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A room in the castle.
[Enter CLAUDIUS, GERTRUDE, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants]
CLAUDIUS
, ,
, ,
,
Welcome | dear^Ros|encrantz | and Guild|enstern.
x ,
, , ,
Moreover,| that we | much did | long to | see you,
, ,
, , ,
The need | we have | to use | you, did | provoke
, , ,
, ,
Our has|ty send|ing. Some|thing have | you heard
, , , ,
x
Of Ham|let's trans|forma|tion: so | I call it,
, 2
, 2 , ,
,
Since^not | the exter|ior, nor | the in|ward man
,
, , ,
,
Resem|bles that | it was.| What it | should be
, 2 ,
, ,
,
More than his | father's | death, that | thus
hath | put him
, 2 ,
, ,
,
So much | from the und|erstand|ing of | himself,
,
, , ,
,
I can|not deem | of. I | entreat | you both,
, , ,
, ,
2
That be|ing of / so young | days brought^|up with
him:
, , , 2 ,
,
And since | so neigh/bored to his | youth, and | humor,
, , , ,
,
That you | vouchsafe | your rest | here in | our
court
, , , ,
,
Some lit|tle time:| so by | your comp|anies
, ,
, , ,
To draw | him on | to pleas|ures, and | to gather
, ,
, ,
,
So much | as from | occas|ions you | may glean,
2 ,
, ,
, ,
[[[[ Whether aught | to us | unknown | afflicts | him
thus, ]]]]
, ,
, , ,
That op|ened lies | within | our rem|edy.
GERTRUDE
, ,
, ,
,
Good gent/lemen, | he hath / much talked | of
you,
, ,
, 2 , ,
And sure | I am,| two* men | there are not | living,
, ,
, , 2 ,
To whom | he more | adheres.| If it will | please
you
, , , , ,
To show | us so | much gent|ry, and / good will,
, ,
, , ,
As to | expend | your time | with us | awhile,
, ,
, ,
,
For the | supply | and prof|it of | our hope,
, ,
, ,
,
Your vis|ita|tion shall | receive | such^thanks
, ,
,
As fits | a king's | remem|brance.
ROSENCRANTZ
,
, 2 ->
Both | your maj||esties
,
2 , x ,
,
Might | by the sove|reign power | you have | of
us,
, , , ,
,
Put your | dread pleas/ures, more^|into | command
,
,
Than to | entreat|y.
GUILDENSTERN
, ,
___
We
| both o|bey,
,
, , , ,
And here | give^up | ourselves,| in the / full
bent,
, , 2
, , ,
To lay | our serv|ices free|ly at | your feet,
,
,
To be | command|ed. \\
CLAUDIUS
,
, ,
, ,
Thanks^Ros|encrantz,| and gent|le Guild|enstern.
GERTRUDE
,
, , ,
,
Thanks^Guild|enstern | and gent|le Ros|encrantz.
,
, , , x
And I | beseech | you inst|antly | to visit
, T T T
My too | much changed son.
, ,
Go some / of ye,
, , ,
, ,
And bring | the gent|lemen | where Ham|let is.
GUILDENSTERN
,
, ,
, , 2
Heavens | make our | presence | and our | practises
,
, ,
Pleasant | and help|ful to | him.
GERTRUDE
, oo
Amen.|
[Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants; enter POLONIUS]
POLONIUS
2 , ,
, , ,
The ambas|sadors | from Nor|way, my / good lord,
, , ,
Are joy|fully | returned. \\
CLAUDIUS
, ,
, , ,
Thou still | hast been | the fath|er of / good news.
POLONIUS
, ,
,
, ,
Have I,| my lord?| Assure | you, my / good liege,
, ,
, , ,
I hold | my du|ty, as | I hold | my soul,
,
, ,
, ,
Both to | my God,| and to | my gra|cious king:
, ,
, ,
,
And I | do think,| or else | this brain | of mine
T T . T , ,
,
Hunts not the trail | of pol|icy,| so sure
, , ,
, ,
As it | hath used | to do:| that I | have found
, ,
, , ,
The ve|ry cause | of Ham|let's lun|acy.
CLAUDIUS
T T . T
, ,
,
Oh speak of that,| that do | I long | to hear.
POLONIUS
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Give first | admit|tance to | the ambas|sadors,
, ,
, . T T
T
My news | shall be | the fruit | to that great feast.
