William Shakespeare, Hamlet

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark William Shakespeare

Act I. Scene I. Francisco at his post. Enter to him Bernardo. Bernardo. Whos there? Francisco. ay, ans!er me" stand, and #nfold yo#rself. Bernardo. $ong li%e the king& Francisco. 'ernardo? Bernardo. He. Francisco. (o# come most caref#lly #pon yo#r ho#r. Bernardo. )Tis no! str#ck t!el%e* get thee to +ed, ,rancisco. Francisco. ,or this relief m#ch thanks" )tis +itter cold, And I am sick at heart. Bernardo. Ha%e yo# had -#iet g#ard? Francisco. ot a mo#se stirring. Bernardo. Well, good night. If yo# do meet Horatio and .arcell#s, The ri%als of my !atch, +id them make haste. Francisco. I think I hear them. Stand, ho& Whos there? Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Horatio. ,riends to this gro#nd. Marcellus. And liegemen to the Dane. Francisco. /i%e yo# good night. Marcellus. 0, fare!ell, honest soldier" Who hath relie%ed yo#? Francisco. 'ernardo has my place. /i%e yo# good night. Exit. Marcellus. Holla& 'ernardo& Bernardo. Say, What, is Horatio there? Horatio. A piece of him. Bernardo. Welcome, Horatio" !elcome, good .arcell#s. Marcellus. What, has this thing appeard again to1 night? Bernardo. I ha%e seen nothing. Marcellus. Horatio says )tis +#t o#r fantasy, And !ill not let +elief take hold of him To#ching this dreaded sight, t!ice seen of #s" Therefore I ha%e entreated him along With #s to !atch the min#tes of this night* That if again this apparition come, He may appro%e o#r eyes and speak to it. Horatio. T#sh, t#sh, )t!ill not appear. Bernardo. Sit do!n a!hile* And let #s once again assail yo#r ears, That are so fortified against o#r story What !e ha%e t!o nights seen. Horatio. Well, sit !e do!n,

And let #s hear 'ernardo speak of this. Does not di%ide the S#nday from the !eek* Bernardo. $ast night of all, What might +e to!ard, that this s!eaty haste When yond same star thats !est!ard from the pole Doth make the night 4oint1la+o#rer !ith the day" Had made his co#rse to ill#me that part of hea%en Who ist that can inform me? Where no! it +#rns, .arcell#s and myself, Horatio. That can I* The +ell then +eating one, 2 At least, the !hisper goes so. 0#r last king, Enter Ghost. Whose image e%en +#t no! appeard to #s, Marcellus. Peace, +reak thee off* look, !here it comes Was, as yo# kno!, +y ,ortin+ras of or!ay, again& Thereto prickd on +y a most em#late pride, Bernardo. In the same fig#re, like the king thats Dared to the com+at* in !hich o#r %aliant Hamlet 2 dead. ,or so this side of o#r kno!n !orld esteemd him 2 Marcellus. Tho# art a scholar* speak to it, Horatio. Did slay this ,ortin+ras* !ho +y a seald compact, Bernardo. $ooks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio. Well ratified +y la! and heraldry, Horatio. .ost like" it harro!s me !ith fear and Did forfeit, !ith his life, all those his lands !onder. Which he stood sei5ed of, to the con-#eror" Bernardo. It !o#ld +e spoke to. Against the !hich, a moiety competent Marcellus. 3#estion it, Horatio. Was gaged +y o#r king* !hich had ret#rnd Horatio. What art tho# that #s#rpst this time of night, To the inheritance of ,ortin+ras, Together !ith that fair and !arlike form Had he +een %an-#isher* as, +y the same co%enant, In !hich the ma4esty of +#ried Denmark And carriage of the article designd, Did sometimes march? +y hea%en I charge thee, His fell to Hamlet. o!, sir, yo#ng ,ortin+ras, speak& 0f #nimpro%ed mettle hot and f#ll, Marcellus. It is offended. Hath in the skirts of or!ay here and there Bernardo. See, it stalks a!ay& Sharkd #p a list of la!less resol#tes, Horatio. Stay& speak, speak& I charge thee, speak& ,or food and diet, to some enterprise Exit Ghost. That hath a stomach int* !hich is no other 2 Marcellus. )Tis gone, and !ill not ans!er. As it doth !ell appear #nto o#r state 2 Bernardo. Ho! no!, Horatio& yo# trem+le and look '#t to reco%er of #s, +y strong hand pale" And terms comp#lsatory, those foresaid lands Is not this something more than fantasy? So +y his father lost" and this, I take it, What think yo# ont? Is the main moti%e of o#r preparations, Horatio. 'efore my /od, I might not this +elie%e The so#rce of this o#r !atch and the chief head Witho#t the sensi+le and tr#e a%o#ch 0f this post1haste and romage in the land. 0f mine o!n eyes. Bernardo. I think it +e no other +#t een so" Marcellus. Is it not like the king? Well may it sort that this portento#s fig#re Horatio. As tho# art to thyself" 6omes armed thro#gh o#r !atch* so like the king S#ch !as the %ery armo#r he had on That !as and is the -#estion of these !ars. When he the am+itio#s or!ay com+ated* Horatio. A mote it is to tro#+le the minds eye. So fro!nd he once, !hen, in an angry parle, In the most high and palmy state of 7ome, He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. A little ere the mightiest 8#li#s fell, )Tis strange. The gra%es stood tenantless and the sheeted dead Marcellus. Th#s t!ice +efore, and 4#mp at this dead Did s-#eak and gi++er in the 7oman streets" ho#r, As stars !ith trains of fire and de!s of +lood, With martial stalk hath he gone +y o#r !atch. Disasters in the s#n* and the moist star Horatio. In !hat partic#lar tho#ght to !ork I kno! 9pon !hose infl#ence ept#nes empire stands not* Was sick almost to doomsday !ith eclipse" '#t in the gross and scope of my opinion, And e%en the like prec#rse of fierce e%ents, This +odes some strange er#ption to o#r state. As har+ingers preceding still the fates Marcellus. /ood no!, sit do!n, and tell me, he that And prolog#e to the omen coming on, kno!s, Ha%e hea%en and earth together demonstrated Why this same strict and most o+ser%ant !atch 9nto o#r climat#res and co#ntrymen. 2 So nightly toils the s#+4ect of the land, '#t soft, +ehold& lo, !here it comes again& And !hy s#ch daily cast of +ra5en cannon, Re-enter Ghost. And foreign mart for implements of !ar* Ill cross it, tho#gh it +last me. Stay, ill#sion& Why s#ch impress of ship!rights, !hose sore task If tho# hast any so#nd, or #se of %oice,

Speak to me" If there +e any good thing to +e done, That may to thee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me" Cock crows. If tho# art pri%y to thy co#ntrys fate, Which, happily, forekno!ing may a%oid, 0, speak& 0r if tho# hast #phoarded in thy life :;torted treas#re in the !om+ of earth, ,or !hich, they say, yo# spirits oft !alk in death, Speak of it" stay, and speak& Stop it, .arcell#s. Marcellus. Shall I strike at it !ith my partisan? Horatio. Do, if it !ill not stand. Bernardo. )Tis here& Horatio. )Tis here& Marcellus. )Tis gone& Exit Ghost. We do it !rong, +eing so ma4estical, To offer it the sho! of %iolence* ,or it is, as the air, in%#lnera+le, And o#r %ain +lo!s malicio#s mockery. Bernardo. It !as a+o#t to speak, !hen the cock cre!. Horatio. And then it started like a g#ilty thing 9pon a fearf#l s#mmons. I ha%e heard, The cock, that is the tr#mpet to the morn, Doth !ith his lofty and shrill1so#nding throat A!ake the god of day* and, at his !arning, Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, The e;tra%agant and erring spirit hies To his confine" and of the tr#th herein This present o+4ect made pro+ation. Marcellus. It faded on the cro!ing of the cock. Some say that e%er )gainst that season comes Wherein o#r Sa%io#rs +irth is cele+rated, The +ird of da!ning singeth all night long" And then, they say, no spirit dares stir a+road* The nights are !holesome* then no planets strike, o fairy takes, nor !itch hath po!er to charm, So hallo!d and so gracio#s is the time. Horatio. So ha%e I heard and do in part +elie%e it. '#t, look, the morn, in r#sset mantle clad, Walks oer the de! of yon high east!ard hill" 'reak !e o#r !atch #p* and +y my ad%ice, $et #s impart !hat !e ha%e seen to1night 9nto yo#ng Hamlet* for, #pon my life, This spirit, d#m+ to #s, !ill speak to him. Do yo# consent !e shall ac-#aint him !ith it, As needf#l in o#r lo%es, fitting o#r d#ty? Marcellus. $ets dot, I pray* and I this morning kno! Where !e shall find him most con%eniently. Exeunt. Scene II. Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Voltimand, Cornelius, Lords,

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

and Attendants. King Claudius. Tho#gh yet of Hamlet o#r dear +rothers death The memory +e green, and that it #s +efitted To +ear o#r hearts in grief and o#r !hole kingdom To +e contracted in one +ro! of !oe, (et so far hath discretion fo#ght !ith nat#re That !e !ith !isest sorro! think on him, Together !ith remem+rance of o#rsel%es. Therefore o#r sometime sister, no! o#r -#een, The imperial 4ointress to this !arlike state, Ha%e !e, as )t!ere !ith a defeated 4oy, 2 With an a#spicio#s and a dropping eye, With mirth in f#neral and !ith dirge in marriage, In e-#al scale !eighing delight and dole, 2 Taken to !ife" nor ha%e !e herein +arrd (o#r +etter !isdoms, !hich ha%e freely gone With this affair along. ,or all, o#r thanks. o! follo!s, that yo# kno!, yo#ng ,ortin+ras, Holding a !eak s#pposal of o#r !orth, 0r thinking +y o#r late dear +rothers death 0#r state to +e dis4oint and o#t of frame, 6olleag#ed !ith the dream of his ad%antage, He hath not faild to pester #s !ith message, Importing the s#rrender of those lands $ost +y his father, !ith all +onds of la!, To o#r most %aliant +rother. So m#ch for him. o! for o#rself and for this time of meeting" Th#s m#ch the +#siness is" !e ha%e here !rit To or!ay, #ncle of yo#ng ,ortin+ras, 2 Who, impotent and +ed1rid, scarcely hears 0f this his nephe!s p#rpose, 2 to s#ppress His f#rther gait herein* in that the le%ies, The lists and f#ll proportions, are all made 0#t of his s#+4ect" and !e here dispatch (o#, good 6orneli#s, and yo#, <oltimand, ,or +earers of this greeting to old or!ay* /i%ing to yo# no f#rther personal po!er To +#siness !ith the king, more than the scope 0f these delated articles allo!. ,are!ell, and let yo#r haste commend yo#r d#ty. Cornelius, Voltimand. In that and all things !ill !e sho! o#r d#ty. King Claudius. We do#+t it nothing" heartily fare!ell. Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius. And no!, $aertes, !hats the ne!s !ith yo#? (o# told #s of some s#it* !hat ist, $aertes? (o# cannot speak of reason to the Dane, And loose yo#r %oice" !hat !o#ldst tho# +eg, $aertes, That shall not +e my offer, not thy asking? The head is not more nati%e to the heart, The hand more instr#mental to the mo#th, Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. What !o#ldst tho# ha%e, $aertes?

Laertes. .y dread lord, (o#r lea%e and fa%o#r to ret#rn to ,rance* ,rom !hence tho#gh !illingly I came to Denmark, To sho! my d#ty in yo#r coronation, (et no!, I m#st confess, that d#ty done, .y tho#ghts and !ishes +end again to!ard ,rance And +o! them to yo#r gracio#s lea%e and pardon. King Claudius. Ha%e yo# yo#r fathers lea%e? What says Poloni#s? Lord Polonius. He hath, my lord, !r#ng from me my slo! lea%e 'y la+o#rsome petition, and at last 9pon his !ill I seald my hard consent" I do +eseech yo#, gi%e him lea%e to go. King Claudius. Take thy fair ho#r, $aertes* time +e thine, And thy +est graces spend it at thy !ill& '#t no!, my co#sin Hamlet, and my son, 2 Hamlet =aside>. A little more than kin, and less than kind. King Claudius. Ho! is it that the clo#ds still hang on yo#? Hamlet. ot so, my lord* I am too m#ch i the s#n. Queen Gertrude. /ood Hamlet, cast thy nighted colo#r off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not for e%er !ith thy %ailed lids Seek for thy no+le father in the d#st" Tho# kno!st )tis common* all that li%es m#st die, Passing thro#gh nat#re to eternity. Hamlet. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen Gertrude. If it +e, Why seems it so partic#lar !ith thee? Hamlet. Seems, madam& nay it is* I kno! not )seems. )Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, or c#stomary s#its of solemn +lack, or !indy s#spiration of forced +reath, o, nor the fr#itf#l ri%er in the eye, or the de4ected )ha%ior of the %isage, Together !ith all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me tr#ly" these indeed seem, ,or they are actions that a man might play" '#t I ha%e that !ithin !hich passeth sho!* These +#t the trappings and the s#its of !oe. King Claudius. )Tis s!eet and commenda+le in yo#r nat#re, Hamlet, To gi%e these mo#rning d#ties to yo#r father" '#t, yo# m#st kno!, yo#r father lost a father* That father lost, lost his, and the s#r%i%or +o#nd In filial o+ligation for some term To do o+se-#io#s sorro!" +#t to perse%er In o+stinate condolement is a co#rse 0f impio#s st#++ornness* )tis #nmanly grief* It sho!s a !ill most incorrect to hea%en, A heart #nfortified, a mind impatient,

An #nderstanding simple and #nschoold" ,or !hat !e kno! m#st +e and is as common As any the most %#lgar thing to sense, Why sho#ld !e in o#r pee%ish opposition Take it to heart? ,ie& )tis a fa#lt to hea%en, A fa#lt against the dead, a fa#lt to nat#re, To reason most a+s#rd" !hose common theme Is death of fathers, and !ho still hath cried, ,rom the first corse till he that died to1day, )This m#st +e so. We pray yo#, thro! to earth This #npre%ailing !oe, and think of #s As of a father" for let the !orld take note, (o# are the most immediate to o#r throne* And !ith no less no+ility of lo%e Than that !hich dearest father +ears his son, Do I impart to!ard yo#. ,or yo#r intent In going +ack to school in Witten+erg, It is most retrograde to o#r desire" And !e +eseech yo#, +end yo# to remain Here, in the cheer and comfort of o#r eye, 0#r chiefest co#rtier, co#sin, and o#r son. Queen Gertrude. $et not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet" I pray thee, stay !ith #s* go not to Witten+erg. Hamlet. I shall in all my +est o+ey yo#, madam. King Claudius. Why, )tis a lo%ing and a fair reply" 'e as o#rself in Denmark. .adam, come* This gentle and #nforced accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart" in grace !hereof, o 4oc#nd health that Denmark drinks to1day, '#t the great cannon to the clo#ds shall tell, And the kings ro#se the hea%ens all +r#it again, 7e1speaking earthly th#nder. 6ome a!ay. Exeunt all but Hamlet. Hamlet. 0, that this too too solid flesh !o#ld melt Tha! and resol%e itself into a de!& 0r that the :%erlasting had not fi;d His canon )gainst self1sla#ghter& 0 /od& /od& Ho! !eary, stale, flat and #nprofita+le, Seem to me all the #ses of this !orld& ,ie ont& ah fie& )tis an #n!eeded garden, That gro!s to seed* things rank and gross in nat#re Possess it merely. That it sho#ld come to this& '#t t!o months dead" nay, not so m#ch, not t!o" So e;cellent a king* that !as, to this, Hyperion to a satyr* so lo%ing to my mother That he might not +eteem the !inds of hea%en <isit her face too ro#ghly. Hea%en and earth& .#st I remem+er? !hy, she !o#ld hang on him, As if increase of appetite had gro!n 'y !hat it fed on" and yet, !ithin a month 2 $et me not think ont 2 ,railty, thy name is !oman& 2 A little month, or ere those shoes !ere old With !hich she follo!d my poor fathers +ody,

$ike io+e, all tears" 2 !hy she, e%en she 2 0, /od& a +east, that !ants disco#rse of reason, Wo#ld ha%e mo#rnd longer 2 married !ith my #ncle, .y fathers +rother, +#t no more like my father Than I to Herc#les" !ithin a month" :re yet the salt of most #nrighteo#s tears Had left the fl#shing in her galled eyes, She married. 0, most !icked speed, to post With s#ch de;terity to incest#o#s sheets& It is not nor it cannot come to good" '#t +reak, my heart* for I m#st hold my tong#e. Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo. Horatio. Hail to yo#r lordship& Hamlet. I am glad to see yo# !ell" Horatio, 2 or I do forget myself. Horatio. The same, my lord, and yo#r poor ser%ant e%er. Hamlet. Sir, my good friend* Ill change that name !ith yo#" And !hat make yo# from Witten+erg, Horatio? .arcell#s? Marcellus. .y good lord 2 Hamlet. I am %ery glad to see yo#. /ood e%en, sir. '#t !hat, in faith, make yo# from Witten+erg? Horatio. A tr#ant disposition, good my lord. Hamlet. I !o#ld not hear yo#r enemy say so, or shall yo# do mine ear that %iolence, To make it tr#ster of yo#r o!n report Against yo#rself" I kno! yo# are no tr#ant. '#t !hat is yo#r affair in :lsinore? Well teach yo# to drink deep ere yo# depart. Horatio. .y lord, I came to see yo#r fathers f#neral. Hamlet. I pray thee, do not mock me, fello!1st#dent* I think it !as to see my mothers !edding. Horatio. Indeed, my lord, it follo!d hard #pon. Hamlet. Thrift, thrift, Horatio& the f#neral +aked meats Did coldly f#rnish forth the marriage ta+les. Wo#ld I had met my dearest foe in hea%en 0r e%er I had seen that day, Horatio& .y father& 2 methinks I see my father. Horatio. Where, my lord? Hamlet. In my minds eye, Horatio. Horatio. I sa! him once* he !as a goodly king. Hamlet. He !as a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look #pon his like again. Horatio. .y lord, I think I sa! him yesternight. Hamlet. Sa!? !ho? Horatio. .y lord, the king yo#r father. Hamlet. The king my father& Horatio. Season yo#r admiration for a!hile With an attent ear, till I may deli%er, 9pon the !itness of these gentlemen, This mar%el to yo#. Hamlet. ,or /ods lo%e, let me hear.

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Horatio. T!o nights together had these gentlemen, .arcell#s and 'ernardo, on their !atch, In the dead %ast and middle of the night, 'een th#s enco#nterd. A fig#re like yo#r father, Armed at point e;actly, cap1a1pe, Appears +efore them, and !ith solemn march /oes slo! and stately +y them" thrice he !alkd 'y their oppressd and fear1s#rprised eyes, Within his tr#ncheons length* !hilst they, distilled Almost to 4elly !ith the act of fear, Stand d#m+ and speak not to him. This to me In dreadf#l secrecy impart they did* And I !ith them the third night kept the !atch* Where, as they had deli%erd, +oth in time, ,orm of the thing, each !ord made tr#e and good, The apparition comes" I kne! yo#r father* These hands are not more like. Hamlet. '#t !here !as this? Marcellus. .y lord, #pon the platform !here !e !atchd. Hamlet. Did yo# not speak to it? Horatio. .y lord, I did* '#t ans!er made it none" yet once metho#ght It lifted #p its head and did address Itself to motion, like as it !o#ld speak* '#t e%en then the morning cock cre! lo#d, And at the so#nd it shr#nk in haste a!ay, And %anishd from o#r sight. Hamlet. )Tis %ery strange. Horatio. As I do li%e, my hono#rd lord, )tis tr#e* And !e did think it !rit do!n in o#r d#ty To let yo# kno! of it. Hamlet. Indeed, indeed, sirs, +#t this tro#+les me. Hold yo# the !atch to1night? Marcellus, Bernardo. We do, my lord. Hamlet. Armd, say yo#? Marcellus, Bernardo. Armd, my lord. Hamlet. ,rom top to toe? Marcellus, Bernardo. .y lord, from head to foot. Hamlet. Then sa! yo# not his face? Horatio. 0, yes, my lord* he !ore his +ea%er #p. Hamlet. What, lookd he fro!ningly? Horatio. A co#ntenance more in sorro! than in anger. Hamlet. Pale or red? Horatio. ay, %ery pale. Hamlet. And fi;d his eyes #pon yo#? Horatio. .ost constantly. Hamlet. I !o#ld I had +een there. Horatio. It !o#ld ha%e m#ch ama5ed yo#. Hamlet. <ery like, %ery like. Stayd it long? Horatio. While one !ith moderate haste might tell a h#ndred. Marcellus, Bernardo. $onger, longer. Horatio. ot !hen I sa!t. Hamlet. His +eard !as gri55led 2 no?

Horatio. It !as, as I ha%e seen it in his life, A sa+le sil%erd. Hamlet. I !ill !atch to1night* Perchance )t!ill !alk again. Horatio. I !arrant it !ill. Hamlet. If it ass#me my no+le fathers person, Ill speak to it, tho#gh hell itself sho#ld gape And +id me hold my peace. I pray yo# all, If yo# ha%e hitherto conceald this sight, $et it +e tena+le in yo#r silence still* And !hatsoe%er else shall hap to1night, /i%e it an #nderstanding, +#t no tong#e" I !ill re-#ite yo#r lo%es. So, fare yo# !ell" 9pon the platform, )t!i;t ele%en and t!el%e, Ill %isit yo#. All. 0#r d#ty to yo#r hono#r. Hamlet. (o#r lo%es, as mine to yo#" fare!ell. Exeunt all but Hamlet. .y fathers spirit in arms& all is not !ell* I do#+t some fo#l play" !o#ld the night !ere come& Till then sit still, my so#l" fo#l deeds !ill rise, Tho#gh all the earth oer!helm them, to mens eyes. Exit. Scene III. Enter Laertes and Ophelia. Laertes. .y necessaries are em+arkd" fare!ell" And, sister, as the !inds gi%e +enefit And con%oy is assistant, do not sleep, '#t let me hear from yo#. Ophelia. Do yo# do#+t that? Laertes. ,or Hamlet and the trifling of his fa%o#r, Hold it a fashion and a toy in +lood, A %iolet in the yo#th of primy nat#re, ,or!ard, not permanent, s!eet, not lasting, The perf#me and s#ppliance of a min#te* o more. Ophelia. o more +#t so? Laertes. Think it no more* ,or nat#re, crescent, does not gro! alone In the!s and +#lk, +#t, as this temple !a;es, The in!ard ser%ice of the mind and so#l /ro!s !ide !ithal. Perhaps he lo%es yo# no!, And no! no soil nor ca#tel doth +esmirch The %irt#e of his !ill" +#t yo# m#st fear, His greatness !eighd, his !ill is not his o!n* ,or he himself is s#+4ect to his +irth" He may not, as #n%al#ed persons do, 6ar%e for himself* for on his choice depends The safety and health of this !hole state* And therefore m#st his choice +e circ#mscri+ed 9nto the %oice and yielding of that +ody Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he lo%es yo#, It fits yo#r !isdom so far to +elie%e it

As he in his partic#lar act and place .ay gi%e his saying deed* !hich is no f#rther Than the main %oice of Denmark goes !ithal. Then !eigh !hat loss yo#r hono#r may s#stain, If !ith too credent ear yo# list his songs, 0r lose yo#r heart, or yo#r chaste treas#re open To his #nmasterd import#nity. ,ear it, 0phelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep yo# in the rear of yo#r affection, 0#t of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal eno#gh, If she #nmask her +ea#ty to the moon" <irt#e itself )scapes not cal#mnio#s strokes" The canker galls the infants of the spring, Too oft +efore their +#ttons +e disclosed, And in the morn and li-#id de! of yo#th 6ontagio#s +lastments are most imminent. 'e !ary then* +est safety lies in fear" (o#th to itself re+els, tho#gh none else near. Ophelia. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, As !atchman to my heart. '#t, good my +rother, Do not, as some #ngracio#s pastors do, Sho! me the steep and thorny !ay to hea%en* Whiles, like a p#ffd and reckless li+ertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, And recks not his o!n rede. Laertes. 0, fear me not. I stay too long" +#t here my father comes. Enter Polonius. A do#+le +lessing is a do#+le grace, 0ccasion smiles #pon a second lea%e. Lord Polonius. (et here, $aertes& a+oard, a+oard, for shame& The !ind sits in the sho#lder of yo#r sail, And yo# are stayd for. There* my +lessing !ith thee& And these fe! precepts in thy memory See tho# character. /i%e thy tho#ghts no tong#e, or any #nproportioned tho#ght his act. 'e tho# familiar, +#t +y no means %#lgar. Those friends tho# hast, and their adoption tried, /rapple them to thy so#l !ith hoops of steel* '#t do not d#ll thy palm !ith entertainment 0f each ne!1hatchd, #nfledged comrade. 'e!are 0f entrance to a -#arrel, +#t +eing in, 'eart that the opposed may +e!are of thee. /i%e e%ery man thy ear, +#t fe! thy %oice* Take each mans cens#re, +#t reser%e thy 4#dgment. 6ostly thy ha+it as thy p#rse can +#y, '#t not e;pressd in fancy* rich, not ga#dy* ,or the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in ,rance of the +est rank and station Are of a most select and genero#s chief in that. either a +orro!er nor a lender +e* ,or loan oft loses +oth itself and friend,

