Hamlet

ACT 1

Scene 1

Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels.

BARNARDO

Who’s there?

FRANCISCO

Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.

BARNARDO

Long live the King!

FRANCISCO

Barnardo.

BARNARDO

55He.

FRANCISCO

You come most carefully upon your hour.

BARNARDO

’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.

FRANCISCO

For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.

BARNARDO

1010Have you had quiet guard?

FRANCISCO

Not a mouse stirring.

BARNARDO

Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

FRANCISCO

1515I think I hear them.—Stand ho! Who is there?

HORATIO

Friends to this ground.

MARCELLUS

And liegemen to the Dane.

FRANCISCO

Give you good night.

MARCELLUS

O farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved
2020you?

FRANCISCO

Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.

Francisco exits.

MARCELLUS

Holla, Barnardo.

BARNARDO

Say, what, is Horatio there?

HORATIO

A piece of him.

BARNARDO

2525Welcome, Horatio.—Welcome, good Marcellus.

HORATIO

What, has this thing appeared again tonight?

BARNARDO

I have seen nothing.

MARCELLUS

Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy
And will not let belief take hold of him
3030Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us.
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us to watch the minutes of this night,
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

HORATIO

3535Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.

BARNARDO

Sit down awhile,
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we have two nights seen.

HORATIO

4040Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.

BARNARDO

Last night of all,
When yond same star that’s westward from the pole
Had made his course t’ illume that part of heaven
4545Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,
The bell then beating one—

Enter Ghost.

MARCELLUS

Peace, break thee off! Look where it comes again.

BARNARDO

In the same figure like the King that’s dead.

MARCELLUS , to Horatio

Thou art a scholar. Speak to it, Horatio.

BARNARDO

5050Looks he not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.

HORATIO

Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.

BARNARDO

It would be spoke to.

MARCELLUS

Speak to it, Horatio.

HORATIO

What art thou that usurp’st this time of night,
5555Together with that fair and warlike form
In which the majesty of buried Denmark
Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee,
speak.

MARCELLUS

It is offended.

BARNARDO

6060See, it stalks away.

HORATIO

Stay! speak! speak! I charge thee, speak!

Ghost exits.

MARCELLUS

’Tis gone and will not answer.

BARNARDO

How now, Horatio, you tremble and look pale.
Is not this something more than fantasy?
6565What think you on ’t?

HORATIO

Before my God, I might not this believe
Without the sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes.

MARCELLUS

Is it not like the King?

HORATIO

7070As thou art to thyself.
Such was the very armor he had on
When he the ambitious Norway combated.
So frowned he once when, in an angry parle,
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
7575’Tis strange.

MARCELLUS

Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,
With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

HORATIO

In what particular thought to work I know not,
But in the gross and scope of mine opinion
8080This bodes some strange eruption to our state.

MARCELLUS

Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows,
Why this same strict and most observant watch
So nightly toils the subject of the land,
And why such daily cast of brazen cannon
8585And foreign mart for implements of war,
Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task
Does not divide the Sunday from the week.
What might be toward that this sweaty haste
Doth make the night joint laborer with the day?
9090Who is ’t that can inform me?

HORATIO

That can I.
At least the whisper goes so: our last king,
Whose image even but now appeared to us,
Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,
9595Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride,
Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet
(For so this side of our known world esteemed him)
Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact,
Well ratified by law and heraldry,
100100Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands
Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror.
Against the which a moiety competent
Was gagèd by our king, which had returned
To the inheritance of Fortinbras
105105Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same comart
And carriage of the article designed,
His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimprovèd mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
110110Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes
For food and diet to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in ’t; which is no other
(As it doth well appear unto our state)
But to recover of us, by strong hand
115115And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands
So by his father lost. And this, I take it,
Is the main motive of our preparations,
The source of this our watch, and the chief head
Of this posthaste and rummage in the land.

BARNARDO

120120I think it be no other but e’en so.
Well may it sort that this portentous figure
Comes armèd through our watch so like the king
That was and is the question of these wars.

HORATIO

A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye.
125125In the most high and palmy state of Rome,
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,
The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets;
As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
130130Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,
Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands,
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.
And even the like precurse of feared events,
As harbingers preceding still the fates
135135And prologue to the omen coming on,
Have heaven and Earth together demonstrated
Unto our climatures and countrymen.

Enter Ghost.

But soft, behold! Lo, where it comes again!
I’ll cross it though it blast me.—Stay, illusion!
It spreads his arms.
140140If thou hast any sound or use of voice,
Speak to me.
If there be any good thing to be done
That may to thee do ease and grace to me,
Speak to me.
145145If thou art privy to thy country’s fate,
Which happily foreknowing may avoid,
O, speak!
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,
150150For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,
Speak of it.The cock crows.
Stay and speak!—Stop it, Marcellus.

MARCELLUS

Shall I strike it with my partisan?

HORATIO

Do, if it will not stand.

BARNARDO

155155’Tis here.

HORATIO

’Tis here.

Ghost exits.

MARCELLUS

’Tis gone.
We do it wrong, being so majestical,
To offer it the show of violence,
160160For it is as the air, invulnerable,
And our vain blows malicious mockery.

BARNARDO

It was about to speak when the cock crew.

HORATIO

And then it started like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons. I have heard
165165The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat
Awake the god of day, and at his warning,
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
Th’ extravagant and erring spirit hies
170170To his confine, and of the truth herein
This present object made probation.

MARCELLUS

It faded on the crowing of the cock.
Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes
Wherein our Savior’s birth is celebrated,
175175This bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is that time.

HORATIO

180180So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn in russet mantle clad
Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.
Break we our watch up, and by my advice
Let us impart what we have seen tonight
185185Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it
As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?

MARCELLUS

Let’s do ’t, I pray, and I this morning know
190190Where we shall find him most convenient.

They exit.

Scene 2

Flourish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmark, Gertrude the
Queen, the Council, as Polonius, and his son Laertes,
Hamlet, with others, among them Voltemand and
Cornelius.

KING

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death
The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
5195Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
Th’ imperial jointress to this warlike state,
10200Have we (as ’twere with a defeated joy,
With an auspicious and a dropping eye,
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole)
Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred
15205Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone
With this affair along. For all, our thanks.
Now follows that you know. Young Fortinbras,
Holding a weak supposal of our worth
Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death
20210Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,
Colleaguèd with this dream of his advantage,
He hath not failed to pester us with message
Importing the surrender of those lands
Lost by his father, with all bonds of law,
25215To our most valiant brother—so much for him.
Now for ourself and for this time of meeting.
Thus much the business is: we have here writ
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,
Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears
30220Of this his nephew’s purpose, to suppress
His further gait herein, in that the levies,
The lists, and full proportions are all made
Out of his subject; and we here dispatch
You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
35225For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,
Giving to you no further personal power
To business with the King more than the scope
Of these dilated articles allow.
Giving them a paper.
Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.

CORNELIUS/VOLTEMAND

40230In that and all things will we show our duty.

KING

We doubt it nothing. Heartily farewell.
Voltemand and Cornelius exit.
And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you?
You told us of some suit. What is ’t, Laertes?
You cannot speak of reason to the Dane
45235And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg,
Laertes,
That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?
The head is not more native to the heart,
The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
50240Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?

LAERTES

My dread lord,
Your leave and favor to return to France,
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark
55245To show my duty in your coronation,
Yet now I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.

KING

Have you your father’s leave? What says Polonius?

POLONIUS

60250Hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave
By laborsome petition, and at last
Upon his will I sealed my hard consent.
I do beseech you give him leave to go.

KING

Take thy fair hour, Laertes. Time be thine,
65255And thy best graces spend it at thy will.—
But now, my cousin Hamlet and my son—

HAMLET , aside

A little more than kin and less than kind.

KING

How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

HAMLET

Not so, my lord; I am too much in the sun.

QUEEN

70260Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off,
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not forever with thy vailèd lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know’st ’tis common; all that lives must die,
75265Passing through nature to eternity.

HAMLET

Ay, madam, it is common.

QUEEN

If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?

HAMLET

“Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.”
80270’Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected havior of the visage,
85275Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,”
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within which passes show,
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

KING

90280’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature,
Hamlet,
To give these mourning duties to your father.
But you must know your father lost a father,
That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound
95285In filial obligation for some term
To do obsequious sorrow. But to persever
In obstinate condolement is a course
Of impious stubbornness. ’Tis unmanly grief.
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
100290A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschooled.
For what we know must be and is as common
As any the most vulgar thing to sense,
Why should we in our peevish opposition
105295Take it to heart? Fie, ’tis a fault to heaven,
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,
To reason most absurd, whose common theme
Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,
From the first corse till he that died today,
110300“This must be so.” We pray you, throw to earth
This unprevailing woe and think of us
As of a father; for let the world take note,
You are the most immediate to our throne,
And with no less nobility of love
115305Than that which dearest father bears his son
Do I impart toward you. For your intent
In going back to school in Wittenberg,
It is most retrograde to our desire,
And we beseech you, bend you to remain
120310Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.

QUEEN

Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet.
I pray thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg.

HAMLET

I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

KING

125315Why, ’tis a loving and a fair reply.
Be as ourself in Denmark.—Madam, come.
This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet
Sits smiling to my heart, in grace whereof
No jocund health that Denmark drinks today
130320But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
And the King’s rouse the heaven shall bruit again,
Respeaking earthly thunder. Come away.

Flourish. All but Hamlet exit.

HAMLET

O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,
135325Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon ’gainst self-slaughter! O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on ’t, ah fie! ’Tis an unweeded garden
140330That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely. That it should come to this:
But two months dead—nay, not so much, not two.
So excellent a king, that was to this
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
145335That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and Earth,
Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on. And yet, within a month
150340(Let me not think on ’t; frailty, thy name is woman!),
A little month, or ere those shoes were old
With which she followed my poor father’s body,
Like Niobe, all tears—why she, even she
(O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason
155345Would have mourned longer!), married with my
uncle,
My father’s brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules. Within a month,
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
160350Had left the flushing in her gallèd eyes,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not, nor it cannot come to good.
But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo.

HORATIO

165355Hail to your Lordship.

HAMLET

I am glad to see you well.
Horatio—or I do forget myself!

HORATIO

The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.

HAMLET

Sir, my good friend. I’ll change that name with you.
170360And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?—
Marcellus?

MARCELLUS

My good lord.

HAMLET

I am very glad to see you. To Barnardo. Good
even, sir.—
175365But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?

HORATIO

A truant disposition, good my lord.

HAMLET

I would not hear your enemy say so,
Nor shall you do my ear that violence
To make it truster of your own report
180370Against yourself. I know you are no truant.
But what is your affair in Elsinore?
We’ll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

HORATIO

My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.

HAMLET

I prithee, do not mock me, fellow student.
185375I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.

HORATIO

Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.

HAMLET

Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
190380Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!
My father—methinks I see my father.

HORATIO

Where, my lord?

HAMLET

In my mind’s eye, Horatio.

HORATIO

I saw him once. He was a goodly king.

HAMLET

195385He was a man. Take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.

HORATIO

My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

HAMLET

Saw who?

HORATIO

My lord, the King your father.

HAMLET

200390The King my father?

HORATIO

Season your admiration for a while
With an attent ear, till I may deliver
Upon the witness of these gentlemen
This marvel to you.

HAMLET

205395For God’s love, let me hear!

HORATIO

Two nights together had these gentlemen,
Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch,
In the dead waste and middle of the night,
Been thus encountered: a figure like your father,
210400Armed at point exactly, cap-à-pie,
Appears before them and with solemn march
Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he walked
By their oppressed and fear-surprisèd eyes
Within his truncheon’s length, whilst they, distilled
215405Almost to jelly with the act of fear,
Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me
In dreadful secrecy impart they did,
And I with them the third night kept the watch,
Where, as they had delivered, both in time,
220410Form of the thing (each word made true and good),
The apparition comes. I knew your father;
These hands are not more like.

HAMLET

But where was this?

MARCELLUS

My lord, upon the platform where we watch.

HAMLET

225415Did you not speak to it?

HORATIO

My lord, I did,
But answer made it none. Yet once methought
It lifted up its head and did address
Itself to motion, like as it would speak;
230420But even then the morning cock crew loud,
And at the sound it shrunk in haste away
And vanished from our sight.

HAMLET

’Tis very strange.

HORATIO

As I do live, my honored lord, ’tis true.
235425And we did think it writ down in our duty
To let you know of it.

HAMLET

Indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.
Hold you the watch tonight?

ALL

We do, my lord.

HAMLET

240430Armed, say you?

ALL

Armed, my lord.

HAMLET

From top to toe?

ALL

My lord, from head to foot.

HAMLET

Then saw you not his face?

HORATIO

245435O, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.

HAMLET

What, looked he frowningly?

HORATIO

A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

HAMLET

Pale or red?

HORATIO

Nay, very pale.

HAMLET

250440And fixed his eyes upon you?

HORATIO

Most constantly.

HAMLET

I would I had been there.

HORATIO

It would have much amazed you.

HAMLET

Very like. Stayed it long?

HORATIO

255445While one with moderate haste might tell a
hundred.

BARNARDO/MARCELLUS

Longer, longer.

HORATIO

Not when I saw ’t.

HAMLET

His beard was grizzled, no?

HORATIO

260450It was as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silvered.

HAMLET

I will watch tonight.
Perchance ’twill walk again.

HORATIO

I warrant it will.

HAMLET

265455If it assume my noble father’s person,
I’ll speak to it, though hell itself should gape
And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
If you have hitherto concealed this sight,
Let it be tenable in your silence still;
270460And whatsomever else shall hap tonight,
Give it an understanding but no tongue.
I will requite your loves. So fare you well.
Upon the platform, ’twixt eleven and twelve,
I’ll visit you.

ALL

275465Our duty to your Honor.

HAMLET

Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell.
All but Hamlet exit.
My father’s spirit—in arms! All is not well.
I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come!
Till then, sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise,
280470Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s
eyes.

He exits.

Scene 3

Enter Laertes and Ophelia, his sister.

LAERTES

My necessaries are embarked. Farewell.
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convey is assistant, do not sleep,
475But let me hear from you.

OPHELIA

5Do you doubt that?

LAERTES

For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favor,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
480Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
10The perfume and suppliance of a minute,
No more.

OPHELIA

No more but so?

LAERTES

Think it no more.
485For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
15In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
490The virtue of his will; but you must fear,
20His greatness weighed, his will is not his own,
For he himself is subject to his birth.
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends
495The safety and the health of this whole state.
25And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then, if he says he loves
you,
500It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
30As he in his particular act and place
May give his saying deed, which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain
505If with too credent ear you list his songs
35Or lose your heart or your chaste treasure open
To his unmastered importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia; fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
510Out of the shot and danger of desire.
40The chariest maid is prodigal enough
If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Virtue itself ’scapes not calumnious strokes.
The canker galls the infants of the spring
515Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
45And, in the morn and liquid dew of youth,
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary, then; best safety lies in fear.
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

OPHELIA

520I shall the effect of this good lesson keep
50As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,
Whiles, like a puffed and reckless libertine,
525Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads
55And recks not his own rede.

LAERTES

O, fear me not.

Enter Polonius.

I stay too long. But here my father comes.
A double blessing is a double grace.
530Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

POLONIUS

60Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stayed for. There, my blessing with
thee.
535And these few precepts in thy memory
65Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
540Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel,
70But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatched, unfledged courage. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but, being in,
Bear ’t that th’ opposèd may beware of thee.
545Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.
75Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not expressed in fancy (rich, not gaudy),
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
550And they in France of the best rank and station
80Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
555This above all: to thine own self be true,
85And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee.

LAERTES

Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.

POLONIUS

560The time invests you. Go, your servants tend.

LAERTES

90Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well
What I have said to you.

OPHELIA

’Tis in my memory locked,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it.

LAERTES

565Farewell.

Laertes exits.

POLONIUS

95What is ’t, Ophelia, he hath said to you?

OPHELIA

So please you, something touching the Lord
Hamlet.

POLONIUS

Marry, well bethought.
570’Tis told me he hath very oft of late
100Given private time to you, and you yourself
Have of your audience been most free and
bounteous.
If it be so (as so ’tis put on me,
575And that in way of caution), I must tell you
105You do not understand yourself so clearly
As it behooves my daughter and your honor.
What is between you? Give me up the truth.

OPHELIA

He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders
580Of his affection to me.

POLONIUS

110Affection, puh! You speak like a green girl
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
Do you believe his “tenders,” as you call them?

OPHELIA

I do not know, my lord, what I should think.

POLONIUS

585Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby
115That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay,
Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly,
Or (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,
Running it thus) you’ll tender me a fool.

OPHELIA

590My lord, he hath importuned me with love
120In honorable fashion—

POLONIUS

Ay, “fashion” you may call it. Go to, go to!