[Exit POLONIUS]
CLAUDIUS
, , ,
, ,
Thyself | do grace | to them,| and bring | them
in.
,
, , ,
,
He tells | me my / sweet queen,| that he | hath found
,
, ,
, ,
2->
The head | and source | of all | your son's |
distemp||er.
GERTRUDE
, ,
, ,
,
I doubt | it is | no^oth|er, but | the main,
, , . T T T ,
->
His fath|er's death,| and our orehas|ty mar||riage.
[Enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS]
CLAUDIUS
, 2
, ,
, ___
Well,| we shall sift | him. Wel|come good |
Friends:
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Say Volt|imand,| what from our | brother |
Norway?
VOLTIMAND
, ,
, ,
,
Most^fair | return | of greet|ings, and | desires.
, ,
, , ,
Upon | our first,| he sent | out to | suppress
, , ,
, ,
His neph|ew's lev|ies, which | to him | appeared
, , ,
, , , ->
To be | a pre|para|tion 'gainst | the Po||lack;
x
, ,
,
But | better looked^|into,| he tru|ly found
, ,
, , ,
It was | against | your high|ness, where|at
grieved,
, ,
, ,
,
That so | his sick|ness, age,| and imp|otence
, ,
, , ,
Was false|ly borne | in hand,| sends^out | arrests
, ,
, ,
,
On Fort|inbras,| which he |(in brief)| obeys,
, , ,
, ,
Receives | rebuke | from Nor|way:^and | in fine,
T T . T
, , ,
Makes vow before | his unc|le, nev|er more
,
, 2 ,
, , 2 ->
To give | the as|say of arms | against | your
maj||esty*.
, 2 , , ,
,
Where|on old Nor|way, ov|ercome | with joy,
,
, ,
, ,
Gives him | three* thous|and crowns | in an|nual
fee,
, 2 ,
, ,
,
And his com|mission | to em|ploy those | soldiers
, ,
, ,
, , ->
So lev|ied as | before,| against | the Po||lack:
2 , , ,
,
With | an entrea|ty here|in furth|er shown,
[Giving a paper]
, ,
, , ,
That it | might please | you to / give qui|et pass
, ,
, , ,
Through your | domin|ions, for | this ent|erprise,
, ,
, , 2 ,
On such | regards | of safe|ty and al|lowance,
, , ,
As there|in are / set down.
CLAUDIUS
, ,
It likes | us well:
, ,
, ,
,
And at | our more | consid|ered time | well* read,
, ,
, ,
Answer,| and think | upon | this bus|iness.
<- , , ,
, , ,
Mean||time we | thank you,| for your
/ well-took | labor.
, 2 ,
, , ,
Go to your | rest, at | night we'll | feast
to|gether.
,
,
Most^wel|come home.
[Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS]
POLONIUS
, 2
, ,
This bus|iness is well | ended.
, , ,
, ,
My liege,| and mad|am, to | expos|tulate
, , ,
, ,
What maj|esty | should be,| what du|ty is,
, ,
T T . T ,
Why day | is day;| night, night; and time | is
time,
,
, , ,
,
Were noth|ing but to // waste night, day,| and
time.
, , , 2 ,
,
Therefore,| since brev/ity | is the soul | of wit,
, 2 ,
, , , 3 3->
And ted|iousness,| the limbs | and out|ward
flour||ishes,
,
, , ,
,
I will | be brief.| Your nob|le son | is mad:
T T Tx
2 , , ,
Mad call I it;| for to de/fine true | madness,
x ,
, , ,
What is it,| but to | be noth|ing else | but mad.
, ,
But let | that go.
GERTRUDE
, , ,
More* mat|ter, with / less art.
POLONIUS
, ,
, ,
,
Madam,| I swear | I use | no art | at all:
, 2 , ,
, ,
That he is | mad, 'tis | true: 'tis | true 'tis |
pity,
, , , ,
, ->
And pi|ty it | is true:| a fool|ish fig||ure,
,
x ,
, ,
But | farewell it:| for I | will use | no art.
,
, ,
, ,
Mad let | us grant | him then:| and now | remains
, ,
, ,
,
That we | find^out | the cause | of this |
effect,
, , , . T
T T
Or rath|er say,| the cause | of this defect;
, , , ,
,
For this | effect | defect|ive, comes | by cause,
, ,
3 3 ,
, ,
Thus it | remains,| and the remaind|er thus.| Perpend,
, ,
, ,
,
I have | a daught|er: have,| while she | is mine,
,
, , ,
2 ,
Who in | her du|ty and | obed|ience, mark,
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Hath giv|en me this:| now gath|er, and | surmise.
