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next
Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
Fran. I thinke I heare
them. Stand: who's there?
15
Hor. Friends to
this
ground.
Mar. And
Leige-men
to
the Dane.
Fran.
Giue you good
night.
Mar. O
farwel honest
Soldier, who
hath relieu'd you?
Fra.
Barnardo ha's my
place: giue you goodnight.
Exit
Fran.
20 Mar. Holla Barnardo.
Bar.
Say, what is
Horatio there?
Hor. A
peece of him.
Bar.
Welcome Horatio, welcome good
Marcellus.
Mar. What,
ha's this
thing
appear'd againe to night.
25 Bar. I haue seene
nothing.
Mar.
Horatio saies, 'tis but
our Fantasie,
And
will not let beleefe
take hold of him
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next
Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
Touching
this dreaded
sight, twice seene of vs,
Therefore
I haue
intreated him along
30
With
vs, to watch the
minutes of this Night,
That
if againe this Apparition
come,
He
may approue
our eyes,
and speake to it.
Hor.
Tush, tush, 'twill not
appeare.
Bar.
Sit downe a-while,
35
And
let vs once againe
assaile your eares,
That
are so fortified
against our Story,
What
we two Nights haue
seene.
Hor.
Well, sit we downe,
And
let vs heare
Barnardo speake of this.
40
Barn. Last
night
of all,
When
yond
same Starre that's
Westward from the
Pole
Had
made his course
t'illume that part of Heauen
Where
now it burnes,
Marcellus and my selfe,
The
Bell then beating
one.
45
Mar. Peace,
breake thee
of:
Looke where it
comes againe.
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Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
Barn.
In the same figure,
like the
King
that's dead.
Mar.
Thou art a Scholler;
speake to it Horatio.
Barn.
Lookes it not like
the King?
Marke
it Horatio.
50 Hora.
Most like: It harrowes
me with fear &
wonder
Barn.
It would be spoke too.
Mar.
Question it
Horatio.
Hor.
What art thou
that
vsurp'st
this time of
night,
Together
with that Faire
and Warlike forme
55
In
which the Maiesty of
buried
Denmarke
Did
sometimes march: By
Heauen I
charge thee
speake.
Mar. It
is
offended.
Barn.
See, it stalkes
away.
Hor.
Stay: speake; speake:
I
Charge thee, speake.
60
Mar. 'Tis gone, and will
not
answer.
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next
Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
Barn. How now Horatio? You
tremble & look pale:
Is
not this something
more then Fantasie?
What
thinke you
on't?
Hor.
Before my God, I
might
not this beleeue
65
Without
the sensible and
true auouch
Of
mine owne eyes.
Mar. Is
it not like the
King?
Hor. As
thou art to thy
selfe,
Such
was the very Armour
he had on,
70 When
th'Ambitious Norwey
combatted:
So
frown’d he once, when, in an angry parle,
He
smote
the sledded
Polacks
on the Ice.
’Tis
strange.
Mar.
Thus twice
before, and iust at this dead hour,
75
With
Martial
stalk hath he
gone by our Watch.
Hor.
In what
particular thought to work I know not;
But
in the gross
and scope
of
my Opinion,
This
bodes some strange
eruption
to our State.
Mar.
Good now, sit
down, and tell me, he that knows,
80
Why
this same strict and most
observant watch
So
nightly
toils the subject
of the land;
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Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
And
why such daily cast of
Brazen
Cannon,
And
Foreign Mart
for
Implements of war;
Why
such impress
of
Shipwrights, whose sore Task
85 Does
not divide the Sunday
from the week;
What
might be toward, that
this sweaty haste
Doth
make the Night
joint-Labourer with the day:
Who
is ’t that can inform
me?
Hor.
That can
I,
90
At
least, the whisper goes so.
Our
last King,
Whose
Image even but now
appear’d to us,
Was
(as you know) by
Fortinbras
of Norway,
(Thereto
prick’d on by a most
emulate
pride,)
Dar’d
to the Combat; in which
our Valiant Hamlet,
95
(For
so this side of our known
world esteem’d him)
Did
slay this Fortinbras; who, by a Seal’d Compact,
Well
ratified by Law and
Heraldry,
Did
forfeit (with his life)
all those his Lands
Which
he stood seiz’d
of, to
the Conqueror;
100 Against
the which, a Moiety
competent
Was
gaged
by our King; which
had return’d
To
the Inheritance of
Fortinbras,
Had
he been Vanquisher; as, by
the same
Cov’nant,
And
carriage of the Article
design,
105 His
fell to Hamlet. Now, sir,
young Fortinbras,
Of
unimproved
Mettle hot and
full,
Hath
in the skirts
of Norway
here and there
Shark’d
up a List of Landlesse
Resolutes,
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next
Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
For
Food and Diet, to some
Enterprise
110 That
hath a stomach
in ’t;
which is no other
(And
it doth well appear unto
our State)
But
to recover of us, by
strong hand
And
terms Compulsative, those
foresaid Lands
So
by his Father lost. And
this (I take it)
115 Is
the main Motive of our
Preparations,
The
Source of this our Watch
and the chief head
Of
this post-haste and Romage
in the Land.
Enter
Ghost again.
But,
soft! behold! lo! where it comes again.
Ile
crosse
it, though it blast
me. Stay Illusion:
120
If
thou hast any sound, or vse of Voyce,
Speake
to me. If there be any good thing to be done,
That
may to thee do
ease,
and
grace to me; speak to me.
If
thou art priuy
to thy
Countries Fate
(Which
happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh speake.
125
Or,
if thou hast vp-hoorded
in thy
life
Extorted
Treasure in the wombe
of Earth,
(For
which, they say, you Spirits oft walke in death)
Speake
of it. Stay, and speake. Stop it Marcellus.
Mar.
Shall I strike at it
with
my Partizan?
130 Hor.
Do,
if it will not
stand.
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next
Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
Barn. 'Tis
heere.
Hor.
'Tis
heere.
Mar.
'Tis
gone.
Exit
Ghost.
We do it
wrong, being so Maiesticall
135 To
offer
it the shew of
Violence,
For it is as
the Ayre, invulnerable,
And our vaine
blowes, malicious
Mockery.
Barn. It
was about to speake,
when
the Cocke crew.
Hor.
And then it started, like
a guilty thing
140 Vpon
a fearfull
Summons. I haue
heard,
The Cocke that
is the Trumpet
to
the day,
Doth with his
lofty and shrill-sounding Throate
Awake the God
of Day:
and at
his warning,
Whether in
Sea, or Fire, in Earth, or Ayre,
145
Th'extrauagant,
and erring Spirit, hyes
To his
Confine. And of the truth heerein,
This present
Obiect made probation.
Mar.
It faded
on
the crowing of the
Cocke.
Some
sayes, that euer 'gainst that Season comes
150
Wherein
our Sauiours Birth is celebrated,
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Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
act
scene
The Bird
of
Dawning singeth all night long:
And then (they
say) no Spirit can walke abroad,
Hor. So
haue I heard, and do
in part beleeue it.
