:                        
657           It waues me forth againe; Ile follow it.         
658            Hor. What if it tempt you toward the Floud my Lord? 
659           Or to the dreadfull Sonnet of the Cliffe,                        
660           That beetles o're his base into the Sea,                        
661           And there assumes some other horrible forme,                        
662           Which might depriue your Soueraignty of Reason,                        
663           And draw you into madnesse thinke of it? 74                                                                         1.4.75                                                                         76                                                                         77                                                                         78
664            Ham. It wafts me still: goe on, Ile follow thee.       
665            Mar. You shall not goe my Lord. 
666            Ham. Hold off your hand. 
667            Hor. Be rul'd, you shall not goe.     
668            Ham. My fate cries out,                        
669           And makes each petty Artire in this body,                        
670           As hardy as the Nemian Lions nerue:                        
671           Still am I cal'd? Vnhand me Gentlemen:                        
672           By Heau'n, Ile make a Ghost of him that lets me:                        
673           I say away, goe on, Ile follow thee.       
674           Exeunt Ghost & Hamlet.
675            Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination. 
676            Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. 
677            Hor. Haue after, to what issue will this come? 
678            Mar. Something is rotten in the State of Denmarke. 
679            Hor. Heauen will direct it. 1.4.91
680            Mar. Nay, let's follow him.           Exeunt.          
681           Enter Ghost and Hamlet. (ther.
682            Ham. Where wilt thou lead me? speak; Ile go no fur- 1.5.1
683            Gho. Marke me.                         
684            Ham. I will.                         
685            Gho. My hower is almost come,                        
686           When I to sulphurous and tormenting Flames 
687           Must render vp my selfe. 
688            Ham. Alas poore Ghost. 
689            Gho. Pitty me not, but lend thy serious hearing 
690           To what I shall vnfold. 
691            Ham. Speake, I am bound to heare.   
692            Gho. So art thou to reuenge, when thou shalt heare. 
693            Ham. What?                           
694            Gho. I am thy Fathers Spirit,                        
695           Doom'd for a certaine terme to walke the night;                        
696           And for the day confin'd to fast in Fiers,                        
697           Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature 
698           Are burnt and purg'd away? But that I am forbid 
699           To tell the secrets of my Prison-House;                        
700           I could a Tale vnfold, whose lightest word    
701           Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy young blood,                        
702           Make thy two eyes like Starres, start from their Spheres,                        
703           Thy knotty and combined locks to part,                        
704           And each particular haire to stand an end,                        
705           Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine:                        
706           But this eternall blason must not be 
707           To eares of flesh and bloud; list Hamlet, oh list,                        
708           If thou didst euer thy deare Father loue. 
709            Ham. Oh Heauen!                        
710            Gho. Reuenge his foule and most vnnaturall Murther. 25
711            Ham. Murther?                         
712            Ghost. Murther most foule, as in the best it is;                        
713           But this most foule, strange, and vnnaturall.        
714            Ham. Hast, hast me to know it,                        
715           That with wings as swift 
716           As meditation, or the thoughts of Loue,                        
717           May sweepe to my Reuenge. 
718            Ghost. I finde thee apt,                        
719           And duller should'st thou be then the fat weede 
720           That rots it selfe in ease, on Lethe Wharfe,                        
721           Would'st thou not stirre in this. Now Hamlet heare:                        
722           It's giuen out, that sleeping in mine Orchard,                        1.5.35
723           A Serpent stung me: so the whole eare of Denmarke,                        
724           Is by a forged processe of my death 
725           Rankly abus'd: But know thou Noble youth,                        
726           The Serpent that did sting thy Fathers life,                        
727           Now weares his Crowne.  
728            Ham. O my Propheticke soule: mine Vncle?            
729            Ghost. I that incestuous, that adulterate Beast  
730           With witchcraft of his wits, hath Traitorous guifts. 
731           Oh wicked Wit, and Gifts, that haue the power    
732           So to seduce? Won to to this shamefull Lust 
733           The will of my most seeming vertuous Queene:                        
734           Oh Hamlet, what a falling off was there,                        
735           From me, whose loue was of that dignity,                        
736           That it went hand in hand, euen with the Vow      
737           I made to her in Marriage; and to decline         
738           Vpon a wretch, whose Naturall gifts were poore 
739           To those of mine. But Vertue, as it neuer wil be moued,                        
740           Though Lewdnesse court it in a shape of Heauen:                        
741           So Lust, though to a radiant Angell link'd,                        
742           Will sate it selfe in a Celestiallbed, & prey on Garbage.       
743           But soft, me thinkes I sent the Mornings Ayre;                        [oo1[v]
744           Briefe let me be: Sleeping within mine Orchard,                        
745           My custome alwayes in the afternoone;                        
746           Vpon my secure hower thy Vncle stole 
747           With iuyce of cursed Hebenon in a Violl,                        
748           And in the Porches of mine eares did poure 
749           The leaperous Distilment; whose effect           
750           Holds such an enmity with bloud of Man,                        
751           That swift as Quick-siluer, it courses through     
752           The naturall Gates and Allies of the Body;                        
753           And with a sodaine vigour it doth posset 
754           And curd, like Aygre droppings into Milke,                        
755           The thin and wholsome blood: so did it mine;                        
756           And a most instant Tetter bak'd about,                        
757           Most Lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust,                        
758           All my smooth Body.     
759           Thus was I, sleeping, by a Brothers hand,                        
760           Of Life, of Crowne, and Queene at once dispatcht;                        
761           Cut off euen in the Blossomes of my Sinne,                        
762           Vnhouzzled, disappointed, vnnaneld,                        
763           No reckoning made, but sent to my account 
764           With all my imperfections on my head;                        
765           Oh horrible, Oh horrible, most horrible:                        1.5.80
766           If thou hast nature in thee beare it not;                        
767           Let not the Royall Bed of Denmarke be 
768           A Couch for Luxury and damned Incest. 
769           But howsoeuer thou pursuest this Act,                        
770           Taint not thy mind; nor let thy Soule contriue 
771           Against thy Mother ought; leaue her to heauen,                        
772           And to those Thornes that in her bosome lodge,                        
773           To pricke and sting her. Fare thee well at once;                        
774           The Glow-worme showes the Matine to be neere,                        
775           And gins to pale his vneffectuall Fire:                        
776           Adue, adue, Hamlet: remember me.       Exit.            
777            Ham. Oh all you host of Heauen! Oh Earth; what els?              
778           And shall I couple Hell? Oh fie: hold my heart;                        
779           And you my sinnewes, grow not instant Old;                        
780           But beare me stiffely vp: Remember thee?         
781           I, thou poore Ghost, while memory holds a seate 
782           In this distracted Globe: Remember thee?         
783           Yea, from the Table of my Memory,                        
784           Ile wipe away all triuiall fond Records,                        
785           All sawes of Bookes, all formes, all presures past,                        
786           That youth and obseruation coppied there;                        
787           And thy Commandment all alone shall liue 
788           Within the Booke and Volume of my Braine,                        
789           Vnmixt with baser matter; yes, yes, by Heauen:                        
790           Oh most pernicious woman!                        
791           Oh Villaine, Villaine, smiling damned Villaine!                        
792           My Tables, my Tables; meet it is I set it downe,                        
793           That one may smile, and smile and be a Villaine;                        
794           At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmarke;                        
795           So Vnckle there you are: now to my word;                        
796           It is; Adue, Adue, Remember me: I haue sworn't.                      
797            Hor. & Mar. within. My Lord, my Lord.               
798                                   Enter Horatio and Marcellus
799            Mar. Lord Hamlet
800            Hor. Heauen secure him. 
801            Mar. So be it.                         
802            Hor. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord.               
803            Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy; come bird, come.                  
804            Mar. How ist't my Noble Lord?        
805            Hor. What newes, my Lord?               
806            Ham. Oh wonderfull!                        
807            Hor. Good my Lord tell it. 
808            Ham. No you'l reueale it.           1.5.119
809            Hor. Not I, my Lord, by Heauen.             
810            Mar. Nor I, my Lord.               (think it?               
811            Ham. How say you then, would heart of man once 
812           But you'l be secret?                                    
813            Both. I, by Heau'n, my Lord.               
814            Ham. There's nere a villaine dwelling in all Denmarke
815           But hee's an arrant knaue.      
816            Hor. There needs no Ghost my Lord, come from the          
817           Graue, to tell vs this.       
818            Ham. Why right, you are i'th' right;                        
819           And so, without more circumstance at all,                        
820           I hold it fit that we shake hands, and part:                        
821           You, as your busines and desires shall point you:                        
822           For euery man ha's businesse and desire,                        
823           Such as it is: and for mine owne poore part,                        
824           Looke you, Ile goe pray.          
825            Hor. These are but wild and hurling words, my Lord.
826            Ham. I'm sorry they offend you heartily:                        
827           Yes faith, heartily.                                      
828            Hor. There's no offence my Lord.   
829            Ham. Yes, by Saint Patricke, but there is my Lord,
830           And much offence too, touching this Vision heere:                        
831           It is an honest Ghost, that let me tell you:                        
832           For your desire to know what is betweene vs,                        
833           O'remaster't as you may. And now good friends,                        
834           As you are Friends, Schollers and Soldiers,                        
835           Giue me one poore request. 
836            Hor. What is't my Lord? we will.     
837            Ham. Neuer make known what you haue seen to night. 
838            Both. My Lord, we will not.           
839            Ham. Nay, but swear't.                      
840            Hor. Infaith my Lord, not I.                 
841            Mar. Nor I my Lord: in faith.              
842            Ham. Vpon my sword. 
843            Marcell. We haue sworne my Lord already. 
844            Ham. Indeed, vpon my sword, Indeed.                
845            Gho. Sweare. Ghost cries vnder the Stage. 149
846            Ham. Ah ha boy, sayest thou so. Art thou there true-
847           penny? Come one you here this fellow in the selleredge 
848           Consent to sweare.                              
849            Hor. Propose the Oath my Lord. 
850            Ham. Neuer to speake of this that you haue seene. 
851           Sweare by my sword.     1.5.154
852            Gho. Sweare.                         
853            Ham. Hic & vbique? Then wee'l shift for grownd,
854           Come hither Gentlemen,                        
855           And lay your hands againe vpon my sword,                        
856           Neuer to speake of this that you haue heard:                        
857           Sweare by my Sword.     
858            Gho. Sweare. (fast?                   
859            Ham. Well said old Mole, can'st worke i'th' ground so
860           A worthy Pioner, once more remoue good friends. 
861            Hor. Oh day and night: but this is wondrous strange.
862            Ham. And therefore as a stranger giue it welcome. 
863           There are more things in Heauen and Earth, Horatio,                        
864           Then are dream't of in our Philosophy. But come,                        
865           Here as before, neuer so helpe you mercy,                        
866           How strange or odde so ere I beare my selfe;                        
867           (As I perchance heereafter shall thinke meet 
868           To put an Anticke disposition on:)                        
869           That you at such time seeing me, neuer shall            
870           With Armes encombred thus, or thus, head shake;                        
871           Or by pronouncing of some doubtfull Phrase;                        
872           As well, we know, or we could and if we would,                        
873           Or if we list to speake; or there be and if there might,                        
874           Or such ambiguous giuing out to note,                        
875           That you know ought of me; this not to doe:                        [oo2
876           So grace and mercy at your most neede helpe you:                        
877           Sweare.                                         
878            Ghost. Sweare. 
879            Ham. Rest, rest perturbed Spirit: so Gentlemen,                        
880           With all my loue I doe commend me to you;                        
881           And what so poore a man as Hamlet is,                        
882           May doe t'expresse his loue and friending to you,                        
883           God willing shall not lacke: let vs goe in together,                        
884           And still your fingers on your lippes I pray,                        
885           The time is out of ioynt: Oh cursed spight,                        
886           That euer I was borne to set it right. 
887           Nay, come let's goe together.         Exeunt.          

888                                   Actus Secundus.

889           Enter Polonius, and Reynoldo.                              
890            Polon. Giue him his money, and these notes Reynoldo. 2.1.1
891            Reynol. I will my Lord. 
892            Polon. You shall doe maruels wisely: good Reynoldo, 2.1.3
893           Before you visite him you make inquiry 
894           Of his behauiour.                               
895            Reynol. My Lord, I did intend it.       
896            Polon. Marry, well said;                        
897           Very well said. Looke you Sir,                        
898           Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;                        
899           And how, and who; what meanes; and where they keepe:                        
900           What company, at what expence: and finding            
901           By this encompassement and drift of question,                        
902           That they doe know my sonne: Come you more neerer   
903           Then your particular demands will touch it,                        
904           Take you as 'twere some distant knowledge of him,                        
905           And thus I know his father and his friends,                        
906           And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo
907            Reynol. I, very well my Lord.     
908            Polon. And in part him, but you may say not well;                        
909           But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde;                        
910           Addicted so and so; and there put on him   
911           What forgeries you please: marry, none so ranke,                        
912           As may dishonour him; take heed of that:                        
913           But Sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,                        
914           As are Companions noted and most knowne 
915           To youth and liberty.   
916            Reynol. As gaming my Lord. 
917            Polon. I, or drinking, fencing, swearing,                        
918           Quarelling, drabbing. You may goe so farre. 
919            Reynol. My Lord that would dishonour him. 
920            Polon. Faith no, as you may season it in the charge;
921           You must not put another scandall on him,                        
922           That hee is open to Incontinencie;                        
923           That's not my meaning: but breath his faults so quaintly,                        
924           That they may seeme the taints of liberty;                        
925           The flash and out-breake of a fiery minde,                        
926           A sauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall assault. 
927            Reynol. But my good Lord. 
928            Polon. Wherefore should you doe this? 
929            Reynol. I my Lord, I would know that.     
930            Polon. Marry Sir, heere's my drift,                        
931           And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant:                        
932           You laying these slight sulleyes on my Sonne,                        
933           As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th' working: (sound,                        
934           Marke you your party in conuerse; him you would          42 935                 Hauing euer seene. In the prenominate crimes,                        2.1.43
936           The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd                       
937           He closes with you in this consequence:                        
938           Good sir, or so, or friend, or Gentleman.          
939           According to the Phrase and the Addition,                        
940           Of man and Country.     
941            Reynol. Very good my Lord. 
942            Polon. And then Sir does he this? 
943           He does: what was I about to say? 
944           I was about to say somthing: where did I leaue?     
945            Reynol. At closes in the consequence:                        
946           At friend, or so, and Gentleman.         
947            Polon. At closes in the consequence, I marry,                        
948           He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman,                        
949           I saw him yesterday, or tother day;                        
950           Or then or then, with such and such; and as you say,                        
951           There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse,                        
952           There falling out at Tennis; or perchance,                        
953           I saw him enter such a house of saile;                        
954           Videlicet, a Brothell, or so forth. See you now;                        
955           Your bait of falshood, takes this Cape of truth;                        
956           And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach 
957           With windlesses, and with assaies of Bias,                        
958           By indirections finde directions out:                        
959           So by my former Lecture and aduice 
960           Shall you my Sonne; you haue me, haue you not?          
961            Reynol. My Lord I haue. 
962            Polon. God buy you; fare you well.         
963            Reynol. Good my Lord. 
964            Polon. Obserue his inclination in your selfe. 
965            Reynol. I shall my Lord. 
966            Polon. And let him plye his Musicke. 
967           Reynol. Well, my Lord.               Exit.            
968                                   Enter Ophelia.                           
969            Polon. Farewell:                                                
970           How now Ophelia, what's the matter?           
971            Ophe. Alas my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted. 
972            Polon. With what, in the name of Heauen? 
973            Ophe. My Lord, as I was sowing in my Chamber,                        
974           Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd,                        
975           No hat vpon his head, his stockings foul'd,                        
976           Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle,                        2.1.77
977           Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,                        
978           And with a looke so pitious in purport,                        
979           As if he had been loosed out of hell,                        
980           To speake of horrors: he comes before me.    
981            Polon. Mad for thy Loue? 
982            Ophe. My Lord, I doe not know: but truly I do feare it.
983            Polon. What said he? 
984            Ophe. He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard;                        
985           Then goes he to the length of all his arme;                        
986           And with his other hand thus o're his brow,                        
987           He fals to such perusall of my face,                        
988           As he would draw it. Long staid he so,                        
989           At last, a little shaking of mine Arme:                        
990           And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe;                        
991           He rais'd a sigh, so pittious and profound,                        
992           That it did seeme to shatter all his bulke,                        
993           And end his being. That done, he lets me goe,                        
994           And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd,                        
995           He seem'd to finde his way without his eyes,                        
996           For out adores he went without their helpe;                        
997           And to the last, bended their light on me. 
998            Polon. Goe with me, I will goe seeke the King,                        
999           This is the very extasie of Loue,                        
1000         Whose violent property foredoes it selfe,                        
1001         And leads the will to desperate Vndertakings,                        [oo2[v]
1002         As oft as any passion vnder Heauen,                        
1003         That does afflict our Natures. I am sorrie,                        
1004         What haue you giuen him any hard words of late? 
1005          Ophe. No my good Lord: but as you did command,                        
1006         I did repell his Letters, and deny'de                      
1007         His accesse to me.                              
1008          Pol. That hath made him mad. 
1009         I am sorrie that with better speed and iudgement 
1010         I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle,                        
1011         And meant to wracke thee: but beshrew my iealousie:                        
1012         It seemes it is as proper to our Age,                        
1013         To cast beyond our selues in our Opinions,                        
1014         As it is common for the yonger sort 
1015         To lacke discretion. Come, go we to the King,                        
1016         This must be knowne, being kept close might moue 
1017         More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue. Exeunt.          116                                                                         2.1.117

1018                                 Scena Secunda.

1019         Enter King, Queene, Rosincrane, and Guilden- 1020                                     sterne Cum alijs.
1021          King. Welcome deere Rosincrance and Guildensterne.   2.2.1
1022         Moreouer, that we much did long to see you,                        
1023         The neede we haue to vse you, did prouoke            
1024         Our hastie sending. Something haue you heard 
1025         Of Hamlets transformation: so I call it,                        
1026         Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man     
1027         Resembles that it was. What it should bee 
1028         More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him 
1029         So much from th'vnderstanding of himselfe,                        
1030         I cannot deeme of. I intreat you both,                        
1031         That being of so young dayes brought vp with him:                        
1032         And since so Neighbour'd to his youth, and humour,                        
1033         That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court 
1034         Some little time: so by your Companies   
1035         To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather          
1036         So much as from Occasions you may gleane,                        16                                                                         2.2.17
