Difference between revisions of "Hamlet: Act 2 Scene 2"

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Line 25: Line 25:
 
|  ||  || Resembles that it was. What it should be, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Resembles that it was. What it should be, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || More than his father's death, that thus hath put him || ''' '''
+
| 10 ||  || More than his father's death, that thus hath put him || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || So much from the understanding of himself, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || So much from the understanding of himself, || ''' '''
Line 35: Line 35:
 
|  ||  || And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and havior, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and havior, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court || ''' '''
+
| 15 ||  || That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || Some little time: so by your companies || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Some little time: so by your companies || ''' '''
Line 45: Line 45:
 
|  ||  || Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || That, open'd, lies within our remedy. || ''' '''
+
| 20 ||  || That, open'd, lies within our remedy. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  || QUEEN GERTRUDE || Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you; || ''' '''
 
|  || QUEEN GERTRUDE || Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you; || ''' '''
Line 55: Line 55:
 
|  ||  || To show us so much gentry and good will || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || To show us so much gentry and good will || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || As to expend your time with us awhile, || ''' '''
+
| 25 ||  || As to expend your time with us awhile, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || For the supply and profit of our hope, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || For the supply and profit of our hope, || ''' '''
Line 65: Line 65:
 
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Both your majesties || ''' '''
 
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Both your majesties || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, || ''' '''
+
| 30 ||  || Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || Put your dread pleasures more into command || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Put your dread pleasures more into command || ''' '''
Line 75: Line 75:
 
|  ||  || And here give up ourselves, in the full bent || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || And here give up ourselves, in the full bent || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || To lay our service freely at your feet, || ''' '''
+
| 35 ||  || To lay our service freely at your feet, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || To be commanded. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || To be commanded. || ''' '''
Line 85: Line 85:
 
|  ||  || And I beseech you instantly to visit || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || And I beseech you instantly to visit || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || My too much changed son. Go, some of you, || ''' '''
+
| 40 ||  || My too much changed son. Go, some of you, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. || ''' '''
Line 97: Line 97:
 
|  ||  ||  ||
 
|  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants || ''' '''
+
| 45 ||  || Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || Enter POLONIUS || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Enter POLONIUS || ''' '''
Line 109: Line 109:
 
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || Thou still hast been the father of good news. || ''' '''
 
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || Thou still hast been the father of good news. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| || LORD POLONIUS || Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege, || ''' '''
+
| 50 || LORD POLONIUS || Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, || ''' '''
Line 119: Line 119:
 
|  ||  || Hunts not the trail of policy so sure || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Hunts not the trail of policy so sure || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || As it hath used to do, that I have found || ''' '''
+
| 55 ||  || As it hath used to do, that I have found || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. || ''' '''
Line 129: Line 129:
 
|  ||  || My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| || KING CLAUDIUS || Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. || ''' '''
+
| 60 || KING CLAUDIUS || Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  ||  ||
 
|  ||  ||  ||
Line 143: Line 143:
 
|  || QUEEN GERTRUDE || I doubt it is no other but the main; || ''' '''
 
|  || QUEEN GERTRUDE || I doubt it is no other but the main; || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage. || ''' '''
+
| 65 ||  || His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  || KING CLAUDIUS  || Well, we shall sift him. || ''' '''
 
|  || KING CLAUDIUS  || Well, we shall sift him. || ''' '''
Line 157: Line 157:
 
|  ||  || Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| || VOLTIMAND || Most fair return of greetings and desires. || ''' '''
+
| 70 || VOLTIMAND || Most fair return of greetings and desires. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || Upon our first, he sent out to suppress || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Upon our first, he sent out to suppress || ''' '''
Line 167: Line 167:
 
|  ||  || But, better look'd into, he truly found || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || But, better look'd into, he truly found || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || It was against your highness: whereat grieved, || ''' '''
+
| 75 ||  || It was against your highness: whereat grieved, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || That so his sickness, age and impotence || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || That so his sickness, age and impotence || ''' '''
Line 177: Line 177:
 
|  ||  || Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || Makes vow before his uncle never more || ''' '''
+
| 80 ||  || Makes vow before his uncle never more || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || To give the assay of arms against your majesty. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || To give the assay of arms against your majesty. || ''' '''
Line 187: Line 187:
 
|  ||  || And his commission to employ those soldiers, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || And his commission to employ those soldiers, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || So levied as before, against the Polack: || ''' '''
+
| 85 ||  || So levied as before, against the Polack: || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || With an entreaty, herein further shown, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || With an entreaty, herein further shown, || ''' '''
Line 197: Line 197:
 
|  ||  || Through your dominions for this enterprise, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Through your dominions for this enterprise, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || On such regards of safety and allowance || ''' '''
+
| 90 ||  || On such regards of safety and allowance || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || As therein are set down. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || As therein are set down. || ''' '''
Line 207: Line 207:
 
|  ||  || Answer, and think upon this business. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Answer, and think upon this business. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: || ''' '''
+
| 95 ||  || Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: || ''' '''
Line 221: Line 221:
 
|  || LORD POLONIUS || This business is well ended. || ''' '''
 
|  || LORD POLONIUS || This business is well ended. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || My liege, and madam, to expostulate || ''' '''
+
| 100 ||  || My liege, and madam, to expostulate || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || What majesty should be, what duty is, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || What majesty should be, what duty is, || ''' '''
Line 231: Line 231:
 
|  ||  || Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, || ''' '''
+
| 105 ||  || And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || I will be brief: your noble son is mad: || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || I will be brief: your noble son is mad: || ''' '''
Line 241: Line 241:
 
|  ||  || But let that go. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || But let that go. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| || QUEEN GERTRUDE || More matter, with less art. || ''' '''
+
| 110 || QUEEN GERTRUDE || More matter, with less art. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Madam, I swear I use no art at all. || ''' '''
 
