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Nombre de personnages parlants sur scène : ordre temporel et ordre croissant

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.. *The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark from Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies. Published according to the true originall copies.*. Table des rôles
Rôle	Scènes	Répl.	Répl. moy.	Présence	Texte	Texte % prés.	Texte × pers.	Interlocution
[TOUS]	20 sc.	1089 répl.	2,3 l.	2 489 l.	2 489 l.	14 %	18 522 l. (100 %)	7,4 pers.
First Player	1 sc.	4 répl.	8,2 l.	416 l. (17 %)	33 l. (2 %)	8 %	4 164 l. (23 %)	10,0 pers.
All	4 sc.	6 répl.	0,3 l.	827 l. (34 %)	2 l. (1 %)	1 %	8 189 l. (45 %)	9,9 pers.
Ambassador	1 sc.	1 répl.	4,5 l.	245 l. (10 %)	5 l. (1 %)	2 %	2 205 l. (12 %)	9,0 pers.
Player Prologue	1 sc.	1 répl.	1,6 l.	258 l. (11 %)	2 l. (1 %)	1 %	3 358 l. (19 %)	13,0 pers.
Player Queen	1 sc.	4 répl.	4,3 l.	258 l. (11 %)	17 l. (1 %)	7 %	3 358 l. (19 %)	13,0 pers.
Bernardo	1 sc.	17 répl.	0,9 l.	106 l. (5 %)	15 l. (1 %)	15 %	425 l. (3 %)	4,0 pers.
Norwegian Captain	1 sc.	1 répl.	0,4 l.	5 l. (1 %)	0 l. (1 %)	8 %	10 l. (1 %)	2,0 pers.
First Clown	1 sc.	33 répl.	1,9 l.	199 l. (9 %)	64 l. (3 %)	32 %	1 794 l. (10 %)	9,0 pers.
Fortinbras	2 sc.	6 répl.	2,8 l.	250 l. (11 %)	17 l. (1 %)	7 %	2 215 l. (12 %)	8,9 pers.
Francisco	1 sc.	8 répl.	0,6 l.	106 l. (5 %)	5 l. (1 %)	5 %	425 l. (3 %)	4,0 pers.
Gentleman	1 sc.	1 répl.	0,4 l.	199 l. (9 %)	0 l. (1 %)	1 %	1 794 l. (10 %)	9,0 pers.
Gentlemen	1 sc.	1 répl.	0,3 l.	18 l. (1 %)	0 l. (1 %)	2 %	73 l. (1 %)	4,0 pers.
Father's Ghost	2 sc.	14 répl.	4,5 l.	266 l. (11 %)	63 l. (3 %)	24 %	1 063 l. (6 %)	4,0 pers.
Guildenstern	5 sc.	29 répl.	1,0 l.	900 l. (37 %)	28 l. (2 %)	4 %	8 974 l. (49 %)	10,0 pers.
Hamlet	12 sc.	340 répl.	2,8 l.	1 882 l. (76 %)	944 l. (38 %)	51 %	15 939 l. (87 %)	8,5 pers.
Horatio	11 sc.	113 répl.	1,4 l.	1 820 l. (74 %)	157 l. (7 %)	9 %	15 727 l. (85 %)	8,6 pers.
Claudius	11 sc.	104 répl.	3,7 l.	1 844 l. (75 %)	387 l. (16 %)	22 %	16 201 l. (88 %)	8,8 pers.
Laertes	6 sc.	60 répl.	2,1 l.	986 l. (40 %)	126 l. (6 %)	13 %	7 402 l. (40 %)	7,5 pers.
Lucianus	1 sc.	1 répl.	4,7 l.	258 l. (11 %)	5 l. (1 %)	2 %	3 358 l. (19 %)	13,0 pers.
Marcellus	4 sc.	31 répl.	1,2 l.	1 209 l. (49 %)	37 l. (2 %)	4 %	2 712 l. (15 %)	5,9 pers.
Messenger	2 sc.	3 répl.	3,4 l.	263 l. (11 %)	10 l. (1 %)	4 %	1 480 l. (8 %)	5,6 pers.
Ophelia	5 sc.	58 répl.	1,7 l.	716 l. (29 %)	100 l. (5 %)	14 %	5 844 l. (32 %)	8,2 pers.
Osric	1 sc.	19 répl.	1,3 l.	245 l. (10 %)	24 l. (1 %)	10 %	2 205 l. (12 %)	9,0 pers.
Second Clown	1 sc.	12 répl.	0,7 l.	199 l. (9 %)	9 l. (1 %)	5 %	1 794 l. (10 %)	9,0 pers.
Polonius	8 sc.	85 répl.	2,7 l.	1 379 l. (56 %)	227 l. (10 %)	17 %	11 616 l. (63 %)	8,4 pers.
Player King	2 sc.	4 répl.	0,4 l.	675 l. (28 %)	2 l. (1 %)	1 %	7 522 l. (41 %)	11,1 pers.
Priest	1 sc.	2 répl.	4,4 l.	199 l. (9 %)	9 l. (1 %)	5 %	1 794 l. (10 %)	9,0 pers.
Gertrude	10 sc.	69 répl.	1,3 l.	1 864 l. (75 %)	93 l. (4 %)	5 %	16 186 l. (88 %)	8,7 pers.
Rosencrantz	6 sc.	44 répl.	1,4 l.	945 l. (38 %)	60 l. (3 %)	7 %	9 108 l. (50 %)	9,6 pers.
Reynaldo	1 sc.	13 répl.	1,0 l.	82 l. (4 %)	13 l. (1 %)	16 %	246 l. (2 %)	3,0 pers.
Sailor	1 sc.	2 répl.	10,3 l.	24 l. (1 %)	21 l. (1 %)	86 %	73 l. (1 %)	3,0 pers.
Servant	1 sc.	1 répl.	0,8 l.	24 l. (1 %)	1 l. (1 %)	4 %	73 l. (1 %)	3,0 pers.
Voltemand	2 sc.	2 répl.	7,8 l.	598 l. (25 %)	16 l. (1 %)	3 %	5 795 l. (32 %)	9,7 pers.

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.. *The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark from Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies. Published according to the true originall copies.*. Statistiques par relation
Relation		Scènes	Texte	Interlocution
First Player Hamlet	2 l. (7 %) 2 répl. 0,5 l. 15 l. (94 %) 2 répl. 7,5 l.	1 sc.	16 l. (1 %)	10,0 pers.
First Player Polonius	32 l. (95 %) 2 répl. 15,9 l. 2 l. (6 %) 2 répl. 0,9 l.	1 sc.	34 l. (2 %)	10,0 pers.
All Hamlet	1 l. (7 %) 2 répl. 0,4 l. 12 l. (94 %) 3 répl. 3,8 l.	2 sc.	12 l. (1 %)	10,5 pers.
All Horatio	1 l. (23 %) 1 répl. 0,3 l. 1 l. (78 %) 1 répl. 0,9 l.	1 sc.	1 l. (1 %)	9,0 pers.
All Claudius	1 l. (41 %) 1 répl. 0,3 l. 1 l. (60 %) 1 répl. 0,4 l.	1 sc.	1 l. (1 %)	11,1 pers.
All Laertes	1 l. (33 %) 2 répl. 0,3 l. 2 l. (68 %) 2 répl. 0,6 l.	1 sc.	2 l. (1 %)	7,0 pers.
Player Queen Hamlet	7 l. (96 %) 2 répl. 3,5 l. 1 l. (5 %) 1 répl. 0,3 l.	1 sc.	7 l. (1 %)	13,0 pers.
Player Queen Claudius	11 l. (26 %) 2 répl. 5,2 l. 30 l. (75 %) 3 répl. 10,0 l.	1 sc.	40 l. (2 %)	13,0 pers.
Bernardo Francisco	4 l. (52 %) 5 répl. 0,7 l. 4 l. (49 %) 5 répl. 0,6 l.	1 sc.	6 l. (1 %)	4,0 pers.
Bernardo Horatio	7 l. (69 %) 7 répl. 0,9 l. 3 l. (32 %) 5 répl. 0,6 l.	1 sc.	9 l. (1 %)	4,0 pers.
Bernardo Marcellus	6 l. (48 %) 5 répl. 1,1 l. 6 l. (53 %) 7 répl. 0,9 l.	1 sc.	11 l. (1 %)	4,0 pers.
Norwegian Captain Fortinbras	1 l. (8 %) 1 répl. 0,4 l. 5 l. (93 %) 2 répl. 2,4 l.	1 sc.	5 l. (1 %)	2,0 pers.
First Clown Hamlet	37 l. (65 %) 21 répl. 1,7 l. 20 l. (36 %) 20 répl. 1,0 l.	1 sc.	56 l. (3 %)	9,0 pers.
First Clown Second Clown	28 l. (76 %) 12 répl. 2,3 l. 9 l. (25 %) 12 répl. 0,7 l.	1 sc.	36 l. (2 %)	9,0 pers.
Fortinbras Horatio	10 l. (35 %) 3 répl. 3,1 l. 18 l. (66 %) 4 répl. 4,3 l.	1 sc.	27 l. (2 %)	9,0 pers.
Francisco Marcellus	2 l. (47 %) 2 répl. 0,5 l. 2 l. (54 %) 2 répl. 0,6 l.	1 sc.	2 l. (1 %)	4,0 pers.
Gentlemen Hamlet	1 l. (59 %) 1 répl. 0,3 l. 1 l. (42 %) 1 répl. 0,2 l.	1 sc.	1 l. (1 %)	4,0 pers.
Father's Ghost Hamlet	63 l. (68 %) 14 répl. 4,5 l. 30 l. (33 %) 15 répl. 2,0 l.	2 sc.	92 l. (4 %)	4,0 pers.
Guildenstern Hamlet	20 l. (33 %) 23 répl. 0,8 l. 40 l. (68 %) 23 répl. 1,7 l.	3 sc.	58 l. (3 %)	11,0 pers.
Guildenstern Claudius	2 l. (30 %) 1 répl. 2,0 l. 5 l. (71 %) 1 répl. 4,7 l.	1 sc.	7 l. (1 %)	9,4 pers.
Guildenstern Gertrude	4 l. (58 %) 2 répl. 1,9 l. 3 l. (43 %) 1 répl. 2,8 l.	2 sc.	6 l. (1 %)	9,3 pers.
Guildenstern Rosencrantz	4 l. (40 %) 3 répl. 1,1 l. 6 l. (61 %) 5 répl. 1,0 l.	3 sc.	8 l. (1 %)	8,9 pers.
Hamlet Horatio	257 l. (81 %) 80 répl. 3,2 l. 64 l. (20 %) 76 répl. 0,8 l.	7 sc.	320 l. (13 %)	9,4 pers.
Hamlet Claudius	69 l. (46 %) 28 répl. 2,4 l. 83 l. (55 %) 28 répl. 2,9 l.	6 sc.	151 l. (7 %)	9,6 pers.
Hamlet Laertes	40 l. (59 %) 12 répl. 3,3 l. 28 l. (42 %) 14 répl. 2,0 l.	2 sc.	67 l. (3 %)	9,0 pers.
Hamlet Lucianus	3 l. (33 %) 1 répl. 2,2 l. 5 l. (68 %) 1 répl. 4,7 l.	1 sc.	7 l. (1 %)	13,0 pers.
Hamlet Marcellus	5 l. (62 %) 5 répl. 0,8 l. 3 l. (39 %) 6 répl. 0,4 l.	3 sc.	7 l. (1 %)	6,4 pers.
Hamlet Ophelia	86 l. (84 %) 28 répl. 3,1 l. 17 l. (17 %) 26 répl. 0,7 l.	2 sc.	103 l. (5 %)	10,9 pers.
Hamlet Osric	28 l. (55 %) 16 répl. 1,7 l. 23 l. (46 %) 14 répl. 1,6 l.	1 sc.	50 l. (2 %)	9,0 pers.
Hamlet Polonius	90 l. (69 %) 36 répl. 2,5 l. 41 l. (32 %) 37 répl. 1,1 l.	4 sc.	130 l. (6 %)	9,5 pers.
Hamlet Player King	35 l. (96 %) 4 répl. 8,6 l. 2 l. (5 %) 4 répl. 0,4 l.	2 sc.	36 l. (2 %)	11,1 pers.
Hamlet Gertrude	104 l. (74 %) 32 répl. 3,2 l. 39 l. (27 %) 34 répl. 1,1 l.	5 sc.	141 l. (6 %)	9,3 pers.
Hamlet Rosencrantz	118 l. (77 %) 33 répl. 3,6 l. 37 l. (24 %) 31 répl. 1,2 l.	3 sc.	155 l. (7 %)	11,0 pers.
Horatio Marcellus	59 l. (69 %) 19 répl. 3,1 l. 28 l. (32 %) 16 répl. 1,7 l.	3 sc.	86 l. (4 %)	3,8 pers.
Horatio Osric	2 l. (69 %) 2 répl. 0,6 l. 1 l. (32 %) 1 répl. 0,5 l.	1 sc.	2 l. (1 %)	9,0 pers.
Horatio Gertrude	10 l. (93 %) 2 répl. 4,7 l. 1 l. (8 %) 2 répl. 0,4 l.	1 sc.	10 l. (1 %)	7,0 pers.
Horatio Sailor	3 l. (10 %) 2 répl. 1,1 l. 21 l. (91 %) 2 répl. 10,3 l.	1 sc.	23 l. (1 %)	3,0 pers.
Horatio Servant	1 l. (46 %) 1 répl. 0,7 l. 1 l. (55 %) 1 répl. 0,8 l.	1 sc.	1 l. (1 %)	3,0 pers.
Claudius Laertes	94 l. (67 %) 25 répl. 3,8 l. 47 l. (34 %) 26 répl. 1,8 l.	4 sc.	141 l. (6 %)	7,7 pers.
Claudius Messenger	7 l. (72 %) 3 répl. 2,3 l. 3 l. (29 %) 2 répl. 1,3 l.	2 sc.	9 l. (1 %)	5,6 pers.
Claudius Ophelia	2 l. (5 %) 4 répl. 0,4 l. 29 l. (96 %) 6 répl. 4,7 l.	2 sc.	30 l. (2 %)	7,0 pers.
Claudius Polonius	23 l. (27 %) 11 répl. 2,1 l. 63 l. (74 %) 15 répl. 4,2 l.	5 sc.	85 l. (4 %)	9,9 pers.
Claudius Gertrude	98 l. (90 %) 20 répl. 4,9 l. 12 l. (11 %) 8 répl. 1,5 l.	9 sc.	110 l. (5 %)	9,1 pers.
Claudius Rosencrantz	15 l. (55 %) 5 répl. 2,9 l. 13 l. (46 %) 5 répl. 2,5 l.	3 sc.	27 l. (2 %)	6,0 pers.
Claudius Voltemand	31 l. (66 %) 2 répl. 15,0 l. 16 l. (35 %) 2 répl. 7,8 l.	2 sc.	46 l. (2 %)	9,7 pers.
Laertes Ophelia	45 l. (66 %) 9 répl. 4,9 l. 24 l. (35 %) 9 répl. 2,6 l.	2 sc.	68 l. (3 %)	5,4 pers.
Laertes Osric	1 l. (24 %) 1 répl. 0,3 l. 2 l. (77 %) 3 répl. 0,4 l.	1 sc.	1 l. (1 %)	9,0 pers.
Laertes Polonius	4 l. (13 %) 3 répl. 1,0 l. 21 l. (88 %) 2 répl. 10,4 l.	1 sc.	24 l. (1 %)	3,0 pers.
Laertes Priest	1 l. (8 %) 2 répl. 0,4 l. 9 l. (92 %) 2 répl. 4,4 l.	1 sc.	10 l. (1 %)	9,0 pers.
Laertes Gertrude	2 l. (10 %) 3 répl. 0,6 l. 19 l. (91 %) 6 répl. 3,1 l.	4 sc.	21 l. (1 %)	7,7 pers.
Ophelia Polonius	25 l. (37 %) 12 répl. 2,1 l. 44 l. (64 %) 12 répl. 3,6 l.	3 sc.	68 l. (3 %)	4,7 pers.
Ophelia Gertrude	6 l. (36 %) 4 répl. 1,4 l. 10 l. (65 %) 6 répl. 1,7 l.	2 sc.	16 l. (1 %)	7,0 pers.
Polonius Gertrude	22 l. (85 %) 4 répl. 5,4 l. 4 l. (16 %) 8 répl. 0,5 l.	3 sc.	25 l. (2 %)	9,9 pers.
Polonius Rosencrantz	1 l. (16 %) 1 répl. 0,8 l. 5 l. (85 %) 1 répl. 4,1 l.	1 sc.	5 l. (1 %)	9,3 pers.
Polonius Reynaldo	36 l. (74 %) 12 répl. 3,0 l. 13 l. (27 %) 13 répl. 1,0 l.	1 sc.	49 l. (2 %)	3,0 pers.
Gertrude Rosencrantz	7 l. (79 %) 3 répl. 2,1 l. 2 l. (22 %) 2 répl. 0,9 l.	2 sc.	8 l. (1 %)	10,5 pers.

The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark from Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies. Published according to the true originall copies.

Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies

Bodleian First Folio, Arch. G c.7

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Heminge, John, approximately 1556-1630 Condell, Henry, -1627

Autres contributions

Droeshout, Martin, 1601- : engraver.

Jaggard, Isaac, -1627 : printer.

Blount, Edward, fl. 1594-1632 : printer.

Jaggard, William, 1569-1623 : publisher.

Smethwicke, John, -1641 : publisher.

Aspley, William, -1640 : publisher.

Bodleian Digital Library Systems and Services : creation of electronic edition.

Invida Trans It Solutions PVT. LTD. : preliminary keying and encoding by.

Pip Willcox : project management ; proofing ; encoding.

Lucienne Cummings : proofing ; encoding.

Judith Siefring : proofing ; encoding.

Emma Stanford : proofing ; encoding.

James Cummings : encoding consultation.

Sprint for Shakespeare Crowdfunding The second phase of the Bodleian First Folio project was made possible by a lead gift from Dr Geoffrey Eibl-Kaye and generous support from the Sallie Dickson Memorial Fund/Dallas Shakespeare Club Fund, Mr James Barber, and a private individual. The Bodleian Libraries are very grateful for this additional support, which brings new features to the digitized First Folio, enabling more efficient and intuitive use for all with an interest in Shakespeare, early modern drama, theatre and book history. First publication edition. 23 April 2014 Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford 11 September 2014 Bodleian Digital Library Systems and Services

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Available for reuse, according to the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported.

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Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies.: Published according to the true originall copies.Mr. VVilliam Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragediesFirst FolioLondon, England: William Jaggard, Edward Blount, John Smethwicke16238 November 1623 (entered)Bodleian Library, Arch. G c.7S111228015592789

United Kingdom, Oxford, University of Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodleian Library, Arch. G c.7, S 2.17 Art. [first Bodleian shelfmark, 1624-1664?], Arch. F c.13 [superscript z?] [second Bodleian shelfmark, 1906-?].

Mr VVILLIAM
SHAKESPEARES
COMEDIES,
HISTORIES, &
TRAGEDIES.

Publiſhed according to the True Originall Copies.

London : Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount [at the charges of W. Iaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke, and W. Aspley]., 1623.

349 x 323.

[18], 303, [1], 46, 49-100, [2], 69-232, [2], 79-80, [26], 76, 79-82, 80-98, [2], 109-156, 257-993 [i.e. 399], [1] p.; fol.

Numbering peculiarities: 1st count: p.50 misnumbered 58; p.59 misnumbered 51; p.86 misnumbered 88; p.153 misnumbered 151; p.161 misnumbered] 163; p.164 misnumbered 162; p. 165 misnumbered 163; p. 189 misnumbered 187; p. 249 misnumbered 251; p.250 misnumbered 252; p. 265 misnumbered 273 -- 2nd count: p.37 misnumbered 39 in some copies; p.89 misnumbered 91; p. 90 misnumbered 92 -- 3rd count: p.165-166 numbered 167 and 168 respectively; p. 216 numbered 218 -- 5th count: p. 279 misnumbered 259; p. 282 misnumbered 280; p.308 misnumbered 38; p. 379 misnumbered 389; p. 399 misnumbered 993.

The signatures varies between sources, with the most commonly cited being Hinman's and West's: 1. Hinman: πA⁶ (πA1+1) [πB²], ²A-2B⁶ 2C² a-g⁶ χgg⁸ h-v⁶ x⁴ χ1.2 [para.]-2[para.]⁶ 3[para]¹ aa-ff⁶ gg² Gg⁶ hh⁶ kk-bbb⁶; 2. West: πA⁶ (πA1+1, πA5+1.2)²A-2B⁶ 2C² a-g⁶ ²g⁸ h-v⁶ x⁴ 'gg3.4' (±'gg3') [para.]-2[para.]⁶ 3[para]¹ 2a-2f⁶ 2g² 2G⁶ 2h⁶ 2k-2v⁶ x⁶ 2y-3b⁶.

Mis-signed leaves: a3 mis-signed Aa3; ³gg1 mis-signed Gg; nn1-nn2 mis-signed Nn and Nn2 and oo1 mis-signed Oo.

"The life and death of King Iohn" begins new pagination on leaf a1 recto; "The tragedy of Coriolanus" begins new pagination on leaf aa1 recto.

Lacks A1, the letterpress frontispiece entitled "To the reader". The title page is trimmed and mounted, with a section of the mount towards the foot of the leaf mutilated resulting in the loss of some the Droechout imprint at the bottom left hand corner of the portrait and the central section of an early MS note. For a full condition report, including a full survey of damage and repairs, please contact Rare Books.

Predominantly printed in double columns.

Text within simple lined frame.

Colophon reads: "Printed at the charges of W. Iaggard, Ed. Blount, I. Smithweeke, and W. Aspley. 1623.".