OPHELIA

And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord,
With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

POLONIUS

595Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know,
125When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul
Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter,
Giving more light than heat, extinct in both
Even in their promise as it is a-making,
600You must not take for fire. From this time
130Be something scanter of your maiden presence.
Set your entreatments at a higher rate
Than a command to parle. For Lord Hamlet,
Believe so much in him that he is young,
605And with a larger tether may he walk
135Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia,
Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers,
Not of that dye which their investments show,
But mere implorators of unholy suits,
610Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds
140The better to beguile. This is for all:
I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth
Have you so slander any moment leisure
As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
615Look to ’t, I charge you. Come your ways.

OPHELIA

145I shall obey, my lord.

They exit.

Scene 4

Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.

HAMLET

The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.

HORATIO

It is a nipping and an eager air.

HAMLET

What hour now?

HORATIO

620I think it lacks of twelve.

MARCELLUS

5No, it is struck.

HORATIO

Indeed, I heard it not. It then draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
A flourish of trumpets and two pieces goes off.
What does this mean, my lord?

HAMLET

625The King doth wake tonight and takes his rouse,
10Keeps wassail, and the swagg’ring upspring reels;
And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,
The kettledrum and trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his pledge.

HORATIO

630Is it a custom?

HAMLET

15Ay, marry, is ’t,
But, to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honored in the breach than the observance.
635This heavy-headed revel east and west
20Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations.
They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase
Soil our addition. And, indeed, it takes
From our achievements, though performed at
640height,
25The pith and marrow of our attribute.
So oft it chances in particular men
That for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As in their birth (wherein they are not guilty,
645Since nature cannot choose his origin),
30By the o’ergrowth of some complexion
(Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason),
Or by some habit that too much o’erleavens
The form of plausive manners—that these men,
650Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
35Being nature’s livery or fortune’s star,
His virtues else, be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo,
Shall in the general censure take corruption
655From that particular fault. The dram of evil
40Doth all the noble substance of a doubt
To his own scandal.

Enter Ghost.

HORATIO

Look, my lord, it comes.

HAMLET

Angels and ministers of grace, defend us!
660Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,
45Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from
hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou com’st in such a questionable shape
665That I will speak to thee. I’ll call thee “Hamlet,”
50“King,” “Father,” “Royal Dane.” O, answer me!
Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell
Why thy canonized bones, hearsèd in death,
Have burst their cerements; why the sepulcher,
670Wherein we saw thee quietly interred,
55Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws
To cast thee up again. What may this mean
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel,
Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon,
675Making night hideous, and we fools of nature
60So horridly to shake our disposition
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?
Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?

Ghost beckons.

HORATIO

It beckons you to go away with it
680As if it some impartment did desire
65To you alone.

MARCELLUS

Look with what courteous action
It waves you to a more removèd ground.
But do not go with it.

HORATIO

685No, by no means.

HAMLET

70It will not speak. Then I will follow it.

HORATIO

Do not, my lord.

HAMLET

Why, what should be the fear?
I do not set my life at a pin’s fee.
690And for my soul, what can it do to that,
75Being a thing immortal as itself?
It waves me forth again. I’ll follow it.

HORATIO

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord?
Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff
695That beetles o’er his base into the sea,
80And there assume some other horrible form
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? Think of it.
The very place puts toys of desperation,
700Without more motive, into every brain
85That looks so many fathoms to the sea
And hears it roar beneath.

HAMLET

It waves me still.—Go on, I’ll follow thee.

MARCELLUS

You shall not go, my lord.

They hold back Hamlet.

HAMLET

705Hold off your hands.

HORATIO

90Be ruled. You shall not go.

HAMLET

My fate cries out
And makes each petty arture in this body
As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve.
710Still am I called. Unhand me, gentlemen.
95By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me!
I say, away!—Go on. I’ll follow thee.

Ghost and Hamlet exit.

HORATIO

He waxes desperate with imagination.

MARCELLUS

Let’s follow. ’Tis not fit thus to obey him.

HORATIO

715Have after. To what issue will this come?

MARCELLUS

100Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

HORATIO

Heaven will direct it.

MARCELLUS

Nay, let’s follow him.

They exit.

Scene 5

Enter Ghost and Hamlet.

HAMLET

Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak. I’ll go no
720further.

GHOST

Mark me.

HAMLET

I will.

GHOST

5My hour is almost come
When I to sulf’rous and tormenting flames
725Must render up myself.

HAMLET

Alas, poor ghost!

GHOST

Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing
10To what I shall unfold.

HAMLET

Speak. I am bound to hear.

GHOST

730So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.

HAMLET

What?

GHOST

I am thy father’s spirit,
15Doomed for a certain term to walk the night
And for the day confined to fast in fires
735Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison house,
20I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
740Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their
spheres,
Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part,
25And each particular hair to stand an end,
Like quills upon the fearful porpentine.
745But this eternal blazon must not be
To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O list!
If thou didst ever thy dear father love—

HAMLET

30O God!

GHOST

Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

HAMLET

750Murder?

GHOST

Murder most foul, as in the best it is,
But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.

HAMLET

35Haste me to know ’t, that I, with wings as swift
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
755May sweep to my revenge.

GHOST

I find thee apt;
And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
40That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,
Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear.
760’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forgèd process of my death
45Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy father’s life
765Now wears his crown.

HAMLET

O, my prophetic soul! My uncle!

GHOST

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,
50With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts—
O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power
770So to seduce!—won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen.
O Hamlet, what a falling off was there!
55From me, whose love was of that dignity
That it went hand in hand even with the vow
775I made to her in marriage, and to decline
Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor
To those of mine.
60But virtue, as it never will be moved,
Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,
780So, lust, though to a radiant angel linked,
Will sate itself in a celestial bed
And prey on garbage.
65But soft, methinks I scent the morning air.
Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,
785My custom always of the afternoon,
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
With juice of cursèd hebona in a vial
70And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leprous distilment, whose effect
790Holds such an enmity with blood of man
That swift as quicksilver it courses through
The natural gates and alleys of the body,
75And with a sudden vigor it doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk,
795The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine,
And a most instant tetter barked about,
Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust
80All my smooth body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand
800Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched,
Cut off, even in the blossoms of my sin,
Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled,
85No reck’ning made, but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head.
805O horrible, O horrible, most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
90A couch for luxury and damnèd incest.
But, howsomever thou pursues this act,
810Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge
95To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once.
The glowworm shows the matin to be near
815And ’gins to pale his uneffectual fire.
Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.

He exits.

HAMLET

O all you host of heaven! O Earth! What else?
100And shall I couple hell? O fie! Hold, hold, my heart,
And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,
820But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee?
Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat
In this distracted globe. Remember thee?
105Yea, from the table of my memory
I’ll wipe away all trivial, fond records,
825All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past,
That youth and observation copied there,
And thy commandment all alone shall live
110Within the book and volume of my brain,
Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, by heaven!
830O most pernicious woman!
O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain!
My tables—meet it is I set it down
115That one may smile and smile and be a villain.
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.
He writes.
835So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word.
It is “adieu, adieu, remember me.”
I have sworn ’t.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

HORATIO

120My lord, my lord!

MARCELLUS

Lord Hamlet.

HORATIO

840Heavens secure him!

HAMLET

So be it.

MARCELLUS

Illo, ho, ho, my lord!

HAMLET

125Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come!

MARCELLUS

How is ’t, my noble lord?

HORATIO

845What news, my lord?

HAMLET

O, wonderful!

HORATIO

Good my lord, tell it.

HAMLET

130No, you will reveal it.

HORATIO

Not I, my lord, by heaven.

MARCELLUS

850Nor I, my lord.

HAMLET

How say you, then? Would heart of man once think
it?
135But you’ll be secret?

HORATIO/MARCELLUS

Ay, by heaven, my lord.

HAMLET

855There’s never a villain dwelling in all Denmark
But he’s an arrant knave.

HORATIO

There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave
140To tell us this.

HAMLET

Why, right, you are in the right.
860And so, without more circumstance at all,
I hold it fit that we shake hands and part,
You, as your business and desire shall point you
145(For every man hath business and desire,
Such as it is), and for my own poor part,
865I will go pray.

HORATIO

These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.

HAMLET

I am sorry they offend you, heartily;
150Yes, faith, heartily.

HORATIO

There’s no offense, my lord.

HAMLET

870Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,
And much offense, too. Touching this vision here,
It is an honest ghost—that let me tell you.
155For your desire to know what is between us,
O’ermaster ’t as you may. And now, good friends,
875As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,
Give me one poor request.

HORATIO

What is ’t, my lord? We will.

HAMLET

160Never make known what you have seen tonight.

HORATIO/MARCELLUS

My lord, we will not.

HAMLET

880Nay, but swear ’t.

HORATIO

In faith, my lord, not I.

MARCELLUS

Nor I, my lord, in faith.

HAMLET

165Upon my sword.

MARCELLUS

We have sworn, my lord, already.

HAMLET

885Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.

GHOST cries under the stage

Swear.

HAMLET

Ha, ha, boy, sayst thou so? Art thou there,
170truepenny?
Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage.
890Consent to swear.

HORATIO

Propose the oath, my lord.

HAMLET

Never to speak of this that you have seen,
175Swear by my sword.

GHOST , beneath

Swear.

HAMLET

895Hic et ubique? Then we’ll shift our ground.
Come hither, gentlemen,
And lay your hands again upon my sword.
180Swear by my sword
Never to speak of this that you have heard.

GHOST , beneath

900Swear by his sword.

HAMLET

Well said, old mole. Canst work i’ th’ earth so fast?—
A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends.

HORATIO

185O day and night, but this is wondrous strange.

HAMLET

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
905There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come.
Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,
190How strange or odd some’er I bear myself
(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
910To put an antic disposition on)
That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumbered thus, or this headshake,
195Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As “Well, well, we know,” or “We could an if we
915would,”
Or “If we list to speak,” or “There be an if they
might,”
200Or such ambiguous giving-out, to note
That you know aught of me—this do swear,
920So grace and mercy at your most need help you.

GHOST , beneath

Swear.

HAMLET

Rest, rest, perturbèd spirit.—So, gentlemen,
205With all my love I do commend me to you,
And what so poor a man as Hamlet is
925May do t’ express his love and friending to you,
God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together,
And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
210The time is out of joint. O cursèd spite
That ever I was born to set it right!
930Nay, come, let’s go together.

They exit.

ACT 2

Scene 1

Enter old Polonius with his man Reynaldo.

POLONIUS

Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

REYNALDO

I will, my lord.

POLONIUS

You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire
5935Of his behavior.

REYNALDO

My lord, I did intend it.

POLONIUS

Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
And how, and who, what means, and where they
10940keep,
What company, at what expense; and finding
By this encompassment and drift of question
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than your particular demands will touch it.
15945Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,
As thus: “I know his father and his friends
And, in part, him.” Do you mark this, Reynaldo?

REYNALDO

Ay, very well, my lord.

POLONIUS

“And, in part, him, but,” you may say, “not well.
20950But if ’t be he I mean, he’s very wild,
Addicted so and so.” And there put on him
What forgeries you please—marry, none so rank
As may dishonor him, take heed of that,
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips
25955As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

REYNALDO

As gaming, my lord.

POLONIUS

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far.

REYNALDO

30960My lord, that would dishonor him.

POLONIUS

Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him
That he is open to incontinency;
That’s not my meaning. But breathe his faults so
35965quaintly
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
Of general assault.

REYNALDO

40970But, my good lord—

POLONIUS

Wherefore should you do this?

REYNALDO

Ay, my lord, I would know that.

POLONIUS

Marry, sir, here’s my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of wit.
45975You, laying these slight sullies on my son,
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i’ th’ working,
Mark you, your party in converse, him you would
sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
50980The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured
He closes with you in this consequence:
“Good sir,” or so, or “friend,” or “gentleman,”
According to the phrase or the addition
Of man and country—

REYNALDO

55985Very good, my lord.

POLONIUS

And then, sir, does he this, he does—what
was I about to say? By the Mass, I was about to say
something. Where did I leave?

REYNALDO

At “closes in the consequence,” at “friend,
60990or so,” and “gentleman.”

POLONIUS

At “closes in the consequence”—ay, marry—
He closes thus: “I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday,” or “th’ other day”
(Or then, or then, with such or such), “and as you
65995say,
There was he gaming, there o’ertook in ’s rouse,
There falling out at tennis”; or perchance
“I saw him enter such a house of sale”—
Videlicet, a brothel—or so forth. See you now
701000Your bait of falsehood take this carp of truth;
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
By indirections find directions out.
So by my former lecture and advice
751005Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

REYNALDO

My lord, I have.

POLONIUS

God be wi’ you. Fare you well.

REYNALDO

Good my lord.

POLONIUS

Observe his inclination in yourself.

REYNALDO

801010I shall, my lord.

POLONIUS

And let him ply his music.

REYNALDO

Well, my lord.

POLONIUS

Farewell.Reynaldo exits.

Enter Ophelia.

How now, Ophelia, what’s the matter?

OPHELIA

851015O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

POLONIUS

With what, i’ th’ name of God?

OPHELIA

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,
No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled,
901020Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle,
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosèd out of hell
To speak of horrors—he comes before me.

POLONIUS

951025Mad for thy love?

OPHELIA

My lord, I do not know,
But truly I do fear it.

POLONIUS

What said he?

OPHELIA

He took me by the wrist and held me hard.
1001030Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And, with his other hand thus o’er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it. Long stayed he so.
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
1051035And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
1101040He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
For out o’ doors he went without their helps
And to the last bended their light on me.

POLONIUS

Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.
This is the very ecstasy of love,
1151045Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passions under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

OPHELIA

1201050No, my good lord, but as you did command
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.

POLONIUS

That hath made him mad.
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
1251055I had not coted him. I feared he did but trifle
And meant to wrack thee. But beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions
As it is common for the younger sort
1301060To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.
This must be known, which, being kept close, might
move
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.
Come.

They exit.

Scene 2

Flourish. Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern and Attendants.

KING

1065Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
5Of Hamlet’s transformation, so call it,
1070Sith nor th’ exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him
So much from th’ understanding of himself
10I cannot dream of. I entreat you both
1075That, being of so young days brought up with him
And sith so neighbored to his youth and havior,
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time, so by your companies
15To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
1080So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus
That, opened, lies within our remedy.

QUEEN

Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,
20And sure I am two men there is not living
1085To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and goodwill
As to expend your time with us awhile
For the supply and profit of our hope,
25Your visitation shall receive such thanks
1090As fits a king’s remembrance.

ROSENCRANTZ

Both your Majesties
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
30Than to entreaty.

GUILDENSTERN

1095But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves in the full bent
To lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.

KING

35Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

QUEEN

1100Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.
And I beseech you instantly to visit
My too much changèd son.—Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

GUILDENSTERN

40Heavens make our presence and our practices
1105Pleasant and helpful to him!

QUEEN

Ay, amen!

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit
with some Attendants.Enter Polonius.

POLONIUS

Th’ ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Are joyfully returned.

KING

45Thou still hast been the father of good news.

POLONIUS

1110Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king,
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
50Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
1115As it hath used to do, that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.

KING

O, speak of that! That do I long to hear.

POLONIUS

Give first admittance to th’ ambassadors.
55My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.

KING

1120Thyself do grace to them and bring them in.
Polonius exits.
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
The head and source of all your son’s distemper.

QUEEN

I doubt it is no other but the main—
60His father’s death and our o’erhasty marriage.

KING

1125Well, we shall sift him.

Enter Ambassadors Voltemand and Cornelius with
Polonius.

Welcome, my good friends.
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?

VOLTEMAND

Most fair return of greetings and desires.
65Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
1130His nephew’s levies, which to him appeared
To be a preparation ’gainst the Polack,
But, better looked into, he truly found
It was against your Highness. Whereat, grieved
70That so his sickness, age, and impotence
1135Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras, which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine,
Makes vow before his uncle never more
75To give th’ assay of arms against your Majesty.
1140Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three-score thousand crowns in annual
fee
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
80So levied as before, against the Polack,
1145With an entreaty, herein further shown,
He gives a paper.
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,
On such regards of safety and allowance
85As therein are set down.

KING

1150It likes us well,
And, at our more considered time, we’ll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labor.
90Go to your rest. At night we’ll feast together.
1155Most welcome home!

Voltemand and Cornelius exit.

POLONIUS

This business is well ended.
My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
95Why day is day, night night, and time is time
1160Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
100“Mad” call I it, for, to define true madness,
1165What is ’t but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.

QUEEN

More matter with less art.

POLONIUS

Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
105That he’s mad, ’tis true; ’tis true ’tis pity,
1170And pity ’tis ’tis true—a foolish figure,
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him then, and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,
110Or, rather say, the cause of this defect,
1175For this effect defective comes by cause.
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend.
I have a daughter (have while she is mine)
115Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,
1180Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.
He reads. To the celestial, and my soul’s idol, the
most beautified Ophelia—
That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase; “beautified” is a
120vile phrase. But you shall hear. Thus: He reads.
1185In her excellent white bosom, these, etc.—

QUEEN

Came this from Hamlet to her?