To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia.
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, beautified is a vile phrase: but you
shall hear these in her excellent white bosom, these.
GERTRUDE
Came this from Hamlet to her.
POLONIUS
, ,
, , 2 ,
Good mad|am stay | awhile,| I will be | faithful.
[Reads]
T T . T
, o
Doubt thou, the stars | are fi|re,
, , , oo
Doubt, that | the sun | doth move:|
T T . T , o
Doubt truth to be | a li|ar,
, ,
, oo
But nev|er doubt,| I love.|
O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers: I have not art to reckon my
groans; but that I love thee best, oh most best believe it. Adieu. Thine
evermore most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet.
, 2 , 2
, ,
,
This in o|bedience | hath my | daughter | showed
me:
, ,
, , ,
And more | above | hath his | soli|citing,
, ,
, ,
,
As they | fell^out | by time,| by means,| and
place,
, , ,
All giv|en to / mine ear. \\
CLAUDIUS
, ,
, ,
oo
But how | hath she | received | his love?|
POLONIUS
, ,
,
What do | you think | of me? \\
CLAUDIUS
, , ,
, ,
As of | a man,| faithful | and hon|orable.
POLONIUS
,
, , ,
,
I would / fain prove | so. But | what might | you
think?
, ,
, ,
,
When I | had seen | this hot | love on | the
wing,
, ,
, ,
,
As I | perceived | it, I | must tell | you that
, ,
, , ,
Before | my daught|er told | me, what | might you
, , ,
, ,
Or my / dear maj|esty | your queen | here, think,
, ,
, , ,
If I | had played | the desk | or tab|le-book,
x , , , ,
Or given | my heart | a wink|ing, mute | and dumb,
, ,
, , ,
Or looked | upon | this love,| with id|le sight,
, ,
, ,
,
What might | you think?| No, I | went round | to work,
, ,
, ,
,
And (my / young mist|ress) thus | I did | bespeak
, ,
, ,
,
Lord Ham/let is | a prince | out of | thy star,
, T
T . T ,
x
This must | not be: and then,| I pre|cepts^gave
her, ??
, ,
, , ,
That she | should lock | herself | from his |
resort,
,
, , , x
Admit | no mes|sengers,| receive | no
tokens:
,
, ,
, ,
Which^done,| she took | the fruits | of my
| advice,
, ,
, ,
__
And he | repulsed,| a short | tale to | make,
, 2 , ,
, ,
Fell^in|to a sad|ness, then | into | a fast,
,
, , ,
,
Thence to | a watch,| thence in/to a | weakness,
,
, , ,
, ->
Thence to | a light|ness, and | by this | declen||sion
, 2 ,
, ,
,
In|to the mad|ness where|in now | he raves,
. T T T
And all we mourn | for.
CLAUDIUS
, ,
,
Do | you think | 'tis this?
GERTRUDE
, , ,
It may | be ve|ry like|ly. \\
POLONIUS
, ,
, , ,
Hath there | been such | a time,| I'd fain | know that,
, , ,
, ,
That I | have pos|itive|ly said,| 'tis so,
, ,
,
When it / proved oth|erwise?
CLAUDIUS
, ,
Not that | I know.
POLONIUS
[Pointing to his head and shoulder]
, ,
, , ,
Take this | from this;| if this | be oth|erwise,
, , ,
, ,
If cir|cumstan|ces lead | me, I | will find
, ,
, ,
,
Where truth | is hid,| though it | were hid |
indeed
, ,
Within | the cent|er.
CLAUDIUS
, 2 x
,
How | may we try it | further?
POLONIUS
, ,
You know | sometimes
, ,
, ,
He walks | four^hours | togeth||er, here
2
,
In the lob|by.
GERTRUDE
, ,
,
So | he has | indeed.
POLONIUS
, ,
, ,
x
At such | a time | I'll loose | my daught|er to
him,
, ,
, , ,
Be you | and I | behind | an ar|ras then,
,
, ,
, ,
Mark the | encount|er: if | he love | her not,
, ,
, x ,
And be | not from | his reas|on fallen
| thereon;
, ,
, ,
,
Let me | be no | assis|tant for | a state,
, ,
,
But keep | a farm | and car|ters.