Editors’ dedication signed: Iohn Heminge. Henry Condell.

Head- and tail- pieces; initials.With an engraved title-page portrait of the author signed: "Martin- Droeshout: sculpsit· London.". The plate exists in 2 states: 1. The earlier state has lighter shading generall ; 2. Later state has heavier shading, especially around the collar, and minor differences particularly with the jawline and moustache. The vast majority of surviving copies have the plate in the second state which has led some scholars to conclude that the earlier state was a proof. The portrait in this copy is the second state.

Two MS verses on first endpaper verso: 1. 9 lines of verse by an unknown author, first line reads "An active swain to make a leap was seen". 2. A copy of Ben Jonson’s printed "To the Reader"; MS note on t.p. (mutilated) appears to read "Honest [Shakes]peare". Minor annotations on leaf 2n4 (Macbeth). All in an early English hand, presumably added after leaving the Library.

Seventeenth-century (1624) English (Oxford) smooth calf. Bound for the Bodleian Library by William Wildgoose, with evidence of two cloth ties, red sprinkled edge. Formerly chained, with evidence of chain staple at the head of the upper cover. Remains of paper label at the head of the spine. Enclosed in 20th century book box by Maltby of Oxford. See S. Gibson in Original Bodleian Copy of First Folio, p. 12-13. One of four items sent out on 17th February 1624 for binding by Wildgoose containing printed waste from a copy of Cicero’s "De Officiis, et al." [Deventer: Richard Pafraet, between 1480 and 1485] as paste-downs. For more information on this work see: Bod. Inc. Cat., C-322.

For further details on the printing of this item see Hinman, Charleton. The printing and proof-reading of the First Folio of Shakespeare: Oxford, 1963.

Acquired by the Bodleian in 1623, presumably in sheets. It was sent out to William Wildgoose on 17 February 1624 for binding (see: Library Records e.258, fol. 48r) and upon its return chained in Duke Humfrey at shelfmark S 2.17 Art. It is listed in the Bodleian’s 1635 catalogue of printed books but was gone by the publication of the next catalogue in 1674, replaced by the newer Third Folio (1664). There is no explicit reference in Library Records to the disposal of this copy, but there is a record of a sale of "superfluous library books" to Richard Davis, a bookseller in Oxford, in 1664 for the sum of £24.

After leaving the Bodleian this copy entered the collection of Richard Turbutt of Ogston Hall, Derbyshire at some point in the early 18th century. It stayed in the family’s possession until 1906, when it was reacquired by the Bodleian for the sum of £3000, raised by public subscription. For a full discussion of the rediscovery and purchase of this copy see: F. Madan, G. M. R. Turbutt and S. Gibson, The Original Bodleian Copy of the First Folio of Shakespeare (theTurbutt Shakespeare) (Oxford, 1905)

For a full discussion of this copy and the digital version see http://shakespeare.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/ and West and Rasmussen (2011), 31.

Digital facsimile images available at: http://firstfolio.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/.

First Player 1. Play. 1. Player. All Al. All. Ambassador Amb. Player Prologue Player Queen Bap. Bapt. Bernardo, sentinel Bar. Barn. Norwegian Captain Cap. First Clown Clo. Clown. Clowne Fortinbras, Prince of Norway For. Fortin. Francisco, a soldier Fra. Fran. Gentleman, courtier Gen. Gentlemen Gentlemen Father's Ghost, Ghost of Hamlet's Father Gho. Ghost. Guildenstern, courtier Guil. Guild. Hamlet, son of the former king and nephew to the present king Ha. Ham. Hamlet. Hem. Horatio, friend to Hamlet Hor. Hora. Horat. Hor. & Mar. Claudius, King of Denmark K. Kin. King. Laertes, son to Polonius La. Laer. Lucianus Lucian. Marcellus, Officer Mar. Marcell. Hor. & Mar. Messenger Mes. Ophelia, daughter to Polonius Ophe. Ophel. Osric, courtier Osr. Osricke. Second Clown Other. Polonius, Lord Chamberlain Palon. Pol. Polon. Player King Play. Player. Priest Priest. Gertrude, Queen of Denmark and mother to Hamlet Qu. Queen. Queene. Rosencrantz, courtier Resin. Ro. Rosin. Rsin. Reynaldo, servant to Polonius Reynol. Sailor Say. Servant Ser. Voltemand, courtier Volt.

[p. 152]

THE TRAGEDIE OF
HAMLET, Prince of Denmarke.

Actus Primus. Scœna Prima.

[Act 1, Scene 1]

Enter Barnardo and Francisco two Centinels.

Barnardo.

WHo's there?

Fran.

Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold
your selfe.

Bar.

Long liue the King.

Fran.

Barnardo?

Bar.

He.

Fran.

5 You come most carefully vpon your houre.

Bar.

'Tis now strook twelue, get thee to bed Francisco.

Fran.

For this releese much thankes: 'Tis bitter cold,

And I am sicke at heart.

Barn.

Haue you had quiet Guard?

Fran.

10 Not a Mouse stirring.

Barn.

Well, goodnight. If you do meet Horatio and

Marcellus, the Riuals of my Watch, bid them make hast.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Fran.

I thinke I heare them. Stand: who's there?

Hor.

Friends to this ground.

Mar.

15 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.

Mar.

Holla Barnardo.

Bar.

20 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.

Bar.

I haue seene nothing.

Mar.
25 Horatio saies,'tis but our Fantasie,
And will not let beleefe take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seene of vs,
Therefore I haue intreated him along
With vs, to watch the minutes of this Night,
30 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,

And let vs once againe assaile your eares,

35 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.

Barn.
Last night of all,
40 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.

Mar.

Peace, breake thee of:

Enter the Ghost.

45 Looke where it comes againe.

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.

Hora.

Most like: It harrowes me with fear & wonder

Barn.

50 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

In which the Maiesty of buried Denmarke

55 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.

Exit the Ghost.

Mar.

'Tis gone, and will not answer.

Barn.

60 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

Without the sensible and true auouch

65 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,
When th'Ambitious Norwey combatted:
70 So frown'd he once, when in an angry parle
He smot the sledded Pollax on the Ice.
'Tis strange.

Mar.

Thus twice before, and iust at this dead houre,

With Martiall stalke, hath he gone by our Watch.

Hor.

75 In what particular thought to work, l know not:

But in the grosse and scope of my Opinion,

This boades some strange erruption to our State.

Mar.
Good now sit down, & tell me he that knowes
Why this same strict and most obseruant Watch,
80 So nightly toyles the subiect of the Land,
And why such dayly Caft Cast of Brazon Cannon
And Forraigne Mart for Implements of warre:
Why such impresse of Ship‑wrights, whose sore Taske
Do's not diuide the Sunday from the weeke,
85 What might be toward, that this sweaty hast
Doth make the Night ioynt‑Labourer with the day:
Who is't that can informe me?

Hor.
That can I,
At[p. 153]The Tragedie of Hamlet.At least the whisper goes so: Our last King,
90 Whose Image euen but now appear'd to vs,
Was (as you know) by Fortinbras of Norway,
(Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate Pride)
Dar'd to the Combate. In which, our Valiant Hamlet,
(For so this side of our knowne world esteem'd him)
95 Did slay this Fortinbras: who by a Seal'd Compact,
Well ratified by Law, and Heraldrie,
Did forfeite (with his life) all those his Lands
Which he stood seiz'd on, to the Conqueror;
Against the which, a Moity competent
100 Was gaged by our King: which had return'd
To the Inheritance of Fortinbras,
Had he bin Vanquisher, as by the same Cou'nant
And carriage of the Article designe,
His fell to Hamlet. Now sir, young Fortinbras,
105 Of vnimproued Mettle, hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway, heere and there,
Shark'd vp a List of Landlesse Resolutes,
For Foode and Diet, to some Enterprize
That hath a stomacke m't: which is no other
110 (And it doth well appeare vnto our State)
                     
But to recouer of vs by strong hand
And termes Compulsatiue, those foresaid Lands
So by his Father lost: and this (I take it)
Is the maine Motiue os our Preparations,
115 The Sourse of this our Watch, and the cheefe head
Of this post‑hast, and Romage in the Land.
Enter Ghost againe.
But soft, behold: Loe, where it comes againe:
Ile crosse it, though it blast me. stay Illusion:
If thou hast any sound, or vse of Voyce,
120 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.
Or, if thou hast vp‑hoorded in thy life
125 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 ir it with my Partizan?

Hor.

Do, if it will not stand.

Barn.

130 'Tis heere.

Hor.

'Tis heere.

Mar.

'Tis gone.

Exit Ghost.

We do it wrong, being so Maiesticall

To offer it the shew of Violence,

135 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
Vpon a fearfull Summons. I haue heard,
140 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,
Th'extrauagant, and erring Spirit, hyes
145 To his Confine. And of the truth heerein,
This prescnt Obiect made probation.

Mar.
It faded on the crowing of the Cocke.
Some sayes, that euer 'gainst that Season comes
Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated,
150 The Bird of Dawning singeth all night long:
And then (they say) no Spirit can walke abroad,
The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike,
No Faiery talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme:
So hallow'd, and so gracious is the time.

Hor.
155 So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it.
But looke, the Morne in Russet mantle clad,
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
160 Vnto yong Hamlet. For vpon my life,
This Spirit dumbe to vs, will speake to him:
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

165 Where we shall finde him most conueniently.

Exeunt

[Act 1, Scene 2]

Scena Secunda.

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 becontracted in one brow of woe:
170 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,
175 Haue we, as 'twere, with a defeated ioy,
With one Auspicious, and one Dropping eye,
With mirth in Fanerall, and with Dirge in Marriage,
In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole
Taken to Wife; nor haue we heerein barr'd
180 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,
185 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
190 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 Fortirbras,
Who Impotent and Bedrid, scarsely heares
195 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,
200 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.

Volt.

205 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 [p. 154] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

You told vs of some suite. What is't Laertes?

You cannot speake of Reason to the Dane,

210 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.

215 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,
220 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?

Pol.

225 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?

Ham.

230 A little more then kin, and lesse then kinde.

King.

How is it that the Clouds still hang on you?

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.
235 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.

Queen.

240 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,
245 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,
250 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,
255 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
260 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:
265 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,
270 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
275 As of a Father; For let the world take note,
You arc 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
280 In going backe to Schoole in Wittenberg,
It is most retrograde to our desire:
And we beseech you, bend you to remaine
Heere in the cheere and comfort of our eye,
Our cheefest Courtier Cosin, and our Sonne.

Qu.

285 Let not thy Mother lose her Prayers Hamlet:

I prythee stay with vs, go not to Wittenberg.

Ham.

I shall in all my ~~beft~~ best

Obey you Madam.

King.
Why 'tis a louing, and a faire Reply,
290 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,
295 And the Kings Rouce, the Heauens shall bruite againe,
Respeaking earthly Thunder. Come away.

Exeunt

Manet Hamlet.

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
300 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
That growes to Seed: Things rank, and grosse in Nature
305 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
310 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.
315 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,
320 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
325 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.

Ham.

I am glad to see you well:

330 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:

335 And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?

Mar [p. 155] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Marcellus.

Mar.

My good Lord.

Ham.

I am very glad to see you: good euen Sir.

But what in faith make you srom Wittemberge?

Hor.

340 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:
345 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)

I thinke it was to see my Mothers Wedding.

Hor.

350 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.
355 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:

360 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?

Hor.

365 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.

Hor.
370 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,
375 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,
380 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,
385 The Apparition comes. I knew your Father:
These hands are not more like.

Ham.

But where was this?

Mar.

My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watcht.

Ham.

Did you not speake to it?

Hor.
390 My Lord, I did;
But answere made it none: yet once me thought
It lifted vp it its head, and did addresse
It selfe to motion, like as it would speake:
But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd;
395 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

400 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?

Both.

405 Arm'd, my Lord.

Ham.

From top to toe?

Both.

My Lord, from head to foote.

Ham.

Then saw you not his face?

Hor.

O yes, my Lord, he wore his Beauer vp.

Ham.

410 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?

Hor.

415 Most constantly.

Ham.

I would I had beene [.]here.

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 hun
(dred.

All.

420 Longer, longer.

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.

Ham.

425 Ile watch to Night; perchance 'twill wake a
(gaine.

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,
430 Is 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:
435 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.
My Fathers Spirit in Armes? All is not well:
440 I doubt some foule play: would the Night were come;
Till then sit still my soule; foule deeds will rise,
Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies.

Exit.

[Act 1, Scene 3]

Scena Tertia.

Enter Laertes and Ophelia.

Laer.

My necessaries are imbark't; Farewell:

And Sister, as the Winds giue Benefit,

445 And Conuoy is assistant; doe not sleepe,

But let me heare from you.

Ophel.

Doe you doubt that?

Laer.
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his fauours,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in Bloud;
450 A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature;
Froward, not permanent; sweet not lasting
The suppliance of a minute? No more.

Ophel.

No more but so.

Laer.
Thinke it no more:
455 For nature cressant does not grow alone,
In thewes and Bulke: but as his Temple waxes,
The inward seruice of the Minde and Soule
Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now,
And now no soyle nor cautell doth besmerch
460 The vertue of his feare: but you must feare
His[p. 156]The Tragedie of Hamlet.His greatnesse weigh'd, his will is not his owne;
For hee himselfe is subiect to his Birth:
Hee may not, as vnuallued persons doe,
Carue for himselfe; for, on his choyce depends
465 The sanctity and health of the weole State.
And therefore must his choyce be circumscrib'd
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;
470 As he in his peculiar Sect and force
May giue his saying deed: which is no further,
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;
475 Or lose your Heart; or your chast Treasure open
To his vnmastred importunity.
Feare it Ophelia, feare it my deare Sister,
And keepe within the reare of your Affection;
Out of the shot and danger of Desire.
480 The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough,
If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone;
Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious stroakes,
The Canker Galls, the Infants of the Spring
Too oft before the buttons be disclos'd,
485 And in the Morne and liquid dew of Youth,
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
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,
490 As watchmen to my heart: but good my Brother
Doe not as some vngracious Pastors doe,
Shew me the steepe and thorny way to Heauen;
Whilst like a puft and recklesse Libertine
Himselfe, the Primrose path of dalliance treads,
495 And reaks not his owne reade.

Laer.

Oh, feare me not.

Enter Polonius.

I stay too long; but here my Father comes:

A double blessing is a double grace;

Occasion smiles vpon a second leaue.

Palon.
500 Yet heere Laertes? Aboord, aboord for shame,
The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile,
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,
505 Nor any vnproportion'd thought his Act:
Be thou familiar; but by no meanes vulgar:
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
510 Of each vnhatch't, vnfledg'd Comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrell: but being in
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:
515 Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy;
But not exprest in fancie; rich, not gawdie:
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.
520 Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;
For lone oft loses both it selfe and friend:
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,
525 Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my Blessing season this in thee.

Laer.

Most humbly doe I take my leaue, my Lord.

Polon.

The time inuites you, goe, your seruants send.

Laer.

Farewell Ophelia, and remember well

530 What I haue said to you.

Ophe.

Tis in my memory lockt,

And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it.

Laer.

Farewell.

Exit Laer.

Polon.

What ist Ophelia he hath said to you?

Ophe.

535 So please you, somthing touching the Lord Hamlet.

Polon.
Marry, well bethought:
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.
540 If it be so, as so tis put on me;
And that in way of caution: I must tell you,
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.

545 He hath my Lord of late, made many tenders

Of his affection to me.

Polon.

Affection, puh. You speake like a greene Girle,

Vnsifted in such perillous Circumstance.

Doe you beleeue his tenders, as you call them?

Ophe.

550 I do not know, my Lord, what I should thinke.

Polon.
Marry Ile teach you; thinke your selfe a Baby,
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,
555 Roaming it thus, you'l tender me a foole.

Ophe.

My Lord, he hath importun'd me with loue,

In honourable fashion.

Polon.

I, fashion you may call it, go too, go too.

Ophe.

And hath giuen countenance to his speech,

560 My Lord, with all the vowes of Heauen.

Polon.
I, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I doe know
When the Bloud burnes, how Prodigall the Soule
Giues the tongue vowes: these blazes, Daughter,
Giuing more light then heate; extinct in both,
565 Euen in their promise, as it is a making;
You muft must not take for fire. For this time Daughter,
Be somewhat scanter of your Maiden presence;
Set your entreatments at a higher rate,
Then a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet,
570 Beleeue so much in him, that he is young,
And with a larger tether may he walke,
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:
575 But meere implorators of vnholy Sutes,
Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds,
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,
580 As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet:
Looke too't, I charge you; come your wayes.

Ophe.

I shall obey my Lord.

Exeunt.

[Act 1, Scene 4]

Enter Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus.

Ham.

The Ayre bites shrewdly: is it very cold?

Hor.

It is a nipping and an eager ayre.

Ham.

585 What hower now?

Hor.

I thinke it lacks of twelue.

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 [p. 257] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

590 What does this meane my Lord?

Ham.
The King doth Wake to night, and takes his
                                    

                        (rouse,
Keepes wassels and the swaggering vpspring reeles,
And as he dreines his draughts of Renish downe,
The kettle Drum and Trumpet thus bray out
595 The triumph of his Pledge.

Horat.

Is it a custome?

Ham.

I marry ist;

And to my mind, though I am natiue heere,

And [.] the manner borne: It is a Custome

600 More honour'd in the breach, then the obseruance.

Enter Ghost.

Hor.

Looke my Lord, it comes.

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,
605 Be thy euents wicked or charitable,
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
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
610 Why thy Canoniz'd bones Hearsed in death,
Haue burst their cerments, why the Sepulcher
Wherein we saw thee quietly enurn'd,
Hath op'd his ponderous and Marble iawes,
To cast thee vp againe? What may this meane?
615 That thou dead Coarse againe in compleat steele,
Reuisits thus the glimpses of the Moone,
Making Night hidious? And we fooles of Nature,
So horridly to shake our disposition,
With thoughts beyond thee; reaches of our Soules,
620 Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we doe?

Ghost beckens Hamlet.

Hor.

It beckons you to goe away with it,

As if it some impartment did desire

To you alone.

Mar.

Looke with what courteous action

625 It wafts you to a more remoued ground:

But doe not goe with it.

Hor.

No, by no meanes.

Ham.

It will not speake: then will I follow it.

Hor.

Doe not my Lord.

Ham.
630 Why, what should be the feare?
I doe not set my life at a pins fee;
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.
635 What if it tempt you toward the Floud my Lord?
Or to the dreadfull Sonnet of the Cliffe,
That beetles o're his base into the Sea,
And there assumes some other horrible forme,
Which might depriue your Soueraignty of Reason,
640 And draw you into madnesse thinke of it?

Ham.

It wafts me still: goe on, Ile follow thee.

Mar.

You shall not goe my Lord.

Ham.

Hold off your hand.

Hor.

Be rul'd, you shall not goe.

Ham.
645 My fate cries out,
And makes each petty Artire in this body,
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:
650 I say away, goe on, Ile follow thee.

Exeunt Ghost & Hamlet.

Hor.

He waxes desperate with imagination.

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.

655 Heauen will direct it.

Mar.

Nay, let's follow him.

Exeunt.

[Act 1, Scene 5]

Enter Ghost and Hamlet.

Ham.

Where wilt thou lead me? speak; Ile go no fur
(ther.

Gho.

Marke me.

Ham.

I will.

Gho.

660 My hower is almost come,

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

665 To what I shall vnfold.

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,
670 Doom'd for a certain terme to walke the night;
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
To tell the secrets of my Prison‑House;
675 I could a Tale vnfold, whose lightest word
Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes like Starres, start from their Spheres,
Thy knotty and combined locks to part,
And each particular haire to stand an end,
680 Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine:
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.

685 Reuenge his foule and most vnnaturall Murther.

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,

690 That with wings as swift

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
695 That rots it selfe in ease, on Lethe Wharfe,
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
700 Rankly abus'd: But know thou Noble youth,
The Serpent that did sting thy Fathers life,
Now weares his Crowne.

Ham.

O my Propheticke soule: mine Vncle?

Ghost.
I that incestuous, that adul[.]erate Beast
705 With witchcraft of his wits, hath Traitorous guifts.
Oh wicked Wit, and Gifts, that haue the power
So to seduce? Won to to to this shamefull Lust
The will of my most seeming vertuous Queene:
Oh Hamlet, what a falling off was there,
710 From me, whose loue was of that dignity,
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,
715 Though Lewdnesse court it in a shape of Heauen:
So Lust, though to a radiant Angell link'd,
Will sate it selfe in a Celestiall bed, & prey on Garbage.
OoBut[p. 258]The Tragedie of Hamlet.But soft, me thinkes I sent the Mornings Ayre;
Briefe let me be: Sleeping within mine Orchard,
720 My custome alwayes in the afternoone;
Vpon my secure hower thy Vncle stole
With iuyce of cursed Hebenon in a Violl,
And in the Porches of mine eares did poure
The leaperous Distilment; whose effect
725 Holds such an enmity with bloud of Man,
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,
730 The thin and wholsome blood: so did it mine;
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,
735 Of Life, of Crowne, and Queene at once dispatcht;
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;
740 Oh horrible, Oh horrible, most horrible:
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,
745 Taint not thy mind; nor let thy Soule contriue
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,
750 And gins to pale his vneffectuall Fire:
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;
755 But beare me stiffely vp: Remember thee?
I, thou poore Ghost, while memory holds a seate
In this distracted Globe: Remember thee?
Yea, from the Table of my Memory,
Ile wipe a way all triuiall fond Records,
760 All sawes of Bookes, all formes, all presures past,
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:
765 Oh most pernicious woman!
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;
770 So Vnckle there you are: now to my word;
It is; Adue, Adue, Remember me: I haue I sworn't.

Hor. & Mar.

within.

My Lord, my Lord.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Mar.

Lord Hamlet.

Hor.

Heauen secure him.

Mar.

