1
Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.
2
Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.
4
Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.
8
You shall do marvell's wisely, good Reynaldo,
9
Before You visit him, to make inquire
12
My lord, I did intend it.
14
Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
15
Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
16
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
17
What company, at what expense; and finding
18
By this encompassment and drift of question
19
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
20
Than your particular demands will touch it.
21
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him;
22
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,
23
And in part him.' Do you mark this, Reynaldo?
25
Ay, very well, my lord.
27
'And in part him, but,' you may say, 'not well.
28
But if't be he I mean, he's very wild
29
Addicted so and so'; and there put on him
30
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank
31
As may dishonour him- take heed of that;
32
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips
33
As are companions noted and most known
38
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,
39
Drabbing. You may go so far.
41
My lord, that would dishonour him.
43
Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
44
You must not put another scandal on him,
45
That he is open to incontinency.
46
That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly
47
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
48
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
49
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,
54
Wherefore should you do this?
59
Marry, sir, here's my drift,
60
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant.
61
You laying these slight sullies on my son
62
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' th' working,
64
Your party in converse, him you would sound,
65
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
66
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd
67
He closes with you in this consequence:
68
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman'-
69
According to the phrase or the addition
74
And then, sir, does 'a this- 'a does- What was I about to say?
75
By the mass, I was about to say something! Where did I leave?
77
At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,' and
80
At 'closes in the consequence'- Ay, marry!
81
He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman.
82
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,
83
Or then, or then, with such or such; and, as you say,
84
There was 'a gaming; there o'ertook in's rouse;
85
There falling out at tennis'; or perchance,
86
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'
87
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.
89
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth;
90
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
91
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
92
By indirections find directions out.
93
So, by my former lecture and advice,
94
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?
98
God b' wi' ye, fare ye well!
100
Good my lord![Going.]
102
Observe his inclination in yourself.
106
And let him ply his music.
113
How now, Ophelia? What's the matter?
115
O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!
117
With what, i' th' name of God?
119
My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
120
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd,
121
No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,
122
Ungart'red, and down-gyved to his ankle;
123
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
124
And with a look so piteous in purport
125
As if he had been loosed out of hell
126
To speak of horrors- he comes before me.
130
My lord, I do not know,
131
But truly I do fear it.
135
He took me by the wrist and held me hard;
136
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
137
And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
138
He falls to such perusal of my face
139
As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so.
140
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
141
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
142
He rais'd a sigh so piteous and profound
143
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
144
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
145
And with his head over his shoulder turn'd
146
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes,
147
For out o' doors he went without their help
148
And to the last bended their light on me.
150
Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.
151
This is the very ecstasy of love,
152
Whose violent property fordoes itself
153
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
154
As oft as any passion under heaven
155
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
156
What, have you given him any hard words of late?
158
No, my good lord; but, as you did command,
159
I did repel his letters and denied
162
That hath made him mad.
163
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
164
I had not quoted him. I fear'd he did but trifle
165
And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousy!
166
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
167
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions
168
As it is common for the younger sort
169
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.
170
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move
171
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.
1
Elsinore. A room in the Castle.
2
Flourish. [Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, cum aliis.
4
Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
5
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
6
The need we have to use you did provoke
7
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
8
Of Hamlet's transformation. So I call it,
9
Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man
10
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
11
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
12
So much from th' understanding of himself,
13
I cannot dream of. I entreat you both
14
That, being of so young days brought up with him,
15
And since so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,
16
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
17
Some little time; so by your companies
18
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
19
So much as from occasion you may glean,
20
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus
21
That, open'd, lies within our remedy.
23
Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,
24
And sure I am two men there are not living
25
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
26
To show us so much gentry and good will
27
As to expend your time with us awhile
28
For the supply and profit of our hope,
29
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
30
As fits a king's remembrance.
33
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
34
Put your dread pleasures more into command
38
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent,
39
To lay our service freely at your feet,
42
Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.
44
Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.
45
And I beseech you instantly to visit
46
My too much changed son.- Go, some of you,
47
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
49
Heavens make our presence and our practices
50
Pleasant and helpful to him!
53
Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, [with some Attendants].
56
Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
57
Are joyfully return'd.
59
Thou still hast been the father of good news.
61
Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,
62
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
63
Both to my God and to my gracious king;
64
And I do think- or else this brain of mine
65
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
66
As it hath us'd to do- that I have found
67
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
69
O, speak of that! That do I long to hear.
71
Give first admittance to th' ambassadors.
72
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.
74
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
76
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
77
The head and source of all your son's distemper.
79
I doubt it is no other but the main,
80
His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.
82
Well, we shall sift him.
83
[Enter Polonius, Voltemand, and Cornelius.]
84
Welcome, my good friends.
85
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?
87
Most fair return of greetings and desires.