And +orro!ing d#lls the edge of h#s+andry. This a+o%e all" to thine o!nself +e tr#e, And it m#st follo!, as the night the day, Tho# canst not then +e false to any man. ,are!ell" my +lessing season this in thee& Laertes. .ost h#m+ly do I take my lea%e, my lord. Lord Polonius. The time in%ites yo#* go* yo#r ser%ants tend. Laertes. ,are!ell, 0phelia* and remem+er !ell What I ha%e said to yo#. Ophelia. )Tis in my memory lockd, And yo# yo#rself shall keep the key of it. Laertes. ,are!ell. Exit. Lord Polonius. What ist, 0phelia, +e hath said to yo#? Ophelia. So please yo#, something to#ching the $ord Hamlet. Lord Polonius. .arry, !ell +etho#ght" )Tis told me, he hath %ery oft of late /i%en pri%ate time to yo#* and yo# yo#rself Ha%e of yo#r a#dience +een most free and +o#nteo#s" If it +e so, as so )tis p#t on me, And that in !ay of ca#tion, I m#st tell yo#, (o# do not #nderstand yo#rself so clearly As it +eho%es my da#ghter and yo#r hono#r. What is +et!een yo#? gi%e me #p the tr#th. Ophelia. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders 0f his affection to me. Lord Polonius. Affection& pooh& yo# speak like a green girl, 9nsifted in s#ch perilo#s circ#mstance. Do yo# +elie%e his tenders, as yo# call them? Ophelia. I do not kno!, my lord, !hat I sho#ld think. Lord Polonius. .arry, Ill teach yo#" think yo#rself a +a+y* That yo# ha%e taen these tenders for tr#e pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yo#rself more dearly* 0r 2 not to crack the !ind of the poor phrase, 7#nning it th#s 2 yo#ll tender me a fool. Ophelia. .y lord, he hath import#ned me !ith lo%e In hono#ra+le fashion. Lord Polonius. Ay, fashion yo# may call it* go to, go to. Ophelia. And hath gi%en co#ntenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy %o!s of hea%en. Lord Polonius. Ay, springes to catch !oodcocks. I do kno!, When the +lood +#rns, ho! prodigal the so#l $ends the tong#e %o!s" these +la5es, da#ghter, /i%ing more light than heat, e;tinct in +oth, :%en in their promise, as it is a1making, (o# m#st not take for fire. ,rom this time

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

'e some!hat scanter of yo#r maiden presence* Set yo#r entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. ,or $ord Hamlet, 'elie%e so m#ch in him, that he is yo#ng And !ith a larger tether may he !alk Than may +e gi%en yo#" in fe!, 0phelia, Do not +elie%e his %o!s* for they are +rokers, ot of that dye !hich their in%estments sho!, '#t mere implorators of #nholy s#its, 'reathing like sanctified and pio#s +a!ds, The +etter to +eg#ile. This is for all" I !o#ld not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Ha%e yo# so slander any moment leis#re, As to gi%e !ords or talk !ith the $ord Hamlet. $ook tot, I charge yo#" come yo#r !ays. Ophelia. I shall o+ey, my lord. Exeunt.

The form of pla#si%e manners, that these men, 6arrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, 'eing nat#res li%ery, or fort#nes star, 2 Their %irt#es else 2 +e they as p#re as grace, As infinite as man may #ndergo 2 Shall in the general cens#re take corr#ption ,rom that partic#lar fa#lt" the dram of eale Doth all the no+le s#+stance of a do#+t To his o!n scandal. Horatio. $ook, my lord, it comes& Enter Ghost. Hamlet. Angels and ministers of grace defend #s& 'e tho# a spirit of health or go+lin damnd, 'ring !ith thee airs from hea%en or +lasts from hell, 'e thy intents !icked or charita+le, Tho# comest in s#ch a -#estiona+le shape That I !ill speak to thee" Ill call thee Hamlet, ?ing, father, royal Dane" 0, ans!er me& Scene I<. $et me not +#rst in ignorance* +#t tell Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. Why thy canoni5ed +ones, hearsed in death, Hamlet. The air +ites shre!dly* it is %ery cold. Ha%e +#rst their cerements* !hy the sep#lchre, Horatio. It is a nipping and an eager air. Wherein !e sa! thee -#ietly in#rnd, Hamlet. What ho#r no!? Hath oped his pondero#s and mar+le 4a!s, Horatio. I think it lacks of t!el%e. To cast thee #p again. What may this mean, Hamlet. o, it is str#ck. That tho#, dead corse, again in complete steel Horatio. Indeed? I heard it not" then it dra!s near the 7e%isitst th#s the glimpses of the moon, season .aking night hideo#s* and !e fools of nat#re Wherein the spirit held his !ont to !alk. So horridly to shake o#r disposition A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot With tho#ghts +eyond the reaches of o#r so#ls? off, within. Say, !hy is this? !herefore? !hat sho#ld !e do? What does this mean, my lord? Ghost beckons Hamlet. Hamlet. The king doth !ake to1night and takes his Horatio. It +eckons yo# to go a!ay !ith it, ro#se, As if it some impartment did desire ?eeps !assail, and the s!aggering #p1spring reels* To yo# alone. And, as he drains his dra#ghts of 7henish do!n, Marcellus. $ook, !ith !hat co#rteo#s action The kettle1dr#m and tr#mpet th#s +ray o#t It !a%es yo# to a more remo%ed gro#nd" The tri#mph of his pledge. '#t do not go !ith it. Horatio. Is it a c#stom? Horatio. o, +y no means. Hamlet. Ay, marry, ist" Hamlet. It !ill not speak* then I !ill follo! it. '#t to my mind, tho#gh I am nati%e here Horatio. Do not, my lord. And to the manner +orn, it is a c#stom Hamlet. Why, !hat sho#ld +e the fear? .ore hono#rd in the +reach than the o+ser%ance. I do not set my life in a pins fee* This hea%y1headed re%el east and !est And for my so#l, !hat can it do to that, .akes #s trad#ced and ta;d of other nations" 'eing a thing immortal as itself? They clepe #s dr#nkards, and !ith s!inish phrase It !a%es me forth again" Ill follo! it. Soil o#r addition* and indeed it takes Horatio. What if it tempt yo# to!ard the flood, my ,rom o#r achie%ements, tho#gh performd at height, lord, The pith and marro! of o#r attri+#te. 0r to the dreadf#l s#mmit of the cliff So, oft it chances in partic#lar men, That +eetles oer his +ase into the sea, That for some %icio#s mole of nat#re in them, And there ass#me some other horri+le form, As, in their +irth 2 !herein they are not g#ilty, Which might depri%e yo#r so%ereignty of reason Since nat#re cannot choose his origin 2 And dra! yo# into madness? think of it" 'y the oergro!th of some comple;ion, The %ery place p#ts toys of desperation, 0ft +reaking do!n the pales and forts of reason, Witho#t more moti%e, into e%ery +rain 0r +y some ha+it that too m#ch oer1lea%ens That looks so many fathoms to the sea

And hears it roar +eneath. Hamlet. It !a%es me still. /o on* Ill follo! thee. Marcellus. (o# shall not go, my lord. Hamlet. Hold off yo#r hands. Horatio. 'e r#led* yo# shall not go. Hamlet. .y fate cries o#t, And makes each petty artery in this +ody As hardy as the emean lions ner%e. Still am I calld. 9nhand me, gentlemen. 'y hea%en, Ill make a ghost of him that lets me& I say, a!ay& /o on* Ill follo! thee. Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. Horatio. He !a;es desperate !ith imagination. Marcellus. $ets follo!* )tis not fit th#s to o+ey him. Horatio. Ha%e after. To !hat iss#e !ill this come? Marcellus. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Horatio. Hea%en !ill direct it. Marcellus. ay, lets follo! him. Exeunt. Scene <. Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Hamlet. Where !ilt tho# lead me? speak* Ill go no f#rther. Ghost. .ark me. Hamlet. I !ill. Ghost. .y ho#r is almost come, When I to s#lph#ro#s and tormenting flames .#st render #p myself. Hamlet. Alas, poor ghost& Ghost. Pity me not, +#t lend thy serio#s hearing To !hat I shall #nfold. Hamlet. Speak* I am +o#nd to hear. Ghost. So art tho# to re%enge, !hen tho# shalt hear. Hamlet. What? Ghost. I am thy fathers spirit, Doomd for a certain term to !alk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires, Till the fo#l crimes done in my days of nat#re Are +#rnt and p#rged a!ay. '#t that I am for+id To tell the secrets of my prison1ho#se, I co#ld a tale #nfold !hose lightest !ord Wo#ld harro! #p thy so#l, free5e thy yo#ng +lood, .ake thy t!o eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, Thy knotted and com+ined locks to part And each partic#lar hair to stand on end, $ike -#ills #pon the fretf#l porpentine" '#t this eternal +la5on m#st not +e To ears of flesh and +lood. $ist, list, 0, list& If tho# didst e%er thy dear father lo%e 2 Hamlet. 0 /od& Ghost. 7e%enge his fo#l and most #nnat#ral m#rder.

Hamlet. .#rder& Ghost. .#rder most fo#l, as in the +est it is* '#t this most fo#l, strange and #nnat#ral. Hamlet. Haste me to kno!t, that I, !ith !ings as s!ift As meditation or the tho#ghts of lo%e, .ay s!eep to my re%enge. Ghost. I find thee apt* And d#ller sho#ldst tho# +e than the fat !eed That roots itself in ease on $ethe !harf, Wo#ldst tho# not stir in this. o!, Hamlet, hear" )Tis gi%en o#t that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent st#ng me* so the !hole ear of Denmark Is +y a forged process of my death 7ankly a+#sed" +#t kno!, tho# no+le yo#th, The serpent that did sting thy fathers life o! !ears his cro!n. Hamlet. 0 my prophetic so#l& .y #ncle& Ghost. Ay, that incest#o#s, that ad#lterate +east, With !itchcraft of his !it, !ith traitoro#s gifts, 2 0 !icked !it and gifts, that ha%e the po!er So to sed#ce& 2 !on to his shamef#l l#st The !ill of my most seeming1%irt#o#s -#een" 0 Hamlet, !hat a falling1off !as there& ,rom me, !hose lo%e !as of that dignity That it !ent hand in hand e%en !ith the %o! I made to her in marriage, and to decline 9pon a !retch !hose nat#ral gifts !ere poor To those of mine& '#t %irt#e, as it ne%er !ill +e mo%ed, Tho#gh le!dness co#rt it in a shape of hea%en, So l#st, tho#gh to a radiant angel linkd, Will sate itself in a celestial +ed, And prey on gar+age. '#t, soft& methinks I scent the morning air* 'rief let me +e. Sleeping !ithin my orchard, .y c#stom al!ays of the afternoon, 9pon my sec#re ho#r thy #ncle stole, With 4#ice of c#rsed he+enon in a %ial, And in the porches of my ears did po#r The lepero#s distilment* !hose effect Holds s#ch an enmity !ith +lood of man That s!ift as -#icksil%er it co#rses thro#gh The nat#ral gates and alleys of the +ody, And !ith a s#dden %igo#r doth posset And c#rd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and !holesome +lood" so did it mine* And a most instant tetter +arkd a+o#t, .ost la5ar1like, !ith %ile and loathsome cr#st, All my smooth +ody. Th#s !as I, sleeping, +y a +rothers hand 0f life, of cro!n, of -#een, at once dispatchd" 6#t off e%en in the +lossoms of my sin, 9nho#seld, disappointed, #naneld, o reckoning made, +#t sent to my acco#nt

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

With all my imperfections on my head" 0, horri+le& 0, horri+le& most horri+le& If tho# hast nat#re in thee, +ear it not* $et not the royal +ed of Denmark +e A co#ch for l#;#ry and damned incest. '#t, ho!soe%er tho# p#rs#est this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy so#l contri%e Against thy mother a#ght" lea%e her to hea%en And to those thorns that in her +osom lodge, To prick and sting her. ,are thee !ell at once& The glo!1!orm sho!s the matin to +e near, And )gins to pale his #neffect#al fire" Adie#, adie#& Hamlet, remem+er me. Exit. Hamlet. 0 all yo# host of hea%en& 0 earth& !hat else? And shall I co#ple hell? 0, fie& Hold, hold, my heart* And yo#, my sine!s, gro! not instant old, '#t +ear me stiffly #p. 7emem+er thee& Ay, tho# poor ghost, !hile memory holds a seat In this distracted glo+e. 7emem+er thee& (ea, from the ta+le of my memory Ill !ipe a!ay all tri%ial fond records, All sa!s of +ooks, all forms, all press#res past, That yo#th and o+ser%ation copied there* And thy commandment all alone shall li%e Within the +ook and %ol#me of my +rain, 9nmi;d !ith +aser matter" yes, +y hea%en& 0 most pernicio#s !oman& 0 %illain, %illain, smiling, damned %illain& .y ta+les, 2 meet it is I set it do!n, That one may smile, and smile, and +e a %illain* At least Im s#re it may +e so in Denmark" Writin . So, #ncle, there yo# are. o! to my !ord* It is )Adie#, adie#& remem+er me. I ha%e s!orn )t. Marcellus, Horatio =within>. .y lord, my lord, 2 Marcellus =within>. $ord Hamlet, 2 Horatio =within>. Hea%en sec#re him& Hamlet. So +e it& Horatio =within>. Hillo, ho, ho, my lord& Hamlet. Hillo, ho, ho, +oy& come, +ird, come. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Marcellus. Ho! ist, my no+le lord? Horatio. What ne!s, my lord? Hamlet. 0, !onderf#l& Horatio. /ood my lord, tell it. Hamlet. o* yo#ll re%eal it. Horatio. ot I, my lord, +y hea%en. Marcellus. or I, my lord. Hamlet. Ho! say yo#, then* !o#ld heart of man once think it? '#t yo#ll +e secret? Horatio Marcellus. Ay, +y hea%en, my lord.

Hamlet. Theres neer a %illain d!elling in all Denmark '#t hes an arrant kna%e. Horatio. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the gra%e To tell #s this. Hamlet. Why, right* yo# are i the right* And so, !itho#t more circ#mstance at all, I hold it fit that !e shake hands and part" (o#, as yo#r +#siness and desire shall point yo#* ,or e%ery man has +#siness and desire, S#ch as it is* and for mine o!n poor part, $ook yo#, Ill go pray. Horatio. These are +#t !ild and !hirling !ords, my lord. Hamlet. Im sorry they offend yo#, heartily* (es, )faith heartily. Horatio. Theres no offence, my lord. Hamlet. (es, +y Saint Patrick, +#t there is, Horatio, And m#ch offence too. To#ching this %ision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell yo#" ,or yo#r desire to kno! !hat is +et!een #s, 0ermaster )t as yo# may. And no!, good friends, As yo# are friends, scholars and soldiers, /i%e me one poor re-#est. Horatio. What ist, my lord? !e !ill. Hamlet. e%er make kno!n !hat yo# ha%e seen to1 night. Horatio Marcellus. .y lord, !e !ill not. Hamlet. ay, +#t s!eart. Horatio. In faith, .y lord, not I. Marcellus. or I, my lord, in faith. Hamlet. 9pon my s!ord. Marcellus. We ha%e s!orn, my lord, already. Hamlet. Indeed, #pon my s!ord, indeed. Ghost =beneath>. S!ear. Hamlet. Ah, ha, +oy& sayst tho# so? art tho# there, tr#epenny? 6ome on 2 yo# hear this fello! in the cellarage 2 6onsent to s!ear. Horatio. Propose the oath, my lord. Hamlet. e%er to speak of this that yo# ha%e seen, S!ear +y my s!ord. Ghost =beneath>. S!ear. Hamlet. Hic et #+i-#e? then !ell shift o#r gro#nd. 6ome hither, gentlemen, And lay yo#r hands again #pon my s!ord" e%er to speak of this that yo# ha%e heard, S!ear +y my s!ord. Ghost =beneath>. S!ear. Hamlet. Well said, old mole& canst !ork i the earth so fast? A !orthy pioner& 0nce more remo%e, good friends. Horatio. 0 day and night, +#t this is !ondro#s

strange& Hamlet. And therefore as a stranger gi%e it !elcome. There are more things in hea%en and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in yo#r philosophy. '#t come* Here, as +efore, ne%er, so help yo# mercy, Ho! strange or odd soeer I +ear myself, As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To p#t an antic disposition on, That yo#, at s#ch times seeing me, ne%er shall, With arms enc#m+erd th#s, or this headshake, 0r +y prono#ncing of some do#+tf#l phrase, As )Well, !ell, !e kno!, or )We co#ld, an if !e !o#ld, 0r )If !e list to speak, or )There +e, an if they might, 0r s#ch am+ig#o#s gi%ing o#t, to note That yo# kno! a#ght of me" this not to do, So grace and mercy at yo#r most need help yo#, S!ear. Ghost =beneath>. S!ear. Hamlet. 7est, rest, pert#r+ed spirit& !he" swear. So, gentlemen, With all my lo%e I do commend me to yo#" And !hat so poor a man as Hamlet is .ay do, to e;press his lo%e and friending to yo#, /od !illing, shall not lack. $et #s go in together* And still yo#r fingers on yo#r lips, I pray. The time is o#t of 4oint" 0 c#rsed spite, That e%er I !as +orn to set it right& ay, come, lets go together. Exeunt.

And in part him" ) do yo# mark this, 7eynaldo? Reynaldo. Ay, %ery !ell, my lord. Lord Polonius. )And in part him* +#t yo# may say )not !ell" '#t, ift +e he I mean, hes %ery !ild* Addicted so and so" and there p#t on him What forgeries yo# please* marry, none so rank As may dishono#r him* take heed of that* '#t, sir, s#ch !anton, !ild and #s#al slips As are companions noted and most kno!n To yo#th and li+erty. Reynaldo. As gaming, my lord. Lord Polonius. Ay, or drinking, fencing, s!earing, -#arrelling, Dra++ing" yo# may go so far. Reynaldo. .y lord, that !o#ld dishono#r him. Lord Polonius. ),aith, no* as yo# may season it in the charge (o# m#st not p#t another scandal on him, That he is open to incontinency* Thats not my meaning" +#t +reathe his fa#lts so -#aintly That they may seem the taints of li+erty, The flash and o#t+reak of a fiery mind, A sa%ageness in #nreclaimed +lood, 0f general assa#lt. Reynaldo. '#t, my good lord, 2 Lord Polonius. Wherefore sho#ld yo# do this? Reynaldo. Ay, my lord, I !o#ld kno! that. Lord Polonius. .arry, sir, heres my drift* And I +elie%e, it is a fetch of !it" (o# laying these slight s#llies on my son, Act II. Scene I. As )t!ere a thing a little soild i the !orking, .ark Enter Polonius and Reynaldo. yo#, Lord Polonius. /i%e him this money and these notes, (o#r party in con%erse, him yo# !o#ld so#nd, 7eynaldo. Ha%ing e%er seen in the prenominate crimes Reynaldo. I !ill, my lord. The yo#th yo# +reathe of g#ilty, +e ass#red Lord Polonius. (o# shall do mar%ello#s !isely, good He closes !ith yo# in this conse-#ence* 7eynaldo, )/ood sir, or so, or )friend, or )gentleman, 'efore yo# %isit him, to make in-#ire According to the phrase or the addition 0f his +eha%ior. 0f man and co#ntry. Reynaldo. .y lord, I did intend it. Reynaldo. <ery good, my lord. Lord Polonius. .arry, !ell said* %ery !ell said. $ook Lord Polonius. And then, sir, does he this 2 he does 2 yo#, sir, !hat !as I In-#ire me first !hat Danskers are in Paris* a+o#t to say? 'y the mass, I !as a+o#t to say And ho!, and !ho, !hat means, and !here they something" !here did I lea%e? keep, Reynaldo. At )closes in the conse-#ence, at )friend or What company, at !hat e;pense* and finding so, 'y this encompassment and drift of -#estion and )gentleman. That they do kno! my son, come yo# more nearer Lord Polonius. At )closes in the conse-#ence, ay, Than yo#r partic#lar demands !ill to#ch it" marry* Take yo#, as )t!ere, some distant kno!ledge of He closes th#s" )I kno! the gentleman* him* I sa! him yesterday, or t other day, As th#s, )I kno! his father and his friends, 0r then, or then* !ith s#ch, or s#ch* and, as yo# say,

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

There !as a gaming* there oertook ins ro#se* There falling o#t at tennis" or perchance, )I sa! him enter s#ch a ho#se of sale, <idelicet, a +rothel, or so forth. See yo# no!* (o#r +ait of falsehood takes this carp of tr#th" And th#s do !e of !isdom and of reach, With !indlasses and !ith assays of +ias, 'y indirections find directions o#t" So +y my former lect#re and ad%ice, Shall yo# my son. (o# ha%e me, ha%e yo# not? Reynaldo. .y lord, I ha%e. Lord Polonius. /od +e !i yo#* fare yo# !ell. Reynaldo. /ood my lord& Lord Polonius. 0+ser%e his inclination in yo#rself. Reynaldo. I shall, my lord. Lord Polonius. And let him ply his m#sic. Reynaldo. Well, my lord. Lord Polonius. ,are!ell& Exit Reynaldo. Enter Ophelia. Ho! no!, 0phelia& !hats the matter? Ophelia. 0, my lord, my lord, I ha%e +een so affrighted& Lord Polonius. With !hat, i the name of /od? Ophelia. .y lord, as I !as se!ing in my closet, $ord Hamlet, !ith his do#+let all #n+raced* o hat #pon his head* his stockings fo#ld, 9ngarterd, and do!n1gy%ed to his ancle* Pale as his shirt* his knees knocking each other* And !ith a look so piteo#s in p#rport As if he had +een loosed o#t of hell To speak of horrors, 2 he comes +efore me. Lord Polonius. .ad for thy lo%e? Ophelia. .y lord, I do not kno!* '#t tr#ly, I do fear it. Lord Polonius. What said he? Ophelia. He took me +y the !rist and held me hard* Then goes he to the length of all his arm* And, !ith his other hand th#s oer his +ro!, He falls to s#ch per#sal of my face As he !o#ld dra! it. $ong stayd he so* At last, a little shaking of mine arm And thrice his head th#s !a%ing #p and do!n, He raised a sigh so piteo#s and profo#nd As it did seem to shatter all his +#lk And end his +eing" that done, he lets me go" And, !ith his head o%er his sho#lder t#rnd, He seemd to find his !ay !itho#t his eyes* ,or o#t o doors he !ent !itho#t their helps, And, to the last, +ended their light on me. Lord Polonius. 6ome, go !ith me" I !ill go seek the king. This is the %ery ecstasy of lo%e, Whose %iolent property fordoes itself