But looke, the
Morne in Russet
mantle clad,
155
Walkes o're
the dew of yon high Easterne Hill,
Breake
we
our
Watch vp, and
by
my aduice
Let vs impart what we haue seene to night
Vnto yong
Hamlet. For vpon my life,
This Spirit
dumbe to vs, will speake to him:
160
Do you consent
we shall acquaint him with it,
As needfull in our
Loues,
fitting our Duty?
Mar. Let
do't I pray, and I
this morning know
Where we shall
finde him most conueniently.
Exeunt
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next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Enter
Claudius King of Denmarke, Gertrude the
Queene,
Hamlet,
Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister O-
phelia,
Lords Attendant.
King.
Though yet of
Hamlet
our deere Brothers death
The
memory be greene: and that
it
vs befitted
To
beare our hearts in greefe,
and
our whole Kingdome
To
be contracted in one
brow
of
woe:
5
Yet
so farre hath Discretion
fought with Nature,
That
we with wisest sorrow
thinke
on him,
Together
with remembrance
of
our
selues.
Therefore
our sometimes
Sister,
now our
Queen,
Th'Imperiall
Ioyntresse
of
this
warlike
State,
10
Haue
we, as 'twere, with a
defeated
ioy,
With
one Auspicious,
and one
Dropping
eye,
With
mirth in Funerall, and
with
Dirge in
Marriage,
In
equall Scale weighing
Delight
and Dole
Taken
to Wife;
nor haue
we
heerein
barr'd
15 Your
better Wisedomes,
which
haue
freely gone
With
this affaire along, for
all
our Thankes.
Now
followes, that you know
young
Fortinbras,
Holding
a weake supposall of
our
worth;
Or
thinking by our late deere
Brothers death,
20
Our
State to be disioynt,
and
out
of Frame,
Colleagued
with the dreame of
his
Aduantage;
He
hath not fayl'd to pester vs
with Message,
Importing
the surrender of
those
Lands
Lost
by his Father:
with all Bonds
of Law
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Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
25
To
our most valiant Brother.
So
much for him.
Enter Voltemand and Cornelius.
Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting
Thus
much the businesse is. We haue heere writ
To Norway, Vncle of young Fortinbras,
Who Impotent and Bedrid, scarsely heares
30
Of this his Nephewes purpose, to suppresse
His further gate
heerein. In
that the Leuies,
The
Lists,
and full proportions are all made
Out
of his subiect: and we heere dispatch
You
good Cornelius, and you Voltemand,
35
For bearing of this greeting to old Norway,
Giuing to you no
further personall power
To
businesse with the King, more then the scope
Of
these dilated
Articles
allow:
Farewell, and let your hast
commend your duty.
40
Volt. In that,
and all things, will we shew our duty.
King.
We doubt
it
nothing,
heartily farewell.
Exit Voltemand and Cornelius.
And
now Laertes,
what's the newes with you?
You
told vs of some suite. What is't Laertes?
You cannot
speake
of Reason to the Dane,
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next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
45
And
loose your voyce. What would'st thou beg Laertes,
That shall not be my Offer, not thy Asking?
The
Head is not more Natiue
to the Heart,
The
Hand more instrumentall to the Mouth,
Then
is the Throne of Denmarke to
thy Father.
50
What would'st thou haue
Laertes?
Laer.
Dread my Lord,
Your
leaue and fauour to returne to France,
From
whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke
To
shew my duty in your
Coronation,
55
Yet now I must confesse, that duty
done,
My
thoughts and wishes bend againe towards France,
And
bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon.
King. Haue you
your Fathers leaue?
What
sayes Pollonius?
60 Pol. He hath
my
Lord:
I do
beseech you giue him leaue to go.
King. Take thy
faire houre Laertes, time be thine,
And
thy best graces spend it at thy will:
But
now my Cosin
Hamlet, and
my Sonne?
65
Ham. A little
more
then kin, and lesse then kinde.
King.
How is it
that the Clouds
still hang
on you?
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Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Ham. Not so my
Lord, I am too much i'th' Sun.
Queen. Good
Hamlet cast thy nightly
colour off,
And
let thine eye looke like a Friend on Denmarke.
70
Do not for euer
with thy veyled
lids
Seeke for thy Noble Father in the dust;
Thou
know'st 'tis common, all that liues must dye,
Passing through Nature, to Eternity.
Ham.
I Madam, it
is common.
75
Queen.
If it be;
Why
seemes it so particular with thee.
Ham. Seemes
Madam? Nay, it is: I know not Seemes:
'Tis
not alone my Inky Cloake (good
Mother)
Nor Customary
suites
of solemne Blacke,
80
Nor windy
suspiration
of forc'd breath,
No,
nor the fruitfull Riuer in the Eye,
Nor
the deiected hauiour of the Visage,
Together with all Formes, Moods, shewes of Griefe,
That
can denote me truly. These indeed Seeme,
85
For they are actions that a man might play:
But
I haue that Within, which passeth show;
These, but the Trappings, and the Suites of woe.
King. 'Tis sweet
and commendable
In your Nature Hamlet,
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next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
90
To
giue these mourning duties to your Father:
But
you must know, your Father lost a Father,
That
Father lost, lost his, and the Suruiuer bound
In filiall
Obligation, for
some terme
To
do obsequious
Sorrow. But to perseuer
95
In obstinate Condolement,
is a course
Of impious
stubbornnesse.
'Tis vnmanly greefe,
It
shewes a will most
incorrect to
Heauen,
A
Heart vnfortified, a Minde impatient,
An
Vnderstanding simple, and vnschool'd:
100
For, what we know must be, and is as common
As
any the most vulgar thing to sence,
Why
should we in our peeuish Opposition
Take
it to heart? Fye, 'tis a fault to Heauen,
A
fault against the
Dead, a
fault to Nature,
105
To Reason most absurd, whose common Theame
Is
death of Fathers, and who still
hath
cried,
From
the first
Coarse,
till he that dyed to day,
This
must be so. We pray you throw to earth
This
vnpreuayling
woe,
and thinke of vs
110
As of a Father; For let the world take note,
You
are the most
immediate to our Throne,
And
with no lesse Nobility of Loue,
Then
that which deerest Father beares his Sonne,
Do
I impart towards you. For your intent
115
In
going backe to Schoole
in Wittenberg,
It
is most retrograde
to our
desire:
And
we beseech you, bend
you to
remaine
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next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Heere
in the cheere and comfort of our eye,
Our cheefest Courtier Cosin, and our Sonne.
120 Qu. Let not thy
Mother lose her Prayers Hamlet:
I
prythee stay with vs, go not to Wittenberg.
Ham.
I shall
in
all my best
Obey
you Madam.
King.
Why 'tis a
louing, and a faire
Reply,
125
Be
as
our selfe in
Denmarke.
Madam come,
This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet
Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof,
No iocond
health that
Denmarke drinkes to day,
But the great Cannon to the Clowds shall tell,
130
And the Kings Rouce, the
Heauens shall bruite
againe,
Respeaking earthly Thunder. Come away.