POLONIUS

Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful.
He reads the letter.
Doubt thou the stars are fire,
125Doubt that the sun doth move,
1190Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love.
O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not
art to reckon my groans, but that I love thee best, O
130most best, believe it. Adieu.
1195Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst
this machine is to him, Hamlet.
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,
And more above, hath his solicitings,
135As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
1200All given to mine ear.

KING

But how hath she received his love?

POLONIUS

What do you think of me?

KING

As of a man faithful and honorable.

POLONIUS

140I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
1205When I had seen this hot love on the wing
(As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me), what might you,
Or my dear Majesty your queen here, think,
145If I had played the desk or table-book
1210Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
Or looked upon this love with idle sight?
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
150“Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star.
1215This must not be.” And then I prescripts gave her,
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens;
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
155And he, repelled (a short tale to make),
1220Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves
160And all we mourn for.

KING , to Queen

1225Do you think ’tis this?

QUEEN

It may be, very like.

POLONIUS

Hath there been such a time (I would fain know
that)
165That I have positively said “’Tis so,”
1230When it proved otherwise?

KING

Not that I know.

POLONIUS

Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
If circumstances lead me, I will find
170Where truth is hid, though it were hid, indeed,
1235Within the center.

KING

How may we try it further?

POLONIUS

You know sometimes he walks four hours together
Here in the lobby.

QUEEN

175So he does indeed.

POLONIUS

1240At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.
To the King. Be you and I behind an arras then.
Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
And be not from his reason fall’n thereon,
180Let me be no assistant for a state,
1245But keep a farm and carters.

KING

We will try it.

Enter Hamlet reading on a book.

QUEEN

But look where sadly the poor wretch comes
reading.

POLONIUS

185Away, I do beseech you both, away.
1250I’ll board him presently. O, give me leave.
King and Queen exit with Attendants.
How does my good Lord Hamlet?

HAMLET

Well, God-a-mercy.

POLONIUS

Do you know me, my lord?

HAMLET

190Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.

POLONIUS

1255Not I, my lord.

HAMLET

Then I would you were so honest a man.

POLONIUS

Honest, my lord?

HAMLET

Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to
195be one man picked out of ten thousand.

POLONIUS

1260That’s very true, my lord.

HAMLET

For if the sun breed maggots in a dead
dog, being a good kissing carrion—Have you a
daughter?

POLONIUS

200I have, my lord.

HAMLET

1265Let her not walk i’ th’ sun. Conception is a
blessing, but, as your daughter may conceive,
friend, look to ’t.

POLONIUS , aside

How say you by that? Still harping on
205my daughter. Yet he knew me not at first; he said I
1270was a fishmonger. He is far gone. And truly, in my
youth, I suffered much extremity for love, very near
this. I’ll speak to him again.—What do you read, my
lord?

HAMLET

210Words, words, words.

POLONIUS

1275What is the matter, my lord?

HAMLET

Between who?

POLONIUS

I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

HAMLET

Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here
215that old men have gray beards, that their faces are
1280wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and
plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of
wit, together with most weak hams; all which, sir,
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I
220hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for
1285yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if, like a crab,
you could go backward.

POLONIUS , aside

Though this be madness, yet there is
method in ’t.—Will you walk out of the air, my lord?

HAMLET

225Into my grave?

POLONIUS

1290Indeed, that’s out of the air. Aside. How
pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness
that often madness hits on, which reason and
sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I
230will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of
1295meeting between him and my daughter.—My lord,
I will take my leave of you.

HAMLET

You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I
will more willingly part withal—except my life,
235except my life, except my life.

POLONIUS

1300Fare you well, my lord.

HAMLET , aside

These tedious old fools.

Enter Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.

POLONIUS

You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.

ROSENCRANTZ , to Polonius

God save you, sir.

Polonius exits.

GUILDENSTERN

240My honored lord.

ROSENCRANTZ

1305My most dear lord.

HAMLET

My excellent good friends! How dost thou,
Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do
you both?

ROSENCRANTZ

245As the indifferent children of the earth.

GUILDENSTERN

1310Happy in that we are not overhappy.
On Fortune’s cap, we are not the very button.

HAMLET

Nor the soles of her shoe?

ROSENCRANTZ

Neither, my lord.

HAMLET

250Then you live about her waist, or in the
1315middle of her favors?

GUILDENSTERN

Faith, her privates we.

HAMLET

In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true!
She is a strumpet. What news?

ROSENCRANTZ

255None, my lord, but that the world’s
1320grown honest.

HAMLET

Then is doomsday near. But your news is not
true. Let me question more in particular. What
have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of
260Fortune that she sends you to prison hither?

GUILDENSTERN

1325Prison, my lord?

HAMLET

Denmark’s a prison.

ROSENCRANTZ

Then is the world one.

HAMLET

A goodly one, in which there are many confines,
265wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o’
1330th’ worst.

ROSENCRANTZ

We think not so, my lord.

HAMLET

Why, then, ’tis none to you, for there is
nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it
270so. To me, it is a prison.

ROSENCRANTZ

1335Why, then, your ambition makes it one.
’Tis too narrow for your mind.

HAMLET

O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and
count myself a king of infinite space, were it not
275that I have bad dreams.

GUILDENSTERN

1340Which dreams, indeed, are ambition,
for the very substance of the ambitious is merely
the shadow of a dream.

HAMLET

A dream itself is but a shadow.

ROSENCRANTZ

280Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy
1345and light a quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow.

HAMLET

Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs
and outstretched heroes the beggars’ shadows.
Shall we to th’ court? For, by my fay, I cannot
285reason.

ROSENCRANTZ/GUILDENSTERN

1350We’ll wait upon you.

HAMLET

No such matter. I will not sort you with the
rest of my servants, for, to speak to you like an
honest man, I am most dreadfully attended. But,
290in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at
1355Elsinore?

ROSENCRANTZ

To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.

HAMLET

Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks;
but I thank you, and sure, dear friends, my thanks
295are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for?
1360Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation?
Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come; nay,
speak.

GUILDENSTERN

What should we say, my lord?

HAMLET

300Anything but to th’ purpose. You were sent
1365for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks
which your modesties have not craft enough to
color. I know the good king and queen have sent for
you.

ROSENCRANTZ

305To what end, my lord?

HAMLET

1370That you must teach me. But let me conjure
you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy
of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved
love, and by what more dear a better
310proposer can charge you withal: be even and direct
1375with me whether you were sent for or no.

ROSENCRANTZ , to Guildenstern

What say you?

HAMLET , aside

Nay, then, I have an eye of you.—If
you love me, hold not off.

GUILDENSTERN

315My lord, we were sent for.

HAMLET

1380I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the
King and Queen molt no feather. I have of late, but
wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all
320custom of exercises, and, indeed, it goes so heavily
1385with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
Earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging
firmament, this majestical roof, fretted
325with golden fire—why, it appeareth nothing to me
1390but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in
reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving
how express and admirable; in action how like
330an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the
1395beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and
yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man
delights not me, no, nor women neither, though by
your smiling you seem to say so.

ROSENCRANTZ

335My lord, there was no such stuff in my
1400thoughts.

HAMLET

Why did you laugh, then, when I said “man
delights not me”?

ROSENCRANTZ

To think, my lord, if you delight not in
340man, what Lenten entertainment the players shall
1405receive from you. We coted them on the way, and
hither are they coming to offer you service.

HAMLET

He that plays the king shall be welcome—his
Majesty shall have tribute on me. The adventurous
345knight shall use his foil and target, the lover shall
1410not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his
part in peace, the clown shall make those laugh
whose lungs are tickle o’ th’ sear, and the lady
shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall
350halt for ’t. What players are they?

ROSENCRANTZ

1415Even those you were wont to take such
delight in, the tragedians of the city.

HAMLET

How chances it they travel? Their residence,
both in reputation and profit, was better both ways.

ROSENCRANTZ

355I think their inhibition comes by the
1420means of the late innovation.

HAMLET

Do they hold the same estimation they did
when I was in the city? Are they so followed?

ROSENCRANTZ

No, indeed are they not.

HAMLET

360How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

ROSENCRANTZ

1425Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted
pace. But there is, sir, an aerie of children, little
eyases, that cry out on the top of question and are
most tyrannically clapped for ’t. These are now the
365fashion and so berattle the common stages (so
1430they call them) that many wearing rapiers are afraid
of goose quills and dare scarce come thither.

HAMLET

What, are they children? Who maintains ’em?
How are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality
370no longer than they can sing? Will they not say
1435afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common
players (as it is most like, if their means are
no better), their writers do them wrong to make
them exclaim against their own succession?

ROSENCRANTZ

375Faith, there has been much to-do on
1440both sides, and the nation holds it no sin to tar
them to controversy. There was for a while no
money bid for argument unless the poet and the
player went to cuffs in the question.

HAMLET

380Is ’t possible?

GUILDENSTERN

1445O, there has been much throwing
about of brains.

HAMLET

Do the boys carry it away?

ROSENCRANTZ

Ay, that they do, my lord—Hercules
385and his load too.

HAMLET

1450It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of
Denmark, and those that would make mouths at
him while my father lived give twenty, forty, fifty,
a
hundred ducats apiece for his picture in little.
390’Sblood, there is something in this more than natural,
1455if philosophy could find it out.

A flourish for the Players.

GUILDENSTERN

There are the players.

HAMLET

Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore.
Your hands, come then. Th’ appurtenance of welcome
395is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply
1460with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players,
which, I tell you, must show fairly outwards, should
more appear like entertainment than yours. You are
welcome. But my uncle-father and aunt-mother are
400deceived.

GUILDENSTERN

1465In what, my dear lord?

HAMLET

I am but mad north-north-west. When the
wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Enter Polonius.

POLONIUS

Well be with you, gentlemen.

HAMLET

405Hark you, Guildenstern, and you too—at
1470each ear a hearer! That great baby you see there is
not yet out of his swaddling clouts.

ROSENCRANTZ

Haply he is the second time come to
them, for they say an old man is twice a child.

HAMLET

410I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the
1475players; mark it.—You say right, sir, a Monday
morning, ’twas then indeed.

POLONIUS

My lord, I have news to tell you.

HAMLET

My lord, I have news to tell you: when Roscius
415was an actor in Rome—

POLONIUS

1480The actors are come hither, my lord.

HAMLET

Buzz, buzz.

POLONIUS

Upon my honor—

HAMLET

Then came each actor on his ass.

POLONIUS

420The best actors in the world, either for
1485tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical,
historical-pastoral, tragical-historical,
tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or
poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor
425Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the liberty,
1490these are the only men.

HAMLET

O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure
hadst thou!

POLONIUS

What a treasure had he, my lord?

HAMLET

430Why,
1495One fair daughter, and no more,
The which he lovèd passing well.

POLONIUS , aside

Still on my daughter.

HAMLET

Am I not i’ th’ right, old Jephthah?

POLONIUS

435If you call me “Jephthah,” my lord: I have a
1500daughter that I love passing well.

HAMLET

Nay, that follows not.

POLONIUS

What follows then, my lord?

HAMLET

Why,
440As by lot, God wot
1505and then, you know,
It came to pass, as most like it was—
the first row of the pious chanson will show you
more, for look where my abridgment comes.

Enter the Players.

445You are welcome, masters; welcome all.—I am glad
1510to see thee well.—Welcome, good friends.—O my
old friend! Why, thy face is valanced since I saw thee
last. Com’st thou to beard me in Denmark?—What,
my young lady and mistress! By ’r Lady, your Ladyship
450is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by
1515the altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a
piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the
ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We’ll e’en to ’t
like French falconers, fly at anything we see. We’ll
455have a speech straight. Come, give us a taste of your
1520quality. Come, a passionate speech.

FIRST PLAYER

What speech, my good lord?

HAMLET

I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it
was never acted, or, if it was, not above once; for
460the play, I remember, pleased not the million:
1525’twas caviary to the general. But it was (as I
received it, and others whose judgments in such
matters cried in the top of mine) an excellent play,
well digested in the scenes, set down with as much
465modesty as cunning. I remember one said there
1530were no sallets in the lines to make the matter
savory, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict
the author of affection, but called it an honest
method, as wholesome as sweet and, by very much,
470more handsome than fine. One speech in ’t I
1535chiefly loved. ’Twas Aeneas’ tale to Dido, and
thereabout of it especially when he speaks of
Priam’s slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at
this line—let me see, let me see:
475The rugged Pyrrhus, like th’ Hyrcanian beast—
1540’tis not so; it begins with Pyrrhus:
The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble
When he lay couchèd in th’ ominous horse,
480Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared
1545With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot,
Now is he total gules, horridly tricked
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
Baked and impasted with the parching streets,
485That lend a tyrannous and a damnèd light
1550To their lord’s murder. Roasted in wrath and fire,
And thus o’ersizèd with coagulate gore,
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
Old grandsire Priam seeks.
490So, proceed you.

POLONIUS

1555’Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good
accent and good discretion.

FIRST PLAYER

Anon he finds him
Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword,
495Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
1560Repugnant to command. Unequal matched,
Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide;
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
Th’ unnervèd father falls. Then senseless Ilium,
500Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
1565Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus’ ear. For lo, his sword,
Which was declining on the milky head
Of reverend Priam, seemed i’ th’ air to stick.
505So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood
1570And, like a neutral to his will and matter,
Did nothing.
But as we often see against some storm
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
510The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
1575As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region; so, after Pyrrhus’ pause,
Arousèd vengeance sets him new a-work,
And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall
515On Mars’s armor, forged for proof eterne,
1580With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword
Now falls on Priam.
Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods
In general synod take away her power,
520Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
1585And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven
As low as to the fiends!

POLONIUS

This is too long.

HAMLET

It shall to the barber’s with your beard.—
525Prithee say on. He’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or
1590he sleeps. Say on; come to Hecuba.

FIRST PLAYER

But who, ah woe, had seen the moblèd queen—

HAMLET

“The moblèd queen”?

POLONIUS

That’s good. “Moblèd queen” is good.

FIRST PLAYER

530Run barefoot up and down, threat’ning the flames
1595With bisson rheum, a clout upon that head
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
About her lank and all o’erteemèd loins
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up—
535Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steeped,
1600’Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have
pronounced.
But if the gods themselves did see her then
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
540In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs,
1605The instant burst of clamor that she made
(Unless things mortal move them not at all)
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven
And passion in the gods.

POLONIUS

545Look whe’er he has not turned his color and
1610has tears in ’s eyes. Prithee, no more.

HAMLET

’Tis well. I’ll have thee speak out the rest of
this soon.—Good my lord, will you see the players
well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used,
550for they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the
1615time. After your death you were better have a bad
epitaph than their ill report while you live.

POLONIUS

My lord, I will use them according to their
desert.

HAMLET

555God’s bodykins, man, much better! Use every
1620man after his desert and who shall ’scape
whipping? Use them after your own honor and
dignity. The less they deserve, the more merit is in
your bounty. Take them in.

POLONIUS

560Come, sirs.

HAMLET

1625Follow him, friends. We’ll hear a play
tomorrow. As Polonius and Players exit, Hamlet speaks to
the First Player. Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can
you play ?

FIRST PLAYER

565Ay, my lord.

HAMLET

1630We’ll ha ’t tomorrow night. You could, for a
need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen
lines, which I would set down and insert in ’t,
could you not?

FIRST PLAYER

570Ay, my lord.

HAMLET

1635Very well. Follow that lord—and look you
mock him not. First Player exits. My good friends,
I’ll leave you till night. You are welcome to Elsinore.

ROSENCRANTZ

Good my lord.

HAMLET

575Ay, so, good-bye to you.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit.
1640Now I am alone.
O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,
580Could force his soul so to his own conceit
1645That from her working all his visage wanned,
Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
With forms to his conceit—and all for nothing!
585For Hecuba!
1650What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
That he should weep for her? What would he do
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears
590And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,
1655Make mad the guilty and appall the free,
Confound the ignorant and amaze indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak
595Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
1660And can say nothing—no, not for a king
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?
Who calls me “villain”? breaks my pate across?
600Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
1665Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i’ th’ throat
As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this?
Ha! ’Swounds, I should take it! For it cannot be
But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall
605To make oppression bitter, or ere this
1670I should have fatted all the region kites
With this slave’s offal. Bloody, bawdy villain!
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless
villain!
610O vengeance!
1675Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
That I, the son of a dear father murdered,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words
615And fall a-cursing like a very drab,
1680A stallion! Fie upon ’t! Foh!
About, my brains!—Hum, I have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at a play
Have, by the very cunning of the scene,
620Been struck so to the soul that presently
1685They have proclaimed their malefactions;
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players
Play something like the murder of my father
625Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks;
1690I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench,
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
May be a devil, and the devil hath power
T’ assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps,
630Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
1695As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds
More relative than this. The play’s the thing
Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.

He exits.