And leads the !ill to desperate #ndertakings As oft as any passion #nder hea%en That does afflict o#r nat#res. I am sorry. What, ha%e yo# gi%en him any hard !ords of late? Ophelia. o, my good lord, +#t, as yo# did command, I did repel his fetters and denied His access to me. Lord Polonius. That hath made him mad. I am sorry that !ith +etter heed and 4#dgment I had not -#oted him" I feard he did +#t trifle, And meant to !reck thee* +#t, +eshre! my 4ealo#sy& 'y hea%en, it is as proper to o#r age To cast +eyond o#rsel%es in o#r opinions As it is common for the yo#nger sort To lack discretion. 6ome, go !e to the king" This m#st +e kno!n* !hich, +eing kept close, might mo%e .ore grief to hide than hate to #tter lo%e. Exeunt. Scene II. Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Rosencrant , Guildenstern, and Attendants. King Claudius. Welcome, dear 7osencrant5 and /#ildenstern& .oreo%er that !e m#ch did long to see yo#, The need !e ha%e to #se yo# did pro%oke 0#r hasty sending. Something ha%e yo# heard 0f Hamlets transformation* so call it, Sith nor the e;terior nor the in!ard man 7esem+les that it !as. What it sho#ld +e, .ore than his fathers death, that th#s hath p#t him So m#ch from the #nderstanding of himself, I cannot dream of" I entreat yo# +oth, That, +eing of so yo#ng days +ro#ght #p !ith him, And sith so neigh+o#rd to his yo#th and ha%ior, That yo# %o#chsafe yo#r rest here in o#r co#rt Some little time" so +y yo#r companies To dra! him on to pleas#res, and to gather, So m#ch as from occasion yo# may glean, Whether a#ght, to #s #nkno!n, afflicts him th#s, That, opend, lies !ithin o#r remedy. Queen Gertrude. /ood gentlemen, he hath m#ch talkd of yo#* And s#re I am t!o men there are not li%ing To !hom he more adheres. If it !ill please yo# To sho! #s so m#ch gentry and good !ill As to e;pend yo#r time !ith #s a!hile, ,or the s#pply and profit of o#r hope, (o#r %isitation shall recei%e s#ch thanks As fits a kings remem+rance. Rosencrant . 'oth yo#r ma4esties .ight, +y the so%ereign po!er yo# ha%e of #s, P#t yo#r dread pleas#res more into command

Than to entreaty. Guildenstern. '#t !e +oth o+ey, And here gi%e #p o#rsel%es, in the f#ll +ent To lay o#r ser%ice freely at yo#r feet, To +e commanded. King Claudius. Thanks, 7osencrant5 and gentle /#ildenstern. Queen Gertrude. Thanks, /#ildenstern and gentle 7osencrant5" And I +eseech yo# instantly to %isit .y too m#ch changed son. /o, some of yo#, And +ring these gentlemen !here Hamlet is. Guildenstern. Hea%ens make o#r presence and o#r practises Pleasant and helpf#l to him& Queen Gertrude. Ay, amen& Exeunt Rosencrant , Guildenstern, and some Attendants. Enter Polonius. Lord Polonius. The am+assadors from or!ay, my good lord, Are 4oyf#lly ret#rnd. King Claudius. Tho# still hast +een the father of good ne!s. Lord Polonius. Ha%e I, my lord? I ass#re my good liege, I hold my d#ty, as I hold my so#l, 'oth to my /od and to my gracio#s king" And I do think, or else this +rain of mine H#nts not the trail of policy so s#re As it hath #sed to do, that I ha%e fo#nd The %ery ca#se of Hamlets l#nacy. King Claudius. 0, speak of that* that do I long to hear. Lord Polonius. /i%e first admittance to the am+assadors* .y ne!s shall +e the fr#it to that great feast. King Claudius. Thyself do grace to them, and +ring them in. Exit Polonius. He tells me, my dear /ertr#de, he hath fo#nd The head and so#rce of all yo#r sons distemper. Queen Gertrude. I do#+t it is no other +#t the main* His fathers death, and o#r oerhasty marriage. King Claudius. Well, !e shall sift him. Re-enter Polonius, with Voltimand and Cornelius. Welcome, my good friends& Say, <oltimand, !hat from o#r +rother or!ay? Voltimand. .ost fair ret#rn of greetings and desires. 9pon o#r first, he sent o#t to s#ppress His nephe!s le%ies* !hich to him appeard To +e a preparation )gainst the Polack* '#t, +etter lookd into, he tr#ly fo#nd It !as against yo#r highness" !hereat grie%ed, That so his sickness, age and impotence

Was falsely +orne in hand, sends o#t arrests 0n ,ortin+ras* !hich he, in +rief, o+eys* 7ecei%es re+#ke from or!ay, and in fine .akes %o! +efore his #ncle ne%er more To gi%e the assay of arms against yo#r ma4esty. Whereon old or!ay, o%ercome !ith 4oy, /i%es him three tho#sand cro!ns in ann#al fee, And his commission to employ those soldiers, So le%ied as +efore, against the Polack" With an entreaty, herein f#rther sho!n, Gi#in a paper. That it might please yo# to gi%e -#iet pass Thro#gh yo#r dominions for this enterprise, 0n s#ch regards of safety and allo!ance As therein are set do!n. King Claudius. It likes #s !ell* And at o#r more considerd time !ell read, Ans!er, and think #pon this +#siness. .eantime !e thank yo# for yo#r !ell1took la+o#r" /o to yo#r rest* at night !ell feast together" .ost !elcome home& Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius. Lord Polonius. This +#siness is !ell ended. .y liege, and madam, to e;post#late What ma4esty sho#ld +e, !hat d#ty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, Were nothing +#t to !aste night, day and time. Therefore, since +re%ity is the so#l of !it, And tedio#sness the lim+s and o#t!ard flo#rishes, I !ill +e +rief" yo#r no+le son is mad" .ad call I it* for, to define tr#e madness, What ist +#t to +e nothing else +#t mad? '#t let that go. Queen Gertrude. .ore matter, !ith less art. Lord Polonius. .adam, I s!ear I #se no art at all. That he is mad, )tis tr#e" )tis tr#e )tis pity* And pity )tis )tis tr#e" a foolish fig#re* '#t fare!ell it, for I !ill #se no art. .ad let #s grant him, then" and no! remains That !e find o#t the ca#se of this effect, 0r rather say, the ca#se of this defect, ,or this effect defecti%e comes +y ca#se" Th#s it remains, and the remainder th#s. Perpend. I ha%e a da#ghter 2 ha%e !hile she is mine 2 Who, in her d#ty and o+edience, mark, Hath gi%en me this" no! gather, and s#rmise. Reads. )To the celestial and my so#ls idol, the most +ea#tified 0phelia, 2 Thats an ill phrase, a %ile phrase* )+ea#tified is a %ile phrase" +#t yo# shall hear. Th#s" Reads. )In her e;cellent !hite +osom, these, @ c. Queen Gertrude. 6ame this from Hamlet to her? Lord Polonius. /ood madam, stay a!hile* I !ill +e

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

faithf#l. Reads. )Do#+t tho# the stars are fire* Do#+t that the s#n doth mo%e* Do#+t tr#th to +e a liar* '#t ne%er do#+t I lo%e. )0 dear 0phelia, I am ill at these n#m+ers* I ha%e not art to reckon my groans" +#t that I lo%e thee +est, 0 most +est, +elie%e it. Adie#. )Thine e%ermore most dear lady, !hilst this machine is to him, Hamlet. This, in o+edience, hath my da#ghter sho!n me, And more a+o%e, hath his solicitings, As they fell o#t +y time, +y means and place, All gi%en to mine ear. King Claudius. '#t ho! hath she 7ecei%ed his lo%e? Lord Polonius. What do yo# think of me? King Claudius. As of a man faithf#l and hono#ra+le. Lord Polonius. I !o#ld fain pro%e so. '#t !hat might yo# think, When I had seen this hot lo%e on the !ing 2 As I percei%ed it, I m#st tell yo# that, 'efore my da#ghter told me 2 !hat might yo#, 0r my dear ma4esty yo#r -#een here, think, If I had playd the desk or ta+le1+ook, 0r gi%en my heart a !inking, m#te and d#m+, 0r lookd #pon this lo%e !ith idle sight* What might yo# think? o, I !ent ro#nd to !ork, And my yo#ng mistress th#s I did +espeak" )$ord Hamlet is a prince, o#t of thy star* This m#st not +e" and then I precepts ga%e her, That she sho#ld lock herself from his resort, Admit no messengers, recei%e no tokens. Which done, she took the fr#its of my ad%ice* And he, rep#lsed 2 a short tale to make 2 ,ell into a sadness, then into a fast, Thence to a !atch, thence into a !eakness, Thence to a lightness, and, +y this declension, Into the madness !herein no! he ra%es, And all !e mo#rn for. King Claudius. Do yo# think )tis this? Queen Gertrude. It may +e, %ery likely. Lord Polonius. Hath there +een s#ch a time 2 Id fain kno! that 2 That I ha%e positi%ely said )Tis so, When it pro%ed other!ise? King Claudius. ot that I kno!. Lord Polonius =pointin to his head and shoulder>. Take this from this, if this +e other!ise" If circ#mstances lead me, I !ill find Where tr#th is hid, tho#gh it !ere hid indeed Within the centre. King Claudius. Ho! may !e try it f#rther? Lord Polonius. (o# kno!, sometimes he !alks fo#r

ho#rs together Here in the lo++y. Queen Gertrude. So he does indeed. Lord Polonius. At s#ch a time Ill loose my da#ghter to him" 'e yo# and I +ehind an arras then* .ark the enco#nter" if he lo%e her not And +e not from his reason falln thereon, $et me +e no assistant for a state, '#t keep a farm and carters. King Claudius. We !ill try it. Queen Gertrude. '#t, look, !here sadly the poor !retch comes reading. Lord Polonius. A!ay, I do +eseech yo#, +oth a!ay" Ill +oard him presently. Exeunt King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Attendants. Enter Hamlet, readin . 0, gi%e me lea%e" Ho! does my good $ord Hamlet? Hamlet. Well, /od1a1mercy. Lord Polonius. Do yo# kno! me, my lord? Hamlet. :;cellent !ell* yo# are a fishmonger. Lord Polonius. ot I, my lord. Hamlet. Then I !o#ld yo# !ere so honest a man. Lord Polonius. Honest, my lord& Hamlet. Ay, sir* to +e honest, as this !orld goes, is to +e one man picked o#t of ten tho#sand. Lord Polonius. Thats %ery tr#e, my lord. Hamlet. ,or if the s#n +reed maggots in a dead dog, +eing a god kissing carrion, 2 Ha%e yo# a da#ghter? Lord Polonius. I ha%e, my lord. Hamlet. $et her not !alk i the s#n" conception is a +lessing" +#t not as yo#r da#ghter may concei%e. ,riend, look to )t. Lord Polonius =aside>. Ho! say yo# +y that? Still harping on my da#ghter" yet he kne! me not at first* he said I !as a fishmonger" he is far gone, far gone" and tr#ly in my yo#th I s#ffered m#ch e;tremity for lo%e* %ery near this. Ill speak to him again. What do yo# read, my lord? Hamlet. Words, !ords, !ords. Lord Polonius. What is the matter, my lord? Hamlet. 'et!een !ho? Lord Polonius. I mean, the matter that yo# read, my lord. Hamlet. Slanders, sir" for the satirical rog#e says here that old men ha%e grey +eards, that their faces are !rinkled, their eyes p#rging thick am+er and pl#m1tree g#m and that they ha%e a plentif#l lack of !it, together !ith most !eak hams" all !hich, sir, tho#gh I most po!erf#lly and potently +elie%e, yet

I hold it not honesty to ha%e it th#s set do!n, for yo#rself, sir, sho#ld +e old as I am, if like a cra+ yo# co#ld go +ack!ard. Lord Polonius =aside>. Tho#gh this +e madness, yet there is method in )t. Will yo# !alk o#t of the air, my lord? Hamlet. Into my gra%e. Lord Polonius. Indeed, that is o#t o the air. =Aside>. Ho! pregnant sometimes his replies are& a happiness that often madness hits on, !hich reason and sanity co#ld not so prospero#sly +e deli%ered of. I !ill lea%e him, and s#ddenly contri%e the means of meeting +et!een him and my da#ghter. 2 .y hono#ra+le lord, I !ill most h#m+ly take my lea%e of yo#. Hamlet. (o# cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I !ill more !illingly part !ithal" e;cept my life, e;cept my life, e;cept my life. Lord Polonius. ,are yo# !ell, my lord. Hamlet. These tedio#s old fools& Enter Rosencrant and Guildenstern. Lord Polonius. (o# go to seek the $ord Hamlet* there he is. Rosencrant =to $olonius>. /od sa%e yo#, sir& Exit Polonius. Guildenstern. .y hono#red lord& Rosencrant . .y most dear lord& Hamlet. .y e;cellent good friends& Ho! dost tho#, /#ildenstern? Ah, 7osencrant5& /ood lads, ho! do ye +oth? Rosencrant . As the indifferent children of the earth. Guildenstern. Happy, in that !e are not o%er1happy* 0n fort#nes cap !e are not the %ery +#tton. Hamlet. or the soles of her shoe? Rosencrant . either, my lord. Hamlet. Then yo# li%e a+o#t her !aist, or in the middle of her fa%o#rs? Guildenstern. ),aith, her pri%ates !e. Hamlet. In the secret parts of fort#ne? 0, most tr#e* she is a str#mpet. Whats the ne!s? Rosencrant . one, my lord, +#t that the !orlds gro!n honest. Hamlet. Then is doomsday near" +#t yo#r ne!s is not tr#e. $et me -#estion more in partic#lar" !hat ha%e yo#, my good friends, deser%ed at the hands of fort#ne, that she sends yo# to prison hither? Guildenstern. Prison, my lord& Hamlet. Denmarks a prison. Rosencrant . Then is the !orld one. Hamlet. A goodly one* in !hich there are many

confines, !ards and d#ngeons, Denmark +eing one o the !orst. Rosencrant . We think not so, my lord. Hamlet. Why, then, )tis none to yo#* for there is nothing either good or +ad, +#t thinking makes it so" to me it is a prison. Rosencrant . Why then, yo#r am+ition makes it one* )tis too narro! for yo#r mind. Hamlet. 0 /od, I co#ld +e +o#nded in a n#t shell and co#nt myself a king of infinite space, !ere it not that I ha%e +ad dreams. Guildenstern. Which dreams indeed are am+ition, for the %ery s#+stance of the am+itio#s is merely the shado! of a dream. Hamlet. A dream itself is +#t a shado!. Rosencrant . Tr#ly, and I hold am+ition of so airy and light a -#ality that it is +#t a shado!s shado!. Hamlet. Then are o#r +eggars +odies, and o#r monarchs and o#tstretched heroes the +eggars shado!s. Shall !e to the co#rt? for, +y my fay, I cannot reason. Rosencrant , Guildenstern. Well !ait #pon yo#. Hamlet. o s#ch matter" I !ill not sort yo# !ith the rest of my ser%ants, for, to speak to yo# like an honest man, I am most dreadf#lly attended. '#t, in the +eaten !ay of friendship, !hat make yo# at :lsinore? Rosencrant . To %isit yo#, my lord* no other occasion. Hamlet. 'eggar that I am, I am e%en poor in thanks* +#t I thank yo#" and s#re, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were yo# not sent for? Is it yo#r o!n inclining? Is it a free %isitation? 6ome, deal 4#stly !ith me" come, come* nay, speak. Guildenstern. What sho#ld !e say, my lord? Hamlet. Why, any thing, +#t to the p#rpose. (o# !ere sent for* and there is a kind of confession in yo#r looks !hich yo#r modesties ha%e not craft eno#gh to colo#r" I kno! the good king and -#een ha%e sent for yo#. Rosencrant . To !hat end, my lord? Hamlet. That yo# m#st teach me. '#t let me con4#re yo#, +y the rights of o#r fello!ship, +y the consonancy of o#r yo#th, +y the o+ligation of o#r e%er1preser%ed lo%e, and +y !hat more dear a +etter proposer co#ld charge yo# !ithal, +e e%en and direct !ith me,

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

!hether yo# !ere sent for, or no? Rosencrant =aside to Guildenstern>. What say yo#? Hamlet =aside>. ay, then, I ha%e an eye of yo#. 2 If yo# lo%e me, hold not off. Guildenstern. .y lord, !e !ere sent for. Hamlet. I !ill tell yo# !hy* so shall my anticipation pre%ent yo#r disco%ery, and yo#r secrecy to the king and -#een mo#lt no feather. I ha%e of late 2 +#t !herefore I kno! not 2 lost all my mirth, forgone all c#stom of e;ercises* and indeed it goes so hea%ily !ith my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most e;cellent canopy, the air, look yo#, this +ra%e oerhanging firmament, this ma4estical roof fretted !ith golden fire, !hy, it appears no other thing to me than a fo#l and pestilent congregation of %apo#rs. What a piece of !ork is a man& ho! no+le in reason& ho! infinite in fac#lty& in form and mo%ing ho! e;press and admira+le& in action ho! like an angel& in apprehension ho! like a god& the +ea#ty of the !orld& the paragon of animals& And yet, to me, !hat is this -#intessence of d#st? man delights not me" no, nor !oman neither, tho#gh +y yo#r smiling yo# seem to say so. Rosencrant . .y lord, there !as no s#ch st#ff in my tho#ghts. Hamlet. Why did yo# la#gh then, !hen I said )man delights not me? Rosencrant . To think, my lord, if yo# delight not in man, !hat lenten entertainment the players shall recei%e from yo#" !e coted them on the !ay* and hither are they coming, to offer yo# ser%ice. Hamlet. He that plays the king shall +e !elcome* his ma4esty shall ha%e tri+#te of me* the ad%ent#ro#s knight shall #se his foil and target* the lo%er shall not sigh gratis* the h#mo#ro#s man shall end his part in peace* the clo!n shall make those la#gh !hose l#ngs are tickled o the sere* and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the +lank %erse shall halt fort. What players are they? Rosencrant . :%en those yo# !ere !ont to take delight in, the tragedians of the city. Hamlet. Ho! chances it they tra%el? their residence, +oth in rep#tation and profit, !as +etter +oth !ays. Rosencrant . I think their inhi+ition comes +y the means of the late inno%ation.

Hamlet. Do they hold the same estimation they did !hen I !as in the city? are they so follo!ed? Rosencrant . o, indeed, are they not. Hamlet. Ho! comes it? do they gro! r#sty? Rosencrant . ay, their endea%o#r keeps in the !onted pace" +#t there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases, that cry o#t on the top of -#estion, and are most tyrannically clapped fort" these are no! the fashion, and so +erattle the common stages 2 so they call them 2 that many !earing rapiers are afraid of goose1-#ills and dare scarce come thither. Hamlet. What, are they children? !ho maintains )em? ho! are they escoted? Will they p#rs#e the -#ality no longer than they can sing? !ill they not say after!ards, if they sho#ld gro! themsel%es to common players 2 as it is most like, if their means are no +etter 2 their !riters do them !rong, to make them e;claim against their o!n s#ccession? Rosencrant . ),aith, there has +een m#ch to do on +oth sides* and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to contro%ersy" there !as, for a !hile, no money +id for arg#ment, #nless the poet and the player !ent to c#ffs in the -#estion. Hamlet. Ist possi+le? Guildenstern. 0, there has +een m#ch thro!ing a+o#t of +rains. Hamlet. Do the +oys carry it a!ay? Rosencrant . Ay, that they do, my lord* Herc#les and his load too. Hamlet. It is not %ery strange* for mine #ncle is king of Denmark, and those that !o#ld make mo!s at him !hile my father li%ed, gi%e t!enty, forty, fifty, an h#ndred d#cats a1piece for his pict#re in little. )S+lood, there is something in this more than nat#ral, if philosophy co#ld find it o#t. %lourish of trumpets within. Guildenstern. There are the players. Hamlet. /entlemen, yo# are !elcome to :lsinore. (o#r hands, come then" the app#rtenance of !elcome is fashion and ceremony" let me comply !ith yo# in this gar+, lest my e;tent to the players, !hich, I tell yo#, m#st sho! fairly o#t!ard, sho#ld more appear like entertainment than yo#rs. (o# are !elcome" +#t my #ncle1father and a#nt1mother are decei%ed. Guildenstern. In !hat, my dear lord? Hamlet. I am +#t mad north1north1!est" !hen the !ind is

so#therly I kno! a ha!k from a handsa!. Enter Polonius. Lord Polonius. Well +e !ith yo#, gentlemen& Hamlet. Hark yo#, /#ildenstern* and yo# too" at each ear a hearer" that great +a+y yo# see there is not yet o#t of his s!addling1clo#ts. Rosencrant . Happily hes the second time come to them* for they say an old man is t!ice a child. Hamlet. I !ill prophesy he comes to tell me of the players* mark it. (o# say right, sir" o .onday morning* )t!as so indeed. Lord Polonius. .y lord, I ha%e ne!s to tell yo#. Hamlet. .y lord, I ha%e ne!s to tell yo#. When 7osci#s !as an actor in 7ome, 2 Lord Polonius. The actors are come hither, my lord. Hamlet. '#5, +#5& Lord Polonius. 9pon mine hono#r, 2 Hamlet. Then came each actor on his ass, 2 Lord Polonius. The +est actors in the !orld, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral1comical, historical1pastoral, tragical1historical, tragical1 comical1historical1pastoral, scene indi%ida+le, or poem #nlimited" Seneca cannot +e too hea%y, nor Pla#t#s too light. ,or the la! of !rit and the li+erty, these are the only men. Hamlet. 0 8ephthah, 4#dge of Israel, !hat a treas#re hadst tho#& Lord Polonius. What a treas#re had he, my lord? Hamlet. Why, )0ne fair da#ghter and no more, The !hich he lo%ed passing !ell. Lord Polonius =aside>. Still on my da#ghter. Hamlet. Am I not i the right, old 8ephthah? Lord Polonius. If yo# call me 8ephthah, my lord, I ha%e a da#ghter that I lo%e passing !ell. Hamlet. ay, that follo!s not. Lord Polonius. What follo!s, then, my lord? Hamlet. Why, )As +y lot, /od !ot, and then, yo# kno!, )It came to pass, as most like it !as, 2 the first ro! of the pio#s chanson !ill sho! yo# more* for look, !here my a+ridgement comes. Enter four or fi#e Players. (o# are !elcome, masters* !elcome, all. I am glad to see thee !ell. Welcome, good friends. 0, my old friend& thy face is %alenced since I sa! thee last" comest tho# to +eard me in Denmark? What, my yo#ng lady and mistress& 'yr lady, yo#r ladyship is

nearer to hea%en than !hen I sa! yo# last, +y the altit#de of a chopine. Pray /od, yo#r %oice, like apiece of #nc#rrent gold, +e not cracked !ithin the ring. .asters, yo# are all !elcome. Well een tot like ,rench falconers, fly at any thing !e see" !ell ha%e a speech straight" come, gi%e #s a taste of yo#r -#ality* come, a passionate speech. First Player. What speech, my lord? Hamlet. I heard thee speak me a speech once, +#t it !as ne%er acted* or, if it !as, not a+o%e once* for the play, I remem+er, pleased not the million* )t!as ca%iare to the general" +#t it !as 2 as I recei%ed it, and others, !hose 4#dgments in s#ch matters cried in the top of mine 2 an e;cellent play, !ell digested in the scenes, set do!n !ith as m#ch modesty as c#nning. I remem+er, one said there !ere no sallets in the lines to make the matter sa%o#ry, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the a#thor of affectation* +#t called it an honest method, as !holesome as s!eet, and +y %ery m#ch more handsome than fine. 0ne speech in it I chiefly lo%ed" )t!as Aeneas tale to Dido* and therea+o#t of it especially, !here he speaks of Priams sla#ghter" if it li%e in yo#r memory, +egin at this line" let me see, let me see 2 )The r#gged Pyrrh#s, like the Hyrcanian +east, 2 it is not so" 2 it +egins !ith Pyrrh#s" 2 )The r#gged Pyrrh#s, he !hose sa+le arms, 'lack as his p#rpose, did the night resem+le When he lay co#ched in the omino#s horse, Hath no! this dread and +lack comple;ion smeard With heraldry more dismal* head to foot o! is he total g#les* horridly trickd With +lood of fathers, mothers, da#ghters, sons, 'aked and impasted !ith the parching streets, That lend a tyranno#s and damned light To their lords m#rder" roasted in !rath and fire, And th#s oer1si5ed !ith coag#late gore, With eyes like car+#ncles, the hellish Pyrrh#s 0ld grandsire Priam seeks. So, proceed yo#. Lord Polonius. ),ore /od, my lord, !ell spoken, !ith good accent and good discretion. First Player. )Anon he finds him Striking too short at /reeks* his anti-#e s!ord, 7e+ellio#s to his arm, lies !here it falls, 7ep#gnant to command" #ne-#al matchd, Pyrrh#s at Priam dri%es* in rage strikes !ide* '#t !ith the !hiff and !ind of his fell s!ord The #nner%ed father falls. Then senseless Ili#m, Seeming to feel this +lo!, !ith flaming top Stoops to his +ase, and !ith a hideo#s crash Takes prisoner Pyrrh#s ear" for, lo& his s!ord,

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Which !as declining on the milky head 0f re%erend Priam, seemd i the air to stick" So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrh#s stood, And like a ne#tral to his !ill and matter, Did nothing. '#t, as !e often see, against some storm, A silence in the hea%ens, the rack stand still, The +old !inds speechless and the or+ +elo! As h#sh as death, anon the dreadf#l th#nder Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrh#s pa#se, Aro#sed %engeance sets him ne! a1!ork* And ne%er did the 6yclops hammers fall 0n .arss armo#r forged for proof eterne With less remorse than Pyrrh#s +leeding s!ord o! falls on Priam. 0#t, o#t, tho# str#mpet, ,ort#ne& All yo# gods, In general synod )take a!ay her po!er* 'reak all the spokes and fellies from her !heel, And +o!l the ro#nd na%e do!n the hill of hea%en, As lo! as to the fiends& Lord Polonius. This is too long. Hamlet. It shall to the +ar+ers, !ith yo#r +eard. Prithee, say on" hes for a 4ig or a tale of +a!dry, or he sleeps" say on" come to Hec#+a. First Player. )'#t !ho, 0, !ho had seen the mo+led -#een 2 Hamlet. )The mo+led -#een? Lord Polonius. Thats good* )mo+led -#een is good. First Player. )7#n +arefoot #p and do!n, threatening the flames With +isson rhe#m* a clo#t #pon that head Where late the diadem stood, and for a ro+e, A+o#t her lank and all oer1teemed loins, A +lanket, in the alarm of fear ca#ght #p* Who this had seen, !ith tong#e in %enom steepd, )/ainst ,ort#nes state !o#ld treason ha%e prono#nced" '#t if the gods themsel%es did see her then When she sa! Pyrrh#s make malicio#s sport In mincing !ith his s!ord her h#s+ands lim+s, The instant +#rst of clamo#r that she made, 9nless things mortal mo%e them not at all, Wo#ld ha%e made milch the +#rning eyes of hea%en, And passion in the gods. Lord Polonius. $ook, !hether he has not t#rned his colo#r and has tears ins eyes. Pray yo#, no more. Hamlet. )Tis !ell" Ill ha%e thee speak o#t the rest soon. /ood my lord, !ill yo# see the players !ell +esto!ed? Do yo# hear, let them +e !ell #sed* for they are the a+stract and +rief chronicles of the time" after yo#r death yo# !ere +etter ha%e a +ad epitaph than their ill report !hile yo# li%e.