Exeunt
Ham. Oh that
this too too solid
Flesh,
would melt,
Thaw, and resolue it selfe into a Dew:
Or
that the Euerlasting had not fixt
135
His Cannon
'gainst Selfe-slaughter. O
God, O
God!
How weary, stale, flat, and vnprofitable
Seemes
to me all the vses of this world?
Fie
on't? Oh fie, fie, 'tis an vnweeded Garden
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next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
That
growes to Seed: Things rank, and grosse in Nature
140
Possesse it meerely. That it should come to this:
But two months
dead: Nay,
not so much; not two,
So excellent a King, that was to this
Hiperion
to
a Satyre: so louing to
my
Mother,
That he might not beteene
the
windes of heauen
145
Visit her face too roughly. Heauen and Earth
Must I remember: why she
would hang on
him,
As if encrease
of
Appetite had growne
By
what
it fed on;
and yet within a month?
Let me not thinke on't: Frailty, thy name is woman.
150
A little Month, or ere those shooes were old,
With
which she followed my poore Fathers body
Like Niobe, all teares.
Why
she, euen she.
(O Heauen! A beast that wants discourse of Reason
Would haue mourn'd longer) married with mine Vnkle,
155
My Fathers Brother: but no more like my Father,
Then
I to Hercules. Within a
Moneth?
Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous Teares
Had left the flushing
of
her gauled
eyes,
She
married. O most wicked speed, to post
160
With
such dexterity
to Incestuous
sheets:
It is not, nor it cannot come to good.
But breake my heart, for I must hold my tongue.
Enter Horatio,
Barnard, and
Marcellus.
Hor. Haile to
your Lordship.
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next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Ham.
I am glad to
see you well:
165
Horatio, or I do forget my selfe.
Hor. The same my Lord,
And your poore Seruant euer.
Ham. Sir my good friend,
Ile change that name with you:
170
And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?
Marcellus.
Mar. My good Lord.
Ham. I am very
glad to see you: good euen Sir.
But what in faith make you from Wittemberge?
175
Hor. A truant
disposition, good my Lord.
Ham. I would not
haue your Enemy say so;
Nor
shall you doe mine eare that violence,
To make it truster of your owne report
Against your selfe. I know you are no Truant:
180
But what is your affaire in Elsenour?
Wee'l teach you to drinke deepe, ere you depart.
Hor. My Lord, I
came to see your Fathers Funerall.
Ham.
I pray thee
doe not mock me (fellow Student)
back
next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
I
thinke it was to see
my Mothers Wedding.
185 Hor.
Indeed my
Lord, it followed hard vpon.
Ham.
Thrift,
thrift Horatio: the Funerall
Bakt-meats
Did
coldly furnish
forth the Marriage Tables.
Would
I had met my dearest foe
in heauen,
Ere
I had euer seene that day Horatio
190
My father, me thinkes I see my father.
Hor. Oh where
my Lord?
Ham. In my minds
eye (Horatio)
Hor. I saw him
once; he was a goodly King.
Ham. He was a
man, take him for all in all:
195
I shall not look vpon his like againe.
Hor. My Lord, I
thinke I saw him yesternight.
Ham. Saw? Who?
Hor. My Lord, the
King your Father.
Ham. The King my
Father?
back
next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
200
Hor.
Season your
admiration
for a while
With
an attent
eare; till I may deliuer
Vpon
the witnesse of these Gentlemen,
This maruell
to you.
Ham. For Heauens
loue let me heare.
205 Hor. Two nights
together, had these Gentlemen
(Marcellus and Barnardo) on their Watch
In the dead wast
and middle of
the night
Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father,
Arm'd at all points exactly, Cap
a Pe,
210
Appeares before them, and with sollemne march
Goes slow and stately: By them thrice he walkt,
By their opprest and feare-surprized eyes,
Within his Truncheons
length; whilst they bestil'd
Almost to Ielly with the Act of feare,
215 Stand
dumbe and speake not to him. This to me
In dreadfull secrecie
impart they did,
And
I with them the third Night kept the Watch,
Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time,
Forme of the thing; each word made true and good,
220
The Apparition comes. I knew your Father:
These hands are not more like.
Ham.
But where
was this?
back
next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Mar. My Lord,
vpon the platforme where we watcht.
Ham. Did you not
speake to it?
225 Hor. My Lord, I
did;
But answere made it none: yet once me thought
It
lifted vp it head, and did addresse
It selfe to motion, like as it would speake:
But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd;
230
And at the sound it shrunke in hast away,
And vanisht from our sight.
Ham. Tis very
strange.
Hor. As I doe
liue my honourd Lord 'tis true;
And
we did thinke it writ downe in our duty
235
To let you know of it.
Ham. Indeed,
indeed Sirs; but this troubles me.
Hold
you the watch to Night?
Both.
We doe my
Lord.
Ham.
Arm'd,
say
you?
240
Both. Arm'd, my
Lord.
Ham. From top to
toe?
back
next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Both. My Lord,
from head to foote.
Ham. Then saw you
not his face?
Hor. O yes, my
Lord, he wore his Beauer
vp.
245
Ham. What, lookt
he frowningly?
Hor. A
countenance
more in
sorrow then in anger.
Ham. Pale, or red?
Hor. Nay very
pale.
Ham. And fixt his
eyes vpon you?
250
Hor. Most
constantly.
Ham.
I would I
had beene there.
Hor. It would
haue much amaz'd you.
Ham. Very like,
very like: staid it long?
Hor. While one
with moderate hast might tell a hundred.
255
All. Longer,
longer.
back
next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Hor. Not when I
saw't.
Ham. His Beard
was grisly? no.
Hor. It was, as I
haue seene it in his life,
A Sable
Siluer'd.
260
Ham. Ile watch to
Night; perchance
'twill
wake againe.
Hor. I warrant
you it will.
Ham. If it
assume my noble Fathers person,
Ile speake to it, though Hell it selfe should gape
And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
265
If you haue hitherto conceald this sight;
Let it bee treble in
your silence still:
And whatsoeuer els shall hap to night,
Giue
it an vnderstanding but no tongue;
I will requite your loues; so, fare ye well:
270
Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue,
Ile visit you.
All. Our duty to
your Honour.
Exeunt.
Ham. Your
loue, as mine to you: farewell.
275
My Fathers Spirit in Armes? All is not well:
I
doubt some foule
play:
would the
Night were come;
back
next
Actus
Primus.
Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Till
then sit still my soule; foule
deeds
will rise,
Though all
the
earth orewhelm them to mens eies.
Exit.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
Laer.
My necessaries are
imbark't; Farewell:
And
Sister, as the Winds
giue
Benefit,
And
Conuoy is
assistant; doe
not sleepe,
But
let me heare from you.
5 Ophel. Doe
you doubt
that?
Laer.
For
Hamlet, and
the trifling
of his fauours,
Hold
it a fashion and a toy in
Bloud;
A
Violet in
the
youth of Primy
Nature;
Froward,
not permanent; sweet
not lasting
10
The
suppliance
of a minute? No
more.
Ophel.
No more but so.
Laer.