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Madam, I swear I use no art at all. || ''' '''
Line 251: Line 251:
 
|  ||  || But farewell it, for I will use no art. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || But farewell it, for I will use no art. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || Mad let us grant him, then: and now remains || ''' '''
+
| 115 ||  || Mad let us grant him, then: and now remains || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || That we find out the cause of this effect, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || That we find out the cause of this effect, || ''' '''
Line 261: Line 261:
 
|  ||  || Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend. || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend. || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || I have a daughter--have while she is mine-- || ''' '''
+
| 120 ||  || I have a daughter--have while she is mine-- || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, || ''' '''
Line 275: Line 275:
 
|  ||  || 'To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || 'To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
| ||  || beautified Ophelia,'-- || ''' '''
+
| 125 ||  || beautified Ophelia,'-- || ''' '''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  ||  || That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is || ''' '''
 
|  ||  || That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is || ''' '''
Line 287: Line 287:
 
|  ||  ||  ||  
 
|  ||  ||  ||  
 
|-
 
|-
|  ||  ||  
+
|  ||  || 'In her excellent white bosom, these, & c.' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 130 || QUEEN GERTRUDE || Came this from Hamlet to her? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Reads || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'Doubt thou the stars are fire; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Doubt that the sun doth move; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 135 ||  || Doubt truth to be a liar; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But never doubt I love. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I have not art to reckon my groans: but that || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 140 ||  || 'Thine evermore most dear lady, whilst || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || this machine is to him, HAMLET.' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || , in obedience, hath my daughter shown me, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And more above, hath his solicitings, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || As they fell out by time, by means and place, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 145 ||  || All given to mine ear. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || But how hath she || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Received his love? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || What do you think of me? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || As of a man faithful and honourable. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 150 || LORD POLONIUS || I would fain prove so. But what might you think, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || When I had seen this hot love on the wing-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || As I perceived it, I must tell you that, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Before my daughter told me--what might you, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 155 ||  || If I had play'd the desk or table-book, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Or look'd upon this love with idle sight; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || What might you think? No, I went round to work, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 160 ||  || 'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That she should lock herself from his resort, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  no messengers, receive no tokens. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  done, she took the fruits of my advice; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 165 ||  ||  he, repulsed--a short tale to make-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  into a sadness, then into a fast, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Into the madness wherein now he raves, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 170 ||  || And all we mourn for. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || Do you think 'tis this? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || QUEEN GERTRUDE || It may be, very likely. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That I have positively said 'Tis so,' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 175 ||  || When it proved otherwise? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || Not that I know. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || [Pointing to his head and shoulder] || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Take this from this, if this be otherwise: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || If circumstances lead me, I will find || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 180 ||  || Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Within the centre. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || How may we try it further? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || You know, sometimes he walks four hours together || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Here in the lobby. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 185 || QUEEN GERTRUDE || So he does indeed. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Be you and I behind an arras then; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Mark the encounter: if he love her not || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And be not from his reason fall'n thereon, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 190 ||  || Let me be no assistant for a state, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But keep a farm and carters. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || KING CLAUDIUS || We will try it. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || QUEEN GERTRUDE || But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS  || Away, I do beseech you, both away: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 195 ||  || I'll board him presently. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Exeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, and Attendants || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Enter HAMLET, reading || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || O, give me leave: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || How does my good Lord Hamlet? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
| 200 || HAMLET || Well, God-a-mercy. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Do you know me, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Excellent well; you are a fishmonger. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Not I, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Then I would you were so honest a man. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Honest, my lord! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || one man picked out of ten thousand. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || That's very true, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  HAMLET || For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || god kissing carrion,--Have you a daughter? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || I have, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Friend, look to 't. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || [Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || love; very near this. I'll speak to him again. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || What do you read, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Words, words, words. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || What is the matter, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Between who? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || that old men have grey beards, that their faces are || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || you could go backward. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || in 't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Into my grave. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Indeed, that is out o' the air. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Aside || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || meeting between him and my daughter.--My honourable || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || more willingly part withal: except my life, except || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || my life, except my life. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Fare you well, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || These tedious old fools! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || [To POLONIUS] God save you, sir! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Exit POLONIUS || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || My honoured lord! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || My most dear lord! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || My excellent good friends! How dost thou, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || As the indifferent children of the earth. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || Happy, in that we are not over-happy; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || On fortune's cap we are not the very button. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Nor the soles of her shoe? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Neither, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || her favours? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || 'Faith, her privates we. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || is a strumpet. What's the news? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Let me question more in particular: what have you, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || that she sends you to prison hither? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || Prison, my lord! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Denmark's a prison. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Then is the world one. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || A goodly one; in which there are many confines, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || We think not so, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || it is a prison. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Why then, your ambition makes it one; 'tis too || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || narrow for your mind. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || have bad dreams. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || A dream itself is but a shadow. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || quality that it is but a shadow's shadow. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || to the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || We'll wait upon you. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || To visit you, my lord; no other occasion. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || What should we say, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I know the good king and queen have sent for you. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || To what end, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || love, and by what more dear a better proposer could || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || charge you withal, be even and direct with me, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || whether you were sent for, or no? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || [Aside to GUILDENSTERN] What say you? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || [Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || love me, hold not off. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || My lord, we were sent for. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || with my disposition that this goodly frame, the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || express and admirable! in action how like an angel! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || you seem to say so. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me'? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  entertainment the players shall receive from || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || coming, to offer you service. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || lungs are tickled o' the sere; and the lady shall || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || for't. What players are they? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Even those you were wont to take delight in, the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || tragedians of the city. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET  || How chances it they travel? their residence, both || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || in reputation and profit, was better both ways. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || I think their inhibition comes by the means of the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || late innovation. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || in the city? are they so followed? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || No, indeed, are they not. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || How comes it? do they grow rusty? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace: but || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || that cry out on the top of question, and are most || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || tyrannically clapped for't: these are now the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || fashion, and so berattle the common stages--so they || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || call them--that many wearing rapiers are afraid of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || goose-quills and dare scarce come thither. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || What, are they children? who maintains 'em? how are || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || longer than they can sing? will they not say || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || players--as it is most like, if their means are no || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || better--their writers do them wrong, to make them || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || exclaim against their own succession? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || 'Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || controversy: there was, for a while, no money bid || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || for argument, unless the poet and the player went to || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || cuffs in the question. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Is't possible? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || O, there has been much throwing about of brains. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Do the boys carry it away? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'Sblood, there is something in this more than || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || natural, if philosophy could find it out. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Flourish of trumpets within || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || There are the players. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || must show fairly outward, should more appear like || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || GUILDENSTERN || In what, my dear lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Enter POLONIUS || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Well be with you, gentlemen! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || out of his swaddling-clouts. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Happily he's the second time come to them; for they || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || say an old man is twice a child. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || mark it. You say right, sir: o' Monday morning; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'twas so indeed. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || My lord, I have news to tell you. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || My lord, I have news to tell you. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || When Roscius was an actor in Rome,-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || The actors are come hither, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Buz, buz! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Upon mine honour,-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Then came each actor on his ass,-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS ||  || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || liberty, these are the only men. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || What a treasure had he, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Why, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'One fair daughter and no more, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || The which he loved passing well.' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS  || [Aside] Still on my daughter. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || that I love passing well. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Nay, that follows not. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || What follows, then, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Why, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'As by lot, God wot,' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || and then, you know, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'It came to pass, as most like it was,'-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || the first row of the pious chanson will show you || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || more; for look, where my abridgement comes. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Enter four or five Players || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || friend! thy face is valenced since I saw thee last: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || comest thou to beard me in Denmark? What, my young || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || apiece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || of your quality; come, a passionate speech. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || FIRST PLAYER || What speech, my lord? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || play, I remember, pleased not the million; 'twas || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || caviare to the general: but it was--as I received || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || it, and others, whose judgments in such matters || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || cried in the top of mine--an excellent play, well || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || digested in the scenes, set down with as much || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || were no sallets in the lines to make the matter || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || indict the author of affectation; but called it an || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido; and || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Priam's slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || at this line: let me see, let me see-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,'-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || it is not so:--it begins with Pyrrhus:-- || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Black as his purpose, did the night resemble || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || When he lay couched in the ominous horse, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With heraldry more dismal; head to foot || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Baked and impasted with the parching streets, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  lend a tyrannous and damned light || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Old grandsire Priam seeks.' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || So, proceed you. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || good discretion. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || FIRST PLAYER || 'Anon he finds him || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Repugnant to command: unequal match'd, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Which was declining on the milky head || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And like a neutral to his will and matter, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Did nothing. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But, as we often see, against some storm, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || The bold winds speechless and the orb below || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus' pause, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || On Mars's armour forged for proof eterne || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Now falls on Priam. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || In general synod 'take away her power; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || As low as to the fiends!' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || This is too long. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || FIRST PLAYER || 'But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen--' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || 'The mobled queen?' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || That's good; 'mobled queen' is good. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || FIRST PLAYER || 'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || pronounced: || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But if the gods themselves did see her then || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || The instant burst of clamour that she made, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Unless things mortal move them not at all, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And passion in the gods.' || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Look, whether he has not turned his colour and has || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || tears in's eyes. Pray you, no more. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || 'Tis well: I'll have thee speak out the rest soon. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Good my lord, will you see the players well || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || time: after your death you were better have a bad || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || epitaph than their ill report while you live. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || My lord, I will use them according to their desert. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || God's bodykins, man, much better: use every man || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Take them in. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || LORD POLONIUS || Come, sirs. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Exit POLONIUS with all the Players but the First || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Murder of Gonzago? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || FIRST PLAYER || Ay, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I would set down and insert in't, could you not? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || FIRST PLAYER || Ay, my lord. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || HAMLET || Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || not. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Exit First Player || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || My good friends, I'll leave you till night: you are || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || welcome to Elsinore. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  || ROSENCRANTZ || Good my lord! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Ay, so, God be wi' ye; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Now I am alone. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Is it not monstrous that this player here, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Could force his soul so to his own conceit || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That from her working all his visage wann'd, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || A broken voice, and his whole function suiting || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || For Hecuba! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That he should weep for her? What would he do, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Had he the motive and the cue for passion || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That I have? He would drown the stage with tears || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Make mad the guilty and appal the free, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || And can say nothing; no, not for a king, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Upon whose property and most dear life || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || As deep as to the lungs? who does me this? || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Ha! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || 'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || To make oppression bitter, or ere this || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I should have fatted all the region kites || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || O, vengeance! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That I, the son of a dear father murder'd, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || fall a-cursing, like a very drab, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || A scullion! || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! I have heard || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || That guilty creatures sitting at a play || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Have by the very cunning of the scene || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Been struck so to the soul that presently || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || They have proclaim'd their malefactions; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Play something like the murder of my father || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks; || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || I know my course. The spirit that I have seen || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || May be the devil: and the devil hath power || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Out of my weakness and my melancholy, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || As he is very potent with such spirits, || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || More relative than this: the play 's the thing || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. || ''' '''
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  ||  ||
 +
|-
 +
|  ||  || Exit || ''' '''
 
|}
 
|}
'In her excellent white bosom, these, & c.'
 