ACT 3

Scene 1

Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz,
Guildenstern, and Lords.

KING

And can you by no drift of conference
1700Get from him why he puts on this confusion,
Grating so harshly all his days of quiet
With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

ROSENCRANTZ

5He does confess he feels himself distracted,
But from what cause he will by no means speak.

GUILDENSTERN

1705Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When we would bring him on to some confession
10Of his true state.

QUEEN

Did he receive you well?

ROSENCRANTZ

1710Most like a gentleman.

GUILDENSTERN

But with much forcing of his disposition.

ROSENCRANTZ

Niggard of question, but of our demands
15Most free in his reply.

QUEEN

Did you assay him to any pastime?

ROSENCRANTZ

1715Madam, it so fell out that certain players
We o’erraught on the way. Of these we told him,
And there did seem in him a kind of joy
20To hear of it. They are here about the court,
And, as I think, they have already order
1720This night to play before him.

POLONIUS

’Tis most true,
And he beseeched me to entreat your Majesties
25To hear and see the matter.

KING

With all my heart, and it doth much content me
1725To hear him so inclined.
Good gentlemen, give him a further edge
And drive his purpose into these delights.

ROSENCRANTZ

30We shall, my lord.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
and Lords exit.

KING

Sweet Gertrude, leave us too,
1730For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,
That he, as ’twere by accident, may here
Affront Ophelia.
35Her father and myself, lawful espials,
Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,
1735We may of their encounter frankly judge
And gather by him, as he is behaved,
If ’t be th’ affliction of his love or no
40That thus he suffers for.

QUEEN

I shall obey you.
1740And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish
That your good beauties be the happy cause
Of Hamlet’s wildness. So shall I hope your virtues
45Will bring him to his wonted way again,
To both your honors.

OPHELIA

1745Madam, I wish it may.

Queen exits.

POLONIUS

Ophelia, walk you here.—Gracious, so please you,
We will bestow ourselves. To Ophelia. Read on this
50book,
That show of such an exercise may color
1750Your loneliness.—We are oft to blame in this
(’Tis too much proved), that with devotion’s visage
And pious action we do sugar o’er
55The devil himself.

KING , aside

O, ’tis too true!
1755How smart a lash that speech doth give my
conscience.
The harlot’s cheek beautied with plast’ring art
60Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it
Than is my deed to my most painted word.
1760O heavy burden!

POLONIUS

I hear him coming. Let’s withdraw, my lord.

They withdraw.Enter Hamlet.

HAMLET

To be or not to be—that is the question:
65Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
1765Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And, by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep—
No more—and by a sleep to say we end
70The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation
1770Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep—
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
75When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There’s the respect
1775That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th’ oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
80The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
1780That patient merit of th’ unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,
85To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
1785The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
90Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
1790And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
95With this regard their currents turn awry
And lose the name of action.—Soft you now,
1795The fair Ophelia.—Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remembered.

OPHELIA

Good my lord,
100How does your Honor for this many a day?

HAMLET

I humbly thank you, well.

OPHELIA

1800My lord, I have remembrances of yours
That I have longèd long to redeliver.
I pray you now receive them.

HAMLET

105No, not I. I never gave you aught.

OPHELIA

My honored lord, you know right well you did,
1805And with them words of so sweet breath composed
As made the things more rich. Their perfume
lost,
110Take these again, for to the noble mind
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
1810There, my lord.

HAMLET

Ha, ha, are you honest?

OPHELIA

My lord?

HAMLET

115Are you fair?

OPHELIA

What means your Lordship?

HAMLET

1815That if you be honest and fair, your honesty
should admit no discourse to your beauty.

OPHELIA

Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce
120than with honesty?

HAMLET

Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner
1820transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than
the force of honesty can translate beauty into his
likeness. This was sometime a paradox, but now
125the time gives it proof. I did love you once.

OPHELIA

Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

HAMLET

1825You should not have believed me, for virtue
cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall
relish of it. I loved you not.

OPHELIA

130I was the more deceived.

HAMLET

Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be
1830a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest,
but yet I could accuse me of such things that it
were better my mother had not borne me: I am
135very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses
at my beck than I have thoughts to put them
1835in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act
them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling
between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves
140all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery.
Where’s your father?

OPHELIA

1840At home, my lord.

HAMLET

Let the doors be shut upon him that he may
play the fool nowhere but in ’s own house. Farewell.

OPHELIA

145O, help him, you sweet heavens!

HAMLET

If thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague
1845for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as
snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a
nunnery, farewell. Or if thou wilt needs marry,
150marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what
monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and
1850quickly too. Farewell.

OPHELIA

Heavenly powers, restore him!

HAMLET

I have heard of your paintings too, well
155enough. God hath given you one face, and you
make yourselves another. You jig and amble, and
1855you lisp; you nickname God’s creatures and make
your wantonness your ignorance. Go to, I’ll no
more on ’t. It hath made me mad. I say we will have
160no more marriage. Those that are married already,
all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep as they are.
1860To a nunnery, go.

He exits.

OPHELIA

O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!
The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue,
165sword,
Th’ expectancy and rose of the fair state,
1865The glass of fashion and the mold of form,
Th’ observed of all observers, quite, quite down!
And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,
170That sucked the honey of his musicked vows,
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason,
1870Like sweet bells jangled, out of time and harsh;
That unmatched form and stature of blown youth
Blasted with ecstasy. O, woe is me
175T’ have seen what I have seen, see what I see!

KING , advancing with Polonius

Love? His affections do not that way tend;
1875Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little,
Was not like madness. There’s something in his soul
O’er which his melancholy sits on brood,
180And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose
Will be some danger; which for to prevent,
1880I have in quick determination
Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England
For the demand of our neglected tribute.
185Haply the seas, and countries different,
With variable objects, shall expel
1885This something-settled matter in his heart,
Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus
From fashion of himself. What think you on ’t?

POLONIUS

190It shall do well. But yet do I believe
The origin and commencement of his grief
1890Sprung from neglected love.—How now, Ophelia?
You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said;
We heard it all.—My lord, do as you please,
195But, if you hold it fit, after the play
Let his queen-mother all alone entreat him
1895To show his grief. Let her be round with him;
And I’ll be placed, so please you, in the ear
Of all their conference. If she find him not,
200To England send him, or confine him where
Your wisdom best shall think.

KING

1900It shall be so.
Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Hamlet and three of the Players.

HAMLET

Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced
it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth
it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the
1905town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air
5too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently;
for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say,
whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and
beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O,
1910it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious,
10periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very
rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the
most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable
dumb shows and noise. I would have such a fellow
1915whipped for o’erdoing Termagant. It out-Herods
15Herod. Pray you, avoid it.

PLAYER

I warrant your Honor.

HAMLET

Be not too tame neither, but let your own
discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the
1920word, the word to the action, with this special
20observance, that you o’erstep not the modesty of
nature. For anything so o’erdone is from the purpose
of playing, whose end, both at the first and
now, was and is to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to
1925nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her
25own image, and the very age and body of the time
his form and pressure. Now this overdone or come
tardy off, though it makes the unskillful laugh,
cannot but make the judicious grieve, the censure
1930of the which one must in your allowance o’erweigh
30a whole theater of others. O, there be players that I
have seen play and heard others praise (and that
highly), not to speak it profanely, that, neither
having th’ accent of Christians nor the gait of
1935Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and
35bellowed that I have thought some of nature’s
journeymen had made men, and not made them
well, they imitated humanity so abominably.

PLAYER

I hope we have reformed that indifferently
1940with us, sir.

HAMLET

40O, reform it altogether. And let those that play
your clowns speak no more than is set down for
them, for there be of them that will themselves
laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators
1945to laugh too, though in the meantime some necessary
45question of the play be then to be considered.
That’s villainous and shows a most pitiful ambition
in the fool that uses it. Go make you ready.
Players exit.

Enter Polonius, Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz.

How now, my lord, will the King hear this piece of
1950work?

POLONIUS

50And the Queen too, and that presently.

HAMLET

Bid the players make haste.Polonius exits.
Will you two help to hasten them?

ROSENCRANTZ

Ay, my lord.

They exit.

HAMLET

1955What ho, Horatio!

Enter Horatio.

HORATIO

55Here, sweet lord, at your service.

HAMLET

Horatio, thou art e’en as just a man
As e’er my conversation coped withal.

HORATIO

O, my dear lord—

HAMLET

1960Nay, do not think I flatter,
60For what advancement may I hope from thee
That no revenue hast but thy good spirits
To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be
flattered?
1965No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp
65And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?
Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice
And could of men distinguish, her election
1970Hath sealed thee for herself. For thou hast been
70As one in suffering all that suffers nothing,
A man that Fortune’s buffets and rewards
Hast ta’en with equal thanks; and blessed are those
Whose blood and judgment are so well
1975commeddled
75That they are not a pipe for Fortune’s finger
To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him
In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,
1980As I do thee.—Something too much of this.—
80There is a play tonight before the King.
One scene of it comes near the circumstance
Which I have told thee of my father’s death.
I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot,
1985Even with the very comment of thy soul
85Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt
Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,
And my imaginations are as foul
1990As Vulcan’s stithy. Give him heedful note,
90For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,
And, after, we will both our judgments join
In censure of his seeming.

HORATIO

Well, my lord.
1995If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing
95And ’scape detecting, I will pay the theft.

Sound a flourish.

HAMLET

They are coming to the play. I must be idle.
Get you a place.

Enter Trumpets and Kettle Drums. Enter King, Queen,
Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and other
Lords attendant with the King’s guard carrying
torches.

KING

How fares our cousin Hamlet?

HAMLET

2000Excellent, i’ faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I
100eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed
capons so.

KING

I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet. These
words are not mine.

HAMLET

2005No, nor mine now. To Polonius. My lord, you
105played once i’ th’ university, you say?

POLONIUS

That did I, my lord, and was accounted a
good actor.

HAMLET

What did you enact?

POLONIUS

2010I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i’ th’
110Capitol. Brutus killed me.

HAMLET

It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a
calf there.—Be the players ready?

ROSENCRANTZ

Ay, my lord. They stay upon your
2015patience.

QUEEN

115Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.

HAMLET

No, good mother. Here’s metal more
attractive.

Hamlet takes a place near Ophelia.

POLONIUS , to the King

Oh, ho! Do you mark that?

HAMLET

2020Lady, shall I lie in your lap?

OPHELIA

120No, my lord.

HAMLET

I mean, my head upon your lap?

OPHELIA

Ay, my lord.

HAMLET

Do you think I meant country matters?

OPHELIA

2025I think nothing, my lord.

HAMLET

125That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’
legs.

OPHELIA

What is, my lord?

HAMLET

Nothing.

OPHELIA

2030You are merry, my lord.

HAMLET

130Who, I?

OPHELIA

Ay, my lord.

HAMLET

O God, your only jig-maker. What should a
man do but be merry? For look you how cheerfully
2035my mother looks, and my father died within ’s two
135hours.

OPHELIA

Nay, ’tis twice two months, my lord.

HAMLET

So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black,
for I’ll have a suit of sables. O heavens, die two
2040months ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there’s
140hope a great man’s memory may outlive his life half
a year. But, by ’r Lady, he must build churches, then,
or else shall he suffer not thinking on, with the
hobby-horse, whose epitaph is “For oh, for oh, the
2045hobby-horse is forgot.”

The trumpets sounds. Dumb show follows.145Enter a King and a Queen, very lovingly, the Queen
embracing him and he her. She kneels and makes show of
protestation unto him. He takes her up and declines his
head upon her neck. He lies him down upon a bank of
2050flowers. She, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon
150comes in another man, takes off his crown, kisses it, pours
poison in the sleeper’s ears, and leaves him. The Queen
returns, finds the King dead, makes passionate action. The
poisoner with some three or four come in again, seem to
2055condole with her. The dead body is carried away. The
155poisoner woos the Queen with gifts. She seems harsh
awhile but in the end accepts his love.Players exit.

OPHELIA

What means this, my lord?

HAMLET

Marry, this is miching mallecho. It means
2060mischief.

OPHELIA

160Belike this show imports the argument of the
play.

Enter Prologue.

HAMLET

We shall know by this fellow. The players
cannot keep counsel; they’ll tell all.

OPHELIA

2065Will he tell us what this show meant?

HAMLET

165Ay, or any show that you will show him. Be
not you ashamed to show, he’ll not shame to tell you
what it means.

OPHELIA

You are naught, you are naught. I’ll mark the
2070play.

PROLOGUE

170For us and for our tragedy,
Here stooping to your clemency,
We beg your hearing patiently.

He exits.

HAMLET

Is this a prologue or the posy of a ring?

OPHELIA

2075’Tis brief, my lord.

HAMLET

175As woman’s love.

Enter the Player King and Queen.

PLAYER KING

Full thirty times hath Phoebus’ cart gone round
Neptune’s salt wash and Tellus’ orbèd ground,
And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen
2080About the world have times twelve thirties been
180Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands
Unite commutual in most sacred bands.

PLAYER QUEEN

So many journeys may the sun and moon
Make us again count o’er ere love be done!
2085But woe is me! You are so sick of late,
185So far from cheer and from your former state,
That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,
Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must.
For women fear too much, even as they love,
2090And women’s fear and love hold quantity,
190In neither aught, or in extremity.
Now what my love is, proof hath made you know,
And, as my love is sized, my fear is so:
Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;
2095Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.

PLAYER KING

195Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too.
My operant powers their functions leave to do.
And thou shall live in this fair world behind,
Honored, beloved; and haply one as kind
2100For husband shalt thou—

PLAYER QUEEN

200O, confound the rest!
Such love must needs be treason in my breast.
In second husband let me be accurst.
None wed the second but who killed the first.

HAMLET

2105That’s wormwood!

PLAYER QUEEN

205The instances that second marriage move
Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.
A second time I kill my husband dead
When second husband kisses me in bed.

PLAYER KING

2110I do believe you think what now you speak,
210But what we do determine oft we break.
Purpose is but the slave to memory,
Of violent birth, but poor validity,
Which now, the fruit unripe, sticks on the tree
2115But fall unshaken when they mellow be.
215Most necessary ’tis that we forget
To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt.
What to ourselves in passion we propose,
The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.
2120The violence of either grief or joy
220Their own enactures with themselves destroy.
Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;
Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.
This world is not for aye, nor ’tis not strange
2125That even our loves should with our fortunes change;
225For ’tis a question left us yet to prove
Whether love lead fortune or else fortune love.
The great man down, you mark his favorite flies;
The poor, advanced, makes friends of enemies.
2130And hitherto doth love on fortune tend,
230For who not needs shall never lack a friend,
And who in want a hollow friend doth try
Directly seasons him his enemy.
But, orderly to end where I begun:
2135Our wills and fates do so contrary run
235That our devices still are overthrown;
Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own.
So think thou wilt no second husband wed,
But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.

PLAYER QUEEN

2140Nor Earth to me give food, nor heaven light,
240Sport and repose lock from me day and night,
To desperation turn my trust and hope,
An anchor’s cheer in prison be my scope.
Each opposite that blanks the face of joy
2145Meet what I would have well and it destroy.
245Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,
If, once a widow, ever I be wife.

HAMLET

If she should break it now!

PLAYER KING

’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile.
2150My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile
250The tedious day with sleep.

Sleeps.

PLAYER QUEEN

Sleep rock thy brain,
And never come mischance between us twain.

Player Queen exits.

HAMLET

Madam, how like you this play?

QUEEN

2155The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

HAMLET

255O, but she’ll keep her word.

KING

Have you heard the argument? Is there no
offense in ’t?

HAMLET

No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest. No
2160offense i’ th’ world.

KING

260What do you call the play?

HAMLET

Marry, how? Tropically.
This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna.
Gonzago is the duke’s name, his wife Baptista. You
2165shall see anon. ’Tis a knavish piece of work, but
265what of that? Your Majesty and we that have free
souls, it touches us not. Let the galled jade wince;
our withers are unwrung.

Enter Lucianus.

This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king.

OPHELIA

2170You are as good as a chorus, my lord.

HAMLET

270I could interpret between you and your love,
if I could see the puppets dallying.

OPHELIA

You are keen, my lord, you are keen.

HAMLET

It would cost you a groaning to take off mine
2175edge.

OPHELIA

275Still better and worse.

HAMLET

So you mis-take your husbands.—Begin,
murderer. Pox, leave thy damnable faces and
begin. Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for
2180revenge.

LUCIANUS

280Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time
agreeing,
Confederate season, else no creature seeing,
Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,
2185With Hecate’s ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,
285Thy natural magic and dire property
On wholesome life usurp immediately.

Pours the poison in his ears.

HAMLET

He poisons him i’ th’ garden for his estate. His
name’s Gonzago. The story is extant and written in
2190very choice Italian. You shall see anon how the
290murderer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife.

Claudius rises.

OPHELIA

The King rises.

HAMLET

What, frighted with false fire?