1037         That open'd lies within our remedie. 
1038          Qu. Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,                        
1039         And sure I am, two men there are not liuing,                        
1040         To whom he more adheres. If it will please you 
1041         To shew vs so much Gentrie, and good will,                        
1042         As to expend your time with vs a-while,                        
1043         For the supply and profit of our Hope,                        
1044         Your Visitation shall receiue such thankes 
1045         As fits a Kings remembrance. 
1046          Rosin. Both your Maiesties 
1047         Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs,                        
1048         Put your dread pleasures, more into Command      
1049         Then to Entreatie.                              
1050          Guil. We both obey,                        29               
1051         And here giue vp our selues, in the full bent,                        30               
1052         To lay our Seruices freely at your feete,                        31               
1053         To be commanded.                                
1054          King. Thankes Rosincrance, and gentle Guildensterne.   
1055          Qu. Thankes Guildensterne and gentle Rosincrance.     
1056         And I beseech you instantly to visit 
1057         My too much changed Sonne. 
1058         Go some of ye,                                                
1059         And bring the Gentlemen where Hamlet is. 37               
1060          Guil. Heauens make our presence and our practises 2.2.38
1061         Pleasant and helpfull to him. Exit.            39               
1062          Queene. Amen.                         
1063         Enter Polonius.  
1064          Pol. Th'Ambassadors from Norwey, my good Lord,                        
1065         Are ioyfully return'd.                      
1066          King. Thou still hast bin the Father of good Newes.
1067          Pol. Haue I, my Lord? Assure you, my good Liege,                        
1068         I hold my dutie, as I hold my Soule,                        
1069         Both to my God, one to my gracious King:                        
1070         And I do thinke, or else this braine of mine 
1071         Hunts not the traile of Policie, so sure                
1072         As I haue vs'd to do: that I haue found      
1073         The very cause of Hamlets Lunacie. 
1074          King. Oh speake of that, that I do long to heare. 
1075          Pol. Giue first admittance to th'Ambassadors,                        
1076         My Newes shall be the Newes to that great Feast. 
1077          King. Thy selfe do grace to them, and bring them in.
1078         He tels me my sweet Queene, that he hath found     
1079         The head and sourse of all your Sonnes distemper. 
1080          Qu. I doubt it is no other, but the maine,                        
1081         His Fathers death, and our o're-hasty Marriage.      
1082         Enter Polonius, Voltumand, and Cornelius.     
1083          King. Well, we shall sift him. Welcome good Frends:
1084         Say Voltumand, what from our Brother Norwey? 
1085          Volt. Most faire returne of Greetings, and Desires.
1086         Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse 
1087         His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd                       
1088         To be a preparation 'gainst the Poleak:                        
1089         But better look'd into, he truly found         
1090         It was against your Highnesse, whereat greeued,                        
1091         That so his Sicknesse, Age, and Impotence          
1092         Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests      
1093         On Fortinbras, which he (in breefe) obeyes,                        
1094         Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine,                        
1095         Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more             
1096         To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie. 
1097         Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy,                        
1098         Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee,                        
1099         And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers 
1100         So leuied as before, against the Poleak:                        
1101         With an intreaty heerein further shewne,                        
1102         That it might please you to giue quiet passe 
1103         Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize,                        2.2.78
1104         On such regards of safety and allowance,                        
1105         As therein are set downe. 
1106          King. It likes vs well:                        
1107         And at our more consider'd time wee'l read,                        
1108         Answer, and thinke vpon this Businesse. 
1109         Meane time we thanke you, for your well-tooke Labour. 
1110         Go to your rest, at night wee'l Feast together.       
1111         Most welcome home.      Exit Ambass.     
1112          Pol. This businesse is very well ended. 
1113         My Liege, and Madam, to expostulate         
1114         What Maiestie should be, what Dutie is,                        
1115         Why day is day; night, night; and time is time,                        
1116         Were nothing but to waste Night, Day and Time.          
1117         Therefore, since Breuitie is the Soule of Wit,                        
1118         And tediousnesse, the limbes and outward flourishes,                        
1119         I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad:                        
1120         Mad call I it; for to define true Madnesse,                        
1121         What is't, but to be nothing else but mad. 
1122         But let that go.                                
1123          Qu. More matter, with lesse Art.        95               
1124          Pol. Madam, I sweare I vse no Art at all:                        96               
1125         That he is mad, 'tis true: 'Tis true 'tis pittie,                        97               
1126         And pittie it is true: A foolish figure,                        98               
1127         But farewell it: for I will vse no Art.  99               
1128         Mad let vs grant him then: and now remaines       [oo3
1129         That we finde out the cause of this effect,                        101              
1130         Or rather say, the cause of this defect;                        
1131         For this effect defectiue, comes by cause,                        
1132         Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend,                        
1133         I haue a daughter: haue, whil'st she is mine,                        
1134         Who in her Dutie and Obedience, marke,                        
1135         Hath giuen me this: now gather, and surmise.           
1136         The Letter.                              
1137         To the Celestiall, and my Soules Idoll, the most beautified O- 110 1138              phelia.            
1139         That's an ill Phrase, a vilde Phrase, beautified is a vilde  
1140         Phrase: but you shall heare these in her excellent white 
1141         bosome, these.                                         
1142          Qu. Came this from Hamlet to her. 
1143          Pol. Good Madam stay awhile, I will be faithfull.   
1144         Doubt thou, the Starres are fire,                        116 1145             Doubt, that the Sunne doth moue:                        117 1146             Doubt Truth to be a Lier,                        2.2.118 1147             But neuer Doubt, I loue.                119 1148             O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these Numbers: I haue not Art to
121
1149             reckon my grones; but that I loue thee best, oh most Best be-
122
1150             leeue it. Adieu.                                122 1151                                     Thine euermore most deere Lady, whilst this            124 1152                                     Machine is to him, Hamlet.            
1153         This in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me:                        
1154         And more aboue hath his soliciting,                        
1155         As they fell out by Time, by Meanes, and Place,                        
1156         All giuen to mine eare. 
1157          King. But how hath she receiu'd his Loue?             
1158          Pol. What do you thinke of me? 
1159          King. As of a man, faithfull and Honourable. 
1160          Pol. I wold faine proue so. But what might you think?
1161         When I had seene this hot loue on the wing,                        
1162         As I perceiued it, I must tell you that   
1163         Before my Daughter told me, what might you         
1164         Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere, think,                        
1165         If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke,                        
1166         Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe,                        
1167         Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle sight,                        
1168         What might you thinke? No, I went round to worke,                        
1169         And (my yong Mistris) thus I did bespeake    
1170         Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre,                        
1171         This must not be: and then, I Precepts gaue her,                        
1172         That she should locke her selfe from his Resort,                        
1173         Admit no Messengers, receiue no Tokens:                        
1174         Which done, she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice,                        
1175         And he repulsed. A short Tale to make,                        
1176         Fell into a Sadnesse, then into a Fast,                        
1177         Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknesse,                        
1178         Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension 
1179         Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues,                        
1180         And all we waile for.   
1181          King. Do you thinke 'tis this?               151 1182              Qu. It may be very likely. 152 1183              Pol. Hath there bene such a time, I'de fain know that,
1184         That I haue possitiuely said, 'tis so,                        
1185         When it prou'd otherwise?            155 1186              King. Not that I know. 155 1187              Pol. Take this from this; if this be otherwise,
1188         If Circumstances leade me, I will finde           
1189         Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede 2.2.158
1190         Within the Center.                              159 1191              King. How may we try it further? 159 1192              Pol. You know sometimes 
1193         He walkes foure houres together, heere                  
1194         In the Lobby.                                   161 1195              Qu. So he ha's indeed.               161               1196              Pol. At such a time Ile loose my Daughter to him,
1197         Be you and I behinde an Arras then,                        
1198         Marke the encounter: If he loue her not,                        
1199         And be not from his reason falne thereon;                        
1200         Let me be no Assistant for a State,                        
1201         And keepe a Farme and Carters. 167 1202              King. We will try it. 
1203         Enter Hamlet reading on a Booke 1204              Qu. But looke where sadly the poore wretch 
1205         Comes reading.                                  168 1206              Pol. Away I do beseech you, both away,                        
1207         Ile boord him presently. Exit King & Queen.             
1208         Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet171 1209              Ham. Well, God-a-mercy.           172 1210              Pol. Do you know me, my Lord?               173 1211              Ham. Excellent, excellent well: y'are a Fishmonger. 174 1212              Pol. Not I my Lord. 175 1213              Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. 176 1214              Pol. Honest, my Lord?               
1215          Ham. I sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to bee
1216         one man pick'd out of two thousand.  179 1217              Pol. That's very true, my Lord.               180 1218              Ham. For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge,
1219         being a good kissing Carrion                         182                                      
1220         Haue you a daughter?    182 1221              Pol. I haue my Lord. 183 1222              Ham. Let her not walke i'th'Sunne: Conception is a
1223         blessing, but not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend  
1224         looke too't.                                              186 1225              Pol. How say you by that? Still harping on my daugh-
1226         ter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a Fishmon- 
1227         ger: he is farre gone, farre gone: and truly in my youth,                        
1228         I suffred much extreamity for loue: very neere this. Ile   
1229         speake to him againe. What do you read my Lord? 191 1230              Ham. Words, words, words.                 2.2.192 1231              Pol. What is the matter, my Lord?               193 1232              Ham. Betweene who? 194 1233              Pol. I meane the matter you meane, my Lord. 195 1234              Ham. Slanders Sir: for the Satyricall slaue saies here,
1235         that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrin- 
1236         kled; their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum-Tree           
1237         Gumme: and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit,                        
1238         together with weake Hammes. All which Sir, though I               
1239         most powerfully, and potently beleeue; yet I holde it         
1240         not Honestie to haue it thus set downe: For you your           
1241         selfe Sir, should be old as I am, if like a Crab you could 
1242         go backward.                                    204                       1243              Pol. Though this be madnesse,                        
1244         Yet there is Method in't: will you walke         
1245         Out of the ayre my Lord? 206 1246              Ham. Into my Graue? 207 1247              Pol. Indeed that is out o'th'Ayre:                        
1248         How pregnant (sometimes) his Replies are?       
1249         A happinesse,                                                
1250         That often Madnesse hits on,                        
1251         Which Reason and Sanitie could not 
1252         So prosperously be deliuer'd of.                   
1253         I will leaue him,                                                
1254         And sodainely contriue the meanes of meeting 212              
1255         Betweene him, and my daughter.       213              
1256         My Honourable Lord, I will most humbly     213              
1257         Take my leaue of you.   214               1258                 Ham. You cannot Sir take from me any thing, that I [oo3[v]
1259         will more willingly part withall, except my life, my                     
1260         life.                                           217 1261              Polon. Fare you well my Lord. 218 1262              Ham. These tedious old fooles. 219 1263              Polon. You goe to seeke my Lord Hamlet; there
1264         hee is.                                         
1265         Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne 1266              Rosin. God saue you Sir. 221 1267              Guild. Mine honour'd Lord?                 222 1268              Rosin. My most deare Lord? 223 1269              Ham. My excellent good friends? How do'st thou 225 1270             Guildensterne? Oh, Rosincrane; good Lads: How doe ye
1271         both?                                           226 1272              Rosin. As the indifferent Children of the earth. 2.2.227 1273              Guild. Happy, in that we are not ouer-happy: on For-
1274         tunes Cap, we are not the very Button. 229 1275              Ham. Nor the Soales of her Shoo? 230 1276              Rosin. Neither my Lord. 231 1277              Ham. Then you liue about her waste, or in the mid-
1278         dle of her fauour?                              233 1279              Guil. Faith, her priuates, we.                    234 1280              Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true:
1281         she is a Strumpet. What's the newes?            236 1282              Rosin. None my Lord; but that the World's growne
1283         honest.                                         237 1284              Ham. Then is Doomesday neere: But your newes is
1285         not true. Let me question more in particular: what haue              
1286         you my good friends, deserued at the hands of Fortune,                        
1287         that she sends you to Prison hither? 241 1288              Guil. Prison, my Lord?               242 1289              Ham. Denmark's a Prison.             
1290          Rosin. Then is the World one. 244 1291              Ham. A goodly one, in which there are many Con-
1292         fines, Wards, and Dungeons; Denmarke being one o'th'                        
1293         worst.                                          247 1294              Rosin. We thinke not so my Lord. 248 1295              Ham. Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing
1296         either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is            
1297         a prison.                                       251 1298              Rosin. Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis
1299         too narrow for your minde. 
1300          Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and                    
1301         count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that       
1302         I haue bad dreames.                             
1303          Guil. Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the                
1304         very substance of the Ambitious, is meerely the shadow  
1305         of a Dreame.                                    259 1306              Ham. A dreame it selfe is but a shadow. 260 1307              Rosin. Truely, and I hold Ambition of so ayry and
1308         light a quality, that it is but a shadowes shadow. 262 1309              Ham. Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Mo-            
1310         narchs and out-stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes:                        
1311         shall wee to th'Court: for, by my fey I cannot rea- 
1312         son?                                            265 1313              Both. Wee'l wait vpon you.        266 1314              Ham. No such matter. I will not sort you with the
1315         rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest 2.2.268
1316         man: I am most dreadfully attended; but in the beaten      
1317         way of friendship, What make you at Elsonower270 1318              Rosin. To visit you my Lord, no other occasion. 271 1319              Ham. Begger that I am, I am euen poore in thankes;
1320         but I thanke you: and sure deare friends my thanks 
1321         are too deare a halfepeny; were you not sent for? Is it 
1322         your owne inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,                        
1323         deale iustly with me: come, come; nay speake.            276 1324              Guil. What should we say my Lord? 277 1325              Ham. Why any thing. But to the purpose; you were
1326         sent for; and there is a kinde confession in your lookes;                        
1327         which your modesties haue not craft enough to co- 
1328         lor, I know the good King & Queene haue sent for you. 281 1329              Rosin. To what end my Lord? 282 1330              Ham. That you must teach me: but let mee coniure
1331         you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of   
1332         our youth, by the Obligation of our euer-preserued loue,                        
1333         and by what more deare, a better proposer could charge 
1334         you withall; be euen and direct with me, whether you            
1335         were sent for or no.                            288 1336              Rosin. What say you? 288 1337              Ham. Nay then I haue an eye of you: if you loue me
1338         hold not off.                                   291 1339              Guil. My Lord, we were sent for.      292 1340              Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
1341         preuent your discouery of your secricie to the King and 
1342         Queene: moult no feather, I haue of late, but wherefore          
1343         I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custome of ex- 
1344         ercise; and indeed, it goes so heauenly with my dispositi- 
1345         on; that this goodly frame the Earth, seemes to me a ster-   
1346         rill Promontory; this most excellent Canopy the Ayre,                        
1347         look you, this braue ore-hanging, this Maiesticall Roofe,                        
1348         fretted with golden fire: why, it appeares no other thing 
1349         to mee, then a foule and pestilent congregation of va- 
1350         pours. What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in           
1351         Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing 
1352         how expresse and admirable? in Action, how like an An-        
1353         gel? in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the 
1354         world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is                
1355         this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no,                        
1356         nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme 
1357         to say so.                                      310 1358              Rosin. My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my 2.2.311
1359         thoughts.                                       312 1360              Ham. Why did you laugh, when I said, Man delights
1361         not me?                                         
1362          Rosin. To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man,
1363         what Lenton entertainment the Players shall receiue 
1364         from you: wee coated them on the way, and hither are         
1365         they comming to offer you Seruice. 
1366          Ham. He that playes the King shall be welcome; his
1367         Maiesty shall haue Tribute of mee: the aduenturous        
1368         Knight shal vse his Foyle and Target: the Louer shall        
1369         not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in
1370         peace: the Clowne shall make those laugh whose lungs 
1371         are tickled a'th'sere: and the Lady shall say her minde 
1372         freely; or the blanke Verse shall halt for't: what Players           
1373         are they?                                       
1374          Rosin. Euen those you were wont to take delight in
1375         the Tragedians of the City. 
1376          Ham. How chances it they trauaile? their resi- 
1377         dence both in reputation and profit was better both 
1378         wayes.                                          
1379          Rosin. I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes
1380         of the late Innouation? 
1381          Ham. Doe they hold the same estimation they did 
1382         when I was in the City? Are they so follow'd?                      
1383          Rosin. No indeed, they are not.          
1384          Ham. How comes it? doe they grow rusty? 
1385          Rosin. Nay, their indeauour keepes in the wonted 
1386         pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children, little                 
1387         Yases, that crye out on the top of question; and                    
1388         are most tyrannically clap't for't: these are now the      
1389         fashion, and so be-ratled the common Stages (so they                 [oo4
1390         call them) that many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of        
1391         Goose-quils, and dare scarse come thither. 
1392       Ham. What are they Children? Who maintains 'em?                     
1393         How are they escoted? Will they pursue the Quality no 
1394         longer then they can sing? Will they not say afterwards 
1395         if they should grow themselues to common Players (as                      
1396         it is like most if their meanes are no better) their Wri-             
1397         ters do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their 
1398         owne Succession.                                351 1399              Rosin. Faith there ha's bene much to do on both sides:
1400         and the Nation holds it no sinne, to tarre them to Con-  
1401         trouersie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argu-  2.2.355
1402         ment, vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in 
1403         the Question.                                   356 1404              Ham. Is't possible?             357 1405              Guild. Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of
1406         Braines.                                        359 1407              Ham. Do the Boyes carry it away? 360 1408              Rosin. I that they do my Lord, Hercules & his load too.               362 1409              Ham. It is not strange: for mine Vnckle is King of
1410         Denmarke, and those that would make mowes at him 
1411         while my Father liued; giue twenty, forty, an hundred             
1412         Ducates a peece, for his picture in Little. There is some- 
1413         thing in this more then Naturall, if Philosophie could   
1414         finde it out.                                   
1415         Flourish for the Players 1416              Guil. There are the Players. 369 1417              Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcom to Elsonower: your
1418         hands, come: The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fashion             
1419         and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe,                        
1420         lest my extent to the Players (which I tell you must shew 
1421         fairely outward) should more appeare like entertainment 
1422         then yours. You are welcome: but my Vnckle Father,                        
1423         and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd.                      376 1424              Guil. In what my deere Lord? 377 1425              Ham. I am but mad North, North-West: when the               
1426         Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handsaw. 
1427         Enter Polonius.   1428              Pol. Well be with you Gentlemen. 380 1429              Ham. Hearke you Guildensterne, and you too: at each
1430         eare a hearer: that great Baby you see there, is not yet             
1431         out of his swathing clouts. 383 1432              Rosin. Happily he's the second time come to them: for
1433         they say, an old man is twice a childe. 385 1434              Ham. I will Prophesie. Hee comes to tell me of the
1435         Players. Mark it, you say right Sir: for a Monday mor-      
1436         ning 'twas so indeed.         388 1437              Pol. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. 389 1438              Ham. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. 
1439         When Rossius an Actor in Rome                         
1440          Pol. The Actors are come hither my Lord. 392 1441              Ham. Buzze, buzze.                 393 1442              Pol. Vpon mine Honor. 394 1443              Ham. Then can each Actor on his Asse                         395 1444              Polon. The best Actors in the world, either for Trage- 2.2.396
1445         die, Comedie, Historie, Pastorall: Pastoricall-Comicall-  
1446         Historicall-Pastorall: Tragicall-Historicall: Tragicall-             
1447         Comicall-Historicall-Pastorall: Scene indiuible, or Po-                 
1448         em vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plautus         400
1449         too light, for the law of Writ, and the Liberty. These are 
1450         the onely men.                                  402 1451              Ham. O Iephta Iudge of Israel, what a Treasure had'st                      
1452         thou?                                           404 1453              Pol. What a Treasure had he, my Lord?               405 1454              Ham. Why one faire Daughter, and no more,                        
1455         The which he loued passing well. 408               1456              Pol. Still on my Daughter. 409               1457              Ham. Am I not i'th'right old Iephta?
410
1458              Polon. If you call me Iephta my Lord, I haue a daugh-                  
1459         ter that I loue passing well. 412 1460              Ham. Nay that followes not. 413 1461              Polon. What followes then, my Lord?               414 1462              Ha. Why, As by lot, God wot: and then you know, It
1463         came to passe, as most like it was: The first rowe of the  419 1464             Pons Chanson will shew you more. For looke where my
1465         Abridgements come.      
1466         Enter foure or fiue Players
1467         Y'are welcome Masters, welcome all. I am glad to see 
1468         thee well: Welcome good Friends. O my olde Friend? 
1469         Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last: Com'st thou to              
1470         beard me in Denmarke? What, my yong Lady and Mi-   
1471         stris? Byrlady your Ladiship is neerer Heauen then when 
1472         I saw you last, by the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God 
1473         your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd                       
1474         within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome: wee'l e'ne                      
1475         to't like French Faulconers, flie at any thing we see: wee'l                       
1476         haue a Speech straight. Come giue vs a tast of your qua- 
1477         lity: come, a passionate speech.   
1478          1. Play. What speech, my Lord?               433 1479              Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was
1480         neuer Acted: or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I         
1481         remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cauiarie to the
1482         Generall: but it was (as I receiu'd it, and others, whose                  
1483         iudgement in such matters, cried in the top of mine) an                     
1484         excellent Play; well digested in the Scoenes, set downe              
1485         with as much modestie, as cunning. I remember one said,                        
1486         there was no Sallets in the lines, to make the matter sa- 
1487         uoury; nor no matter in the phrase, that might indite the  2.2.443                                                                         445
1488         Author of affectation, but cal'd it an honest method. One 
1489         cheefe Speech in it, I cheefely lou'd, 'twas Aeneas Tale
1490         to Dido, and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks
1491         of Priams slaughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at
1492         this Line, let me see, let me see: The rugged Pyrrhus like
1493         th'Hyrcanian Beast. It is not so: it begins with Pyrrhus
451

1494         The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose Sable Armes   
1495         Blacke as his purpose, did the night resemble 
1496         When he lay couched in the Ominous Horse,                        
1497         Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd                       
1498         With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote          
1499         Now is he to take Geulles, horridly Trick'd                       
1500         With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes,                        
1501         Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,                        
1502         That lend a tyrannous, and damned light       
1503         To their vilde Murthers, roasted in wrath and fire,                        
1504         And thus o're-sized with coagulate gore,                        
1505         VVith eyes like Carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus 463
1506         Old Grandsire Priam seekes. 464 1507              Pol. Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good ac-
1508         cent, and good discretion.   