 
QUEEN GERTRUDE
 
Came this from Hamlet to her?
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.
 
 
Reads
 
 
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;
 
Doubt that the sun doth move;
 
Doubt truth to be a liar;
 
But never doubt I love.
 
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers;
 
I have not art to reckon my groans: but that
 
I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.
 
'Thine evermore most dear lady, whilst
 
this machine is to him, HAMLET.'
 
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,
 
And more above, hath his solicitings,
 
As they fell out by time, by means and place,
 
All given to mine ear.
 
 
KING CLAUDIUS
 
But how hath she
 
Received his love?
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
What do you think of me?
 
 
KING CLAUDIUS
 
As of a man faithful and honourable.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
 
When I had seen this hot love on the wing--
 
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
 
Before my daughter told me--what might you,
 
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,
 
If I had play'd the desk or table-book,
 
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
 
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
 
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
 
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
 
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;
 
This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her,
 
That she should lock herself from his resort,
 
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
 
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;
 
And he, repulsed--a short tale to make--
 
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
 
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
 
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
 
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
 
And all we mourn for.
 
 
KING CLAUDIUS
 
Do you think 'tis this?
 
 
QUEEN GERTRUDE
 
It may be, very likely.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that--
 
That I have positively said 'Tis so,'
 
When it proved otherwise?
 
 
KING CLAUDIUS
 
Not that I know.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
[Pointing to his head and shoulder]
 
Take this from this, if this be otherwise:
 
If circumstances lead me, I will find
 
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
 
Within the centre.
 
 
KING CLAUDIUS
 
How may we try it further?
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
You know, sometimes he walks four hours together
 
Here in the lobby.
 
 
QUEEN GERTRUDE
 
So he does indeed.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:
 
Be you and I behind an arras then;
 
Mark the encounter: if he love her not
 
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
 
Let me be no assistant for a state,
 
But keep a farm and carters.
 
 
KING CLAUDIUS
 
We will try it.
 
 
QUEEN GERTRUDE
 
But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Away, I do beseech you, both away:
 
I'll board him presently.
 
 
Exeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, and Attendants
 
 
Enter HAMLET, reading
 
 
O, give me leave:
 
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Well, God-a-mercy.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Do you know me, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Not I, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Then I would you were so honest a man.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Honest, my lord!
 
 
HAMLET
 
Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be
 
one man picked out of ten thousand.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
That's very true, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a
 
god kissing carrion,--Have you a daughter?
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
I have, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a
 
blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive.
 
Friend, look to 't.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
[Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my
 
daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I
 
was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and
 
truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for
 
love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.
 
What do you read, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Words, words, words.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
What is the matter, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Between who?
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here
 
that old men have grey beards, that their faces are
 
wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and
 
plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of
 
wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir,
 
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet
 
I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for
 
yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab
 
you could go backward.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
[Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method
 
in 't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Into my grave.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Indeed, that is out o' the air.
 
 
Aside
 
 
How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness
 
that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity
 
could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will
 
leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of
 
meeting between him and my daughter.--My honourable
 
lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.
 
 
HAMLET
 
You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will
 
more willingly part withal: except my life, except
 
my life, except my life.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Fare you well, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
These tedious old fools!
 
 
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
[To POLONIUS] God save you, sir!
 
 
Exit POLONIUS
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
My honoured lord!
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
My most dear lord!
 
 
HAMLET
 
My excellent good friends! How dost thou,
 
Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
As the indifferent children of the earth.
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
Happy, in that we are not over-happy;
 
On fortune's cap we are not the very button.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Nor the soles of her shoe?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Neither, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of
 
her favours?
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
'Faith, her privates we.
 
 
HAMLET
 
In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she
 
is a strumpet. What's the news?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true.
 
Let me question more in particular: what have you,
 
my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune,
 
that she sends you to prison hither?
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
Prison, my lord!
 
 
HAMLET
 
Denmark's a prison.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Then is the world one.
 
 
HAMLET
 
A goodly one; in which there are many confines,
 
wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
We think not so, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing
 
either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me
 
it is a prison.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Why then, your ambition makes it one; 'tis too
 
narrow for your mind.
 
 
HAMLET
 
O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count
 
myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I
 
have bad dreams.
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very
 
substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
 
 
HAMLET
 
A dream itself is but a shadow.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a
 
quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and
 
outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we
 
to the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ GUILDENSTERN
 
We'll wait upon you.
 
 
HAMLET
 
No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest
 
of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest
 
man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the
 
beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I
 
thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are
 
too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it
 
your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,
 
deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
What should we say, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent
 
for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks
 
which your modesties have not craft enough to colour:
 
I know the good king and queen have sent for you.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
To what end, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by
 
the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of
 
our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved
 
love, and by what more dear a better proposer could
 
charge you withal, be even and direct with me,
 
whether you were sent for, or no?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
[Aside to GUILDENSTERN] What say you?
 