Thinke
it no more:
For
nature cressant
does not
grow alone,
In
thewes and
Bulke: but as
his Temple
waxes,
15
The
inward
seruice of the
Minde and
Soule
Growes
wide withall. Perhaps
he loues you now,
And
now no soyle
nor cautell
doth besmerch
The
vertue of his feare:
but
you must feare
His
greatnesse
weigh'd, his
will is not his owne;
20
For
hee himselfe is subiect to
his
Birth:
Hee
may not, as vnuallued
persons doe,
Carue
for himselfe; for, on
his choyce depends
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
The
sanctity and health of the
weole State.
And
therefore must his choyce
be circumscrib'd
25
Vnto
the voyce and yeelding of
that
Body,
Whereof
he is the Head. Then
if he sayes he loues you,
It
fits your wisedome so farre
to beleeue it;
As
he in his peculiar Sect
and
force
May
giue his saying deed:
which is no further,
30
Then
the maine voyce of
Denmarke goes
withall.
Then
weigh what losse your
Honour may sustaine,
If
with too credent eare you
list
his Songs;
Or
lose your Heart; or your
chast Treasure open
To
his vnmastred
importunity.
35
Feare
it Ophelia, feare it my
deare
Sister,
And
keepe within the reare
of
your Affection;
Out
of the shot and danger of
Desire.
The
chariest
Maid is Prodigall
enough,
If
she vnmaske her beauty to
the Moone:
40
Vertue
it selfe scapes not
calumnious
stroakes,
The
Canker Galls, the Infants
of the Spring
Too
oft before the buttons
be
disclos'd,
And
in the Morne and liquid
dew of Youth,
Contagious
blastments
are most
imminent.
45
Be
wary then, best safety lies
in
feare;
Youth to it selfe
rebels, though none else neere.
Ophe.
I shall th'effect
of this good Lesson keepe,
As
watchmen to my heart: but
good my Brother
Doe
not as some vngracious
Pastors doe,
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
50
Shew
me the steepe
and thorny
way to
Heauen;
Whilst
like a puft
and
recklesse Libertine
Himselfe,
the Primrose path of
dalliance treads,
And
reaks
not his owne
reade.
Laer.
Oh,
feare me not.
Enter
Polonius.
55
I stay too long; but here my Father
comes:
A
double blessing is a double
grace;
Occasion
smiles vpon a second
leaue.
Polon.
Yet heere
Laertes? Aboord, aboord for shame,
The
winde sits in the shoulder
of your saile,
60
And
you are staid for there:
my blessing with
you;
And
these few
Precepts in
thy
memory,
See
thou Character. Giue thy
thoughts no tongue,
Nor
any vnproportion'd thought
his Act:
Be
thou familiar; but by no
meanes vulgar:
65
The
friends thou hast, and
their adoption
tride,
Grapple
them to thy Soule,
with hoopes of Steele:
But
doe not dull
thy palme,
with entertainment
Of
each vnhatch't, vnfledg'd
Comrade. Beware
Of
entrance to a quarrell: but
being in
70
Bear't
that th'opposed may
beware of
thee.
Giue
euery man thine eare; but few
thy voyce:
Take
each mans censure; but
reserue thy iudgement:
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
Costly
thy habit as thy purse
can buy;
But
not exprest in fancie;
rich, not gawdie:
75
For
the Apparell oft
proclaimes the
man.
And
they in France of the best
ranck and station,
Are
of a most select and
generous cheff in that.
Neither
a borrower, nor a
lender be;
For
lone oft loses both it
selfe and friend:
80
And
borrowing duls the edge of
Husbandry.
This
aboue all; to thine owne
selfe be true:
And
it must follow, as the
Night the Day,
Thou
canst not then be false
to any man.
Farewell:
my Blessing
season
this in thee.
85 Laer.
Most
humbly doe I
take my leaue, my
Lord.
Polon.
The time inuites
you, goe, your seruants tend.
Laer.
Farewell
Ophelia,
and remember well
What
I haue said to you.
Ophe.
Tis in my memory
lockt,
90
And
you your selfe shall keepe
the key of
it.
Laer.
Farewell.
Exit
Laer.
Polon.
What ist Ophelia
he hath said to you?
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
Ophe.
So please you,
somthing touching
the L. Hamlet.
Polon.
Marry, well
bethought:
95
Tis
told me he hath very oft
of
late
Giuen
priuate time to you; and
you your selfe
Haue
of your audience beene
most free and bounteous.
If
it be so, as so tis put on me;
And
that in way of caution: I
must tell you,
100 You
doe not vnderstand your
selfe so
cleerely,
As
it behoues
my Daughter, and
your Honour.
What
is betweene you, giue me
vp the truth?
Ophe.
He hath my Lord of
late, made many tenders
Of
his affection
to me.
105 Polon.
Affection, puh.
You speake like a greene
Girle,
Vnsifted
in such perillous
Circumstance.
Doe
you beleeue his tenders,
as you call them?
Ophe.
I do not know, my
Lord, what I should thinke.
Polon.
Marry Ile teach
you; thinke your selfe a Baby,
110 That
you haue tane his tenders
for true
pay,
Which
are not starling. Tender
your selfe more dearly;
Or
not to crack
the winde
of
the poore Phrase,
Roaming
it thus, you'l tender
me a foole.
Ophe.
My Lord, he hath
importun'd
me with loue,
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
115 In
honourable
fashion.
Polon.
I, fashion
you
may call it, go too, go too.
Ophe.
And hath giuen
countenance
to his speech,
My
Lord, with all the vowes of
Heauen.
Polon.
I, Springes
to
catch Woodcocks. I doe
know
120 When
the Bloud
burnes,
how
Prodigall
the
Soule
Giues
the tongue vowes: these
blazes, Daughter,
Giuing
more
light then heate;
extinct in both,
Euen
in their promise, as it
is a making;
You
must not take for fire.
For this time Daughter,
125 Be
somewhat scanter of your
Maiden
presence;
Set
your entreatments at a
higher rate,
Then
a command
to parley.
For
Lord Hamlet,
Beleeue
so much in him, that he is
young,
And with a larger
tether may he walke,
130
Then
may be giuen you. In few,
Ophelia,
Doe
not beleeue his vowes; for
they are Broakers,
Not
of the eye, which their
Inuestments show:
But
meere implorators of
vnholy Sutes,
Breathing
like sanctified and
pious bonds,
135
The
better
to beguile.
This is
for
all:
I
would not, in plaine
tearmes, from this time forth,
Haue
you so slander
any moment
leisure,
As
to giue words or talke with
the Lord Hamlet:
Looke
too't, I charge
you;
come
your
wayes.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Tertia.
act
scene
140
Ophe.
I
shall obey my
Lord.
Exeunt
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quarta.
act
scene
Enter
Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus.
Ham.
The Ayre bites
shrewdly: is it
very
cold?
Hor.
It
is a nipping
and an eager
ayre.
Ham.
What hower now?
Hor.
I
thinke it lacks
of twelue.
5 Mar.
No,
it is
strooke.
Hor.
Indeed
I heard it
not: then it drawes neere the season,
Wherein
the Spirit held his
wont to walke.