CLAUDIUS
, x
We | will try it.
GERTRUDE
, , 2 ,
,
But look | where sad|ly the poor | wretch
,
Comes^|reading.
POLONIUS
, , ,
, ,
Away | I do | beseech | you, both | away,
, ,
,
I'll board | him pres|ently. \\
[Exeunt CLAUDIUS, GERTRUDE, and Attendants; enter HAMLET, reading]
,
, , 2 , ,
Oh give | me leave.|
How does my | good^Lord | Hamlet?
HAMLET
Well, God-a-mercy.
POLONIUS
Do you know me, my lord?
HAMLET
Excellent, excellent well: you're a fishmonger.
POLONIUS
Not I my lord.
HAMLET
Then I would you were so honest a man.
POLONIUS
Honest, my lord?
HAMLET
Aye sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of
ten thousand.
POLONIUS
That's very true, my lord.
HAMLET
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing
carrion--
Have you a daughter?
POLONIUS
I have my lord.
HAMLET
Let her not walk in the sun: conception is a blessing, but not as your
daughter may conceive. Friend look to it.
POLONIUS
How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter: yet he knew me not at
first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and truly in my
youth, I suffered much extremity for love: very near this. I'll speak to him
again. What do you read my lord?
HAMLET
Words, words, words.
POLONIUS
What is the matter, my lord?
HAMLET
Between who?
POLONIUS
I mean the matter you mean, my lord.
HAMLET
Slanders sir: for the satirical rogue says here, that old men have grey
beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thick amber, or
plum-tree gum: and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with weak hams. All which sir, though I most powerfully, and potently believe;
yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down: for yourself sir,
should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward.
POLONIUS
, ,
Though this | be mad|ness, \\
,
, ,
, ,
Yet there | is meth|od in | it: will | you walk
,
, ,
Out of | the air | my lord?
HAMLET
,
,
Into | my grave?
POLONIUS
, , ,
,
Indeed | that is | out of | the air:
,
, ,
, ___
How preg|nant (some|times) his | replies | are?
,
,
A hap|piness,
,
, , __
That of|ten mad|ness hits | on,
x , ,
,
Which reason | and san|ity | could not
,
, , ,
,
So pros|perous|ly be | deliv|ered of.
, ,
I will | leave him,
[mirror of previous lines?]
,
, ,
, , 2->
And sud|denly | contrive | the means | of
mee||ting
, T
T T , oo
Between | him, and my | daughter.|
, ,
, 2 ,
,
My hon|orab|le
lord,| I will most | humbly
,
, ___
Take my | leave of | you. \\
HAMLET
You cannot sir take from me anything, that I will more willingly part
withal, except my life, except my life.
POLONIUS
Fare you well my lord.
HAMLET
These tedious old fools.
[Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN]
POLONIUS
You go to seek my Lord Hamlet; there he is.
ROSENCRANTZ
God save you sir.
[Exit POLONIUS]
GUILDENSTERN
My honored lord?
ROSENCRANTZ
My most dear lord?
HAMLET
My excellent good friends? How dost thou Guildenstern? Oh, Rosencrantz, good
lads: how do ye both?
ROSENCRANTZ
As the indifferent children of the earth.
GUILDENSTERN
Happy, in that we are not over-happy: on fortune's cap, we are not the very
button.
HAMLET
Nor the soles of her shoe?
ROSENCRANTZ
Neither my lord.
HAMLET
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favor?
GUILDENSTERN
Faith, her privates, we.
HAMLET
In the secret parts of fortune? Oh, most true: she is a strumpet. What's the
news?
ROSENCRANTZ
None my lord; but that the world's grown honest.
HAMLET
Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true. Let me question more in
particular: what have you my good friends, deserved at the hands of
fortune, that she sends you to prison hither?
GUILDENSTERN
Prison, my lord?
HAMLET
Denmark's a prison.
ROSENCRANTZ
Then is the world one.
HAMLET
A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons; Denmark
being one of the worst.
ROSENCRANTZ
We think not so my lord.
HAMLET
Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but
thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison.
ROSENCRANTZ
Why then your ambition makes it one: 'tis too narrow for your mind.
HAMLET
O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite
space; were it not that I have bad dreams.
GUILDENSTERN
Which dreams indeed are ambition: for the very substance of the ambitious, is
merely the shadow of a dream.