775 So be it.

Hor.

Illo, ho, ho, my Lord.

Ham.

Hillo, ho, ho, boy; come bird, come.

Mar.

How ~~ist't~~ is't my Noble Lord?

Hor.

What newes, my Lord?

Ham.

780 Oh wonderfull!

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.

785 How say you then, would heart of man once
(think it?

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.

790 There needs no Ghost my Lord, come from the

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:
795 You, as your busines and desires shall point you:
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.

800 I'm sorry they offend you heartily:

Yes faith, heartily,

Hor.

There's no offence my Lord.

Ham.
Ycs, by Saint Patricke, but there is my Lord,
And much offence too, touching this Vision heere:
805 It is an honest Ghost, that let me tell you:
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.

810 What is't my Lord? we will.

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.

815 Nor I my Lord: in faith.

Ham.

Vpon my sword.

Marcell.

We haue sworne my Lord already.

Ham.

Indeed, vpon my sword, Indeed.

Gho.

Sweare.

Ghost cries vnder the Stage.

Ham.

820Ah ha boy. sayest thou so. Art thou there true [l. 821] penny? Come one you here this fellow in the selleredge [l. 822] Consent to sweare.

Hor.

Propose the Oath my Lord.

Ham.

Neuer to speake of this that you haue seene.
Sweare by my sword.

Gho.

825 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:
830 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.

Ham.

835 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,

How strange or odde so ere I beare my selfe;

840 (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;

845 As well, we know, or we could and if we would,

Or if we list to speak; or there be and if there might,

Or such ambiguous giuing out to note,

That [p. 259] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

That you know ought of me; this not to doe:

So grace and mercy at your most neede helpe you:

850 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,
855 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,
860 Nay, come let's goe together.

Exeunt.

Actus Secundus.

[Act 2, Scene 1]

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

865 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;
870 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 nearer
Then your particular demands will touch it,
875 Take you as 'twere somc 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;
880 But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde;
Addicted so and so; and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so ranke,
As may dishonour him; take need of that:
But Sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,
885 As are Companions noted and most knowne
To youth and liberty.

Reynol.

As gaming my Lord.

Polon.

I, or drinking, fencing. swearing,

Quarelling, drabbing. You may goe so farre.

Reynol.

890 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,
895 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?

Reynol.

900 I my Lord, I would know that.

Polon.
Marry Sir, here'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:
905 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.
910 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?

915 I was about to 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,
920 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;
925 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:
930 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.

Polon.

935 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:

940 How now Ophelia, what's the matter?

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,
945 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,
950 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;
955 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:
960 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,
And end his being. That done, he lets me goe,
And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd,
965 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,

970 Whose violent property foredoes it selfe,

And [p. 260] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

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?

Ophe.

975 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
980 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
985 To lacke discretion. Come, go we to the King,
This must be knowne, wc being kept close might moue
More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue.

Exeunt.

[Act 2, Scene 2]

Scena Secunda.

Enter King, Queene, ~~Rosincrane~~ Rosincrance, and Guilden
sterne Cumalijs.

King.
Welcome deere Rosincrance and Guildensterne.
Moreouer, that we much did long to see you,
990 The neede we haue to vse you, did prouoke
Our hastie sending. Something haue you heard
Of Hamlets transformation: so I call it,
Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should bee
995 More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him
So much from th'vnderstanding of himselfe,
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,
1000 That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court
Some little time: so by your Companies
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.
1005 Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,
And sure I am, two men there are not liuing,
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,
1010 For the supply and profit of our Hope,
Your Visitation shall receiue such thankes
As fits a Kings remembrance.

Rosin.

Both your Maiesties

Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs,

1015 Put your dread pleasures, more into Command

Then to Entreatie.

Guil.

We both obey,

And here giue vp our selues, in the full bent,

To lay our Seruices freely at your feete,

1020 To be commanded.

King.

Thankes Rosincrance, and gentle Guildensterne.

Qu.
Thankes Guildensterne and gentle Rosincrance.
And I beseech you instantly to visit
My too much changed Sonne.
1025 Go some of ye,
And bring the Gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guil.

Heauens make our presence and our practices

Pleasant and helpfull to him.

Exit.

Queene.

Amen.

Enter Polonius.

Pol.

1030 Th'Ambassadors from Norwey,[.]my good Lord,

Are ioyfully return'd.

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,
1035 Both to my God, one to my gracious King:
And I do thinke, or else this braine of mine
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.

1040 Oh speake of that, that I do long to heare.

Pol.

Giue first admittance to th'Ambassadors,

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

1045 The head and sourse of all your Sonnes distemper.

Qu.

I doubt it is no other, but the maine,

His Fathers death, and our o're‑hasty Marriage.

Enter Polonius, Uoltumand, and Cornelius.

King.

Well, we shall sift him. Welcome good Frends:

Say Voltumand, what from our Brother Norwey?

Volt.
1050 Most faire returne of Greetings, and Desires.
Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse
His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Poleak:
But better look'd into, he truly found
1055 It was against your Highnesse, whereat greeued,
That so his Sicknesse, Age, and Impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests
On Fortinbras, which he (in breefe) obeyes,
Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine,
1060 Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more
To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie.
Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy,
Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee,
And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers
1065 So leuied as before, against the Poleak:
With an intreaty heerein further shewne,
That it might please you to giue quiet passe
Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize,
On such regards of safety and allowance,
1070 As therein are set downe.

King.
It likes vs well:
And at our more consider'd time wee'l read,
Answer, and thinke vpon this Businesse.
Meane time we thanke you, for your well‑tooke Labour.
1075 Go to your rest, at night wee'l Feast together.
Most welcome home.

Exit Ambass.

Pol.
This businesse is very well ended.
My Liege, and Madam, to expostulate
What Maiestie should be, what Dutie is,
1080 Why day is day; night, night; and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste Night, Day and Time.
Therefore, since Breuitie is the Soule of Wit,
And tediousnesse, the limbes and outward flourishes,
I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad:
1085 Mad call I it; for to define true Madnesse,
What is't, but to be nothing else but mad.
But let that go.

Qu.

More matter, with lesse Art.

Pol.

Madam[.] I sweare I vse no Art at all:

1090 That he is mad, 'tis true: 'Tis true 'tis pittie,

And pittie it is true: A foolish figure,

But farewell it: for I will vse no Art.

Mad [p. 261] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Mad let vs grant him then: and now remaines

That we finde out the cause of this effect,

1095 Or rather say, the cause of this defect;

For this effect defectiue, comes by cause,

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,

1100 Hath giuen me this: now gather, and surmise.

The Letter.

1101To the Celestiall, and my Soules Idoll, the most beautified O [l. 1102] phelia.

1103That's an ill Phrase, a vilde Prase, beautified is a vilde [l. 1104] Phrase: but you shall heare these in her excellent white [l. 1105] bosome, these.

Qu.

Came this from Hamlet to her.

Pol.

Good Madam stay awhile, I will be faithfull.

Doubt thou, the Starres are fire,

Doubt, that the Sunne doth moue:

1110 Doubt Truth to be a Lier,

Bt never Doubt, I loue.

1112O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these Numbers: I haue not Art to [l. 1113] reckon my grones; but that I loue thee best, oh most Best be [l. 1114] leeue it. Adieu.

1115Thine euermore most deere Lady, whilst this [l. 1116] Machine is to him, Hamlet.

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,

1120 All giuen to mine eare.

King.

But how hath she receiu'd his Loue?

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?
1125 When I had seene this hot loue on the wing,
As I perceiued it, I must tell you that
Before my Daughter told me, what might you
Or my dcere deere Maiestie your Queene heere, think,
If I had playd the Deske or Table‑booke,
1130 Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe,
Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle sight,
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,
1135 This must not be: and then, I Precepts gaue her,
That she should locke her selfe from his Resort,
Admit no Messengers, receiue no Tokens:
Which done, she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice,
And he repulsed. A short Tale to make,
1140 Fell into a Sadnesse, then into a Fast,
Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknesse,
Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension
Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues,
And all we waile for.

King.

1145 Do you thinke 'tis this?

Qu.

It may be very likely.

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.

1150 Not that I know.

Pol.

Take this from this; if this be otherwise,

If Circumstances leade me, I will finde

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede

Within the Center.

King.

1155 How may we try it further?

Pol.

You know sometimes

He walkes foure houres together, here

In the Lobby.

Qu.

So he ha's indeed.

Pol.
1160 At such a time Ile loose my Daughter to him,
Be you and I behinde an Arras then,
Marke the encounter: If he loue her not,
And be not from his reason falne thereon;
Let me be no Assistant for a State,
1165 And keepe a Farme and Carters.

King.

We will try it.

Enter Hamlet reading on a Booke.

Qu.

But looke where sadly the poore wretch

Comes reading.

Pol.

Away I do beseech you, both away,

1170 Ile boord him presently.

Exit King & Queen.

Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet?

Ham.

1172Well, God‑a‑mercy.

Pol.

1173Do you know me, my Lord?

Ham.

1174Excellent, excellent well: y'are a Fishmonger.

Pol.

1175Not I my Lord.

Ham.

1176Then I would you were so honest a man.

Pol.

1177Honest, my Lord?

Ham.

1178I sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to bee [l. 1179] one man pick'd out of two thousand.

Pol.

1180That's very true, my Lord.

Ham.

1181For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge, [l. 1182] being a good kissing Carrion ⸺ [l. 1183] Haue you a daughter?

Pol.

1184I haue my Lord.

Ham.

1185Let her not walke i'th'Sunne; Conception is a [l. 1186] blessing, but not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend [l. 1187] looke too't.

Pol.

1188How say you by that? Still harping on my daugh [l. 1189] ter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a Fishmon [l. 1190] ger: he is farre gone, farre gone: and truly in my youth, [l. 1191] I suffred much extreamity for loue: very neere this. Ile [l. 1192] speake to him againe. What do you read my Lord?

Ham.

1193Words, words, words.

Pol.

1194What is the matter, my Lord?

Ham.

1195Betweene who?

Pol.

1196I meane the matter you meane, my Lord.

Ham.

1197Slanders Sir: for the Satyricall slaue saies here, [l. 1198] that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrin [l. 1199] kled; their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum‑Tree [l. 1200] Gumme: and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit, [l. 1201] together with weake Hammes. All which Sir, though I [l. 1202] most powerfully, and potently beleeue; yet I holde it [l. 1203] not Honestie to haue it thus set downe: For you your [l. 1204] selfe Sir, should be old as I am, if like a Crab you could [l. 1205] go backward.

Pol.

Though this be madnesse,

Yet there is Method in't: will you walke

Out of the ayre my Lord?

Ham.

Into my Graue?

Pol.
1210 Indeed that is out o'th'Ayre:
How pregnant (sometimes) his Replies are?
A happinesse,
That often Madnesse hits on,
Which Reason and Sanitie could not
1215 So prosperously be deliuer'd of.
I will leaue him,
And sodainely contriue the meanes of meeting
Betweene him, and my daughter.
My Honourable Lord, I will most humbly
1220 Take my leaue of you.

oo3 Ham [p. 262] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Ham.

1221You cannot Sir take from me any thing, that I [l. 1222] will more willingly part withall, except my life, my [l. 1223] life.

Polon.

1224Fare you well my Lord.

Ham.

1225These tedious old fooles.

Polon.

1226You goe to seeke my Lord Hamlet; there [l. 1227] hee is.

Enter ~~Rosincran~~ Rosincrance and Guildensterne.

Rosin.

1228God saue you Sir.

Guild.

1229Mine honour'd Lord?

Rosin.

1230My most deare Lord?

Ham.

1231My excellent good friends? How do'st thou [l. 1232] Guildensterne? Oh, ~~Rosincrane~~ Rosincrance; good Lads: How doe ye [l. 1233] both?

Rosin.

1234As the indifferent Children of the earth.

Guild.

1235Happy, in that we are not ouer‑happy: on For [l. 1236] tunes Cap, we are not the very Button.

Ham.

1237Nor the Soales of her Shoo?

Rosin.

1238Neither my Lord.

Ham.

1239Then you liue about her waste, or in the mid [l. 1240] dle of her fauour?

Guil.

1241Faith, her priuates, we.

Ham.

1242In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true: [l. 1243] she is a Strumpet. What's the newes?

Rsin.

1244None my Lord; but that the World's growne [l. 1245] honest.

Ham.

1246Then is Doomesday neere: But your newes is [l. 1247] not true. Let me question more in particular: what haue [l. 1248] you my good friends, deserued at the hands of Fortune, [l. 1249] that she sends you to Prison hither?

Guil.

1250Prison, my Lord?

Ham.

1251Denmark's a Prison.

Rosin.

1252Then is the World one.

Ham.

1253A goodly one, in which there are many Con [l. 1254] fines, Wards and Dungeons; Denmarke being one o'th' [l. 1255] worst.

Rosin.

1256We thinke not so my Lord.

Ham.

1257Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing [l. 1258] either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is [l. 1259] a prison.

Rosin.

1260Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis [l. 1261] too narrow for your minde.

Ham.

1262O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and [l. 1263] count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that [l. 1264] I haue bad dreames.

Guil.

1265Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the [l. 1266] very substance of the Ambitious, is meerely the shadow [l. 1267] of a Dreame.

Ham.

1268A dreame it selfe is but a shadow.

Rosin.

1269Truely, and I hold Ambition of so ayry and [l. 1270] light a quality, that it is but a shadowes shadow.

Ham.

1271Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Mo [l. 1272] narchs and out‑stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes: [l. 1273] shall wee to th'Court: for, by my fey I cannot rea [l. 1274] son?

Both.

1275Wee'l wait vpon you.

Ham.

1276No such matter. I will not sort you with the [l. 1277] rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest [l. 1278] man: I am most dreadfully attended; but in the beaten [l. 1279] way of friendship, What make you at Elsonower?

Rosin.

1280To visit you my Lord, no other occasion.

Ham.

1281Begger that I am, I am euen poore in thankes; [l. 1282] but I thanke you: and sure deare friends my thanks [l. 1283] are too deare a halfepeny; were you not sent for? Is it [l. 1284] your owne inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, [l. 1285] deale iustly with me: come, come; nay speake.

Guil.

1286What should we say my Lord?

Ham.

1287Why any thing. But to the purpose; you were [l. 1288] sent for; and there is a kinde confession in your lookes; [l. 1289] which your modesties haue not craft enough to co [l. 1290] lor, I know the good King & Queene haue sent for you.

Rosin.

1291To what end my Lord?

Ham.

1292That you must teach me: but let mee coniure [l. 1293] you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of [l. 1294] our youth, by the Obligation of our euer‑preserued loue, [l. 1295] and by what more deare, a better proposer could charge [l. 1296] you withall; be euen and direct with me, whether you [l. 1297] were sent for or no.

Rosin.

1298What say you?

Ham.

1299Nay then I haue an eye of you; if you loue me [l. 1300] hold not off.

Guil.

1301My Lord, we were sent for.

Ham.

1302I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation [l. 1303] preuent your discouery of your secricie to the King and [l. 1304] Queene: moult no feather, I haue of late, but wherefore [l. 1305] I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custome of ex [l. 1306] ercise; and indeed, it goes so heauenly with my dispositi [l. 1307] on; that this goodly frame the Earth, seemes to me a ster [l. 1308] rill Promontory; this most excellent Canopy the Ayre, [l. 1309] look you, this braue ore‑hanging, this Maiesticall Roofe, [l. 1310] fretted with golden fire: why, it appeares no other thing [l. 1311] to mee, then a foule and pestilent congregation of va [l. 1312] pours. What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in [l. 1313] Reason? how infinite in faculty? in sorme and mouing [l. 1314] how expresse and admirable? in Action, how like an An [l. 1315] gel? in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the [l. 1316] world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is [l. 1317] this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no, [l. 1318] nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme [l. 1319] to say so.

Rosin.

1320My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my [l. 1321] thoughts.

Ham.

1322Why did you laugh, when I said, Man delights [l. 1323] not me?

Rosin.

1324To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man, [l. 1325] what Lenton entertainment the Players shall receiue [l. 1326] from you: wee coated them on the way, and hither are [l. 1327] they comming to offer you Seruice.

Ham.

1328He that playes the King shall be welcome; his [l. 1329] Maiesty shall haue Tribute of mee: the aduenturous [l. 1330] Knight shal vse his Foyle and Target: the Louer shall [l. 1331] not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in [l. 1332] peace: the Clowne shall make those laugh whose lungs [l. 1333] are tickled a'th'sere: and the Lady shall say her minde [l. 1334] freely; or the blanke Verse shall halt for't: what Players [l. 1335] are they?

Rosin.

1336Euen those you were wont to take delight in [l. 1337] the Tragedians of the City.

Ham.

1338How chances it they trauaile? their resi [l. 1339] dence both in reputation and profit was better both [l. 1340] wayes.

Rosin.

1341I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes [l. 1342] of the late Innouation?

Ham.

1343Doe they hold the same estimation they did [l. 1344] when I was in the City? Are they so follow'd?

Rosin.

1345No indeed, they are not.

Ham.

1346How comes it? doe they grow rusty?

Rosin.

1347Nay, their indeauour keepes in the wonted [l. 1348] pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children, little [l. 1349] Yases, that crye out on the top of question; and [l. 1350] are most tyrannically clap't for't: these are now the fashi [p. 263] The Tragedie of Hamlet. [l. 1351] fashion, and so be‑ratled the common Stages (so they [l. 1352] call them) that many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of [l. 1353] Goose‑quils, and dare scarse come thither.

Ham.

1354What are they Children? Who maintains 'em? [l. 1355] How are they escoted? Will they pursue the Quality no [l. 1356] longer then they can sing? Will they not say afterwards [l. 1357] if they should grow themselues to common Players (as [l. 1358] it is like most if their meanes are no[.] better) their Wri [l. 1359] ters do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their [l. 1360] owne Succession.

Rosin.

1361Faith thrre ha's bene much to do on both sides: [l. 1362] and the Nation holds it no sinne, to tarre them to Con [l. 1363] trouersie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argu [l. 1364] ment, vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in [l. 1365] the Question.

Ham.

1366Is't possible?

Guild.

1367Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of [l. 1368] Braines.

Ham.

1369Do the Boyes carry it away?

Rosin.

1370I that they do my Lord, Hercules & his load too.

Ham.

1371It is not strange: for mine Vnckle is King of [l. 1372] Denmarke, and those that would make mowes at him [l. 1373] while my Father liued; giue twenty, forty,, an hundred [l. 1374] Ducates a peece, for his picture in Little. There is some [l. 1375] thing in this more then Naturall, if Philosophie could [l. 1376] finde it out.

Flourish for the players.

Guil.

1377There are the Players.

Ham.

1378Gentlemen, you are welcom to Elsonower: your [l. 1379] hands, come: The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fashion [l. 1380] and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe, [l. 1381] lest my extent to the Players (which I tell you must shew [l. 1382] fairely outward) should more appeare like entertainment [l. 1383] then yours. You are welcome: but my Vnckle Father, [l. 1384] and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd.

Guil.

1385In what my deere Lord?

Ham.

1386I am but mad North, North‑West: when the [l. 1387] Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handsaw.

Enter Polonius.

Pol.

1388Well be with you Gentlemen.

Ham.

1389Hearke you Guildensterne, and you too: at each [l. 1390] eare a hearer: that great Baby you see there, is not yet [l. 1391] out of his swathing clouts.

Rosin.

1392Happily he's the second time come to them: for [l. 1393] they say, an old man is twice a childe.

Ham.

1394I will Prophesie. Hee comes to tell me of the [l. 1395] Players. Mark it, you say right Sir: for a Monday mor [l. 1396] ning 'twas so indeed.

Pol.

1397My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you.

Ham.

1398My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. [l. 1399] When Rossius an Actor in Rome—

Pol.

1400The Actors are come hither my Lord.

Ham.

1401Buzze, buzze.

Pol.

1402Vpon mine Honor.

Ham.

1403Then can each Actor on his Asse⸺

Polon.

1404The best Actors in the world, either for Trage [l. 1405] die, Comedie, Historie, Pastorall: Pastoricall‑Comicall‑ [l. 1406] Historicall‑Pastorall: Tragicall‑Historicall: Tragicall‑ [l. 1407] Comicali‑Historicall‑Pastorall: Scene indiuible, or Po [l. 1408] em vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plautus [l. 1409] too light, for the law of Writ, and the Liberty. These are [l. 1410] the onely men.

Ham.

1411O Iephta Iudge of Israel, what a Treasure had'st [l. 1412] thou?

Pol.

1413What a Treasure had he, my Lord?

Ham.

Why one faire Daughter, and no more,

1415 The which he loued passing well.

Pol.

1416Still on my Daughter.

Ham.

1417Am I not i'th'right old Iephta?

Polon.

1418If you call me Iephta my Lord, I haue a daugh [l. 1419] ter that I loue passing well.

Ham.

1420Nay that followes not.

Polon.

1421What followes then, my Lord?

Ha.

1422Why, As by lot, God wot: and then you know, It [l. 1423] came to passe, as most like it was: The first rowe of the [l. 1424] Pons Chanson will shew you more. For looke where my [l. 1425] Abridgements come.

Enter foure or fiue Players.

1426Y'are welcome Masters, welcome all. I am glad to see [l. 1427] thee well: Welcome good Friends. O my old Friend? [l. 1428] Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last: Com'st thou to [l. 1429] beard me in Denmarke? What, my yong Lady and Mi [l. 1430] stris? Byrlady your Ladiship is neerer Heauen then when [l. 1431] I saw you last, by the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God [l. 1432] your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd [l. 1433] within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome:wee'l e'ne [l. 1434] to't like French Faulconers, flie at any thing we see: wee'l [l. 1435] haue a Speech straight. Come giue vs a tast of your qua [l. 1436] lity: come, a passionate speech.

1. Play.

1437What speech, my Lord?