 
HAMLET
 
[Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you
 
love me, hold not off.
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
My lord, we were sent for.
 
 
HAMLET
 
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
 
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king
 
and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but
 
wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all
 
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily
 
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
 
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most
 
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave
 
o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
 
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to
 
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
 
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!
 
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how
 
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!
 
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the
 
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,
 
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not
 
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling
 
you seem to say so.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me'?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what
 
lenten entertainment the players shall receive from
 
you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they
 
coming, to offer you service.
 
 
HAMLET
 
He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty
 
shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight
 
shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not
 
sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part
 
in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose
 
lungs are tickled o' the sere; and the lady shall
 
say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt
 
for't. What players are they?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Even those you were wont to take delight in, the
 
tragedians of the city.
 
 
HAMLET
 
How chances it they travel? their residence, both
 
in reputation and profit, was better both ways.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the
 
late innovation.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was
 
in the city? are they so followed?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
No, indeed, are they not.
 
 
HAMLET
 
How comes it? do they grow rusty?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace: but
 
there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases,
 
that cry out on the top of question, and are most
 
tyrannically clapped for't: these are now the
 
fashion, and so berattle the common stages--so they
 
call them--that many wearing rapiers are afraid of
 
goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.
 
 
HAMLET
 
What, are they children? who maintains 'em? how are
 
they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no
 
longer than they can sing? will they not say
 
afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common
 
players--as it is most like, if their means are no
 
better--their writers do them wrong, to make them
 
exclaim against their own succession?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
'Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and
 
the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to
 
controversy: there was, for a while, no money bid
 
for argument, unless the poet and the player went to
 
cuffs in the question.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Is't possible?
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
O, there has been much throwing about of brains.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Do the boys carry it away?
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.
 
 
HAMLET
 
It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king of
 
Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while
 
my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an
 
hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little.
 
'Sblood, there is something in this more than
 
natural, if philosophy could find it out.
 
 
Flourish of trumpets within
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
There are the players.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands,
 
come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion
 
and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb,
 
lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you,
 
must show fairly outward, should more appear like
 
entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my
 
uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.
 
 
GUILDENSTERN
 
In what, my dear lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is
 
southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.
 
 
Enter POLONIUS
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Well be with you, gentlemen!
 
 
HAMLET
 
Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a
 
hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet
 
out of his swaddling-clouts.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Happily he's the second time come to them; for they
 
say an old man is twice a child.
 
 
HAMLET
 
I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players;
 
mark it. You say right, sir: o' Monday morning;
 
'twas so indeed.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
My lord, I have news to tell you.
 
 
HAMLET
 
My lord, I have news to tell you.
 
When Roscius was an actor in Rome,--
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
The actors are come hither, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Buz, buz!
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Upon mine honour,--
 
 
HAMLET
 
Then came each actor on his ass,--
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,
 
comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical,
 
historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-
 
comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or
 
poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor
 
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the
 
liberty, these are the only men.
 
 
HAMLET
 
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
What a treasure had he, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Why,
 
'One fair daughter and no more,
 
The which he loved passing well.'
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
[Aside] Still on my daughter.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah?
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter
 
that I love passing well.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Nay, that follows not.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
What follows, then, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
Why,
 
'As by lot, God wot,'
 
and then, you know,
 
'It came to pass, as most like it was,'--
 
the first row of the pious chanson will show you
 
more; for look, where my abridgement comes.
 
 
Enter four or five Players
 
 
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad
 
to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old
 
friend! thy face is valenced since I saw thee last:
 
comest thou to beard me in Denmark? What, my young
 
lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is
 
nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the
 
altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like
 
apiece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the
 
ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en
 
to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see:
 
we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste
 
of your quality; come, a passionate speech.
 
 
First Player
 
What speech, my lord?
 
 
HAMLET
 
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was
 
never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the
 
play, I remember, pleased not the million; 'twas
 
caviare to the general: but it was--as I received
 
it, and others, whose judgments in such matters
 
cried in the top of mine--an excellent play, well
 
digested in the scenes, set down with as much
 
modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there
 
were no sallets in the lines to make the matter
 
savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might
 
indict the author of affectation; but called it an
 
honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very
 
much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I
 
chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido; and
 
thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of
 
Priam's slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin
 
at this line: let me see, let me see--
 
'The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,'--
 
it is not so:--it begins with Pyrrhus:--
 
'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,
 
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble
 
When he lay couched in the ominous horse,
 
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd
 
With heraldry more dismal; head to foot
 
Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd
 
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
 
Baked and impasted with the parching streets,
 
That lend a tyrannous and damned light
 
To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire,
 
And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore,
 
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
 
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'
 
So, proceed you.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and
 
good discretion.
 
 
First Player
 
'Anon he finds him
 
Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,
 
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
 
Repugnant to command: unequal match'd,
 
Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide;
 
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
 
The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,
 
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
 
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
 
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword,
 
Which was declining on the milky head
 
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick:
 
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,
 
And like a neutral to his will and matter,
 
Did nothing.
 
But, as we often see, against some storm,
 
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
 
The bold winds speechless and the orb below
 
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
 
Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
 
Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;
 
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall
 
On Mars's armour forged for proof eterne
 
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword
 
Now falls on Priam.
 
Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,
 
In general synod 'take away her power;
 
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
 
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven,
 
As low as to the fiends!'
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
This is too long.
 
 
HAMLET
 
It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee,
 
say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he
 
sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba.
 
 
First Player
 
'But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen--'
 
 
HAMLET
 
'The mobled queen?'
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
That's good; 'mobled queen' is good.
 