HAMLET
A dream itself is but a shadow.
ROSENCRANTZ
Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality, that it is but a
shadow's shadow.
HAMLET
Then are our beggars bodies; and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the
beggars' shadows: shall we to the court: for, by my fay I cannot reason?
ROSENCRANTZ GUILDENSTERN
We'll wait upon you.
HAMLET
No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest of my servants: for to
speak to you like an honest man: I am most dreadfully attended; but in the
beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?
ROSENCRANTZ
To visit you my lord, no other occasion.
HAMLET
Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you: and sure dear
friends my thanks are too dear a halfpenny; were you not sent for? Is it
your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me:
come, come; nay speak.
GUILDENSTERN
What should we say my lord?
HAMLET
Why anything. But to the purpose; you were sent for; and there is a kind
confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to
color, I know the good king and queen have sent for you.
ROSENCRANTZ
To what end my lord?
HAMLET
That you must teach me: but let me conjure you by the rights of our
fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our
ever-preserved love, and by what more dear, a better proposer could charge
you withal; be even and direct with me, whether you were sent for or no.
ROSENCRANTZ
What say you?
HAMLET
Nay then I have an eye of you: If you love me hold not off.
GUILDENSTERN
My lord, we were sent for.
HAMLET
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery and
your secrecy to the king and queen: moult no feather, I have of late, but
wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercise;
and indeed, it goes so heavenly with my disposition; that this goodly frame
the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy the
air, look you, this brave orehanging, this majestical roof, fretted
with golden fire: why, it appears no other thing to me, than a foul and
pestilent congregation of vapors. What a piece of work is a man! how noble
in reason? how infinite in faculty? in form and moving how express and
admirable? in action, how like an angel? in apprehension, how like a god? the
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals; and yet to me, what is this
quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman neither; though by
your smiling you seem to say so.
ROSENCRANTZ
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
HAMLET
Why did you laugh, when I said, man delights not me?
ROSENCRANTZ
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment the
players shall receive from you: we coted them on the way, and hither are
they coming to offer you service.
HAMLET
He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of
me: the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target: the lover shall
not sigh gratis, the humourous man shall end his part in peace: the clown
shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled on the sere: and the lady
shall say her mind freely; or the blank verse shall halt for it: What
players are they?
ROSENCRANTZ
Even those you were wont to take delight in the tragedians of the city.
HAMLET
How chances it they travel? their residence both in reputation and profit
was better both ways.
ROSENCRANTZ
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation?
HAMLET
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city? are they
so followed?
ROSENCRANTZ
No indeed, are they not.
HAMLET
How comes it? do they grow rusty?
ROSENCRANTZ
Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted pace; but there is sir an aery of
children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question; and are most
tyrannically clapped for it: these are now the fashion, and so berattled the
common stages (so they call them) that many wearing rapiers, are afraid of
goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither.
HAMLET
What are they children? Who maintains 'em? how are they escoted? Will they
pursue the quality no longer than they can sing? will they not say
afterwards if they should grow themselves to common players (as it is like
most
if their means are no better) their writers do them wrong, to make them
exclaim against their own succession.
ROSENCRANTZ
Faith there has been much to do on both sides: and the nation holds it no
sin, to tarre them to controversy. There was for a while, no money bid for
argument, unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question.
HAMLET
Is it possible?
GUILDENSTERN
Oh there has been much throwing about of brains.
HAMLET
Do the boys carry it away?
ROSENCRANTZ
Aye that they do my lord, Hercules and his load too.
HAMLET
It is not strange: for mine uncle is king of Denmark, and those that
would make mows at him while my father lived; give twenty, forty, a
hundred ducats apiece, for his picture in little. There is
something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out.
[Flourish of trumpets within]
GUILDENSTERN
There are the players.
HAMLET
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore: Your hands, come: the
appurtenance of welcome, is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply with you in
this garb, lest my extent to the players (which I tell you must show
fairly outward) should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are
welcome: but my uncle-father, and aunt-mother are deceived.
GUILDENSTERN
In what my dear lord?
HAMLET
I am but mad north, north-west: when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from
a handsaw.
[Enter POLONIUS]
POLONIUS
Well be with you gentlemen.
HAMLET
Hark you Guildenstern, and you too: at each ear a hearer: that great baby
you see there, is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts.