Lord Polonius. .y lord, I !ill #se them according to their desert. Hamlet. /ods +odykins, man, m#ch +etter" #se e%ery man after his desert, and !ho sho#ld )scape !hipping? 9se them after yo#r o!n hono#r and dignity" the less they deser%e, the more merit is in yo#r +o#nty. Take them in. Lord Polonius. 6ome, sirs. Hamlet. ,ollo! him, friends" !ell hear a play to1 morro!. Exit Polonius with all the Players but the First. Dost tho# hear me, old friend* can yo# play the .#rder of /on5ago? First Player. Ay, my lord. Hamlet. Well hat to1morro! night. (o# co#ld, for a need, st#dy a speech of some do5en or si;teen lines, !hich I !o#ld set do!n and insert int, co#ld yo# not? First Player. Ay, my lord. Hamlet. <ery !ell. ,ollo! that lord* and look yo# mock him not. Exit First Player. .y good friends, Ill lea%e yo# till night" yo# are !elcome to :lsinore. Rosencrant . /ood my lord& Hamlet. Ay, so, /od +e !i ye* Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. o! I am alone. 0, !hat a rog#e and peasant sla%e am I& Is it not monstro#s that this player here, '#t in a fiction, in a dream of passion, 6o#ld force his so#l so to his o!n conceit That from her !orking all his %isage !annd, Tears in his eyes, distraction ins aspect, A +roken %oice, and his !hole f#nction s#iting With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing& ,or Hec#+a& Whats Hec#+a to him, or he to Hec#+a, That he sho#ld !eep for her? What !o#ld he do, Had he the moti%e and the c#e for passion That I ha%e? He !o#ld dro!n the stage !ith tears And clea%e the general ear !ith horrid speech, .ake mad the g#ilty and appal the free, 6onfo#nd the ignorant, and ama5e indeed The %ery fac#lties of eyes and ears. (et I, A d#ll and m#ddy1mettled rascal, peak, $ike 8ohn1a1dreams, #npregnant of my ca#se, And can say nothing* no, not for a king, 9pon !hose property and most dear life A damnd defeat !as made. Am I a co!ard?

Who calls me %illain? +reaks my pate across? Pl#cks off my +eard, and +lo!s it in my face? T!eaks me +y the nose? gi%es me the lie i the throat, As deep as to the l#ngs? !ho does me this? Ha& )S!o#nds, I sho#ld take it" for it cannot +e '#t I am pigeon1li%erd and lack gall To make oppression +itter, or ere this I sho#ld ha%e fatted all the region kites With this sla%es offal" +loody, +a!dy %illain& 7emorseless, treachero#s, lechero#s, kindless %illain& 0, %engeance& Why, !hat an ass am I& This is most +ra%e, That I, the son of a dear father m#rderd, Prompted to my re%enge +y hea%en and hell, .#st, like a !hore, #npack my heart !ith !ords, And fall a1c#rsing, like a %ery dra+, A sc#llion& ,ie #pont& foh& A+o#t, my +rain& I ha%e heard That g#ilty creat#res sitting at a play Ha%e +y the %ery c#nning of the scene 'een str#ck so to the so#l that presently They ha%e proclaimd their malefactions* ,or m#rder, tho#gh it ha%e no tong#e, !ill speak With most mirac#lo#s organ. Ill ha%e these players Play something like the m#rder of my father 'efore mine #ncle" Ill o+ser%e his looks* Ill tent him to the -#ick" if he +#t +lench, I kno! my co#rse. The spirit that I ha%e seen .ay +e the de%il" and the de%il hath po!er To ass#me a pleasing shape* yea, and perhaps 0#t of my !eakness and my melancholy, As he is %ery potent !ith s#ch spirits, A+#ses me to damn me" Ill ha%e gro#nds .ore relati%e than this" the play )s the thing Wherein Ill catch the conscience of the king. Exit. Act III. Scene I. Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrant , and Guildenstern. King Claudius. And can yo#, +y no drift of circ#mstance, /et from him !hy he p#ts on this conf#sion, /rating so harshly all his days of -#iet With t#r+#lent and dangero#s l#nacy? Rosencrant . He does confess he feels himself distracted* '#t from !hat ca#se he !ill +y no means speak. Guildenstern. or do !e find him for!ard to +e so#nded, '#t, !ith a crafty madness, keeps aloof, When !e !o#ld +ring him on to some confession

0f his tr#e state. Queen Gertrude. Did he recei%e yo# !ell? Rosencrant . .ost like a gentleman. Guildenstern. '#t !ith m#ch forcing of his disposition. Rosencrant . iggard of -#estion* +#t, of o#r demands, .ost free in his reply. Queen Gertrude. Did yo# assay him? To any pastime? Rosencrant . .adam, it so fell o#t, that certain players We oer1ra#ght on the !ay" of these !e told him* And there did seem in him a kind of 4oy To hear of it" they are a+o#t the co#rt, And, as I think, they ha%e already order This night to play +efore him. Lord Polonius. )Tis most tr#e" And he +eseechd me to entreat yo#r ma4esties To hear and see the matter. King Claudius. With all my heart* and it doth m#ch content me To hear him so inclined. /ood gentlemen, gi%e him a f#rther edge, And dri%e his p#rpose on to these delights. Rosencrant . We shall, my lord. Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. King Claudius. S!eet /ertr#de, lea%e #s too* ,or !e ha%e closely sent for Hamlet hither, That he, as )t!ere +y accident, may here Affront 0phelia" Her father and myself, la!f#l espials, Will so +esto! o#rsel%es that, seeing, #nseen, We may of their enco#nter frankly 4#dge, And gather +y him, as he is +eha%ed, If )t +e the affliction of his lo%e or no That th#s he s#ffers for. Queen Gertrude. I shall o+ey yo#. And for yo#r part, 0phelia, I do !ish That yo#r good +ea#ties +e the happy ca#se 0f Hamlets !ildness" so shall I hope yo#r %irt#es Will +ring him to his !onted !ay again, To +oth yo#r hono#rs. Ophelia. .adam, I !ish it may. Exit Queen Gertrude. Lord Polonius. 0phelia, !alk yo# here. /racio#s, so please yo#, We !ill +esto! o#rsel%es. =!o &phelia> 7ead on this +ook* That sho! of s#ch an e;ercise may colo#r (o#r loneliness. We are oft to +lame in this, 2 )Tis too m#ch pro%ed 2 that !ith de%otions %isage And pio#s action !e do s#gar oer The de%il himself. King Claudius =aside>. 0, )tis too tr#e&

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

10

Ho! smart a lash that speech doth gi%e my conscience& The harlots cheek, +ea#tied !ith plastering art, Is not more #gly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted !ord" 0 hea%y +#rthen& Lord Polonius. I hear him coming" lets !ithdra!, my lord. Exeunt King Claudius and Polonius. Enter Hamlet. Hamlet. To +e, or not to +e" that is the -#estion" Whether )tis no+ler in the mind to s#ffer The slings and arro!s of o#trageo#s fort#ne, 0r to take arms against a sea of tro#+les, And +y opposing end them? To die" to sleep* o more* and +y a sleep to say !e end The heart1ache and the tho#sand nat#ral shocks That flesh is heir to, )tis a cons#mmation De%o#tly to +e !ishd. To die, to sleep* To sleep" perchance to dream" ay, theres the r#+* ,or in that sleep of death !hat dreams may come When !e ha%e sh#ffled off this mortal coil, .#st gi%e #s pa#se" theres the respect That makes calamity of so long life* ,or !ho !o#ld +ear the !hips and scorns of time, The oppressors !rong, the pro#d mans cont#mely, The pangs of despised lo%e, the la!s delay, The insolence of office and the sp#rns That patient merit of the #n!orthy takes, When he himself might his -#iet#s make With a +are +odkin? !ho !o#ld fardels +ear, To gr#nt and s!eat #nder a !eary life, '#t that the dread of something after death, The #ndisco%erd co#ntry from !hose +o#rn o tra%eller ret#rns, p#55les the !ill And makes #s rather +ear those ills !e ha%e Than fly to others that !e kno! not of? Th#s conscience does make co!ards of #s all* And th#s the nati%e h#e of resol#tion Is sicklied oer !ith the pale cast of tho#ght, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their c#rrents t#rn a!ry, And lose the name of action. 2 Soft yo# no!& The fair 0phelia& ymph, in thy orisons 'e all my sins remem+erd. Ophelia. /ood my lord, Ho! does yo#r hono#r for this many a day? Hamlet. I h#m+ly thank yo#* !ell, !ell, !ell. Ophelia. .y lord, I ha%e remem+rances of yo#rs, That I ha%e longed long to re1deli%er* I pray yo#, no! recei%e them. Hamlet. o, not I* I ne%er ga%e yo# a#ght. Ophelia. .y hono#rd lord, yo# kno! right !ell yo# did*

And, !ith them, !ords of so s!eet +reath composed As made the things more rich" their perf#me lost, Take these again* for to the no+le mind 7ich gifts !a; poor !hen gi%ers pro%e #nkind. There, my lord. Hamlet. Ha, ha& are yo# honest? Ophelia. .y lord? Hamlet. Are yo# fair? Ophelia. What means yo#r lordship? Hamlet. That if yo# +e honest and fair, yo#r honesty sho#ld admit no disco#rse to yo#r +ea#ty. Ophelia. 6o#ld +ea#ty, my lord, ha%e +etter commerce than !ith honesty? Hamlet. Ay, tr#ly* for the po!er of +ea#ty !ill sooner transform honesty from !hat it is to a +a!d than the force of honesty can translate +ea#ty into his likeness" this !as sometime a parado;, +#t no! the time gi%es it proof. I did lo%e yo# once. Ophelia. Indeed, my lord, yo# made me +elie%e so. Hamlet. (o# sho#ld not ha%e +elie%ed me* for %irt#e cannot so inoc#late o#r old stock +#t !e shall relish of it" I lo%ed yo# not. Ophelia. I !as the more decei%ed. Hamlet. /et thee to a n#nnery" !hy !o#ldst tho# +e a +reeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest* +#t yet I co#ld acc#se me of s#ch things that it !ere +etter my mother had not +orne me" I am %ery pro#d, re%engef#l, am+itio#s, !ith more offences at my +eck than I ha%e tho#ghts to p#t them in, imagination to gi%e them shape, or time to act them in. What sho#ld s#ch fello!s as I do cra!ling +et!een earth and hea%en? We are arrant kna%es, all* +elie%e none of #s. /o thy !ays to a n#nnery. Wheres yo#r father? Ophelia. At home, my lord. Hamlet. $et the doors +e sh#t #pon him, that he may play the fool no !here +#t ins o!n ho#se. ,are!ell. Ophelia. 0, help him, yo# s!eet hea%ens& Hamlet. If tho# dost marry, Ill gi%e thee this plag#e for thy do!ry" +e tho# as chaste as ice, as p#re as sno!, tho# shalt not escape cal#mny. /et thee to a n#nnery, go" fare!ell. 0r, if tho# !ilt needs marry, marry a fool* for !ise men kno! !ell eno#gh !hat monsters yo# make of them. To a n#nnery, go, and -#ickly too. ,are!ell. Ophelia. 0 hea%enly po!ers, restore him& Hamlet. I ha%e heard of yo#r paintings too, !ell eno#gh* /od has gi%en yo# one face, and yo# make yo#rsel%es

another" yo# 4ig, yo# am+le, and yo# lisp, and nick1name /ods creat#res, and make yo#r !antonness yo#r ignorance. /o to, Ill no more ont* it hath made me mad. I say, !e !ill ha%e no more marriages" those that are married already, all +#t one, shall li%e* the rest shall keep as they are. To a n#nnery, go. Exit. Ophelia. 0, !hat a no+le mind is here oerthro!n& The co#rtiers, soldiers, scholars, eye, tong#e, s!ord* The e;pectancy and rose of the fair state, The glass of fashion and the mo#ld of form, The o+ser%ed of all o+ser%ers, -#ite, -#ite do!n& And I, of ladies most de4ect and !retched, That s#ckd the honey of his m#sic %o!s, o! see that no+le and most so%ereign reason, $ike s!eet +ells 4angled, o#t of t#ne and harsh* That #nmatchd form and feat#re of +lo!n yo#th 'lasted !ith ecstasy" 0, !oe is me, To ha%e seen !hat I ha%e seen, see !hat I see& Re-enter King Claudius and Polonius. King Claudius. $o%e& his affections do not that !ay tend* or !hat he spake, tho#gh it lackd form a little, Was not like madness. Theres something in his so#l, 0er !hich his melancholy sits on +rood* And I do do#+t the hatch and the disclose Will +e some danger" !hich for to pre%ent, I ha%e in -#ick determination Th#s set it do!n" he shall !ith speed to :ngland, ,or the demand of o#r neglected tri+#te Haply the seas and co#ntries different With %aria+le o+4ects shall e;pel This something1settled matter in his heart, Whereon his +rains still +eating p#ts him th#s ,rom fashion of himself. What think yo# ont? Lord Polonius. It shall do !ell" +#t yet do I +elie%e The origin and commencement of his grief Spr#ng from neglected lo%e. Ho! no!, 0phelia& (o# need not tell #s !hat $ord Hamlet said* We heard it all. .y lord, do as yo# please* '#t, if yo# hold it fit, after the play $et his -#een mother all alone entreat him To sho! his grief" let her +e ro#nd !ith him* And Ill +e placed, so please yo#, in the ear 0f all their conference. If she find him not, To :ngland send him, or confine him !here (o#r !isdom +est shall think. King Claudius. It shall +e so" .adness in great ones m#st not #n!atchd go. Exeunt.

Scene II. Enter Hamlet and Players. Hamlet. Speak the speech, I pray yo#, as I prono#nced it to yo#, trippingly on the tong#e" +#t if yo# mo#th it, as many of yo#r players do, I had as lief the to!n1crier spoke my lines. or do not sa! the air too m#ch !ith yo#r hand, th#s, +#t #se all gently* for in the %ery torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the !hirl!ind of passion, yo# m#st ac-#ire and +eget a temperance that may gi%e it smoothness. 0, it offends me to the so#l to hear a ro+#stio#s peri!ig1pated fello! tear a passion to tatters, to %ery rags, to split the ears of the gro#ndlings, !ho for the most part are capa+le of nothing +#t ine;plica+le d#m+sho!s and noise" I !o#ld ha%e s#ch a fello! !hipped for oerdoing Termagant* it o#t1herods Herod" pray yo#, a%oid it. First Player. I !arrant yo#r hono#r. Hamlet. 'e not too tame neither, +#t let yo#r o!n discretion +e yo#r t#tor" s#it the action to the !ord, the !ord to the action* !ith this special oerstep not the modesty of nat#re" for any thing so o%erdone is from the p#rpose of playing, !hose end, +oth at the first and no!, !as and is, to hold, as )t!ere, the mirror #p to nat#re* to sho! %irt#e her o!n feat#re, scorn her o!n image, and the %ery age and +ody of the time his form and press#re. o! this o%erdone, or come tardy off, tho#gh it make the #nskilf#l la#gh, cannot +#t make the 4#dicio#s grie%e* the cens#re of the !hich one m#st in yo#r allo!ance oer!eigh a !hole theatre of others. 0, there +e players that I ha%e seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither ha%ing the accent of 6hristians nor the gait of 6hristian, pagan, nor man, ha%e so str#tted and +ello!ed that I ha%e tho#ght some of nat#res 4o#rneymen had made men and not made them !ell, they imitated h#manity so a+omina+ly. First Player. I hope !e ha%e reformed that indifferently !ith #s, sir. Hamlet. 0, reform it altogether. And let those that play yo#r clo!ns speak no more than is set do!n for them* for there +e of them that !ill themsel%es la#gh, to set on some -#antity of +arren spectators to la#gh too* tho#gh, in the mean time, some necessary -#estion of the play +e then to +e considered"

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thats %illano#s, and sho!s a most pitif#l am+ition in the fool that #ses it. /o, make yo# ready. Exeunt Players. Enter Polonius, Rosencrant , and Guildenstern. Ho! no!, my lord& I !ill the king hear this piece of !ork? Lord Polonius. And the -#een too, and that presently. Hamlet. 'id the players make haste. Exit Polonius. Will yo# t!o help to hasten them? Rosencrant , Guildenstern. We !ill, my lord. Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. Hamlet. What ho& Horatio& Enter Horatio. Horatio. Here, s!eet lord, at yo#r ser%ice. Hamlet. Horatio, tho# art een as 4#st a man As eer my con%ersation coped !ithal. Horatio. 0, my dear lord, 2 Hamlet. ay, do not think I flatter* ,or !hat ad%ancement may I hope from thee That no re%en#e hast +#t thy good spirits, To feed and clothe thee? Why sho#ld the poor +e flatterd? o, let the candied tong#e lick a+s#rd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift may follo! fa!ning. Dost tho# hear? Since my dear so#l !as mistress of her choice And co#ld of men disting#ish, her election Hath seald thee for herself* for tho# hast +een As one, in s#ffering all, that s#ffers nothing, A man that fort#nes +#ffets and re!ards Hast taen !ith e-#al thanks" and +lest are those Whose +lood and 4#dgment are so !ell commingled, That they are not a pipe for fort#nes finger To so#nd !hat stop she please. /i%e me that man That is not passions sla%e, and I !ill !ear him In my hearts core, ay, in my heart of heart, As I do thee. 2 Something too m#ch of this. 2 There is a play to1night +efore the king* 0ne scene of it comes near the circ#mstance Which I ha%e told thee of my fathers death" I prithee, !hen tho# seest that act afoot, :%en !ith the %ery comment of thy so#l 0+ser%e mine #ncle" if his occ#lted g#ilt Do not itself #nkennel in one speech, It is a damned ghost that !e ha%e seen, And my imaginations are as fo#l As <#lcans stithy. /i%e him heedf#l note* ,or I mine eyes !ill ri%et to his face, And after !e !ill +oth o#r 4#dgments 4oin In cens#re of his seeming. Horatio. Well, my lord" If he steal a#ght the !hilst this play is playing, And )scape detecting, I !ill pay the theft.

Hamlet. They are coming to the play* I m#st +e idle" /et yo# a place. 'anish march. A flourish. Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrant , Guildenstern, and others. King Claudius. Ho! fares o#r co#sin Hamlet? Hamlet. :;cellent, i faith* of the chameleons dish" I eat the air, promise1crammed" yo# cannot feed capons so. King Claudius. I ha%e nothing !ith this ans!er, Hamlet* these !ords are not mine. Hamlet. o, nor mine no!. =!o $olonius> .y lord, yo# played once i the #ni%ersity, yo# say? Lord Polonius. That did I, my lord* and !as acco#nted a good actor. Hamlet. What did yo# enact? Lord Polonius. I did enact 8#li#s 6aesar" I !as killed i the 6apitol* 'r#t#s killed me. Hamlet. It !as a +r#te part of him to kill so capital a calf there. 'e the players ready? Rosencrant . Ay, my lord* they stay #pon yo#r patience. Queen Gertrude. 6ome hither, my dear Hamlet, sit +y me. Hamlet. o, good mother, heres metal more attracti%e. Lord Polonius =to (in Claudius>. 0, ho& do yo# mark that? Hamlet. $ady, shall I lie in yo#r lap? L"in down at Ophelia)s feet. Ophelia. o, my lord. Hamlet. I mean, my head #pon yo#r lap? Ophelia. Ay, my lord. Hamlet. Do yo# think I meant co#ntry matters? Ophelia. I think nothing, my lord. Hamlet. Thats a fair tho#ght to lie +et!een maids legs. Ophelia. What is, my lord? Hamlet. othing. Ophelia. (o# are merry, my lord. Hamlet. Who, I? Ophelia. Ay, my lord. Hamlet. 0 /od, yo#r only 4ig1maker. What sho#ld a man do +#t +e merry? for, look yo#, ho! cheerf#lly my mother looks, and my father died !ithin these t!o ho#rs. Ophelia. ay, )tis t!ice t!o months, my lord. Hamlet. So long? ay then, let the de%il !ear +lack, for

Ill ha%e a s#it of sa+les. 0 hea%ens& die t!o months ago, and not forgotten yet? Then theres hope a great mans memory may o#tli%e his life half a year" +#t, +yr lady, he m#st +#ild ch#rches, then* or else shall he s#ffer not thinking on, !ith the ho++y1horse, !hose epitaph is ),or, 0, for, 0, the ho++y1horse is forgot. *autbo"s pla". !he dumb-show enters. Enter a (in and a +ueen #er" lo#in l", the +ueen embracin him, and he her. -he kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him. *e takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck. la"s him down upon a bank of flowers. she, seein him asleep, lea#es him. Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the (in )s ears, and exit. !he +ueen returns, finds the (in dead, and makes passionate action. !he $oisoner, with some two or three /utes, comes in a ain, seemin to lament with her. !he dead bod" is carried awa". !he $oisoner wooes the +ueen with ifts. she seems loath and unwillin awhile, but in the end accepts his lo#e. Exeunt. Ophelia. What means this, my lord? Hamlet. .arry, this is miching mallecho* it means mischief. Ophelia. 'elike this sho! imports the arg#ment of the play. Enter Prologue. Hamlet. We shall kno! +y this fello!" the players cannot keep co#nsel* theyll tell all. Ophelia. Will he tell #s !hat this sho! meant? Hamlet. Ay, or any sho! that yo#ll sho! him" +e not yo# ashamed to sho!, hell not shame to tell yo# !hat it means. Ophelia. (o# are na#ght, yo# are na#ght" Ill mark the play. Prologue. ,or #s, and for o#r tragedy, Here stooping to yo#r clemency, We +eg yo#r hearing patiently. Exit. Hamlet. Is this a prolog#e, or the posy of a ring? Ophelia. )Tis +rief, my lord. Hamlet. As !omans lo%e. Enter two Players, King and Queen. Player King. ,#ll thirty times hath Phoe+#s cart gone ro#nd ept#nes salt !ash and Tell#s or+ed gro#nd, And thirty do5en moons !ith +orro!d sheen A+o#t the !orld ha%e times t!el%e thirties +een, Since lo%e o#r hearts and Hymen did o#r hands 9nite comm#t#al in most sacred +ands.