88
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
89
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
90
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,
91
But better look'd into, he truly found
92
It was against your Highness; whereat griev'd,
93
That so his sickness, age, and impotence
94
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
95
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
96
Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine,
97
Makes vow before his uncle never more
98
To give th' assay of arms against your Majesty.
99
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
100
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee
101
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
102
So levied as before, against the Polack;
103
With an entreaty, herein further shown,
105
That it might please you to give quiet pass
106
Through your dominions for this enterprise,
107
On such regards of safety and allowance
108
As therein are set down.
111
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,
112
Answer, and think upon this business.
113
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.
114
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together.
115
Most welcome home![Exeunt Ambassadors.]
117
This business is well ended.
118
My liege, and madam, to expostulate
119
What majesty should be, what duty is,
120
Why day is day, night is night, and time is time.
121
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
122
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
123
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
124
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
125
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
126
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
129
More matter, with less art.
131
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
132
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;
133
And pity 'tis 'tis true. A foolish figure!
134
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
135
Mad let us grant him then. And now remains
136
That we find out the cause of this effect-
137
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
138
For this effect defective comes by cause.
139
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
141
I have a daughter(have while she is mine),
142
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
143
Hath given me this. Now gather, and surmise.
145
'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'-
146
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile phrase.
147
But you shall hear. Thus:
149
'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.'
151
Came this from Hamlet to her?
153
Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful.[Reads.]
154
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;
155
Doubt that the sun doth move;
156
Doubt truth to be a liar;
157
But never doubt I love.
158
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to
159
reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe
161
'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to
163
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me;
164
And more above, hath his solicitings,
165
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
166
All given to mine ear.
171
What do you think of me?
173
As of a man faithful and honourable.
175
I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
176
When I had seen this hot love on the wing
177
(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,
178
Before my daughter told me), what might you,
179
Or my dear Majesty your queen here, think,
180
If I had play'd the desk or table book,
181
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
182
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight?
183
What might you think? No, I went round to work
184
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
185
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star.
186
This must not be.' And then I prescripts gave her,
187
That she should lock herself from his resort,
188
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
189
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
190
And he, repulsed, a short tale to make,
191
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
192
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
193
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
194
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
195
And all we mourn for.
197
Do you think 'tis this?
199
it may be, very like.
201
Hath there been such a time- I would fain know that-
202
That I have Positively said 'Tis so,'
203
When it prov'd otherwise.?
207
[points to his head and shoulder]Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
208
If circumstances lead me, I will find
209
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
212
How may we try it further?
214
You know sometimes he walks for hours together
219
At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him.
220
Be you and I behind an arras then.
221
Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
222
And he not from his reason fall'n thereon
223
Let me be no assistant for a state,
224
But keep a farm and carters.
227
Enter Hamlet, reading on a book.
229
But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
231
Away, I do beseech you, both away
232
I'll board him presently. O, give me leave.
233
[Exeunt King and Queen, [with Attendants].]
234
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
238
Do you know me, my lord?
240
Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.
244
Then I would you were so honest a man.
248
Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man
249
pick'd out of ten thousand.
251
That's very true, my lord.
253
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god
254
kissing carrion- Have you a daughter?
258
Let her not walk i' th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but not
259
as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to't.
261
[aside]How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet
262
he knew me not at first. He said I was a fishmonger. He is far
263
gone, far gone! And truly in my youth I suff'red much extremity
264
for love- very near this. I'll speak to him again.- What do you
269
What is the matter, my lord?
273
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
275
Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men
276
have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes
277
purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a
278
plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams. All which,
279
sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it
280
not honesty to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir,
281
should be old as I am if, like a crab, you could go backward.
283
[aside]Though this be madness, yet there is a method in't.-
284
Will You walk out of the air, my lord?
288
Indeed, that is out o' th' air.[Aside]How pregnant sometimes
289
his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which
290
reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I
291
will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between
292
him and my daughter.- My honourable lord, I will most humbly take
295
You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more
296
willingly part withal- except my life, except my life, except my
298
Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
300
Fare you well, my lord.
302
These tedious old fools!
304
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.
306
[to Polonius]God save you, sir!
313
My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah,
314
Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?
316
As the indifferent children of the earth.
318
Happy in that we are not over-happy.
319
On Fortune's cap we are not the very button.
321
Nor the soles of her shoe?
325
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her
328
Faith, her privates we.
330
In the secret parts of Fortune? O! most true! she is a
331
strumpet. What news ?
333
None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.
335
Then is doomsday near! But your news is not true. Let me
336
question more in particular. What have you, my good friends,
337
deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison
344
Then is the world one.
346
A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and
347
dungeons, Denmark being one o' th' worst.
349
We think not so, my lord.
351
Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good
352
or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison.
354
Why, then your ambition makes it one. 'Tis too narrow for your
357
O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a
358
king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.