 
First Player
 
'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames
 
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head
 
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
 
About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins,
 
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up;
 
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd,
 
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have
 
pronounced:
 
But if the gods themselves did see her then
 
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
 
In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,
 
The instant burst of clamour that she made,
 
Unless things mortal move them not at all,
 
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,
 
And passion in the gods.'
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Look, whether he has not turned his colour and has
 
tears in's eyes. Pray you, no more.
 
 
HAMLET
 
'Tis well: I'll have thee speak out the rest soon.
 
Good my lord, will you see the players well
 
bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for
 
they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the
 
time: after your death you were better have a bad
 
epitaph than their ill report while you live.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
My lord, I will use them according to their desert.
 
 
HAMLET
 
God's bodykins, man, much better: use every man
 
after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping?
 
Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less
 
they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.
 
Take them in.
 
 
LORD POLONIUS
 
Come, sirs.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow.
 
 
Exit POLONIUS with all the Players but the First
 
 
Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the
 
Murder of Gonzago?
 
 
First Player
 
Ay, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need,
 
study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which
 
I would set down and insert in't, could you not?
 
 
First Player
 
Ay, my lord.
 
 
HAMLET
 
Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him
 
not.
 
 
Exit First Player
 
 
My good friends, I'll leave you till night: you are
 
welcome to Elsinore.
 
 
ROSENCRANTZ
 
Good my lord!
 
 
HAMLET
 
Ay, so, God be wi' ye;
 
 
Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
 
 
Now I am alone.
 
O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
 
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
 
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,
 
Could force his soul so to his own conceit
 
That from her working all his visage wann'd,
 
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,
 
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
 
With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing!
 
For Hecuba!
 
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
 
That he should weep for her? What would he do,
 
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
 
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears
 
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,
 
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,
 
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
 
The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,
 
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,
 
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
 
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,
 
Upon whose property and most dear life
 
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?
 
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
 
Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?
 
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,
 
As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?
 
Ha!
 
'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be
 
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall
 
To make oppression bitter, or ere this
 
I should have fatted all the region kites
 
With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain!
 
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!
 
O, vengeance!
 
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
 
That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,
 
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
 
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,
 
And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,
 
A scullion!
 
Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! I have heard
 
That guilty creatures sitting at a play
 
Have by the very cunning of the scene
 
Been struck so to the soul that presently
 
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;
 
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
 
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players
 
Play something like the murder of my father
 
Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;
 
I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,
 
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
 
May be the devil: and the devil hath power
 
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps
 
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
 
As he is very potent with such spirits,
 
Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds
 
More relative than this: the play 's the thing
 
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.
 