ROSENCRANTZ
Happily he's the second time come to them: for they say, an old man is twice
a child.
HAMLET
I will prophesy. He comes to tell me of the players. Mark it, you say right
sir: for a Monday morning 'twas so indeed.
POLONIUS
My lord, I have news to tell you.
HAMLET
My lord, I have news to tell you.
When Roscius an actor in Rome--
POLONIUS
The actors are come hither my lord.
HAMLET
Buzz, buzz.
POLONIUS
Upon mine honor.
HAMLET
Then came each actor on his ass--
POLONIUS
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral:
pastoral-comical-historical-pastoral: tragical-historical: tragical-comical-historical-pastoral: scene individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca
cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light, for the law of writ, and the
liberty. These are the only men.
HAMLET
O Jephthah judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou?
POLONIUS
What a treasure had he, my lord?
HAMLET
,
, ,
,
Why one | fair daught|er, and | no more,
, ,
, ,
The which | he lov|ed pas|sing well.
POLONIUS
Still on my daughter.
HAMLET
Am I not in the right old Jephthah?
POLONIUS
If you call me Jephthah my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing
well.
HAMLET
Nay that follows not.
POLONIUS
What follows then, my lord?
HAMLET
Why, As by lot, God wot: and then, you know, it came to pass, as most like
it was: The first row of the pious chanson will show you more. For look
where my abridgement comes.
[Enter four or five Players]
You are welcome masters, welcome all. I am glad to see thee well: welcome
good friends. O my old friend? Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last:
comst thou to beard me in Denmark? What, my young lady and mistress? By our
lady your ladyship is nearer heaven than when I saw you last, by the
altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice like a piece of uncurrent gold
be not cracked within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome: We'll eene to
it like French falconers, fly at any thing we see: we'll have a speech
straight. Come give us a taste of your quality: come, a passionate speech.
FIRST PLAYER
What speech, my lord?
HAMLET
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted: or if it was,
not above once, for the play I remember pleased not the million, 'twas
caviare to the general: but it was (as I received it, and others, whose
judgments in such matters, cried in the top of mine) an excellent play; well
digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty, as cunning. I
remember one said, there were no sallets in the lines, to make the matter
savory; nor no matter in the phrase, that might indict the author of
affectation, but called it an honest method. [[[[as wholesome as sweet, and by
very much more handsome than fine.]]]] One chief speech in it, I chiefly loved, 'twas
Aeneas' tale to Dido, and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of
Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this line, let me
see, let me see: The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast. It is
not so: it begins with Pyrrhus
,
, ,
, ,
The rug|ged Pyr|rhus, he | whose sab|le arms
, 2
, ,
, ,
Black as his | purpose,| did the | night re|semble
,
, ,
, 2 ,
When he | lay couch|ed in | the om|inous horse,
,
, ,
, ,
Hath now | this dread | and black | complex|ion
smeared
,
, ,
, ,
With her|aldry | more dis|mal: head | to foot
,
, , ,
,
Now is | he to / take guiles,| horrid|ly tricked
,
, ,
, ,
With blood | of fath|ers, moth|ers, daught|ers, sons,
,
, , , ,
Baked and | impast|ed with | the parch|ing
streets,
,
, ,
, ,
That lend | a tyr|annous,| and damn|ed light
, , ,
2 ,
,
To their / vile murd|ers, roast|ed in wrath | and
fire,
,
, ,
, ,
And thus | ore-sized / with co|agu|late gore,
,
, ,
x ,
With eyes | like^car|buncles,| the hellish | Pyrrhus
,
T Tx T
Old grand|sire Priam seeks. \\
POLONIUS
Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent, and good discretion.
FIRST PLAYER
, ,
Anon he | finds him, \\
,
, , . T
T T
Striking | too short | at Greeks.| His antique
sword,
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Rebel|lious to | his arm,| lies where | it falls
, , , , ,
Repug|nant to | command:| une|qual match,
,
, , . T T T
Pyrrhus | at Pri|am drives,| in rage strikes
wide:
, ,
, ,
,
But with | the whiff | and wind | of his / fell
sword,
2 ,
Tx
T T , ,
2
The unnerved | father falls. Then | senseless
| Ilium,
, , , , ,
Seeming | to feel | his blow,| with flam|ing top
,
, , , 2
,
Stoops to | his base,| and with | a hid|eous crash
, ,
, , ,
Takes^pris|oner Pyr|rhus' ear.| For lo,| his
sword
, , ,
, ,
Which^was | declin|ing on | the mil|ky head
, ,
, 2 ,
,
Of reve|rend Pri|am, seemed | in the air | to
stick:
, , , , ,
So^as | a paint|ed tyr|ant Pyr|rhus stood,
,
, 2
, . Tx T T ->
And like^a | neutral | to his will | and matter, did noth||ing.