QUEEN

How fares my lord?

POLONIUS

2195Give o’er the play.

KING

295Give me some light. Away!

POLONIUS

Lights, lights, lights!

All but Hamlet and Horatio exit.

HAMLET

Why, let the strucken deer go weep,
The hart ungallèd play.
2200For some must watch, while some must sleep:
300Thus runs the world away.
Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers (if the
rest of my fortunes turn Turk with me) with two
Provincial roses on my razed shoes, get me a
2205fellowship in a cry of players?

HORATIO

305Half a share.

HAMLET

A whole one, I.
For thou dost know, O Damon dear,
This realm dismantled was
2210Of Jove himself, and now reigns here
310A very very—pajock.

HORATIO

You might have rhymed.

HAMLET

O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s word for
a thousand pound. Didst perceive?

HORATIO

2215Very well, my lord.

HAMLET

315Upon the talk of the poisoning?

HORATIO

I did very well note him.

HAMLET

Ah ha! Come, some music! Come, the
recorders!
2220For if the King like not the comedy,
320Why, then, belike he likes it not, perdy.
Come, some music!

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

GUILDENSTERN

Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word
with you.

HAMLET

2225Sir, a whole history.

GUILDENSTERN

325The King, sir—

HAMLET

Ay, sir, what of him?

GUILDENSTERN

Is in his retirement marvelous
distempered.

HAMLET

2230With drink, sir?

GUILDENSTERN

330No, my lord, with choler.

HAMLET

Your wisdom should show itself more richer
to signify this to the doctor, for for me to put him to
his purgation would perhaps plunge him into more
2235choler.

GUILDENSTERN

335Good my lord, put your discourse into
some frame and start not so wildly from my
affair.

HAMLET

I am tame, sir. Pronounce.

GUILDENSTERN

2240The Queen your mother, in most great
340affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.

HAMLET

You are welcome.

GUILDENSTERN

Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not
of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me
2245a wholesome answer, I will do your mother’s
345commandment. If not, your pardon and my return
shall be the end of my business.

HAMLET

Sir, I cannot.

ROSENCRANTZ

What, my lord?

HAMLET

2250Make you a wholesome answer. My wit’s
350diseased. But, sir, such answer as I can make, you
shall command—or, rather, as you say, my mother.
Therefore no more but to the matter. My mother,
you say—

ROSENCRANTZ

2255Then thus she says: your behavior hath
355struck her into amazement and admiration.

HAMLET

O wonderful son that can so ’stonish a mother!
But is there no sequel at the heels of this
mother’s admiration? Impart.

ROSENCRANTZ

2260She desires to speak with you in her
360closet ere you go to bed.

HAMLET

We shall obey, were she ten times our mother.
Have you any further trade with us?

ROSENCRANTZ

My lord, you once did love me.

HAMLET

2265And do still, by these pickers and stealers.

ROSENCRANTZ

365Good my lord, what is your cause of
distemper? You do surely bar the door upon your
own liberty if you deny your griefs to your friend.

HAMLET

Sir, I lack advancement.

ROSENCRANTZ

2270How can that be, when you have the
370voice of the King himself for your succession in
Denmark?

HAMLET

Ay, sir, but “While the grass grows”—the
proverb is something musty.

Enter the Players with recorders.

2275O, the recorders! Let me see one. He takes a
recorder and turns to Guildenstern. 375To withdraw
with you: why do you go about to recover the wind
of me, as if you would drive me into a toil?

GUILDENSTERN

O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my
2280love is too unmannerly.

HAMLET

380I do not well understand that. Will you play
upon this pipe?

GUILDENSTERN

My lord, I cannot.

HAMLET

I pray you.

GUILDENSTERN

2285Believe me, I cannot.

HAMLET

385I do beseech you.

GUILDENSTERN

I know no touch of it, my lord.

HAMLET

It is as easy as lying. Govern these ventages
with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with
2290your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent
390music. Look you, these are the stops.

GUILDENSTERN

But these cannot I command to any
utt’rance of harmony. I have not the skill.

HAMLET

Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing
2295you make of me! You would play upon me, you
395would seem to know my stops, you would pluck
out the heart of my mystery, you would sound me
from my lowest note to the top of my compass;
and there is much music, excellent voice, in this
2300little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. ’Sblood,
400do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?
Call me what instrument you will, though you can
fret me, you cannot play upon me.

Enter Polonius.

God bless you, sir.

POLONIUS

2305My lord, the Queen would speak with you,
405and presently.

HAMLET

Do you see yonder cloud that’s almost in
shape of a camel?

POLONIUS

By th’ Mass, and ’tis like a camel indeed.

HAMLET

2310Methinks it is like a weasel.

POLONIUS

410It is backed like a weasel.

HAMLET

Or like a whale.

POLONIUS

Very like a whale.

HAMLET

Then I will come to my mother by and by.
2315Aside. They fool me to the top of my bent.—I will
415come by and by.

POLONIUS

I will say so.

HAMLET

“By and by” is easily said. Leave me,
friends.
All but Hamlet exit.
2320’Tis now the very witching time of night,
420When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes
out
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot
blood
2325And do such bitter business as the day
425Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.
O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.
Let me be cruel, not unnatural.
2330I will speak daggers to her, but use none.
430My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites:
How in my words somever she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent.

He exits.

Scene 3

Enter King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.

KING

I like him not, nor stands it safe with us
2335To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you.
I your commission will forthwith dispatch,
And he to England shall along with you.
5The terms of our estate may not endure
Hazard so near ’s as doth hourly grow
2340Out of his brows.

GUILDENSTERN

We will ourselves provide.
Most holy and religious fear it is
10To keep those many many bodies safe
That live and feed upon your Majesty.

ROSENCRANTZ

2345The single and peculiar life is bound
With all the strength and armor of the mind
To keep itself from noyance, but much more
15That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests
The lives of many. The cess of majesty
2350Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw
What’s near it with it; or it is a massy wheel
Fixed on the summit of the highest mount,
20To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things
Are mortised and adjoined, which, when it falls,
2355Each small annexment, petty consequence,
Attends the boist’rous ruin. Never alone
Did the king sigh, but with a general groan.

KING

25Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage,
For we will fetters put about this fear,
2360Which now goes too free-footed.

ROSENCRANTZ

We will haste us.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit.Enter Polonius.

POLONIUS

My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet.
30Behind the arras I’ll convey myself
To hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him
2365home;
And, as you said (and wisely was it said),
’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother,
35Since nature makes them partial, should o’erhear
The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege.
2370I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed
And tell you what I know.

KING

Thanks, dear my lord.
Polonius exits.
40O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t,
2375A brother’s murder. Pray can I not,
Though inclination be as sharp as will.
My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,
45And, like a man to double business bound,
I stand in pause where I shall first begin
2380And both neglect. What if this cursèd hand
Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood?
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
50To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy
But to confront the visage of offense?
2385And what’s in prayer but this twofold force,
To be forestallèd ere we come to fall,
Or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up.
55My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer
Can serve my turn? “Forgive me my foul murder”?
2390That cannot be, since I am still possessed
Of those effects for which I did the murder:
My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.
60May one be pardoned and retain th’ offense?
In the corrupted currents of this world,
2395Offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice,
And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself
Buys out the law. But ’tis not so above:
65There is no shuffling; there the action lies
In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled,
2400Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults,
To give in evidence. What then? What rests?
Try what repentance can. What can it not?
70Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?
O wretched state! O bosom black as death!
2405O limèd soul, that, struggling to be free,
Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay.
Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel
75Be soft as sinews of the newborn babe.
All may be well.

He kneels.Enter Hamlet.

HAMLET

2410Now might I do it pat, now he is a-praying,
And now I’ll do ’t.He draws his sword.
And so he goes to heaven,
80And so am I revenged. That would be scanned:
A villain kills my father, and for that,
2415I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge.
85He took my father grossly, full of bread,
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;
2420And how his audit stands who knows save heaven.
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
90To take him in the purging of his soul,
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
2425No.
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent.
He sheathes his sword.
When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,
95Or in th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed,
At game, a-swearing, or about some act
2430That has no relish of salvation in ’t—
Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven,
And that his soul may be as damned and black
100As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays.
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.

Hamlet exits.

KING , rising

2435My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

He exits.

Scene 4

Enter Queen and Polonius.

POLONIUS

He will come straight. Look you lay home to him.
Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear
with
2440And that your Grace hath screened and stood
5between
Much heat and him. I’ll silence me even here.
Pray you, be round with him.

HAMLET , within

Mother, mother, mother!

QUEEN

2445I’ll warrant you. Fear me not. Withdraw,
10I hear him coming.

Polonius hides behind the arras.Enter Hamlet.

HAMLET

Now, mother, what’s the matter?

QUEEN

Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

HAMLET

Mother, you have my father much offended.

QUEEN

2450Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

HAMLET

15Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.

QUEEN

Why, how now, Hamlet?

HAMLET

What’s the matter now?

QUEEN

Have you forgot me?

HAMLET

2455No, by the rood, not so.
20You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife,
And (would it were not so) you are my mother.

QUEEN

Nay, then I’ll set those to you that can speak.

HAMLET

Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge.
2460You go not till I set you up a glass
25Where you may see the inmost part of you.

QUEEN

What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?
Help, ho!

POLONIUS , behind the arras

What ho! Help!

HAMLET

2465How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead.

He kills Polonius by thrusting a rapier
through the arras.

POLONIUS , behind the arras

30O, I am slain!

QUEEN

O me, what hast thou done?

HAMLET

Nay, I know not. Is it the King?

QUEEN

O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!

HAMLET

2470A bloody deed—almost as bad, good mother,
35As kill a king and marry with his brother.

QUEEN

As kill a king?

HAMLET

Ay, lady, it was my word.
He pulls Polonius’ body from behind the arras.
Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell.
2475I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune.
40Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger.
To Queen. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit
you down,
And let me wring your heart; for so I shall
2480If it be made of penetrable stuff,
45If damnèd custom have not brazed it so
That it be proof and bulwark against sense.

QUEEN

What have I done, that thou dar’st wag thy tongue
In noise so rude against me?

HAMLET

2485Such an act
50That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,
Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose
From the fair forehead of an innocent love
And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows
2490As false as dicers’ oaths—O, such a deed
55As from the body of contraction plucks
The very soul, and sweet religion makes
A rhapsody of words! Heaven’s face does glow
O’er this solidity and compound mass
2495With heated visage, as against the doom,
60Is thought-sick at the act.

QUEEN

Ay me, what act
That roars so loud and thunders in the index?

HAMLET

Look here upon this picture and on this,
2500The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
65See what a grace was seated on this brow,
Hyperion’s curls, the front of Jove himself,
An eye like Mars’ to threaten and command,
A station like the herald Mercury
2505New-lighted on a -kissing hill,
70A combination and a form indeed
Where every god did seem to set his seal
To give the world assurance of a man.
This was your husband. Look you now what follows.
2510Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear
75Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed
And batten on this moor? Ha! Have you eyes?
You cannot call it love, for at your age
2515The heyday in the blood is tame, it’s humble
80And waits upon the judgment; and what judgment
Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have,
Else could you not have motion; but sure that sense
Is apoplexed; for madness would not err,
2520Nor sense to ecstasy was ne’er so thralled,
85But it reserved some quantity of choice
To serve in such a difference. What devil was ’t
That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind?
Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,
2525Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,
90Or but a sickly part of one true sense
Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush?
Rebellious hell,
If thou canst mutine in a matron’s bones,
2530To flaming youth let virtue be as wax
95And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame
When the compulsive ardor gives the charge,
Since frost itself as actively doth burn,
And reason panders will.

QUEEN

2535O Hamlet, speak no more!
100Thou turn’st my eyes into my very soul,
And there I see such black and grainèd spots
As will not leave their tinct.

HAMLET

Nay, but to live
2540In the rank sweat of an enseamèd bed,
105Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love
Over the nasty sty!

QUEEN

O, speak to me no more!
These words like daggers enter in my ears.
2545No more, sweet Hamlet!

HAMLET

110A murderer and a villain,
A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe
Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings,
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
2550That from a shelf the precious diadem stole
115And put it in his pocket—

QUEEN

No more!

HAMLET

A king of shreds and patches—

Enter Ghost.

Save me and hover o’er me with your wings,
2555You heavenly guards!—What would your gracious
120figure?

QUEEN

Alas, he’s mad.

HAMLET

Do you not come your tardy son to chide,
That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by
2560Th’ important acting of your dread command?
125O, say!

GHOST

Do not forget. This visitation
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.
But look, amazement on thy mother sits.
2565O, step between her and her fighting soul.
130Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.
Speak to her, Hamlet.

HAMLET

How is it with you, lady?

QUEEN

Alas, how is ’t with you,
2570That you do bend your eye on vacancy
135And with th’ incorporal air do hold discourse?
Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep,
And, as the sleeping soldiers in th’ alarm,
Your bedded hair, like life in excrements,
2575Start up and stand an end. O gentle son,
140Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper
Sprinkle cool patience! Whereon do you look?

HAMLET

On him, on him! Look you how pale he glares.
His form and cause conjoined, preaching to stones,
2580Would make them capable. To the Ghost. Do not
145look upon me,
Lest with this piteous action you convert
My stern effects. Then what I have to do
Will want true color—tears perchance for blood.

QUEEN

2585To whom do you speak this?

HAMLET

150Do you see nothing there?

QUEEN

Nothing at all; yet all that is I see.

HAMLET

Nor did you nothing hear?

QUEEN

No, nothing but ourselves.

HAMLET

2590Why, look you there, look how it steals away!
155My father, in his habit as he lived!
Look where he goes even now out at the portal!

Ghost exits.

QUEEN

This is the very coinage of your brain.
This bodiless creation ecstasy
2595Is very cunning in.

HAMLET

160Ecstasy?
My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time
And makes as healthful music. It is not madness
That I have uttered. Bring me to the test,
2600And I the matter will reword, which madness
165Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace,
Lay not that flattering unction to your soul
That not your trespass but my madness speaks.
It will but skin and film the ulcerous place,
2605Whiles rank corruption, mining all within,
170Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven,
Repent what’s past, avoid what is to come,
And do not spread the compost on the weeds
To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue,
2610For, in the fatness of these pursy times,
175Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,
Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.

QUEEN

O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain!

HAMLET

O, throw away the worser part of it,
2615And live the purer with the other half!
180Good night. But go not to my uncle’s bed.
Assume a virtue if you have it not.
That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat,
Of habits devil, is angel yet in this,
2620That to the use of actions fair and good
185He likewise gives a frock or livery
That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight,
And that shall lend a kind of easiness
To the next abstinence, the next more easy;
2625For use almost can change the stamp of nature
190And either the devil or throw him out
With wondrous potency. Once more, good night,
And, when you are desirous to be blest,
I’ll blessing beg of you. For this same lord
Pointing to Polonius.
2630I do repent; but heaven hath pleased it so
195To punish me with this and this with me,
That I must be their scourge and minister.
I will bestow him and will answer well
The death I gave him. So, again, good night.
2635I must be cruel only to be kind.
200This bad begins, and worse remains behind.
One word more, good lady.

QUEEN

What shall I do?

HAMLET

Not this by no means that I bid you do:
2640Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed,
205Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse,
And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses
Or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers,
Make you to ravel all this matter out
2645That I essentially am not in madness,
210But mad in craft. ’Twere good you let him know,
For who that’s but a queen, fair, sober, wise,
Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib,
Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so?
2650No, in despite of sense and secrecy,
215Unpeg the basket on the house’s top,
Let the birds fly, and like the famous ape,
To try conclusions, in the basket creep
And break your own neck down.

QUEEN

2655Be thou assured, if words be made of breath
220And breath of life, I have no life to breathe
What thou hast said to me.

HAMLET

I must to England, you know that.

QUEEN

Alack,
2660I had forgot! ’Tis so concluded on.

HAMLET

225There’s letters sealed; and my two schoolfellows,
Whom I will trust as I will adders fanged,
They bear the mandate; they must sweep my way
And marshal me to knavery. Let it work,
2665For ’tis the sport to have the enginer
230Hoist with his own petard; and ’t shall go hard
But I will delve one yard below their mines
And blow them at the moon. O, ’tis most sweet
When in one line two crafts directly meet.
2670This man shall set me packing.
235I’ll lug the guts into the neighbor room.
Mother, good night indeed. This counselor
Is now most still, most secret, and most grave,
Who was in life a foolish prating knave.—
2675Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.—
240Good night, mother.

They exit, Hamlet tugging in Polonius.

ACT 4

Scene 1

Enter King and Queen, with Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern.

KING

There’s matter in these sighs; these profound heaves
You must translate; ’tis fit we understand them.
Where is your son?

QUEEN

2680Bestow this place on us a little while.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit.
5Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight!

KING

What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?