Ham.
1438I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was 
                                     [l. 1439] neuer Acted: or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I
                                     [l. 1440] remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cauiarie to the 
                                     [l. 1441] Generall: but it was (as I receiu'd it and others, whose 
                                     [l. 1442] iudgement in such matters, cried in the top of mine) an 
                                     [l. 1443] excellent Play; well digested in the Scœnes, set downe 
                                     [l. 1444] with as much modestie, as cunning. I remember one said,
                                     [l. 1445] there was no Sallets in the lines, to make the matter sa­
                                     [l. 1446] uoury; nor no matter in the phrase, that might indite the 
                                     [l. 1447] Author of affection, but cal'd it an honest method. One 
                                     [l. 1448] cheefe Speech in it, I cheefely lou'd, 'twas Æneas Tale 
                                     [l. 1449] to Dido, and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks 
                                     [l. 1450] of Priams slaughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at 
                                     [l. 1451] this Line, let me see, let me see: The rugged Pyrrhus like 
                                     [l. 1452] th'Hyrcanian Beast. It is not so: it begins with Pyrrhus
                     
The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose Sable Armes
Blacke as his purpose, did the night resemble
1455 When he lay couched in the Ominous Horse,
Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd
With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote
Now is he to take Geulles, horridly Trick'd
With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes,
1460 Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,
That lend a tyrannous, and damned light
To their vilde Murthers, roasted in wrath and fire,
And thus o're‑sized with coagulate gore,
VVith eyes like Carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
                     
1465 Old Grandsire Priam seekes.

Pol.

1466Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good ac [l. 1467] cent, and good discretion.

1. Player.
Anon he findes him,
Striking too short at Greekes. His anticke Sword,
1470 Rebellious to his Arme, lyes where it falles
Repugnant to command: vnequall match,
Pyrrhus at Priam driues, in Rage strikes wide:
But with the whiffe and winde of his fell Sword,
Th'vnnerued Father fals. Then senseless Illium,
1475 Seeming to feele his blow, with flaming top
Stoopes to his Bace, and with a hideous crash
Takes Prisoner Pyrrhus eare. For loe, his Sword
Which was declining on the Milkie head
Of Reuerend Priam, seem'd i'th'Ayre to stieke sticke:
So[p. 264]The Tragedie of Hamlet.1480 So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrhus stood,
And like a Newtrall to his will and matter, did nothing.
But as we often see against some storme,
A silence in the Heauens, the Racke stand still,
The bold windes speechlesse, and the Orbe below
1485 As hush as death: Anon the dreadfull Thunder
Doth rend the Region. So after Pyrrhus pause,
A ro wsed Vengeance sets him new a‑worke,
                     
And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall
On Mars his Armours, forg'd for proofe Eterne,
1490 With lesse remorse then Pyrrhus bleeding sword
Now falles on Priam.
Out, out, thou Strumpet‑Fortune, all you Gods,
In generall Synod take away her power:
Breake all the Spokes and Fallies from her wheele,
1495 And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen,
As low as to the Fiends.

Pol.

1497This is too long.

Ham.

1498It shall to'th Barbars, with your beard. Pry [l. 1499] thee say on: He's for a Iigge, or a tale of Baudry, or hee [l. 1500] sleepes. Say on; come to Hecuba.

1. Play.

But who, O who, had seen the inobled Queen.

Ham.

1502The inobled Queene?

Pol.

1503That's good: Inobled Queene is good.

1. Play.
Run bare‑foot vp and downe,
1505 Threatmng the flame
With Bisson Rheume: A clout about that head,
Where late the Diadem stood, and for a Robe
About her lanke and all ore‑teamed Loines,
A blanket in th'Alarum of feare caught vp.
1510 Who this had seene, with tongue in Venome steep'd,
'Gainst Fortunes State, would Treason haue pronounc'd?
But if the Gods themselues did see her then,
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes,
1515 The instant Burst of Clamour that she made
(Vnlesse things mortall moue them not at all)
Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen,
And passion in the Gods.

Pol.

1519Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colour, and [l. 1520] ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more.

Ham.

1521'Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest, [l. 1522] soone. Good my Lord, will you see the Players wel be [l. 1523] stow'd. Do ye heare, let them be well vs'd: for they are [l. 1524] the Abstracts and breefe Chronicles of the time. After [l. 1525] your death, you were better haue a bad Epitaph, then [l. 1526] their ill report while you liued.

Pol.

1527My Lord, I will vse them according to their de [l. 1528] sart.

Ham.

1529Gods bodykins man, better. Vse euerie man [l. 1530] after his desart, and who should scape whipping: vse [l. 1531] them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lesse they [l. 1532] deserue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them [l. 1533] in.

Pol.

1534Come sirs.

Exit Polon.

Ham.

1535Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to mor [l. 1536] row. Dost thou heare me old Friend, can you play the [l. 1537] murther of Gonzago?

Play.

1538I my Lord.

Ham.

1539Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a [l. 1540] need study a speech of some dosen or sixteene lines, which [l. 1541] I would set downe, and insert in't? Could ye not?

Play.

1542I my Lord.

Ham.

1543Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you [l. 1544] mock him not. My good Friends, Ile leaue you til night [l. 1545] you are welcome to Elsonower?

Rosin.

Good my Lord.

Exeunt.

Manet Hamlet.

Ham.
I so, God buy'ye: Now I am alone.
Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slaue am I?
Is it not monstrous that this Player heere,
1550 But in a Fixion, in a dreame of Passion,
Could force his soule so to his whole conceit,
That from her working, all his visage warm'd:
Teares in his eyes, distraction in's Aspect,
A broken voyce, and his whole Function suiting
1555 With Formes, to his Conceit? And all for nothing?
For Hecuba?
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
That he should weepe for her? What would he doe,
Had he the Motiue and the Cue for passion
1560 That I haue? He would drowne the Stage with teares,
And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech:
Make mad the guilty, and apale the free,
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed,
The very faculty, of Eyes and Eares, Yet I,
                     
1565 A dull and muddy‑metled Rascall, peake
Like Iohn a‑dreames, vnpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing: No, not for a King,
Vpon whose property, and most deere life,
A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward?
1570 Who calles me Villaine? breakes my pate a‑croffe?
Pluckes off my Beard, and blowes it in my face?
                     
Tweakes me by'th'Nose? giues me the Lye i'th'Throate,
As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this?
Ha? Why I should take it: for it cannot be,
1575 But I am Pigeon‑Liuer'd, and lacke Gall
To make Oppression bitter, or ere this,
I should haue fatted all the Region Kites
With this Slaues Offall, bloudy: a Bawdy villaine,
Remorselesse, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine!
1580 Oh Vengeance!
Who? What an Asse am I? I sure, this is most braue,
That I, the Sonne of the Deere murthered,
Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauen, and Hell,
Must (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words,
1585 And fall a Cursing like a very Drab,
A Scullion? Fye vpon't: Foh. About my Braine.
I haue heard, that guilty Creatures sitting at a Play,
                     
Haue by the very cunning of the Scœne,
Bene strooke so to the soule, that presently
1590 They haue proclaim'd their Malefactions.
For Murther, though it haue no tongue, will speake
With most myraculous Organ. Ile haue these Players,
Play something like the murder of my Father,
Before mine Vnkle. Ile obserue his lookes,
1595 Ile rent him to the quicke: If he but blench
I know my course. The Spirit that I haue seene
May be the Diuell, and the Diuel hath power
T'assume a pleasing shape, yea and perhaps
Out of my Weaknesse, and my Melancholly,
1600 As he is very potent with such Spirits,
Abuses me to damne me. Ile haue grounds
More Relatiue then this: The Play's the thing,
Wherein Ile catch the Conscience of the King.

Exit.

[Act 3, Scene 1]

Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Ro
sincrance, Guildenstern, and Lords.

King.

And can you by no drift of circumstance

1605 Get from him why he puts on this Confusion:

Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet

With [p. 265] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy.

Rosin.

He does confesse he feeles himselfe distracted,

But from what cause he will by no meanes speake.

Guil.

1610 Nor do we finde him forward to be sounded,

But with a crafty Madnesse keepes aloofe:

When we would bring him on to some Confession

Of his true state.

Qu.

Did he receiue you well?

Rosin.

1615 Most like a Gentleman.

Guild.

But with much forcing of his disposition.

Rosin.

Niggard of question, but of our demands

Most free in his reply.

Qu.

Did you assay him to any pastime?

Rosin.
1620 Madam.it so fell out, that certain Players
We ore‑wrought on the way: of these we told him,
And there did seeme in him a kinde of ioy
To heare of it: They are about the Court,
And (as I thinke) they haue already order
1625 This night to play before him.

Pol.

'Tis most true:

And he beseech'd me to intreate your Maiesties

To heare, and see the matter.

King.

With all my heart, and it doth much content me

1630 To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen,

Giue him a further edge, and driue his purpose on

To these delights.

Rosin.

We shall my Lord.

Exeunt.

King.
Sweet Gertrude leaue vs too,
1635 For we haue closely sent for Hamlet hither,
That he, as 'twere by accident, may there
Affront Ophelia. Her Father.and my selfe (lawful espials)
Will so bestow our selues, that seeing vnseene
We may of their encounter frankely iudge,
1640 And gather by him, as he is behaued,
If't be th'affliction of his loue, or no.
That thus he suffers for.[.]
                     

Qu.
I shall obey you,
And for your part Ophelia, I do wish
1645 That your good Beauties be the happy cause
Of Hamlets wildenesse: so shall I hope your Vertues
Will bring him to his wonted way againe,
To both your Honors.

Ophe.

Madam, I wish it may.

Pol.
1650 Ophelia, walke you heere. Gracious so please ye
We will bestow our selues: Reade on this booke,
That shew of such an exercise may colour
Your lonelinesse. We are oft too blame in this,
'Tis too much prou'd, that with Deuotions visage,
1655 And pious Action, we do surge o're
The diuell himselfe.

King.
Oh'tis true:
How smart a lash that speech doth giue my Conscience?
The Harlots Cheeke beautied with plaist'ring Art
1660 Is not more vgly to the thing that helpes it,
Then is my deede, to my most painted word.
Oh heauie burthen!

Pol.

I heare him comming, let's withdraw my Lord.

Exeunt.

Enter Hamlet.

Ham.
To be, or not to be, that is the Question:
1665 Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer
The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune,
Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them: to dye, to sleepe
No more; and by a sleepe, to say we end
1670 The Heart‑ake, and the thousand Naturall shockes
That Flesh is heyre too? 'Tis a consummation
Deuoutly to be wish'd. To dye to sleepe,
To sleepe, perchance to Dreame; I, there's the rub,
For in that sleepe of death, what dreames may come,
1675 When we haue shufflel'd off this mortall coile,
Must giue vs pawse. There's the respect
That makes Calamity of so long life:
For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time,
The Oppressors wrong, the poore mans Contumely,
1680 The pangs of dispriz'd Loue, the Lawes delay,
The infolence of Office, and the Spurnes
That patient merit of the vnworthy takes,
When he himselfe might his Quietus make
With a bare Bodkin? Who would these Fardles beare
1685 To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The vndiscouered Countrey, from whose Borne
No Traueller returnes, Puzels the will,
And makes vs rather beare those illes we haue,
1690 Then flye to others that we know not of.
Thus Conscience does make Cowards of vs all,
And thus the Natiue hew of Resolution
Is sicklied o're, with the pale cast of Thought,
And enterprizes of great pith and moment,
1695 With this regard their Currants turne away,
And loose the name of Action. Soft you now,
The faire Ophelia? Nimph, in thy Orizons
Be all my sinnes remembred.

Ophe.

Good my Lord,

1700 How does your Honor for this many a day?

Ham.

I humbly thanke you: well, well, well.

Ophe.

My Lord, I haue Remembrances of yours,

That I haue longed long to re‑deliuer.

I pray you now, receiue them.

Ham.

1705 No, no, I neuer gaue you ought.

Ophe.
My honor'd Lord, I know right well you did,
And with them words of so sweet breath compos'd,
As made the things more rich, then perfume left:
Take these againe, for to the Noble minde
1710 Rich gifts wax poore, when giuers proue vnkinde.
There my Lord.

Ham.

Ha, ha: Are you honest[.]?

Ophe.

My Lord.

Ham.

Are you faire?

Ophe.

1715 What meanes your Lordship?

Ham.

1716That if you be honest and faire, your Honesty [l. 1717] should admit no discourse to your Beautie.

Ophe.

1718Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce [l. 1719] then your Honestie?

Ham.

1720I trulie: for the power of Beautie, will sooner [l. 1721] transforme Honestie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the [l. 1722] force of Honestie can translate Beautie into his likenesse. [l. 1723] This was sometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it [l. 1724] proofe. I did loue you once.

Ophe.

1725Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue so.

Ham.

1726You should not haue beleeued me. For vertue [l. 1727] cannot so innocculate our old stocke, but we shall rellish [l. 1728] of it. I loued you not.

Ophe.

I was the more deceiued.

Ham.

1730Get thee to a Nonnerie. Why would'st thou [l. 1731] be a breeder of Sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest, [l. 1732] but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were bet [l. 1733] ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re [l. 1734] uengefull, Ambitious, with more offences at my becke, [l. 1735] then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue [l. 1736] them shape, or time to acte them in. What should such

Fel [p. 266] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

1737Fellows as I do crawling between heaven and Earth. [l. 1738] We are arrant knaues all, beleeue none of vs. Goe thy [l. 1739] wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father?

Ophe.

1740At home, my Lord.

Ham.

1741Let the doores be shut vpon him, that he may [l. 1742] play the Foole no way, but in's owne house. Farewell.

Ophe.

1743O helpe him, you sweet Heauens.

Ham.

1744If thou doest Marry, Ile giue thee this Plague [l. 1745] for, thy Dowrie. Be thou as chast as Ice, as pure as Snow, [l. 1746] thou shalt not escape Calumny. Get thee to a Nunnery. [l. 1747] Go, Farewell. Or if thou wilt needs Marry, marry a fool: [l. 1748] for Wise mem know well enough, what monsters you [l. 1749] make of them. To a Nunnery go, and quickly too. Far [l. 1750] well.

Ophe.

1751O heauenly Powers, restore him.

Ham.

1752I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough. [l. 1753] God has giuen you one pace, and you make your selfe an [l. 1754] other: you gidge, you amble, and you lispe, and nickname [l. 1755] Gods creatures, and make your Wantonnesse, your Ig [l. 1756] norance. Go too, Ile no more on't, it hath made me mad, [l. 1757] I say, we will haue no more Marriages. Those that are [l. 1758] married already, all but one shall liue, the rest shall keep [l. 1759] as they are. To a Nunnery, go.

Exit Hamlet.

Ophe.
1760 O what a Noble minde is heere o're‑throwne?
The Courtiers, Soldiers, Schollers: Eye, tongue, sword,
Th'expectansie and Rose of the faire State,
The glasse of Fashion, and the mould of Forme,
Th'obseru'd of all Obseruers, quite, quite downe.
1765 Haue I of Ladies most deiect and wretched,
That suck'd the Honie of his Musicke Vowes:
Now see that Noble, and most Soueraigne Reason,
Like sweet Bels iangled out of tune, and harsh,
That vnmatch'd Forme and Feature of blowne youth,
1770 Blasted with extasie. Oh, woe is me,
T'haue seene what I haue seene: see what I see.

Enter King, and Polonius.

King.
Loue? His affections do not that way tend,
Nor what he spake, though it lack'd Forme a little,
Was not like Madnesse. There's something in his soule?
1775 O're which his Melancholly sits on brood,
And I do doubt the hatch, and the disclose
Will be some danger, which to preuent
I haue in quicke determination
Thus set it downe. He shall with speed to England
1780 For the demand of our neglected Tribute:
Haply the Seas and Countries different
With variable Obiects, shall expell
This something setled matter in his heart:
Whereon his Braines still beating, puts him thus
1785 From fashion of himselfe. What thinke youon't?

Pol.
It shall do well. But yet do I beleeue
The Origin and Commencement of this greefe
Sprung from neglected loue. How now Ophelia?
                     
You neede not tell vs, what Lord Hamlet saide,
1790 We heard it all. My Lord, do as you please,
But if you hold it fit after the Play,
Let his Queene Mother all alone intreat him
To shew his Greefes: let her be round with him,
And Ile be plac'd so, please you in the eare
1795 Of all their conference. If she finde him not,
To England send him: Or confine him where
Your wisedome best shall thinke.

King.

It shall be so:

Madnesse in great Ones, must not vnwatch'd go.

Exeunt.

[Act 3, Scene 2]

Enter Hamlet, and two or three of the Players.

Ham.

1800Speake the Speech I pray you, as I pronounc'd [l. 1801] it to you trippingly on the Tongue; But if you mouth it, [l. 1802] as many of your Players do, I had as liue the Town‑Cryer [l. 1803] had spoke my Lines: Nor do not saw the Ayre too much [l. 1804] your hand thus, but vse all gently; for in the verie Tor [l. 1805] rent, Tempest, and (as I may say) the Whirle‑winde of [l. 1806] Passion, you must acquire and beget a Temperance that [l. 1807] may giue it Smoothnesse. O it offends mee to the Soule, [l. 1808] to see a robustious Pery‑wig‑pated Fellow, teare a Passi [l. 1809] on to tatters, to verie ragges, to split the eares of the [l. 1810] Groundlings: who (for the most part) are capeable of [l. 1811] nothing, but inexplicable dumbe shewes, & noise: I could [l. 1812] haue such a Fellow whipt for o're‑doing Termagant: it [l. 1813] out‑Herod's Herod. Pray you auoid it.

Player.

1814I warrant your Honor.

Ham.

1815Be not too tame neyther: but let your owne [l. 1816] Discretion be your Tutor. Sute the Action to the Word, [l. 1817] the Word to the Action, with this speciall obseruance: [l. 1818] That you ore‑stop not the modestie of Nature; for any [l. 1819] thing so ouer‑done, is from the purpose of Playing, whose [l. 1820] end both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as 'twer [l. 1821] the Mirrour vp to Nature; to shew Vertue her owne [l. 1822] Feature, Scorne her owne Image, and the verie Age and [l. 1823] Bodie of the Time, his forme and pressure. Now, this [l. 1824] ouer‑done, or come tardie off, though it make the vnskil [l. 1825] full laugh, cannot but make the Iudicious greeue; The [l. 1826] censure of the which One, must in your allowance o're [l. 1827] way a whole Theater of Others. Oh, there bee Players [l. 1828] that I haue seene Play, and heard others praise, and that [l. 1829] highly (not to speake it prophanely) that neyther hauing [l. 1830] the accent of Christians, nor the gate of Christian, Pagan, [l. 1831] or Norman, haue so strutted and bellowed, that I haue [l. 1832] thought some of Natures Iouerney‑men had made men, [l. 1833] and not made them well, they imitated Humanity so ab [l. 1834] hominably.

Play.

1835I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with [l. 1836] vs, Sir.

Ham.

1837O reforme it altogether. And let those that [l. 1838] play your Clownes, speake no more then is set downe for [l. 1839] them. For there be of them, that will themselues laugh, [l. 1840] to set on some quantitie of barren Spectators to laugh [l. 1841] too, though in the meane time, some necessary Question [l. 1842] of the Play be then to be considered: that's Villanous, & [l. 1843] shewes a most pittifull Ambition in the Foole that vses [l. 1844] it. Go make you readie.

Exit Players.

Enter Polonius, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne.

1845 How now my Lord,

Will the King heare this peece of Worke?

Pol.

And the Queene too, and that presently.

Ham.

Bid the players make hast.

Exit Polonius.

Will you two helpe to hasten them?

Both.

1850 We will my Lord.

Exeunt.

Enter Horatio.

Ham.

What hoa, Horatio?

Hora.

Heere sweet Lord, at your Seruice.

Ham.

Horatio, thou art eene as just a man

As ere my Conuersation coap'd withall.

Hora.

1855 O my deere Lord.

Ham.
Nay, do not thinke I flatter:
For what aduancement may I hope from thee,
That no Reuennew hast, but thy good spirits
To[p. 267]The Tragedie of Hamlet.To feed & cloath thee. Why shold the poor be flatter'd?
1860 No, let the Candied tongue, like absurd pompe,
And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee,
Where thrift may follow faining? Dost thou heare,
Since my deere Soule was Mistris of my choyse,
And could of men distinguish, her election
1865 Hath seal'd thee for her selfe. For thou hast bene
As one in suffering all, that suffers nothing.
A man that Fortunes buffets, and Rewards
Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And blest are those,
Whose Blood and Iudgement are so well co‑mingled,
1870 That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes finger,
To sound what stop she please. Giue me that man,
That is not Passions Slaue, and I will weare him
In my hearts Core: I, in my Heart of heart,
As I do thee. Something too much of this.
1875 There is a Play to night before the King.
One Scœne of it comes neere the Circumstance
Which I haue told thee, of my Fathers death.
I prythee, when thou see'st that Acte a‑foot,
Euen with the verie Comment of my Soule
1880 Obserue mine Vnkle: If his occulted guilt,
Do not it selfe vnkennell in one speech,
It is a damned Ghost that we haue seene:
And my Imaginations are as foule
As Vulcans Stythe. Giue him needfull note,
1885 For I mine eyes will riuet to his Face:
And after we will both our iudgements ioyne,
To censure of his seeming.

Hora.

Well my Lord.

If he steale ought the whil'st this Play is Playing,

1890 And scape detecting, I will pay the Theft.

Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosincrance,
Guidensterne, and other Lords attendant with
his Guard carrying Torches. Danish
March. Sound a Flourish.

Ham.

They are comming to the Play: I must be idle.

Get you a place.

King.

How fares our Cosin Hamlet?

Ham.

1894Excellent I faith, of the Camelions dish: I eate [l. 1895] the Ayre promise‑cramm'd, you cannot feed Capons so.

King.

1896I haue nothing with this answer Hamlet, these [l. 1897] words are not mine.