1509          1.Player. Anon he findes him,                        
1510         Striking too short at Greekes. His anticke Sword,                        
1511         Rebellious to his Arme, lyes where it falles   
1512         Repugnant to command: vnequall match,                        471 1513             Pyrrhus at Priam driues, in Rage strikes wide:
1514         But with the whiffe and winde of his fell Sword,                        
1515         Th'vnnerued Father fals. Then senselesse Illium,                        
1516         Seeming to feele his blow, with flaming top       
1517         Stoopes to his Bace, and with a hideous crash 
1518         Takes Prisoner Pyrrhus eare. For loe, his Sword              
1519         Which was declining on the Milkie head 
1520         Of Reuerend Priam, seem'd i'th'Ayre to sticke:                        
1521         So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrhus stood,                        [oo4[v] 1522                And like a Newtrall to his will and matter, did nothing.           482
1523         But as we often see against some storme,                        483[                         ]1524            A silence in the Heauens, the Racke stand still,                        484              
1525         The bold windes speechlesse, and the Orbe below     485              
1526         As hush as death: Anon the dreadfull Thunder 486              
1527         Doth rend the Region. So after Pyrrhus pause,                               [ ]
1528         A rowsed Vengeance sets him new a-worke,                        488[                        
1529         And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall 2.2.489                 
1530         On Mars his Armours, forg'd for proofe Eterne,                        490                     
1531         With lesse remorse then Pyrrhus bleeding sword 491                     
1532         Now falles on Priam.    492                     
1533         Out, out, thou Strumpet-Fortune, all you Gods,                        493                     
1534         In generall Synod take away her power:                        494                     
1535         Breake all the Spokes and Fallies from her wheele,                        495                     ]

1536         And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen,                        496              
1537         As low as to the Fiends. 497              
1538          Pol. This is too long. 498              
1539          Ham. It shall to'th Barbars, with your beard. Pry-  500
1540         thee say on: He's for a Iigge, or a tale of Baudry, or hee                 500              
1541         sleepes. Say on; come to Hecuba501               [                        ]1542                 1.Play. But who, O who, had seen the inobled Queen.          502               [                        ]1543                 Ham. The inobled Queene? 503              
1544          Pol. That's good: Inobled Queene is good. 504              
1545          1.Play. Run bare-foot vp and downe,                        505              
1546         Threatning the flame    505              
1547         With Bisson Rheume: A clout about that head,                        506              
1548         Where late the Diadem stood, and for a Robe         
1549         About her lanke and all ore-teamed Loines,                        
1550         A blanket in th'Alarum of feare caught vp. 
1551         Who this had seene, with tongue in Venome steep'd,                        
1552         'Gainst Fortunes State, would Treason haue pronounc'd?                      
1553         But if the Gods themselues did see her then,                        
1554         When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport 51[3 ]1555            In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes,                        
1556         The instant Burst of Clamour that she made 
1557         (Vnlesse things mortall moue them not at all)                        
1558         Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen,                        
1559         And passion in the Gods. 
1560          Pol. Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colour, and
1561         ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more. 
1562          Ham. 'Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest,
1563         soone. Good my Lord, will you see the Players wel be- 
1564         stow'd. Do ye heare, let them be well vs'd: for they are            [                        1565                    the Abstracts and breefe Chronicles of the time. After
525
1566         your death, you were better haue a bad Epitaph, then                   526
1567         their ill report while you liued. 526
1568          Pol. My Lord, I will vse them according to their de- 528
1569         sart.                                           2.2.528
1570          Ham. Gods bodykins man, better. Vse euerie man 530
1571         after his desart, and who should scape whipping: vse                    531
1572         them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lesse they 532
1573         deserue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them 533
1574         in.                                             533
1575          Pol. Come sirs.     Exit Polon.             534
1576         Ham. Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to mor-  536
1577         row. Dost thou heare me old Friend, can you play the       537
1578         murther of Gonzago?     538
1579          Play. I my Lord.    539
1580          Ham. Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a 541
1581         need study a speech of some dosen or sixteene lines, which                  542
1582         I would set downe, and insert in't? Could ye not?        543
1583          Play. I my Lord.    544
1584          Ham. Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you          545
1585         mock him not. My good Friends, Ile leaue you til night 547
1586         you are welcome to Elsonower? 547                     ]
1587          Rossin. Good my Lord. Exeunt.          
1588         Manet Hamlet.    
1589          Ham. I so, God buy'ye: Now I am alone.        
1590         Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slaue am I? 
1591         Is it not monstrous that this Player heere,                        
1592         But in a Fixion, in a dreame of Passion,                        
1593         Could force his soule so to his whole conceit,                        
1594         That from her working, all his visage warm'd;                        
1595         Teares in his eyes, distraction in's Aspect,                        
1596         A broken voyce, and his whole Function suiting 
1597         With Formes, to his Conceit? And all for nothing? 
1598         For Hecuba?                              
1599         What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,                        559              
1600         That he should weepe for her? What would he doe,                        560              
1601         Had he the Motiue and the Cue for passion 561              
1602         That I haue? He would drowne the Stage with teares,                        562              
1603         And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech:                        563              
1604         Make mad the guilty, and apale the free,                        564              
1605         Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed,                        
1606         The very faculty of Eyes and Eares. Yet I,                        
1607         A dull and muddy-metled Rascall, peake                  
1608         Like Iohn a-dreames, vnpregnant of my cause,                        
1609         And can say nothing: No, not for a King,                        
1610         Vpon whose property, and most deere life,                        
1611         A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward? 2.2.571
1612         Who calles me Villaine? breakes my pate a-crosse? 
1613         Pluckes off my Beard, and blowes it in my face? 
1614         Tweakes me by'th'Nose? giues me the Lye i'th'Throate,                        
1615         As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this? 
1616         Ha? Why I should take it: for it cannot be,                        
1617         But I am Pigeon-Liuer'd, and lacke Gall         
1618         To make Oppression bitter, or ere this,                        
1619         I should haue fatted all the Region Kites 
1620         With this Slaues Offall, bloudy: a Bawdy villaine,                        
1621         Remorselesse, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine!                        
1622         Oh Vengeance!                        
1623         Who? What an Asse am I? I sure, this is most braue,                        
1624         That I, the Sonne of the Deere murthered,                        
1625         Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauen, and Hell,                        
1626         Must (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words,                        
1627         And fall a Cursing like a very Drab,                        
1628         A Scullion? Fye vpon't: Foh. About my Braine.  
1629         I haue heard, that guilty Creatures sitting at a Play,                        
1630         Haue by the very cunning of the Scoene,                        
1631         Bene strooke so to the soule, that presently         
1632         They haue proclaim'd their Malefactions.   
1633         For Murther, though it haue no tongue, will speake            
1634         With most myraculous Organ. Ile haue these Players,                        
1635         Play something like the murder of my Father,                        
1636         Before mine Vnkle. Ile obserue his lookes,                        
1637         Ile tent him to the quicke: If he but blench       
1638         I know my course. The Spirit that I haue seene  
1639         May be the Diuell, and the Diuel hath power 
1640         T'assume a pleasing shape, yea and perhaps        
1641         Out of my Weaknesse, and my Melancholly,                        
1642         As he is very potent with such Spirits,                        
1643         Abuses me to damne me. Ile haue grounds 
1644         More Relatiue then this: The Play's the thing,                        
1645         Wherein Ile catch the Conscience of the King. Exit             
1646         Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Ro-                     1647             sincrance, Guildenstern, and Lords.             
1648          King. And can you by no drift of circumstance 3.1.1
1649         Get from him why he puts on this Confusion:                        
1650         Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet 
1651         With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy. [oo5
1652          Rosin. He does confesse he feeles himselfe distracted, 3.1.5
1653         But from what cause he will by no meanes speake. 
1654          Guil. Nor do we finde him forward to be sounded,                        
1655         But with a crafty Madnesse keepes aloofe:                        
1656         When we would bring him on to some Confession 
1657         Of his true state.                              
1658          Qu. Did he receiue you well? 
1659          Rosin. Most like a Gentleman. 
1660          Guild. But with much forcing of his disposition. 
1661          Rosin. Niggard of question, but of our demands     
1662         Most free in his reply. 
1663          Qu. Did you assay him to any pastime? 
1664          Rosin. Madam, it so fell out, that certaine Players
1665         We ore-wrought on the way: of these we told him,                        
1666         And there did seeme in him a kinde of ioy 
1667         To heare of it: They are about the Court,                        
1668         And (as I thinke) they haue already order 
1669         This night to play before him. 
1670          Pol. 'Tis most true:                        
1671         And he beseech'd me to intreate your Maiesties 
1672         To heare, and see the matter.    
1673          King. With all my heart, and it doth much content me
1674         To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen,                        
1675         Giue him a further edge, and driue his purpose on 
1676         To these delights.                              
1677          Rosin. We shall my Lord. Exeunt.          
1678          King. Sweet Gertrude leaue vs too,                        
1679         For we haue closely sent for Hamlet hither,                        
1680         That he, as 'twere by accident, may there              
1681         Affront Ophelia. Her Father, and my selfe (lawful espials)
1682         Will so bestow our selues, that seeing vnseene    
1683         We may of their encounter frankely iudge,                        
1684         And gather by him, as he is behaued,                        
1685         If't be th'affliction of his loue, or no.                 
1686         That thus he suffers for. 
1687          Qu. I shall obey you,                        
1688         And for your part Ophelia, I do wish              
1689         That your good Beauties be the happy cause 
1690         Of Hamlets wildenesse: so shall I hope your Vertues 
1691         Will bring him to his wonted way againe,                        
1692         To both your Honors.    
1693          Ophe. Madam, I wish it may.         
1694          Pol. Ophelia, walke you heere. Gracious so please ye
1695         We will bestow our selues: Reade on this booke,                        3.1.43
1696         That shew of such an exercise may colour 
1697         Your lonelinesse. We are oft too blame in this,                        
1698         'Tis too much prou'd, that with Deuotions visage,                        
1699         And pious Action, we do surge o're                      
1700         The diuell himselfe.                            
1701          King. Oh 'tis true:                        
1702         How smart a lash that speech doth giue my Conscience? 
1703         The Harlots Cheeke beautied with plaist'ring Art                
1704         Is not more vgly to the thing that helpes it,                        
1705         Then is my deede, to my most painted word. 
1706         Oh heauie burthen!                                                
1707          Pol. I heare him comming, let's withdraw my Lord.     
1708         Exeunt.          
1709                                 Enter Hamlet.    
1710          Ham. To be, or not to be, that is the Question:                        
1711         Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer 
1712         The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune,                        
1713         Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles,                        
1714         And by opposing end them: to dye, to sleepe              
1715         No more; and by a sleepe, to say we end          
1716         The Heart-ake, and the thousand Naturall shockes 
1717         That Flesh is heyre too? 'Tis a consummation      
1718         Deuoutly to be wish'd. To dye to sleepe,                        
1719         To sleepe, perchance to Dreame; I, there's the rub,                        
1720         For in that sleepe of death, what dreames may come,                        
1721         When we haue shufflel'd off this mortall coile,                        
1722         Must giue vs pawse. There's the respect           
1723         That makes Calamity of so long life:                        
1724         For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time,                        
1725         The Oppressors wrong, the poore mans Contumely,                        
1726         The pangs of dispriz'd Loue, the Lawes delay,                        
1727         The insolence of Office, and the Spurnes        
1728         That patient merit of the vnworthy takes,                        
1729         When he himselfe might his Quietus make 
1730         With a bare Bodkin? Who would these Fardles beare 
1731         To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life,                        
1732         But that the dread of something after death,                        
1733         The vndiscouered Countrey, from whose Borne       
1734         No Traueller returnes, Puzels the will,                        
1735         And makes vs rather beare those illes we haue,                        
1736         Then flye to others that we know not of. 
1737         Thus Conscience does make Cowards of vs all,                        
1738         And thus the Natiue hew of Resolution 3.1.83
1739         Is sicklied o're, with the pale cast of Thought,                        
1740         And enterprizes of great pith and moment,                        
1741         With this regard their Currants turne away,                        
1742         And loose the name of Action. Soft you now,                        
1743         The faire Ophelia? Nimph, in thy Orizons         
1744         Be all my sinnes remembred. 
1745          Ophe. Good my Lord,                        
1746         How does your Honor for this many a day? 
1747          Ham. I humbly thanke you: well, well, well.                  
1748          Ophe. My Lord, I haue Remembrances of yours,                        
1749         That I haue longed long to re-deliuer. 
1750         I pray you now, receiue them.          
1751          Ham. No, no, I neuer gaue you ought. 
1752          Ophe. My honor'd Lord, I know right well you did,                        
1753         And with them words of so sweet breath compos'd,                        
1754         As made the things more rich, then perfume left:                        
1755         Take these againe, for to the Noble minde 
1756         Rich gifts wax poore, when giuers proue vnkinde. 
1757         There my Lord.                                  
1758          Ham. Ha, ha: Are you honest?        
1759          Ophe. My Lord.                         
1760          Ham. Are you faire? 
1761          Ophe. What meanes your Lordship? 
1762          Ham. That if you be honest and faire, your Honesty
1763         should admit no discourse to your Beautie. 
1764          Ophe. Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce    
1765         then your Honestie?                             
1766          Ham. I trulie: for the power of Beautie, will sooner
1767         transforme Honestie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the               
1768         force of Honestie can translate Beautie into his likenesse. 
1769         This was sometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it 
1770         proofe. I did loue you once. 
1771          Ophe. Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue so. 
1772          Ham. You should not haue beleeued me. For vertue 
1773         cannot so innocculate our old stocke, but we shall rellish   
1774         of it. I loued you not. 
1775          Ophe. I was the more deceiued. 
1776          Ham. Get thee to a Nunnerie. Why would'st thou                 
1777         be a breeder of Sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest,                        
1778         but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were bet-      
1779         ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re-                    
1780         uengefull, Ambitious, with more offences at my becke,                        
1781         then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue                3.1.126
1782         them shape, or time to acte them in. What should such 
1783         Fellowes as I do, crawling betweene Heauen and Earth. [oo5[v]
1784         We are arrant Knaues all, beleeue none of vs. Goe thy 
1785         wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father?          
1786          Ophe. At home, my Lord.               
1787          Ham. Let the doores be shut vpon him, that he may            
1788         play the Foole no way, but in's owne house. Farewell. 
1789          Ophe. O helpe him, you sweet Heauens.     
1790          Ham. If thou doest Marry, Ile giue thee this Plague
1791         for thy Dowrie. Be thou as chast as Ice, as pure as Snow,                        
1792         thou shalt not escape Calumny. Get thee to a Nunnery. 
1793         Go, Farewell. Or if thou wilt needs Marry, marry a fool:                        
1794         for Wise men know well enough, what monsters you      
1795         make of them. To a Nunnery go, and quickly too. Far-  
1796         well.                                           
1797          Ophe. O heauenly Powers, restore him.           
1798          Ham. I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough.
1799         God has giuen you one pace, and you make your selfe an- 
1800         other: you gidge, you amble, and you lispe, and nickname           
1801         Gods creatures, and make your Wantonnesse, your Ig-               
1802         norance. Go too, Ile no more on't, it hath made me mad.   
1803         I say, we will haue no more Marriages. Those that are 
1804         married already, all but one shall liue, the rest shall keep    
1805         as they are. To a Nunnery, go.                    Exit Hamlet.     
1806          Ophe. O what a Noble minde is heere o're-throwne?             
1807         The Courtiers, Soldiers, Schollers: Eye, tongue, sword,                        
1808         Th'expectansie and Rose of the faire State,                        
1809         The glasse of Fashion, and the mould of Forme,                        
1810         Th'obseru'd of all Obseruers, quite, quite downe.           
1811         Haue I of Ladies most deiect and wretched,                        
1812         That suck'd the Honie of his Musicke Vowes:                        
1813         Now see that Noble, and most Soueraigne Reason,                        
1814         Like sweet Bels iangled out of tune, and harsh,                        
1815         That vnmatch'd Forme and Feature of blowne youth,                        
1816         Blasted with extasie. Oh woe is me,                        
1817         T'haue seene what I haue seene: see what I see.        
1818         Enter King, and Polonius.      
1819          King. Loue? His affections do not that way tend,                        
1820         Nor what he spake, though it lack'd Forme a little,                        
1821         Was not like Madnesse. There's something in his soule? 
1822         O're which his Melancholly sits on brood,                        
1823         And I do doubt the hatch, and the disclose       3.1.166
1824         Will be some danger, which to preuent       
1825         I haue in quicke determination 
1826         Thus set it downe. He shall with speed to England 
1827         For the demand of our neglected Tribute:                        
1828         Haply the Seas and Countries different 
1829         With variable Obiects, shall expell           
1830         This something setled matter in his heart:                        
1831         Whereon his Braines still beating, puts him thus          
1832         From fashion of himselfe. What thinke you on't?                      
1833          Pol. It shall do well. But yet do I beleeue 
1834         The Origin and Commencement of this greefe 
1835         Sprung from neglected loue. How now Ophelia
1836         You neede not tell vs, what Lord Hamlet saide,                        
1837         We heard it all. My Lord, do as you please,                        
1838         But if you hold it fit after the Play,                        
1839         Let his Queene Mother all alone intreat him 
1840         To shew his Greefes: let her be round with him,                        
1841         And Ile be plac'd so, please you in the eare 
1842         Of all their Conference. If she finde him not,                        
1843         To England send him: Or confine him where   
1844         Your wisedome best shall thinke. 
1845          King. It shall be so:                        
1846         Madnesse in great Ones, must not vnwatch'd go.                   
1847                                 Exeunt.          
1848         Enter Hamlet, and two or three of the Players
1849          Ham. Speake the Speech I pray you, as I pronounc'd 3.2.1
1850         it to you trippingly on the Tongue: But if you mouth it,                        
1851         as many of your Players do, I had as liue the Town-Cryer 
1852         had spoke my Lines: Nor do not saw the Ayre too much 
1853         your hand thus, but vse all gently; for in the verie Tor-  
1854         rent, Tempest, and (as I may say) the Whirle-winde of    
1855         Passion, you must acquire and beget a Temperance that 
1856         may giue it Smoothnesse. O it offends mee to the Soule,                        
1857         to see a robustious Pery-wig-pated Fellow, teare a Passi-         
1858         on to tatters, to verie ragges, to split the eares of the 
1859         Groundlings: who (for the most part) are capeable of        
1860         nothing, but inexplicable dumbe shewes, & noise: I could                
1861         haue such a Fellow whipt for o're-doing Termagant: it                     
1862         out-Herod's Herod. Pray you auoid it. 
1863          Player. I warrant your Honor. 
1864          Ham. Be not too tame neyther: but let your owne 3.2.16
1865         Discretion be your Tutor. Sute the Action to the Word,                        
1866         the Word to the Action, with this speciall obseruance:                        
1867         That you ore-stop not the modestie of Nature; for any                
1868         thing so ouer-done, is frthe purpose of Playing, whose                  
1869         end both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as 'twer                    
1870         the Mirrour vp to Nature; to shew Vertue her owne 
1871         Feature, Scorne her owne Image, and the verie Age and  
1872         Bodie of the Time, his forme and pressure. Now, this                   
1873         ouer-done, or come tardie off, though it make the vnskil- 
1874         full laugh, cannot but make the Iudicious greeue; The                    
1875         censure of the which One, must in your allowance o're-                     
1876         way a whole Theater of Others. Oh, there bee Players      
1877         that I haue seene Play, and heard others praise, and that               
1878         highly (not to speake it prophanely) that neyther hauing    
1879         the accent of Christians, nor the gate of Christian, Pagan,                        
1880         or Norman, haue so strutted and bellowed, that I haue            
1881         thought some of Natures Iouerney-men had made men,                        
1882         and not made them well, they imitated Humanity so ab- 
1883         hominably.                                      
1884          Play. I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with
1885         vs, Sir.                                           
1886          Ham. O reforme it altogether. And let those that  
1887         play your Clownes, speake no more then is set downe for  
1888         them. For there be of them, that will themselues laugh,                        
1889         to set on some quantitie of barren Spectators to laugh 
1890         too, though in the meane time, some necessary Question 
1891         of the Play be then to be considered: that's Villanous, &                        
1892         shewes a most pittifull Ambition in the Foole that vses 
1893         it. Go make you readie. Exit Players.    