360
Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very substance of
361
the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
363
A dream itself is but a shadow.
365
Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that
366
it is but a shadow's shadow.
368
Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretch'd
369
heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to th' court? for, by my
370
fay, I cannot reason.
372
[with Guildenstern]We'll wait upon you.
374
No such matter! I will not sort you with the rest of my
375
servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most
376
dreadfully attended. But in the beaten way of friendship, what
377
make you at Elsinore?
379
To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.
381
Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you;
382
and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were
383
you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free
384
visitation? Come, deal justly with me. Come, come! Nay, speak.
386
What should we say, my lord?
388
Why, anything- but to th' purpose. You were sent for; and
389
there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties
390
have not craft enough to colour. I know the good King and Queen
393
To what end, my lord?
395
That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the rights
396
of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the
397
obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a
398
better proposer could charge you withal, be even and direct with
399
me, whether you were sent for or no.
401
[aside to Guildenstern]What say you?
403
[aside]Nay then, I have an eye of you.- If you love me, hold
406
My lord, we were sent for.
408
I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation prevent your
409
discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen moult no
410
feather. I have of late- but wherefore I know not- lost all my
411
mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so
412
heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth,
413
seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the
414
air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical
415
roof fretted with golden fire- why, it appeareth no other thing
416
to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a
417
piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in
418
faculties! in form and moving how express and admirable! in
419
action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the
420
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals! And yet to me what
421
is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me- no, nor woman
422
neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.
424
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
426
Why did you laugh then, when I said 'Man delights not me'?
428
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten
429
entertainment the players shall receive from you. We coted them
430
on the way, and hither are they coming to offer you service.
432
He that plays the king shall be welcome- his Majesty shall
433
have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and
434
target; the lover shall not sigh gratis; the humorous man shall
435
end his part in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose
436
lungs are tickle o' th' sere; and the lady shall say her mind
437
freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't. What players are
440
Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the
441
tragedians of the city.
443
How chances it they travel? Their residence, both in
444
reputation and profit, was better both ways.
446
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late
449
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the
450
city? Are they so follow'd?
452
No indeed are they not.
454
How comes it? Do they grow rusty?
456
Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is,
457
sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top
458
of question and are most tyrannically clapp'd for't. These are now
459
the fashion, and so berattle the common stages(so they call
460
them)that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goosequills and
461
dare scarce come thither.
463
What, are they children? Who maintains 'em? How are they
464
escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can
465
sing? Will they not say afterwards, if they should grow
466
themselves to common players(as it is most like, if their means
467
are no better), their writers do them wrong to make them exclaim
468
against their own succession.
470
Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and the nation
471
holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy. There was, for a
472
while, no money bid for argument unless the poet and the player
473
went to cuffs in the question.
477
O, there has been much throwing about of brains.
479
Do the boys carry it away?
481
Ay, that they do, my lord- Hercules and his load too.
483
It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of Denmark, and
484
those that would make mows at him while my father lived give
485
twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in
486
little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if
487
philosophy could find it out.
488
Flourish for the Players.
490
There are the players.
492
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come! Th'
493
appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply
494
with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players(which I
495
tell you must show fairly outwards)should more appear like
496
entertainment than yours. You are welcome. But my uncle-father
497
and aunt-mother are deceiv'd.
499
In what, my dear lord?
501
I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly I
502
know a hawk from a handsaw.
505
Well be with you, gentlemen!
507
Hark you, Guildenstern- and you too- at each ear a hearer!
508
That great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling
511
Happily he's the second time come to them; for they say an old
512
man is twice a child.
514
I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players. Mark it.-
515
You say right, sir; a Monday morning; twas so indeed.
517
My lord, I have news to tell you.
519
My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome-
521
The actors are come hither, my lord.
527
Then came each actor on his ass-
529
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy,
530
history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,
531
tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral; scene
532
individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor
533
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the liberty, these are
536
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!
538
What treasure had he, my lord?
541
'One fair daughter, and no more,
542
The which he loved passing well.'
544
[aside]Still on my daughter.
546
Am I not i' th' right, old Jephthah?
548
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I
551
Nay, that follows not.
553
What follows then, my lord?
556
'As by lot, God wot,'
558
'It came to pass, as most like it was.'
559
The first row of the pious chanson will show you more; for look
560
where my abridgment comes.
561
[Enter four or five Players.]
562
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all.- I am glad to see thee
563
well.- Welcome, good friends.- O, my old friend? Why, thy face is
564
valanc'd since I saw thee last. Com'st' thou to' beard me in
565
Denmark?- What, my young lady and mistress? By'r Lady, your
566
ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last by the
567
altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a piece of
568
uncurrent gold, be not crack'd within the ring.- Masters, you are
569
all welcome. We'll e'en to't like French falconers, fly at
570
anything we see. We'll have a speech straight. Come, give us a
571
taste of your quality. Come, a passionate speech.