What
does this meane my Lord?
Ham.
The King doth wake
to night, and takes his
rouse,
10
Keepes
wassels and the
swaggering
vpspring
reeles,
And
as he dreines his draughts
of Renish
downe,
The
kettle
Drum and
Trumpet
thus bray
out
The
triumph
of his
Pledge.
Horat.
Is it a custome?
15 Ham.
I marry
ist;
And
to my mind, though I am
natiue heere,
And
to
the
manner borne:
It is
a Custome
More
honour'd in the breach,
then the obseruance.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quarta.
act
scene
Enter
Ghost.
Hor.
Looke my Lord, it
comes.
20
Ham.
Angels
and
Ministers of Grace defend
vs:
Be
thou a Spirit of health, or
Goblin damn'd,
Bring
with thee ayres from
Heauen, or blasts from Hell,
Be
thy euents wicked or
charitable,
Thou
com'st in such a
questionable
shape
25
That
I will speake to thee.
Ile call thee
Hamlet,
King,
Father, Royall Dane: Oh,
oh, answer me,
Let
me not burst in Ignorance;
but tell
Why
thy Canoniz'd
bones
Hearsed in death,
Haue
burst their cerments, why
the Sepulcher
30
Wherein
we saw thee quietly
enurn'd,
Hath
op'd his ponderous and
Marble
iawes,
To
cast thee vp againe? What
may this meane?
That
thou dead
Coarse againe
in compleat
steele,
Reuisits
thus the glimpses of
the Moone,
35
Making
Night hidious? And we
fooles of
Nature,
So
horridly to shake our
disposition,
With
thoughts beyond thee;
reaches of our Soules,
Say,
why is this? wherefore?
what should we doe?
Ghost
beckens Hamlet.
Hor.
It beckons you to
goe away with it,
40
As
if it some impartment
did
desire
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quarta.
act
scene
To
you alone.
Mar.
Looke with what
courteous
action
It
wafts you to
a
more remoued
ground:
But
doe not goe with it.
45 Hor.No,
by no
meanes.
Ham.
It will not speake:
then will I follow it.
Hor.
Doe
not my Lord.
Ham.
Why, what should be
the feare?
I
doe not set my life at
a
pins fee;
50
And
for my Soule, what can it
doe to
that?
Being
a thing immortall as it
selfe:
It
waues me forth againe; Ile
follow it.
Hor.
What
if it tempt
you toward the Floud
my Lord?
Or
to the dreadfull Sonnet of
the Cliffe,
55
That
beetles
o're his base
into the
Sea,
And
there assumes some other
horrible forme,
Which
might depriue your
Soueraignty of Reason,
And
draw you into madnesse
thinke of it?
Ham.
It wafts me still:
goe on, Ile follow thee.
60 Mar.You
shall not goe
my
Lord.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quarta.
act
scene
Ham.
Hold off your hand.
Hor.
Be
rul'd, you shall not goe.
Ham.
My fate cries out,
And
makes each petty Artire
in
this body,
65
As
hardy as the Nemian
Lions
nerue:
Still
am I cal'd? Vnhand me
Gentlemen:
By
Heau'n, Ile make a Ghost of
him that lets me:
I
say away, goe on, Ile
follow
thee.
Exeunt
Ghost & Hamlet.
Hor.
He waxes
desperate
with imagination.
70
Mar.
Let's follow; 'tis
not fit thus to obey
him.
Hor.
Haue after, to what
issue will this come?
Mar.
Something is rotten
in the State of Denmarke.
Hor.
Heauen will direct
it.
Mar.
Nay, let's follow
him.
Exeunt.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
Enter
Ghost and Hamlet.
Ham.
Where wilt thou
lead me? speak; Ile go no further.
Gho.
Marke
me.
Ham.
I will.
Gho.
My
hower is almost
come,
5
When
I to sulphurous
and
tormenting
Flames
Must
render vp my selfe.
Ham.
Alas poore Ghost.
Gho.
Pitty
me not, but
lend thy serious hearing
To
what I shall vnfold.
10 Ham.
Speake, I am bound
to
heare.
Gho.
So
art thou to
reuenge, when thou shalt heare.
Ham.
What?
Gho.
I
am thy Fathers
Spirit,
Doom'd
for a certaine terme to
walke the night;
15
And
for the day confin'd to
fast in
Fiers,
Till
the foule crimes done in
my dayes of Nature
Are
burnt
and purg'd away?
But
that I am forbid
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
To
tell the secrets of my
Prison-House;
I
could a Tale vnfold, whose
lightest word
20
Would
harrow vp thy soule,
freeze thy young
blood,
Make
thy two eyes like
Starres, start from their Spheres,
Thy
knotty and combined lockes
to part,
And
each
particular
haire to
stand an end,
Like
Quilles vpon the fretfull
Porpentine:
25
But
this eternall blason
must
not
be
To
eares of flesh and bloud;
list Hamlet,
oh
list,
If
thou didst euer thy deare
Father loue.
Ham.
Oh Heauen!
Gho.
Reuenge
his foule
and most vnnaturall Murther.
30 Ham.
Murther?
Ghost.
Murther most
foule, as in the
best it is;
But
this most foule, strange,
and vnnaturall.
Ham.
Hast,
hast me to
know it,
That
with wings as
swift
35
As
meditation, or the thoughts
of
Loue,
May
sweepe to my Reuenge.
Ghost.
I finde thee apt,
And
duller should'st thou be
then the fat weede
That
rots it selfe
in
ease, on
Lethe Wharfe,
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
40
Would'st
thou not stirre in
this. Now Hamlet heare:
It's
giuen out, that sleeping
in mine Orchard,
A
Serpent stung me: so the
whole
eare of
Denmarke,
Is
by a forged
processe
of my
death
Rankly
abus'd: But know thou
Noble youth,
45
The
Serpent that did sting thy
Fathers
life,
Now
weares his Crowne.
Ham.
O
my Propheticke
soule: mine Vncle?
Ghost.
I that
incestuous, that
adulterate
Beast
With
witchcraft of his wits,
hath Traitorous guifts.
50
Oh
wicked Wit, and Gifts, that
haue the
power
So
to seduce? Won to to this
shamefull Lust
The
will of my most seeming
vertuous Queene:
Oh
Hamlet, what a falling off was
there,
From
me, whose loue was of
that dignity,
55
That
it went hand in hand,
euen with the
Vow
I
made to her in Marriage; and
to decline
Vpon
a wretch, whose Naturall
gifts were poore
To
those of mine. But Vertue,
as it neuer wil be moued,
Though
Lewdnesse court it in a
shape of Heauen:
60
So
Lust, though to a radiant
Angell
link'd,
Will
sate it selfe
in
a
Celestiall bed, & prey
on Garbage.