QUEEN

Mad as the sea and wind when both contend
Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,
2685Behind the arras hearing something stir,
10Whips out his rapier, cries “A rat, a rat,”
And in this brainish apprehension kills
The unseen good old man.

KING

O heavy deed!
2690It had been so with us, had we been there.
15His liberty is full of threats to all—
To you yourself, to us, to everyone.
Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?
It will be laid to us, whose providence
2695Should have kept short, restrained, and out of haunt
20This mad young man. But so much was our love,
We would not understand what was most fit,
But, like the owner of a foul disease,
To keep it from divulging, let it feed
2700Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?

QUEEN

25To draw apart the body he hath killed,
O’er whom his very madness, like some ore
Among a mineral of metals base,
Shows itself pure: he weeps for what is done.

KING

2705O Gertrude, come away!
30The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch
But we will ship him hence; and this vile deed
We must with all our majesty and skill
Both countenance and excuse.—Ho, Guildenstern!

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

2710Friends both, go join you with some further aid.
35Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,
And from his mother’s closet hath he dragged him.
Go seek him out, speak fair, and bring the body
Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit.
2715Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends
40And let them know both what we mean to do
And what’s untimely done.
Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter,
As level as the cannon to his blank
2720Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name
45And hit the woundless air. O, come away!
My soul is full of discord and dismay.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Hamlet.

HAMLET

Safely stowed.

GENTLEMEN , within

Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

HAMLET

2725But soft, what noise? Who calls on Hamlet?
O, here they come.

Enter Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and others.

ROSENCRANTZ

5What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?

HAMLET

Compounded it with dust, whereto ’tis kin.

ROSENCRANTZ

Tell us where ’tis, that we may take it thence
2730And bear it to the chapel.

HAMLET

Do not believe it.

ROSENCRANTZ

10Believe what?

HAMLET

That I can keep your counsel and not mine
own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge, what
2735replication should be made by the son of a king?

ROSENCRANTZ

Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

HAMLET

15Ay, sir, that soaks up the King’s countenance,
his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the
King best service in the end. He keeps them like an
2740ape an apple in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed,
to be last swallowed. When he needs what you have
20gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you
shall be dry again.

ROSENCRANTZ

I understand you not, my lord.

HAMLET

2745I am glad of it. A knavish speech sleeps in a
foolish ear.

ROSENCRANTZ

25My lord, you must tell us where the
body is and go with us to the King.

HAMLET

The body is with the King, but the King is not
2750with the body. The King is a thing—

GUILDENSTERN

A “thing,” my lord?

HAMLET

30Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and
all after!

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter King and two or three.

KING

I have sent to seek him and to find the body.
2755How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!
Yet must not we put the strong law on him.
He’s loved of the distracted multitude,
5Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes;
And, where ’tis so, th’ offender’s scourge is weighed,
2760But never the offense. To bear all smooth and even,
This sudden sending him away must seem
Deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown
10By desperate appliance are relieved
Or not at all.

Enter Rosencrantz.

2765How now, what hath befallen?

ROSENCRANTZ

Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord,
We cannot get from him.

KING

15But where is he?

ROSENCRANTZ

Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure.

KING

2770Bring him before us.

ROSENCRANTZ

Ho! Bring in the lord.

They enter with Hamlet.

KING

Now, Hamlet, where’s Polonius?

HAMLET

20At supper.

KING

At supper where?

HAMLET

2775Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A
certain convocation of politic worms are e’en at
him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We
25fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves
for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is
2780but variable service—two dishes but to one table.
That’s the end.

KING

Alas, alas!

HAMLET

30A man may fish with the worm that hath eat
of a king and eat of the fish that hath fed of that
2785worm.

KING

What dost thou mean by this?

HAMLET

Nothing but to show you how a king may go a
35progress through the guts of a beggar.

KING

Where is Polonius?

HAMLET

2790In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger
find him not there, seek him i’ th’ other
place yourself. But if, indeed, you find him not
40within this month, you shall nose him as you go up
the stairs into the lobby.

KING , to Attendants.

2795Go, seek him there.

HAMLET

He will stay till you come.

Attendants exit.

KING

Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety
45(Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve
For that which thou hast done) must send thee
2800hence
With fiery quickness. Therefore prepare thyself.
The bark is ready, and the wind at help,
50Th’ associates tend, and everything is bent
For England.

HAMLET

2805For England?

KING

Ay, Hamlet.

HAMLET

Good.

KING

55So is it, if thou knew’st our purposes.

HAMLET

I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for
2810England.
Farewell, dear mother.

KING

Thy loving father, Hamlet.

HAMLET

60My mother. Father and mother is man and wife,
Man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother.—
2815Come, for England.

He exits.

KING

Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard.
Delay it not. I’ll have him hence tonight.
65Away, for everything is sealed and done
That else leans on th’ affair. Pray you, make haste.
All but the King exit.
2820And England, if my love thou hold’st at aught
(As my great power thereof may give thee sense,
Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red
70After the Danish sword, and thy free awe
Pays homage to us), thou mayst not coldly set
2825Our sovereign process, which imports at full,
By letters congruing to that effect,
The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England,
75For like the hectic in my blood he rages,
And thou must cure me. Till I know ’tis done,
2830Howe’er my haps, my joys will ne’er begin.

He exits.

Scene 4

Enter Fortinbras with his army over the stage.

FORTINBRAS

Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish king.
Tell him that by his license Fortinbras
Craves the conveyance of a promised march
Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.
52835If that his Majesty would aught with us,
We shall express our duty in his eye;
And let him know so.

CAPTAIN

I will do ’t, my lord.

FORTINBRAS

Go softly on.

All but the Captain exit.Enter Hamlet, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and others.

HAMLET

102840Good sir, whose powers are these?

CAPTAIN

They are of Norway, sir.

HAMLET

How purposed, sir, I pray you?

CAPTAIN

Against some part of Poland.

HAMLET

Who commands them, sir?

CAPTAIN

152845The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.

HAMLET

Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,
Or for some frontier?

CAPTAIN

Truly to speak, and with no addition,
We go to gain a little patch of ground
202850That hath in it no profit but the name.
To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;
Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole
A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.

HAMLET

Why, then, the Polack never will defend it.

CAPTAIN

252855Yes, it is already garrisoned.

HAMLET

Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats
Will not debate the question of this straw.
This is th’ impostume of much wealth and peace,
That inward breaks and shows no cause without
302860Why the man dies.—I humbly thank you, sir.

CAPTAIN

God be wi’ you, sir.

He exits.

ROSENCRANTZ

Will ’t please you go, my lord?

HAMLET

I’ll be with you straight. Go a little before.
All but Hamlet exit.
How all occasions do inform against me
352865And spur my dull revenge. What is a man
If his chief good and market of his time
Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.
Sure He that made us with such large discourse,
Looking before and after, gave us not
402870That capability and godlike reason
To fust in us unused. Now whether it be
Bestial oblivion or some craven scruple
Of thinking too precisely on th’ event
(A thought which, quartered, hath but one part
452875wisdom
And ever three parts coward), I do not know
Why yet I live to say “This thing’s to do,”
Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means
To do ’t. Examples gross as Earth exhort me:
502880Witness this army of such mass and charge,
Led by a delicate and tender prince,
Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed
Makes mouths at the invisible event,
Exposing what is mortal and unsure
552885To all that fortune, death, and danger dare,
Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be great
Is not to stir without great argument,
But greatly to find quarrel in a straw
When honor’s at the stake. How stand I, then,
602890That have a father killed, a mother stained,
Excitements of my reason and my blood,
And let all sleep, while to my shame I see
The imminent death of twenty thousand men
That for a fantasy and trick of fame
652895Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot
Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,
Which is not tomb enough and continent
To hide the slain? O, from this time forth
My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!

He exits.

Scene 5

Enter Horatio, Queen, and a Gentleman.

QUEEN

2900I will not speak with her.

GENTLEMAN

She is importunate,
Indeed distract; her mood will needs be pitied.

QUEEN

What would she have?

GENTLEMAN

5She speaks much of her father, says she hears
2905There’s tricks i’ th’ world, and hems, and beats her
heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
10Yet the unshapèd use of it doth move
2910The hearers to collection. They aim at it
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts;
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield
them,
15Indeed would make one think there might be
2915thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

HORATIO

’Twere good she were spoken with, for she may
strew
20Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

QUEEN

2920Let her come in.Gentleman exits.
Aside. To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is),
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
25It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.

Enter Ophelia distracted.

OPHELIA

2925Where is the beauteous Majesty of Denmark?

QUEEN

How now, Ophelia?

OPHELIA sings

How should I your true love know
From another one?
30By his cockle hat and staff
2930And his sandal shoon.

QUEEN

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

OPHELIA

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
Sings.He is dead and gone, lady,
35He is dead and gone;
2935At his head a grass-green turf,
At his heels a stone.
Oh, ho!

QUEEN

Nay, but Ophelia—

OPHELIA

40Pray you, mark.
Sings.2940White his shroud as the mountain snow—

Enter King.

QUEEN

Alas, look here, my lord.

OPHELIA sings

Larded all with sweet flowers;
Which bewept to the ground did not go
45With true-love showers.

KING

2945How do you, pretty lady?

OPHELIA

Well, God dild you. They say the owl was a
baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are but
know not what we may be. God be at your table.

KING

50Conceit upon her father.

OPHELIA

2950Pray let’s have no words of this, but when
they ask you what it means, say you this:
Sings.Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
All in the morning betime,
55And I a maid at your window,
2955To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose and donned his clothes
And dupped the chamber door,
Let in the maid, that out a maid
60Never departed more.

KING

2960Pretty Ophelia—

OPHELIA

Indeed, without an oath, I’ll make an end on ’t:
Sings.By Gis and by Saint Charity,
Alack and fie for shame,
65Young men will do ’t, if they come to ’t;
2965By Cock, they are to blame.
Quoth she “Before you tumbled me,
You promised me to wed.”
He answers:
70“So would I ’a done, by yonder sun,
2970An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

KING

How long hath she been thus?

OPHELIA

I hope all will be well. We must be patient,
but I cannot choose but weep to think they would
75lay him i’ th’ cold ground. My brother shall know of
2975it. And so I thank you for your good counsel. Come,
my coach! Good night, ladies, good night, sweet
ladies, good night, good night.

She exits.

KING

Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you.
Horatio exits.
80O, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs
2980All from her father’s death, and now behold!
O Gertrude, Gertrude,
When sorrows come, they come not single spies,
But in battalions: first, her father slain;
85Next, your son gone, and he most violent author
2985Of his own just remove; the people muddied,
Thick, and unwholesome in their thoughts and
whispers
For good Polonius’ death, and we have done but
90greenly
2990In hugger-mugger to inter him; poor Ophelia
Divided from herself and her fair judgment,
Without the which we are pictures or mere beasts;
Last, and as much containing as all these,
95Her brother is in secret come from France,
2995Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,
Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,
100Will nothing stick our person to arraign
3000In ear and ear. O, my dear Gertrude, this,
Like to a murd’ring piece, in many places
Gives me superfluous death.

A noise within.

QUEEN

Alack, what noise is this?

KING

105Attend!
3005Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door.

Enter a Messenger.

What is the matter?

MESSENGER

Save yourself, my lord.
The ocean, overpeering of his list,
110Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste
3010Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him “lord,”
And, as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
115The ratifiers and props of every word,
3015They cry “Choose we, Laertes shall be king!”
Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds,
“Laertes shall be king! Laertes king!”

A noise within.

QUEEN

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry.
120O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!

KING

3020The doors are broke.

Enter Laertes with others.

LAERTES

Where is this king?—Sirs, stand you all without.

ALL

No, let’s come in!

LAERTES

I pray you, give me leave.

ALL

125We will, we will.

LAERTES

3025I thank you. Keep the door. Followers exit. O, thou
vile king,
Give me my father!

QUEEN

Calmly, good Laertes.

LAERTES

130That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me
3030bastard,
Cries “cuckold” to my father, brands the harlot
Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow
Of my true mother.

KING

135What is the cause, Laertes,
3035That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?—
Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person.
There’s such divinity doth hedge a king
That treason can but peep to what it would,
140Acts little of his will.—Tell me, Laertes,
3040Why thou art thus incensed.—Let him go,
Gertrude.—
Speak, man.

LAERTES

Where is my father?

KING

145Dead.

QUEEN

3045But not by him.

KING

Let him demand his fill.

LAERTES

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.
To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
150Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
3050I dare damnation. To this point I stand,
That both the worlds I give to negligence,
Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged
Most throughly for my father.

KING

155Who shall stay you?

LAERTES

3055My will, not all the world.
And for my means, I’ll husband them so well
They shall go far with little.

KING

Good Laertes,
160If you desire to know the certainty
3060Of your dear father, is ’t writ in your revenge
That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and
foe,
Winner and loser?

LAERTES

165None but his enemies.

KING

3065Will you know them, then?

LAERTES

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms
And, like the kind life-rend’ring pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

KING

170Why, now you speak
3070Like a good child and a true gentleman.
That I am guiltless of your father’s death
And am most sensibly in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment ’pear
175As day does to your eye.

3075A noise within: “Let her come in!”

LAERTES

How now, what noise is that?

Enter Ophelia.

O heat, dry up my brains! Tears seven times salt
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!
180By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight
3080Till our scale turn the beam! O rose of May,
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
O heavens, is ’t possible a young maid’s wits
Should be as mortal as an old man’s life?
185Nature is fine in love, and, where ’tis fine,
3085It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.

OPHELIA sings

They bore him barefaced on the bier,
Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny,
190And in his grave rained many a tear.
3090Fare you well, my dove.

LAERTES

Hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.

OPHELIA

You must sing “A-down a-down”—and you
195“Call him a-down-a.”—O, how the wheel becomes
3095it! It is the false steward that stole his master’s
daughter.

LAERTES

This nothing’s more than matter.

OPHELIA

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.
200Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies,
3100that’s for thoughts.

LAERTES

A document in madness: thoughts and remembrance
fitted.

OPHELIA

There’s fennel for you, and columbines.
205There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me; we
3105may call it herb of grace o’ Sundays. You must wear
your rue with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would
give you some violets, but they withered all when
my father died. They say he made a good end.
210Sings. For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.

LAERTES

3110Thought and afflictions, passion, hell itself
She turns to favor and to prettiness.

OPHELIA sings

And will he not come again?
And will he not come again?
215No, no, he is dead.
3115Go to thy deathbed.
He never will come again.

His beard was as white as snow,
All flaxen was his poll.
220He is gone, he is gone,
3120And we cast away moan.
God ’a mercy on his soul.
And of all Christians’ souls, I pray God. God be wi’
you.

She exits.

LAERTES

225Do you see this, O God?

KING

3125Laertes, I must commune with your grief,
Or you deny me right. Go but apart,
Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,
And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.
230If by direct or by collateral hand
3130They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,
Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours,
To you in satisfaction; but if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us,
235And we shall jointly labor with your soul
3135To give it due content.

LAERTES

Let this be so.
His means of death, his obscure funeral
(No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o’er his bones,
240No noble rite nor formal ostentation)
3140Cry to be heard, as ’twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call ’t in question.

KING

So you shall,
And where th’ offense is, let the great ax fall.
245I pray you, go with me.

They exit.

Scene 6

Enter Horatio and others.

HORATIO

3145What are they that would speak with me?

GENTLEMAN

Seafaring men, sir. They say they have
letters for you.

HORATIO

Let them come in. Gentleman exits. I do not
5know from what part of the world I should be
3150greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.

Enter Sailors.

SAILOR

God bless you, sir.

HORATIO

Let Him bless thee too.

SAILOR

He shall, sir, an ’t please Him. There’s a letter
10for you, sir. It came from th’ ambassador that was
3155bound for England—if your name be Horatio, as I
am let to know it is.

He hands Horatio a letter.

HORATIO reads the letter

Horatio, when thou shalt have
overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the
15King. They have letters for him. Ere we were two days
3160old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave
us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on
a compelled valor, and in the grapple I boarded them.
On the instant, they got clear of our ship; so I alone
20became their prisoner. They have dealt with me like
3165thieves of mercy, but they knew what they did: I am to
do a good turn for them. Let the King have the letters
I have sent, and repair thou to me with as much speed
as thou wouldst fly death. I have words to speak in
25thine ear will make thee dumb; yet are they much too
3170light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows
will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
hold their course for England; of them I have
much to tell thee. Farewell.
30He that thou knowest thine,
3175Hamlet.
Come, I will give you way for these your letters
And do ’t the speedier that you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them.

They exit.

Scene 7

Enter King and Laertes.

KING

Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,
3180And you must put me in your heart for friend,
Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,
That he which hath your noble father slain
5Pursued my life.

LAERTES

It well appears. But tell me
3185Why you proceeded not against these feats,
So criminal and so capital in nature,
As by your safety, greatness, wisdom, all things else,
10You mainly were stirred up.