, 2 , ,
. T
T T
But | as we of|ten see | against some storm,
, , x
. T T
T
A sil|ence in | the heavens,| the rack stand still,
, , ,
, ,
The bold | winds speech/less, and | the orb |
below
, ,
, , ,
2->
As hush | as death:| anon | the dread|ful
thund||er
,
x , ,
,
Doth rend | the region.| So^af|ter Pyr|rhus' pause,
, , ,
, ,
Arous|ed venge|ance^sets | him new | a-work,
, , ,
, ,
And nev|er did | the Cy|clops'^ham|mers fall
, , , ,
,
On Mars | his arm|ors, forged | for proof | eterne,
, ,
, , ,
With less | remorse | than Pyr|rhus' bleed|ing
sword
T T T ,
Now falls on | Priam. \\
, , , , ,
Out,^out,| thou strump|et Fort|une, all | you gods,
??
, , , ,
x
In gene|ral sy|nod take | away | her power:
, , ,
, ,
Break^all | the spokes | and fel|lies from | her
wheel,
, . T T T
,
x
And bowl | the round nave down | the hill | of
heaven,
, , ,
As low | as to | the fiends.
POLONIUS
, ,
This is | too long.
HAMLET
It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee say on: he's for a jig,
or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on; come to Hecuba.
FIRST PLAYER
, , , ,
,
But who,| O who,| had seen | the mob|led queen.
HAMLET
The mobled queen?
POLONIUS
That's good: mobled queen is good.
FIRST PLAYER
, ,
,
Run bare|foot up | and down,
, 2
,
Threatening | the flame
, ,
, , ,
With bis|son rheum:| a clout | about | that head,
,
, 2 , ,
,
Where late | the di|adem stood,| and for | a robe
, ,
, , ,
About | her lank | and all | ore-teem|ed loins,
, , 2 ,
, ,
A blank|et in | the alarm | of fear | caught^up.
T T . T ,
, ,
Who this had seen,| with tongue | in ven|om
steeped,
, ,
, , ,
Gainst^For|tune's state,| would treas|on have |
pronounced?
, ,
, ,
,
But if | the gods | themselves | did see | her
then,
, ,
, , ,
When she | saw Pyr|rhus make | mali|cious sport
, ,
, , ,
In minc|ing with | his sword | her hus|band's
limbs,
, ,
, ,
,
The inst|ant burst | of clam|or that | she made
. T T T ,
, ,
(Unless things mort|al move | them not | at
all)
,
, ,
, x
Would have / made milch | the burn|ing eyes | of
heaven,
, , ,
And pas|sion in | the gods. \\
POLONIUS
Look where he has not turned his color, and has tears in his eyes. Pray you
no more.
HAMLET
'Tis well, I'll have thee speak out the rest soon. Good my lord, will you
see the players well bestowed. Do ye hear, let them be well used: for they
are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time. After your death, you were
better have a bad epitaph, than their ill report while you live.
POLONIUS
My lord, I will use them according to their desert.
HAMLET
God's bodkins man, better. Use every man after his desert, and who
should 'scape whipping: Use them after your own honor and dignity. The less
they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in.
POLONIUS
Come sirs.
[Exit POLONIUS with all the Players but the First]
HAMLET
Follow him friends: we'll hear a play tomorrow. Dost thou hear me old
friend, can you play the Murder of Gonzago?
FIRST PLAYER
Aye my lord.
HAMLET
We'll have it tomorrow night. You could for a need study a speech of some
dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down, and insert in it? could ye
not?
FIRST PLAYER
Aye my lord.
HAMLET
Very well. Follow that lord, and look you mock him not. My good friends,
I'll leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore?
[Exit First Player]
ROSENCRANTZ
Good my lord.
[Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN]
HAMLET
, , ,
, 2 ,
Aye* so,| God be | with ye:| Now I | am alone.
, ,
, ,
,
Oh what | a rogue | and peas|ant slave | am I?