1894         Enter Polonius, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne.                         
1895         How now my Lord,                                                
1896         Will the King heare this peece of Worke? 
1897          Pol. And the Queene too, and that presently.    
1898          Ham. Bid the Players make hast. Exit Polonius.
1899         Will you two helpe to hasten them? 
1900          Both. We will my Lord. Exeunt.          
1901         Enter Horatio.   
1902          Ham. What hoa, Horatio?        
1903          Hora. Heere sweet Lord, at your Seruice.       
1904          Ham. Horatio, thou art eene as iust a man 
1905         As ere my Conuersation coap'd withall.              3.2.55
1906          Hora. O my deere Lord. 
1907          Ham. Nay, do not thinke I flatter:                        
1908         For what aduancement may I hope from thee,                        
1909         That no Reuennew hast, but thy good spirits   
1910         To feed & cloath thee. Why shold the poor be flatter'd?                      [oo6
1911         No, let the Candied tongue, like absurd pompe,                        
1912         And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee,                        
1913         Where thrift may follow faining? Dost thou heare,                        
1914         Since my deere Soule was Mistris of my choyse,                        
1915         And could of men distinguish, her election           
1916         Hath seal'd thee for her selfe. For thou hast bene 
1917         As one in suffering all, that suffers nothing.  
1918         A man that Fortunes buffets, and Rewards            
1919         Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And blest are those,                        
1920         Whose Blood and Iudgement are so well co-mingled,                        
1921         That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes finger,                        
1922         To sound what stop she please. Giue me that man,                        
1923         That is not Passions Slaue, and I will weare him   
1924         In my hearts Core: I, in my Heart of heart,                        
1925         As I do thee. Something too much of this. 
1926         There is a Play to night before the King,                        
1927         One Scoene of it comes neere the Circumstance 
1928         Which I haue told thee, of my Fathers death.   
1929         I prythee, when thou see'st that Acte a-foot,                        
1930         Euen with the verie Comment of my Soule 
1931         Obserue mine Vnkle: If his occulted guilt,                        
1932         Do not it selfe vnkennell in one speech,                        
1933         It is a damned Ghost that we haue seene:                        
1934         And my Imaginations are as foule 
1935         As Vulcans Stythe. Giue him needfull note,                        
1936         For I mine eyes will riuet to his Face:                        
1937         And after we will both our iudgements ioyne,                        
1938         To censure of his seeming. 
1939          Hora. Well my Lord. 
1940         If he steale ought the whil'st this Play is Playing,                        
1941         And scape detecting, I will pay the Theft.  
1942         Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosincrance,                         1943             Guildensterne, and other Lords attendant, with                
1944      his Guard carrying Torches. Danish 
1945       March. Sound a Flourish. 
1946          Ham. They are comming to the Play: I must be idle. 3.2.90
1947         Get you a place.        
1948          King. How fares our Cosin Hamlet
1949          Ham. Excellent Ifaith, of the Camelions dish: I eate
1950         the Ayre promise-cramm'd, you cannot feed Capons so. 
1951          King. I haue nothing with this answer Hamlet, these
1952         words are not mine.                             
1953          Ham. No, nor mine. Now my Lord, you plaid once         
1954         i'th'Vniuersity, you say?               
1955          Pol. That I did my Lord, and was accounted a good
1956         Actor.                                          
1957          Ham. And what did you enact? 
1958          Pol. I did enact Iulius Cæsar, I was kill'd i'th'Capitol:                        
1959         Brutus kill'd me.                                           
1960          Ham. It was a bruite part of him, to kill so Capitall a
1961         Calfe there. Be the Players ready? 
1962          Rosin. I my Lord, they stay vpon your patience. 
1963          Qu. Come hither my good Hamlet, sit by me.
1964          Ha. No good Mother, here's Mettle more attractiue.
1965          Pol. Oh, ho, do you marke that?     
1966          Ham. Ladie, shall I lye in your Lap? 
1967          Ophe. No my Lord. 
1968          Ham. I meane, my Head vpon your Lap? 
1969          Ophe. I my Lord. 
1970          Ham. Do you thinke I meant Country matters? 
1971          Ophe. I thinke nothing, my Lord.               
1972          Ham. That's a faire thought to ly between Maids legs
1973          Ophe. What is my Lord? 
1974          Ham. Nothing.                         
1975          Ophe. You are merrie, my Lord?               
1976          Ham. Who I?                          
1977          Ophe. I my Lord. 
1978          Ham. Oh God, your onely Iigge-maker: what should            
1979         a man do, but be merrie. For looke you how cheereful- 
1980         ly my Mother lookes, and my Father dyed within's two                   
1981         Houres.                                         
1982          Ophe. Nay, 'tis twice two moneths, my Lord.               
1983          Ham. So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare blacke,
1984         for Ile haue a suite of Sables. Oh Heauens! dye two mo-            
1985         neths ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope, a                      
1986         great mans Memorie, may out-liue his life halfe a yeare:                        
1987         But byrlady he must builde Churches then: or else shall          
1988         he suffer not thinking on, with the Hoby-horsse, whose                  
1989         Epitaph is, For o, For o, the Hoby-horse is forgot. 3.2.135
1990         Hoboyes play. The dumbe shew enters. 
1991      Enter a King and Queene, very louingly; the Queene embra-
1992      cing him. She kneeles, and makes shew of Protestation vnto
1993       him. He takes her vp, and declines his head vpon her neck.
1994      Layes him downe vpon a Banke of Flowers. She seeing him
1995       a-sleepe, leaues him. Anon comes in a Fellow, takes off his
1996       Crowne, kisses it, and powres poyson in the Kings eares, and
1997       Exits. The Queene returnes, findes the King dead, and
1998       makes passionate Action. The Poysoner, with some two or
1999       three Mutes comes in againe, seeming to lament with her.
2000       The dead body is carried away: The Poysoner Wooes the
2001       Queene with Gifts, she seemes loath and vnwilling awhile,
2002       but in the end, accepts his loue.       Exeunt
2003          Ophe. What meanes this, my Lord?               
2004          Ham. Marry this is Miching Malicho, that meanes
2005         Mischeefe.                                      
2006          Ophe. Belike this shew imports the Argument of the
2007         Play?                                           
2008          Ham. We shall know by these Fellowes: the Players            
2009         cannot keepe counsell, they'l tell all.             
2010          Ophe. Will they tell vs what this shew meant? 
2011          Ham. I, or any shew that you'l shew him. Bee not     
2012         you asham'd to shew, hee'l not shame to tell you what it 
2013         meanes.                                         
2014          Ophe. You are naught, you are naught, Ile marke the
2015         Play.                                           
2016                                 Enter Prologue.  
2017         For vs, and for our Tragedie,                        149 2018             Heere stooping to your Clemencie:                        150 2019             We begge your hearing Patientlie
2020          Ham. Is this a Prologue, or the Poesie of a Ring? 
2021          Ophe. 'Tis briefe my Lord.     
2022          Ham. As Womans loue. 
2023                                 Enter King and his Queene
2024          King. Full thirtie times hath Phoebus Cart gon round,
2025         Neptunes salt Wash, and Tellus Orbed ground:                        
2026         And thirtie dozen Moones with borrowed sheene,                        
2027         About the World haue times twelue thirties beene,                        
2028         Since loue our hearts, and Hymen did our hands 
2029         Vnite comutuall, in most sacred Bands.  3.2.160
2030          Bap. So many iournies may the Sunne and Moone 
2031         Make vs againe count o're, ere loue be done.      
2032         But woe is me, you are so sicke of late,                        
2033         So farre from cheere, and from your forme state,                        
2034         That I distrust you: yet though I distrust,                        
2035         Discomfort you (my Lord) it nothing must:                        
2036         For womens Feare and Loue, holds quantitie,                        
2037         In neither ought, or in extremity:                        [oo6[v
2038         Now what my loue is, proofe hath made you know,                        169
2039         And as my Loue is siz'd, my Feare is so.        170                                                                         3.2.171                                                                         172
2040          King. Faith I must leaue thee Loue, and shortly too:                        173
2041         My operant Powers my Functions leaue to do:                        174
2042         And thou shalt liue in this faire world behinde,                        175
2043         Honour'd, belou'd, and haply, one as kinde.          176
2044         For Husband shalt thou                          177
2045          Bap. Oh confound the rest:                        177
2046         Such Loue, must needs be Treason in my brest:                        178
2047         In second Husband, let me be accurst,                        179
2048         None wed the second, but who kill'd the first.            180
2049          Ham. Wormwood, Wormwood.              181
2050          Bapt. The instances that second Marriage moue,                        182
2051         Are base respects of Thrift, but none of Loue.      183
2052         A second time, I kill my Husband dead,                        184
2053         When second Husband kisses me in Bed. 185
2054          King. I do beleeue you. Think what now you speak:                        186
2055         But what we do determine, oft we breake:                        187
2056         Purpose is but the slaue to Memorie,                        188
2057         Of violent Birth, but poore validitie:                        189
2058         Which now like Fruite vnripe stickes on the Tree,                        190
2059         But fall vnshaken, when they mellow bee.  191
2060         Most necessary 'tis, that we forget         192
2061         To pay our selues, what to our selues is debt:                        193
2062         What to our selues in passion we propose,                        194
2063         The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. 195
2064         The violence of other Greefe or Ioy,                        196
2065         Their owne ennactors with themselues destroy:                        197
2066         Where Ioy most Reuels, Greefe doth most lament;                        198
2067         Greefe ioyes, Ioy greeues on slender accident. 199
2068         This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange         200
2069         That euen our Loues should with our Fortunes change. 201
2070         For 'tis a question left vs yet to proue,                        3.2.202
2071         Whether Loue lead Fortune, or else Fortune Loue.  203
2072         The great man downe, you marke his fauourites flies,                        204
2073         The poore aduanc'd, makes Friends of Enemies:                        205
2074         And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend,                        206
2075         For who not needs, shall neuer lacke a Frend:                        207
2076         And who in want a hollow Friend doth try,                        208
2077         Directly seasons him his Enemie. 209
2078         But orderly to end, where I begun,                        210
2079         Our Willes and Fates do so contrary run,                        211
2080         That our Deuices still are ouerthrowne,                        212
2081         Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our owne. 213
2082         So thinke thou wilt no second Husband wed. 214
2083         But die thy thoughts, when thy first Lord is dead. 215
2084          Bap. Nor Earth to giue me food, nor Heauen light,                        216
2085         Sport and repose locke from me day and night:                        217                                                                         3.2.218                                                                         219
2086         Each opposite that blankes the face of ioy,                        220
2087         Meet what I would haue well, and it destroy:                        221
2088         Both heere, and hence, pursue me lasting strife,                        222
2089         If once a Widdow, euer I be Wife.        223
2090          Ham. If she should breake it now. 224
2091          King. 'Tis deepely sworne:                        225
2092         Sweet, leaue me heere a while,                        225
2093         My spirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile 226
2094         The tedious day with sleepe. 227
2095          Qu. Sleepe rocke thy Braine,                        Sleepes                 227
2096         And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine. Exit                    228
2097          Ham. Madam, how like you this Play? 229
2098          Qu. The Lady protests to much me thinkes. 230
2099          Ham. Oh but shee'l keepe her word.       231
2100          King. Haue you heard the Argument, is there no Of-        233
2101         fence in't?                                              233
2102          Ham. No, no, they do but iest, poyson in iest, no Of-                 235
2103         fence i'th'world.                                          235
2104          King. What do you call the Play? 236
2105          Ham. The Mouse-trap: Marry how? Tropically:                        237
2106         This Play is the Image of a murder done in Vienna: Gon-                   238
2107         zago is the Dukes name, his wife Baptista: you shall see          240
2108         anon: 'tis a knauish peece of worke: But what o'that?                   241
2109         Your Maiestie, and wee that haue free soules, it touches             242
2110         vs not: let the gall'd iade winch: our withers are vnrung. 3.2.243
2111                                 Enter Lucianus.                                 
2112         This is one Lucianus nephew to the King. 244
2113          Ophe. You are a good Chorus, my Lord.               245
2114          Ham. I could interpret betweene you and your loue:                        246
2115         if I could see the Puppets dallying. 247
2116          Ophe. You are keene my Lord, you are keene.         248
2117          Ham. It would cost you a groaning, to take off my         250
2118         edge.                                           250
2119          Ophe. Still better and worse. 251
2120          Ham. So you mistake Husbands. 252
2121         Begin Murderer. Pox, leaue thy damnable Faces, and                    253
2122         begin. Come, the croaking Rauen doth bellow for Re- 254
2123         uenge.                                          254
2124          Lucian. Thoughts blacke, hands apt,                        255
2125         Drugges fit, and Time agreeing:                        255
2126         Confederate season, else, no Creature seeing:                        256
2127         Thou mixture ranke, of Midnight Weeds collected,                        257
2128         With Hecats Ban, thrice blasted, thrice infected,]
                258              
2129         Thy naturall Magicke, and dire propertie,                        
2130         On wholsome life, vsurpe immediately.    
2131         Powres the poyson in his eares.
2132          Ham. He poysons him i'th'Garden for's estate: His                    
2133         name's Gonzago: the Story is extant and writ in choyce
2134         Italian. You shall see anon how the Murtherer gets the 
2135         loue of Gonzago's wife.             
2136          Ophe. The King rises. 
2137          Ham. What, frighted with false fire. 
2138          Qu. How fares my Lord? 
2139          Pol. Giue o're the Play.            
2140          King. Giue me some Light. Away. 
2141          All. Lights, Lights, Lights.                Exeunt               270
2142                                 Manet Hamlet & Horatio.
2143          Ham. Why let the strucken Deere go weepe,                        
2144         The Hart vngalled play:                        
2145         For some must watch, while some must sleepe;                        
2146         So runnes the world away. 
2147         Would not this Sir, and a Forrest of Feathers, if the rest of
2148         my Fortunes turne Turke with me; with two Prouinciall   
2149         Roses on my rac'd Shooes, get me a Fellowship in a crie 
2150         of Players sir.                                 
2151          Hor. Halfe a share. 3.2.279
2152          Ham. A whole one I,                        
2153         For thou dost know: Oh Damon deere,                        
2154         This Realme dismantled was of Ioue himselfe,                        
2155         And now reignes heere.  
2156         A verie verie Paiocke.  
2157          Hora. You might haue Rim'd.                      
2158          Ham. Oh good Horatio, Ile take the Ghosts word for
2159         a thousand pound. Did'st perceiue?            
2160          Hora. Verie well my Lord. 
2161          Ham. Vpon the talke of the poysoning? 
2162          Hora. I did verie well note him. 
2163         Enter Rosincrance and Guildensterne
2164          Ham. Oh, ha? Come some Musick. Come Recorders:                        
2165         For if the King like not the Comedie,                        
2166         Why then belike he likes it not perdie. 
2167         Come some Musicke.      
2168          Guild. Good my Lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.
2169          Ham. Sir, a whole History.       [pp1
2170          Guild. The King, sir.                   
2171          Ham. I sir, what of him?           
2172         Guild. Is in his retyrement, maruellous distemper'd.
2173          Ham. With drinke Sir? 
2174          Guild. No my Lord, rather with choller.   
2175          Ham. Your wisedome should shew it selfe more ri- 
2176         cher, to signifie this to his Doctor: for for me to put him  
2177         to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre 
2178         more Choller.                                   
2179          Guild. Good my Lord put your discourse into some 
2180         frame, and start not so wildely from my affayre. 
2181          Ham. I am tame Sir, pronounce.             
2182          Guild. The Queene your Mother, in most great affli-
2183         ction of spirit, hath sent me to you.   
2184          Ham. You are welcome. 
2185          Guild. Nay, good my Lord, this courtesie is not of
2186         the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a whol- 
2187         some answer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment:                        
2188         if not, your pardon, and my returne shall bee the end of 
2189         my Businesse.                                   
2190          Ham. Sir, I cannot.              
2191          Guild. What, my Lord?               
2192          Ham. Make you a wholsome answere: my wits dis-           
2193         eas'd. But sir, such answers as I can make, you shal com-          
2194         mand: or rather you say, my Mother: therfore no more       3.2.324
2195         but to the matter. My Mother you say. 
2196          Rosin. Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke
2197         her into amazement, and admiration.        
2198          Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can so astonish a 
2199         Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mo- 
2200         thers admiration?                               
2201          Rosin. She desires to speake with you in her Closset,
2202         ere you go to bed.                              
2203          Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our Mother.
2204         Haue you any further Trade with vs? 
2205          Rosin. My Lord, you once did loue me.  
2206          Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.
2207          Rosin. Good my Lord, what is your cause of distem-
2208         per? You do freely barre the doore of your owne Liber- 
2209         tie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend. 
2210          Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement. 
2211          Rosin. How can that be, when you haue the voyce of
2212         the King himselfe, for your Succession in Denmarke? 
2213          Ham. I, but while the grasse growes, the Prouerbe is
2214         something musty.                                
2215                                 Enter one with a Recorder
2216         O the Recorder. Let me see, to withdraw with you, why                    
2217         do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you              
2218         would driue me into a toyle? 
2219          Guild. O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue
2220         is too vnmannerly.                              
2221          Ham. I do not well vnderstand that. Will you play 
2222         vpon this Pipe?                                 
2223          Guild. My Lord, I cannot.              
2224          Ham. I pray you.                         
2225          Guild. Beleeue me, I cannot.              
2226          Ham. I do beseech you. 
2227          Guild. I know no touch of it, my Lord.               
2228          Ham. 'Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these Ventiges
2229         with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your 
2230         mouth, and it will discourse most excellent Musicke. 
2231         Looke you, these are the stoppes. 
2232          Guild. But these cannot I command to any vtterance
2233         of hermony, I haue not the skill.  
2234          Ham. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing   
2235         you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would              
2236         seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart 
2237         of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest 3.2.367
2238         Note, to the top of my Compasse: and there is much Mu-  
2239         sicke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot             
2240         you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am easier to bee 
2241         plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will,                        
2242         though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me. God 
2243         blesse you Sir.                                 
2244                                 Enter Polonius.                           
2245          Polon. My Lord; the Queene would speak with you,                        
2246         and presently.                                  
2247          Ham. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in shape
2248         like a Camell.                                  
2249          Polon. By'th'Misse, and it's like a Camell indeed.
2250          Ham. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell. 
2251          Polon. It is back'd like a Weazell.       
2252          Ham. Or like a Whale? 
2253          Polon. Verie like a Whale. 
2254          Ham. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by:                        
2255         They foole me to the top of my bent. 
2256         I will come by and by.  
2257          Polon. I will say so. Exit.            
2258          Ham. By and by, is easily said. Leaue me Friends:                        
2259         'Tis now the verie witching time of night,                        
2260         When Churchyards yawne, and Hell it selfe breaths out 
2261         Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,                        
2262         And do such bitter businesse as the day 
2263         Would quake to looke on. Soft now, to my Mother:                        
2264         Oh Heart, loose not thy Nature; let not euer           
2265         The Soule of Nero, enter this firme bosome:                        
2266         Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall,                        
2267         I will speake Daggers to her, but vse none:                        
2268         My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites. 
2269         How in my words someuer she be shent,                        
2270         To giue them Seales, neuer my Soule consent. 
2271         Enter King, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne      
2272          King. I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs, 3.3.1
2273         To let his madnesse range. Therefore prepare you,                        
2274         I your Commission will forthwith dispatch,                        
2275         And he to England shall along with you:                        
2276         The termes of our estate, may not endure         
2277         Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow 
2278         Out of his Lunacies.    3.3.7
2279          Guild. We will our selues prouide:                        
2280         Most holie and Religious feare it is 
2281         To keepe those many many bodies safe 
2282         That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie. 
2283          Rosin. The single 
2284         And peculiar life is bound 
2285         With all the strength and Armour of the minde,                        
2286         To keepe it selfe from noyance: but much more,                        
2287         That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests 
2288         The liues of many, the cease of Maiestie  
2289         Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw 
2290         What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele 
2291         Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount,                        
2292         To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things 
2293         Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles,                        
2294         Each small annexment, pettie consequence     
2295         Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone 
2296         Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone. 
2297          King. Arme you, I pray you to this speedie Voyage;                        
2298         For we will Fetters put vpon this feare,                        
2299         Which now goes too free-footed. [pp1v
2300          Both. We will haste vs. Exeunt Gent.     
2301         Enter Polonius.  
2302          Pol. My Lord, he's going to his Mothers Closset:                        
2303         Behinde the Arras Ile conuey my selfe 
2304         To heare the Processe. Ile warrant shee'l tax him home,                        
2305         And as you said, and wisely was it said,                        
2306         'Tis meete that some more audience then a Mother,                        
2307         Since Nature makes them partiall, should o're-heare                
2308         The speech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege,                        
2309         Ile call vpon you ere you go to bed,                        
2310         And tell you what I know. 
2311          King. Thankes deere my Lord. 
2312         Oh my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen,                        
2313         It hath the primall eldest curse vpon't,                        
2314         A Brothers murther. Pray can I not,                        
2315         Though inclination be as sharpe as will:                        
2316         My stronger guilt, defeats my strong intent,                        
2317         And like a man to double businesse bound,                        
2318         I stand in pause where I shall first begin,                        
2319         And both neglect; what if this cursed hand 
2320         Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood,                        
2321         Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heauens 3.3.45
2322         To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy,                        
2323         But to confront the visage of Offence? 
2324         And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force,                        
2325         To be fore-stalled ere we come to fall,                        
2326         Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp,                        
2327         My fault is past. But oh, what forme of Prayer   
2328         Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther:                        
2329         That cannot be, since I am still possest 
2330         Of those effects for which I did the Murther. 
2331         My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene:                        
2332         May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence?                
2333         In the corrupted currants of this world,                        
2334         Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice,                        
2335         And oft 'tis seene, the wicked prize it selfe 
2336         Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue,                        
2337         There is no shuffling, there the Action lyes  
2338         In his true Nature, and we our selues compell'd                       
2339         Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults,                        
2340         To giue in euidence. What then? What rests? 
2341         Try what Repentance can. What can it not? 
2342         Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? 