Ham.

1898No, nor mine. Now my Lord, you plaid once [l. 1899] i'th'Vniuersity, you say?

Polon.

1900That I did my Lord, and was accounted a good [l. 1901] Actor.

Ham.

1902And what did you enact?

Pol.

1903I did enact Iulius Cæsar, I was kill'd i'th'Capitol: [l. 1904] Brutus kill'd me.

Ham.

1905It was a bruite part of him, to kill so Capitall a [l. 1906] Calfe there. Be the Players ready?.

Rosin.

1907I my Lord, they stay vpon your patience.

Qu.

1908Come hither my good Hamlet, sit by me.

Ha.

1909No good Mother, here's Mettle more attractiue.

Pol.

1910Oh ho, do you marke that?

Ham.

1911Ladie, shall I lye in your Lap?

Ophe.

1912No my Lord.

Ham.

1913I meane, my Head vpon your Lap?

Ophe.

1914I my Lord.

Ham.

1915Do you thinke I meant Country matters?

Ophe.

1916I thinke nothing, my Lord.

Ham.

1917That's a faire thought to ly between Maids legs

Ophe.

1918What is my Lord?

Ham.

1919Nothing.

Ophe.

1920You are merrie, my Lord?

Ham.

1921Who I?

Ophe.

1922I my Lord.

Ham.

1923Oh God, your onely Iigge‑maker: what should [l. 1924] a man do, but be merrie. For looke you how cheereful [l. 1925] ly my Mother lookes, and my Father dyed within's two [l. 1926] Houres.

Ophe.

1927Nay,'tis twice two moneths, my Lord.

Ham.

1928So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare blacke, [l. 1929] for Ile haue a suite of Sables. Oh Heauens! dye two mo [l. 1930] neths ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope, a [l. 1931] great mans Memorie, may out‑liue his life halfe a yeare: [l. 1932] But byrlady he must builde Churches then: or else shall [l. 1933] he suffer not thinking on, with the Hoby‑horsse, whose [l. 1934] Epitaph is, For o, For o, the Hoby‑horse is forgot.

Hoboyes play. The dumbe shew enters.

Enter a King and Queene, very louingly; the Queene embra
cing him. She kneeles and makes shew of Protestation vnto
him. He takes her vp, and ~~dcclines~~ declines his head vpon her neck:
Layes him downe vpon a Banke of Flowers. She seeing him
a‑sleepe, leaues him. Anon comes in a Fellow, takes off his
Crowne, kisses it, and powres poyson in the Kings eares, and
Exits. The Queene returnes, findes the King dead, and
makes passionate Action. The Poysoner, with some two or
three Mutes comes in againe, seeming to lament with her.
The dead body is carried away: The Poysoner Wooes the
Queene with Gifts, she seemes loath and vnwilling awhile,
but in the end, accepts his loue.

Exeunt.

Ophe.

1935What meanes this, my Lord?

Ham.

1936Marry this is Miching Malicho, that meanes [l. 1937] Mischeefe.

Ophe.

1938Belike this shew imports the Argument of the [l. 1939] Play?

Ham.

1940We shall know by these Fellowes: the Players [l. 1941] cannot keepe counsell, they'l tell all.

Ophe.

1942Will they tell vs what this shew meant?

Ham.

1943I, or any shew that you'l shew him. Bee not [l. 1944] you asham'd to shew, hee'l not shame to tell you what it [l. 1945] meanes.

Ophe.

1946You are naught, you are naught, Ile marke the [l. 1947] Play.

Enter Prologue.

For vs, and for our Tragedie,
Heere stooping to your Clemencie:
1950 We begge your hearing Patientlie.

Ham.

1951Is this a Prologue, or the Poesie of a Ring?

Ophe.

1952'Tis briefe my Lord.

Ham.

1953As Womans loue.

Enter King and his Queene.

King.
Full thirtie times hath Phœbus Cart gon round,
1955 Neptunes salt Wash, and Tellus Orbed ground:
And thirtie dozen Moones with borrowed sheene,
About the World haue times twelue thirties beene,
Since loue our hearts, and Hymen did our hands
Vnite comutuall, in most sacred Bands.

Bap.

1960 So many iournies may the Sunne and Moone

Make vs againe count o're, ere loue be done.

But woe is me, you are so sicke of late,

So farre from cheere, and from your forme state,

That I distrust you: yet though I distrust,

1965 Discomfort you (my Lord) it nothing must:

For womens Feare and Loue, holds quantitie,

In [p. 268] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

In neither ought, or in extremity:

Now what my loue is, proofe hath made you know,

And as my Loue is siz'd, my Feare is so.

King.
1970 Faith I must leaue thee Loue, and shortly too:
My operant Powers my Functions leaue to do:
And thou shalt liue in this faire world behinde,
Honour'd, belou'd, and haply, one as kinde.
For Husband shalt thou⸺

Bap.

1975 Oh confound the rest:

Such Loue, must needs be Treason in my brest:

In second Husband, let me be accurst,

None wed the second. but who kill'd the first.

Ham.

1979Wormwood, Wormwood.

Bapt.

1980 The instances that second Marriage moue,

Are base respects of Thrift, but none of Loue.

A second time, I kill my Husband dead,

When second Husband kisses me in Bed.

King.
I do beleeue you. Think what now you speak:
1985 But what we do determine, oft we breake:
Purpose is but the slaue to Memorie,
Of violent Birth, but poore validitie:
Which now like Fruite vnripe stickes on the Tree,
But fall vnshaken, when they mellow bee.
1990 Most necessary 'tis, that we forget
To pay our selues, what to our selues is debt:
What to our selues in passion we propose,
The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.
The violence of other Greefe or Ioy,
1995 Their owne ennactors with themselues destroy:
Where Ioy most Reuels, Greefe doth most lament;
Greefe ioyes, Ioy greeues on slender accident.
This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange
That euen our Loues should with our Fortunes change.
2000 For 'tis a question left vs yet to proue,
Whether Loue lead Fortune, or else Fortune Loue.
The great man downe you marke his fauourites flies,
The poore aduanc'd, makes Friends of Enemies:
And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend,
2005 For who not needs, shall neuer lacke a Frend:
And who in want a hollow Friend doth try,
Directly seasons him his Enemie.
But orderly to end, where I begun,
Our Willes and Fates do so contrary run,
2010 That our Deuices still are ouerthrowne,
Our thoughts are ours, their ends, none of our owne.
So thinke thou wilt no second Husband wed.
But die thy thoughts, when thy first Lord is dead.

Bap.
Nor Earth to giue me food, not Heauen light,
2015 Sport and repose locke from me day and night:
Each opposite that blankes the face of ioy,
Meet what I would haue well, and it destroy:
Both heere, and hence, pursue me lasting strife,
If once a Widdow, euer I be Wife.

Ham.

2020If she should breake it now.

King.

'Tis deepely sworne:

Sweet, leaue me heere a while,

My spirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile

The tedious day with sleepe.

Qu.

2025 Sleepe rocke thy Braine,

Sleepes

And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine.

Exit.

Ham.

2027Madam, how like you this Play?

Qu.

2028The Lady protests to much me thinkes.

Ham.

2029Oh but shee'l keepe her word.

King.

2030Haue you heard the Argument, is there no Of [l. 2031] fence in't?

Ham.

2032No, no, they do but iest, poyson in iest, no Of [l. 2033] fence i'th'world.

King.

2034What do you call the Play?

Ham.

2035The Mouse‑trap: Marry how? Tropically: [l. 2036] This Play is the Image of a murder done in Vienna: Gon [l. 2037] zago is the Dukes name, his wife Baptista: you shall see [l. 2038] anon: 'tis a knauish peece of worke: But what o'that? [l. 2039] Your Maiestie, and wee that haue free soules, it touches [l. 2040] vs not: let the gall[.]d iade winch: our withers are vnrung.

Enter Lucianus.

2041This is one Lucianus nephew to the King.

Ophe.

2042You are a good Chorus, my Lord.

Ham.

2043I could interpret betweene you and your loue: [l. 2044] if I could see the Puppets dallying.

Ophe.

2045You are keene my Lord, you are keene.

Ham.

2046It would cost you a groaning, to take off my [l. 2047] edge.

Ophe.

2048Still better and worse.

Ham.

2049So you mistake Husbands. [l. 2050] Begin Murderer. Pox, leaue thy damnable Faces, and [l. 2051] begin. Come, the croaking Rauen doth bellow for Re [l. 2052] uenge.

Lucian.
Thoughts blacke, hands apt,
Drugges fit, and Time agreeing:
2055 Confederate season, else, no Creature seeing:
Thou mixture ranke, of Midnight Weeds collected,
With Hecats Ban, thrice blasted, thrice infected,
Thy naturall Magicke, and dire propertie,
On wholsome life, vsurpe immediately.

Powres the poyson in his eares.

Ham.

2060He poysons him i'th'Garden for's estate: His [l. 2061] name's Gonzago: the Story is extant and writ in choyce [l. 2062] Italian. You shall see anon how the Murtherer gets the [l. 2063] loue of Gonzago's wife.

Ophe.

2064The King rises.

Ham.

2065What, frighted with false fire.

Qu.

2066How fares my Lord?

Pol.

2067Giue o're the Play.

King.

2068Giue me some Light. Away.

All.

2069Lights, Lights, Lights.

Exeunt

Manet Hamlet & Horatio.

Ham.

2070 Why let the strucken Deere go weepe,

The Hart vngalled play:

For some must watch, while some must sleepe;

So runnes the world away.

2074Would not this Sir, and a Forrest of Feathers, if the rest of [l. 2075] my Fortunes turne~~tutne~~ Turke with me; with two Prouniciall [l. 2076] Roses on my rac'd Shooes, get me a Fellowship in a crie [l. 2077] of Players sir.

Hor.

2078Halfe a share.

Ham.
A whole one I,
2080 For thou dost know: Oh Damon deere,
This Realme dismantled was of Ioue himselfe,
And now reignes heere.
A verie verie Paiocke.

Hora.

2084You might haue Rim'd.

Ham.

2085Oh good Horatio, Ile take the Ghosts word for [l. 2086] a thousand pound. Did'st perceiue?

Hora.

2087Verie well my Lord.

Ham.

2088Vpon the talke of the poysoning?

Hor.

2089I did verie well note him.

Enter Rosincrance and Guildensterene.

Ham.

2090Oh, ha? Come some Musick. Come yͤ Recorders:

For if the King like not the Comedie,

Why then belike he likes it not perdie.

2093Come some Musicke.

Guild.

2094Good my Lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.

Ham. [p. 269] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Ham.

2095Sir a whole History.

Guild.

2096The King, sir.

Ham.

2097I sir, what of him?

Guild.

2098Is in his retyrement, maruellous distemper'd.

Ham.

2099With drinke Sir?

Guild.

2100No my Lord, rather with choller.

Ham.

2101Your wisedome should shew it selfe more ri [l. 2102] cher, to signifie this to his Doctor: for for me to put him [l. 2103] to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre [l. 2104] more Choller.

Guild.

2105Good my Lord put your discourse into some [l. 2106] frame, and start not so wildely from my affayre.

Ham.

2107I am tame Sir, pronounce.

Guild.

2108The Queene your Mother, in most great affli- [l. 2109] ction of spirit, hath sent me to you.

Ham.

2110You are welcome.

Guild.

2111Nay, good my Lord, this courtesie is not of [l. 2112] the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a whol [l. 2113] some answer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment: [l. 2114] if not, your pardon, and my returne shall bee the end of [l. 2115] my Businesse.

Ham.

2116Sir, I cannot.

Guild.

2117What, my Lord?

Ham.

2118Make you a wholsome answere: my wits dis [l. 2119] eas'd. But sir, such answers as I can make, you shal com [l. 2120] mand: or rather you say, my Mother: therfore no more [l. 2121] but to the matter. My Mother you say.

Rosin.

2122Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke [l. 2123] her into amazement, and admiration.

Ham.

2124Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can so astonish a [l. 2125] Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mo [l. 2126] thers admiration?

Rosin.

2127She desires to speake with you in her Closset, [l. 2128] ere you go to bed.

Ham.

2129We shall obey, were she ten times our Mother. [l. 2130] Haue you any further Trade with vs?

Rosin.

2131My Lord, you once did loue me.

Ham.

2132So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.

Rosin.

2133Good my Lord, what is your cause of distem [l. 2134] per? You do freely barre the doore of your owne Liber [l. 2135] tie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend.

Ham.

2136Sir I lacke Aduancement.

Rosin.

2137How can that be, when you haue the voyce of [l. 2138] the King himselfe, for your Succession in Denmarke?

Ham.

2139I, but while the grasse growes, the Prouerbe is [l. 2140] something musty.

Enter one with a Recorder.

2141O the Recorder. Let me see, to withdraw with you, why [l. 2142] do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you [l. 2143] would driue me into a toyle?

Guild.

2144O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue [l. 2145] is too vnmannerly.

Ham.

2146I do not well vnderstand that. Will you play [l. 2147] vpon this Pipe?

Guild.

2148My Lord, I cannot.

Ham.

2149I pray you.

Guild.

2150Beleeue me, I cannot.

Ham.

2151I do beseech you.

Guild.

2152I know no touch of it, my Lord.

Ham.

2153'Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these Ventiges [l. 2154] with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your [l. 2155] mouth, and it will discourse most excellent Musicke. [l. 2156] Looke you, these are the stoppes.

Guild.

2157But these cannot I command to any vtterance [l. 2158] of hermony, I haue not the skill.

Ham.

2159Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing [l. 2160] you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would [l. 2161] seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart [l. 2162] of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest [l. 2163] Note, to the top of my Compasse: and there is much Mu [l. 2164] sicke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot [l. 2165] you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am easier to bee [l. 2166] plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will, [l. 2167] though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me, God [l. 2168] blesse you Sir.

Enter Polonius.

Polon.

2169My Lord; the Queene would speak with you, [l. 2170] and presently.

Ham.

2171Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in shape [l. 2172] like a Camell.

Polon.

2173By'th'Misse, and it's like a Camell indeed.

Ham.

2174Me thinkes it is like a Weazell.

Polon.

2175It is back'd like a Weazell.

Ham.

2176Or like a Whale?

Polon.

2177Verie like a Whale.

Ham.

2178Then will I come to my Mother, by and by: [l. 2179] They foole me to the top of my bent.

2180I will come by and by.

Polon.

2181I will say so.

Exit.

Ham.
By and by, is easily said. Leaue me Friends:
'Tis now the verie witching time of night,
When Churchyards yawne, and Hell it selfe breaths out
2185 Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter businesse as the day
Would quake to looke on. Soft now, to my Mother:
Oh Heart, loose not thy Nature; let not euer
The Soule of Nero, enter this firme bosome:
2190 Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall,
I will speake Daggers to her, but vse none:
My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites.
How in my words someuer she be shent,
To giue them Seales, neuer my Soule consent.

[Act 3, Scene 3]

Enter King, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne.

King.
2195 I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs,
To let his madnesse range. Therefore prepare you,
I your Commission will forthwith dispatch,
And he to England shall along with you:
The termes of our estate, may not endure
2200 Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow
Out of his Lunacies.

Guild.

We will our selues prouide:

Most holie and Religious feare it is

To keepe those many many bodies safe

2205 That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie.

Rosin.
The single
And peculiar life is bound
With all the strength and Armour of the minde,
To keepe it selfe from noyance: but much more,
2210 That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests
The liues of many, the cease of Maiestie
Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw
What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele
Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount,
2215 To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things
Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles,
Each small annexment, pettie consequence
Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone
Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone.

King.

2220 Arme you, I pray you to this speedie Voyage;

For we will Fetters put vpon this feare,

pp Which [p. 270] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Which now goes too free‑footed.

Both.

We will haste vs.

Exeunt Gent.

Enter Polonius.

Pol.
My Lord, he's going to his Mothers Closset:
2225 Behinde the Arras Ile conuey my selfe
To heare the Processe. Ile warrant shee'l tax him home,
And as you said, and wisely was it said,
'Tis meete that some more audience then a Mother,
Since Nature makes them partiall, should o're‑heare
2230 The speech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege,
Ile call vpon you ere you go to bed,
And tell you what I know.

King.
Thankes deere my Lord.
Oh my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen.
2235 It hath the primall eldest curse vpon't,
A Brothers murther. Pray can I not,
Though inclination be as sharpe as will:
My stronger guilt, defeats my strong intent,
And like a man to double businesse bound,
2240 I stand in pause where I shall first begin,
And both neglect; what if this cursed hand
Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood,
Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heaue[…]s
To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy,
2245 But to confront the visage of Offence?
And what's in Prayer, but this two‑fold force,
To be fore‑stalled ere we come to fall,
Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp,
My fault is past. But oh, what forme of Prayer
2250 Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther:
That cannot be, since I am still possest
Of those effects for which I did the Murther.
My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene:
May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence?
2255 In the corrupted currants of this world,
Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice,
And oft 'tis seene, the wicked prize it selfe
Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue,
There is no shuffling, there the Action lyes
2260 In his true Nature, and we our selues compell'd
Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults,
To giue in euidence. What then? What rests?
Try what Repentance can. What can it not?
Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?
2265 Oh wretched state! Oh bosome, blacke as death!
Oh limed soule, that strugling to be free,
Art more ingag'd: Helpe Angels, make assay:
Bow stubborne knees, and heart with strings of Steele,
Be soft as sinewes of the new‑borne Babe,
2270 All may be well.

Enter Hamlet.

Ham.
Now might I do it pat, now he is praying,
And now Ile doo't, and so he goes to Heauen,
And so am I reueng'd: that would be scann'd,
A Villaine killes my Father, and for that
2275 I his foule Sonne, do this same Villaine send
To heauen. Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge.
He tooke my Father grossely, full of bread,
With all his Crimes broad blowne, as fresh as May,
And how his Audit stands, who knowes, saue Heauen:
2280 But in our circumstance and course of thought
'Tis heauie with him; and am I then reueng'd,
To take him in the purging of his Soule,
When he is fit and season'd for his passage? No.
Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
2285 When he is drunke asleepe: or in his Rage,
Or in th'incestuous pleasure of his bed,
At gaming, swearing, or about some acte
That ha's no rellish of Saluation in't,
Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen,
2290 And that his Soule may be as damn'd and blacke
As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother stayes,
This Physicke but prolongs thy sickly dayes.

Exit.

King.

My words flye vp, my thoughts remain below,

Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go.

Exit.

[Act 3, Scene 4]

Enter Queene and Polonius.

Pol.
2295 He will come straight:
Looke you lay home to him,
Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with,
And that your Grace hath scree'nd screen'd, and stoode betweene
Much heate, and him. Ile silence me e'ene heere:
2300 Pray you be round with him.

Ham.

within.

Mother, mother, mother.

Qu.

Ile warrant you, feare me not.

Withdraw, I heare him comming.

Enter Hamlet.

Ham.

Now Mother, what's the matter?

Qu.

2305 Hamlet, thou hast thy Father much offended.

Ham.

Mother, you haue my Father much offended.

Qu.

Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

Ham.

Go, go, you question with an idle tongue.

Qu.

Why how now Hamlet?

Ham.

2310 Whats the matter now?

Qu.

Haue you forgot me?

Ham.

No by the Rood, not so:

You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife,

But would you were not so. You are my Mother.

Qu.

2315 Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.

Ham.

Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not
boudge:

You go not till I set you vp a glasse,

Where you may see the inmost part of you?

Qu.

What Wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me?

2320 Helpe, helpe, hoa.

Pol.

What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe.

Ham.

How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate, dead.

Pol.

Oh I am slaine.

Killes Polonius.

Qu.

Oh me, what hast thou done?

Ham.

2325 Nay I know not, is it he King?

Qu.

Oh what a rash, and bloody deed is this?

Ham.

A bloody deed, almost as bad good Mother,

As kill a King, and marrie with his Brother.

Qu.

As kill a King?

Ham.
2330 I Lady, 'twas my word.
Thou wretched, rash, intruding foole farewell,
I tooke thee for thy Betters, take thy Fortune,
Thou find'st to be too busie, is some danger.
Leaue wringing of your hands, peace, sit you downe,
2335 And let me wring your heart, for so I shall
If it be made of penetrable stuffe;
If damned Custome haue not braz'd it so,
That it is proofe and bulwarke against Sense.

Qu.

What haue I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tong,

2340 In noise so rude against me?

Ham.

Such an Act

That blurres the grace and blush of Modestie,

Cals Vertue Hypocrite, takes off the Rose

From the faire forehead of an innocent loue,

2345 And makes a blister there. Makes marriage vowes

As false as Dicers Oathes. Oh such a deed,

As [p. 271] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

As from the body of Contraction pluckes

The very soule, and sweete Religion makes

A rapsidie of words. Heauens face doth glow,

2350 Yea this solidity and compound masse,

With tristfull visage as against the doome,

Is thought‑sicke at the act.

Qu.

2353Aye me; what act; that roares so lowd, & thun [l. 2354] ders in the Index.

Ham.
2355 Looke heere vpon this Picture, and on this,
The counterfet presentment of two Brothers:
See what a grace was seated on his Brow,
Hyperions curles, the front of Ioue himselfe,
An eye like Mars, to threaten or command
2360 A Station, like the Heraland Mercurie
New lighted on a heauen‑kissing hill:
A Combination, and a forme indeed,
Where euery God did seeme to set his Seale,
To giue the world assurance of a man.
2365 This was your Husband. Looke you now what followes.
Heere is your Husband, like a Mildew'd eare
Blasting his wholsom breath. Haue you eyes?
Could you on this faire Mountaine leaue to feed,
And batten on this Moore? Ha? Haue you eyes?
2370 You cannot call it Loue: For at your age,
The hey‑day in the blood is tame, it's humble,
And waites vpon the Iudgement: and what Iudgement
Would step from this, to this? What diuell was't,
That thus hath cousend yon at hoodman‑blinde?
2375 O Shame! where is thy Blush? Rebellious Hell,
If thou canst mutine in a Matrons bones,
To flaming youth, let Vertue be as waxe,
And melt in her owne fire. Prodaime no shame,
When the compulsiue Ardure giues the charge,
2380 Since Frost it selfe, as actiuely doth burne,
As Reason panders Will.