, , ,
, ,
Is it / not monst|rous that | this play|er here,
, 2 ,
, , ,
But in a | fiction,| in a | dream of | passion,
, ,
, , ,
Could force | his soul | so to | his own | conceit,
,
,
, , ,
That from / her work|ing, all | his vis|age warmed;
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Tears in his | eyes, dis|traction | in his /
aspect,
, , 2 ,
, ,
A brok|en voice,| and his whole | function |
suiting
, ,
, ,
, o ->
With forms,| to his | conceit?| And all | for
noth||ing?
, ,
For Hec|uba? \\
,
3 3 , , , ,
What's Hec|uba* to him,| or he | to Hec|uba,
, , ,
,
,
That he | should weep | for her?| What would | he
do,
, 2 ,
, , ,
Had he the | motive | and the | cue for | passion
, ,
, , ,
That I | have? He | would drown | the stage |
with tears,
, ,
, , ,
And cleave | the gene|ral ear | with hor|rid speech:
T T . T , ,
,
Make mad the guil|ty, and | appall | the free,
, , ,
2 , ,
Confound | the ig|norant,| and amaze | indeed,
, , 3 3 ,
, ,
The ve|ry fac|ulty of eyes | and ears.| Yet I,
,
, , , ,
A dull | and mud|dy-met|tled ras|cal, peak
T T . T , ,
,
Like John a-dreams,| unpreg|nant of | my cause,
, ,
, , ,
And can / say noth|ing: no,| not for | a king,
, , ,
. T T T
Upon | whose prop/erty,| and most dear life,
, ,
, ,
x
A damned | defeat | was made.| Am I | a coward?
,
, ,
, ,
Who calls | me vil|lain? Breaks | my pate |
across?
T T T , , 2 ,
Plucks off my | beard, and | blows it in | my face?
,
, , 2 ,
2 ,
Tweaks me | by the / nose? Gives | me the lie |
in the throat,
, ,
, , ,
As deep | as to | the lungs?| Who does | me this?
,
, ,
2 , ,
Ha? Why | I should | take it:| for it can|not be,
, , , ,
,
But I | am pig|eon-liv|ered, and / lack gall
, , , ,
,
To make | oppres|sion bit|ter, or | ere this,
, , ,
, ,
I should | have fat|ted all | the reg|ion kites
,
x , , x
With this / slave's offal,| bloody:| a baw|dy
villain,
, , 2
, 2 ,
x
Remorse|less, treach|erous, lech|erous, kind|less
villain!
T T T
Oh vengeance! \\
, , , , ,
,
Who? What | an ass | am I?| Aye sure,| this is most brave, ????
, , 2 ,
,
That I,| the son | of the dear | murdered,
????
, 2
, , Tx T T
Prompted to | my re|venge by | heaven, and hell,
T T . T
, ,
,
Must (like a whore)| unpack | my heart | with
words,
, , , , ,
And fall | a-curs|ing like | a ve|ry drab,
, 2 , ,
, , ,
A scul|lion? Fie | upon | it: Foh.| About | my brain.
, ,
, , , 2
,
I have | heard, that | guilty | creatures |
sitting | at a play, (hex with prev)
, ,
, , ,
Have by | the ve|ry cun|ning of | the scene,
, ,
, , ,
Been struck | so to | the soul,| that pres|ently
,
, ,
, ,
They have | proclaimed | their mal|efac|tions.
, x
T T T
,
For murd|er, though it | have no tongue,| will speak
, , 2
x ,
x
With most | mirac|ulous organ.| I'll have
| these^players,
, ,
, ,
,
Play something like the murder of my
father, ????
, , ,
, ___
Before | mine^uncle.| I'll ob|serve his | looks,
, ,
, , ,
I'll tent | him to | the quick:| if he | but
blench
, , x
, ,
I know | my course.| The spirit | that I | have seen
,
, ,
x x
May* be | the dev|il, and | the devil | hath power
2 , , ,
, ,
To assume | a pleas|ing shape,| yea and | perhaps
, , , 2 , ,
Out of | my weak/ness, and my | melan|choly,
, , , , x
As he | is ve|ry pot|ent with / such spirits,
, , ,
, ,
Abus|es me | to damn | me. I'll | have grounds
, , ,
, ,
More rel|ative | than this:| the play's | the
thing,
, , ,
, ,
Wherein | I'll catch | the con|science of | the
king.
[Exit]