2343         Oh wretched state! Oh bosome, blacke as death!                        
2344         Oh limed soule, that strugling to be free,                        
2345         Art more ingag'd: Helpe Angels, make assay:                        
2346         Bow stubborne knees, and heart with strings of Steele,                        
2347         Be soft as sinewes of the new-borne Babe,                        
2348         All may be well.                                
2349         Enter Hamlet.    
2350          Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying,                        
2351         And now Ile doo't, and so he goes to Heauen,                        
2352         And so am I reueng'd: that would be scann'd,                        
2353         A Villaine killes my Father, and for that           
2354         I his foule Sonne, do this same Villaine send 
2355         To heauen. Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge.           
2356         He tooke my Father grossely, full of bread,                        
2357         With all his Crimes broad blowne, as fresh as May,                        
2358         And how his Audit stands, who knowes, saue Heauen:                        
2359         But in our circumstance and course of thought 
2360         'Tis heauie with him: and am I then reueng'd,                        
2361         To take him in the purging of his Soule,                        
2362         When he is fit and season'd for his passage? No.  3.3.87
2363         Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent 
2364         When he is drunke asleepe: or in his Rage,                        
2365         Or in th'incestuous pleasure of his bed,                        
2366         At gaming, swearing, or about some acte     
2367         That ha's no rellish of Saluation in't,                        92               
2368         Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen,                        93               
2369         And that his Soule may be as damn'd and blacke            
2370         As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother stayes,                        
2371         This Physicke but prolongs thy sickly dayes. Exit.                96
2372          King. My words flye vp, my thoughts remain below,                        
2373         Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go.    Exit.            
2374         Enter Queene and Polonius
2375          Pol. He will come straight:                        3.4.1
2376         Looke you lay home to him,                        
2377         Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with,                        
2378         And that your Grace hath scree'nd, and stoode betweene    
2379         Much heate, and him. Ile silence me e'ene heere:                        
2380         Pray you be round with him. 
2381          Ham. within. Mother, mother, mother.                
2382          Qu. Ile warrant you, feare me not.          
2383         Withdraw, I heare him comming.   
2384                                 Enter Hamlet.    
2385          Ham. Now Mother, what's the matter?           
2386          Qu. Hamlet, thou hast thy Father much offended.
2387          Ham. Mother, you haue my Father much offended. 
2388          Qu. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. 
2389          Ham. Go, go, you question with an idle tongue. 
2390          Qu. Why how now Hamlet? 13
2391          Ham. Whats the matter now? 
2392          Qu. Haue you forgot me? 
2393          Ham. No by the Rood, not so:                        
2394         You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife,                        
2395         But would you were not so. You are my Mother. 
2396          Qu. Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.
2397          Ham. Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not          
2398         boudge:                                                
2399         You go not till I set you vp a glasse,                        
2400         Where you may see the inmost part of you? 
2401          Qu. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me? 
2402         Helpe, helpe, hoa.                                           
2403          Pol. What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe.                 
2404          Ham. How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate, dead.                  3.4.24
2405          Pol. Oh I am slaine. Killes Polon ius
2406          Qu. Oh me, what hast thou done?   
2407          Ham. Nay I know not, is it the King?        
2408          Qu. Oh what a rash, and bloody deed is this? 
2409          Ham. A bloody deed, almost as bad good Mother,                        
2410         As kill a King, and marrie with his Brother. 
2411          Qu. As kill a King? 
2412          Ham. I Lady, 'twas my word.           
2413         Thou wretched, rash, intruding foole farewell,                        
2414         I tooke thee for thy Betters, take thy Fortune,                        
2415         Thou find'st to be too busie, is some danger.        
2416         Leaue wringing of your hands, peace, sit you downe,                        
2417         And let me wring your heart, for so I shall         
2418         If it be made of penetrable stuffe;                        
2419         If damned Custome haue not braz'd it so,                        
2420         That it is proofe and bulwarke against Sense. 
2421          Qu. What haue I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tong,
2422         In noise so rude against me? 
2423          Ham. Such an Act 
2424         That blurres the grace and blush of Modestie,                        
2425         Cals Vertue Hypocrite, takes off the Rose     
2426         From the faire forehead of an innocent loue,                        
2427         And makes a blister there. Makes marriage vowes 
2428         As false as Dicers Oathes. Oh such a deed,                        
2429         As from the body of Contraction pluckes [pp2
2430         The very soule, and sweete Religion makes 
2431         A rapsidie of words. Heauens face doth glow,                        
2432         Yea this solidity and compound masse,                        
2433         With tristfull visage as against the doome,                        
2434         Is thought-sicke at the act. 
2435          Qu. Aye me; what act, that roares so lowd, & thun-
2436         ders in the Index.                              
2437          Ham. Looke heere vpon this Picture, and on this,                        
2438         The counterfet presentment of two Brothers:                        
2439         See what a grace was seated on his Brow,                        
2440         Hyperions curles, the front of Ioue himselfe,                        
2441         An eye like Mars, to threaten or command 
2442         A Station, like the Herald Mercurie 
2443         New lighted on a heauen-kissing hill:                        
2444         A Combination, and a forme indeed,                        
2445         Where euery God did seeme to set his Seale,                        
2446         To giue the world assurance of a man. 
2447         This was your Husband. Looke you now what followes. 3.4.63
2448         Heere is your Husband, like a Mildew'd eare                  
2449         Blasting his wholsom breath. Haue you eyes? 
2450         Could you on this faire Mountaine leaue to feed,                        
2451         And batten on this Moore? Ha? Haue you eyes? 
2452         You cannot call it Loue: For at your age,                        
2453         The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble,                        
2454         And waites vpon the Iudgement: and what Iudgement     70                                                                         3.4.71                                                                         72                                                                         73                                                                         74                                                                         75
2455         Would step from this, to this? What diuell was't,                        
2456         That thus hath cousend you at hoodman-blinde? 77                                                                         3.4.78                                                                         79                                                                         80                                                                         81
2457         O Shame! where is thy Blush? Rebellious Hell,                        
2458         If thou canst mutine in a Matrons bones,                        
2459         To flaming youth, let Vertue be as waxe,                        
2460         And melt in her owne fire. Proclaime no shame,                        
2461         When the compulsiue Ardure giues the charge,                        
2462         Since Frost it selfe, as actiuely doth burne,                        
2463         As Reason panders Will. 
2464          Qu. O Hamlet, speake no more.        
2465         Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soule,                        
2466         And there I see such blacke and grained spots,                        
2467         As will not leaue their Tinct. 
2468          Ham. Nay, but to liue            
2469         In the ranke sweat of an enseamed bed,                        
2470         Stew'd in Corruption; honying and making loue 
2471         Ouer the nasty Stye.    
2472          Qu. Oh speake to me, no more,                        
2473         These words like Daggers enter in mine eares. 
2474         No more sweet Hamlet
2475          Ham. A Murderer, and a Villaine:                        
2476         A Slaue, that is not twentieth part the tythe 
2477         Of your precedent Lord. A vice of Kings,                        
2478         A Cutpurse of the Empire and the Rule. 
2479         That from a shelfe, the precious Diadem stole,                        
2480         And put it in his Pocket. 
2481          Qu. No more.                         
2482                                 Enter Ghost.     
2483          Ham. A King of shreds and patches. 
2484         Saue me; and houer o're me with your wings   
2485         You heauenly Guards. What would you gracious figure? 
2486          Qu. Alas he's mad.                  
2487          Ham. Do you not come your tardy Sonne to chide,                        
2488         That laps't in Time and Passion, lets go by             
2489         Th'important acting of your dread command? Oh say. 
2490          Ghost. Do not forget: this Visitation        3.4.110
2491         Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. 
2492         But looke, Amazement on thy Mother sits;                        
2493         O step betweene her, and her fighting Soule,                        
2494         Conceit in weakest bodies, strongest workes.      
2495         Speake to her Hamlet.                         
2496          Ham. How is it with you Lady? 
2497          Qu. Alas, how is't with you?             
2498         That you bend your eye on vacancie,                        
2499         And with their corporall ayre do hold discourse. 
2500         Forth at your eyes, your spirits wildely peepe,                        
2501         And as the sleeping Soldiours in th'Alarme,                        
2502         Your bedded haire, like life in excrements,                        
2503         Start vp, and stand an end. Oh gentle Sonne,                        
2504         Vpon the heate and flame of thy distemper 
2505         Sprinkle coole patience. Whereon do you looke? 
2506          Ham. On him, on him: look you how pale he glares,                        
2507         His forme and cause conioyn'd, preaching to stones,                        
2508         Would make them capeable. Do not looke vpon me,                        
2509         Least with this pitteous action you conuert 
2510         My sterne effects: then what I haue to do,                        
2511         Will want true colour; teares perchance for blood. 
2512          Qu. To who do you speake this? 
2513          Ham. Do you see nothing there? 
2514          Qu. Nothing at all, yet all that is I see. 
2515          Ham. Nor did you nothing heare? 
2516          Qu. No, nothing but our selues. 
2517          Ham. Why look you there: looke how it steals away:
2518         My Father in his habite, as he liued,                        
2519         Looke where he goes euen now out at the Portall. Exit.
2520          Qu. This is the very coynage of your Braine,                        
2521         This bodilesse Creation extasie is very cunning in. 
2522          Ham. Extasie?                         
2523         My Pulse as yours doth temperately keepe time,                        
2524         And makes as healthfull Musicke. It is not madnesse 
2525         That I haue vttered; bring me to the Test   
2526         And I the matter will re-word: which madnesse         
2527         Would gamboll from. Mother, for loue of Grace,                        
2528         Lay not a flattering Vnction to your soule,                        
2529         That not your trespasse, but my madnesse speakes:                        
2530         It will but skin and filme the Vlcerous place,                        
2531         Whil'st ranke Corruption mining all within,                        
2532         Infects vnseene. Confesse your selfe to Heauen,                        
2533         Repent what's past, auoyd what is to come,                        3.4.150
2534         And do not spred the Compost or the Weedes,                        
2535         To make them ranke. Forgiue me this my Vertue,                        
2536         For in the fatnesse of this pursie times,                        
2537         Vertue it selfe, of Vice must pardon begge,                        
2538         Yea courb, and woe, for leaue to do him good. 
2539          Qu. Oh Hamlet,                                                
2540         Thou hast cleft my heart in twaine. 
2541          Ham. O throw away the worser part of it,                        
2542         And liue the purer with the other halfe. 
2543         Good night, but go not to mine Vnkles bed,                                                                                                                                                                          3.4.161                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
2544         Assume a Vertue, if you haue it not, refraine to night,                        
2545         And that shall lend a kinde of easinesse 166                                                                         3.4.167                                                                         168                                                                         169                                                                         170
2546         To the next abstinence. Once more goodnight,                        
2547         And when you are desirous to be blest,                        
2548         Ile blessing begge of you. For this same Lord,                        
2549         I do repent: but heauen hath pleas'd it so,                        
2550         To punish me with this, and this with me,                        
2551         That I must be their Scourge and Minister. 
2552         I will bestow him, and will answer well   
2553         The death I gaue him: so againe, good night.                                    2554                    I must be cruell, onely to be kinde;                        
2555         Thus bad begins, and worse remaines behinde. 179                                                                         3.4.180
2556          Qu. What shall I do? 
2557          Ham. Not this by no meanes that I bid you do:                        
2558         Let the blunt King tempt you againe to bed,                        
2559         Pinch Wanton on your cheeke, call you his Mouse,                        
2560         And let him for a paire of reechie kisses,                        
2561         Or padling in your necke with his damn'd Fingers,                        [pp2[v]
2562         Make you to rauell all this matter out,                        
2563         That I essentially am not in madnesse,                        
2564         But made in craft. 'Twere good you let him know,                        
2565         For who that's but a Queene, faire, sober, wise,                        
2566         Would from a Paddocke, from a Bat, a Gibbe,                        
2567         Such deere concernings hide, Who would do so,                        
2568         No in despight of Sense and Secrecie,                        
2569         Vnpegge the Basket on the houses top:                        
2570         Let the Birds flye, and like the famous Ape 
2571         To try Conclusions in the Basket, creepe                 
2572         And breake your owne necke downe. 
2573          Qu. Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath,                        
2574         And breath of life: I haue no life to breath 
2575         What thou hast saide to me. 
2576          Ham. I must to England, you know that?         3.4.200
2577          Qu. Alacke I had forgot: 'Tis so concluded on.    201                                                                         3.4.202                                                                         203                                                                         204                                                                         205                                                                         206                                                                         207                                                                         208                                                                         209                                                                         
2578          Ham. This man shall set me packing:                        
2579         Ile lugge the Guts into the Neighbor roome,                        
2580         Mother goodnight. Indeede this Counsellor 
2581         Is now most still, most secret, and most graue,                        
2582         Who was in life, a foolish prating Knaue. 
2583         Come sir, to draw toward an end with you. 
2584         Good night Mother.      
2585                                 Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius
2586                                 Enter King.                              
2587          King. There's matters in these sighes. 4.1.1
2588         These profound heaues   
2589         You must translate; Tis fit we vnderstand them. 
2590         Where is your Sonne?    3                                                                         4.1.4
2591          Qu. Ah my good Lord, what haue I seene to night? 
2592          King. What Gertrude? How do's Hamlet?        
2593          Qu. Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend      
2594         Which is the Mightier, in his lawlesse fit    
2595         Behinde the Arras, hearing something stirre,                        
2596         He whips his Rapier out, and cries a Rat, a Rat,                        
2597         And in his brainish apprehension killes 
2598         The vnseene good old man. 
2599          King. Oh heauy deed:                        
2600         It had bin so with vs had we beene there:                        
2601         His Liberty is full of threats to all,                        
2602         To you your selfe, to vs, to euery one.          
2603         Alas, how shall this bloody deede be answered? 
2604         It will be laide to vs, whose prouidence       
2605         Should haue kept short, restrain'd, and out of haunt,                        
2606         This mad yong man. But so much was our loue,                        
2607         We would not vnderstand what was most fit,                        
2608         But like the Owner of a foule disease,                        
2609         To keepe it from divulging, let's it feede              
2610         Euen on the pith of life. Where is he gone? 
2611          Qu. To draw apart the body he hath kild,                        
2612         O're whom his very madnesse like some Oare 
2613         Among a Minerall of Mettels base 
2614         Shewes it selfe pure. He weepes for what is done. 
2615          King. Oh Gertrude, come away:                        
2616         The Sun no sooner shall the Mountaines touch,                        
2617         But we will ship him hence, and this vilde deed,                        
2618         We must with all our Maiesty and Skill 
2619         Both countenance, and excuse.            Enter Ros.& Guild.                 4.1.32
2620         Ho Guildenstern:                                                
2621         Friends both go ioyne you with some further ayde:                        
2622         Hamlet in madnesse hath Polonius slaine,                        
2623         And from his Mother Clossets hath he drag'd him.                  
2624         Go seeke him out, speake faire, and bring the body     
2625         Into the Chappell. I pray you hast in this.  Exit Gent.
2626         Come Gertrude, wee'l call vp our wisest friends,                        
2627         To let them know both what we meane to do,                        39                                                                         4.1.41                                                                         42                                                                         43                                                                         
2628         And what's vntimely done. Oh come away,                        
2629         My soule is full of discord and dismay. Exeunt.          45               
2630                                 Enter Hamlet.                            
2631          Ham. Safely stowed. 4.2.1
2632          Gentlemen within. Hamlet, Lord Hamlet.    
2633          Ham. What noise? Who cals on Hamlet
2634         Oh heere they come.     Enter Ros. and Guildensterne.
2635          Ro. What haue you done my Lord with the dead body? 
2636          Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis Kinne.              
2637          Rosin. Tell vs where 'tis, that we may take it thence,
2638         And beare it to the Chappell. 
2639          Ham. Do not beleeue it. 
2640          Rosin. Beleeue what? 
2641          Ham. That I can keepe your counsell, and not mine           
2642         owne. Besides, to be demanded of a Spundge, what re-               
2643         plication should be made by the Sonne of a King. 
2644          Rosin. Take you me for a Spundge, my Lord?               
2645          Ham. I sir, that sokes vp the Kings Countenance, his
2646         Rewards, his Authorities (but such Officers do the King 
2647         best seruice in the end. He keepes them like an Ape in 
2648         the corner of his iaw, first mouth'd to be last swallowed,                        
2649         when he needes what you haue glean'd, it is but squee-       
2650         zing you, and Spundge you shall be dry againe. 
2651          Rosin. I vnderstand you not my Lord. 
2652          Ham. I am glad of it: a knauish speech sleepes in a
2653         foolish eare.                                   
2654          Rosin. My Lord, you must tell vs where the body is,
2655         and go with vs to the King. 
2656          Ham. The body is with the King, but the King is not
2657         with the body. The King, is a thing                                  28
2658          Guild. A thing my Lord? 
2659          Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him, hide Fox, and all
2660         after.                  Exeunt               31 2661                                     Enter King.              2662              King. I haue sent to seeke him, and to find the bodie: 4.3.1
2663         How dangerous is it that this man goes loose:                        
2664         Yet must not we put the strong Law on him:                        
2665         Hee's loued of the distracted multitude,                        
2666         Who like not in their iudgement, but their eyes:                        
2667         And where 'tis so, th'Offenders scourge is weigh'd                       
2668         But neerer the offence: to beare all smooth, and euen,                        
2669         This sodaine sending him away, must seeme             
2670         Deliberate pause, diseases desperate growne,                        
2671         By desperate appliance are releeued,                        
2672         Or not at all.          Enter Rosincrane
2673         How now? What hath befalne? 
2674          Rosin. Where the dead body is bestow'd my Lord,                        
2675         We cannot get from him. 
2676          King. But where is he? 
2677          Rosin. Without my Lord, guarded to know your   
2678         pleasure.                                       
2679          King. Bring him before vs. 
2680          Rosin. Hoa, Guildensterne? Bring in my Lord.
2681         Enter Hamlet and Guildensterne
2682          King. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?      
2683          Ham. At Supper.                         
2684          King. At Supper? Where? 
2685          Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a cer-
2686         taine conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm    
2687         is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else 
2688         to fat vs, and we fat our selfe for Magots. Your fat King,                        
2689         and your leane Begger is but variable seruice to dishes,                        
2690         but to one Table that's the end.              25                                                                         4.3.26                                                                         28                                                                         
2691      King. What dost thou meane by this? 
2692          Ham. Nothing but to shew you how a King may go [pp3 2693             a Progresse through the guts of a Begger. 
2694          King. Where is Polonius
2695          Ham. In heauen, send thither to see. If your Messen-
2696         ger finde him not there, seeke him i'th other place your     
2697         selfe: but indeed, if you finde him not this moneth, you                    
2698         shall nose him as you go vp the staires into the Lobby. 
2699          King. Go seeke him there. 
2700          Ham. He will stay till ye come. 
2701          K. Hamlet, this deed of thine, for thine especial safety
2702         Which we do tender, as we deerely greeue   
2703         For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence   
2704         With fierie Quicknesse. Therefore prepare thy selfe,                        4.3.43
2705         The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe,                        
2706         Th'Associates tend, and euery thing at bent 
2707         For England.                                    
2708          Ham. For England? 46               
2709          King. I Hamlet.                         46               
2710          Ham. Good.                           
2711          King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.        
2712          Ham. I see a Cherube that see's him: but come, for                    
2713         England. Farewell deere Mother. 
2714          King. Thy louing Father Hamlet
2715          Hamlet. My Mother: Father and Mother is man and 
2716         wife: man & wife is one flesh, and so my mother. Come,                        
2717         for England.            Exit                 53
2718          King. Follow him at foote,                        
2719         Tempt him with speed aboord:                        
2720         Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night. 