But
soft, me thinkes I
sent
the Mornings
Ayre;
Briefe
let me be: Sleeping
within mine Orchard,
My
custome alwayes in the
afternoone;
65
Vpon
my secure hower thy Vncle
stole
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
With
iuyce of cursed Hebenon
in a Violl,
And
in the Porches
of mine
eares did poure
The
leaperous
Distilment;
whose effect
Holds
such an enmity with
bloud of Man,
70
That
swift as Quick-siluer,
it
courses
through
The
naturall Gates and Allies
of the body;
And
with a sodaine
vigour it
doth posset
And
curd, like Aygre
droppings
into Milke,
The
thin and wholsome blood:
so did it mine;
75
And
a most instant Tetter
bak'd
about,
Most
Lazar-like,
with vile and
loathsome crust,
All
my smooth Body.
Thus
was I, sleeping, by a
Brothers hand,
Of
Life, of Crowne, and Queene
at once dispatcht;
80
Cut
off euen in the Blossomes
of my
Sinne,
Vnhouzzled,
disappointed,
vnnaneld,
No
reckoning made, but sent to
my account
With
all my imperfections on
my head;
Oh
horrible, Oh horrible, most
horrible:
85
If
thou hast nature in thee
beare it
not;
Let
not the Royall Bed of
Denmarke be
A
Couch for Luxury and damned
Incest.
But
howsoeuer thou pursuest
this Act,
Taint
not thy mind;
nor let
thy Soule contriue
90
Against
thy Mother ought;
leaue her to heauen,
And
to those Thornes that in
her bosome lodge,
To
pricke
and sting her. Fare
thee well at once;
The
Glow-worme showes the
Matine to be
neere,
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
And
gins to pale
his
vneffectuall Fire:
95
Adue,
adue,Hamlet:
remember
me.
Exit.
Ham.
Oh all you host of
Heauen! Oh Earth; what els?
And
shall I couple
Hell? Oh
fie: hold my heart;
And
you my sinnewes, grow not
instant Old;
But
beare me stiffely vp:
Remember thee?
100
I,
thou poore Ghost, while
memory holds a
seate
In
this distracted Globe:
Remember thee?
Yea,
from the Table of my
Memory,
Ile
wipe away all triuiall
fond Records,
All
sawes of
Bookes,
all
formes, all presures past,
105
That
youth and obseruation
coppied
there;
And
thy Commandment all alone
shall liue
Within
the Booke and Volume of
my Braine,
Vnmixt
with baser matter; yes
yes, by Heauen:
Oh
most pernicious woman!
110
Oh
Villaine, Villaine, smiling
damned Villaine!
My
Tables, my Tables; meet
it
is I set it downe,
That
one may smile, and smile
and be a Villaine;
At
least I'm sure it may be so
in Denmarke;
So
Vnckle there you are: now
to my word;
It
is; Adue, Adue, Remember
me: I
haue sworn't.
115
Hor.
&
Mar. within. My
Lord,
my Lord.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
Enter
Horatio and Marcellus
Mar.
Lord Hamlet.
Hor.
Heauen secure him.
Mar.
So be it.
120 Hor.Illo,
ho, ho, my
Lord.
Ham.
Hillo, ho, ho, boy;
come
bird,
come.
Mar.
How
ist't my Noble Lord?
Hor.
What
newes, my
Lord?
Ham.
Oh wonderfull!
125 Hor.
Good
my Lord tell
it.
Ham.
No you'l reueale it.
Hor.
Not
I, my Lord, by
Heauen.
Mar.
Nor
I, my Lord.
Ham.
How say you then,
would heart of man once think it?
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
130
But
you'l be
secret?
Both.
I, by Heau'n, my
Lord.
Ham.
There's nere a
villaine dwelling in all Denmarke
But
hee's an arrant
knaue.
Hor.
There needs no
Ghost my Lord, come from the
135
Graue,
to tell vs
this.
Ham.
Why right, you are
i'th' right;
And
so, without more
circumstance at all,
I
hold it fit that we shake
hands, and part:
You,
as your busines and
desires shall point you:
140
For
euery man ha's businesse
and
desire,
Such
as it is: and for mine
owne poore part,
Looke
you, Ile goe pray.
Hor.
These
are but wild
and hurling
words, my Lord.
Ham.
I'm sorry they
offend you heartily:
145
Yes
faith,
heartily.
Hor.
There's
no offence
my Lord.
Ham.
Yes, by Saint
Patricke,
but there is my
Lord,
And
much offence too, touching
this Vision heere:
It
is an honest Ghost, that
let me tell you:
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
150
For
your desire to know what
is betweene
vs,
O'remaster't
as you may. And
now good friends,
As
you are Friends, Schollers
and Soldiers,
Giue
me one poore request.
Hor.
What
is't my Lord?
we will.
155
Ham.
Neuer make known
what you haue seen to night.
Both.
My Lord, we will
not.
Ham.
Nay, but swear't.
Hor.
Infaith my Lord,
not I.
Mar.
Nor I my Lord: in
faith.
160
Ham.
Vpon my
sword.
Marcell.
We haue sworne
my Lord already.
Ham.
Indeed, vpon my
sword, Indeed.
Gho.
Sweare.
Ghost
cries vnder the Stage.
back
next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
Ham.
Ah ha boy, sayest
thou so. Art thou there true-
165
penny?
Come one you here this
fellow in the
selleredge
Consent
to sweare.
Hor.
Propose
the Oath
my Lord.
Ham.
Neuer to speake of
this that you haue seene.
Sweare
by my sword.
170
Gho.
Sweare.
Ham.
Hic & vbique?
Then wee'l shift for grownd,
Come
hither Gentlemen,
And
lay your hands againe vpon
my sword,
Neuer
to speake of this that
you haue heard:
175
Sweare
by my
Sword.
Gho.
Sweare.
Ham.
Well said old Mole,
can'st worke i'th' ground so fast?
A
worthy Pioner, once more remoue good friends.
Hor.
Oh
day and night:
but this is wondrous strange.
180
Ham.
And therefore as a
stranger giue it
welcome.
There
are more things in
Heauen and Earth, Horatio,
Then
are dream't of in our
Philosophy. But come,
Here
as before, neuer so helpe
you mercy,
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next
Actus
Primus. Scena Quinta.
act
scene
How
strange or odde so ere I
beare my selfe;
185
(As
I perchance heereafter
shall thinke
meet
To
put an Anticke
disposition
on:)
That
you at such time seeing
me, neuer shall
With
Armes encombred
thus, or
thus, head shake;
Or
by pronouncing of some
doubtfull Phrase;
190
As
well, we know, or we could
and if we would,
Or
if we list to speake; or
there be and if there might,
Or
such ambiguous giuing out
to note,
That
you know ought of me;
this not to doe:
So
grace and mercy at your
most neede helpe you:
195
Sweare.
Ghost.
Sweare.
Ham.
Rest,
rest
perturbed Spirit: so Gentlemen,
With
all my loue I doe commend
me to you;
And
what so poore a man as
Hamlet is,
200
May
doe t' expresse his loue
and friending
to
you,
God
willing shall not lacke:
let vs goe in together,
And
still your fingers on your
lippes I pray,
The
time is
out
of ioynt:
Oh
cursed spight,
That
euer I was borne to set
it right.
205
Nay,
come let's goe
together.
Exeunt.
back
next
Actus
Secundus.