Player Queen. So many 4o#rneys may the s#n and moon .ake #s again co#nt oer ere lo%e +e done& '#t, !oe is me, yo# are so sick of late, So far from cheer and from yo#r former state, That I distr#st yo#. (et, tho#gh I distr#st, Discomfort yo#, my lord, it nothing m#st" ,or !omens fear and lo%e holds -#antity* In neither a#ght, or in e;tremity. o!, !hat my lo%e is, proof hath made yo# kno!* And as my lo%e is si5ed, my fear is so" Where lo%e is great, the littlest do#+ts are fear* Where little fears gro! great, great lo%e gro!s there. Player King. ),aith, I m#st lea%e thee, lo%e, and shortly too* .y operant po!ers their f#nctions lea%e to do" And tho# shalt li%e in this fair !orld +ehind, Hono#rd, +elo%ed* and haply one as kind ,or h#s+and shalt tho# 2 Player Queen. 0, confo#nd the rest& S#ch lo%e m#st needs +e treason in my +reast" In second h#s+and let me +e acc#rst& one !ed the second +#t !ho killd the first. Hamlet =aside>. Worm!ood, !orm!ood. Player Queen. The instances that second marriage mo%e Are +ase respects of thrift, +#t none of lo%e" A second time I kill my h#s+and dead, When second h#s+and kisses me in +ed. Player King. I do +elie%e yo# think !hat no! yo# speak* '#t !hat !e do determine oft !e +reak. P#rpose is +#t the sla%e to memory, 0f %iolent +irth, +#t poor %alidity* Which no!, like fr#it #nripe, sticks on the tree* '#t fall, #nshaken, !hen they mello! +e. .ost necessary )tis that !e forget To pay o#rsel%es !hat to o#rsel%es is de+t" What to o#rsel%es in passion !e propose, The passion ending, doth the p#rpose lose. The %iolence of either grief or 4oy Their o!n enact#res !ith themsel%es destroy" Where 4oy most re%els, grief doth most lament* /rief 4oys, 4oy grie%es, on slender accident. This !orld is not for aye, nor )tis not strange That e%en o#r lo%es sho#ld !ith o#r fort#nes change* ,or )tis a -#estion left #s yet to pro%e, Whether lo%e lead fort#ne, or else fort#ne lo%e. The great man do!n, yo# mark his fa%o#rite flies* The poor ad%anced makes friends of enemies. And hitherto doth lo%e on fort#ne tend* ,or !ho not needs shall ne%er lack a friend, And !ho in !ant a hollo! friend doth try,

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Directly seasons him his enemy. '#t, orderly to end !here I +eg#n, 0#r !ills and fates do so contrary r#n That o#r de%ices still are o%erthro!n* 0#r tho#ghts are o#rs, their ends none of o#r o!n" So think tho# !ilt no second h#s+and !ed* '#t die thy tho#ghts !hen thy first lord is dead. Player Queen. or earth to me gi%e food, nor hea%en light& Sport and repose lock from me day and night& To desperation t#rn my tr#st and hope& An anchors cheer in prison +e my scope& :ach opposite that +lanks the face of 4oy .eet !hat I !o#ld ha%e !ell and it destroy& 'oth here and hence p#rs#e me lasting strife, If, once a !ido!, e%er I +e !ife& Hamlet. If she sho#ld +reak it no!& Player King. )Tis deeply s!orn. S!eet, lea%e me here a!hile* .y spirits gro! d#ll, and fain I !o#ld +eg#ile The tedio#s day !ith sleep. -leeps. Player Queen. Sleep rock thy +rain, And ne%er come mischance +et!een #s t!ain& Exit. Hamlet. .adam, ho! like yo# this play? Queen Gertrude. The lady protests too m#ch, methinks. Hamlet. 0, +#t shell keep her !ord. King Claudius. Ha%e yo# heard the arg#ment? Is there no offence in )t? Hamlet. o, no, they do +#t 4est, poison in 4est* no offence i the !orld. King Claudius. What do yo# call the play? Hamlet. The .o#se1trap. .arry, ho!? Tropically. This play is the image of a m#rder done in <ienna" /on5ago is the d#kes name* his !ife, 'aptista" yo# shall see anon* )tis a kna%ish piece of !ork" +#t !hat o that? yo#r ma4esty and !e that ha%e free so#ls, it to#ches #s not" let the galled 4ade !ince, o#r !ithers are #n!r#ng. Enter Lucianus. This is one $#cian#s, nephe! to the king. Ophelia. (o# are as good as a chor#s, my lord. Hamlet. I co#ld interpret +et!een yo# and yo#r lo%e, if I co#ld see the p#ppets dallying. Ophelia. (o# are keen, my lord, yo# are keen. Hamlet. It !o#ld cost yo# a groaning to take off my edge. Ophelia. Still +etter, and !orse. Hamlet. So yo# m#st take yo#r h#s+ands. 'egin,

m#rderer* po;, lea%e thy damna+le faces, and +egin. 6ome" )the croaking ra%en doth +ello! for re%enge. Lucianus. Tho#ghts +lack, hands apt, dr#gs fit, and time agreeing* 6onfederate season, else no creat#re seeing* Tho# mi;t#re rank, of midnight !eeds collected, With Hecates +an thrice +lasted, thrice infected, Thy nat#ral magic and dire property, 0n !holesome life #s#rp immediately. $ours the poison into the sleeper)s ears. Hamlet. He poisons him i the garden fors estate. His names /on5ago" the story is e;tant, and !rit in choice Italian" yo# shall see anon ho! the m#rderer gets the lo%e of /on5agos !ife. Ophelia. The king rises. Hamlet. What, frighted !ith false fire& Queen Gertrude. Ho! fares my lord? Lord Polonius. /i%e oer the play. King Claudius. /i%e me some light" a!ay& All. $ights, lights, lights& Exeunt all but Hamlet and Horatio. Hamlet. Why, let the stricken deer go !eep, The hart #ngalled play* ,or some m#st !atch, !hile some m#st sleep" So r#ns the !orld a!ay. Wo#ld not this, sir, and a forest of feathers 2 if the rest of my fort#nes t#rn T#rk !ith me 2 !ith t!o Pro%incial roses on my ra5ed shoes, get me a fello!ship in a cry of players, sir? Horatio. Half a share. Hamlet. A !hole one, I. ,or tho# dost kno!, 0 Damon dear, This realm dismantled !as 0f 8o%e himself* and no! reigns here A %ery, %ery 2 pa4ock. Horatio. (o# might ha%e rhymed. Hamlet. 0 good Horatio, Ill take the ghosts !ord for a tho#sand po#nd. Didst percei%e? Horatio. <ery !ell, my lord. Hamlet. 9pon the talk of the poisoning? Horatio. I did %ery !ell note him. Hamlet. Ah, ha& 6ome, some m#sic& come, the recorders& ,or if the king like not the comedy, Why then, +elike, he likes it not, perdy. 6ome, some m#sic& Re-enter Rosencrant and Guildenstern. Guildenstern. /ood my lord, %o#chsafe me a !ord !ith yo#. Hamlet. Sir, a !hole history. Guildenstern. The king, sir, 2 Hamlet. Ay, sir, !hat of him?

Guildenstern. Is in his retirement mar%ello#s distempered. Hamlet. With drink, sir? Guildenstern. o, my lord, rather !ith choler. Hamlet. (o#r !isdom sho#ld sho! itself more richer to signify this to his doctor* for, for me to p#t him to his p#rgation !o#ld perhaps pl#nge him into far more choler. Guildenstern. /ood my lord, p#t yo#r disco#rse into some frame and start not so !ildly from my affair. Hamlet. I am tame, sir" prono#nce. Guildenstern. The -#een, yo#r mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to yo#. Hamlet. (o# are !elcome. Guildenstern. ay, good my lord, this co#rtesy is not of the right +reed. If it shall please yo# to make me a !holesome ans!er, I !ill do yo#r mothers commandment" if not, yo#r pardon and my ret#rn shall +e the end of my +#siness. Hamlet. Sir, I cannot. Guildenstern. What, my lord? Hamlet. .ake yo# a !holesome ans!er* my !its diseased" +#t, sir, s#ch ans!er as I can make, yo# shall command* or, rather, as yo# say, my mother" therefore no more, +#t to the matter" my mother, yo# say, 2 Rosencrant . Then th#s she says* yo#r +eha%ior hath str#ck her into ama5ement and admiration. Hamlet. 0 !onderf#l son, that can so astonish a mother& '#t is there no se-#el at the heels of this mothers admiration? Impart. Rosencrant . She desires to speak !ith yo# in her closet, ere yo# go to +ed. Hamlet. We shall o+ey, !ere she ten times o#r mother. Ha%e yo# any f#rther trade !ith #s? Rosencrant . .y lord, yo# once did lo%e me. Hamlet. So I do still, +y these pickers and stealers. Rosencrant . /ood my lord, !hat is yo#r ca#se of distemper? yo# do, s#rely, +ar the door #pon yo#r o!n li+erty, if yo# deny yo#r griefs to yo#r friend. Hamlet. Sir, I lack ad%ancement. Rosencrant . Ho! can that +e, !hen yo# ha%e the %oice of the king himself for yo#r s#ccession in Denmark? Hamlet. Ay, +#t sir, )While the grass gro!s, 2 the pro%er+

is something m#sty. Re-enter Players with recorders. 0, the recorders& let me see one. To !ithdra! !ith yo#" 2 !hy do yo# go a+o#t to reco%er the !ind of me, as if yo# !o#ld dri%e me into a toil? Guildenstern. 0, my lord, if my d#ty +e too +old, my lo%e is too #nmannerly. Hamlet. I do not !ell #nderstand that. Will yo# play #pon this pipe? Guildenstern. .y lord, I cannot. Hamlet. I pray yo#. Guildenstern. 'elie%e me, I cannot. Hamlet. I do +eseech yo#. Guildenstern. I kno! no to#ch of it, my lord. Hamlet. )Tis as easy as lying" go%ern these %entages !ith yo#r lingers and th#m+, gi%e it +reath !ith yo#r mo#th, and it !ill disco#rse most elo-#ent m#sic. $ook yo#, these are the stops. Guildenstern. '#t these cannot I command to any #tterance of harmony* I ha%e not the skill. Hamlet. Why, look yo# no!, ho! #n!orthy a thing yo# make of me& (o# !o#ld play #pon me* yo# !o#ld seem to kno! my stops* yo# !o#ld pl#ck o#t the heart of my mystery* yo# !o#ld so#nd me from my lo!est note to the top of my compass" and there is m#ch m#sic, e;cellent %oice, in this little organ* yet cannot yo# make it speak. )S+lood, do yo# think I am easier to +e played on than a pipe? 6all me !hat instr#ment yo# !ill, tho#gh yo# can fret me, yet yo# cannot play #pon me. Enter Polonius. /od +less yo#, sir& Lord Polonius. .y lord, the -#een !o#ld speak !ith yo#, and presently. Hamlet. Do yo# see yonder clo#d thats almost in shape of a camel? Lord Polonius. 'y the mass, and )tis like a camel, indeed. Hamlet. .ethinks it is like a !easel. Lord Polonius. It is +acked like a !easel. Hamlet. 0r like a !hale? Lord Polonius. <ery like a !hale. Hamlet. Then I !ill come to my mother +y and +y. They fool me to the top of my +ent. I !ill come +y and +y. Lord Polonius. I !ill say so.

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Hamlet. 'y and +y is easily said. Exit Polonius. $ea%e me, friends. Exeunt all but Hamlet. Tis no! the %ery !itching time of night, When ch#rchyards ya!n and hell itself +reathes o#t 6ontagion to this !orld" no! co#ld I drink hot +lood, And do s#ch +itter +#siness as the day Wo#ld -#ake to look on. Soft& no! to my mother. 0 heart, lose not thy nat#re* let not e%er The so#l of ero enter this firm +osom" $et me +e cr#el, not #nnat#ral" I !ill speak daggers to her, +#t #se none* .y tong#e and so#l in this +e hypocrites* Ho! in my !ords soe%er she +e shent, To gi%e them seals ne%er, my so#l, consent& Exit. Scene III. Enter King Claudius, Rosencrant , and Guildenstern. King Claudius. I like him not, nor stands it safe !ith #s To let his madness range. Therefore prepare yo#* I yo#r commission !ill forth!ith dispatch, And he to :ngland shall along !ith yo#" The terms of o#r estate may not end#re Ha5ard so dangero#s as doth ho#rly gro! 0#t of his l#nacies. Guildenstern. We !ill o#rsel%es pro%ide" .ost holy and religio#s fear it is To keep those many many +odies safe That li%e and feed #pon yo#r ma4esty. Rosencrant . The single and pec#liar life is +o#nd, With all the strength and armo#r of the mind, To keep itself from noyance* +#t m#ch more That spirit #pon !hose !eal depend and rest The li%es of many. The cease of ma4esty Dies not alone* +#t, like a g#lf, doth dra! Whats near it !ith it" it is a massy !heel, ,i;d on the s#mmit of the highest mo#nt, To !hose h#ge spokes ten tho#sand lesser things Are mortised and ad4oind* !hich, !hen it falls, :ach small anne;ment, petty conse-#ence, Attends the +oistero#s r#in. e%er alone Did the king sigh, +#t !ith a general groan. King Claudius. Arm yo#, I pray yo#, to this speedy %oyage* ,or !e !ill fetters p#t #pon this fear, Which no! goes too free1footed. Rosencrant , Guildenstern. We !ill haste #s. Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. Enter Polonius. Lord Polonius. .y lord, hes going to his mothers

closet" 'ehind the arras Ill con%ey myself, To hear the process* and !arrant shell ta; him home" And, as yo# said, and !isely !as it said, )Tis meet that some more a#dience than a mother, Since nat#re makes them partial, sho#ld oerhear The speech, of %antage. ,are yo# !ell, my liege" Ill call #pon yo# ere yo# go to +ed, And tell yo# !hat I kno!. King Claudius. Thanks, dear my lord. Exit Polonius. 0, my offence is rank it smells to hea%en* It hath the primal eldest c#rse #pont, A +rothers m#rder. Pray can I not, Tho#gh inclination +e as sharp as !ill" .y stronger g#ilt defeats my strong intent* And, like a man to do#+le +#siness +o#nd, I stand in pa#se !here I shall first +egin, And +oth neglect. What if this c#rsed hand Were thicker than itself !ith +rothers +lood, Is there not rain eno#gh in the s!eet hea%ens To !ash it !hite as sno!? Whereto ser%es mercy '#t to confront the %isage of offence? And !hats in prayer +#t this t!o1fold force, To +e forestalled ere !e come to fall, 0r pardond +eing do!n? Then Ill look #p* .y fa#lt is past. '#t, 0, !hat form of prayer 6an ser%e my t#rn? ),orgi%e me my fo#l m#rder? That cannot +e* since I am still possessd 0f those effects for !hich I did the m#rder, .y cro!n, mine o!n am+ition and my -#een. .ay one +e pardond and retain the offence? In the corr#pted c#rrents of this !orld 0ffences gilded hand may sho%e +y 4#stice, And oft )tis seen the !icked pri5e itself '#ys o#t the la!" +#t )tis not so a+o%e* There is no sh#ffling, there the action lies In his tr#e nat#re* and !e o#rsel%es compelld, :%en to the teeth and forehead of o#r fa#lts, To gi%e in e%idence. What then? !hat rests? Try !hat repentance can" !hat can it not? (et !hat can it !hen one can not repent? 0 !retched state& 0 +osom +lack as death& 0 limed so#l, that, str#ggling to +e free, Art more engaged& Help, angels& .ake assay& 'o!, st#++orn knees* and, heart !ith strings of steel, 'e soft as sine!s of the ne!+orn +a+e& All may +e !ell. Retires and kneels. Enter Hamlet. Hamlet. o! might I do it pat, no! he is praying* And no! Ill dot. And so he goes to hea%en* And so am I re%enged. That !o#ld +e scannd"

A %illain kills my father* and for that, I, his sole son, do this same %illain send To hea%en. 0, this is hire and salary, not re%enge. He took my father grossly, f#ll of +read* With all his crimes +road +lo!n, as fl#sh as .ay* And ho! his a#dit stands !ho kno!s sa%e hea%en? '#t in o#r circ#mstance and co#rse of tho#ght, )Tis hea%y !ith him" and am I then re%enged, To take him in the p#rging of his so#l, When he is fit and seasond for his passage? o& 9p, s!ord* and kno! tho# a more horrid hent" When he is dr#nk asleep, or in his rage, 0r in the incest#o#s pleas#re of his +ed* At gaming, s!earing, or a+o#t some act That has no relish of sal%ation int* Then trip him, that his heels may kick at hea%en, And that his so#l may +e as damnd and +lack As hell, !hereto it goes. .y mother stays" This physic +#t prolongs thy sickly days. Exit. King Claudius =risin >. .y !ords fly #p, my tho#ghts remain +elo!" Words !itho#t tho#ghts ne%er to hea%en go. Exit. Scene I<. Enter Queen Margaret and Polonius. Lord Polonius. He !ill come straight. $ook yo# lay home to him" Tell him his pranks ha%e +een too +road to +ear !ith, And that yo#r grace hath screend and stood +et!een .#ch heat and him. Ill sconce me e%en here. Pray yo#, +e ro#nd !ith him. Hamlet =within>. .other, mother, mother& Queen Gertrude. Ill !arrant yo#, ,ear me not" !ithdra!, I hear him coming. Polonius hides +ehind the arras Enter Hamlet. Hamlet. o!, mother, !hats the matter? Queen Gertrude. Hamlet, tho# hast thy father m#ch offended. Hamlet. .other, yo# ha%e my father m#ch offended. Queen Gertrude. 6ome, come, yo# ans!er !ith an idle tong#e. Hamlet. /o, go, yo# -#estion !ith a !icked tong#e. Queen Gertrude. Why, ho! no!, Hamlet& Hamlet. Whats the matter no!? Queen Gertrude. Ha%e yo# forgot me? Hamlet. o, +y the rood, not so" (o# are the -#een, yo#r h#s+ands +rothers !ife* And 2 !o#ld it !ere not so& 2 yo# are my mother.

Queen Gertrude. ay, then, Ill set those to yo# that can speak. Hamlet. 6ome, come, and sit yo# do!n* yo# shall not +#dge* (o# go not till I set yo# #p a glass Where yo# may see the inmost part of yo#. Queen Gertrude. What !ilt tho# do? tho# !ilt not m#rder me? Help, help, ho& Lord Polonius =behind>. What, ho& help, help, help& Hamlet =drawin >. Ho! no!& a rat? Dead, for a d#cat, dead& /akes a pass throu h the arras. Lord Polonius =behind>. 0, I am slain& %alls and dies. Queen Gertrude. 0 me, !hat hast tho# done? Hamlet. ay, I kno! not" Is it the king? Queen Gertrude. 0, !hat a rash and +loody deed is this& Hamlet. A +loody deed& almost as +ad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry !ith his +rother. Queen Gertrude. As kill a king& Hamlet. Ay, lady, )t!as my !ord. Lifts up the arra" and disco#ers $olonius. Tho# !retched, rash, intr#ding fool, fare!ell& I took thee for thy +etter" take thy fort#ne* Tho# findst to +e too +#sy is some danger. $ea%e !ringing of yo#r hands" peace& sit yo# do!n, And let me !ring yo#r heart* for so I shall, If it +e made of penetra+le st#ff, If damned c#stom ha%e not +rassd it so That it is proof and +#l!ark against sense. Queen Gertrude. What ha%e I done, that tho# darest !ag thy tong#e In noise so r#de against me? Hamlet. S#ch an act That +l#rs the grace and +l#sh of modesty, 6alls %irt#e hypocrite, takes off the rose ,rom the fair forehead of an innocent lo%e And sets a +lister there, makes marriage1%o!s As false as dicers oaths" 0, s#ch a deed As from the +ody of contraction pl#cks The %ery so#l, and s!eet religion makes A rhapsody of !ords" hea%ens face doth glo!" (ea, this solidity and compo#nd mass, With tristf#l %isage, as against the doom, Is tho#ght1sick at the act. Queen Gertrude. Ay me, !hat act, That roars so lo#d, and th#nders in the inde;? Hamlet. $ook here, #pon this pict#re, and on this, The co#nterfeit presentment of t!o +rothers. See, !hat a grace !as seated on this +ro!* Hyperions c#rls* the front of 8o%e himself* An eye like .ars, to threaten and command*

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A station like the herald .erc#ry e!1lighted on a hea%en1kissing hill* A com+ination and a form indeed, Where e%ery god did seem to set his seal, To gi%e the !orld ass#rance of a man" This !as yo#r h#s+and. $ook yo# no!, !hat follo!s" Here is yo#r h#s+and* like a milde!d ear, 'lasting his !holesome +rother. Ha%e yo# eyes? 6o#ld yo# on this fair mo#ntain lea%e to feed, And +atten on this moor? Ha& ha%e yo# eyes? (o# cannot call it lo%e* for at yo#r age The hey1day in the +lood is tame, its h#m+le, And !aits #pon the 4#dgment" and !hat 4#dgment Wo#ld step from this to this? Sense, s#re, yo# ha%e, :lse co#ld yo# not ha%e motion* +#t s#re, that sense Is apople;d* for madness !o#ld not err, or sense to ecstasy !as neer so thralld '#t it reser%ed some -#antity of choice, To ser%e in s#ch a difference. What de%il !ast That th#s hath co5end yo# at hoodman1+lind? :yes !itho#t feeling, feeling !itho#t sight, :ars !itho#t hands or eyes, smelling sans all, 0r +#t a sickly part of one tr#e sense 6o#ld not so mope. 0 shame& !here is thy +l#sh? 7e+ellio#s hell, If tho# canst m#tine in a matrons +ones, To flaming yo#th let %irt#e +e as !a;, And melt in her o!n fire" proclaim no shame When the comp#lsi%e ardo#r gi%es the charge, Since frost itself as acti%ely doth +#rn And reason panders !ill. Queen Gertrude. 0 Hamlet, speak no more" Tho# t#rnst mine eyes into my %ery so#l* And there I see s#ch +lack and grained spots As !ill not lea%e their tinct. Hamlet. ay, +#t to li%e In the rank s!eat of an enseamed +ed, Ste!d in corr#ption, honeying and making lo%e 0%er the nasty sty, 2 Queen Gertrude. 0, speak to me no more* These !ords, like daggers, enter in mine ears* o more, s!eet Hamlet& Hamlet. A m#rderer and a %illain* A sla%e that is not t!entieth part the tithe 0f yo#r precedent lord* a %ice of kings* A c#tp#rse of the empire and the r#le, That from a shelf the precio#s diadem stole, And p#t it in his pocket& Queen Gertrude. o more& Hamlet. A king of shreds and patches, 2 Enter Ghost. Sa%e me, and ho%er oer me !ith yo#r !ings, (o# hea%enly g#ards& What !o#ld yo#r gracio#s fig#re?