KING

O, for two special reasons,
3190Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed,
But yet to me they’re strong. The Queen his mother
Lives almost by his looks, and for myself
15(My virtue or my plague, be it either which),
She is so conjunctive to my life and soul
3195That, as the star moves not but in his sphere,
I could not but by her. The other motive
Why to a public count I might not go
20Is the great love the general gender bear him,
Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
3200Work like the spring that turneth wood to stone,
Convert his gyves to graces, so that my arrows,
Too slightly timbered for so loud a wind,
25Would have reverted to my bow again,
But not where I have aimed them.

LAERTES

3205And so have I a noble father lost,
A sister driven into desp’rate terms,
Whose worth, if praises may go back again,
30Stood challenger on mount of all the age
For her perfections. But my revenge will come.

KING

3210Break not your sleeps for that. You must not think
That we are made of stuff so flat and dull
That we can let our beard be shook with danger
35And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more.
I loved your father, and we love ourself,
3215And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine—

Enter a Messenger with letters.

How now? What news?

MESSENGER

Letters, my lord, from
40Hamlet.
These to your Majesty, this to the Queen.

KING

3220From Hamlet? Who brought them?

MESSENGER

Sailors, my lord, they say. I saw them not.
They were given me by Claudio. He received them
45Of him that brought them.

KING

Laertes, you shall hear
3225them.—
Leave us.Messenger exits.
Reads. High and mighty, you shall know I am set
50naked on your kingdom. Tomorrow shall I beg leave to
see your kingly eyes, when I shall (first asking your
3230pardon) thereunto recount the occasion of my sudden
and more strange return. Hamlet.
What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?
55Or is it some abuse and no such thing?

LAERTES

Know you the hand?

KING

3235’Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked”—
And in a postscript here, he says “alone.”
Can you advise me?

LAERTES

60I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come.
It warms the very sickness in my heart
3240That I shall live and tell him to his teeth
“Thus didst thou.”

KING

If it be so, Laertes
65(As how should it be so? how otherwise?),
Will you be ruled by me?

LAERTES

3245Ay, my lord,
So you will not o’errule me to a peace.

KING

To thine own peace. If he be now returned,
70As checking at his voyage, and that he means
No more to undertake it, I will work him
3250To an exploit, now ripe in my device,
Under the which he shall not choose but fall;
And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,
75But even his mother shall uncharge the practice
And call it accident.

LAERTES

3255My lord, I will be ruled,
The rather if you could devise it so
That I might be the organ.

KING

80It falls right.
You have been talked of since your travel much,
3260And that in Hamlet’s hearing, for a quality
Wherein they say you shine. Your sum of parts
Did not together pluck such envy from him
85As did that one, and that, in my regard,
Of the unworthiest siege.

LAERTES

3265What part is that, my lord?

KING

A very ribbon in the cap of youth—
Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes
90The light and careless livery that it wears
Than settled age his sables and his weeds,
3270Importing health and graveness. Two months since
Here was a gentleman of Normandy.
I have seen myself, and served against, the French,
95And they can well on horseback, but this gallant
Had witchcraft in ’t. He grew unto his seat,
3275And to such wondrous doing brought his horse
As had he been encorpsed and demi-natured
With the brave beast. So far he topped my thought
100That I in forgery of shapes and tricks
Come short of what he did.

LAERTES

3280A Norman was ’t?

KING

A Norman.

LAERTES

Upon my life, Lamord.

KING

105The very same.

LAERTES

I know him well. He is the brooch indeed
3285And gem of all the nation.

KING

He made confession of you
And gave you such a masterly report
110For art and exercise in your defense,
And for your rapier most especial,
3290That he cried out ’twould be a sight indeed
If one could match you. The ’scrimers of their
nation
115He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye,
If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his
3295Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy
That he could nothing do but wish and beg
Your sudden coming-o’er, to play with you.
120Now out of this—

LAERTES

What out of this, my lord?

KING

3300Laertes, was your father dear to you?
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
A face without a heart?

LAERTES

125Why ask you this?

KING

Not that I think you did not love your father,
3305But that I know love is begun by time
And that I see, in passages of proof,
Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.
130There lives within the very flame of love
A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it,
3310And nothing is at a like goodness still;
For goodness, growing to a pleurisy,
Dies in his own too-much. That we would do
135We should do when we would; for this “would”
changes
3315And hath abatements and delays as many
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents;
And then this “should” is like a spendthrift sigh,
140That hurts by easing. But to the quick of th’ ulcer:
Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake
3320To show yourself indeed your father’s son
More than in words?

LAERTES

To cut his throat i’ th’ church.

KING

145No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
3325Will you do this? Keep close within your chamber.
Hamlet, returned, shall know you are come home.
We’ll put on those shall praise your excellence
150And set a double varnish on the fame
The Frenchman gave you; bring you, in fine,
3330together
And wager on your heads. He, being remiss,
Most generous, and free from all contriving,
155Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
3335A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice
Requite him for your father.

LAERTES

I will do ’t,
160And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank
3340So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
165Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point
3345With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,
It may be death.

KING

Let’s further think of this,
170Weigh what convenience both of time and means
May fit us to our shape. If this should fail,
3350And that our drift look through our bad
performance,
’Twere better not assayed. Therefore this project
175Should have a back or second that might hold
If this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see.
3355We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings—
I ha ’t!
When in your motion you are hot and dry
180(As make your bouts more violent to that end)
And that he calls for drink, I’ll have prepared
3360him
A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,
If he by chance escape your venomed stuck,
185Our purpose may hold there.—But stay, what
noise?

Enter Queen.

QUEEN

3365One woe doth tread upon another’s heel,
So fast they follow. Your sister’s drowned, Laertes.

LAERTES

Drowned? O, where?

QUEEN

190There is a willow grows askant the brook
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream.
3370Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
195But our cold maids do “dead men’s fingers” call
them.
3375There on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds
Clamb’ring to hang, an envious sliver broke,
When down her weedy trophies and herself
200Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up,
3380Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds,
As one incapable of her own distress
Or like a creature native and endued
205Unto that element. But long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
3385Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.

LAERTES

Alas, then she is drowned.

QUEEN

210Drowned, drowned.

LAERTES

Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
3390And therefore I forbid my tears. But yet
It is our trick; nature her custom holds,
Let shame say what it will. When these are gone,
215The woman will be out.—Adieu, my lord.
I have a speech o’ fire that fain would blaze,
3395But that this folly drowns it.

He exits.

KING

Let’s follow, Gertrude.
How much I had to do to calm his rage!
220Now fear I this will give it start again.
Therefore, let’s follow.

They exit.

ACT 5

Scene 1

Enter Gravedigger and Another.

GRAVEDIGGER

3400Is she to be buried in Christian burial,
when she willfully seeks her own salvation?

OTHER

I tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave
straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it
5Christian burial.

GRAVEDIGGER

3405How can that be, unless she drowned
herself in her own defense?

OTHER

Why, ’tis found so.

GRAVEDIGGER

It must be se offendendo; it cannot be
10else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself
3410wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath three
branches—it is to act, to do, to perform. Argal, she
drowned herself wittingly.

OTHER

Nay, but hear you, goodman delver—

GRAVEDIGGER

15Give me leave. Here lies the water;
3415good. Here stands the man; good. If the man go to
this water and drown himself, it is (will he, nill he)
he goes; mark you that. But if the water come to him
and drown him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he
20that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his
3420own life.

OTHER

But is this law?

GRAVEDIGGER

Ay, marry, is ’t—crowner’s ’quest law.

OTHER

Will you ha’ the truth on ’t? If this had not been
25a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o’
3425Christian burial.

GRAVEDIGGER

Why, there thou sayst. And the more
pity that great folk should have count’nance in this
world to drown or hang themselves more than
30their even-Christian. Come, my spade. There is no
3430ancient gentlemen but gard’ners, ditchers, and
grave-makers. They hold up Adam’s profession.

OTHER

Was he a gentleman?

GRAVEDIGGER

He was the first that ever bore arms.

OTHER

35Why, he had none.

GRAVEDIGGER

3435What, art a heathen? How dost thou
understand the scripture? The scripture says Adam
digged. Could he dig without arms? I’ll put another
question to thee. If thou answerest me not to the
40purpose, confess thyself—

OTHER

3440Go to!

GRAVEDIGGER

What is he that builds stronger than
either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?

OTHER

The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a
45thousand tenants.

GRAVEDIGGER

3445I like thy wit well, in good faith. The
gallows does well. But how does it well? It does
well to those that do ill. Now, thou dost ill to say the
gallows is built stronger than the church. Argal, the
50gallows may do well to thee. To ’t again, come.

OTHER

3450“Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright,
or a carpenter?”

GRAVEDIGGER

Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.

OTHER

Marry, now I can tell.

GRAVEDIGGER

55To ’t.

OTHER

3455Mass, I cannot tell.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio afar off.

GRAVEDIGGER

Cudgel thy brains no more about it,
for your dull ass will not mend his pace with
beating. And, when you are asked this question
60next, say “a grave-maker.” The houses he makes
3460lasts till doomsday. Go, get thee in, and fetch me a
stoup of liquor.
The Other Man exits
and the Gravedigger digs and sings.
In youth when I did love, did love,
Methought it was very sweet
65To contract—O—the time for—a—my behove,
3465O, methought there—a—was nothing—a—meet.

HAMLET

Has this fellow no feeling of his business? He
sings in grave-making.

HORATIO

Custom hath made it in him a property of
70easiness.

HAMLET

3470’Tis e’en so. The hand of little employment
hath the daintier sense.

GRAVEDIGGER sings

But age with his stealing steps
Hath clawed me in his clutch,
75And hath shipped me into the land,
3475As if I had never been such.

He digs up a skull.

HAMLET

That skull had a tongue in it and could sing
once. How the knave jowls it to the ground as if
’twere Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder!
80This might be the pate of a politician which this ass
3480now o’erreaches, one that would circumvent God,
might it not?

HORATIO

It might, my lord.

HAMLET

Or of a courtier, which could say “Good
85morrow, sweet lord! How dost thou, sweet lord?”
3485This might be my Lord Such-a-one that praised my
Lord Such-a-one’s horse when he went to beg it,
might it not?

HORATIO

Ay, my lord.

HAMLET

90Why, e’en so. And now my Lady Worm’s,
3490chapless and knocked about the mazard with a
sexton’s spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had
the trick to see ’t. Did these bones cost no more the
breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine
95ache to think on ’t.

GRAVEDIGGER sings

3495A pickax and a spade, a spade,
For and a shrouding sheet,
O, a pit of clay for to be made
For such a guest is meet.

He digs up more skulls.

HAMLET

100There’s another. Why may not that be the
3500skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his
quillities, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Why
does he suffer this mad knave now to knock him
about the sconce with a dirty shovel and will not tell
105him of his action of battery? Hum, this fellow might
3505be in ’s time a great buyer of land, with his statutes,
his recognizances, his fines, his double vouchers,
his recoveries. Is this the fine of his fines and the
recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine pate full
110of fine dirt? Will his vouchers vouch him no more
3510of his purchases, and double ones too, than the
length and breadth of a pair of indentures? The very
conveyances of his lands will scarcely lie in this box,
and must th’ inheritor himself have no more, ha?

HORATIO

115Not a jot more, my lord.

HAMLET

3515Is not parchment made of sheepskins?

HORATIO

Ay, my lord, and of calves’ skins too.

HAMLET

They are sheep and calves which seek out
assurance in that. I will speak to this fellow.—
120Whose grave’s this, sirrah?

GRAVEDIGGER

3520Mine, sir.
Sings.O, a pit of clay for to be made
For such a guest is meet.

HAMLET

I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in ’t.

GRAVEDIGGER

125You lie out on ’t, sir, and therefore ’tis
3525not yours. For my part, I do not lie in ’t, yet it is
mine.

HAMLET

Thou dost lie in ’t, to be in ’t and say it is thine.
’Tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou
130liest.

GRAVEDIGGER

3530’Tis a quick lie, sir; ’twill away again
from me to you.

HAMLET

What man dost thou dig it for?

GRAVEDIGGER

For no man, sir.

HAMLET

135What woman then?

GRAVEDIGGER

3535For none, neither.

HAMLET

Who is to be buried in ’t?

GRAVEDIGGER

One that was a woman, sir, but, rest
her soul, she’s dead.

HAMLET

140How absolute the knave is! We must speak by
3540the card, or equivocation will undo us. By the
Lord, Horatio, this three years I have took note of
it: the age is grown so picked that the toe of the
peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he
145galls his kibe.—How long hast thou been
3545grave-maker?

GRAVEDIGGER

Of all the days i’ th’ year, I came to ’t
that day that our last King Hamlet overcame
Fortinbras.

HAMLET

150How long is that since?

GRAVEDIGGER

3550Cannot you tell that? Every fool can
tell that. It was that very day that young Hamlet
was born—he that is mad, and sent into England.

HAMLET

Ay, marry, why was he sent into England?

GRAVEDIGGER

155Why, because he was mad. He shall
3555recover his wits there. Or if he do not, ’tis no great
matter there.

HAMLET

Why?

GRAVEDIGGER

’Twill not be seen in him there. There
160the men are as mad as he.

HAMLET

3560How came he mad?

GRAVEDIGGER

Very strangely, they say.

HAMLET

How “strangely”?

GRAVEDIGGER

Faith, e’en with losing his wits.

HAMLET

165Upon what ground?

GRAVEDIGGER

3565Why, here in Denmark. I have been
sexton here, man and boy, thirty years.

HAMLET

How long will a man lie i’ th’ earth ere he rot?

GRAVEDIGGER

Faith, if he be not rotten before he die
170(as we have many pocky corses nowadays that will
3570scarce hold the laying in), he will last you some
eight year or nine year. A tanner will last you nine
year.

HAMLET

Why he more than another?

GRAVEDIGGER

175Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his
3575trade that he will keep out water a great while; and
your water is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead
body. Here’s a skull now hath lien you i’ th’ earth
three-and-twenty years.

HAMLET

180Whose was it?

GRAVEDIGGER

3580A whoreson mad fellow’s it was.
Whose do you think it was?

HAMLET

Nay, I know not.

GRAVEDIGGER

A pestilence on him for a mad rogue!
185He poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once.
3585This same skull, sir, was, sir, Yorick’s skull, the
King’s jester.

HAMLET

This?

GRAVEDIGGER

E’en that.

HAMLET , taking the skull

190Let me see. Alas, poor
3590Yorick! I knew him, Horatio—a fellow of infinite
jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his
back a thousand times, and now how abhorred in
my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung
195those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft.
3595Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your
songs? your flashes of merriment that were wont to
set the table on a roar? Not one now to mock your
own grinning? Quite chapfallen? Now get you to my
200lady’s chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch
3600thick, to this favor she must come. Make her laugh
at that.—Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.

HORATIO

What’s that, my lord?

HAMLET

Dost thou think Alexander looked o’ this
205fashion i’ th’ earth?

HORATIO

3605E’en so.

HAMLET

And smelt so? Pah!

He puts the skull down.

HORATIO

E’en so, my lord.

HAMLET

To what base uses we may return, Horatio!
210Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of
3610Alexander till he find it stopping a bunghole?

HORATIO

’Twere to consider too curiously to consider
so.

HAMLET

No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither,
215with modesty enough and likelihood to lead it, as
3615thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander
returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth
we make loam; and why of that loam whereto he
was converted might they not stop a beer barrel?
220Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
3620Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.
O, that that earth which kept the world in awe
Should patch a wall t’ expel the winter’s flaw!

Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords attendant, and the
corpse of Ophelia, with a Doctor of Divinity.

But soft, but soft awhile! Here comes the King,
225The Queen, the courtiers. Who is this they follow?
3625And with such maimèd rites? This doth betoken
The corse they follow did with desp’rate hand
Fordo its own life. ’Twas of some estate.
Couch we awhile and mark.

They step aside.

LAERTES

230What ceremony else?

HAMLET

3630That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark.

LAERTES

What ceremony else?

DOCTOR

Her obsequies have been as far enlarged
As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful,
235And, but that great command o’ersways the order,
3635She should in ground unsanctified been lodged
Till the last trumpet. For charitable prayers
Shards, flints, and pebbles should be thrown on
her.
240Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants,
3640Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home
Of bell and burial.

LAERTES

Must there no more be done?

DOCTOR

No more be done.
245We should profane the service of the dead
3645To sing a requiem and such rest to her
As to peace-parted souls.

LAERTES

Lay her i’ th’ earth,
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
250May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
3650A minist’ring angel shall my sister be
When thou liest howling.

HAMLET , to Horatio

What, the fair Ophelia?

QUEEN

Sweets to the sweet, farewell!
She scatters flowers.
255I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife;
3655I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid,
And not have strewed thy grave.

LAERTES

O, treble woe
Fall ten times treble on that cursèd head
260Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
3660Deprived thee of!—Hold off the earth awhile,
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.
Leaps in the grave.
Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead,
Till of this flat a mountain you have made
265T’ o’ertop old Pelion or the skyish head
3665Of blue Olympus.