Scena Prima.
act
scene
Enter
Polonius, and Reynoldo.
Polon.
Giue him his
money, and these notes
Reynoldo.
Reynol.
I will my Lord.
Polon. You
shall doe
maruels
wisely: good Reynoldo,
Before
you visite him you make
inquiry
5
Of
his
behauiour.
Reynol.
My Lord, I did
intend it.
Polon. Marry,
well
said;
Very
well said. Looke you Sir,
Enquire
me first what Danskers
are in Paris;
10
And
how, and who; what meanes;
and where they
keepe:
What
company, at what expence:
and finding
By
this encompassement and
drift of question,
That
they doe know my sonne:
Come you more neerer
Then
your particular
demands
will touch it,
15
Take
you as 'twere some
distant knowledge of
him,
And
thus I know his father and
his friends,
And
in part him. Doe you marke
this Reynoldo?
Reynol.
I, very well my
Lord.
Polon.
And
in part
him,
but you
may say not
well;
20
But
if't be hee I meane, hees
very
wilde;
back
next
Actus
Secundus.
Scena Prima.
act
scene
Addicted
so and so; and there
put on him
What
forgeries
you please;
marry, none so ranke,
As
may dishonour him; take
heed of that:
But
Sir, such wanton, wild,
and vsuall
slips,
25
As
are Companions noted and
most
knowne
To
youth
and liberty.
Reynol.
As gaming
my
Lord.
Polon. I,
or drinking,
fencing, swearing,
Quarelling,
drabbiug. You may
goe so farre.
30
Reynol.
My Lord that
would dishonour
him.
Polon. Faith
no, as
you
may season
it
in the charge;
You
must not put another
scandall on him,
That
hee is open to
Incontinencie;
That's
not my meaning: but
breath his faults so quaintly,
35
That
they may seeme the taints
of
liberty;
The
flash and out-breake of a
fiery minde,
A
sauagenes in vnreclaim'd
bloud of generall assault.
Reynol.
But my good
Lord.
Polon. Wherefore
should
you doe this?
40
Reynol.
I my Lord, I
would know
that.
back
next
Actus
Secundus.
Scena Prima.
act
scene
Polon.
Marry
Sir,
heere's my drift,
And
I belieue it is a fetch
of
warrant:
You
laying these slight
sulleyes
on
my Sonne,
As
'twere a thing a little
soil'd
i'th' working:
45
Marke
you your
party
in
conuerse; him you would
sound,
Hauing
euer seene. In the
prenominate
crimes,
The
youth you breath
of
guilty, be assur'd
He
closes
with you in this
consequence:
Good
sir, or so, or friend, or
Gentleman.
50
According
to the Phrase and
the
Addition,
Of
man and Country.
Reynol.
Very good my
Lord.
Polon. And
then Sir
does he this?
He
does: what was I about to
say?
55
I
was about say somthing:
where did I
leaue?
Reynol.
At closes in
the
consequence:
At
friend, or so, and
Gentleman.
Polon. At
closes in
the
consequence, I marry,
He
closes with you thus. I
know the Gentleman,
60
I
saw him yesterday, or tother
day;
Or
then or then, with such and
such; and as you say,
There
was he gaming, there
o'retooke
in's Rouse,
There
falling out at Tennis;
or perchance,
I
saw him enter such a house
of saile;
back
next
Actus
Secundus.
Scena Prima.
act
scene
65 Videlicet,
a Brothell, or so
forth. See you
now;
Your
bait of falshood, takes
this Cape
of truth;
And
thus doe we of wisedome
and of reach
With
windlesses,
and with
assaies of Bias,
By
indirections finde
directions out:
70
So
by my former Lecture and
aduice
Shall
you my Sonne;
you haue
me, haue you not?
Reynol.
My Lord I haue.
Polon. God
buy you;
fare you well.
Reynol.
Good my Lord.
75
Polon.
Obserue
his
inclination in your
selfe.
Reynol.
I shall my Lord.
Polon. And
let him
plye
his Musicke.
Reynol.
Well, my Lord.
Exit.
Enter
Ophelia.
Polon.
Farewell:
80
How
now Ophelia, what's the
matter?
back
next
Actus
Secundus.
Scena Prima.
act
scene
Ophe.
Alas
my Lord, I
haue beene so affrighted.
Polon.
With what, in
the
name of Heauen?
Ophe. My
Lord, as I
was sowing
in
my Chamber,
Lord
Hamlet with his doublet
all vnbrac'd,
85
No
hat vpon his head,his
stockings
foul'd,
Vngartred,
and downe giued
to
his Anckle,
Pale
as his shirt, his knees
knocking each other,
And
with a looke so pitious in
purport,
As
if he had been loosed
out
of hell,
90
To
speake of horrors: he
comes
before
me.
Polon.
Mad for thy Loue?
Ophe. My
Lord, I doe
not know: but truly I do feare it.
Polon.
What said he?
Ophe. He
tooke me by
the wrist,
and held me hard;
95
Then
goes he to the length of
all his
arme;
And
with his other hand thus
o're his brow,
He
fals to such perusall of my
face,
As
he would draw it. Long
staid he so,
At
last, a little shaking of
mine Arme:
100
And
thrice his head thus
wauing vp and
downe;
He
rais'd a sigh, so pittious
and profound,
That
it did seeme to shatter
all his bulke,
back
next
Actus
Secundus.
Scena Prima.
act
scene
And
end his being. That done,
he lets me goe,
And
with his head ouer his
shoulders turn'd,
105
He
seem'd to finde his way
without his
eyes,
For
out adores
he
went without
their helpe;
And
to the last, bended
their
light on me
Polon.
Goe with me, I
will goe seeke the King,
This
is the very extasie
of
Loue,
110 Whose
violent property
foredoes
it
selfe,
And
leads the will to
desperate Vndertakings,
As
oft as any passion vnder
Heauen,
That
does afflict our Natures.
I am sorrie,
What
haue you giuen him any
hard words of late?
115 Ophe.
No
my good Lord:
but as you did
command,
I
did repell his Letters, and
deny'de
His
accesse to me.
Pol.
That
hath made
him
mad.
I
am sorrie that with better
speed and iudgement
120
I
had not quoted
him. I feare
he did but
trifle,
And
meant to wracke
thee: but
beshrew my
iealousie:
It
seemes it is as
proper to
our Age,
To
cast beyond our selues in
our Opinions,
As
it is common for the yonger
sort
125
To
lacke discretion. Come, go
we to the
King,
This
must be knowne, ~w
being
kept close might moue
More
greefe to hide,
then hate
to vtter loue.
Exeunt.
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Enter
King, Queene, Rosincrane, and Guilden-
sterne Cumaliys
King. Welcome deere Rosincrance and
Guildensterne.
Moreouer, that
we much did long to see you,
The neede we
haue to vse you, did prouoke
Our hastie
sending. Something haue you heard
5
Of
Hamlets transformation: so I call it,
Since not
th'exterior, nor the inward man
Resembles that
it was. What it should bee
More then his
Fathers death, that thus hath put him
So much from
th'vnderstanding of himselfe,
10
I
cannot deeme
of. I intreat
you both,
That being of
so young dayes brought vp with him:
And since so Neighbour'd
to
his youth, and humour,
That you vouchsafe
your rest heere in our Court
Some little
time: so by your Companies
15
To draw him on
to pleasures, and to gather
So
much as from
Occasions you may gleane,
That
open'd lies
within our remedie.