2721         Away, for euery thing is Seal'd and done              
2722         That else leanes on th'Affaire, pray you make hast.    
2723         And England, if my loue thou holdst at ought,                        
2724         As my great power thereof may giue thee sense,                        
2725         Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red 60
2726         After the Danish Sword, and thy free awe       
2727         Payes homage to vs; thou maist not coldly set 
2728         Our Soueraigne Processe, which imports at full  
2729         By Letters coniuring to that effect 
2730         The present death of Hamlet. Do it England,                        
2731         For like the Hecticke in my blood he rages,                        
2732         And thou must cure me: Till I know 'tis done,                        
2733         How ere my happes, my ioyes were ne're begun.               Exit                 68
2734         Enter Fortinbras with an Armie.
2735          For. Go Captaine, from me greet the Danish King, 4.4.1
2736          Tell him that by his license, Fortinbras          2
2737         Claimes the conueyance of a promis'd March                 
2738         Ouer his Kingdome. You know the Rendeuous:                        
2739         If that his Maiesty would ought with vs,                        
2740         We shall expresse our dutie in his eye,                        
2741         And let him know so.    
2742          Cap. I will doo't, my Lord.               
2743          For. Go safely on. Exit.            8                                                                         4.4.9                                                                         10                                                                      11                                                                                               12                                                                         13                                                                         14                                                                         15                                                                         16                                                                         17                                                                         18                                                                         19                                                                         20                                                                         21                                                                         22                                                                         23                                                                         24                                                                         25                                                                         26                                                                         27                                                                         28                                                                         29                                                                         30                                                                         30                                                                      31                                                                                               32                                                                         4.3.33                                                                         34                                                                         35                                                                         36                                                                         37                                                                         38                                                                         39                                                                         40                                                                         41                                                                         42                                                                         43                                                                         44                                                                         45                                                                         46                                                                         47                                                                         48                                                                         49                                                                         50                                                                         51                                                                      52                                                                                               53                                                                         54                                                                         55                                                                         56                                                                         57                                                                         58                                                                         59                                                                         60                                                                         61                                                                         62                                                                         63                                                                         64                                                                         65                                                                         66                      
2744                                 Enter Queene and Horatio.
2745          Qu. I will not speake with her. 4.5.1
2746          Hor. She is importunate, indeed distract, her moode 4.5.3
2747         will needs be pittied.  
2748          Qu. What would she haue? 
2749          Hor. She speakes much of her Father; saies she heares
2750         There's trickes i'th'world, and hems, and beats her heart,                        
2751         Spurnes enuiously at Strawes, speakes things in doubt,                        
2752         That carry but halfe sense: Her speech is nothing,                        
2753         Yet the vnshaped vse of it doth moue 
2754         The hearers to Collection; they ayme at it,                        
2755         And botch the words vp fit to their owne thoughts,                        
2756         Which as her winkes, and nods, and gestures yeeld them,                        
2757         Indeed would make one thinke there would be thought,                        
2758         Though nothing sure, yet much vnhappily.    
2759          Qu. 'Twere good she were spoken with,                        
2760         For she may strew dangerous coniectures 
2761         In ill breeding minds. Let her come in. 
2762         To my sicke soule (as sinnes true Nature is)                        
2763         Each toy seemes Prologue, to some great amisse,                        
2764         So full of Artlesse iealousie is guilt,                        
2765         It spill's it selfe, in fearing to be spilt. 
2766         Enter Ophelia distracted.
2767          Ophe, Where is the beauteous Maiesty of Denmark. 
2768          Qu. How now Ophelia
2769          Ophe. How should I your true loue know from another one?                
2770         By his Cockle hat and staffe, and his Sandal shoone.
2771          Qu. Alas sweet Lady: what imports this Song? 
2772          Ophe. Say you? Nay pray you marke. 
2773         He is dead and gone Lady, he is dead and gone,                        30 2774             At his head a grasse-greene Turfe, at his heeles a stone. 32                                                                         4.5.33
2775         Enter King.
2776          Qu. Nay but Ophelia
2777          Ophe. Pray you marke. 
2778         White his Shrow'd as the Mountaine Snow
2779          Qu. Alas, looke heere my Lord.   
2780          Ophe. Larded with sweet flowers:                        38 2781             Which bewept to the graue did not go,                        39 2782             With true-loue showres
2783          King. How do ye, pretty Lady?           
2784          Ophe. Well, God dil'd you. They say the Owle was 
2785         a Bakers daughter. Lord, wee know what we are, but                    
2786         know not what we may be. God be at your Table. 
2787          King. Conceit vpon her Father. 
2788          Ophe. Pray you let's haue no words of this: but when
2789         they aske you what it meanes, say you this:                        4.5.47
2790         To morrow is S. Valentines day, all in the morning betime,                        49 2791             And I a Maid at your Window, to be your Valentine.  51 2792             Then vp he rose, & don'd his clothes, & dupt the chamber dore,                        53 2793             Let in the Maid, that out a Maid, neuer departed more.   55
2794          King. Pretty Ophelia.  
2795          Ophe. Indeed la? without an oath Ile make an end ont.
2796         By gis, and by S. Charity,                        58 2797                Alacke, and fie for shame:                        59 2798             Yong men wil doo't, if they come too't,                        60 2799             By Cocke they are too blame. 61 2800             Quoth she before you tumbled me,                        62 2801             You promis'd me to Wed:                        63 2802             So would I ha done by yonder Sunne,                        65 2803             And thou hadst not come to my bed. 66
2804          King. How long hath she bin this? 
2805          Ophe. I hope all will be well. We must bee patient,
2806         but I cannot choose but weepe, to thinke they should  
2807         lay him i'th'cold ground: My brother shall knowe of it,                        
2808         and so I thanke you for your good counsell. Come, my                     
2809         Coach: Goodnight Ladies: Goodnight sweet Ladies:                        
2810         Goodnight, goodnight.             Exit.            
2811          King. Follow her close,                        
2812         Giue her good watch I pray you:                        
2813         Oh this is the poyson of deepe greefe, it springs             
2814         All from her Fathers death. Oh Gertrude, Gertrude,
2815         When sorrowes comes, they come not single spies,                        
2816         But in Battaliaes. First, her Father slaine,                        
2817         Next your Sonne gone, and he most violent Author 
2818         Of his owne iust remoue: the people muddied,                        
2819         Thicke and vnwholsome in their thoughts, and whispers           
2820         For good Polonius death; and we haue done but greenly 
2821         In hugger mugger to interre him. Poore Ophelia 84
2822         Diuided from her selfe, and her faire Iudgement,                        
2823         Without the which we are Pictures, or meere Beasts.       [pp3[v]
2824         Last, and as much containing as all these,                        
2825         Her Brother is in secret come from France,                        
2826         Keepes on his wonder, keepes himselfe in clouds,                        
2827         And wants not Buzzers to infect his eare 
2828         With pestilent Speeches of his Fathers death,                        
2829         Where in necessitie of matter Beggard,                        
2830         Will nothing sticke our persons to Arraigne 
2831         In eare and eare. O my deere Gertrude, this,                        
2832         Like to a murdering Peece in many places,                        4.5.95
2833         Giues me superfluous death. A Noise within.  
2834         Enter a Messenger
2835          Qu. Alacke, what noyse is this?    
2836          King. Where are my Switzers
2837         Let them guard the doore. What is the matter? 
2838          Mes. Saue your selfe, my Lord.               
2839         The Ocean (ouer-peering of his List)                        
2840         Eates not the Flats with more impittious haste 
2841         Then young Laertes, in a Riotous head,                        
2842         Ore-beares your Officers, the rabble call him Lord,                        
2843         And as the world were now but to begin,                        
2844         Antiquity forgot, Custome not knowne,                        
2845         The Ratifiers and props of euery word,                        
2846         They cry choose we? Laertes shall be King,                        
2847         Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds,                        
2848         Laertes shall be King, Laertes King.   
2849          Qu. How cheerefully on the false Traile they cry,                        
2850         Oh this is Counter you false Danish Dogges. 
2851         Noise within.    Enter Laertes.   
2852          King. The doores are broke. 
2853          Laer. Where is the King, sirs? Stand you all without.
2854          All. No, let's come in.              
2855          Laer. I pray you giue me leaue. 
2856          Al. We will, we will.               
2857          Laer. I thanke you: Keepe the doore.       
2858         Oh thou vilde King, giue me my Father.     
2859          Qu. Calmely good Laertes
2860          Laer. That drop of blood, that calmes            
2861         Proclaimes me Bastard:                        
2862         Cries Cuckold to my Father, brands the Harlot      
2863         Euen heere betweene the chaste vnsmirched brow 
2864         Of my true Mother.                              
2865          King. What is the cause Laertes,                        
2866         That thy Rebellion lookes so Gyant-like? 
2867         Let him go Gertrude: Do not feare our person:                        
2868         There's such Diuinity doth hedge a King,                        
2869         That Treason can but peepe to what it would,                        
2870         Acts little of his will. Tell me Laertes,                        
2871         Why thou art thus Incenst? Let him go Gertrude
2872         Speake man.                                     
2873          Laer. Where's my Father?            
2874          King. Dead.                          4.5.129
2875          Qu. But not by him. 
2876          King. Let him demand his fill. 
2877          Laer. How came he dead? Ile not be Iuggel'd with.                 
2878         To hell Allegeance: Vowes, to the blackest diuell. 
2879         Conscience and Grace, to the profoundest Pit. 
2880         I dare Damnation: to this point I stand,                        
2881         That both the worlds I giue to negligence,                        
2882         Let come what comes: onely Ile be reueng'd                       
2883         Most throughly for my Father. 
2884          King. Who shall stay you? 
2885          Laer. My Will, not all the world,                        
2886         And for my meanes, Ile husband them so well,                        
2887         They shall go farre with little. 
2888          King. Good Laertes:                        
2889         If you desire to know the certaintie 
2890         Of your deere Fathers death, if writ in your reuenge,                        
2891         That Soop-stake you will draw both Friend and Foe,                        
2892         Winner and Looser.      
2893          Laer. None but his Enemies. 
2894          King. Will you know them then. 
2895         La. To his good Friends, thus wide Ile ope my Armes:                        
2896         And like the kinde Life-rend'ring Politician,                        
2897         Repast them with my blood. 
2898          King. Why now you speake 
2899         Like a good Childe, and a true Gentleman.  
2900         That I am guiltlesse of your Fathers death,                        
2901         And am most sensible in greefe for it,                        
2902         It shall as leuell to your Iudgement pierce 
2903         As day do's to your eye.          
2904         A noise within.  Let her come in
2905                                 Enter Ophelia.   
2906          Laer. How now? what noise is that? 
2907         Oh heate drie vp my Braines, teares seuen times salt,                        
2908         Burne out the Sence and Vertue of mine eye. 
2909         By Heauen, thy madnesse shall be payed by waight,                        
2910         Till our Scale turnes the beame. Oh Rose of May,                        
2911         Deere Maid, kinde Sister, sweet Ophelia:                        
2912         Oh Heauens, is't possible, a yong Maids wits,                        
2913         Should be as mortall as an old mans life? 
2914         Nature is fine in Loue, and where 'tis fine,                        
2915         It sends some precious instance of it selfe 
2916         After the thing it loues. 
2917          Ophe. They bore him bare fac'd on the Beer,                        4.5.165 2918                Hey non nony, nony, hey nony:                        
2919         And on his graue raines many a teare,                        
2920         Fare you well my Doue
2921          Laer. Had'st thou thy wits, and did'st perswade Re-
2922         uenge, it could not moue thus. 
2923          Ophe. You must sing downe a-downe, and you call           
2924         him a-downe-a. Oh, how the wheele becomes it? It is 
2925         the false Steward that stole his masters daughter. 
2926          Laer. This nothings more then matter. 
2927          Ophe. There's Rosemary, that's for Remembraunce.     
2928         Pray loue remember: and there is Paconcies, that's for                   
2929         Thoughts.                                       
2930          Laer. A document in madnesse, thoughts & remem-
2931         brance fitted.                                  
2932          Ophe. There's Fennell for you, and Columbines: ther's
2933         Rew for you, and heere's some for me. Wee may call it 
2934         Herbe-Grace a Sundaies: Oh you must weare your Rew 
2935         with a difference. There's a Daysie, I would giue you       184
2936         some Violets, but they wither'd all when my Father dy- 
2937         ed: They say, he made a good end;                        
2938         For bonny sweet Robin is all my ioy
2939          Laer. Thought, and Affliction, Passion, Hell it selfe:
2940         She turnes to Fauour, and to prettinesse.    
2941          Ophe. And will he not come againe,                        190 2942             And will he not come againe:                        191 2943             No, no, he is dead, go to thy Death-bed,                        193 2944             He neuer wil come againe. 194 2945             His Beard as white as Snow,                        195 2946             All Flaxen was his Pole:                        196 2947             He is gone, he is gone, and we cast away mone,                        198 2948             Gramercy on his Soule
2949         And of all Christian Soules, I pray God.            
2950         God buy ye.             Exeunt Ophelia   
2951          Laer. Do you see this, you Gods?              
2952          King. Laertes, I must common with your greefe,
2953         Or you deny me right: go but apart,                        
2954         Make choice of whom your wisest Friends you will,                        [pp4
2955         And they shall heare and iudge'twixt you and me;                        
2956         If by direct or by Colaterall hand 
2957         They finde vs touch'd, we will our Kingdome giue,                        
2958         Our Crowne, our Life, and all that we call Ours 
2959         To you in satisfaction. But if not,                        
2960         Be you content to lend your patience to vs,                        4.5.211
2961         And we shall ioyntly labour with your soule 
2962         To giue it due content. 
2963          Laer. Let this be so:                        
2964         His meanes of death, his obscure buriall;                        
2965         No Trophee, Sword, nor Hatchment o're his bones,                        
2966         No Noble rite, nor formall ostentation,                        
2967         Cry to be heard, as 'twere from Heauen to Earth,                        
2968         That I must call in question. 
2969          King. So you shall:                        
2970         And where th'offence is, let the great Axe fall. 
2971         I pray you go with me.  Exeunt               220
2972         Enter Horatio, with an Attendant
2973          Hora. What are they that would speake with me? 4.6.1
2974          Ser. Saylors sir, they say they haue Letters for you.
2975          Hor. Let them come in,                        
2976         I do not know from what part of the world 
2977         I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet
2978                                 Enter Saylor.    
2979          Say. God blesse you Sir. 
2980          Hor. Let him blesse thee too. 
2981          Say. Hee shall Sir, and't please him. There's a Letter
2982         for you Sir: It comes from th'Ambassadours that was   
2983         bound for England, if your name be Horatio, as I am let
2984         to know it is.                                  
2985                                 Reads the Letter
2986          HOratio, When thou shalt haue ouerlook'd this, giue these             14 2987             Fellowes some meanes to the King: They haue Letters      15 2988             for him. Ere we were two dayes old at Sea, a Pyrate of very       16 2989             Warlicke appointment gaue vs Chace. Finding our selues too 17 2990                slow of Saile, we put on a compelled Valour. In the Grapple, I
18
2991             boorded them: On the instant they got cleare of our Shippe, so                      19 2992             I alone became their Prisoner. They haue dealt with mee, like                   21 2993             Theeues of Mercy, but they knew what they did. I am to doe 22 2994             a good turne for them. Let the King haue the Letters I haue 23 2995             sent, and repaire thou to me with as much hast as thou wouldest
24
2996             flye death. I haue words to speake in your eare, will make thee
25
2997             dumbe, yet are they much too light for the bore of the Matter. 26 2998             These good Fellowes will bring thee where I am. Rosincrance
27
2999             and Guildensterne, hold their course for England. Of them
29
3000                I haue much to tell thee, Farewell.              4.6.29 3001                                     He that thou knowest thine,                        30
3002                                 Hamlet.                 
3003         Come, I will giue you way for these your Letters,                        
3004         And do't the speedier, that you may direct me 
3005         To him from whom you brought them. Exit.            
3006                                 Enter King and Laertes
3007          King. Now must your conscience my acquittance seal, 4.7.1
3008         And you must put me in your heart for Friend,                        
3009         Sith you haue heard, and with a knowing eare,                        
3010         That he which hath your Noble Father slaine,                        
3011         Pursued my life.        
3012          Laer. It well appeares. But tell me,                             
3013         Why you proceeded not against these feates,                             
3014         So crimefull, and so Capitall in Nature,                             
3015         As by your Safety, Wisedome, all things else,                             
3016         You mainly were stirr'd vp?                        
3017          King. O for two speciall Reasons,                             
3018         Which may to you (perhaps) seeme much vnsinnowed,                        
3019         And yet to me they are strong. The Queen his Mother,                        
3020         Liues almost by his lookes: and for my selfe,                        
3021         My Vertue or my Plague, be it either which,                        
3022         She's so coniunctiue to my life and soule;                        
3023         That as the Starre moues not but in his Sphere,                        
3024         I could not but by her. The other Motiue,                        
3025         Why to a publike count I might not go,                        
3026         Is the great loue the generall gender beare him,                        
3027         Who dipping all his Faults in their affection,                        
3028         Would like the Spring that turneth Wood to Stone,                        
3029         Conuert his Gyues to Graces. So that my Arrowes 
3030         Too slightly timbred for so loud a Winde,                        
3031         Would haue reuerted to my Bow againe,                        
3032         And not where I had arm'd them.                 
3033          Laer. And so haue I a Noble Father lost,                        
3034         A Sister driuen into desperate tearmes,                        
3035         Who was (if praises may go backe againe)                        
3036         Stood Challenger on mount of all the Age 
3037         For her perfections. But my reuenge will come. 
3038          King. Breake not your sleepes for that,                        
3039         You must not thinke     
3040         That we are made of stuffe, so flat, and dull,                        
3041         That we can let our Beard be shooke with danger,                        
3042         And thinke it pastime. You shortly shall heare more,                        4.7.33
3043         I lou'd your Father, and we loue our Selfe,                        
3044         And that I hope will teach you to imagine                         
3045         Enter a Messenger
3046         How now? What Newes?    
3047          Mes. Letters my Lord from Hamlet. This to your
3048         Maiesty: this to the Queene.    
3049          King. From Hamlet? Who brought them38
3050          Mes. Saylors my Lord they say, I saw them not:                        
3051         They were giuen me by Claudio, he receiu'd them.                 
3052          King. Laertes you shall heare them:                        
3053         Leaue vs.               Exit Messenger       42
3054          High and Mighty, you shall know I am set naked on your 44 3055             Kingdome. To morrow shall I begge leaue to see your Kingly 45                       3056             Eyes. When I shall (first asking your Pardon thereunto) re-                    46 3057             count th'Occasions of my sodaine, and more strange returne.