Qu.

O Hamlet, speake no more.

Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soule,

And there I see such blacke and grained spots,

2385 As will not leaue their Tinct.

Ham.

Nay, but to liue

In the ranke sweat of an enseamed bed,

Stew'd in Corruption; honying and making loue

Ouer the nasty Stye.

Qu.

2390 Oh speake to me no more,

These words like Daggers enter in mine eares.

No more sweet Hamlet.

Ham.
A Murderer, and a Villaine:
A Slaue, that is not twentieth patt part the tythe
2395 Of your precedent Lord. A vice of Kings,
A Cutpurse of the Empire and the Rule.
That from a shelfe, the precious Diadem stole,
And put it in his Pocket.

Qu.

No more.

Enter Ghost.

Ham.

2400 A King of shreds and patches.

Saue me; and houer o're me with your wings

You heauenly Guards. What would you gracious figure?

Qu.

Alas he's mad.

Ham.

Do you not come your tardy Sonne to chide,

2405 That laps't in Time and Passion, lets go by

Th'important acting of your dread command? Oh say.

Ghost.
Do not forget: this Visitation
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.
But looke, Amazement on thy Mother sits;
2410 O step betweene her, and her fighting Soule,
Conceit in weakest bodies, strongest workes.
Speake to her Hamlet.

Ham.

How is it with you Lady?

Qu.
Alas, how is't with you?
2415 That you bend your eye on vacancie,
And with their corporall ayre do hold discourse.
Forth at your eyes, your spirits wildely peepe,
And as the sleeping Soldiours in th'Alarme,
Your bedded haire, like life in excrements,
2420 Start vp, and stand an end. Oh gentle Sonne,
Vpon the heate and flame of thy distemper
Sprinkle coole patience. Whereon do you looke?

Ham.
On him, on him: look you how pale he glares.
His forme and cause conioyn'd, preaching to stones,
2425 Would make them capeable. Do not looke vpon me,
Least with this pitteous action you conuert
My sterne effects: then what I haue to do,
Will want true colour; teares perchance for blood.

Qu.

To who do you speake this?

Ham.

2430 Do you see nothing there?

Qu.

Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.

Ham.

Nor did you nothing heare?

Qu.

No, nothing but our selues.

Ham.

Why look you there: looke how it steals away:

2435 My Father in his habite, as he liued,

Look where he goes euen now out at the Portall.

Exit.

Qu.

This is the very coynage of your Braine,

This bodilesse Creation extasie is very cunning in.

Ham.
Exctasie?
                     
2440 My Pulse as yours doth temperately keepe time,
And makes as healthful Musicke. it is not madnesse
That I haue vttered; bring me to the Test
And I the matter will re‑word . which madnesse
Would gamboll from. Mother, for loue of Grace,
2445 Lay not a flattering Vnction to your soule,
That not your trespasse, but my madnesse speakes;
It will but skin and f[..]me the Vlcerous place,
Whil'st ranke Corruption mining all within,
Infects vnseene. Confesse your selfe to Heauen,
2450 Repent what's past, auoyd what is to come,
And do not spred the Compost or the Weedes,
To make them ranke. Forgiue me this my Vertue,
For in the fatnesse of this pursie times,
Vertue it selfe, of Vice must pardon begge,
2455 Yea courb, and woe, for leaue to do him good.

Qu.

Oh Hamlet,

Thou hast cleft my heart in twaine.

Ham.
O throw away the worser past of it,
And liue the purer with the other halfe.
2460 Good night, but go not to mine Vnkles bed,
Assume a Vertue, if you haue it not, refraine to night,
And that shall lend a kinde of easinesse
To the next abstinence. Once more goodnight,
And when you are desirous o be blest,
                     
2465 Ile blessing begge of you. For this fame Lord,
I do repent: but heauen hath pleased it so,
To punish me with this, and this with me,
That I must be their Scourge and Minister.
I will bestow him, and will answer well
2470 The death I gaue him: so againe, good night,
I must be cruell, onely to be kinde;
Thus bad begins, and worse remaines behinde.

Qu.

What shall I do?

Ham.

Not this by no meanes that I bid you do:

2475 Let the blunt King tempt you againe to bed,

Pinch Wanton on your cheeke, call you his Mouse,

And let him for a paire of reechie kisses,

pp2 Or [p. 272] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Or padling in your necke with his damn'd Fingers,

Make you to rauell all this matter out,

2480 That I essentially am not in madnesse,

But made in craft. 'Twere good you let him know,

For who that's but a Queene, faire, sober, wise,

Would from a Paddocke, from a Bat, a Gibbe,

Such deere concernings hide, Who would do so,

2485 No in despight of Sense and Secrecie,

Vnpegge the Basket on the houses top:

Let the Birds flye, and like the famous Ape

To try Conclusions in the Basket, creepe

And breake your owne necke downe.

Qu.

2490 Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath,

And breath of life: I haue no life to breath

What thou hast saide to me.

Ham.

I must to England, you know that?

Qu.

Alacke I had forgot: 'Tis so concluded on.

Ham.
2495 This man shall set me packing:
Ile lugge the Guts into the Neighbor roome,
Mother goodnight. Indeede this Counsellor
Is now most still, most secret, and most graue,
Who was in life, a foolish prating Knaue.
2500 Come sir, to draw toward an end with you.
Good night Mother.

Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius.

[Act 4, Scene 1]

Enter King.

King.

There's matters in these sighes.

These profound heaues

You must translate; Tis fit we vnderstand them.

2505 Where is your Sonne?

Qu.

Ah my good Lord, what haue I seene to night?

King.

What Gertrude? How do's Hamlet?

Qu.
Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend
Which is the Mightier in his lawless fit
2510 Behinde the Arras, hearing some thing stirre,
He whips his Rapier out, and cries a Rat, a Rat,
And in his brainish apprehension killes
The vnseene good old man.

King.
Oh heauy deed:
2515 It had bin so with vs had we beene there:
His Liberty is full of threats to all,
To you your selfe, to vs, to euery one.
Alas, how shall this bloody deede be answered?
                     
It will be laide to vs, whose prouidence
2520 Should haue kept short, restrain'd, and out of haunt,
This mad yong man. But so much was our loue,
We would not vnderstand what was most fit,
But like the Owner of a foule disease,
To keepe it from divulging, let's it feede
2525 Euen on the pith of life. Where is he gone?

Qu.

To draw apart the body he hath kild,

O're whom his very madnesse like some Oare

Among a Minerall of Mettels base

Shewes it selfe pure. He weepes for what is done.

King.
2530 Oh Gertrude, come away:
The Sun no sooner shall the Mountaines touch,
But we will ship him hence, and this vilde deed,
We must with all our Maiesty and Skill
Both countenance, and excuse.
Enter Ros. & Guild.
2535 Ho Guildenstern:
Friends both go ioyne you with some further ayde:
Hamlet in madnesse hath Polonius slaine,
And from his Mother Clossets hath he drag'd him.
Go seeke him out, speake faire, and bring the body
2540 Into the Chappell. I pray you hast in this.
Exit Gent.
Come Gertrude, wee'l call vp our wisest friends,
To let them know both what we meane to do,
And what's vntimely done. Oh come away,
My soule is full of discord and dismay.

Exeunt.

[Act 4, Scene 2]

Enter Hamlet.

Ham.

2545 Safely stowed.

Gentlemen

within.

Hamlet, Lord Hamlet.

Ham.

What noise? Who cals on Hamlet?

Oh heere they come.

Enter Ros. and Guildensterne.

Ro.

What haue you done my Lord with the dead body?

Ham.

2550 Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis Kinne.

Resin.

Tell vs where 'tis, that we may take it thence,

And beare it to the Chappell.

Ham.

Do not beleeue it.

Rosin.

Beleeue what?

Ham.

2555That I can keepe your counsell, and not mine [l. 2556] owne. Besides, to be demanded of a Spundge, what re [l. 2557] plication should be made by the Sonne of a King.

Rosin.

Take you me for a Spundge, my Lord?

Ham.

2559I sir, that sokes vp the Kings Countenance, his [l. 2560] Rewards, his Authorities (but such Officers do the King [l. 2561] best seruice in the end. He keepes them like an Ape in [l. 2562] the corner of his iaw, first mou[.]h'd to be last swallowed, [l. 2563] when he needes what you haue glean'd[.], it is but squee [l. 2564] zing you, and Spundge you shall be dry againe.

Rosin.

2565 I vnderstand you not my Lord.

Ham.

2566I am glad of it: a knauish speech sleepes in a [l. 2567] foolish eare.

Rosin.

2568My Lord, you must tell vs where the body is, [l. 2569] and go with vs to the King.

Ham.

2570The body is with the King, but the King is not [l. 2571] With the body. The King, is a thing ⸺

Guild.

2572A thing my Lord?

Ham.

2573Of nothing: bring me to him, hide Fox, and all [l. 2574] after.

Exeunt

[Act 4, Scene 3]

Enter King.

King.
2575 I haue sent to seeke him, and to find the bodie:
How dangerous is it that this man goes loose:
Yet must not we put the strong Law on him:
Hee's loued of the distracted multitude,
Who like not in their iudgement, but their eyes:
2580 And where 'tis so, th'Offenders scourge is weigh'd
But neerer the offence: to beare all smooth, and euen,
This sodaine sending him away, must seeme
Deliberate pause, diseases desperate growne,
By desperate appliance are releeued,
2585 Or not at all.
Enter Rosincrane Rosincrance.
How now? What hath befalne?

Rosin.

Where the dead body is bestow'd my'Lord,

We cannot get from him.

King.

But where is he?

Rosin.

2590 Without my Lord, guarded to know your
pleasure.

King.

Bring him before vs.

Rosin.

Hoa, Guildensterne? Bring in my Lord.

Enter Hamlet and Guildensterne.

King.

Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?

Ham.

2594At Supper.

King.

2595At Supper? Where?

Ham.

2596Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a cer [l. 2597] taine conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm [l. 2598] is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else [l. 2599] to fat vs, and we fat our selfe for Magots. Your fat King, [l. 2600] and your leane Begger is but variable seruice to dishes, [l. 2601] but to one Table that's the end.

King.

2602What dost thou meane by this?

Ham. [p. 273] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Ham.

2603Nothing but to shew you how a King may go [l. 2604] a Progresse through the guts of a Begger.

King.

2605Where is Polonius.

Ham.

2606In heauen, send thither to see. If your Messen [l. 2607] ger finde him not there, seeke him i'th other place your [l. 2608] selfe: but indeed, if you finde him not this moneth, you [l. 2609] shall nose him as you go vp the staires into the Lobby.

King.

2610Go seeke him there.

Ham.

2611He will stay till ye come.

K.
Hamlet, this deed of thine, for thine especial safety
Which we do tender, as we deerely greeue
For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence
2615 With fierie Quicknesse. Therefore prepare thy selfe,
The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe,
Th'Associates tend, and euery thing at bent
For England.

Ham.

2619For England?

King.

2620I Hamlet.

Ham.

2621Good.

King.

So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.

Ham.

2623I see a Cherube that see's him: but come, for [l. 2624] England. Farewell deere Mother.

King.

2625Thy louing Father Hamlet.

Hamlet.

2626My Mother: Father and Mother is man and [l. 2627] wife: man & wife is one flesh, and so my mother. Come, [l. 2628] for England.

Exit

King.
Follow him at foote,
2630 Tempt him with speed aboord:
Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night.
Away, for euery thing is Seal'd and done
That else leanes on th'Affaire, pray you make hast.
And England, if my loue thou holdst at ought,
2635 As my great power thereof may giue thee sense,
Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red
After the Danish Sword, and thy free awe
Payes homage to vs; thou maist not coldly set
Our Soueraigne Processe, which imports at full
2640 By Letters coniuring to that effect
The present death of Hamlet. Do it England,
For like the Hecticke in my blood he rages,
And thou must cure me: Till I know 'tis done,
How ere my happes, my ioyes were ne're begun.

Exit

[Act 4, Scene 4]

Enter Fortinbras with an Armie.

For.
2645 Go Captaine, from me greet the Danish King,
Tell him that by his license, Fortinbras
                     
Claimes the conueyance of a promis'd March
Ouer his Kingdome. You know the Rendeuous:
If that his Maiesty would ought with vs,
2650 We shall expresse our dutie in his eye,
And let him know so.

Cap.

I will doo't, my Lord.

For.

Go safely on.

Exit.

[Act 4, Scene 5]

Enter Queene and Horatio.

Qu.

I will not speake with her.

Hor.

2655She is importunate, indeed distract her moode [l. 2656] will needs be pittied.

Qu.

What would she haue?

Hor.
She speakes much of her Father; saies she heares
There's trickes i'th'world, and hems, and beats her heart,
2660 Spumes enuiously at Strawes, speakes things in doubt,
That carry but halfe sense: Her speech is nothing,
Yet the vnshaped vse of it doth moue
The hearers to Collection; they ayme at it,
And botch the words vp fit to their owne thoughts,
2665 Which as her winkes, and nods, and gestures yeeld them,
Indeed would make one thinke there would be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much vnhappily.

Qu.
'Twere good she were spoken with,
For she may strew dangerous coniectures
2670 In ill breeding minds. Let her come in.
To my sicke soule (as sinnes true Nature is)
Each toy seemes Prologue, to some great amisse,
So full of Artlesse iealousie is guilt,
It spill's it selfe, in fearing to be spilt.

Enter Ophelia distracted.

Ophe.

2675 Where is the beauteous Maiesty of Denmark.

Qu.

How now Ophelia?

Ophe.

How shonld I your true loue know from another one?

By his Cockle hat and staffe, and his Sandal shoone.

Qu.

Alas sweet Lady: what imports this Song?

Ophe.

2680 Say you? Nay pray you marke.

He is dead and gone Lady, he is dead and gone,

At his head a grasse‑greene Turfe, at his heeles a stone.

Enter King.

Qu.

Nay but Ophelia.

Ophe.

Pray you marke.

2685 White his Shrow'd as the Mountaine Snow.

Qu.

Alas, looke heere my Lord.

Ophe.

Larded with sweet flowers:

rend="italic">Which bewept to the graue did not go,

With true‑loue showres.

King.

2690 How do ye, pretty Lady?

Ophe.

2691Well, God dil'd you. They say the Owle was [l. 2692] a Bakers daughter. Lord, wee know what we are, but [l. 2693] know not what we may be. God be at your Table.

King.

Conceit vpon her Father.

Ophe.

2695Pray you let's haue no words of this: but when [l. 2696] they aske you what it meanes, say you this:

To morrow is Saint Valentines day, all in the morning betime,

And I a Maid at your Window, to be your Valentine.

Then vp he rose, & don'd his clothes, & dupt the chamber dore,

2700 Let in the Maid, that out a Maid, neuer departed more.

King.

Pretty Ophelia.

Ophe.

2702Indeed la? without an oath Ile make an end ont.

By gis, and by Saint Charity,

Alacke, and fie for shame:

2705 Yong men wil doo't, if they come too't,

By Cocke they are too blame.

Quoth she before you tumbled me,

Yon promis'd me to Wed:

So would I ha done by yonder Sunne,

2710 And thou hadst not come to my bed.

King.

How long hath she bin this?

Ophe.

2712I hope all will be well. We must bee patient, [l. 2713] but I cannot choose but weepe, to thinke they should [l. 2714] lay him i'th'cold ground: My brother shall knowe of it, [l. 2715] and so I thanke you for your good counsell. Come, my [l. 2716] Coach: Goodnight Ladies: Goodnight sweet Ladies: [l. 2717] Goodnight, goodnight.

Exit.

King.
Follow her close,
Giue her good watch I pray you:
2720 Oh this is the poyson of deepe greefe, it springs
All from her Fathers death. Oh Gertrude, Gertrude,
                     
When sorrowes comes, they come not single spies,
But in Battaliaes. First, her Father slaine,
Next your Sonne gone, and he most violent Author
2725 Of his owne iust remoue: the people muddied,
Thicke and vnwholsome in their thoughts, and whispers
For good Polonius death; and we haue done but greenly
In hugger mugger to interre him. Poore Ophelia
                     
Diuided from her selfe, and her faire Iudgement,
pp3Without[p. 274]The Tragedie of Hamlet.2730 Without the which we are Pictures, or meere Beasts.
Last, and as much containing as all these,
Her Brother is in secret come from France,
Keepes on his wonder, keepes himselfe in clouds,
And wants not Buzzers to infect his eare
2735 With pestilent Speeches of his Fathers death,
Where in necessitie of matter Beggard,
Will nothing sticke our persons to Arraigne
In eare and eare. O my deere Gertrude, this,
Like to a murdering Peece in many places,
2740 Giues me superfluous death.

A Noise within.

Enter a Messenger.

Qu.

Alacke, what noyse is this?

King.

Where are my Switzers?

Let them guard the doore. What is the matter?

Mes.
Saue your selfe, my Lord.
2745 The Ocean (ouer‑peering of his List)
Eates not the Flats with more impittious haste
Then young Laertes, in a Riotous head,
Ore‑beares your Officers, the rabble call him Lord,
And as the world were now but to begin,
2750 Antiquity forgot, Custome not knowne,
The Ratifiers and props of euery word,
They cry choose we? Laertes shall be King,
Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds,
Laertes shall be King, Laertes King.

Qu.

2755 How cheerefully on the false Traile they cry.

Oh this is Counter you false Danish Dogges.

Noise within.

Enter Laertes.

King.

The doores are broke.

Laer.

Where is the King, sirs? Stand you all without.

All.

No, let's come in.

Laer.

2760 I pray you giue me leaue.

Al.

We will, we will.

Laer.

I thanke you: Keepe the doore.

Oh thou vilde King, giue me my Father.

Qu.

Calmely good Laertes.

Laer.
2765 That drop of blood, that calmes
Proclaimes me Bastard:
Cries Cuckold to my Father, brands the Harlot
Euen here between the chaste vnsmirched brow
Of my true Mother.

King.
2770 What is the cause Laertes,
                        
That thy Rebellion lookes so Gyant‑like?
Let him go Gertrude: Do not feare our person:
There's such Diuinity doth hedge a King,
That Treason can but peepe to what it would,
2775 Acts little of his will. Tell me Laertes,
                     
Why thou art thus Incenst? Let him go Gertrude.
                     
Speake man.

Laer.

Where's my Father?

King.

Dead.

Qu.

2780 But not by him.

King.

Let him demand his fill.

Laer.
How came he dead? Ile not be Iuggel'd with.
To hell Allegeance: Vowes, to the blackest diuell.
Conscience and Grace, to the profoundest Pit.
2785 I dare Damnation: to this point I stand,
That both the worlds I giue to negligence,
Let come what comes: onely Ile be reueng'd
Most throughly for my Father.

King.

Who shall stay you?

Laer.

2790 My Will, not all the world,

And for, my meanes, Ile husband them so well,

They shall go farre with little.

King.
Good Laertes:
If you desire to know the certaintie
2795 Of your deere Fathers death, if writ in your reuenge,
That Soop‑stake you will draw both Friend and Foe,
Winner and Looser.

Laer.

None but his Enemies.

King.

Will you know them then.

La.

2800 To his good Friends, thus wide Ile ope[.]my Armes:

And like the kinde Life‑rend'ring Politician,

Repast them with my blood.

King.

Why now you speake

Like a good Childe, and a true Gentleman.

2805 That I am guiltlesse of your Fathers death,[.]

And am most sensible in greefe for it,

It shall as leuell to your Iudgement pierce

As day do's to your eye.

A noise within.

Let her come in.

Enter Ophelia.

Laer.
2810 How now? what noise is that?
Oh heate drie vp my Braines, teares seuen times salt,
Burne out the Sence and Vertue of mine eye.
By Heauen, thy madnesse shall be payed by waight,
Till our Scale turnes the beame. Oh Rose of May,
2815 Deere Maid, kinde Sister, sweet Ophelia:
                     
Oh Heauens, is't possible, a yong Maids wits,
Should be as mortall as an old mans life?
Nature is fine in Loue, and where 'tis fine,
It sends some precious instance of it selfe
2820 After the thing it loues.

Ophe.

They bore him Bare fac'd on the Beer,

Hey non nony, nony, hey nony:

And on his graue raines many a teare,

Fare you well my Doue.

Laer.

2825Had'st thou thy wits, and did'st perswade Re [l. 2826] uenge, it could not moue thus.

Ophe.

2827You must sing downe a‑downe, and you call [l. 2828] him a‑downe‑a. Oh, how the wheele becomes it? It is [l. 2829] the false steward that stole his masters daughter.

Laer.

2830This nothings more then matter.

Ophe.

2831There's Rosemary, that's for Remembraunce. [l. 2832] Pray loue remember: and there is Paconcies, that's for [l. 2833] Thoughts.

Laer.

2834A document in madnesse, thoughts & remem [l. 2835] brance fitted.

Ophe.

2836There's Fennell for you, and Columbines: ther's [l. 2837] Rew for you, and heere's some for me. Wee may call it [l. 2838] Herbe Grace a Sundaies: Oh you must weare your Rew [l. 2839] with a difference. There's a Daysie, I would giue you [l. 2840] some Violets, but they wither'd all when my Father dy [l. 2841] ed: They say, he made a good end;

For bonny sweet Robin is all my ioy.

Laer.

Thought, and Affliction, Passion, Hell it selfe:

She turnes to Fauour, and to prettinesse.