HAMLET , advancing

What is he whose grief
Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow
Conjures the wand’ring stars and makes them stand
270Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,
3670Hamlet the Dane.

LAERTES , coming out of the grave

The devil take thy soul!

HAMLET

Thou pray’st not well.They grapple.
I prithee take thy fingers from my throat,
275For though I am not splenitive and rash,
3675Yet have I in me something dangerous,
Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand.

KING

Pluck them asunder.

QUEEN

Hamlet! Hamlet!

ALL

280Gentlemen!

HORATIO

3680Good my lord, be quiet.

Hamlet and Laertes are separated.

HAMLET

Why, I will fight with him upon this theme
Until my eyelids will no longer wag!

QUEEN

O my son, what theme?

HAMLET

285I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
3685Could not with all their quantity of love
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?

KING

O, he is mad, Laertes!

QUEEN

For love of God, forbear him.

HAMLET

290’Swounds, show me what thou ’t do.
3690Woo’t weep, woo’t fight, woo’t fast, woo’t tear
thyself,
Woo’t drink up eisel, eat a crocodile?
I’ll do ’t. Dost thou come here to whine?
295To outface me with leaping in her grave?
3695Be buried quick with her, and so will I.
And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw
Millions of acres on us, till our ground,
Singeing his pate against the burning zone,
300Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou ’lt mouth,
3700I’ll rant as well as thou.

QUEEN

This is mere madness;
And thus awhile the fit will work on him.
Anon, as patient as the female dove
305When that her golden couplets are disclosed,
3705His silence will sit drooping.

HAMLET

Hear you, sir,
What is the reason that you use me thus?
I loved you ever. But it is no matter.
310Let Hercules himself do what he may,
3710The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.

Hamlet exits.

KING

I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.
Horatio exits.
To Laertes. Strengthen your patience in our last
night’s speech.
315We’ll put the matter to the present push.—
3715Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.—
This grave shall have a living monument.
An hour of quiet thereby shall we see.
Till then in patience our proceeding be.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

HAMLET

So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.
3720You do remember all the circumstance?

HORATIO

Remember it, my lord!

HAMLET

Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
5That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay
Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly—
3725And praised be rashness for it: let us know,
Our indiscretion sometime serves us well
When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn
10us
There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
3730Rough-hew them how we will—

HORATIO

That is most
certain.

HAMLET

15Up from my cabin,
My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark
3735Groped I to find out them; had my desire,
Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew
To mine own room again, making so bold
20(My fears forgetting manners) to unfold
Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,
3740A royal knavery—an exact command,
Larded with many several sorts of reasons
Importing Denmark’s health and England’s too,
25With—ho!—such bugs and goblins in my life,
That on the supervise, no leisure bated,
3745No, not to stay the grinding of the ax,
My head should be struck off.

HORATIO

Is ’t possible?

HAMLET

30Here’s the commission. Read it at more leisure.
Handing him a paper.
But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?

HORATIO

3750I beseech you.

HAMLET

Being thus benetted round with villainies,
Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
35They had begun the play. I sat me down,
Devised a new commission, wrote it fair—
3755I once did hold it, as our statists do,
A baseness to write fair, and labored much
How to forget that learning; but, sir, now
40It did me yeoman’s service. Wilt thou know
Th’ effect of what I wrote?

HORATIO

3760Ay, good my lord.

HAMLET

An earnest conjuration from the King,
As England was his faithful tributary,
45As love between them like the palm might flourish,
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
3765And stand a comma ’tween their amities,
And many suchlike es of great charge,
That, on the view and knowing of these contents,
50Without debatement further, more or less,
He should those bearers put to sudden death,
3770Not shriving time allowed.

HORATIO

How was this sealed?

HAMLET

Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
55I had my father’s signet in my purse,
Which was the model of that Danish seal;
3775Folded the writ up in the form of th’ other,
Subscribed it, gave ’t th’ impression, placed it
safely,
60The changeling never known. Now, the next day
Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
3780Thou knowest already.

HORATIO

So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to ’t.

HAMLET

Why, man, they did make love to this employment.
65They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
Does by their own insinuation grow.
3785’Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
Between the pass and fell incensèd points
Of mighty opposites.

HORATIO

70Why, what a king is this!

HAMLET

Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon—
3790He that hath killed my king and whored my mother,
Popped in between th’ election and my hopes,
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
75And with such cozenage—is ’t not perfect
conscience
3795To quit him with this arm? And is ’t not to be
damned
To let this canker of our nature come
80In further evil?

HORATIO

It must be shortly known to him from England
3800What is the issue of the business there.

HAMLET

It will be short. The interim’s mine,
And a man’s life’s no more than to say “one.”
85But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
That to Laertes I forgot myself,
3805For by the image of my cause I see
The portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors.
But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
90Into a tow’ring passion.

HORATIO

Peace, who comes here?

Enter Osric, a courtier.

OSRIC

3810Your Lordship is right welcome back to
Denmark.

HAMLET

I humbly thank you, sir. Aside to Horatio.
95Dost know this waterfly?

HORATIO , aside to Hamlet

No, my good lord.

HAMLET , aside to Horatio

3815Thy state is the more gracious,
for ’tis a vice to know him. He hath much
land, and fertile. Let a beast be lord of beasts and his
100crib shall stand at the king’s mess. ’Tis a chough,
but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt.

OSRIC

3820Sweet lord, if your Lordship were at leisure, I
should impart a thing to you from his Majesty.

HAMLET

I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of
105spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use: ’tis for the
head.

OSRIC

3825I thank your Lordship; it is very hot.

HAMLET

No, believe me, ’tis very cold; the wind is
northerly.

OSRIC

110It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.

HAMLET

But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for
3830my complexion.

OSRIC

Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as
’twere—I cannot tell how. My lord, his Majesty
115bade me signify to you that he has laid a great wager
on your head. Sir, this is the matter—

HAMLET

3835I beseech you, remember.

He motions to
Osric to put on his hat.

OSRIC

Nay, good my lord, for my ease, in good faith.
Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes—believe
120me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent
differences, of very soft society and great showing.
3840Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or
calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the
continent of what part a gentleman would see.

HAMLET

125Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in
you, though I know to divide him inventorially
3845would dozy th’ arithmetic of memory, and yet but
yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the
verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great
130article, and his infusion of such dearth and rareness
as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his
3850mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage,
nothing more.

OSRIC

Your Lordship speaks most infallibly of him.

HAMLET

135The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the
gentleman in our more rawer breath?

OSRIC

3855Sir?

HORATIO

Is ’t not possible to understand
in another
tongue? You will to ’t, sir, really.

HAMLET , to Osric

140What imports the nomination of
this gentleman?

OSRIC

3860Of Laertes?

HORATIO

His purse is empty already; all ’s
golden words
are spent.

HAMLET

145Of him, sir.

OSRIC

I know you are not ignorant—

HAMLET

3865I would you did, sir. Yet, in faith, if you did, it
would not much approve me. Well, sir?

OSRIC

You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes
150is—

HAMLET

I dare not confess that, lest I should compare
3870with him in excellence. But to know a man well
were to know himself.

OSRIC

I mean, sir, for his weapon. But in the imputation
155laid on him by them, in his meed he’s
unfellowed.

HAMLET

3875What’s his weapon?

OSRIC

Rapier and dagger.

HAMLET

That’s two of his weapons. But, well—

OSRIC

160The King, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary
horses, against the which he has impawned, as I
3880take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their
assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so. Three of the
carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very
165responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and
of very liberal conceit.

HAMLET

3885What call you the “carriages”?

HORATIO

I knew you must be edified
by the margent
ere you had done.

OSRIC

170The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

HAMLET

The phrase would be more germane to the
3890matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides. I
would it might be “hangers” till then. But on. Six
Barbary horses against six French swords, their
175assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages—
that’s the French bet against the Danish. Why is this
3895all “impawned,” as you call it?

OSRIC

The King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen
passes between yourself and him, he shall not
180exceed you three hits. He hath laid on twelve for
nine, and it would come to immediate trial if your
3900Lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

HAMLET

How if I answer no?

OSRIC

I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person
185in trial.

HAMLET

Sir, I will walk here in the hall. If it please his
3905Majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me. Let
the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the
King hold his purpose, I will win for him, an I can.
190If not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd
hits.

OSRIC

3910Shall I deliver you e’en so?

HAMLET

To this effect, sir, after what flourish your
nature will.

OSRIC

195I commend my duty to your Lordship.

HAMLET

Yours. Osric exits. He does well to commend
3915it himself. There are no tongues else for ’s
turn.

HORATIO

This lapwing runs away with the shell on his
200head.

HAMLET

He did comply, sir, with his dug before he
3920sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same
breed that I know the drossy age dotes on) only got
the tune of the time, and, out of an habit of
205encounter, a kind of yeasty collection, which carries
them through and through the most fanned
3925and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to
their trial, the bubbles are out.

Enter a Lord.

LORD

My lord, his Majesty commended him to you by
210young Osric, who brings back to him that you
attend him in the hall. He sends to know if your
3930pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will
take longer time.

HAMLET

I am constant to my purposes. They follow
215the King’s pleasure. If his fitness speaks, mine is
ready now or whensoever, provided I be so able as
3935now.

LORD

The King and Queen and all are coming down.

HAMLET

In happy time.

LORD

220The Queen desires you to use some gentle
entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.

HAMLET

3940She well instructs me.

Lord exits.

HORATIO

You will lose, my lord.

HAMLET

I do not think so. Since he went into France, I
225have been in continual practice. I shall win at the
odds; but thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here
3945about my heart. But it is no matter.

HORATIO

Nay, good my lord—

HAMLET

It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of
230gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a woman.

HORATIO

If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will
3950forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit.

HAMLET

Not a whit. We defy augury. There is a
special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be
235now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be
now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The
3955readiness is all. Since no man of aught he leaves
knows, what is ’t to leave betimes? Let be.

A table prepared. Enter Trumpets, Drums, and Officers
with cushions, King, Queen, Osric, and all the state,
foils, daggers, flagons of wine, and Laertes.

KING

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

He puts Laertes’ hand into Hamlet’s.

HAMLET , to Laertes

240Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong;
But pardon ’t as you are a gentleman. This presence
3960knows,
And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
With a sore distraction. What I have done
245That might your nature, honor, and exception
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
3965Was ’t Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away,
And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes,
250Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.
Who does it, then? His madness. If ’t be so,
3970Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged;
His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.
Sir, in this audience
255Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
3975That I have shot my arrow o’er the house
And hurt my brother.

LAERTES

I am satisfied in nature,
260Whose motive in this case should stir me most
To my revenge; but in my terms of honor
3980I stand aloof and will no reconcilement
Till by some elder masters of known honor
I have a voice and precedent of peace
265To keep my name ungored. But till that time
I do receive your offered love like love
3985And will not wrong it.

HAMLET

I embrace it freely
And will this brothers’ wager frankly play.—
270Give us the foils. Come on.

LAERTES

Come, one for me.

HAMLET

3990I’ll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance
Your skill shall, like a star i’ th’ darkest night,
Stick fiery off indeed.

LAERTES

275You mock me, sir.

HAMLET

No, by this hand.

KING

3995Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
You know the wager?

HAMLET

Very well, my lord.
280Your Grace has laid the odds o’ th’ weaker side.

KING

I do not fear it; I have seen you both.
4000But, since he is better, we have therefore odds.

LAERTES

This is too heavy. Let me see another.

HAMLET

This likes me well. These foils have all a length?

OSRIC

285Ay, my good lord.

Prepare to play.

KING

Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.—
4005If Hamlet give the first or second hit
Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.
290The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath,
And in the cup an union shall he throw,
4010Richer than that which four successive kings
In Denmark’s crown have worn. Give me the cups,
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
295The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,
4015“Now the King drinks to Hamlet.” Come, begin.
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

Trumpets the while.

HAMLET

Come on, sir.

LAERTES

300Come, my lord.

They play.

HAMLET

One.

LAERTES

4020No.

HAMLET

Judgment!

OSRIC

A hit, a very palpable hit.

LAERTES

305Well, again.

KING

Stay, give me drink.—Hamlet, this pearl is thine.
4025Here’s to thy health.
He drinks and then drops the pearl in the cup.
Drum, trumpets, and shot.
Give him the cup.

HAMLET

I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.
310Come. They play. Another hit. What say you?

LAERTES

A touch, a touch. I do confess ’t.

KING

4030Our son shall win.

QUEEN

He’s fat and scant of breath.—
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin; rub thy brows.
315The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

She lifts the cup.

HAMLET

Good madam.

KING

4035Gertrude, do not drink.

QUEEN

I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me.

She drinks.

KING , aside

It is the poisoned cup. It is too late.

HAMLET

320I dare not drink yet, madam—by and by.

QUEEN

Come, let me wipe thy face.

LAERTES , to Claudius

4040My lord, I’ll hit him now.

KING

I do not think ’t.

LAERTES , aside

And yet it is almost against my conscience.

HAMLET

325Come, for the third, Laertes. You do but dally.
I pray you pass with your best violence.
4045I am afeard you make a wanton of me.

LAERTES

Say you so? Come on.

Play.

OSRIC

Nothing neither way.

LAERTES

330Have at you now!

Laertes wounds Hamlet. Then in scuffling they change
rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.

KING

Part them. They are incensed.

HAMLET

4050Nay, come again.

The Queen falls.

OSRIC

Look to the Queen there, ho!

HORATIO

They bleed on both sides.—How is it, my lord?

OSRIC

335How is ’t, Laertes?

LAERTES

Why as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric.
He falls.
4055I am justly killed with mine own treachery.

HAMLET

How does the Queen?

KING

She swoons to see them bleed.

QUEEN

340No, no, the drink, the drink! O, my dear Hamlet!
The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.

She dies.

HAMLET

4060O villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked.Osric exits.
Treachery! Seek it out.

LAERTES

It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain.
345No med’cine in the world can do thee good.
In thee there is not half an hour’s life.
4065The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice
Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie,
350Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned.
I can no more. The King, the King’s to blame.

HAMLET

4070The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy
work.

Hurts the King.

ALL

Treason, treason!

KING

355O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt.

HAMLET

Here, thou incestuous, murd’rous, damnèd Dane,
4075Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?
Forcing him to drink the poison.
Follow my mother.

King dies.

LAERTES

He is justly served.
360It is a poison tempered by himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
4080Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me.

Dies.

HAMLET

Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee.—
365I am dead, Horatio.—Wretched queen, adieu.—
You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
4085That are but mutes or audience to this act,
Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death,
Is strict in his arrest), O, I could tell you—
370But let it be.—Horatio, I am dead.
Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
4090To the unsatisfied.

HORATIO

Never believe it.
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
375Here’s yet some liquor left.

He picks up the cup.

HAMLET

As thou ’rt a man,
4095Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll ha ’t.
O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,
Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind
380me!
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
4100Absent thee from felicity awhile
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain
To tell my story.
A march afar off and shot within.
385What warlike noise is this?

Enter Osric.

OSRIC

Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
4105To th’ ambassadors of England gives
This warlike volley.

HAMLET

O, I die, Horatio!
390The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit.
I cannot live to hear the news from England.
4110But I do prophesy th’ election lights
On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice.
So tell him, with th’ occurrents, more and less,
395Which have solicited—the rest is silence.
O, O, O, O!

Dies.

HORATIO

4115Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
March within.
Why does the drum come hither?

Enter Fortinbras with the English Ambassadors with
Drum, Colors, and Attendants.

FORTINBRAS

400Where is this sight?

HORATIO

What is it you would see?
4120If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.

FORTINBRAS

This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell
405That thou so many princes at a shot
So bloodily hast struck?

AMBASSADOR

4125The sight is dismal,
And our affairs from England come too late.
The ears are senseless that should give us hearing
410To tell him his commandment is fulfilled,
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
4130Where should we have our thanks?

HORATIO

Not from his
mouth,
415Had it th’ ability of life to thank you.
He never gave commandment for their death.
4135But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
420High on a stage be placed to the view,
And let me speak to th’ yet unknowing world
4140How these things came about. So shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
425Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
4145Fall’n on th’ inventors’ heads. All this can I
Truly deliver.

FORTINBRAS

Let us haste to hear it
430And call the noblest to the audience.
For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.
4150I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.

HORATIO

Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
435And from his mouth whose voice will draw on
more.
4155But let this same be presently performed
Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more
mischance
440On plots and errors happen.

FORTINBRAS

Let four captains
4160Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,
For he was likely, had he been put on,
To have proved most royal; and for his passage,
445The soldier’s music and the rite of war
Speak loudly for him.
4165Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this
Becomes the field but here shows much amiss.
Go, bid the soldiers shoot.

They exit, marching, after the which, a peal of
ordnance are shot off.