3058                                 Hamlet.              48
3059         What should this meane? Are all the rest come backe? 
3060         Or is it some abuse? Or no such thing? 
3061          Laer. Know you the hand? 
3062          Kin. 'Tis Hamlets Character, naked and in a Post-
3063         script here he sayes alone: Can you aduise me?  53
3064          Laer. I'm lost in it my Lord; but let him come,                        
3065         It warmes the very sicknesse in my heart,                        
3066         That I shall liue and tell him to his teeth;                        
3067         Thus diddest thou.                              
3068          Kin. If it be so Laertes, as how should it be so:
3069         How otherwise will you be rul'd by me?                
3070          Laer. If so you'l not o'rerule me to a peace.   
3071          Kin. To thine owne peace: if he be now return'd,                        
3072         As checking at his Voyage, and that he meanes     
3073         No more to vndertake it; I will worke him       
3074         To an exployt now ripe in my Deuice,                        
3075         Vnder the which he shall not choose but fall;                        
3076         And for his death no winde of blame shall breath,                        
3077         But euen his Mother shall vncharge the practice,                        67                                                                         4.7.68                                                                      69                                                                                               70                                                                         70                                                                         71                                                                         72                                                                         73                                                                         74                                                                         75                                                                         76                                                                         76                                                                         77                                                                         78                                                                         79                                                                         80
3078         And call it accident: Some two Monthes hence 
3079         Here was a Gentleman of Normandy,                        
3080         I'ue seene my selfe, and seru'd against the French,                        
3081         And they ran well on Horsebacke; but this Gallant       
3082         Had witchcraft in't; he grew into his Seat,                        [pp4[v]
3083         And to such wondrous doing brought his Horse,                        
3084         As had he beene encorps't and demy-Natur'd                       
3085         With the braue Beast, so farre he past my thought,                        4.7.88
3086         That I in forgery of shapes and trickes,                        
3087         Come short of what he did. 
3088          Laer. A Norman was't?                      
3089          Kin. A Norman.                         
3090          Laer. Vpon my life Lamound
3091          Kin. The very same. 
3092          Laer. I know him well, he is the Brooch indeed,                        
3093         And Iemme of all our Nation. 
3094          Kin. Hee mad confession of you,                        
3095         And gaue you such a Masterly report,                        
3096         For Art and exercise in your defence;                        
3097         And for your Rapier most especiall,                        
3098         That he cryed out, t'would be a sight indeed,                        99                                                                         4.7.100                                                                         101
3099         If one could match you Sir. This report of his 
3100         Did Hamlet so envenom with his Enuy,                        
3101         That he could nothing doe but wish and begge,                        
3102         Your sodaine comming ore to play with him;                        
3103         Now out of this.                                
3104          Laer. Why out of this, my Lord?               
3105          Kin. Laertes was your Father deare to you? 
3106         Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,                        
3107         A face without a heart? 
3108          Laer. Why aske you this? 
3109          Kin. Not that I thinke you did not loue your Father,
3110         But that I know Loue is begun by Time:                        
3111         And that I see in passages of proofe,                        
3112         Time qualifies the sparke and fire of it:                        113                                                                         4.7.114                                                                         115                                                                         116                                                                         117                                                                         118                                                                         119                                                                         120                                                                         121                                                                         122                                                                         
3113         Hamlet comes backe: what would you vndertake,                        
3114         To show your selfe your Fathers sonne indeed,                        
3115         More then in words?     
3116          Laer. To cut his throat i'th'Church.                 
3117          Kin. No place indeed should murder Sancturize;                        
3118         Reuenge should haue no bounds: but good Laertes    128
3119         Will you doe this, keepe close within your Chamber,                        
3120         Hamlet return'd, shall know you are come home:                        
3121         Wee'l put on those shall praise your excellence,                        
3122         And set a double varnish on the fame 
3123         The Frenchman gaue you, bring you in fine together,                        
3124         And wager on your heads, he being remisse,                        
3125         Most generous, and free from all contriuing,                        
3126         Will not peruse the Foiles? So that with ease,                        
3127         Or with a little shuffling, you may choose         
3128         A Sword vnbaited, and in a passe of practice,                        4.7.138
3129         Requit him for your Father. 
3130          Laer. I will doo't,                        
3131         And for that purpose Ile annoint my Sword:                        
3132         I bought an Vnction of a Mountebanke 
3133         So mortall, I but dipt a knife in it,                        
3134         Where it drawes blood, no Cataplasme so rare,                        
3135         Collected from all Simples that haue Vertue 
3136         Vnder the Moone, can saue the thing from death,                        
3137         That is but scratcht withall: Ile touch my point,                        
3138         With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly,                        
3139         It may be death.                                
3140          Kin. Let's further thinke of this,                        
3141         Weigh what conuenience both of time and meanes 
3142         May fit vs to our shape, if this should faile;                        
3143         And that our drift looke through our bad performance,                        
3144         'Twere better not assaid; therefore this Proiect 
3145         Should haue a backe or second, that might hold,                        
3146         If this should blast in proofe: Soft, let me see             
3147         Wee'l make a solemne wager on your commings,                        
3148         I ha't: when in your motion you are hot and dry,                        
3149         As make your bowts more violent to the end,                        
3150         And that he cals for drinke; Ile haue prepar'd him                   
3151         A Challice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,                        
3152         If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,                        
3153         Our purpose may hold there; how sweet Queene.      
3154                                 Enter Queene.    
3155          Queen. One woe doth tread vpon anothers heele,                        
3156         So fast they'l follow: your Sister's drown'd Laertes.       
3157          Laer. Drown'd! O where?               
3158          Queen. There is a Willow growes aslant a Brooke,                        
3159         That shewes his hore leaues in the glassie streame:                        
3160         There with fantasticke Garlands did she come,                        
3161         Of Crow-flowers, Nettles, Daysies, and long Purples,                        
3162         That liberall Shepheards giue a grosser name;                        
3163         But our cold Maids doe Dead Mens Fingers call them:                        
3164         There on the pendant boughes, her Coronet weeds      
3165         Clambring to hang; an enuious sliuer broke,                        
3166         When downe the weedy Trophies, and her selfe,                        
3167         Fell in the weeping Brooke, her cloathes spred wide,                        
3168         And Mermaid-like, a while they bore her vp,                        
3169         Which time she chaunted snatches of old tunes,                        
3170         As one incapable of her owne distresse,                        4.1.178
3171         Or like a creature Natiue, and indued             
3172         Vnto that Element: but long it could not be,                        
3173         Till that her garments, heauy with her drinke,                        
3174         Pul'd the poore wretch from her melodious buy,                        
3175         To muddy death.                                 
3176          Laer. Alas then, is she drown'd?                      
3177          Queen. Drown'd, drown'd.                      
3178         Laer. Too much of water hast thou poore Ophelia,
3179         And therefore I forbid my teares: but yet                
3180         It is our tricke, Nature her custome holds,                        
3181         Let shame say what it will; when these are gone    
3182         The woman will be out: Adue my Lord,                        
3183         I haue a speech of fire, that faine would blaze,                        
3184         But that this folly doubts it. Exit.            
3185          Kin. Let's follow, Gertrude:                        191
3186         How much I had to doe to calme his rage? 192
3187         Now feare I this will giue it start againe;                        
3188         Therefore let's follow.               Exeunt.          
3189                                 Enter two Clownes
3190          Clown. Is she to bee buried in Christian buriall, that 5.1.1
3191         wilfully seekes her owne saluation? 
3192          Other. I tell thee she is, and therefore make her Graue
3193         straight, the Crowner hath sate on her, and finds it Chri-     
3194         stian buriall.                                  
3195          Clo. How can that be, vnlesse she drowned her selfe in
3196         her owne defence?                            7
3197          Other. Why 'tis found so.           
3198          Clo. It must be Se offendendo, it cannot bee else: for
3199         heere lies the point; If I drowne my selfe wittingly, it ar-                 
3200         gues an Act: and an Act hath three branches. It is an 
3201         Act to doe and to performe; argall she drown'd her selfe             
3202         wittingly.                                      
3203          Other. Nay but heare you Goodman Deluer. 
3204          Clown. Giue me leaue; heere lies the water; good:                        
3205         heere stands the man; good: If the man goe to this wa- 
3206         ter and drowne himselfe; it is will he nill he, he goes;                        
3207         marke you that? But if the water come to him & drowne                 
3208         him; hee drownes not himselfe. Argall, hee that is not        
3209         guilty of his owne death, shortens not his owne life. 
3210          Other. But is this law? 
3211          Clo. I marry is't, Crowners Quest Law.    
3212          Other. Will you ha the truth on't: if this had not [pp5
3213         beene a Gentlewoman, shee should haue beene buried 
3214         out of Christian Buriall. 
3215          Clo. Why there thou say'st. And the more pitty that
3216         great folke should haue countenance in this world to 
3217         drowne or hang themselues, more then their euen Christi- 
3218         an. Come, my Spade; there is no ancient Gentlemen,                        
3219         but Gardiners, Ditchers and Graue-makers; they hold vp           
3220         Adams Profession.                         
3221          Other. Was he a Gentleman? 
3222          Clo. He was the first that euer bore Armes. 
3223          Other. Why he had none. 
3224          Clo. What, ar't a Heathen? how dost thou vnder- 
3225         stand the Scripture? the Scripture sayes Adam dig'd;                        
3226         could hee digge without Armes? Ile put another que- 
3227         stion to thee; if thou answerest me not to the purpose, con-                   
3228         fesse thy selfe                                 
3229          Other. Go too.                         
3230          Clo. What is he that builds stronger then either the
3231         Mason, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter?      
3232          Other. The Gallowes maker; for that Frame outliues a
3233         thousand Tenants.                               
3234          Clo. I like thy wit well in good faith, the Gallowes
3235         does well; but how does it well? it does well to those 
3236         that doe ill: now, thou dost ill to say the Gallowes is 
3237         built stronger then the Church: Argall, the Gallowes           
3238         may doe well to thee. Too't againe, Come.                  
3239          Other. Who builds stronger then a Mason, a Ship-                
3240         wright, or a Carpenter?        
3241          Clo. I, tell me that, and vnyoake.           
3242          Other. Marry, now I can tell.        
3243         Clo. Too't.                                              
3244          Other. Masse, I cannot tell.         
3245                                 Enter Hamlet and Horatio a farre off
3246          Clo. Cudgell thy braines no more about it; for your
3247         dull Asse will not mend his pace with beating; and when               
3248         you are ask't this question next, say a Graue-maker: the                    
3249         Houses that he makes, lasts till Doomesday: go, get thee               
3250         to Yaughan, fetch me a stoupe of Liquor. 
3251                                 Sings.           
3252         In youth when I did loue, did loue,                        61 3253             me thought it was very sweete:                        62 3254             To contract O the time for a my behoue,                        5.1.63 3255             O me thought there was nothing meete
3256          Ham. Ha's this fellow no feeling of his businesse, that
3257         he sings at Graue-making? 
3258          Hor. Custome hath made it in him a property of ea- 
3259         sinesse.                                        
3260          Ham. 'Tis ee'n so; the hand of little Imployment hath
3261         the daintier sense.                             
3262                                 Clowne sings.    
3263         But Age with his stealing steps 71 3264             hath caught me in his clutch:                        
3265         And hath shipped me intill the Land,                        73 3266             as if I had neuer beene such. 74
3267          Ham. That Scull had a tongue in it, and could sing         
3268         once: how the knaue iowles it to th' grownd, as if it               
3269         were Caines Iaw-bone, that did the first murther: It                     
3270         might be the Pate of a Polititian which this Asse o're Of-                  
3271         fices: one that could circumuent God, might it not?          
3272          Hor. It might, my Lord.               
3273          Ham. Or of a Courtier, which could say, Good Mor-              
3274         row sweet Lord: how dost thou, good Lord? this        
3275         might be my Lord such a one, that prais'd my Lord such          
3276         a ones Horse, when he meant to begge it; might it not?          
3277          Hor. I, my Lord.                                       
3278          Ham. Why ee'n so: and now my Lady Wormes,                        
3279         Chaplesse, and knockt about the Mazard with a Sextons 
3280         Spade; heere's fine Reuolution, if wee had the tricke to 
3281         see't. Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but                    
3282         to play at Loggets with 'em? mine ake to thinke  
3283         on't.                                              
3284                                 Clowne sings.    
3285         A Pickhaxe and a Spade, a Spade,                        94 3286             for and a shrowding-Sheete:                        95
3287         O a Pit of Clay for to be made,                        96 3288             for such a Guest is meete
3289          Ham. There's another: why might not that bee the 
3290         Scull of of a Lawyer? where be his Quiddits now? his 
3291         Quillets? his Cases? his Tenures, and his Tricks? why    
3292         doe's he suffer this rude knaue now to knocke him about 
3293         the Sconce with a dirty Shouell, and will not tell him of 
3294         his Action of Battery? hum. This fellow might be in's                       
3295         time a great buyer of Land, with his Statutes, his Recog-             
3296         nizances, his Fines, his double Vouchers, his Recoueries:                        
3297         Is this the fine of his Fines, and the recouery of his Reco- 5.1.107
3298         ueries, to haue his fine Pate full of fine Dirt? will his 
3299         Vouchers vouch him no more of his Purchases, and dou-               
3300         ble ones too, then the length and breadth of a paire of 
3301         Indentures? the very Conueyances of his Lands will 
3302         hardly lye in this Boxe; and must the Inheritor himselfe 
3303         haue no more? ha?                               
3304          Hor. Not a iot more, my Lord.               
3305          Ham. Is not Parchment made of Sheep-skinnes? 
3306          Hor. I my Lord, and of Calue-skinnes too. 
3307          Ham. They are Sheepe and Calues that seek out assu-
3308         rance in that. I will speake to this fellow: whose Graue's                       
3309         this Sir?                                       
3310          Clo. Mine Sir:                                                
3311         O a Pit of Clay for to be made,                        120 3312             for such a Guest is meete
3313          Ham. I thinke it be thine indeed: for thou liest in't.
3314          Clo. You lye out on't Sir, and therefore it is not yours:
3315         for my part, I doe not lye in't; and yet it is mine.    
3316          Ham. Thou dost lye in't, to be in't and say 'tis thine:
3317         'tis for the dead, not for the quicke, therefore thou         
3318         lyest.                                          
3319          Clo. 'Tis a quicke lye Sir, 'twill away againe from me
3320         to you.                                         
3321          Ham. What man dost thou digge it for? 
3322          Clo. For no man Sir. 
3323          Ham. What woman then? 
3324          Clo. For none neither. 
3325          Ham. Who is to be buried in't?                      
3326          Clo. One that was a woman Sir; but rest her Soule,
3327         shee's dead.                                         
3328          Ham. How absolute the knaue is? wee must speake 
3329         by the Carde, or equiuocation will vndoe vs: by the                 
3330         Lord Horatio, these three yeares I haue taken note of it,
3331         the Age is growne so picked, that the toe of the Pesant 
3332         comes so neere the heeles of our Courtier, hee galls his          
3333         Kibe. How long hast thou been a Graue-maker? 
3334          Clo. Of all the dayes i'th' yeare, I came too't that day
3335         that our last King Hamlet o'recame Fortinbras
3336          Ham. How long is that since? 
3337          Clo. Cannot you tell that? euery foole can tell that:
3338         It was the very day, that young Hamlet was borne, hee                    
3339         that was mad, and sent into England. 
3340          Ham. I marry, why was he sent into England? 5.1.149
3341          Clo. Why, because he was mad; hee shall recouer his
3342         wits there; or if he do not, it's no great matter there. 
3343          Ham. Why?                            [pp5[v]
3344          Clo. 'Twill not be seene in him, there the men are as
3345         mad as he.                                      
3346          Ham. How came he mad? 
3347          Clo. Very strangely they say. 
3348          Ham. How strangely? 
3349          Clo. Faith e'ene with loosing his wits. 
3350          Ham. Vpon what ground? 
3351          Clo. Why heere in Denmarke: I haue bin sixeteene   
3352         heere, man and Boy thirty yeares. 
3353          Ham. How long will a man lie 'ith' earth ere he rot?
3354          Clo. Ifaith, if he be not rotten before he die (as we haue 166              
3355         many pocky Coarses now adaies, that will scarce hold  
3356         the laying in) he will last you some eight yeare, or nine                
3357         yeare. A Tanner will last you nine yeare. 
3358          Ham. Why he, more then another?     
3359          Clo. Why sir, his hide is so tan'd with his Trade, that
3360         he will keepe out water a great while. And your water,                        
3361         is a sore Decayer of your horson dead body. Heres a Scull 
3362         now: this Scul, has laine in the earth three & twenty years.
3363          Ham. Whose was it? 
3364          Clo. A whoreson mad Fellowes it was;                        
3365         Whose doe you thinke it was? 
3366          Ham. Nay, I know not.            
3367          Clo. A pestlence on him for a mad Rogue, a pou'rd a
3368         Flaggon of Renish on my head once. This same Scull 
3369         Sir, this same Scull sir, was Yoricks Scull, the Kings Iester. 181              
3370          Ham. This?                           
3371          Clo. E'ene that.                                       
3372          Ham. Let me see. Alas poore Yorick, I knew him Ho-
184

3373         ratio, a fellow of infinite Iest; of most excellent fancy, he
3374         hath borne me on his backe a thousand times: And how            
3375         abhorred my Imagination is, my gorge rises at it. Heere 
3376         hung those lipps, that I haue kist I know not how oft. 
3377         VVhere be your Iibes now? Your Gambals? Your 
3378         Songs? Your flashes of Merriment that were wont to 
3379         set the Table on a Rore? No one now to mock your own 
3380         Ieering? Quite chopfalne? Now get you to my Ladies 
3381         Chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thicke, to this                
3382         fauour she must come. Make her laugh at that: pry-                   
3383         thee Horatio tell me one thing. 5.1.195
3384          Hor. What's that my Lord?         
3385          Ham. Dost thou thinke Alexander lookt o'this fa-
3386         shion i'th' earth?                                         
3387          Hor. E'ene so.                                         
3388          Ham. And smelt so? Puh. 
3389          Hor. E'ene so, my Lord.               
3390          Ham. To what base vses we may returne Horatio.
3391         Why may not Imagination trace the Noble dust of A- 204
3392         lexander, till he find it stopping a bunghole. 
3393          Hor. 'Twere to consider: to curiously to consider so.
3394          Ham. No faith, not a iot. But to follow him thether
3395         with modestie enough, & likeliehood to lead it; as thus.               
3396         Alexander died: Alexander was buried: Alexander re-
3397         turneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make       
3398         Lome, and why of that Lome (whereto he was conuer-  
3399         ted) might they not stopp a Beere-barrell? 
3400         Imperiall Cæsar, dead and turn'd to clay,                        
3401         Might stop a hole to keepe the winde away. 
3402         Oh, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,                        
3403         Should patch a Wall, t'expell the winters flaw. 
3404         But soft, but soft, aside; heere comes the King.  
3405         Enter King, Queene, Laertes, and a Coffin,                         3406             with Lords attendant
3407         The Queene, the Courtiers. Who is that they follow,                        
3408         And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken,                        
3409         The Coarse they follow, did with disperate hand,                        
3410         Fore do it owne life; 'twas some Estate.       
3411         Couch we a while, and mark.              
3412          Laer. What Cerimony else? 
3413          Ham. That is Laertes, a very Noble youth: Marke.
3414          Laer. What Cerimony else? 
3415          Priest. Her Obsequies haue bin as farre inlarg'd.                      
3416         As we haue warrantis, her death was doubtfull,                        
3417         And but that great Command, o're-swaies the order,                        
3418         She should in ground vnsanctified haue lodg'd,                        
3419         Till the last Trumpet. For charitable praier,                        
3420         Shardes, Flints, and Peebles, should be throwne on her:                        
3421         Yet heere she is allowed her Virgin Rites,                        
3422         Her Maiden strewments, and the bringing home  
3423         Of Bell and Buriall.                            
3424          Laer. Must there no more be done? 
3425          Priest. No more be done:                        5.1.235
3426         We should prophane the seruice of the dead,                        
3427         To sing sage Requiem, and such rest to her   
3428         As to peace-parted Soules. 
3429          Laer. Lay her i'th' earth,                        
3430         And from her faire and vnpolluted flesh,                        
3431         May Violets spring. I tell thee (churlish Priest)                        
3432         A Ministring Angell shall my Sister be,                        
3433         When thou liest howling? 
3434          Ham. What, the faire Ophelia
3435          Queene. Sweets, to the sweet farewell. 
3436         I hop'd thou should'st haue bin my Hamlets wife:                        
3437         I thought thy Bride-bed to haue deckt (sweet Maid)                        
3438         And not t'haue strew'd thy Graue.            
3439          Laer. Oh terrible woer,                        
3440         Fall ten times trebble, on that cursed head    
3441         Whose wicked deed, thy most Ingenious sence 
3442         Depriu'd thee of. Hold off the earth a while,                        
3443         Till I haue caught her once more in mine armes:                        
3444         Leaps in the graue
3445         Now pile your dust, vpon the quicke, and dead,                        
3446         Till of this flat a Mountaine you haue made,                        
3447         To o're top old Pelion, or the skyish head     
3448         Of blew Olympus.                         
3449          Ham. What is he, whose griefes          
3450         Beares such an Emphasis ? whose phrase of Sorrow 
3451         Coniure the wandring Starres, and makes them stand   
3452         Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,                        
3453         Hamlet the Dane.                         
3454          Laer. The deuill take thy soule. 
3455          Ham. Thou prai'st not well,                        
3456         I prythee take thy fingers from my throat;                        260
3457         Sir though I am not Spleenatiue, and rash,                        
3458         Yet haue I something in me dangerous,                        
3459         Which let thy wisenesse feare. Away thy hand. 
3460          King. Pluck them asunder. 
3461          Qu. Hamlet, Hamlet.            
3462          Gen. Good my Lord be quiet. 
3463          Ham. Why I will fight with him vppon this Theme. 
3464         Vntill my eielids will no longer wag. 
3465          Qu. Oh my Sonne, what Theame?        268
3466          Ham. I lou'd Ophelia; fortie thousand Brothers
3467         Could not (with all there quantitie of Loue)                        
3468         Make vp my summe. What wilt thou do for her? 5.1.271
3469          King. Oh he is mad Laertes,                        
3470          Qu. For loue of God forbeare him. 
3471          Ham. Come show me what thou'lt doe.                 
3472         Woo't weepe? Woo't fight? Woo't teare thy selfe?      
3473         Woo't drinke vp Esile, eate a Crocodile?      
3474         Ile doo't. Dost thou come heere to whine;                        [pp6
3475         To outface me with leaping in her Graue? 
3476         Be buried quicke with her, and so will I.         
3477         And if thou prate of Mountaines; let them throw         
3478         Millions of Akers on vs; till our ground        
3479         Sindging his pate against the burning Zone,                        
3480         Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, and thoul't mouth,                        