Ophe.
2845 And will he not come againe,
And will he not come againe:
No, no, he is dead, go to thy Death‑bed,
He neuer wil come againe.
His Beard as white as Snow,
2850 All Flaxen was his Pole:
He is gone, he is gone, and we cast away mone,
Gramercy on his Soule.
And of all Christian Soules, I pray God.
God buy ye.

Exeunt Ophelia

Laer.

2855 Do you see this, you Gods?

King.

Laertes, I must common with your greefe,

Or you deny me right: go but apart,

Make [p. 275] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Make choice of whom your wisest Friends you will,

And they shall heare and iudge 'twixt you and me;

2860 If by direct or by Colaterall hand

They finde vs touch'd, we will our Kingdome giue,

Our Crowne, our Life, and all that we call Ours

To you in satisfaction. But if not,

Be you content to lend your patience to vs,

2865 And we shall ioyntly labour with your soule

To giue it due content.

Laer.
Let this be so:
His meanes of death, his obscure buriall;
No Trophee, Sword, nor Hatchment o're his bones,
2870 No Noble rite, nor formall ostentation,
Cry to be heard, as 'twere from Heauen to Earth,
That I must call in question.

King.

So you shall:

And where th'offence is, let the great Axe fall.

2875 I pray you go with me.

Exeunt

[Act 4, Scene 6]

Enter Horatio, with an Attendant.

Hora.

What are they that would speake with me?

Ser.

Saylors sir, they say they haue Letters for you.

Hor.

Let them come in,

I do not know from what part of the world

2880 I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.

Enter Saylor.

Say.

God blesse you Sir.

Hor.

Let him blesse thee too.

Say.

2883Hee shall Sir, and't please him. There's a Letter [l. 2884] for you Sir: It comes from th'Ambassadours that was [l. 2885] bound for England, if your name be Horatio, as I am let [l. 2886] to know it is.

Reads the Letter.

2887HOratio,When thou shalt haue ouerlook'd this, giue these [l. 2888] Fellowes some meanes to the King: They haue Letters [l. 2889] For him. Ere we were two dayes old at Sea, a Pyrate of very [l. 2890] Warlicke appointment gaue vs Chace. Finding our selues too [l. 2891] slow of Saile, we put on a compelled Valour. In the Grapple, I [l. 2892] boorded them: On the instant they got cleare of our Shippe, so [l. 2893] I alone became their Prisoner. They haue dealt with mee, like [l. 2894] Theeues of Mercy, but they knew what they did. I am to doe [l. 2895] A good turne for them. Let the King haue the Letters I haue [l. 2896] sent, and repaire thou to me with as much hast as thou wouldest [l. 2897] flye death. I haue words to speake in your eare, will make thee [l. 2898] dumbe, yet are they much too light for the bore of the Matter. [l. 2899] These good Fellows will bring thee where I am. Rosincrance [l. 2900] and Guildensterne, hold their course for England. Of them [l. 2901] I haue much to tell thee, Farewell.

2902He that thou knowest thine, [l. 2903] Hamlet.

Come, I will giue you way for these your Letters,

2905 And do't the speedier, that you may direct me

To him from whom you brought them.

Exit.

[Act 4, Scene 7]

Enter King and Laertes.

King.
Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,
And you must put me in your heart for Friend,
Sith you haue heard, and with a knowing eare,
2910 That he which hath your Noble Father slaine,
Pursued my life.

Laer.
It well appeares. But tell me,
Why you proceeded not against these feates,
So crimefull, and so Capitall in Nature,
2915 As by your Safety, Wisedome, all things else,
You mainly were stirr'd vp?

King.
O for two speciall Reasons,
Which may to you (perhaps) seeme much vnsinnowed,
And yet to me they are strong. The Queen his Mother,
2920 Liues almost by his looks: and for my selfe,
My Vertue or my Plague, be it either which,
She's so coniunctiue to my life and soule;
That as the starre moues not but in his Sphere,
I could not but by her. The other Motiue,
2925 Why to a publike count I might not go,
Is the great loue the generall gender beare him,
Who dipping all his Faults in their affection,
Would like the Spring that turneth Wood to Stone,
Conuert his Gyues to Graces. So that my Arrowes
2930 Too slightly timbred for so loud a Winde,
Would haue reuerted to my Bow againe,
And not where I had arm'd them.

Laer.
And so haue I a Noble Father lost,
A Sister driuen into desperate tearmes,
2935 Who was (if praises may go backe againe)
Stood Challenger on mount of all the Age
For her perfections. But my reuenge will come.

King.

Breake not your sleepes for that,

You must not thinke

2940 That we are made of stuffe, so flat, and dull,

That we can let our Beard be shooke with danger,

And thinke it pastime. You shortly shall heare more,

I lou'd your Father, and we loue our Selfe,

And that I hope will teach you to imagine⸺

Enter a Messenger.

2945 How now? What Newes?

Mes.

2946Letters my Lord from Hamlet. This to your [l. 2947] Maiesty: this to the Queene.

King.

2948From Hamlet? Who brought them?

Mes.

Saylors my Lord they say, I saw them not:

2950 They were giuen me by Claudio, he receiu'd them.

King.

Laertes you shall heare them:

Leaue vs.

Exit Messenger

2953High and Mighty, you shall know I am set naked on your [l. 2954] Kingdome. To morrow shall I begge leaue to see your Kingly [l. 2955] Eyes. When I shall (first asking your Pardon thereunto) re [l. 2956] count th'Occasions of my sodaine, and more strange returne.

2957Hamlet.

What should this meane? Are all the rest come backe?

Or is it some abuse? Or no such thing?

Laer.

2960 Know you the hand?

Kin.

2961'Tis[.] Hamlets Character, naked and in a Post [l. 2962] script here he sayes alone: Can you aduise me?

Laer.

I'm lost in it my Lord; but let him come,

It warmes the very sicknesse in my heart,

2965 That I shall liue and tell him to his teeth;

Thus diddest thou.

Kin.

If it be so Laertes, as how should it be so:

How other wise will you be rul'd by me?

Laer.

If so you'l not o'rerule me to a peace.

Kin.

2970 To thine owne peace: if he be now return'd,

As checking at his Voyage, and that he meanes

No more to vndertake it; I will worke him

To an exploit now ripe in my Deuice,

Vnder the which he shall not choose but fall;

2975 And for his death no winde of blame shall breath,

But euen his Mother shall vncharge the practice,

And call it accident: Some two Monthes hence

Here was a Gentleman of Normandy,

I'ue seene my selfe, and seru'd against the French,

2980 And they ran well on Horsebacke; but this Gallant

Had [p. 276] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Had witchcraft in't; he grew into his Seat,

And to such wondrous doing brought his Horse,

As had he beene encorps't and demy‑Natur'd

With the braue Beast, so farre he past my thought,

2985 That I in forgery of shapes and trickes,

Come short of what he did.

Laer.

A Norman was't?

Kin.

A Norman.

Laer.

Vpon my life Lamound.

Kin.

2990 The very same.

Laer.

I know him well, he is the Brooch indeed,

And Iemme of all our Nation.

Kin.
Hee mad confession of you,
And gaue you such a Masterly report,
2995 For Art and exercise in your defence;
And for your Rapier most especiallyͤ,
That he cryed out, t'would be a sight indeed,
If one could match you Sir. This report of his
Did Hamlet so envenom with his Enuy,
3000 That he could nothing doe but wish and begge,
Your sodaine comming ore to play with him;
Now out of this.

Laer.

Why out of this, my Lord?

Kin.

Laertes was your Father deare to you?

3005 Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,

A face without a heart?

Laer.

Why aske you this?

Kin.
Not that I thinke you did not loue your Father,
But that I know Loue is begun by Time:
3010 And that I see in passages of proofe,
Time qualifies the sparke and fire of it:
Hamlet comes backe: what would you vndertake,
To show your selfe your Fathers sonne indeed,
More then in words?

Laer.

3015 To cut his throat i'th'Church.

Kin.
No place indeed should murder Sancturize;
Reuenge should haue no bounds: but good Laertes
                     
Will you doe this, keepe close within your Chamber,
Hamlet return'd, shall know you are come home:
3020 Wee'l put on those shall praise your excellence,
And set a double varnish on the fame
The Frenchman gaue you, bring you in fine together,
And wager on your heads, he being remisse,
Most generous, and free from all contriuing,
3025 Will not peruse the Foiles? So that with ease,
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A Sword vnbaited, and in a passe of practice,
Requit him for your Father.

Laer.
I will doo't,
3030 And for that purpose Ile annoint my Sword:
I bought an Vnction of a Mountebanke
So mortall, I but dipt a knife in it,
Where it drawes blood, no Cataplasme so rare,
Collected from all Simples that haue Vertue
3035 Vnder the Moone, can saue the thing from death,
That is but scratcht withall: Ile touch my point,
With this contagion that if I gall him slightly,
It may be death.

Kin.
Let's further thinke of this,
3040 Weigh what conuenience both of time and meanes
May fit vs to our shape, if this should faile;
And that our drift looke through our bad performance,
'Twere better not assaid; therefore this Project
Should haue a backe or second, that might hold,
3045 If this should blast in proofe: Soft, let me see
Wee'l make a solemne wager on your commings,
I ha't: when in your motion you are hot and dry,
As make your bowts more violent to the end,
And that he cals for drinke; Ile haue prepar'd him
3050 A Challice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,
Our purpose may hold there; how sweet Queene.

Enter Queene.

Queen.

One woe doth tread vpon anothers heele,

So fast they'l follow: your Sister's drown'd Laertes.

Laer.

3055 Drown'd! O where?

Queen.
There is a Willow growes aslant a Brooke,
That shewes his hore leaues in the glassie streame:
There with fantasticke Garlands did she come,
Of Crow‑flowers, Nettles, Daysies, and long Purples,
3060 That liberall Shepheards giue a grosser name;
But our cold Maids doe Dead Mens Fingers call them:
There on the pendant boughes, her Coronet weeds
Clambring to hang; an enuious sliuer broke,
When downe the weedy Trophies, and her selfe,
3065 Fell in the weeping Brooke, her cloathes spred wide,
And Mermaid‑like, a while they bore her vp,
Which time she chaunted snatches of old tunes,
As one incapable of her owne distresse,
Or like a creature Natiue, and indued
3070 Vnto that Element: but long it could not be,
Till that her garments, heauy with her drinke,
Pul'd the poore wretch from her melodious buy,
To muddy death.

Laer.

Alas then, is she drown'd?

Queen.

3075 Drown'd, drown'd.

Laer.
Too much of water hast thou poore Ophelia,
And therefore I forbid my teares: but yet
It is our tricke, Nature her custome holds,
Let shame say what it will; when these are gone
3080 The woman will be out: Adue my Lord.
I haue a speech of fire, that faine would blaze,
But that this folly doubts it.

Exit.

Kin.

Let's follow, Gertrude:

How much I had to doe to calme his rage?

3085 Now feare I this will giue it start againe;

Therefore let's follow.

Exeunt.

[Act 5, Scene 1]

Enter two Clownes.

Clown.

3087Is she to bee buried in Christian buriall, that [l. 3088] wilfully seeks her owne saluation?

Other.

3089I tell thee she is, and therefore make her Graue [l. 3090] straight. the Crowner hath sate on her, and finds it Chri [l. 3091] stian buriall.

Clo.

3092How can that be, vnlesse she drowned her selfe in [l. 3093] her owne defence?

Other.

Why 'tis found so.

Clo.

3095It must be Se offindendo, it cannot bee else: for [l. 3096] heere lies the point; If I drowne my selfe wittingly, it ar [l. 3097] gues an Act: and an Act hath three branches. It is an [l. 3098] Act to doe and to performe; argall she drown'd her selfe [l. 3099] wittingly.

Other.

3100Nay but heare you Goodman Deluer.

Clown.

3101Giue me leaue; heere lies the water; good: [l. 3102] heere stands the man; good: If the man goe to this wa [l. 3103] ter and drowne himselfe; it is will he nill he, he goes; [l. 3104] marke you that? But if the water come to him & drowne [l. 3105] him; hee drownes not himselfe. Argall, hee that is not [l. 3106] guilty of his owne death, shortens not his owne life.

Other.

3107But is this law?

Clo.

3108I marry is't, Crowners Quest Law.

Other. [p. 277] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Other.

3109Will you ha the truth on't: if this had not [l. 3110] beene a Gentlewoman, shee should haue beene buried [l. 3111] out of Christian Buriall.

Clo.

3112Why there thou say'st. And the more pitty tha[.] [l. 3113] great folke should haue countenance in this world to [l. 3114] drowne or hang themselves, more then their euen Christi [l. 3115] an. Come, my Spade; there is no ancient Gentlemen, [l. 3116] but Gardiners, Ditchers and Graue‑makers; they hold vp [l. 3117] Adams Profession.

Other.

3118Was he a Gentleman?

Clo.

3119He was the first that euer bore Armes.

Other.

3120Why he had none.

Clo.

3121What, ar't a Heathen? how dost thou vnder [l. 3122] stand the Scripture? the Scripture sayes Adam dig'd; [l. 3123] could hee digge without Armes? Ile put another que [l. 3124] stion to thee; if thou answerest me not to the purpose, con [l. 3125] fesse thy selfe⸺

Other.

3126Go too.

Clo.

3127What is he that builds stronger then either the [l. 3128] Mason, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter?

Other.

3129The Gallowes maker; for that Frame outliues a [l. 3130] thousand Tenants.

Clo.

3131I like thy wit well in good faith, the Gallowes [l. 3132] does well; but how does it well? it does well to those [l. 3133] that doe ill: now, thou dost ill to say the Gallowes is [l. 3134] built stronger then the Church: Argall, the Gallowes [l. 3135] may doe well to thee. Too't againe, Come.

Other.

3136Who builds stronger then a Mason, a Ship [l. 3137] wright, or a Carpenter?

Clo.

3138I, tell me that, and vnyoake.

Other.

3139Marry, now I can tell.

Clo.

3140Too't.

Other.

3141Masse, I cannot tell.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio a farre off.

Clo.

3142Cudgell thy braines no more about it; for your [l. 3143] dull Asse will not mend his pace with beating; and when [l. 3144] you are ask't this question next, say a Graue‑maker: the [l. 3145] Houses that he makes, lasts till Doomesday: go, get thee [l. 3146] to Taughan, fetch me a stoupe of Liquor.

Sings.

In youth when I did loue, did loue,

me thought it was very sweete:

To contract O the time for a my behoue,

3150 O me thought there was nothing meete.

Ham.

3151Ha's this fellow no feeling of his businesse, that [l. 3152] he sings at Graue‑making?

Hor.

3153Custome hath made it in him a property of ea [l. 3154] sinesse.

Ham.

3155Tis ee'n so; the hand of little Imployment hath [l. 3156] the daintier sense.

Clowne

sings.

But Age with his stealing steps

hath caught me in his clutch:

And hath shipped me intill the Land,

3160 as if I had neuer beene such.

Ham.

3161That Scull had a tongue in it, and could sing [l. 3162] once: how the knaue iowles it to th' grownd, as if it [l. 3163] were Caines Iaw‑bone, that did the first murther: It [l. 3164] might be the Pate of a Polititian which this Asse o're Of [l. 3165] fices: one that could circumuent God, might it not?

Hor.

3166It might, my Lord.

Ham.

3167Or of a Courtier, which could say, Good Mor [l. 3168] row sweet Lord: how dost thou, good Lord? this [l. 3169] might be my Lord such a one, that prais'd my Lord such [l. 3170] a ones Horse, when he meant to begge it; might it not?

Hor.

3171I, my Lord.

Ham.

3172Why ee'n so: and now my Lady Wormes, [l. 3173] Chaplesse, and knockt about the Mazard with a Sextons [l. 3174] Spade; heere's fine Reuolution, if wee had the tricke to [l. 3175] fee't. Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but [l. 3176] to play at Loggets with 'em? mine ake to thinke [l. 3177] on't.

Clowne

sings.

A Pickhaxe and a Spade, a Spade.

for and a shrowding‐Sheete:

3180 O a Pit of Clay for to be made,

for such a Guest is meete.

Ham.

3182There's another: why might not that bee the [l. 3183] Scull of of a Lawyer? where be his Quiddits now? his [l. 3184] Quillets? his Cases? his Tenures, and his Tricks? why [l. 3185] doe's he suffer this rude knaue now to knocke him about [l. 3186] the Sconce with a dirty Shouell, and will not tell him of [l. 3187] his Action of Battery? hum. This fellow might be in's [l. 3188] time a great buyer of Land, with his statutes, his Recog [l. 3189] nizances, his Fines, his double Vouchers, his Recoueries: [l. 3190] Is this the fine of his Fines, and the recouery of his Reco [l. 3191] ueries, to haue his fine Pate full of fine Dirt? will his [l. 3192] Vouchers vouch him no more of his Purchases, and dou [l. 3193] ble ones too, then the length and breadth of a paire of [l. 3194] Indentures? the very Conueyances of his Lands will [l. 3195] hardly lye in this Boxe; and must the Inheritor himselfe [l. 3196] haue no more? ha?

Hor.

3197Not a iot more, my Lord.

Ham.

3198Is not Parchment made of Sheep‑skinnes?

Hor.

3199I my Lord, and of Calue‑skinnes too.

Ham.

3200They are Sheepe and Calues that seek out assu [l. 3201] rance in that. I will speake to this fellow; whose Graue's [l. 3202] this Sir?

Clo.

3203Mine Sir:

O a Pit of Clay for to be made,

3205 for such a Guest is meete.

Ham.

3206I thinke it be thine indeed: for thou liest in't.

Clo.

3207You lye out on't Sir, and therefore it is not yours: [l. 3208] for my part, I doe not lye in't; and yet it is mine.

Ham.

3209Thou dost lye in't, to be in't and say 'tis thine: [l. 3210] 'tis for the dead, not for the quicke, therefore thou [l. 3211] lyest.

Clo.

3212'Tis a quicke lye Sir, 'twill away againe from me [l. 3213] to you.

Ham.

3214What man dost thou digge it for?

Clo.

3215For no man Sir.

Ham.

3216What woman then?

Clo.

3217For none neither.

Ham.

3218Who is to be buried in't?

Clo.

3219One that was a woman Sir; but rest her Soule, [l. 3220] shee's dead.

Ham.

3221How absolute the knaue is? wee must speake [l. 3222] by the Carde, or equiuocation will vndoe vs: by the [l. 3223] Lord Horatio, these three yeares I haue taken note of it, [l. 3224] the Age is growne so picked, that the toe of the Pesant [l. 3225] comes so neere the heeles of our Courtier, hee galls his [l. 3226] Kibe. How long hast thou been a Graue‑maker?

Clo.

3227Of all the dayes i'th yeare, I came too't that day [l. 3228] that our last King Hamlet o'recame Fortinbras.

Ham.

3229How long is that since?

Clo.

3230Cannot you tell that? euery foole can tell that: [l. 3231] It was the very day, that young Hamlet was borne, hee [l. 3232] that was mad, and sent into England.

Ham.

3233I marry, why was he sent into England?

Clo.

3234Why, because he was mad; hee shall recouer his [l. 3235] wits there; or if he do not, it's no great matter there.

Ham. [p. 278] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Ham.

3236Why?

Clo.

3237'Twill not beseene in him, there the men are [l. 3238] as mad as he.

Ham.

3239How came he mad?

Clo.

3240Very strangely they say.

Ham.

3241How strangely?

Clo.

3242Faith e'ene with loosing his wits.

Ham.

3243Vpon what ground?

Clo.

3244Why heere in Denmarke: I haue bin sixeteene [l. 3245] heere, man and Boy thirty yeares.

Ham.

3246How long will a man lie'ith'earth ere he rot?

Clo.

3247Ifaith, if he be not rotten before he die (as we haue [l. 3248] many pocky Coarses now adaies, that will scarce hold [l. 3249] the laying in) he will last you some eight yeare, or nine [l. 3250] yeare. A Tanner will last you nine year e.

Ham.

Why he, more then another?

Clo.

3252Why sir, his hide is so tan'd with his Trade, that [l. 3253] he will keepe out water a great while. And your water, [l. 3254] is a sore Decayer of your horson dead body. Heres a Scull [l. 3255] now: this Scul, has laine in the earth three & twenty years.

Ham.

3256Whose was it?

Clo.

3257A whorson mad Fellowes it was;

3258Whose doe you think it was?

Ham.

3259Nay, I know not.

Clo.

3260A pestlence on him for a mad Rogue, a ~~pou'rd~~ pour'd a [l. 3261] Flaggon of Renish on my head once. This same Scull [l. 3262] Sir, this same Scull sir, was Yoricks Scull, the Kings Iester.

Ham.

3263This?

Clo.

3264E'ene that.

Ham.

3265Let me see. Alas poore Yorick, I knew him Ho [l. 3266] ratio, a fellow of infinite Iest; of most excellent fancy, he [l. 3267] hath borne me on his backe a thousand times. [l. 3268] And how abhorred my Imagination is, my gorge rises at it. Heere [l. 3269] hung those lipps, that I haue kist I know not how oft. [l. 3270] VVhere be your Iibes now? Your Gambals? Your [l. 3271] Songs? Your flashes of Merriment that were wont to [l. 3272] set the Table on a Rore? No one now to mock your own [l. 3273] Ieering? Quite chopfalne? Now get you to my Ladies [l. 3274] Chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thicke, to this [l. 3275] fauour she must come. Make her laugh at that: pry [l. 3276] thee Horatio tell me one thing.

Hor.

3277What's that my Lord?

Ham.

3278Dost thou thinke Alexander lookt o'this fa [l. 3279] shion i'th'earth?

Hor.

3280E'ene so.

Ham.

3281And smelt so? Puh.

Hor.

3282E'ene so, my Lord.

Ham.

3283To what base vses we may returne Horatio. [l. 3284] Why may not Imagination trace the Noble dust of A [l. 3285] lexander, till he find it stopping a bunghole.

Hor.

3286'Twere to consider: to curiously to consider so.

Ham.