Queen Gertrude. Alas, hes mad& Hamlet. Do yo# not come yo#r tardy son to chide, That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go +y The important acting of yo#r dread command? 0, say& Ghost!Do not forget" this %isitation Is +#t to !het thy almost +l#nted p#rpose. '#t, look, ama5ement on thy mother sits" 0, step +et!een her and her fighting so#l" 6onceit in !eakest +odies strongest !orks" Speak to her, Hamlet. Hamlet. Ho! is it !ith yo#, lady? Queen Gertrude. Alas, ho! ist !ith yo#, That yo# do +end yo#r eye on %acancy And !ith the incorporal air do hold disco#rse? ,orth at yo#r eyes yo#r spirits !ildly peep* And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, (o#r +edded hair, like life in e;crements, Starts #p, and stands on end. 0 gentle son, 9pon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do yo# look? Hamlet. 0n him, on him& $ook yo#, ho! pale he glares& His form and ca#se con4oind, preaching to stones, Wo#ld make them capa+le. Do not look #pon me* $est !ith this piteo#s action yo# con%ert .y stern effects" then !hat I ha%e to do Will !ant tr#e colo#r* tears perchance for +lood. Queen Gertrude. To !hom do yo# speak this? Hamlet. Do yo# see nothing there? Queen Gertrude. othing at all* yet all that is I see. Hamlet. or did yo# nothing hear? Queen Gertrude. o, nothing +#t o#rsel%es. Hamlet. Why, look yo# there& look, ho! it steals a!ay& .y father, in his ha+it as he li%ed& $ook, !here he goes, e%en no!, o#t at the portal& Exit Ghost. Queen Gertrude. This the %ery coinage of yo#r +rain" This +odiless creation ecstasy Is %ery c#nning in. Hamlet. :cstasy& .y p#lse, as yo#rs, doth temperately keep time, And makes as healthf#l m#sic" it is not madness That I ha%e #tterd" +ring me to the test, And I the matter !ill re1!ord* !hich madness Wo#ld gam+ol from. .other, for lo%e of grace, $ay not that mattering #nction to yo#r so#l, That not yo#r trespass, +#t my madness speaks" It !ill +#t skin and film the #lcero#s place, Whilst rank corr#ption, mining all !ithin, Infects #nseen. 6onfess yo#rself to hea%en* 7epent !hats past* a%oid !hat is to come* And do not spread the compost on the !eeds, To make them ranker. ,orgi%e me this my %irt#e*

,or in the fatness of these p#rsy times <irt#e itself of %ice m#st pardon +eg, (ea, c#r+ and !oo for lea%e to do him good. Queen Gertrude. 0 Hamlet, tho# hast cleft my heart in t!ain. Hamlet. 0, thro! a!ay the !orser part of it, And li%e the p#rer !ith the other half. /ood night" +#t go not to mine #ncles +ed* Ass#me a %irt#e, if yo# ha%e it not. That monster, c#stom, !ho all sense doth eat, 0f ha+its de%il, is angel yet in this, That to the #se of actions fair and good He like!ise gi%es a frock or li%ery, That aptly is p#t on. 7efrain to1night, And that shall lend a kind of easiness To the ne;t a+stinence" the ne;t more easy* ,or #se almost can change the stamp of nat#re, And either A > the de%il, or thro! him o#t With !ondro#s potency. 0nce more, good night" And !hen yo# are desiro#s to +e +lessd, Ill +lessing +eg of yo#. ,or this same lord, $ointin to Polonius. I do repent" +#t hea%en hath pleased it so, To p#nish me !ith this and this !ith me, That I m#st +e their sco#rge and minister. I !ill +esto! him, and !ill ans!er !ell The death I ga%e him. So, again, good night. I m#st +e cr#el, only to +e kind" Th#s +ad +egins and !orse remains +ehind. 0ne !ord more, good lady. Queen Gertrude. What shall I do? Hamlet. ot this, +y no means, that I +id yo# do" $et the +loat king tempt yo# again to +ed* Pinch !anton on yo#r cheek* call yo# his mo#se* And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses, 0r paddling in yo#r neck !ith his damnd fingers, .ake yo# to ra%el all this matter o#t, That I essentially am not in madness, '#t mad in craft. )T!ere good yo# let him kno!* ,or !ho, thats +#t a -#een, fair, so+er, !ise, Wo#ld from a paddock, from a +at, a gi+, S#ch dear concernings hide? !ho !o#ld do so? o, in despite of sense and secrecy, 9npeg the +asket on the ho#ses top. $et the +irds fly, and, like the famo#s ape, To try concl#sions, in the +asket creep, And +reak yo#r o!n neck do!n. Queen Gertrude. 'e tho# ass#red, if !ords +e made of +reath, And +reath of life, I ha%e no life to +reathe What tho# hast said to me. Hamlet. I m#st to :ngland* yo# kno! that? Queen Gertrude. Alack, I had forgot" )tis so concl#ded on. Hamlet. Theres letters seald" and my t!o

schoolfello!s, Whom I !ill tr#st as I !ill adders fangd, They +ear the mandate* they m#st s!eep my !ay, And marshal me to kna%ery. $et it !ork* ,or )tis the sport to ha%e the engineer Hoist !ith his o!n petard" and )t shall go hard '#t I !ill del%e one yard +elo! their mines, And +lo! them at the moon" 0, )tis most s!eet, When in one line t!o crafts directly meet. This man shall set me packing" Ill l#g the g#ts into the neigh+o#r room. .other, good night. Indeed this co#nsellor Is no! most still, most secret and most gra%e, Who !as in life a foolish prating kna%e. 6ome, sir, to dra! to!ard an end !ith yo#. /ood night, mother. Exeunt se#erall", Hamlet dra in in $olonius. Act I<. Scene I. Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Rosencrant , and Guildenstern. King Claudius. Theres matter in these sighs, these profo#nd hea%es" (o# m#st translate" )tis fit !e #nderstand them. Where is yo#r son? Queen Gertrude. 'esto! this place on #s a little !hile. Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. Ah, my good lord, !hat ha%e I seen to1night& King Claudius. What, /ertr#de? Ho! does Hamlet? Queen Gertrude. .ad as the sea and !ind, !hen +oth contend Which is the mightier" in his la!less fit, 'ehind the arras hearing something stir, Whips o#t his rapier, cries, )A rat, a rat& And, in this +rainish apprehension, kills The #nseen good old man. King Claudius. 0 hea%y deed& It had +een so !ith #s, had !e +een there" His li+erty is f#ll of threats to all* To yo# yo#rself, to #s, to e%ery one. Alas, ho! shall this +loody deed +e ans!erd? It !ill +e laid to #s, !hose pro%idence Sho#ld ha%e kept short, restraind and o#t of ha#nt, This mad yo#ng man" +#t so m#ch !as o#r lo%e, We !o#ld not #nderstand !hat !as most fit* '#t, like the o!ner of a fo#l disease, To keep it from di%#lging, let it feed :%en on the pith of $ife. Where is he gone? Queen Gertrude. To dra! apart the +ody he hath killd" 0er !hom his %ery madness, like some ore Among a mineral of metals +ase, Sho!s itself p#re* he !eeps for !hat is done.

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King Claudius. 0 /ertr#de, come a!ay& The s#n no sooner shall the mo#ntains to#ch, '#t !e !ill ship him hence" and this %ile deed We m#st, !ith all o#r ma4esty and skill, 'oth co#ntenance and e;c#se. Ho, /#ildenstern& Re-enter Rosencrant and Guildenstern. ,riends +oth, go 4oin yo# !ith some f#rther aid" Hamlet in madness hath Poloni#s slain, And from his mothers closet hath he draggd him" /o seek him o#t* speak fair, and +ring the +ody Into the chapel. I pray yo#, haste in this. Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. 6ome, /ertr#de, !ell call #p o#r !isest friends* And let them kno!, +oth !hat !e mean to do, And !hats #ntimely done. 0, come a!ay& .y so#l is f#ll of discord and dismay. Exeunt. Scene II. Enter Hamlet. Hamlet. Safely sto!ed. Rosencrant , Guildenstern! =within>. Hamlet& $ord Hamlet& Hamlet. What noise? !ho calls on Hamlet? 0, here they come. Enter Rosencrant and Guildenstern. Rosencrant . What ha%e yo# done, my lord, !ith the dead +ody? Hamlet. 6ompo#nded it !ith d#st, !hereto )tis kin. Rosencrant . Tell #s !here )tis, that !e may take it thence And +ear it to the chapel. Hamlet. Do not +elie%e it. Rosencrant . 'elie%e !hat? Hamlet. That I can keep yo#r co#nsel and not mine o!n. 'esides, to +e demanded of a sponge& !hat replication sho#ld +e made +y the son of a king? Rosencrant . Take yo# me for a sponge, my lord? Hamlet. Ay, sir, that soaks #p the kings co#ntenance, his re!ards, his a#thorities. '#t s#ch officers do the king +est ser%ice in the end" he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his 4a!* first mo#thed, to +e last s!allo!ed" !hen he needs !hat yo# ha%e gleaned, it is +#t s-#ee5ing yo#, and, sponge, yo# shall +e dry again. Rosencrant . I #nderstand yo# not, my lord. Hamlet. I am glad of it" a kna%ish speech sleeps in a foolish ear. Rosencrant . .y lord, yo# m#st tell #s !here the +ody is, and go !ith #s to the king. Hamlet. The +ody is !ith the king, +#t the king is not !ith

the +ody. The king is a thing 2 Guildenstern. A thing, my lord& Hamlet. 0f nothing" +ring me to him. Hide fo;, and all after. Exeunt.

this month, yo# shall nose him as yo# go #p the stairs into the lo++y. King Claudius. /o seek him there. !o some Attendants. Hamlet. He !ill stay till ye come. Exeunt Attendants. Scene III. King Claudius. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial Enter King Claudius, attended. safety, 2 King Claudius. I ha%e sent to seek him, and to find Which !e do tender, as !e dearly grie%e the +ody. ,or that !hich tho# hast done, 2 m#st send thee Ho! dangero#s is it that this man goes loose& hence (et m#st not !e p#t the strong la! on him" With fiery -#ickness" therefore prepare thyself* Hes lo%ed of the distracted m#ltit#de, The +ark is ready, and the !ind at help, Who like not in their 4#dgment, +#t their eyes* The associates tend, and e%ery thing is +ent And !here tis so, the offenders sco#rge is !eighd, ,or :ngland. '#t ne%er the offence. To +ear all smooth and e%en, Hamlet. ,or :ngland& This s#dden sending him a!ay m#st seem King Claudius. Ay, Hamlet. Deli+erate pa#se" diseases desperate gro!n Hamlet. /ood. 'y desperate appliance are relie%ed, King Claudius. So is it, if tho# kne!st o#r p#rposes. 0r not at all. Hamlet. I see a cher#+ that sees them. '#t, come* for Enter Rosencrant . :ngland& ,are!ell, dear mother. Ho! no!& !hat hath +efalln? King Claudius. Thy lo%ing father, Hamlet. Rosencrant . Where the dead +ody is +esto!d, my Hamlet. .y mother" father and mother is man and lord, !ife* man We cannot get from him. and !ife is one flesh* and so, my mother. 6ome, for King Claudius. '#t !here is he? :ngland& Rosencrant . Witho#t, my lord* g#arded, to kno! Exit. yo#r pleas#re. King Claudius. ,ollo! him at foot* tempt him !ith King Claudius. 'ring him +efore #s. speed a+oard* Rosencrant . Ho, /#ildenstern& +ring in my lord. Delay it not* Ill ha%e him hence to1night" Enter Hamlet and Guildenstern. A!ay& for e%ery thing is seald and done King Claudius. o!, Hamlet, !heres Poloni#s? That else leans on the affair" pray yo#, make haste. Hamlet. At s#pper. Exeunt Rosencrant and Guildenstern. King Claudius. At s#pper& !here? And, :ngland, if my lo%e tho# holdst at a#ght 2 Hamlet. ot !here he eats, +#t !here he is eaten" a As my great po!er thereof may gi%e thee sense, certain Since yet thy cicatrice looks ra! and red con%ocation of politic !orms are een at him. (o#r After the Danish s!ord, and thy free a!e !orm is yo#r only emperor for diet" !e fat all Pays homage to #s 2 tho# mayst not coldly set creat#res else to fat #s, and !e fat o#rsel%es for 0#r so%ereign process* !hich imports at f#ll, maggots" yo#r fat king and yo#r lean +eggar is +#t 'y letters congr#ing to that effect, %aria+le ser%ice, t!o dishes, +#t to one ta+le" The present death of Hamlet. Do it, :ngland* thats the end. ,or like the hectic in my +lood he rages, King Claudius. Alas, alas& And tho# m#st c#re me" till I kno! )tis done, Hamlet. A man may fish !ith the !orm that hath eat Ho!eer my haps, my 4oys !ere neer +eg#n. of a Exit. king, and cat of the fish that hath fed of that !orm. King Claudius. What dost yo# mean +y this? Scene I<. Hamlet. othing +#t to sho! yo# ho! a king may go Enter Fortin"ras, a Captain, and -oldiers, marchin . a Prince Fortin"ras. /o, captain, from me greet the progress thro#gh the g#ts of a +eggar. Danish king* King Claudius. Where is Poloni#s? Tell him that, +y his licence, ,ortin+ras Hamlet. In hea%en* send hither to see" if yo#r 6ra%es the con%eyance of a promised march messenger 0%er his kingdom. (o# kno! the rende5%o#s. find him not there, seek him i the other place If that his ma4esty !o#ld a#ght !ith #s, yo#rself. '#t indeed, if yo# find him not !ithin We shall e;press o#r d#ty in his eye*

And let him kno! so. Captain. I !ill dot, my lord. Prince Fortin"ras. /o softly on. Exeunt Fortin"ras and -oldiers. Enter Hamlet, Rosencrant , Guildenstern, and others. Hamlet. /ood sir, !hose po!ers are these? Captain. They are of or!ay, sir. Hamlet. Ho! p#rposed, sir, I pray yo#? Captain. Against some part of Poland. Hamlet. Who commands them, sir? Captain. The nephe!s to old or!ay, ,ortin+ras. Hamlet. /oes it against the main of Poland, sir, 0r for some frontier? Captain. Tr#ly to speak, and !ith no addition, We go to gain a little patch of gro#nd That hath in it no profit +#t the name. To pay fi%e d#cats, fi%e, I !o#ld not farm it* or !ill it yield to or!ay or the Pole A ranker rate, sho#ld it +e sold in fee. Hamlet. Why, then the Polack ne%er !ill defend it. Captain. (es, it is already garrisond. Hamlet. T!o tho#sand so#ls and t!enty tho#sand d#cats Will not de+ate the -#estion of this stra!" This is the imposth#me of m#ch !ealth and peace, That in!ard +reaks, and sho!s no ca#se !itho#t Why the man dies. I h#m+ly thank yo#, sir. Captain. /od +e !i yo#, sir. Exit. Rosencrant . Wilt please yo# go, my lord? Hamlet. Ill +e !ith yo# straight go a little +efore. Exeunt all except Hamlet. Ho! all occasions do inform against me, And sp#r my d#ll re%enge& What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time 'e +#t to sleep and feed? a +east, no more. S#re, he that made #s !ith s#ch large disco#rse, $ooking +efore and after, ga%e #s not That capa+ility and god1like reason To f#st in #s #n#sed. o!, !hether it +e 'estial o+li%ion, or some cra%en scr#ple 0f thinking too precisely on the e%ent, A tho#ght !hich, -#arterd, hath +#t one part !isdom And e%er three parts co!ard, I do not kno! Why yet I li%e to say )This things to do* Sith I ha%e ca#se and !ill and strength and means To dot. :;amples gross as earth e;hort me" Witness this army of s#ch mass and charge $ed +y a delicate and tender prince, Whose spirit !ith di%ine am+ition p#ffd .akes mo#ths at the in%isi+le e%ent, :;posing !hat is mortal and #ns#re To all that fort#ne, death and danger dare,

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Ophelia. Say yo#? nay, pray yo#, mark. -in s. He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone* At his head a grass1green t#rf, At his heels a stone. Queen Gertrude. ay, +#t, 0phelia, 2 Ophelia. Pray yo#, mark. -in s. White his shro#d as the mo#ntain sno!, 2 Enter King Claudius. Queen Gertrude. Alas, look here, my lord. Ophelia =sin s>. $arded !ith s!eet flo!ers Which +e!ept to the gra%e did go With tr#e1lo%e sho!ers. Scene <. King Claudius. Ho! do yo#, pretty lady? Enter Queen Gertrude, Horatio, and a Gentleman. Ophelia. Well, /od )ild yo#& They say the o!l !as a Queen Gertrude. I !ill not speak !ith her. +akers Gentleman. She is import#nate, indeed distract" da#ghter. $ord, !e kno! !hat !e are, +#t kno! not Her mood !ill needs +e pitied. !hat !e may +e. /od +e at yo#r ta+le& Queen Gertrude. What !o#ld she ha%e? King Claudius. 6onceit #pon her father. Gentleman. She speaks m#ch of her father* says she Ophelia. Pray yo#, lets ha%e no !ords of this* +#t hears !hen they Theres tricks i the !orld* and hems, and +eats her ask yo# !hat it means, say yo# this" heart* -in s. Sp#rns en%io#sly at stra!s* speaks things in do#+t, To1morro! is Saint <alentines day, That carry +#t half sense" her speech is nothing, All in the morning +etime, (et the #nshaped #se of it doth mo%e And I a maid at yo#r !indo!, The hearers to collection* they aim at it, To +e yo#r <alentine. And +otch the !ords #p fit to their o!n tho#ghts* Then #p he rose, and donnd his clothes, Which, as her !inks, and nods, and gest#res And d#ppd the cham+er1door* yield them, $et in the maid, that o#t a maid Indeed !o#ld make one think there might +e e%er departed more. tho#ght, King Claudius. Pretty 0phelia& Tho#gh nothing s#re, yet m#ch #nhappily. Ophelia. Indeed, la, !itho#t an oath, Ill make an end Horatio. )T!ere good she !ere spoken !ith* for she ont" may stre! -in s. Dangero#s con4ect#res in ill1+reeding minds. 'y /is and +y Saint 6harity, Queen Gertrude. $et her come in. Alack, and fie for shame& Exit Horatio. (o#ng men !ill dot, if they come tot* To my sick so#l, as sins tr#e nat#re is, 'y cock, they are to +lame. :ach toy seems prolog#e to some great amiss" 3#oth she, +efore yo# t#m+led me, So f#ll of artless 4ealo#sy is g#ilt, (o# promised me to !ed. It spills itself in fearing to +e spilt. So !o#ld I ha done, +y yonder s#n, Re-enter Horatio, with Ophelia. An tho# hadst not come to my +ed. Ophelia. Where is the +ea#teo#s ma4esty of Denmark? King Claudius. Ho! long hath she +een th#s? Queen Gertrude. Ho! no!, 0phelia& Ophelia. I hope all !ill +e !ell. We m#st +e patient" Ophelia =sin s>. +#t I Ho! sho#ld I yo#r tr#e lo%e kno! cannot choose +#t !eep, to think they sho#ld lay ,rom another one? him 'y his cockle hat and staff, i the cold gro#nd. .y +rother shall kno! of it" And his sandal shoon. and so I thank yo# for yo#r good co#nsel. 6ome, my Queen Gertrude. Alas, s!eet lady, !hat imports this coach& /ood night, ladies* good night, s!eet ladies* song? good night, good night.

:%en for an egg1shell. 7ightly to +e great Is not to stir !itho#t great arg#ment, '#t greatly to find -#arrel in a stra! When hono#rs at the stake. Ho! stand I then, That ha%e a father killd, a mother staind, :;citements of my reason and my +lood, And let all sleep? !hile, to my shame, I see The imminent death of t!enty tho#sand men, That, for a fantasy and trick of fame, /o to their gra%es like +eds, fight for a plot Whereon the n#m+ers cannot try the ca#se, Which is not tom+ eno#gh and continent To hide the slain? 0, from this time forth, .y tho#ghts +e +loody, or +e nothing !orth& Exit.

Exit. King Claudius. ,ollo! her close* gi%e her good !atch, I pray yo#. Exit Horatio. 0, this is the poison of deep grief* it springs All from her fathers death. 0 /ertr#de, /ertr#de, When sorro!s come, they come not single spies '#t in +attalions. ,irst, her father slain" e;t, yo#r son gone* and he most %iolent a#thor 0f his o!n 4#st remo%e" the people m#ddied, Thick and #n!holesome in their tho#ghts and !hispers, ,or good Poloni#s death* and !e ha%e done +#t greenly, In h#gger1m#gger to inter him" poor 0phelia Di%ided from herself and her fair 4#dgment, Witho#t the !hich !e are pict#res, or mere +easts" $ast, and as m#ch containing as all these, Her +rother is in secret come from ,rance* ,eeds on his !onder, keeps himself in clo#ds, And !ants not +#55ers to infect his ear With pestilent speeches of his fathers death* Wherein necessity, of matter +eggard, Will nothing stick o#r person to arraign In ear and ear. 0 my dear /ertr#de, this, $ike to a m#rdering1piece, in many places /i%es me s#perfl#o#s death. A noise within. Queen Gertrude. Alack, !hat noise is this? King Claudius. Where are my S!it5ers? $et them g#ard the door. Enter another Gentleman. What is the matter? Gentleman. Sa%e yo#rself, my lord" The ocean, o%erpeering of his list, :ats not the flats !ith more impet#o#s haste Than yo#ng $aertes, in a rioto#s head, 0er+ears yo#r officers. The ra++le call him lord* And, as the !orld !ere no! +#t to +egin, Anti-#ity forgot, c#stom not kno!n, The ratifiers and props of e%ery !ord, They cry )6hoose !e" $aertes shall +e king" 6aps, hands, and tong#es, appla#d it to the clo#ds" )$aertes shall +e king, $aertes king& Queen Gertrude. Ho! cheerf#lly on the false trail they cry& 0, this is co#nter, yo# false Danish dogs& King Claudius. The doors are +roke. 0oise within. Enter Laertes, armed, #anes followin . Laertes. Where is this king? Sirs, stand yo# all !itho#t. #anes. o, lets come in. Laertes. I pray yo#, gi%e me lea%e.

#anes. We !ill, !e !ill. !he" retire without the door. Laertes. I thank yo#" keep the door. 0 tho# %ile king, /i%e me my father& Queen Gertrude. 6almly, good $aertes. Laertes. That drop of +lood thats calm proclaims me +astard, 6ries c#ckold to my father, +rands the harlot :%en here, +et!een the chaste #nsmirched +ro! 0f my tr#e mother. King Claudius. What is the ca#se, $aertes, That thy re+ellion looks so giant1like? $et him go, /ertr#de* do not fear o#r person" Theres s#ch di%inity doth hedge a king, That treason can +#t peep to !hat it !o#ld, Acts little of his !ill. Tell me, $aertes, Why tho# art th#s incensed. $et him go, /ertr#de. Speak, man. Laertes. Where is my father? King Claudius. Dead. Queen Gertrude. '#t not +y him. King Claudius. $et him demand his fill. Laertes. Ho! came he dead? Ill not +e 4#ggled !ith" To hell, allegiance& %o!s, to the +lackest de%il& 6onscience and grace, to the profo#ndest pit& I dare damnation. To this point I stand, That +oth the !orlds I gi%e to negligence, $et come !hat comes* only Ill +e re%enged .ost thoro#ghly for my father. King Claudius. Who shall stay yo#? Laertes. .y !ill, not all the !orld" And for my means, Ill h#s+and them so !ell, They shall go far !ith little. King Claudius. /ood $aertes, If yo# desire to kno! the certainty 0f yo#r dear fathers death, ist !rit in yo#r re%enge, That, s!oopstake, yo# !ill dra! +oth friend and foe, Winner and loser? Laertes. one +#t his enemies. King Claudius. Will yo# kno! them then? Laertes. To his good friends th#s !ide Ill ope my arms* And like the kind life1rendering pelican, 7epast them !ith my +lood. King Claudius. Why, no! yo# speak $ike a good child and a tr#e gentleman. That I am g#iltless of yo#r fathers death, And am most sensi+le in grief for it, It shall as le%el to yo#r 4#dgment pierce As day does to yo#r eye. #anes =within>. $et her come in. Laertes. Ho! no!& !hat noise is that? Re-enter Ophelia.

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0 heat, dry #p my +rains& tears se%en times salt, '#rn o#t the sense and %irt#e of mine eye& 'y hea%en, thy madness shall +e paid +y !eight, Till o#r scale t#rn the +eam. 0 rose of .ay& Dear maid, kind sister, s!eet 0phelia& 0 hea%ens& ist possi+le, a yo#ng maids !its Sho#ld +e as moral as an old mans life? at#re is fine in lo%e, and !here )tis fine, It sends some precio#s instance of itself After the thing it lo%es. Ophelia =sin s>. They +ore him +arefaced on the +ier* Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny* And in his gra%e raind many a tear" 2 ,are yo# !ell, my do%e& Laertes. Hadst tho# thy !its, and didst pers#ade re%enge, It co#ld not mo%e th#s. Ophelia =sin s>. (o# m#st sing a1do!n a1do!n, An yo# call him a1do!n1a. 0, ho! the !heel +ecomes it& It is the false ste!ard, that stole his masters da#ghter. Laertes. This nothings more than matter. Ophelia. Theres rosemary, thats for remem+rance* pray, lo%e, remem+er" and there is pansies. thats for tho#ghts. Laertes. A doc#ment in madness, tho#ghts and remem+rance fitted. Ophelia. Theres fennel for yo#, and col#m+ines" theres r#e for yo#* and heres some for me" !e may call it her+1grace o S#ndays" 0 yo# m#st !ear yo#r r#e !ith a difference. Theres a daisy" I !o#ld gi%e yo# some %iolets, +#t they !ithered all !hen my father died" they say he made a good end, 2 -in s. ,or +onny s!eet 7o+in is all my 4oy. Laertes. Tho#ght and affliction, passion, hell itself, She t#rns to fa%o#r and to prettiness. Ophelia =sin s>. And !ill he not come again? And !ill he not come again? o, no, he is dead" /o to thy death1+ed" He ne%er !ill come again. His +eard !as as !hite as sno!, All fla;en !as his poll" He is gone, he is gone, And !e cast a!ay moan" /od ha mercy on his so#l& And of all 6hristian so#ls, I pray /od. /od +e !i ye.