3481         Ile rant as well as thou. 
3482          Kin. This is meere Madnesse:                        
3483         And thus a while the fit will worke on him:                        
3484         Anon as patient as the female Doue,                        
3485         When that her golden Cuplet are disclos'd;                        
3486         His silence will sit drooping. 
3487          Ham. Heare you Sir:                        
3488         What is the reason that you vse me thus? 
3489         I loud' you euer; but it is no matter:                        
3490         Let Hercules himselfe doe what he may,                        
3491         The Cat will Mew, and Dogge will haue his day. Exit.            
3492         Kin. I pray you good Horatio wait vpon him,
3493         Strengthen you patience in our last nights speech,                        
3494         Wee'l put the matter to the present push:                        
3495         Good Gertrude set some watch ouer your Sonne,                        
3496         This Graue shall haue a liuing Monument:                        
3497         An houre of quiet shortly shall we see;                        
3498         Till then, in patience our proceeding be. Exeunt.          
3499                                 Enter Hamlet and Horatio
3500          Ham. So much for this Sir; now let me see the other, 5.2.1
3501         You doe remember all the Circumstance. 
3502          Hor. Remember it my Lord? 
3503          Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kinde of fighting,
3504         That would not let me sleepe; me thought I lay       
3505         Worse then the mutines in the Bilboes, rashly,                        
3506         (And praise be rashnesse for it) let vs know,                        
3507         Our indiscretion sometimes serues vs well,                        
3508         When our deare plots do paule, and that should teach vs,                        
3509         There's a Diuinity that shapes our ends,                        
3510         Rough-hew them how we will. 5.2.11
3511          Hor. That is most certaine. 
3512          Ham. Vp from my Cabin 
3513         My sea-gowne scarft about me in the darke,                        
3514         Grop'd I to finde out them; had my desire,                        
3515         Finger'd their Packet, and in fine, withdrew               
3516         To mine owne roome againe, making so bold,                        
3517         (My feares forgetting manners) to vnseale             
3518         Their grand Commission, where I found Horatio,                        
3519         Oh royall knauery: An exact command,                        
3520         Larded with many seuerall sorts of reason;                        
3521         Importing Denmarks health, and Englands too,                        
3522         With hoo, such Bugges and Goblins in my life,                        
3523         That on the superuize no leasure bated,                        
3524         No not to stay the grinding of the Axe,                        
3525         My head should be struck off. 
3526          Hor. Ist possible? 
3527          Ham. Here's the Commission, read it at more leysure:
3528         But wilt thou heare me how I did proceed? 
3529          Hor. I beseech you. 
3530          Ham. Being thus benetted round with Villaines,                        
3531         Ere I could make a Prologue to my braines,                        
3532         They had begun the Play. I sate me downe,                        
3533         Deuis'd a new Commission, wrote it faire,                        
3534         I once did hold it as our Statists doe,                        
3535         A basenesse to write faire; and laboured much      
3536         How to forget that learning: but Sir now,                        
3537         It did me Yeomans seruice: wilt thou know         
3538         The effects of what I wrote? 
3539          Hor. I, good my Lord.          
3540          Ham. An earnest Coniuration from the King,                        
3541         As England was his faithfull Tributary,                        
3542         As loue betweene them, as the Palme should flourish,                        
3543         As Peace should still her wheaten Garland weare,                        
3544         And stand a Comma 'tweene their amities,                        
3545         And many such like Assis of great charge,                        
3546         That on the view and know of these Contents,                        
3547         Without debatement further, more or lesse,                        
3548         He should the bearers put to sodaine death,                        
3549         Not shriuing time allowed. 
3550          Hor. How was this seal'd?                      
3551          Ham. Why, euen in that was Heauen ordinate;                        
3552         I had my fathers Signet in my Purse,                        
3553         Which was the Modell of that Danish Seale:                        5.2.50
3554         Folded the Writ vp in forme of the other,                        
3555         Subscrib'd it, gau't th' impression, plac't it safely,                        
3556         The changeling neuer knowne: Now, the next day           
3557         Was our Sea Fight, and what to this was sement,                        
3558         Thou know'st already.             
3559          Hor. So Guildensterne and Rosincrance, go too't.
3560          Ham. Why man, they did make loue to this imployment
3561         They are not neere my Conscience; their debate           
3562         Doth by their owne insinuation grow:                        
3563         'Tis dangerous, when the baser nature comes 
3564         Betweene the passe, and fell incensed points 
3565         Of mighty opposites.    
3566          Hor. Why, what a King is this?   
3567          Ham. Does it not, thinkst thee, stand me now vpon      
3568         He that hath kil'd my King, and whor'd my Mother,                        
3569         Popt in betweene th'election and my hopes,                        
3570         Throwne out his Angle for my proper life,                        
3571         And with such coozenage; is't not perfect conscience,                        
3572         To quit him with this arme? And is't not to be damn'd                       
3573         To let this Canker of our nature come 
3574         In further euill.                               
3575          Hor. It must be shortly knowne to him from England 
3576         What is the issue of the businesse there. 
3577          Ham. It will be short,                        
3578         The interim's mine, and a mans life's no more               
3579         Then to say one: but I am very sorry good Horatio,                        
3580         That to Laertes I forgot my selfe;                        
3581         For by the image of my Cause, I see                  
3582         The Portraiture of his; Ile count his fauours:                        
3583         But sure the brauery of his griefe did put me 
3584         Into a Towring passion. 
3585          Hor. Peace, who comes heere?       
3586         Enter young Osricke. (marke.                  
3587          Osr. Your Lordship is right welcome back to Den- 
3588          Ham. I humbly thank you Sir, dost know this waterflie?
3589          Hor. No my good Lord. 
3590          Ham. Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to
3591         know him: he hath much Land, and fertile; let a Beast            
3592         be Lord of Beasts, and his Crib shall stand at the Kings 
3593         Messe; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I saw spacious in the pos- 
3594         session of dirt.                                
3595          Osr. Sweet Lord, if your friendship were at leysure,
3596         I should impart a thing to you from his Maiesty. 5.2.90
3597          Ham. I will receiue it with all diligence of spirit; put
3598         your Bonet to his right vse, 'tis for the head.       
3599          Osr. I thanke your Lordship, 'tis very hot.           
3600          Ham. No, beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is           
3601         Northerly.                                      
3602          Osr. It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed. 
3603          Ham. Mee thinkes it is very soultry, and hot for my
3604         Complexion.                                     
3605          Osr. Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very soultry, as 'twere [pp6[v]
3606         I cannot tell how: but my Lord, his Maiesty bad me sig- 
3607         nifie to you, that he ha's laid a great wager on your head:                        
3608         Sir, this is the matter.    
3609          Ham. I beseech you remember. 
3610          Osr. Nay, in good faith, for mine ease in good faith:                        105                                                                         5.2.106                                                                         107                                                                         5.2.108                                                                         110                                                                         111                                                                         111                                                                         113                                                                         114                                                                         115                                                                         117                                                                         118                                                                         119                                                                         120                                                                         121                                                                         123                                                                         123                                                                         124                                                                         126                                                                         126                                                                         128                                                                         129                                                                         131                                                                         132                                                                         133                                                                         
3611         Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at
3612         his weapon.                                                                                      5.2.139                                                                                          140                                                                         142                                                                         143
3613          Ham. What's his weapon?           
3614          Osr. Rapier and dagger. 
3615          Ham. That's two of his weapons; but well.              
3616          Osr. The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary Hor-
3617         ses, against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French            
3618         Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle,                        
3619         Hangers or so: three of the Carriages infaith are very 
3620         deare to fancy, very responsiue to the hilts, most delicate          
3621         carriages, and of very liberall conceit. 
3622          Ham. What call you the Carriages? 154                                                                         5.2.156                                                                         5.2.156
3623          Osr. The Carriages Sir, are the hangers.       
3624          Ham. The phrase would bee more Germaine to the 
3625         matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides; I would                
3626         it might be Hangers till then; but on sixe Barbary Hor- 
3627         ses against sixe French Swords: their Assignes, and three              
3628         liberall conceited Carriages, that's the French but a-     
3629         gainst the Danish; why is this impon'd as you call it?       
3630          Osr. The King Sir, hath laid that in a dozen passes be-
3631         tweene you and him, hee shall not exceed you three hits;                        
3632         He hath one twelue for mine, and that would come to 
3633         imediate tryall, if your Lordship would vouchsafe the 
3634         Answere.                                        
3635          Ham. How if I answere no? 
3636          Osr. I meane my Lord, the opposition of your person
3637         in tryall.                                      
3638          Ham. Sir, I will walke heere in the Hall; if it please
3639         his Maiestie, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let 5.2.175
3640         the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the                
3641         King hold his purpose; I will win for him if I can: if                     
3642         not, Ile gaine nothing but my shame, and the odde hits.     
3643          Osr. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n so?                   
3644          Ham. To this effect Sir, after what flourish your na-
3645         ture will.                                      
3646         Osr. I commend my duty to your Lordship. 
3647          Ham. Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it 
3648         himselfe, there are no tongues else for's tongue.               
3649          Hor. This Lapwing runs away with the shell on his 
3650         head.                                           
3651          Ham. He did Complie with his Dugge before hee  
3652         suck't it: thus had he and mine more of the same Beauy 
3653         that I know the drossie age dotes on; only got the tune of   
3654         the time, and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of             
3655         yesty collection, which carries them through & through                
3656         the most fond and winnowed opinions; and doe but blow       
3657         them to their tryalls: the Bubbles are out.   194                                                                         5.2.196                                                                         197                                                                         198                                                                         199                                                                         201                                                                         202                                                                         202                                                                         5.2.204                                                                         205                                                                         207                                                                         207                                                                         208
3658          Hor. You will lose this wager, my Lord.               
3659          Ham. I doe not thinke so, since he went into France,
3660         I haue beene in continuall practice; I shall winne at the   
3661         oddes: but thou wouldest not thinke how all heere a- 
3662         bout my heart: but it is no matter.   
3663          Hor. Nay, good my Lord.          
3664          Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kinde of 
3665         gain-giuing as would perhaps trouble a woman. 
3666          Hor. If your minde dislike any thing, obey. I will fore-
3667         stall their repaire hither, and say you are not fit. 
3668          Ham. Not a whit, we defie Augury; there's a speciall
3669         Prouidence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not                 
3670         to come: if it bee not to come, it will bee now: if it                  
3671         be not now; yet it will come; the readinesse is all, since no
3672         man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue be-          
3673         times?                                          
3674         Enter King, Queene, Laertes and Lords, with other Atten-       3675             dants with Foyles, and Gauntlets, a Table and             3676             Flagons of Wine on it
3677          Kin. Come Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
3678          Ham. Giue me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong,
3679         But pardon't as you are a Gentleman. 
3680         This presence knowes,                        5.2.228
3681         And you must needs haue heard how I am punisht 
3682         With sore distraction? What I haue done 
3683         That might your nature honour, and exception          
3684         Roughly awake, I heere proclaime was madnesse:                        
3685         Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Neuer Hamlet.
3686         If Hamlet from himselfe be tane away:                        
3687         And when he's not himselfe, do's wrong Laertes,                        
3688         Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it:                        
3689         Who does it then? His Madnesse? If't be so,                        
3690         Hamlet is of the Faction that is wrong'd,                        
3691         His madnesse is poore Hamlets Enemy. 
3692         Sir, in this Audience,                                                
3693         Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd euill,                        
3694         Free me so farre in your most generous thoughts,                        
3695         That I haue shot mine Arrow o're the house,                        
3696         And hurt my Mother.     
3697          Laer. I am satisfied in Nature,                        
3698         Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most 
3699         To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor 
3700         I stand aloofe, and will no reconcilement,                        
3701         Till by some elder Masters of knowne Honor,                        
3702         I haue a voyce, and president of peace 
3703         To keepe my name vngorg'd. But till that time,                        
3704         I do receiue your offer'd loue like loue,                        
3705         And wil not wrong it.   
3706          Ham. I do embrace it freely,                        
3707         And will this Brothers wager frankely play. 
3708         Giue vs the Foyles: Come on.               
3709          Laer. Come one for me. 
3710          Ham. Ile be your foile Laertes, in mine ignorance,
3711         Your Skill shall like a Starre i'th'darkest night,                        
3712         Sticke fiery off indeede. 
3713          Laer. You mocke me Sir. 
3714          Ham. No by this hand. 
3715          King. Giue them the Foyles yong Osricke,                        
3716         Cousen Hamlet, you know the wager.    
3717          Ham. Verie well my Lord,                        
3718         Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th'weaker side.            
3719          King. I do not feare it,                        
3720         I haue seene you both:                        
3721         But since he is better'd, we haue therefore oddes. 
3722          Laer. This is too heauy,                        
3723         Let me see another.                             5.2.264
3724          Ham. This likes me well,                        
3725         These Foyles haue all a length. Prepare to play
3726          Osricke. I my good Lord. 
3727          King. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table:                        267 3728                If Hamlet giue the first, or second hit,                        
3729         Or quit in answer of the third exchange,                        
3730         Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire,                        
3731         The King shal drinke to Hamlets better breath,                        
3732         And in the Cup an vnion shal he throw 
3733         Richer then that, which foure successiue Kings 
3734         In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne. 
3735         Giue me the Cups,                                                [qq1
3736         And let the Kettle to the Trumpets speake,                        
3737         The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without,                        
3738         The Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth,                        
3739         Now the King drinkes to Hamlet. Come, begin,                        
3740         And you the Iudges beare a wary eye. 
3741          Ham. Come on sir. 
3742          Laer. Come on sir. They play.       
3743          Ham. One.                            
3744          Laer. No.                            
3745          Ham. Iudgement.                         
3746          Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.   
3747          Laer. Well: againe.                
3748          King. Stay, giue me drinke.        
3749         Hamlet, this Pearle is thine,                        
3750         Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup,                        
3751                                 Trumpets sound, and shot goes off.     
3752          Ham. Ile play this bout first, set by a-while.        
3753         Come: Another hit; what say you?       285
3754          Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confesse.         
3755          King. Our Sonne shall win. 
3756          Qu. He's fat, and scant of breath.   
3757         Heere's a Napkin, rub thy browes,                        
3758         The Queene Carowses to thy fortune, Hamlet.         
3759          Ham. Good Madam. 
3760          King. Gertrude, do not drinke.         
3761          Qu. I will my Lord;                        
3762         I pray you pardon me.   
3763          King. It is the poyson'd Cup, it is too late.        
3764          Ham. I dare not drinke yet Madam,                        
3765         By and by.                                      
3766          Qu. Come, let me wipe thy face.  5.2.294
3767          Laer. My Lord, Ile hit him now.       
3768          King. I do not thinke't.                      
3769          Laer. And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience.   
3770          Ham. Come for the third. 
3771         Laertes, you but dally,                        
3772         I pray you passe with your best violence,                        
3773         I am affear'd you make a wanton of me. 
3774          Laer. Say you so? Come on. Play.            
3775          Osr. Nothing neither way. 
3776          Laer. Haue at you now. 
3777                                 In scuffling they change Rapiers
3778          King. Part them, they are incens'd.                      
3779          Ham. Nay come, againe.                
3780          Osr. Looke to the Queene there hoa. 
3781          Hor. They bleed on both sides. How is't my Lord?              
3782          Osr. How is't Laertes?       
3783          Laer. Why as a Woodcocke 
3784         To mine Sprindge, Osricke,                        
3785         I am iustly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie. 
3786          Ham. How does the Queene? 
3787          King. She sounds to see them bleede. 
3788          Qu. No, no, the drinke, the drinke.            
3789         Oh my deere Hamlet, the drinke, the drinke,                        
3790         I am poyson'd.                                              
3791          Ham. Oh Villany! How? Let the doore be lock'd.                      
3792         Treacherie, seeke it out.          
3793          Laer. It is heere Hamlet
3794         Hamlet, thou art slaine,                        
3795         No Medicine in the world can do thee good. 
3796         In thee, there is not halfe an houre of life;                        
3797         The Treacherous Instrument is in thy hand,                        
3798         Vnbated and envenom'd: the foule practise     
3799         Hath turn'd it selfe on me. Loe, heere I lye,                        
3800         Neuer to rise againe: Thy Mothers poyson'd:                        
3801         I can no more, the King, the King's too blame.            
3802          Ham. The point envenom'd too,                        
3803         Then venome to thy worke. 
3804                                 Hurts the King.
3805          All. Treason, Treason.               
3806          King. O yet defend me Friends, I am but hurt.         
3807          Ham. Heere thou incestuous, murdrous,                        
3808         Damned Dane,                                                
3809         Drinke off this Potion: Is thy Vnion heere?    5.2.326
3810         Follow my Mother.       King Dyes.       
3811          Laer. He is iustly seru'd.                      
3812         It is a poyson temp'red by himselfe:                        
3813         Exchange forgiuenesse with me, Noble Hamlet;                        
3814         Mine and my Fathers death come not vpon thee,                        
3815         Nor thine on me.        Dyes.            331              
3816          Ham. Heauen make thee free of it, I follow thee.         
3817         I am dead Horatio, wretched Queene adiew,                        
3818         You that looke pale, and tremble at this chance,                        
3819         That are but Mutes or audience to this acte:                        
3820         Had I but time (as this fell Sergeant death 
3821         Is strick'd in his Arrest) oh I could tell you.   
3822         But let it be: Horatio, I am dead,                        
3823         Thou liu'st, report me and my causes right 
3824         To the vnsatisfied.                             
3825          Hor. Neuer beleeue it. 
3826         I am more an Antike Roman then a Dane:                        
3827         Heere's yet some Liquor left. 
3828          Ham. As th'art a man, giue me the Cup.       
3829         Let go, by Heauen Ile haue't.                      
3830         Oh good Horatio, what a wounded name,                        
3831         (Things standing thus vnknowne) shall liue behind me.  
3832         If thou did'st euer hold me in thy heart,                        
3833         Absent thee from felicitie awhile,                        
3834         And in this harsh world draw thy breath in paine,                        
3835         To tell my Storie.                              
3836                                 March afarre off, and shout within.  
3837         What warlike noyse is this? 
3838                                 Enter Osricke.   
3839          Osr. Yong Fortinbras, with conquest come frPoland
3840         To th'Ambassadors of England giues this warlike volly. 
3841          Ham. O I dye Horatio:                        352
3842         The potent poyson quite ore-crowes my spirit,                        
3843         I cannot liue to heare the Newes from England,                        
3844         But I do prophesie th'election lights         
3845         On Fortinbras, he ha's my dying voyce,                        
3846         So tell him with the occurrents more and lesse,                        
3847         Which haue solicited. The rest is silence. O, o, o, o. Dyes
358

3848          Hora. Now cracke a Noble heart:                        
3849         Goodnight sweet Prince,                        
3850         And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest,                        
3851         Why do's the Drumme come hither? 5.2.361
3852         Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassador, with Drumme,                         3853             Colours, and Attendants.    
3854          Fortin. Where is this sight? 
3855          Hor. What is it ye would see;                        
3856         If ought of woe, or wonder, cease your search.     
3857          For. His quarry cries on hauocke. Oh proud death,                        
3858         What feast is toward in thine eternall Cell. 
3859         That thou so many Princes, at a shoote,                        
3860         So bloodily hast strooke. 
3861          Amb. The sight is dismall,                        
3862         And our affaires from England come too late,                        
3863         The eares are senselesse that should giue vs hearing,                        
3864         To tell him his command'ment is fulfill'd,                        
3865         That Rosincrance and Guildensterne are dead:                        [qq1[v]
3866         Where should we haue our thankes? 
3867          Hor. Not from his mouth,                        
3868         Had it th'abilitie of life to thanke you:                        
3869         He neuer gaue command'ment for their death.   
3870         But since so iumpe vpon this bloodie question,                        
3871         You from the Polake warres, and you from England   
3872         Are heere arriued. Giue order that these bodies 
3873         High on a stage be placed to the view,                        
3874         And let me speake to th'yet vnknowing world,                        
3875         How these things came about. So shall you heare 
3876         Of carnall, bloudie, and vnnaturall acts,                        
3877         Of accidentall iudgements, casuall slaughters     
3878         Of death's put on by cunning, and forc'd cause,                        
3879         And in this vpshot, purposes mistooke,                        
3880         Falne on the Inuentors heads. All this can I 
3881         Truly deliuer.                                  
3882          For. Let vs hast to heare it,                        
3883         And call the Noblest to the Audience. 
3884         For me, with sorrow, I embrace my Fortune,                        
3885         I haue some Rites of memory in this Kingdome,                        
3886         Which are to claime, my vantage doth        
3887         Inuite me,                                                
3888          Hor. Of that I shall haue alwayes cause to speake,
3889         And from his mouth      
3890         Whose voyce will draw on more:                        
3891         But let this same be presently perform'd,                        
3892         Euen whiles mens mindes are wilde,                        
3893         Lest more mischance     5.2.394
3894         On plots, and errors happen.     
3895          For. Let foure Captaines 
3896         Beare Hamlet like a Soldier to the Stage,                        
3897         For he was likely, had he beene put on    
3898         To haue prou'd most royally:                        
3899         And for his passage,                                                
3900         The Souldiours Musicke, and the rites of Warre 
3901         Speake lowdly for him.  
3902         Take vp the body; Such a sight as this   
3903         Becomes the Field, but heere shewes much amis. 
3904         Go, bid the Souldiers shoote. 
3905         Exeunt Marching: after the which, a Peale of             
3906         Ordenance are shot off
3907         FINIS.