 
Exit
 

Revision as of 12:06, 1 November 2013

1 A room in the castle. *Kelkuvi mì kelutral.
Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants Fpxäkìm KLLAWTYUSÌ alu OLO'EYKTAN, KÄRTRRUT alu TSAHÌK, ROSENGRAN, KÌLTXENSTEN, sì Atenten
KING CLAUDIUS Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
5 The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
10 More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from the understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,
That, being of so young days brought up with him,
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and havior,
15 That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,
20 That, open'd, lies within our remedy.
QUEEN GERTRUDE Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you;
And sure I am two men there are not living
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will
25 As to expend your time with us awhile,
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.
ROSENCRANTZ Both your majesties
30 Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
GUILDENSTERN But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent
35 To lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.
KING CLAUDIUS Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.
QUEEN GERTRUDE Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:
And I beseech you instantly to visit
40 My too much changed son. Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
GUILDENSTERN Heavens make our presence and our practises
Pleasant and helpful to him!
QUEEN GERTRUDE Ay, amen!
45 Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants
Enter POLONIUS
LORD POLONIUS The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Are joyfully return'd.
KING CLAUDIUS Thou still hast been the father of good news.
50 LORD POLONIUS Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,
I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king:
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
55 As it hath used to do, that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
KING CLAUDIUS O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.
LORD POLONIUS Give first admittance to the ambassadors;
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.
60 KING CLAUDIUS Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
Exit POLONIUS POLONYUSÌ hum
KING CLAUDIUS He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
The head and source of all your son's distemper.
QUEEN GERTRUDE I doubt it is no other but the main;
65 His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage.
KING CLAUDIUS Well, we shall sift him.
Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS
KING CLAUDIUS Welcome, my good friends!
Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?
70 VOLTIMAND Most fair return of greetings and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;
But, better look'd into, he truly found
75 It was against your highness: whereat grieved,
That so his sickness, age and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine
80 Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
85 So levied as before, against the Polack:
With an entreaty, herein further shown,
Giving a paper
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,
90 On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.
KING CLAUDIUS It likes us well;
And at our more consider'd time well read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
95 Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:
Most welcome home!
Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS
LORD POLONIUS This business is well ended.
100 My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
105 And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.
110 QUEEN GERTRUDE More matter, with less art.
LORD POLONIUS Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;
And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
115 Mad let us grant him, then: and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend.
120 I have a daughter--have while she is mine--
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise.
Reads
'To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most
125 beautified Ophelia,'--
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is
a vile phrase: but you shall hear. Thus:
Reads
'In her excellent white bosom, these, & c.'
130 QUEEN GERTRUDE Came this from Hamlet to her?
LORD POLONIUS Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.
Reads
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
135 Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers;
I have not art to reckon my groans: but that
I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.
140 'Thine evermore most dear lady, whilst
this machine is to him, HAMLET.'
, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,
And more above, hath his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means and place,
145 All given to mine ear.
KING CLAUDIUS But how hath she
Received his love?
LORD POLONIUS What do you think of me?
KING CLAUDIUS As of a man faithful and honourable.
150 LORD POLONIUS I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
When I had seen this hot love on the wing--
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me--what might you,
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,
155 If I had play'd the desk or table-book,
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
160 'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;
This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her,
That she should lock herself from his resort,
no messengers, receive no tokens.
done, she took the fruits of my advice;
165 he, repulsed--a short tale to make--
into a sadness, then into a fast,
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
170 And all we mourn for.
KING CLAUDIUS Do you think 'tis this?
QUEEN GERTRUDE It may be, very likely.
LORD POLONIUS Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that--
That I have positively said 'Tis so,'
175 When it proved otherwise?
KING CLAUDIUS Not that I know.
LORD POLONIUS [Pointing to his head and shoulder]
Take this from this, if this be otherwise:
If circumstances lead me, I will find
180 Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
KING CLAUDIUS How may we try it further?
LORD POLONIUS You know, sometimes he walks four hours together
Here in the lobby.
185 QUEEN GERTRUDE So he does indeed.
LORD POLONIUS At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:
Be you and I behind an arras then;
Mark the encounter: if he love her not
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
190 Let me be no assistant for a state,
But keep a farm and carters.
KING CLAUDIUS We will try it.
QUEEN GERTRUDE But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
LORD POLONIUS Away, I do beseech you, both away:
195 I'll board him presently.
Exeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, and Attendants
Enter HAMLET, reading
HAMLET O, give me leave:
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
200 HAMLET Well, God-a-mercy.
LORD POLONIUS Do you know me, my lord?
HAMLET Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.
LORD POLONIUS Not I, my lord.
HAMLET Then I would you were so honest a man.
LORD POLONIUS Honest, my lord!
HAMLET Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be
one man picked out of ten thousand.
LORD POLONIUS That's very true, my lord.
HAMLET For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a
god kissing carrion,--Have you a daughter?
LORD POLONIUS I have, my lord.
HAMLET Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a
blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive.
Friend, look to 't.
LORD POLONIUS [Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my
daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I
was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and
truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for
love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.
What do you read, my lord?
HAMLET Words, words, words.
LORD POLONIUS What is the matter, my lord?
HAMLET Between who?
LORD POLONIUS I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
HAMLET Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here
that old men have grey beards, that their faces are
wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and
plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of
wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir,
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet
I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for
yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab
you could go backward.
LORD POLONIUS [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method
in 't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?
HAMLET Into my grave.
LORD POLONIUS Indeed, that is out o' the air.
Aside
How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness
that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity
could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will
leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of
meeting between him and my daughter.--My honourable
lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.
HAMLET You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will
more willingly part withal: except my life, except
my life, except my life.
LORD POLONIUS Fare you well, my lord.
HAMLET These tedious old fools!
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
LORD POLONIUS You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.
ROSENCRANTZ [To POLONIUS] God save you, sir!
Exit POLONIUS
GUILDENSTERN My honoured lord!
ROSENCRANTZ My most dear lord!
HAMLET My excellent good friends! How dost thou,
Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?
ROSENCRANTZ As the indifferent children of the earth.
GUILDENSTERN Happy, in that we are not over-happy;
On fortune's cap we are not the very button.
HAMLET Nor the soles of her shoe?
ROSENCRANTZ Neither, my lord.
HAMLET Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of
her favours?
GUILDENSTERN 'Faith, her privates we.
HAMLET In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she
is a strumpet. What's the news?
ROSENCRANTZ None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.
HAMLET Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true.
Let me question more in particular: what have you,
my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune,
that she sends you to prison hither?
GUILDENSTERN Prison, my lord!
HAMLET Denmark's a prison.
ROSENCRANTZ Then is the world one.
HAMLET A goodly one; in which there are many confines,
wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.
ROSENCRANTZ We think not so, my lord.
HAMLET Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing
either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me
it is a prison.
ROSENCRANTZ Why then, your ambition makes it one; 'tis too
narrow for your mind.
HAMLET O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count
myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I
have bad dreams.
GUILDENSTERN Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very
substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
HAMLET A dream itself is but a shadow.
ROSENCRANTZ Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a
quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.
HAMLET Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and
outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we
to the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.
GUILDENSTERN We'll wait upon you.
HAMLET No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest
of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest
man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the
beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?
ROSENCRANTZ To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.
HAMLET Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I
thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are
too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it
your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,
deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.
GUILDENSTERN What should we say, my lord?
HAMLET Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent
for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks
which your modesties have not craft enough to colour:
I know the good king and queen have sent for you.
ROSENCRANTZ To what end, my lord?
HAMLET That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by
the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of
our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved
love, and by what more dear a better proposer could
charge you withal, be even and direct with me,
whether you were sent for, or no?
ROSENCRANTZ [Aside to GUILDENSTERN] What say you?
HAMLET [Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you
love me, hold not off.
GUILDENSTERN My lord, we were sent for.
HAMLET I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king
and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but
wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave
o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling
you seem to say so.
ROSENCRANTZ My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
HAMLET Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me'?
ROSENCRANTZ To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what
entertainment the players shall receive from
you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they
coming, to offer you service.
HAMLET He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty
shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight
shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not
sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part
in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose
lungs are tickled o' the sere; and the lady shall
say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt
for't. What players are they?
ROSENCRANTZ Even those you were wont to take delight in, the
tragedians of the city.
HAMLET How chances it they travel? their residence, both
in reputation and profit, was better both ways.
ROSENCRANTZ I think their inhibition comes by the means of the
late innovation.
HAMLET Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was
in the city? are they so followed?
ROSENCRANTZ No, indeed, are they not.
HAMLET How comes it? do they grow rusty?
ROSENCRANTZ Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace: but
there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases,
that cry out on the top of question, and are most
tyrannically clapped for't: these are now the
fashion, and so berattle the common stages--so they
call them--that many wearing rapiers are afraid of
goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.
HAMLET What, are they children? who maintains 'em? how are
they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no
longer than they can sing? will they not say
afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common
players--as it is most like, if their means are no
better--their writers do them wrong, to make them
exclaim against their own succession?
ROSENCRANTZ 'Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and
the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to
controversy: there was, for a while, no money bid
for argument, unless the poet and the player went to
cuffs in the question.
HAMLET Is't possible?
GUILDENSTERN O, there has been much throwing about of brains.
HAMLET Do the boys carry it away?
ROSENCRANTZ Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.
HAMLET It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king of
Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while
my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an
hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little.
'Sblood, there is something in this more than
natural, if philosophy could find it out.
Flourish of trumpets within
GUILDENSTERN There are the players.
HAMLET Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands,
come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion
and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb,
lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you,
must show fairly outward, should more appear like
entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my
uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.
GUILDENSTERN In what, my dear lord?
HAMLET I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is
southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.
Enter POLONIUS
LORD POLONIUS Well be with you, gentlemen!
HAMLET Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a
hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet
out of his swaddling-clouts.
ROSENCRANTZ Happily he's the second time come to them; for they
say an old man is twice a child.
HAMLET I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players;
mark it. You say right, sir: o' Monday morning;
'twas so indeed.
LORD POLONIUS My lord, I have news to tell you.
HAMLET My lord, I have news to tell you.
When Roscius was an actor in Rome,--
LORD POLONIUS The actors are come hither, my lord.
HAMLET Buz, buz!
LORD POLONIUS Upon mine honour,--
HAMLET Then came each actor on his ass,--
LORD POLONIUS
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,
comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical,
historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-
comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or
poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the
liberty, these are the only men.
HAMLET O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!
LORD POLONIUS What a treasure had he, my lord?
HAMLET Why,
'One fair daughter and no more,
The which he loved passing well.'
LORD POLONIUS [Aside] Still on my daughter.
HAMLET Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah?
LORD POLONIUS If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter
that I love passing well.
HAMLET Nay, that follows not.
LORD POLONIUS What follows, then, my lord?
HAMLET Why,
'As by lot, God wot,'
and then, you know,
'It came to pass, as most like it was,'--
the first row of the pious chanson will show you
more; for look, where my abridgement comes.
Enter four or five Players
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad
to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old
friend! thy face is valenced since I saw thee last:
comest thou to beard me in Denmark? What, my young
lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is
nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the
altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like
apiece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the
ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en
to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see:
we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste
of your quality; come, a passionate speech.
FIRST PLAYER What speech, my lord?
HAMLET I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was
never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the
play, I remember, pleased not the million; 'twas
caviare to the general: but it was--as I received
it, and others, whose judgments in such matters
cried in the top of mine--an excellent play, well
digested in the scenes, set down with as much
modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there
were no sallets in the lines to make the matter
savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might
indict the author of affectation; but called it an
honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very
much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I
chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido; and
thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of
Priam's slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin
at this line: let me see, let me see--
'The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,'--
it is not so:--it begins with Pyrrhus:--
'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble
When he lay couched in the ominous horse,
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd
With heraldry more dismal; head to foot
Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
Baked and impasted with the parching streets,
lend a tyrannous and damned light
To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire,
And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore,
eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'
So, proceed you.
LORD POLONIUS 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and
good discretion.
FIRST PLAYER 'Anon he finds him
Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
Repugnant to command: unequal match'd,
Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide;
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword,
Which was declining on the milky head
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick:
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,
And like a neutral to his will and matter,
Did nothing.
But, as we often see, against some storm,
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
The bold winds speechless and the orb below
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall
On Mars's armour forged for proof eterne
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword
Now falls on Priam.
Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,
In general synod 'take away her power;
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven,
As low as to the fiends!'
LORD POLONIUS This is too long.
HAMLET It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee,
say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he
sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba.
FIRST PLAYER 'But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen--'
HAMLET 'The mobled queen?'
LORD POLONIUS That's good; 'mobled queen' is good.
FIRST PLAYER 'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins,
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up;
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd,
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have
pronounced:
But if the gods themselves did see her then
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,
The instant burst of clamour that she made,
Unless things mortal move them not at all,
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,
And passion in the gods.'
LORD POLONIUS Look, whether he has not turned his colour and has
tears in's eyes. Pray you, no more.
HAMLET 'Tis well: I'll have thee speak out the rest soon.
Good my lord, will you see the players well
bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for
they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the
time: after your death you were better have a bad
epitaph than their ill report while you live.
LORD POLONIUS My lord, I will use them according to their desert.
HAMLET God's bodykins, man, much better: use every man
after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping?
Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less
they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.
Take them in.
LORD POLONIUS Come, sirs.
HAMLET Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow.
Exit POLONIUS with all the Players but the First
Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the
Murder of Gonzago?
FIRST PLAYER Ay, my lord.
HAMLET We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need,
study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which
I would set down and insert in't, could you not?
FIRST PLAYER Ay, my lord.
HAMLET Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him
not.
Exit First Player
My good friends, I'll leave you till night: you are
welcome to Elsinore.
ROSENCRANTZ Good my lord!
Ay, so, God be wi' ye;
Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
Now I am alone.
O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,
Could force his soul so to his own conceit
That from her working all his visage wann'd,
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing!
For Hecuba!
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
That he should weep for her? What would he do,
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,
As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?
Ha!
'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall
To make oppression bitter, or ere this
I should have fatted all the region kites
With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain!
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!
O, vengeance!
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,
fall a-cursing, like a very drab,
A scullion!
Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! I have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at a play
Have by the very cunning of the scene
Been struck so to the soul that presently
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players
Play something like the murder of my father
Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;
I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
May be the devil: and the devil hath power
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds
More relative than this: the play 's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.
Exit