Exit. Laertes. Do yo# see this, 0 /od? King Claudius. $aertes, I m#st comm#ne !ith yo#r grief, 0r yo# deny me right. /o +#t apart, .ake choice of !hom yo#r !isest friends yo# !ill. And they shall hear and 4#dge )t!i;t yo# and me" If +y direct or +y collateral hand They find #s to#chd, !e !ill o#r kingdom gi%e, 0#r cro!n, o#r life, and all that !e can o#rs, To yo# in satisfaction* +#t if not, 'e yo# content to lend yo#r patience to #s, And !e shall 4ointly la+o#r !ith yo#r so#l To gi%e it d#e content. Laertes. $et this +e so* His means of death, his o+sc#re f#neral 2 o trophy, s!ord, nor hatchment oer his +ones, o no+le rite nor formal ostentation 2 6ry to +e heard, as )t!ere from hea%en to earth, That I m#st callt in -#estion. King Claudius. So yo# shall* And !here the offence is let the great a;e fall. I pray yo#, go !ith me. Exeunt.

d#m+* yet are they m#ch too light for the +ore of the matter. These good fello!s !ill +ring thee !here I am. 7osencrant5 and /#ildenstern hold their co#rse for :ngland" of them I ha%e m#ch to tell thee. ,are!ell. )He that tho# kno!est thine, Hamlet. 6ome, I !ill make yo# !ay for these yo#r letters* And dot the speedier, that yo# may direct me To him from !hom yo# +ro#ght them. Exeunt.

Scene <II. Enter King Claudius and Laertes. King Claudius. o! m#st yo#r conscience my ac-#aintance seal, And yo# m#st p#t me in yo#r heart for friend, Sith yo# ha%e heard, and !ith a kno!ing ear, That he !hich hath yo#r no+le father slain P#rs#ed my life. Laertes. It !ell appears" +#t tell me Why yo# proceeded not against these feats, So crimef#l and so capital in nat#re, As +y yo#r safety, !isdom, all things else, (o# mainly !ere stirrd #p. Scene <I. King Claudius. 0, for t!o special reasons* Enter Horatio and a $er%ant. Which may to yo#, perhaps, seem m#ch #nsine!d, Horatio. What are they that !o#ld speak !ith me? '#t yet to me they are strong. The -#een his mother $er%ant. Sailors, sir" they say they ha%e letters for yo#. $i%es almost +y his looks* and for myself 2 Horatio. $et them come in. .y %irt#e or my plag#e, +e it either !hich 2 Exit $er%ant. Shes so con4#ncti%e to my life and so#l, I do not kno! from !hat part of the !orld That, as the star mo%es not +#t in his sphere, I sho#ld +e greeted, if not from $ord Hamlet. I co#ld not +#t +y her. The other moti%e, Enter $ailors. Why to a p#+lic co#nt I might not go, First $ailor. /od +less yo#, sir. Is the great lo%e the general gender +ear him* Horatio. $et him +less thee too. Who, dipping all his fa#lts in their affection, First $ailor. He shall, sir, ant please him. Theres a Wo#ld, like the spring that t#rneth !ood to stone, letter for 6on%ert his gy%es to graces* so that my arro!s, yo#, sir* it comes from the am+assador that !as Too slightly tim+erd for so lo#d a !ind, +o#nd for :ngland* if yo#r name +e Horatio, as I am Wo#ld ha%e re%erted to my +o! again, let to kno! it is. And not !here I had aimd them. Horatio =reads>. )Horatio, !hen tho# shalt ha%e Laertes. And so ha%e I a no+le father lost* o%erlooked A sister dri%en into desperate terms, this, gi%e these fello!s some means to the king" Whose !orth, if praises may go +ack again, they ha%e letters for him. :re !e !ere t!o days old Stood challenger on mo#nt of all the age at sea, a pirate of %ery !arlike appointment ga%e #s ,or her perfections" +#t my re%enge !ill come. chase. ,inding o#rsel%es too slo! of sail, !e p#t on King Claudius. 'reak not yo#r sleeps for that" yo# a compelled %alo#r, and in the grapple I +oarded m#st not think them" on the instant they got clear of o#r ship* so That !e are made of st#ff so flat and d#ll I alone +ecame their prisoner. They ha%e dealt !ith That !e can let o#r +eard +e shook !ith danger me like thie%es of mercy" +#t they kne! !hat they And think it pastime. (o# shortly shall hear more" did* I am to do a good t#rn for them. $et the king I lo%ed yo#r father, and !e lo%e o#rself* ha%e the letters I ha%e sent* and repair tho# to me And that, I hope, !ill teach yo# to imagine 2 !ith as m#ch speed as tho# !o#ldst fly death. I Enter a Messenger. ha%e !ords to speak in thine ear !ill make thee Ho! no!& !hat ne!s?

Messenger. $etters, my lord, from Hamlet" This to yo#r ma4esty* this to the -#een. King Claudius. ,rom Hamlet& !ho +ro#ght them? Messenger. Sailors, my lord, they say* I sa! them not" They !ere gi%en me +y 6la#dio* he recei%ed them 0f him that +ro#ght them. King Claudius. $aertes, yo# shall hear them. $ea%e #s. Exit Messenger. Reads. )High and mighty, (o# shall kno! I am set naked on yo#r kingdom. To1morro! shall I +eg lea%e to see yo#r kingly eyes" !hen I shall, first asking yo#r pardon there#nto, reco#nt the occasion of my s#dden and more strange ret#rn. )Hamlet. What sho#ld this mean? Are all the rest come +ack? 0r is it some a+#se, and no s#ch thing? Laertes. ?no! yo# the hand? King Claudius. )Tis Hamlets character. ) aked& And in a postscript here, he says )alone. 6an yo# ad%ise me? Laertes. Im lost in it, my lord. '#t let him come* It !arms the %ery sickness in my heart, That I shall li%e and tell him to his teeth, )Th#s didest tho#. King Claudius. If it +e so, $aertes 2 As ho! sho#ld it +e so? ho! other!ise? 2 Will yo# +e r#led +y me? Laertes. Ay, my lord* So yo# !ill not oerr#le me to a peace. King Claudius. To thine o!n peace. If he +e no! ret#rnd, As checking at his %oyage, and that he means o more to #ndertake it, I !ill !ork him To an e;ploit, no! ripe in my de%ice, 9nder the !hich he shall not choose +#t fall" And for his death no !ind of +lame shall +reathe, '#t e%en his mother shall #ncharge the practise And call it accident. Laertes. .y lord, I !ill +e r#led* The rather, if yo# co#ld de%ise it so That I might +e the organ. King Claudius. It falls right. (o# ha%e +een talkd of since yo#r tra%el m#ch, And that in Hamlets hearing, for a -#ality Wherein, they say, yo# shine" yo#r s#m of parts Did not together pl#ck s#ch en%y from him As did that one, and that, in my regard, 0f the #n!orthiest siege. Laertes. What part is that, my lord? King Claudius. A %ery ri+and in the cap of yo#th, (et needf#l too* for yo#th no less +ecomes The light and careless li%ery that it !ears

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Than settled age his sa+les and his !eeds, Importing health and gra%eness. T!o months since, Here !as a gentleman of ormandy" 2 I%e seen myself, and ser%ed against, the ,rench, And they can !ell on horse+ack" +#t this gallant Had !itchcraft int* he gre! #nto his seat* And to s#ch !ondro#s doing +ro#ght his horse, As he had +een incorpsed and demi1nat#red With the +ra%e +east" so far he toppd my tho#ght, That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, 6ome short of !hat he did. Laertes. A orman !ast? King Claudius. A orman. Laertes. 9pon my life, $amond. King Claudius. The %ery same. Laertes. I kno! him !ell" he is the +rooch indeed And gem of all the nation. King Claudius. He made confession of yo#, And ga%e yo# s#ch a masterly report ,or art and e;ercise in yo#r defence And for yo#r rapier most especially, That he cried o#t, )t!o#ld +e a sight indeed, If one co#ld match yo#" the scrimers of their nation, He s!ore, had had neither motion, g#ard, nor eye, If yo# opposed them. Sir, this report of his Did Hamlet so en%enom !ith his en%y That he co#ld nothing do +#t !ish and +eg (o#r s#dden coming oer, to play !ith him. o!, o#t of this, 2 Laertes. What o#t of this, my lord? King Claudius. $aertes, !as yo#r father dear to yo#? 0r are yo# like the painting of a sorro!, A face !itho#t a heart? Laertes. Why ask yo# this? King Claudius. ot that I think yo# did not lo%e yo#r father* '#t that I kno! lo%e is +eg#n +y time* And that I see, in passages of proof, Time -#alifies the spark and fire of it. There li%es !ithin the %ery flame of lo%e A kind of !ick or sn#ff that !ill a+ate it* And nothing is at a like goodness still* ,or goodness, gro!ing to a pl#risy, Dies in his o!n too m#ch" that !e !o#ld do We sho#ld do !hen !e !o#ld* for this )!o#ld changes And hath a+atements and delays as many As there are tong#es, are hands, are accidents* And then this )sho#ld is like a spendthrift sigh, That h#rts +y easing. '#t, to the -#ick o the #lcer" 2 Hamlet comes +ack" !hat !o#ld yo# #ndertake, To sho! yo#rself yo#r fathers son in deed .ore than in !ords? Laertes. To c#t his throat i the ch#rch.

King Claudius. o place, indeed, sho#ld m#rder sanct#ari5e* 7e%enge sho#ld ha%e no +o#nds. '#t, good $aertes, Will yo# do this, keep close !ithin yo#r cham+er. Hamlet ret#rnd shall kno! yo# are come home" Well p#t on those shall praise yo#r e;cellence And set a do#+le %arnish on the fame The ,renchman ga%e yo#, +ring yo# in fine together And !ager on yo#r heads" he, +eing remiss, .ost genero#s and free from all contri%ing, Will not per#se the foils* so that, !ith ease, 0r !ith a little sh#ffling, yo# may choose A s!ord #n+ated, and in a pass of practise 7e-#ite him for yo#r father. Laertes. I !ill dot" And, for that p#rpose, Ill anoint my s!ord. I +o#ght an #nction of a mo#nte+ank, So mortal that, +#t dip a knife in it, Where it dra!s +lood no cataplasm so rare, 6ollected from all simples that ha%e %irt#e 9nder the moon, can sa%e the thing from death That is +#t scratchd !ithal" Ill to#ch my point With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, It may +e death. King Claudius. $ets f#rther think of this* Weigh !hat con%enience +oth of time and means .ay fit #s to o#r shape" if this sho#ld fail, And that o#r drift look thro#gh o#r +ad performance, )T!ere +etter not assayd" therefore this pro4ect Sho#ld ha%e a +ack or second, that might hold, If this sho#ld +last in proof. Soft& let me see" Well make a solemn !ager on yo#r c#nnings" I hat. When in yo#r motion yo# are hot and dry 2 As make yo#r +o#ts more %iolent to that end 2 And that he calls for drink, Ill ha%e prepared him A chalice for the nonce, !hereon +#t sipping, If he +y chance escape yo#r %enomd st#ck, 0#r p#rpose may hold there. Enter Queen Gertrude. Ho! no!, s!eet -#een& Queen Gertrude. 0ne !oe doth tread #pon anothers heel, So fast they follo!* yo#r sisters dro!nd, $aertes. Laertes. Dro!nd& 0, !here? Queen Gertrude. There is a !illo! gro!s aslant a +rook, That sho!s his hoar lea%es in the glassy stream* There !ith fantastic garlands did she come 0f cro!1flo!ers, nettles, daisies, and long p#rples That li+eral shepherds gi%e a grosser name, '#t o#r cold maids do dead mens fingers call them" There, on the pendent +o#ghs her coronet !eeds 6lam+ering to hang, an en%io#s sli%er +roke*

When do!n her !eedy trophies and herself ,ell in the !eeping +rook. Her clothes spread !ide* And, mermaid1like, a!hile they +ore her #p" Which time she chanted snatches of old t#nes* As one incapa+le of her o!n distress, 0r like a creat#re nati%e and ind#ed 9nto that element" +#t long it co#ld not +e Till that her garments, hea%y !ith their drink, P#lld the poor !retch from her melodio#s lay To m#ddy death. Laertes. Alas, then, she is dro!nd? Queen Gertrude. Dro!nd, dro!nd. Laertes. Too m#ch of !ater hast tho#, poor 0phelia, And therefore I for+id my tears" +#t yet It is o#r trick* nat#re her c#stom holds, $et shame say !hat it !ill" !hen these are gone, The !oman !ill +e o#t. Adie#, my lord" I ha%e a speech of fire, that fain !o#ld +la5e, '#t that this folly do#ts it. Exit. King Claudius. $ets follo!, /ertr#de" Ho! m#ch I had to do to calm his rage& o! fear I this !ill gi%e it start again* Therefore lets follo!. Exeunt. Act <. Scene I. Enter two Clo&ns, with spades, 1 c. First Clo&n. Is she to +e +#ried in 6hristian +#rial that !ilf#lly seeks her o!n sal%ation? $econd Clo&n. I tell thee she is" and therefore make her gra%e straight" the cro!ner hath sat on her, and finds it 6hristian +#rial. First Clo&n. Ho! can that +e, #nless she dro!ned herself in her o!n defence? $econd Clo&n. Why, )tis fo#nd so. First Clo&n. It m#st +e )se offendendo* it cannot +e else. ,or here lies the point" if I dro!n myself !ittingly, it arg#es an act" and an act hath three +ranches" it is, to act, to do, to perform" argal, she dro!ned herself !ittingly. $econd Clo&n. ay, +#t hear yo#, goodman del%er, 2 First Clo&n. /i%e me lea%e. Here lies the !ater* good" here stands the man* good* if the man go to this !ater, and dro!n himself, it is, !ill he, nill he, he goes, 2 mark yo# that* +#t if the !ater come to him and dro!n him, he dro!ns not himself" argal, he that is not g#ilty of his o!n death shortens not his o!n life. $econd Clo&n. '#t is this la!?

First Clo&n. Ay, marry, ist* cro!ners -#est la!. $econd Clo&n. Will yo# ha the tr#th ont? If this had not +een a gentle!oman, she sho#ld ha%e +een +#ried o#t o 6hristian +#rial. First Clo&n. Why, there tho# sayst" and the more pity that great folk sho#ld ha%e co#ntenance in this !orld to dro!n or hang themsel%es, more than their e%en 6hristian. 6ome, my spade. There is no ancient gentleman +#t gardeners, ditchers, and gra%e1 makers" they hold #p Adams profession. $econd Clo&n. Was he a gentleman? First Clo&n. He !as the first that e%er +ore arms. $econd Clo&n. Why, he had none. First Clo&n. What, art a heathen? Ho! dost tho# #nderstand the Script#re? The Script#re says )Adam digged" co#ld he dig !itho#t arms? Ill p#t another -#estion to thee" if tho# ans!erest me not to the p#rpose, confess thyself 2 $econd Clo&n. /o to. First Clo&n. What is he that +#ilds stronger than either the mason, the ship!right, or the carpenter? $econd Clo&n. The gallo!s1maker* for that frame o#tli%es a tho#sand tenants. First Clo&n. I like thy !it !ell, in good faith" the gallo!s does !ell* +#t ho! does it !ell? it does !ell to those that do in" no! tho# dost ill to say the gallo!s is +#ilt stronger than the ch#rch" argal, the gallo!s may do !ell to thee. Tot again, come. $econd Clo&n. )Who +#ilds stronger than a mason, a ship!right, or a carpenter? First Clo&n. Ay, tell me that, and #nyoke. $econd Clo&n. .arry, no! I can tell. First Clo&n. Tot. $econd Clo&n. .ass, I cannot tell. Enter Hamlet and Horatio, at a distance. First Clo&n. 6#dgel thy +rains no more a+o#t it, for yo#r d#ll ass !ill not mend his pace !ith +eating* and, !hen yo# are asked this -#estion ne;t, say )a gra%e1maker" )the ho#ses that he makes last till doomsday. /o, get thee to (a#ghan" fetch me a sto#p of li-#or. Exit $econd Clo&n. *e di s and sin s. In yo#th, !hen I did lo%e, did lo%e, .etho#ght it !as %ery s!eet, To contract, 0, the time, for, ah, my +eho%e,

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0, metho#ght, there !as nothing meet. Hamlet. Has this fello! no feeling of his +#siness, that he sings at gra%e1making? Horatio. 6#stom hath made it in him a property of easiness. Hamlet. )Tis een so" the hand of little employment hath the daintier sense. First Clo&n =sin s>. '#t age, !ith his stealing steps, Hath cla!d me in his cl#tch, And hath shipped me intil the land, As if I had ne%er +een s#ch. !hrows up a skull. Hamlet. That sk#ll had a tong#e in it, and co#ld sing once" ho! the kna%e 4o!ls it to the gro#nd, as if it !ere 6ains 4a!1+one, that did the first m#rder& It might +e the pate of a politician, !hich this ass no! oer1reaches* one that !o#ld circ#m%ent /od, might it not? Horatio. It might, my lord. Hamlet. 0r of a co#rtier* !hich co#ld say )/ood morro!, s!eet lord& Ho! dost tho#, good lord? This might +e my lord s#ch1a1one, that praised my lord s#ch1a1ones horse, !hen he meant to +eg it* might it not? Horatio. Ay, my lord. Hamlet. Why, een so" and no! my $ady Worms* chapless, and knocked a+o#t the ma55ard !ith a se;tons spade" heres fine re%ol#tion, an !e had the trick to seet. Did these +ones cost no more the +reeding, +#t to play at loggats !ith )em? mine ache to think ont. First Clo&n =sin s>. A pick1a;e, and a spade, a spade, ,or and a shro#ding sheet" 0, a pit of clay for to +e made ,or s#ch a g#est is meet. !hrows up another skull. Hamlet. Theres another" !hy may not that +e the sk#ll of a la!yer? Where +e his -#iddities no!, his -#illets, his cases, his ten#res, and his tricks? !hy does he s#ffer this r#de kna%e no! to knock him a+o#t the sconce !ith a dirty sho%el, and !ill not tell him of his action of +attery? H#m& This fello! might +e ins time a great +#yer of land, !ith his stat#tes, his recogni5ances, his fines, his do#+le %o#chers, his reco%eries" is this the fine of his fines, and the reco%ery of his reco%eries, to ha%e his fine pate f#ll of fine dirt? !ill his %o#chers %o#ch him

no more of his p#rchases, and do#+le ones too, than the length and +readth of a pair of indent#res? The %ery con%eyances of his lands !ill hardly lie in this +o;* and m#st the inheritor himself ha%e no more, ha? Horatio. ot a 4ot more, my lord. Hamlet. Is not parchment made of sheepskins? Horatio. Ay, my lord, and of calf1skins too. Hamlet. They are sheep and cal%es !hich seek o#t ass#rance in that. I !ill speak to this fello!. Whose gra%es this, sirrah? First Clo&n. .ine, sir. -in s. 0, a pit of clay for to +e made ,or s#ch a g#est is meet. Hamlet. I think it +e thine, indeed* for tho# liest int. First Clo&n. (o# lie o#t ont, sir, and therefore it is not yo#rs" for my part, I do not lie int, and yet it is mine. Hamlet. )Tho# dost lie int, to +e int and say it is thine" )tis for the dead, not for the -#ick* therefore tho# liest. First Clo&n. )Tis a -#ick lie, sir* )t!ill a!ay again, from me to yo#. Hamlet. What man dost tho# dig it for? First Clo&n. ,or no man, sir. Hamlet. What !oman, then? First Clo&n. ,or none, neither. Hamlet. Who is to +e +#ried int? First Clo&n. 0ne that !as a !oman, sir* +#t, rest her so#l, shes dead. Hamlet. Ho! a+sol#te the kna%e is& !e m#st speak +y the card, or e-#i%ocation !ill #ndo #s. 'y the $ord, Horatio, these three years I ha%e taken a note of it* the age is gro!n so picked that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the co#rtier, he gaffs his ki+e. Ho! long hast tho# +een a gra%e1maker? First Clo&n. 0f all the days i the year, I came tot that day that o#r last king Hamlet o%ercame ,ortin+ras. Hamlet. Ho! long is that since? First Clo&n. 6annot yo# tell that? e%ery fool can tell that" it !as the %ery day that yo#ng Hamlet !as +orn* he that is mad, and sent into :ngland. Hamlet. Ay, marry, !hy !as he sent into :ngland? First Clo&n. Why, +eca#se he !as mad" he shall reco%er his !its

there* or, if he do not, its no great matter there. Hamlet. Why? First Clo&n. )T!ill, a not +e seen in him there* there the men are as mad as he. Hamlet. Ho! came he mad? First Clo&n. <ery strangely, they say. Hamlet. Ho! strangely? First Clo&n. ,aith, een !ith losing his !its. Hamlet. 9pon !hat gro#nd? First Clo&n. Why, here in Denmark" I ha%e +een se;ton here, man and +oy, thirty years. Hamlet. Ho! long !ill a man lie i the earth ere he rot? First Clo&n. I faith, if he +e not rotten +efore he die 2 as !e ha%e many pocky corses no!1a1days, that !ill scarce hold the laying in 2 he !ill last yo# some eight year or nine year" a tanner !ill last yo# nine year. Hamlet. Why he more than another? First Clo&n. Why, sir, his hide is so tanned !ith his trade, that he !ill keep o#t !ater a great !hile* and yo#r !ater is a sore decayer of yo#r !horeson dead +ody. Heres a sk#ll no!* this sk#ll has lain in the earth three and t!enty years. Hamlet. Whose !as it? First Clo&n. A !horeson mad fello!s it !as" !hose do yo# think it !as? Hamlet. ay, I kno! not. First Clo&n. A pestilence on him for a mad rog#e& a po#red a flagon of 7henish on my head once. This same sk#ll, sir, !as (oricks sk#ll, the kings 4ester. Hamlet. This? First Clo&n. :en that. Hamlet. $et me see. !akes the skull. Alas, poor (orick& I kne! him, Horatio" a fello! of infinite 4est, of most e;cellent fancy" he hath +orne me on his +ack a tho#sand times* and no!, ho! a+horred in my imagination it is& my gorge rims at it. Here h#ng those lips that I ha%e kissed I kno! not ho! oft. Where +e yo#r gi+es no!? yo#r gam+ols? yo#r songs? yo#r flashes of merriment, that !ere !ont to set the ta+le on a roar? ot one no!, to mock yo#r o!n grinning? -#ite chap1fallen? o! get yo# to my ladys cham+er, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this fa%o#r she m#st come* make her la#gh at that. Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.