573
What speech, my good lord?
575
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted;
576
or if it was, not above once; for the play, I remember, pleas'd
577
not the million, 'twas caviary to the general; but it was(as I
578
receiv'd it, and others, whose judgments in such matters cried in
579
the top of mine)an excellent play, well digested in the scenes,
580
set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said
581
there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury,
582
nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of
583
affectation; but call'd it an honest method, as wholesome as
584
sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in't
585
I chiefly lov'd. 'Twas AEneas' tale to Dido, and thereabout of it
586
especially where he speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in
587
your memory, begin at this line- let me see, let me see:
588
'The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast-'
589
'Tis not so; it begins with Pyrrhus:
590
'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,
591
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble
592
When he lay couched in the ominous horse,
593
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd
594
With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot
595
Now is be total gules, horridly trick'd
596
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
597
Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,
598
That lend a tyrannous and a damned light
599
To their lord's murther. Roasted in wrath and fire,
600
And thus o'ersized with coagulate gore,
601
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
602
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'
605
Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.
608
Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword,
609
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
610
Repugnant to command. Unequal match'd,
611
Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide;
612
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
613
Th' unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,
614
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
615
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
616
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear. For lo! his sword,
617
Which was declining on the milky head
618
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' th' air to stick.
619
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,
620
And, like a neutral to his will and matter,
622
But, as we often see, against some storm,
623
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
624
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
625
As hush as death- anon the dreadful thunder
626
Doth rend the region; so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
627
Aroused vengeance sets him new awork;
628
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall
629
On Mars's armour, forg'd for proof eterne,
630
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword
632
Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods,
633
In general synod take away her power;
634
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
635
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven,
636
As low as to the fiends!
640
It shall to the barber's, with your beard.- Prithee say on.
641
He's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on; come to
644
'But who, O who, had seen the mobled queen-'
648
That's good! 'Mobled queen' is good.
650
'Run barefoot up and down, threat'ning the flames
651
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head
652
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
653
About her lank and all o'erteemed loins,
654
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up-
655
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd
656
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounc'd.
657
But if the gods themselves did see her then,
658
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
659
In Mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,
660
The instant burst of clamour that she made
661
(Unless things mortal move them not at all)
662
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven
663
And passion in the gods.'
665
Look, whe'r he has not turn'd his colour, and has tears in's
666
eyes. Prithee no more!
668
'Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon.-
669
Good my lord, will you see the players well bestow'd? Do you
670
hear? Let them be well us'd; for they are the abstract and brief
671
chronicles of the time. After your death you were better have a
672
bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.
674
My lord, I will use them according to their desert.
676
God's bodykins, man, much better! Use every man after his
677
desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own
678
honour and dignity. The less they deserve, the more merit is in
679
your bounty. Take them in.
683
Follow him, friends. We'll hear a play to-morrow.
684
[Exeunt Polonius and Players [except the First].]
685
Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play 'The Murther of
690
We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need, study a
691
speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I would set down and
692
insert in't, could you not?
696
Very well. Follow that lord- and look you mock him not.
698
My good friends, I'll leave you till night. You are welcome to
703
Ay, so, God b' wi' ye!
704
[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern]
706
O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
707
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
708
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,
709
Could force his soul so to his own conceit
710
That, from her working, all his visage wann'd,
711
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,
712
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
713
With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing!
715
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
716
That he should weep for her? What would he do,
717
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
718
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears
719
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech;
720
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,
721
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
722
The very faculties of eyes and ears.
724
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak
725
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
726
And can say nothing! No, not for a king,
727
Upon whose property and most dear life
728
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?
729
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
730
Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
731
Tweaks me by th' nose? gives me the lie i' th' throat
732
As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this, ha?
733
'Swounds, I should take it! for it cannot be
734
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall
735
To make oppression bitter, or ere this
736
I should have fatted all the region kites
737
With this slave's offal. Bloody bawdy villain!
738
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!
740
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
741
That I, the son of a dear father murther'd,
742
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
743
Must(like a whore)unpack my heart with words
744
And fall a-cursing like a very drab,
746
Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard
747
That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,
748
Have by the very cunning of the scene
749
Been struck so to the soul that presently
750
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;
751
For murther, though it have no tongue, will speak
752
With most miraculous organ, I'll have these Players
753
Play something like the murther of my father
754
Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;
755
I'll tent him to the quick. If he but blench,
756
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
757
May be a devil; and the devil hath power
758
T' assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps
759
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
760
As he is very potent with such spirits,
761
Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds
762
More relative than this. The play's the thing
763
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.[Exit.]
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