Qu.
Good Gentlemen, he hath
much talk'd of you,
And sure I am,
two men there are not liuing,
20
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To shew vs so
much Gentrie,
and good will,
As to expend
your time with vs a-while,
For the supply
and profit of our Hope,
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Your
Visitation shall receiue such thankes
25 As
fits a Kings remembrance.
Rosin.
Both your Maiesties
Might by the Soueraigne
power you haue of vs,
Put your dread
pleasures, more into Command
Then to
Entreatie.
30
Guil. We both
obey,
And here giue
vp our selues, in
the full bent,
To lay our
Seruices freely at your feete,
To be
commanded.
King.
Thankes Rosincrance, and
gentle Guildensterne.
35
Qu. Thankes
Guildensterne
and
gentle Rosincrance.
And I beseech
you instantly to visit
My too much
changed Sonne.
Go some of ye,
And bring the
Gentlemen where Hamlet is.
40
Guil. Heauens make our
presence and our practices
Pleasant and
helpfull to him.
Exit.
Queene. Amen.
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Enter Polonius.
Pol. Th'Ambassadors from Norwey,
my good Lord,
Are ioyfully
return'd.
45
King. Thou still hast bin the
Father of good Newes.
Pol.
Haue I, my Lord? Assure
you, my good Liege,
I hold my
dutie, as I hold my Soule,
Both to my
God, one to my gracious King:
And I do
thinke, or else this braine of mine
50
Hunts not the traile of Policie, so sure
As I haue vs'd
to do: that I haue found
The very cause
of Hamlets Lunacie.
King.
Oh speake of that, that
I do long to heare.
Pol.
Giue first admittance to
th'Ambassadors,
55
My Newes shall be the Newes to
that great Feast.
King.
Thy selfe do grace to
them, and bring them in.
He tels me my
sweet Queene, that he hath found
The head and
sourse of all your Sonnes distemper.
Qu. I
doubt it is no other,
but the maine,
60
His Fathers death, and our o're-hasty Marriage.
Enter Polonius, Voltumand, and Cornelius.
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
King. Well, we shall sift him.
Welcome good Frends:
Say
Voltumand, what from our Brother
Norwey?
Volt. Most
faire returne of
Greetings, and Desires.
Vpon our
first,
he
sent out to suppresse
65
His Nephewes Leuies, which to
him appear'd
To be a
preparation 'gainst
the Poleak:
But better
look'd into, he truly found
It was against
your Highnesse, whereat greeued,
That so his
Sicknesse, Age, and Impotence
70
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests
On Fortinbras,
which he (in breefe) obeyes,
Receiues
rebuke from Norwey: and in fine,
Makes Vow
before his Vnkle, neuer more
To giue
th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie.
75
Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy,
Giues him
three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee,
And his
Commission to imploy those Soldiers
So leuied as
before, against the Poleak:
With an
intreaty heerein further shewne,
80
That it might please you to giue quiet passé
Through
your
Dominions,
for his Enterprize,
On such
regards of safety and allowance,
As therein are
set downe.
King. It likes vs well:
85
And at our more consider'd time wee'l read,
Answer, and
thinke vpon this Businesse.
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
Meane time we
thanke you, for your well-tooke Labour.
Go
to your rest, at night wee'l Feast together.
Most
welcome home.
Exit Ambass.
90
Pol. This businesse is very
well ended.
My Liege, and
Madam, to expostulate
What Maiestie
should be, what Dutie is,
Why day is
day; night, night; and time is time,
Were nothing
but to waste Night, Day, and Time.
95
Therefore, since Breuitie is the Soule of Wit,
And
tediousnesse, the limbes and outward flourishes,
I will be
breefe. Your
Noble Sonne is mad:
Mad call I it;
for to define true Madnesse,
What is't, but
to be nothing else but mad.
100
But let that go.
Qu. More
matter, with lesse
Art.
Pol.
Madam, I sweare I vse no
Art at all:
That he is
mad, 'tis true: 'Tis true 'tis pittie,
And pittie it
is true: A
foolish
figure,
105
But farewell it: for I will vse no Art.
Mad
let vs grant him then: and now remaines
That we finde
out the cause of this effect,
Or rather say,
the cause of this defect;
For this
effect defectiue, comes by cause,
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
110 Thus
it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend,
I
haue a daughter: haue, whil'st
she is mine,
Who
in her Dutie and Obedience, marke,
Hath
giuen me this: now gather, and surmise.
The Letter.
To the Celestiall, and my Soules
Idoll, the most beautifed
O-
115
phelia.
That's an ill
Phrase, a vilde
Phrase,
beautified
is a vilde
Phrase: but
you shall heare these in her excellent white
bosome,
these.
Qu. Came this from Hamlet to
her.
120
Pol. Good Madam stay awhile,
I will be faithfull.
Doubt thou, the
Starres are fire,
Doubt, that the Sunne doth moue:
Doubt Truth to be a Lier,
But neuer Doubt, I loue.
125 O deere
Ophelia, I am ill at these
Numbers:
I haue not
Art to
reckon
my grones;
but that I loue
thee best, oh most Best be-
leeue it. Adieu.
Thine euermore most deere Lady,
whilst
this
Machine
is to him, Hamlet.
130
This
in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me:
And more aboue
hath his soliciting,
As they fell
out by Time,
by Meanes, and Place,
All giuen to
mine eare.
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
King. But how hath she
receiu'd his Loue?
135
Pol. What
do you thinke of
me?
King.
As of a man, faithfull
and Honourable.
Pol. I
wold faine proue so.
But what might you think?
When I had
seene this hot loue on the wing,
As I perceiued
it, I must tell you that
140
Before my Daughter told me what might you
Or my deere
Maiestie your Queene heere, think,
If I had playd
the Deske or Table-booke,
Or giuen my
heart a winking,
mute and
dumbe,
Or look'd vpon
this Loue, with idle sight,
145
What might you thinke? No, I went round to worke,
And (my yong
Mistris) thus I did bespeake
Lord Hamlet is
a Prince out
of thy Starre,
This must not
be: and then, I Precepts
gaue her,
That she
should locke her selfe from his Resort,
150
Admit no Messengers, receiue no Tokens:
Which done,
she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice,
And he
repulsed A short Tale to make,
Fell
into a Sadnesse, then into a Fast,
Thence to a Watch, thence into
a Weaknesse,
155
Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension
Into the
Madnesse whereon now he raues,
And all we
waile for.
back
next
Actus
Secundus. Scena Secunda.
act
scene
King. Do you thinke 'tis this?
Qu. It
may be very likely.
160
Pol. Hath there bene such a
time, I'de fain know that,
That I haue
possitiuely said, 'tis so,
When it prou'd
otherwise?
King.
Not that I know.