Horatio. Whats that, my lord? Hamlet. Dost tho# think Ale;ander looked o this fashion i the earth? Horatio. :en so. Hamlet. And smelt so? pah& $uts down the skull. Horatio. :en so, my lord. Hamlet. To !hat +ase #ses !e may ret#rn, Horatio& Why may not imagination trace the no+le d#st of Ale;ander, till he find it stopping a +#ng1hole? Horatio. )T!ere to consider too c#rio#sly, to consider so. Hamlet. o, faith, not a 4ot* +#t to follo! him thither !ith modesty eno#gh, and likelihood to lead it" as th#s" Ale;ander died, Ale;ander !as +#ried, Ale;ander ret#rneth into d#st* the d#st is earth* of earth !e make loam* and !hy of that loam, !hereto he !as con%erted, might they not stop a +eer1+arrel? Imperio#s 6aesar, dead and t#rnd to clay, .ight stop a hole to keep the !ind a!ay" 0, that that earth, !hich kept the !orld in a!e, Sho#ld patch a !all to e;pel the !inter fla!& '#t soft& +#t soft& aside" here comes the king. Enter Priest, 1 c. in procession, the Corpse of Ophelia, Laertes and /ourners followin , King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, their trains, 1 c. The -#een, the co#rtiers" !ho is this they follo!? And !ith s#ch maimed rites? This doth +etoken The corse they follo! did !ith desperate hand ,ordo its o!n life" )t!as of some estate. 6o#ch !e a!hile, and mark. Retirin with Horatio. Laertes. What ceremony else? Hamlet. That is $aertes, A %ery no+le yo#th" mark. Laertes. What ceremony else? First Priest. Her o+se-#ies ha%e +een as far enlarged As !e ha%e !arrantise" her death !as do#+tf#l* And, +#t that great command oers!ays the order, She sho#ld in gro#nd #nsanctified ha%e lodged Till the last tr#mpet" for charita+le prayers, Shards, flints and pe++les sho#ld +e thro!n on her* (et here she is allo!d her %irgin crants, Her maiden stre!ments and the +ringing home 0f +ell and +#rial. Laertes. .#st there no more +e done? First Priest. o more +e done" We sho#ld profane the ser%ice of the dead To sing a re-#iem and s#ch rest to her As to peace1parted so#ls. Laertes. $ay her i the earth"

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And from her fair and #npoll#ted flesh .ay %iolets spring& I tell thee, ch#rlish priest, A ministering angel shall my sister +e, When tho# liest ho!ling. Hamlet. What, the fair 0phelia& Queen Gertrude. S!eets to the s!eet" fare!ell& -catterin flowers. I hoped tho# sho#ldst ha%e +een my Hamlets !ife* I tho#ght thy +ride1+ed to ha%e deckd, s!eet maid, And not ha%e stre!d thy gra%e. Laertes. 0, tre+le !oe ,all ten times tre+le on that c#rsed head, Whose !icked deed thy most ingenio#s sense Depri%ed thee of& Hold off the earth a!hile, Till I ha%e ca#ght her once more in mine arms" Leaps into the ra#e. o! pile yo#r d#st #pon the -#ick and dead, Till of this flat a mo#ntain yo# ha%e made, To oertop old Pelion, or the skyish head 0f +l#e 0lymp#s. Hamlet =ad#ancin >. What is he !hose grief 'ears s#ch an emphasis? !hose phrase of sorro! 6on4#res the !andering stars, and makes them stand $ike !onder1!o#nded hearers? This is I, Hamlet the Dane. Leaps into the ra#e. Laertes. The de%il take thy so#l& Grapplin with him. Hamlet. Tho# prayst not !ell. I prithee, take thy fingers from my throat* ,or, tho#gh I am not spleniti%e and rash, (et ha%e I something in me dangero#s, Which let thy !iseness fear" hold off thy hand. King Claudius. Pl#ck them as#nder. Queen Gertrude. Hamlet, Hamlet& All. /entlemen, 2 Horatio. /ood my lord, +e -#iet. !he Attendants part them, and the" come out of the ra#e. Hamlet. Why I !ill fight !ith him #pon this theme 9ntil my eyelids !ill no longer !ag. Queen Gertrude. 0 my son, !hat theme? Hamlet. I lo%ed 0phelia" forty tho#sand +rothers 6o#ld not, !ith all their -#antity of lo%e, .ake #p my s#m. What !ilt tho# do for her? King Claudius. 0, he is mad, $aertes. Queen Gertrude. ,or lo%e of /od, for+ear him. Hamlet. )S!o#nds, sho! me !hat tho#lt do" Woot !eep? !oot fight? !oot fast? !oot tear thyself? Woot drink #p eisel? eat a crocodile? Ill dot. Dost tho# come here to !hine? To o#tface me !ith leaping in her gra%e? 'e +#ried -#ick !ith her, and so !ill I" And, if tho# prate of mo#ntains, let them thro!

.illions of acres on #s, till o#r gro#nd, Singeing his pate against the +#rning 5one, .ake 0ssa like a !art& ay, an tho#lt mo#th, Ill rant as !ell as tho#. Queen Gertrude. This is mere madness" And th#s a!hile the fit !ill !ork on him* Anon, as patient as the female do%e, When that her golden co#plets are disclosed, His silence !ill sit drooping. Hamlet. Hear yo#, sir* What is the reason that yo# #se me th#s? I lo%ed yo# e%er" +#t it is no matter* $et Herc#les himself do !hat he may, The cat !ill me! and dog !ill ha%e his day. Exit. King Claudius. I pray yo#, good Horatio, !ait #pon him. Exit Horatio. =!o Laertes> Strengthen yo#r patience in o#r last nights speech* Well p#t the matter to the present p#sh. /ood /ertr#de, set some !atch o%er yo#r son. This gra%e shall ha%e a li%ing mon#ment" An ho#r of -#iet shortly shall !e see* Till then, in patience o#r proceeding +e. Exeunt. Scene II. Enter Hamlet and Horatio. Hamlet. So m#ch for this, sir" no! shall yo# see the other* (o# do remem+er all the circ#mstance? Horatio. 7emem+er it, my lord? Hamlet. Sir, in my heart there !as a kind of fighting, That !o#ld not let me sleep" metho#ght I lay Worse than the m#tines in the +il+oes. 7ashly, And praised +e rashness for it, let #s kno!, 0#r indiscretion sometimes ser%es #s !ell, When o#r deep plots do pall" and that sho#ld teach #s Theres a di%inity that shapes o#r ends, 7o#gh1he! them ho! !e !ill, 2 Horatio. That is most certain. Hamlet. 9p from my ca+in, .y sea1go!n scarfd a+o#t me, in the dark /roped I to find o#t them* had my desire. ,ingerd their packet, and in fine !ithdre! To mine o!n room again* making so +old, .y fears forgetting manners, to #nseal Their grand commission* !here I fo#nd, Horatio, 2 0 royal kna%ery& 2 an e;act command, $arded !ith many se%eral sorts of reasons Importing Denmarks health and :nglands too, With, ho& s#ch +#gs and go+lins in my life, That, on the s#per%ise, no leis#re +ated,

o, not to stay the grinding of the a;e, .y head sho#ld +e str#ck off. Horatio. Ist possi+le? Hamlet. Heres the commission" read it at more leis#re. '#t !ilt tho# hear me ho! I did proceed? Horatio. I +eseech yo#. Hamlet. 'eing th#s +e1netted ro#nd !ith %illanies, 2 :re I co#ld make a prolog#e to my +rains, They had +eg#n the play 2 I sat me do!n, De%ised a ne! commission, !rote it fair" I once did hold it, as o#r statists do, A +aseness to !rite fair and la+o#rd m#ch Ho! to forget that learning, +#t, sir, no! It did me yeomans ser%ice" !ilt tho# kno! The effect of !hat I !rote? Horatio. Ay, good my lord. Hamlet. An earnest con4#ration from the king, As :ngland !as his faithf#l tri+#tary, As lo%e +et!een them like the palm might flo#rish, As peace sho#ld stiff her !heaten garland !ear And stand a comma )t!een their amities, And many s#ch1like )Ases of great charge, That, on the %ie! and kno!ing of these contents, Witho#t de+atement f#rther, more or less, He sho#ld the +earers p#t to s#dden death, ot shri%ing1time allo!d. Horatio. Ho! !as this seald? Hamlet. Why, e%en in that !as hea%en ordinant. I had my fathers signet in my p#rse, Which !as the model of that Danish seal* ,olded the !rit #p in form of the other, S#+scri+ed it, ga%et the impression, placed it safely, The changeling ne%er kno!n. o!, the ne;t day Was o#r sea1fight* and !hat to this !as se-#ent Tho# kno!st already. Horatio. So /#ildenstern and 7osencrant5 go tot. Hamlet. Why, man, they did make lo%e to this employment* They are not near my conscience* their defeat Does +y their o!n insin#ation gro!" )Tis dangero#s !hen the +aser nat#re comes 'et!een the pass and fell incensed points 0f mighty opposites. Horatio. Why, !hat a king is this& Hamlet. Does it not, thinkst thee, stand me no! #pon 2 He that hath killd my king and !hored my mother, Poppd in +et!een the election and my hopes, Thro!n o#t his angle for my proper life, And !ith s#ch co5enage 2 ist not perfect conscience, To -#it him !ith this arm? and ist not to +e damnd,

To let this canker of o#r nat#re come In f#rther e%il? Horatio. It m#st +e shortly kno!n to him from :ngland What is the iss#e of the +#siness there. Hamlet. It !ill +e short" the interim is mine* And a mans lifes no more than to say )0ne. '#t I am %ery sorry, good Horatio, That to $aertes I forgot myself* ,or, +y the image of my ca#se, I see The portrait#re of his" Ill co#rt his fa%o#rs. '#t, s#re, the +ra%ery of his grief did p#t me Into a to!ering passion. Horatio. Peace& !ho comes here? Enter Osric. Osric. (o#r lordship is right !elcome +ack to Denmark. Hamlet. I h#m+ly thank yo#, sir. Dost kno! this !ater1fly? Horatio. o, my good lord. Hamlet. Thy state is the more gracio#s* for )tis a %ice to kno! him. He hath m#ch land, and fertile" let a +east +e lord of +easts, and his cri+ shall stand at the kings mess" )tis a cho#gh* +#t, as I say, spacio#s in the possession of dirt. Osric. S!eet lord, if yo#r lordship !ere at leis#re, I sho#ld impart a thing to yo# from his ma4esty. Hamlet. I !ill recei%e it, sir, !ith all diligence of spirit. P#t yo#r +onnet to his right #se* )tis for the head. Osric. I thank yo#r lordship, it is %ery hot. Hamlet. o, +elie%e me, )tis %ery cold* the !ind is northerly. Osric. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Hamlet. '#t yet methinks it is %ery s#ltry and hot for my comple;ion. Osric. :;ceedingly, my lord* it is %ery s#ltry, 2 as )t!ere, 2 I cannot tell ho!. '#t, my lord, his ma4esty +ade me signify to yo# that he has laid a great !ager on yo#r head" sir, this is the matter, 2 Hamlet. I +eseech yo#, remem+er 2 Hamlet mo%es him to p#t on his hat Osric. ay, good my lord* for mine ease, in good faith. Sir, here is ne!ly come to co#rt $aertes* +elie%e me, an a+sol#te gentleman, f#ll of most e;cellent differences, of %ery soft society and great sho!ing" indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for yo# shall find in him the continent of !hat part a gentleman !o#ld see. Hamlet. Sir, his definement s#ffers no perdition in yo#* tho#gh, I kno!, to di%ide him in%entorially !o#ld di55y the arithmetic of memory, and yet +#t ya!

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neither, in respect of his -#ick sail. '#t, in the %erity of e;tolment, I take him to +e a so#l of great article* and his inf#sion of s#ch dearth and rareness, as, to make tr#e diction of him, his sem+la+le is his mirror* and !ho else !o#ld trace him, his #m+rage, nothing more. Osric. (o#r lordship speaks most infalli+ly of him. Hamlet. The concernancy, sir? !hy do !e !rap the gentleman in o#r more ra!er +reath? Osric. Sir? Horatio. Ist not possi+le to #nderstand in another tong#e? (o# !ill dot, sir, really. Hamlet. What imports the nomination of this gentleman? Osric. 0f $aertes? Horatio. His p#rse is empty already* alls golden !ords are spent. Hamlet. 0f him, sir. Osric. I kno! yo# are not ignorant 2 Hamlet. I !o#ld yo# did, sir* yet, in faith, if yo# did, it !o#ld not m#ch appro%e me. Well, sir? Osric. (o# are not ignorant of !hat e;cellence $aertes is 2 Hamlet. I dare not confess that, lest I sho#ld compare !ith him in e;cellence* +#t, to kno! a man !ell, !ere to kno! himself. Osric. I mean, sir, for his !eapon* +#t in the imp#tation laid on him +y them, in his meed hes #nfello!ed. Hamlet. Whats his !eapon? Osric. 7apier and dagger. Hamlet. Thats t!o of his !eapons" +#t, !ell. Osric. The king, sir, hath !agered !ith him si; 'ar+ary horses" against the !hich he has imponed, as I take it, si; ,rench rapiers and poniards, !ith their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so" three of the carriages, in faith, are %ery dear to fancy, %ery responsi%e to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of %ery li+eral conceit. Hamlet. What call yo# the carriages? Horatio. I kne! yo# m#st +e edified +y the margent ere yo# had done. Osric. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Hamlet. The phrase !o#ld +e more german to the matter, if !e co#ld carry cannon +y o#r sides" I !o#ld it might +e hangers till then. '#t, on" si; 'ar+ary horses against si; ,rench s!ords, their assigns, and three li+eral1conceited carriages* thats the ,rench +et against the Danish. Why is this )imponed, as yo# call it?

Osric. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a do5en passes +et!een yo#rself and him, he shall not e;ceed yo# three hits" he hath laid on t!el%e for nine* and it !o#ld come to immediate trial, if yo#r lordship !o#ld %o#chsafe the ans!er. Hamlet. Ho! if I ans!er )no? Osric. I mean, my lord, the opposition of yo#r person in trial. Hamlet. Sir, I !ill !alk here in the hall" if it please his ma4esty, )tis the +reathing time of day !ith me* let the foils +e +ro#ght, the gentleman !illing, and the king hold his p#rpose, I !ill !in for him an I can* if not, I !ill gain nothing +#t my shame and the odd hits. Osric. Shall I re1deli%er yo# een so? Hamlet. To this effect, sir* after !hat flo#rish yo#r nat#re !ill. Osric. I commend my d#ty to yo#r lordship. Hamlet. (o#rs, yo#rs. Exit Osric. He does !ell to commend it himself* there are no tong#es else fors t#rn. Horatio. This lap!ing r#ns a!ay !ith the shell on his head. Hamlet. He did comply !ith his d#g, +efore he s#cked it. Th#s has he 2 and many more of the same +e%y that I kno! the dressy age dotes on 2 only got the t#ne of the time and o#t!ard ha+it of enco#nter* a kind of yesty collection, !hich carries them thro#gh and thro#gh the most fond and !inno!ed opinions* and do +#t +lo! them to their trial, the +#++les are o#t. Enter a Lord. Lord. .y lord, his ma4esty commended him to yo# +y yo#ng 0sric, !ho +rings +ack to him that yo# attend him in the hall" he sends to kno! if yo#r pleas#re hold to play !ith $aertes, or that yo# !ill take longer time. Hamlet. I am constant to my p#rpose* they follo! the kings pleas#re" if his fitness speaks, mine is ready* no! or !hensoe%er, pro%ided I +e so a+le as no!. Lord. The king and -#een and all are coming do!n. Hamlet. In happy time. Lord. The -#een desires yo# to #se some gentle entertainment to $aertes +efore yo# fall to play. Hamlet. She !ell instr#cts me. Exit Lord. Horatio. (o# !ill lose this !ager, my lord. Hamlet. I do not think so" since he !ent into ,rance, I ha%e +een in contin#al practise" I shall !in at the odds. '#t tho# !o#ldst not think ho! ill alls here

a+o#t my heart" +#t it is no matter. Horatio. ay, good my lord, 2 Hamlet. It is +#t foolery* +#t it is s#ch a kind of gain1gi%ing, as !o#ld perhaps tro#+le a !oman. Horatio. If yo#r mind dislike any thing, o+ey it" I !ill forestall their repair hither, and say yo# are not fit. Hamlet. ot a !hit, !e defy a#g#ry" theres a special pro%idence in the fall of a sparro!. If it +e no!, )tis not to come* if it +e not to come, it !ill +e no!* if it +e not no!, yet it !ill come" the readiness is all" since no man has a#ght of !hat he lea%es, !hat ist to lea%e +etimes? Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, Lords, Osric, and Attendants with foils, 1 c. King Claudius. 6ome, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me. King Claudius puts Laertes) hand into Hamlet)s. Hamlet. /i%e me yo#r pardon, sir" I%e done yo# !rong* '#t pardont, as yo# are a gentleman. This presence kno!s, And yo# m#st needs ha%e heard, ho! I am p#nishd With sore distraction. What I ha%e done, That might yo#r nat#re, hono#r and e;ception 7o#ghly a!ake, I here proclaim !as madness. Wast Hamlet !rongd $aertes? e%er Hamlet" If Hamlet from himself +e taen a!ay, And !hen hes not himself does !rong $aertes, Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it. Who does it, then? His madness" ift +e so, Hamlet is of the faction that is !rongd* His madness is poor Hamlets enemy. Sir, in this a#dience, $et my disclaiming from a p#rposed e%il ,ree me so far in yo#r most genero#s tho#ghts, That I ha%e shot mine arro! oer the ho#se, And h#rt my +rother. Laertes. I am satisfied in nat#re, Whose moti%e, in this case, sho#ld stir me most To my re%enge" +#t in my terms of hono#r I stand aloof* and !ill no reconcilement, Till +y some elder masters, of kno!n hono#r, I ha%e a %oice and precedent of peace, To keep my name #ngored. '#t till that time, I do recei%e yo#r offerd lo%e like lo%e, And !ill not !rong it. Hamlet. I em+race it freely* And !ill this +rothers !ager frankly play. /i%e #s the foils. 6ome on. Laertes. 6ome, one for me. Hamlet. Ill +e yo#r foil, $aertes" in mine ignorance (o#r skill shall, like a star i the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed.

Laertes. (o# mock me, sir. Hamlet. o, +y this hand. King Claudius. /i%e them the foils, yo#ng 0sric. 6o#sin Hamlet, (o# kno! the !ager? Hamlet. <ery !ell, my lord (o#r grace hath laid the odds o the !eaker side. King Claudius. I do not fear it* I ha%e seen yo# +oth" '#t since he is +etterd, !e ha%e therefore odds. Laertes. This is too hea%y, let me see another. Hamlet. This likes me !ell. These foils ha%e all a length? !he" prepare to pla". Osric. Ay, my good lord. King Claudius. Set me the stoops of !ine #pon that ta+le. If Hamlet gi%e the first or second hit, 0r -#it in ans!er of the third e;change, $et all the +attlements their ordnance fire" The king shall drink to Hamlets +etter +reath* And in the c#p an #nion shall he thro!, 7icher than that !hich fo#r s#ccessi%e kings In Denmarks cro!n ha%e !orn. /i%e me the c#ps* And let the kettle to the tr#mpet speak, The tr#mpet to the cannoneer !itho#t, The cannons to the hea%ens, the hea%ens to earth, ) o! the king d#nks to Hamlet. 6ome, +egin" And yo#, the 4#dges, +ear a !ary eye. Hamlet. 6ome on, sir. Laertes. 6ome, my lord. !he" pla". Hamlet. 0ne. Laertes. o. Hamlet. 8#dgment. Osric. A hit, a %ery palpa+le hit. Laertes. Well* again. King Claudius. Stay* gi%e me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine* Heres to thy health. !rumpets sound, and cannon shot off within. /i%e him the c#p. Hamlet. Ill play this +o#t first* set it +y a!hile. 6ome. !he" pla". Another hit* !hat say yo#? Laertes. A to#ch, a to#ch, I do confess. King Claudius. 0#r son shall !in. Queen Gertrude. Hes fat, and scant of +reath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, r#+ thy +ro!s* The -#een caro#ses to thy fort#ne, Hamlet. Hamlet. /ood madam& King Claudius. /ertr#de, do not drink. Queen Gertrude. I !ill, my lord* I pray yo#, pardon me. King Claudius =aside>. It is the poisond c#p" it is too

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late. Hamlet. I dare not drink yet, madam* +y and +y. Queen Gertrude. 6ome, let me !ipe thy face. Laertes. .y lord, Ill hit him no!. King Claudius. I do not thinkt. Laertes =aside>. And yet )tis almost )gainst my conscience. Hamlet. 6ome, for the third, $aertes" yo# +#t dally* I pray yo#, pass !ith yo#r +est %iolence* I am afeard yo# make a !anton of me. Laertes. Say yo# so? come on. !he" pla". Osric. othing, neither !ay. Laertes. Ha%e at yo# no!& Laertes wounds Hamlet, then in scufflin , the" chan e rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. King Claudius. Part them* they are incensed. Hamlet. ay, come, again. Queen Gertrude falls. Osric. $ook to the -#een there, ho& Horatio. They +leed on +oth sides. Ho! is it, my lord? Osric. Ho! ist, $aertes? Laertes. Why, as a !oodcock to mine o!n springe, 0sric* I am 4#stly killd !ith mine o!n treachery. Hamlet. Ho! does the -#een? King Claudius. She s!o#nds to see them +leed. Queen Gertrude. o, no, the drink, the drink, 2 0 my dear Hamlet, 2 The drink, the drink& I am poisond. 'ies. Hamlet. 0 %illany& Ho& let the door +e lockd" Treachery& Seek it o#t. Laertes. It is here, Hamlet" Hamlet, tho# art slain* o medicine in the !orld can do thee good* In thee there is not half an ho#r of life* The treachero#s instr#ment is in thy hand, 9n+ated and en%enomd" the fo#l practise Hath t#rnd itself on me lo, here I lie, e%er to rise again" thy mothers poisond" I can no more" the king, the kings to +lame. Hamlet. The point& 2 en%enomd too& Then, %enom, to thy !ork. -tabs King Claudius. All. Treason& treason& King Claudius. 0, yet defend me, friends* I am +#t h#rt. Hamlet. Here, tho# incest#o#s, m#rdero#s, damned Dane, Drink off this potion. Is thy #nion here? ,ollo! my mother. King Claudius dies. Laertes. He is 4#stly ser%ed* It is a poison temperd +y himself. :;change forgi%eness !ith me, no+le Hamlet"

.ine and my fathers death come not #pon thee, or thine on me. 'ies. Hamlet. Hea%en make thee free of it& I follo! thee. I am dead, Horatio. Wretched -#een, adie#& (o# that look pale and trem+le at this chance, That are +#t m#tes or a#dience to this act, Had I +#t time 2 as this fell sergeant, death, Is strict in his arrest 2 0, I co#ld tell yo# 2 '#t let it +e. Horatio, I am dead* Tho# li%est* report me and my ca#se aright To the #nsatisfied. Horatio. e%er +elie%e it" I am more an anti-#e 7oman than a Dane" Heres yet some li-#or left. Hamlet. As tho#rt a man, /i%e me the c#p" let go* +y hea%en, Ill ha%et. 0 good Horatio, !hat a !o#nded name, Things standing th#s #nkno!n, shall li%e +ehind me& If tho# didst e%er hold me in thy heart A+sent thee from felicity a!hile, And in this harsh !orld dra! thy +reath in pain, To tell my story. /arch afar off, and shot within. What !arlike noise is this? Osric. (o#ng ,ortin+ras, !ith con-#est come from Poland, To the am+assadors of :ngland gi%es This !arlike %olley. Hamlet. 0, I die, Horatio* The potent poison -#ite oer1cro!s my spirit" I cannot li%e to hear the ne!s from :ngland* '#t I do prophesy the election lights 0n ,ortin+ras" he has my dying %oice* So tell him, !ith the occ#rrents, more and less, Which ha%e solicited. The rest is silence. 'ies. Horatio. o! cracks a no+le heart. /ood night s!eet prince" And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest& Why does the dr#m come hither? /arch within. Enter Fortin"ras, the En lish Am"assadors, and others. Prince Fortin"ras. Where is this sight? Horatio. What is it ye !o#ld see? If a#ght of !oe or !onder, cease yo#r search. Prince Fortin"ras. This -#arry cries on ha%oc. 0 pro#d death, What feast is to!ard in thine eternal cell, That tho# so many princes at a shot So +loodily hast str#ck? First Am"assador. The sight is dismal* And o#r affairs from :ngland come too late"

The ears are senseless that sho#ld gi%e #s hearing, To tell him his commandment is f#lfilld, That 7osencrant5 and /#ildenstern are dead" Where sho#ld !e ha%e o#r thanks? Horatio. ot from his mo#th, Had it the a+ility of life to thank yo#" He ne%er ga%e commandment for their death. '#t since, so 4#mp #pon this +loody -#estion, (o# from the Polack !ars, and yo# from :ngland, Are here arri%ed gi%e order that these +odies High on a stage +e placed to the %ie!* And let me speak to the yet #nkno!ing !orld Ho! these things came a+o#t" so shall yo# hear 0f carnal, +loody, and #nnat#ral acts, 0f accidental 4#dgments, cas#al sla#ghters, 0f deaths p#t on +y c#nning and forced ca#se, And, in this #pshot, p#rposes mistook ,alln on the in%entors reads" all this can I Tr#ly deli%er. Prince Fortin"ras. $et #s haste to hear it, And call the no+lest to the a#dience. ,or me, !ith sorro! I em+race my fort#ne" I ha%e some rights of memory in this kingdom, Which no! to claim my %antage doth in%ite me. Horatio. 0f that I shall ha%e also ca#se to speak, And from his mo#th !hose %oice !ill dra! on more* '#t let this same +e presently performd, :%en !hile mens minds are !ild* lest more mischance 0n plots and errors, happen. Prince Fortin"ras. $et fo#r captains 'ear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage* ,or he !as likely, had he +een p#t on, To ha%e pro%ed most royally" and, for his passage, The soldiers m#sic and the rites of !ar Speak lo#dly for him. Take #p the +odies" s#ch a sight as this 'ecomes the field, +#t here sho!s m#ch amiss. /o, +id the soldiers shoot. A dead march. Exeunt, bearin off the dead bodies, after which a peal of ordnance is shot off.