3287No faith, not a iot. But to follow him thether [l. 3288] with modestie enough, & likeliehood to lead it; as thus. [l. 3289] Alexander died: Alexander was buried: Alexander re [l. 3290] turneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make [l. 3291] Lome, and why of that Lome (whereto he was conuer [l. 3292] ted) might they not stopp a Beere‑barrell?

Imperiall Cæsar, dead and turn'd to clay,

Might stop a hole to keepe the winde away.

3295 Oh, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,

Should patch a Wall, t'expell the winters flaw.

But soft, but soft, aside; heere comes the King.

Enter King, Queen, Laertes, and a Coffin,
with Lords attendant.

The Queene, the Courtiers. Who is that they follow,

And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken,

3300 The Coarse they follow, did with disperate hand,

Fore do it owne life; 'twas fome Estate.

Couch we a while, and mark.

Laer.

What Cerimony else?

Ham.

That is Laertes, a very Noble youth: Marke.

Laer.

3305 What Cerimony else?

Priest.
Her Obsequies haue bin as farre inlarg'd.
As we haue warrantis, her death was doubtfull,
And but that great Command, o're‑swaies the order,
She should in ground vnsanctified haue lodg'd,
3310 Till the last Trumpet. For charitable praier,
Shardes, Flints, and Peebles, I should be throwne on her:
Yet heere she is allowed her Virgin Rites,
Her Maiden strewments, and the bringing home
Of Bell and Buriall.

Laer.

3315 Must there no more be done?

Priest.

No more be done:

We should prophane the seruice of the dead,

To sing sage Requiem, and such rest to her

As to peace‑parted Soules.

Laer.
3320 Lay her i'th'earth,
And from her faire and vnpolluted flesh,
May Violets spring. I tell thee (churlish Priest)
A Ministring Angell shall my Sister be,
When thou liest howling?
                     

Ham.

3325 What, the faire Ophelia?

Queene.

Sweets, to the sweet farewell.

I hop'd thou should'st haue bin my Hamlets wife:

I thought thy Bride‑bed to haue deckt (sweet Maid)

And not t'haue strew'd thy Graue.

Laer.
3330 Oh terrible woer,
Fall ten times trebble, on that cursed head
Whose wicked deed, thy most Ingenious sence
Depriu'd thee of. Hold off the earth a while,
Till I haue caught her once more in mine armes:
Leaps in the graue.
3335 Now pile your dust, vpon the quick, and dead,
Till of this flat a Mountaine you haue made,
To o're top old Pelion, or the skyish head
Of blew Olympus.

Ham.
What is he, whose griefes
3340 Beares such an Emphasis? whose phrase of Sorrow
Coniure the wandrinig Starres, and makes them stand
Like wonder‑wounded hearers? This is I,
Hamlet the Dane.

Laer.

The deuill take thy soule.

Ham.
3345 Thou prai'st not well,
I prythee take thy fingers from my throat;
Sir though I am not Spleenatiue, and rash,
Yet haue I fomething in me dangerous,
Which let thy wisenesse feare. Away thy hand.

King.

3350 Pluck them asunder.

Qu.

Hamlet, Hamlet.

Gen.

Good my Lord be quiet.

Ham.

Why I will fight with him vppon this Theme,

Vntill my eielids will no longer wag.

Qu.

3355 Oh my Sonne, what Theame?

Ham.

I lou'd Ophelia; fortie thousand Brothers

Could not (with all there quanitie of Loue)

Make vp my summe. What wilt thou do for her?

King.

Oh he is mad Laertes,

Qu.

3360 For loue of God forbeare him.

Ham.

Come show me what thou'lt doe.

Woo't weepe? Woo't fight? Woo't teare thy selfe?

Woo't drinke vp Esile, eate a Crocodile?

Ile [p. 259] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Ile doo't. Dost thou come heere to whine;

3365 To outface me with leaping in her Graue?

Be buried quicke with her, and so will I.

And if thou prate of Mountaines; let them throw

Millions of Akers on vs; till our ground

Sindging his pate against the burning Zone,

3370 Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, and thoul't mouth,

Ile rant as well as thou.

Kin.
This is meere Madnesse;
And thus awhile the fit will worke on him:
Anon as patient as the female Doue,
3375 When that her golden Cuplet are disclos'd;
His silence will sit drooping.

Ham.
Heare you Sir:
What is the reason that you vse me thus?
I loud' lou'd you euer; but it is no matter:
3380 Let Hercules himselfe doe what he may,
The Cat will Mew, and Dogge will haue his day.

Exit.

Kin.
I pray you good Horatio wait vpon him,
Strengthen you patience in our last nights speech,
Wee'l put the matter to the present push:
3385 Good Gertrude set some watch ouer your Sonne,
This Graue shall haue a liuing Monument:
An houre of quiet shortly shall we see;
Till then, in patience our proceeding be.

Exeunt.

[Act 5, Scene 2]

Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

Ham.

So much for this Sir; now let me see the other,

3390 You doe remember all the Circumstance.

Hor.

Remember it my Lord?

Ham.
Sir, in my heart there was a kinde of fighting,
That would not let me sleepe; me thought I lay
Worse then the mutines in the Bilboes, rashly,
3395 (And praise be rashnesse for it) let vs know,
Our indiscretion sometimes serues vs well,
When our deare plots do paule, and that should teach vs,
There's a Diuinity that shapes our ends,
Rough‑hew them how we will.

Hor.

3400 That is most certaine.

Ham.
Vp from my Cabin
My sea‑gowne scarft about me in the darke,
Grop'd I to finde out them; had my desire,
finger'd their Packet, and in fine, withdrew
3405 To mine owne roome againe, making so bold,
(My feares forgetting manners) to vnseale
Their grand Commission, where I found Horatio,
Oh royall knauery: An exact command,
Larded with many seuerall sorts of reason;
3410 Importing Denmarks health, and Englands too,
With hoo, such Bugges and Goblins in my life,
that on the superuize no leasure bated,
No not to stay the grinding of the Axe,
My head should be struck off.

Hor.

3415 Ist possible?

Ham.

Here's the Commission, read it at more leysure:

But wilt thou heare me how I did proceed?

Hor.

I beseech you.

Hem.
Being thus benetted round with Villaines,
3420 Ere I could make a Prologue to my braines,
They had begun the Play. I sate me downe,
Deuis'd a new Commission, wrote it faire,
I once did hold it as our Statists doe,
A basenesse to write faire; and laboured much
3425 How to forget that learning: but Sir now,
It did me Yeomans seruice: wilt thou know
The effects of what I wrote?

Hor.

I, good my Lord.

Ham.
An earnest Coniuration from the King,
3430 As England was his faithfull Tributary,
As loue betweene them, as the Palme should flourish,
As Peace should still her wheaten Garland weare,
And stand a Comma 'tweene their amities,
And many such like Assis of great charge,
3435 That on the view and know of these Contents,
Without debatement further, more or lesse,
He should the bearers put to sodaine death,
Not shriuing time allow[.]d.

Hor.

How was this seal'd?

Ham.
3440 Why, euen in that was Heauen ordinate;
I had my fathers Signet in my Purse,
Which was the Model of that Danish Seale:
Folded the Writ vp in forme of the other,
Subscrib'd it, gau't th'impression, plac't it safely,
3445 The changeling neuer knowne: Now, the next day
Was our Sea fight, and what to this was sement,
Thou know'st already.

Hor.

So Guildensterne and Rosincrance, go too't.

Ham.
Why man, they did make loue to this imployment
3450 They are not neere my Conscience; their debate
Doth by their owne insinuation grow:
'Tis dangerous, when the baser nature comes
Betweene the passe, and fell incensed points
Of mighty opposites.

Hor.

3455 Why, what a King is this?

Ham.
Does it not, thinkst thee, stand me now vpon
He that hath kil'd my King, and whor'd my Mother,
Pop t in betweene th'election and my hopes,
Throwne out his Angle for my proper life,
3460 And with such coozenage; is't not perfect conscience,
To quit him with this arme? And is't not to be damn'd
To let this Canker of our nature come
In further euill.

Hor.

It must be shortly knowne to him from England

3465 What is the issue of the businesse there.

Ham.
It will be short,
The interim's mine, and a mans life's no more
Then to say one: but I am very sorry good Horatio,
                     
That to Laertes I forgot my selfe;
3470 For by the image of my Cause, I see
The Portraiture of his; Ile count his fauours:
But sure the brauery of his griefe did put me
Into a Towring passion.

Hor.

Peace, who comes heere?

Enter young Osricke.

Osr.

3475 Your Lordship is right welcome back to Den
(marke.

Ham.

I humbly thank you Sir, dost know this waterflie?

Hor.

No my good Lord.

Ham.

3478Thy state is the more gracious; for'tis a vice to [l. 3479] know him: he hath much Land, and fertile; let a Beast [l. 3480] be Lord of Beasts, and his Crib shall stand at the Kings [l. 3481] Messe; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I saw spacious in the pos [l. 3482] session of dirt.

Osr.

3483Sweet Lord, if your friendship were at leysure, [l. 3484] I should impart a thing to you from his Maiesty.

Ham.

3485I will receiue it with all diligence of spirit; put [l. 3486] your Bonet to his right vse,'tis for the head.

Osr.

3487I thanke your Lordship,'tis very hot.

Ham.

3488No, beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is [l. 3489] Northerly.

Osr.

3490It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed.

Ham.

3491Mee thinkes it is very soultry, and hot for my [l. 3492] Complexion.

Osricke. [p. 280] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Osr.

3493Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very soutry, as 'twere [l. 3494] I cannot tell how: but my Lord, his Maiesty bad me sig- [l. 3495] nifie to you, that he ha's laid a great wager on your head: [l. 3496] Sir, this is the matter.

Ham.

3497I beseech you remember.

Osr.

3498Nay, in good faith, for mine ease in good faith: [l. 3499] Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laerles is at [l. 3500] his weapon.

Ham.

3501What's his weapon?

Osr.

3502Rapier and dagger.

Ham.

3503That's two of his weapons; but well.

Osr.

3504The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary Hor [l. 3505] ses, against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French [l. 3506] Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle, [l. 3507] Hangers or so; three of the Carriages infaith are very [l. 3508] deare to fancy, very responsiue to the hilts, most delicate [l. 3509] carriages, and of very liberall conceit.

Ham.

3510What call you the Carriages?

Osr.

3511The Carriages Sir, are the hangers.

Ham.

3512The phrase would bee more Germaine to the [l. 3513] matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides; I would [l. 3514] it might be Hangers till then; but on sixe Barbary Hor [l. 3515] ses against sixe French Swords: their Assignes, and three [l. 3516] liberall conceited Carriages, that's the French but a [l. 3517] gainst the Danish; why is this impon'd as you call it?

Osr.

3518The King Sir, bath laid that in a dozen passes be [l. 3519] tweene you and him, hee shall not exceed you three hits; [l. 3520] He hath one twelue for mine, and that would come to [l. 3521] imediate tryall, if your Lordship would vouchsafe the Answere.

Ham.

3522How if I answere no?

Osr.

3523I meane my Lord, the opposition of your person [l. 3524] in tryall.

Ham.

3525Sir, I will walke heere in the Hall; if it please [l. 3526] his Maiestie, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let [l. 3527] the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the [l. 3528] King hold his purpose; I will win for him if I can: if [l. 3529] not, Ile gaine nothing but my shame, and the odde hits.

Osr.

3530Shall I redeliuer you ee'n so?

Ham.

3531To this effect Sir, after what flourish your na [l. 3532] ture will.

Osr.

3533I commend my duty to your Lordship.

Ham.

3534Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it [l. 3535] himselfe, there are no tongues else for's tongue.

Hor.

3536This Lapwing runs away with the shell on his [l. 3537] head.

Ham.

3538He did Complie with his Dugge before hee [l. 3539] suck't it: thus had he and mine more of the same Beauy [l. 3540] that I know the drossie age dotes on; only got the tune of [l. 3541] the time, and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of [l. 3542] yesty collection, which carries them through & through [l. 3543] the most fond and winnowed opinions;and doe but blow [l. 3544] them to their tryalls: the Bubbles are out.

Hor.

3545You will lose this wager, my Lord.

Ham.

3546I doe not thinke so, since he went into France, [l. 3547] I haue beene in continuall practice; I shall winne at the [l. 3548] oddes: but thou wouldest not thinke how all heere a [l. 3549] bout my heart: but it is no matter.

Hor.

3550Nay, good my Lord.

Ham.

3551It is but foolery; but it is such a kinde of [l. 3552] gain‑giuing as would perhaps trouble a woman.

Hor.

3553If your minde dislike any thing, obey. I will fore [l. 3554] stall their repaire hither, and say you are not fit.

Ham.

3555Not a whit, we defie Augury; there's a speciall [l. 3556] Prouidence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now,'tis not [l. 3557] to come: if it bee not come, it will bee now: if it [l. 3558] be not now; yet it will come; the readinesse is all, since no [l. 3559] man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue be [l. 3560] times?

Enter King, Queene, Laertes and Lords, with other Atten
dants with Foyles, and Gauntlets, a Table and
Flagons of Wine on it.

Kin.

Come Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.

Ham.
Giue me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong,
But pardon't as you are a Gentleman.
This presence knowes,
3565 And you must needs haue heard how I am punisht
With sore distraction? What I haue done
That might your nature honour, and exception
Roughly awake, I heere proclaime was madnesse:
Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Neuer Hamlet.
3570 If Hamlet from himselfe be tane away:
And when he's not himselfe, do's wrong Laertes,
Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it:
Who does it then? His Madnesse? If't be so,
Hamlet is of the Faction that is wrong'd,
3575 His madnesse is poore Hamlets Enemy.
Sir, in this Audience,
Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd euill,
Free me so farre in your most generous thoughts,
That I haue shot mine Arrow o're the house,
3580 And hurt my Mother.

Laer.
Iam satisfied in Nature,
Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most
To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor
I stand aloofe, and will no reconcilement,
3585 Till by some elder Masters of knowne Honor,
I haue a voyce, and president of peace
To keepe my name vngorg'd. But till that time,
I do receiue your offer'd loue like loue,
And wil not wrong it.

Ham.

3590 I do embrace it freely,

And will this Brothers wager frankely play.

Giue vs the Foyles: Come on.

Laer.

Come one for me.

Ham.

Ile be your foile Laertes, in mine ignorance,

3595 Your Skill shall like a starre i'th'darkest night,

Sticke fiery off indeede.

Laer.

You mocke me Sir.

Ham.

No by this hand.

King.

Giue them the Foyles yong Osricke,

3600 Cousen Hamlet, you know the wager.

Ham.

Verie well my Lord,

Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th'weaker side.

King.

I do not feare it,

I haue seene you both:

3605 But since he is better'd, we haue therefore oddes.

Laer.

This is too heauy,

Let me see another.

Ham.

This likes me well,

These Foyles haue all a length.

Prepare to play.

Osricke.

3610 I my good Lord.

King.

Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table:

If Hamlet giue the first, or second hit,

Or quit in answer of the third exchange,

Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire,

3615 The King shal drinke to Hamlets better breath,

And in the Cup an vnion shal he throw

Richer then that, which foure successiue Kings

In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne.

Giue [p. 281] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

Giue me the Cups,

3620 And let the Kettle to the Trumpets speake,

The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without,

The Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth,

Now the King drinkes to Hamlet. Come, begin,

And you the Iudges beare a wary eye.

Ham.

3625 Come on sir.

Laer.

Come on sir.

They play.

Ham.

One.

Laer.

No.

Ham.

Iudgement.

Osr.

3630 A hit, a very palpable hit.

Laer.

Well: againe.

King.

Stay, giue me drinke.

Hamlet, this Pearle is thine,

Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup.

Trumpets sound, and shot goes off.

Ham.

3635 Ile play this bout first, set by a‑while.

Come: Another hit; what say you?

Laer.

A touch, a touch, I do confesse.

King.

Our Sonne shall win.

Qu.

He's fat, and scant of breath.

3640 Heere's a Napkin, rub thy browes,

The Queene Carowses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

Ham.

Good Madam.

King.

Gertrude, do not drinke.

Qu.

I will my Lord;

3645 I pray you pardon me.

King.

It is the poyson'd Cup, it is too late.

Ham.

I dare not drinke yet Madam,

By and by.

Qu.

Come, let me wipe thy face.

Laer.

3650 My Lord, Ile hit him now.

King.

I do not thinke't.

Laer.

And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience.

Ham.

Come, for the third.

Laertes, you but dally,

3655 I pray you passe with your best violence,

I am affear'd you make a wanton of me.

Laer.

Say you so? Come on.

Play.

Osr.

Nothing neither way.

Laer.

Haue at you now.

In scuffling they change Rapiers.

King.

3660 Part them, they are incens'd.

Ham.

Nay come, againe.

Osr.

Looke to the Queene there hoa.

Hor.

They bleed on both sides. How is't my Lord?

Osr.

How is't Laertes?

Laer.

3665 Why as a Woodcocke

To mine Sprindge, Osricke,

I am iustly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie.

Ham.

How does the Queene?

King.

She sounds to see them bleede.

Qu.

3670 No, no, the drinke, the drinke.

Oh my deere Hamlet, the drinke, the drinke,

I am poyson'd.

Ham.

Oh Villany! How? Let the doore be lock'd.

Treacherie, seeke it out.

Laer.
3675 it is heere Hamlet.
Hamlet, thou art slaine,
No Medicine in the world can do thee good.
In thee, there is not halfe an houre of life;
The Treacherous Instrument is in thy hand,
3680 Vnbated and envenom'd: the foule practise
Hath turn'd it selfe on me. Loe, heere I lye,
Neuer to rise againe: Thy Mothers poyson'd:
I can no more, the King, the King's too blame.

Ham.

The point envenom'd too,

3685 Then venome to thy worke.

Hurts the King.

All.

Treason, Treason.

King.

O yet defend me Friends, I am but hurt.

Ham.

Heere thou incestuous, murdrous,
Damned Dane,

Drinke off this Potion: Is thy Vnion heere?

3690 Follow my Mother.

King Dyes.

Laer.
He is iustly seru'd.
It is a poyson temp'red by himselfe:
Exchange forgiuenesse with me, Noble Hamlet;
Mine and ray Fathers death come not vpon thee,
3695 Nor thine on me.

Dyes.

Ham.
Heauen make thee free of it, I follow thee.
I am dead Horatio, wretched Queene adiew,
You that looke pale, and tremble at this chance,
That are but Mutes or audience to this acte:
3700 Had I but time (as this fell Sergeant death
Is strick'd in his Arrest) oh I could tell you.
But let it be: Horatio, I am dead,
Thou liu'st, report me and my causes right
To the vnsatisfied.

Hor.

3705 Neuer beleeue it.

I am more an Antike Roman then a Dane:

Heere's yet some Liquor left.

Ham.
As th'art a man, giue me the Cup.
Let go, by Heauen Ile haue't.
3710 Oh good Horatio, what a wounded name,
(Things standing thus vnknowne) shall liue behind me.
If thou did'st euer hold me in thy heart,
Absent thee from felicitie a while,
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in paine,
3715 To tell my Storie.
March afarre off, and shout within.
What warlike noyse is this?

Enter Osricke.

Osr.

Yong Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland

To th'Ambassadors of England giues this warlike volly.

Ham.
O I dye Horatio:
                     
3720 The potent poyson quite ore‑crowes my spirit,
I cannot liue to heare the Newes from England,'
But I do prophesie th'election lights
On Fortinbras, he ha's my dying voyce,
So tell him with the occurrents more and lesse,
3725 Which haue solicited. The rest is silence, O, o, o, o.

Dyes

Hora.

Now cracke a Noble heart:

Goodnight sweet Prince,

And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest,

Why do's the Drumme come hither?

Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassador, with Drumme,
Colours, and Attendants.

Fortin.

3730 Where is this sight?

Hor.

What is it ye would see;

If ought of woe, or wonder, cease your search.

For.

His quarry cries on hauocke. Oh proud death,

What feast is toward in thine eternall Cell.

3735 That thou so many Princes, at a shoote,

So bloodily hast strooke.

Amb.

The sight is dismall,

And our affaires from England come too late,

The eares are senselesse that should giue vs hearing,

3740 To tell him his command'ment is fulfill'd,

qq That [p. 280] The Tragedie of Hamlet.

That Rosincrance and Guildensterne are dead:

Where should we haue our thankes?

Hor.
Not from his mouth,
Had it th'abilitie of life to thanke you:
3745 He neuer gaue command'ment for their death.
But since so iumpe vpon this bloodie question,
You from the Polake warres, and you from England
Are heere arriued. Giue order that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view,
3750 And let me spcake to th'yet vnknowing world,
How these things came about. So shall you heare
Of carnall, bloudie, and vnnaturall acts,
Of accidentall iudgements, casuall slaughters
Of death's put on by cunning, and forc'd cause,
3755 And in this vp shot, purposes mistooke,
Falne on the Inuentors heads. All this can I
Truly deliuer.

For.
Let vs hast to heare it,
And call the Noblest to the Audience.
3760 For me, with sorrow, I embrace my Fortune,
I haue some Rites of memory in this Kingdome,
Which are ro to claime, my vantage doth
Inuite me,

Hor.
Of that I shall haue alwayes cause to speake,
3765 And from his mouth
Whose voyce will draw on more:
But let this same be presently perform'd,
Euen whiles mens mindes are wilde,
Lest more mischance
3770 On plots, and errors happen.

For.
Let foure Captaines
Beare Hamlet like a Soldier to the stage,
For he was likely, had he beene put on
To haue prou'd most royally:
3775 And for his passage,
The Souldiours Musicke, and the rites of Warre
Speake lowdly for him.
Take vp the body; Such a fight as this
Becomes the field, but heere shewes much amis.
3780 Go, bid the Souldiers shoote.

Exeunt Marching: after the which, a Peale of
Ordenance are shot off.

FINIS.