Hamlet ⟨Act II Scene II⟩: Q1 v Q2 v F1

• First Quarto (1603)
  The Tragicall Historie of
  HAMLET
  Prince of Denmarke.

   

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  1019-20  ====Enter King and Queene, Rossencraft, and Gilderstone.

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  1021-5 **King  Right noble friends, that our deere cosin Hamlet

  1021'1 Hath lost the very heart of all his sence,

  1021'2 It is most right, and we most sory for him:

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  1030 Therefore we doe desire, euen as you tender

  1030' Our care to him, and our great loue to you,

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  1035-6 That you will labour but to wring from him

  2207-8 The cause and ground of his distemperancie.

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  1044-5 Doe this, the king of Denmarke shal be thankefull.

  1044' **Ros.  My Lord, whatsoeuer lies within our power

  1046-8 Your maiestie may more commaund in wordes

  1049 Then vse perswasions to your liege men, bound

  1049' By loue, by duetie, and obedience.

  1046-50  **Guil.  What we may doe for both your Maiesties

  1050' To know the griefe troubles the Prince your sonne,

  1051-2 We will indeuour all the best we may,

  1051' So in all duetie doe we take our leaue.

  1054 **King  Thankes Guilderstone, and gentle Rossencraft.

  1055 **Que.  Thankes Rossencraft, and gentle Gilderstone.

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  1063 =====Enter Corambis and Ofelia.

  1064-5 **Cor.  My Lord, the Ambassadors are ioyfully

  1065 Return'd from Norway.

  1066 **King  Thou still hast beene the father of good news.

  1067 **Cor.  Haue I my Lord? I assure your grace,[D3^v

  1068 I holde my duetie as I holde my life,

  1069 Both to my God, and to my soueraigne King:

  1070 And I beleeue, or else this braine of mine

  1071 Hunts not the traine of policie so well

  1072 As it had wont to doe, but I haue found

  1073 The very depth of Hamlets lunacie.

  1062 **Queene  God graunt he hath.

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  1082 =====Enter the Ambassadors.

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  1084 **King  Now Voltemar, what from our brother Norway?

  1085 **Volt.  Most faire returnes of greetings and desires,

  1086 Vpon our first he sent forth to suppresse

  1087 His nephews leuies, which to him appear'd

  1088 To be a preparation gainst the Polacke:

  1089 But better look't into, he truely found

  1090 It was against your Highnesse, whereat grieued,

  1091 That so his sickenesse, age, and impotence,

  1092 Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests

  1093 On Fortenbrasse, which he in briefe obays,

  1094 Receiues rebuke from Norway: and in fine,

  1095 Makes vow before his vncle, neuer more

  1096 To giue the assay of Armes against your Maiestie,

  1097 Whereon olde Norway ouercome with ioy,

  1098 Giues him three thousand crownes in annuall fee,

  1099 And his Commission to employ those souldiers,

  1100 So leuied as before, against the Polacke,

  1101 With an intreaty heerein further shewne,

  1102 That it would please you to giue quiet passe

  1103 Through your dominions, for that enterprise

  1104 On such regardes of safety and allowances

  1105 As therein are set downe.

  1106-7 **King  It likes vs well, and at fit time and leasure

  1107-8 Weele reade and answere these his Articles,

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  1109 Meane time we thanke you for your well

  1109-10  Tooke labour: go to your rest, at night weele feast togither:

  1111 Right welcome home. =======exeunt Ambassadors.

  1112 **Cor.  This busines is very well dispatched.[D4^r

  1112' Now my Lord, touching the yong Prince Hamlet,

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  1119-28  Certaine it is that hee is madde: mad let vs grant him then:

  1129 Now to know the cause of this effect,

  1130 Or else to say the cause of this defect,

  1131 For this effect defectiue comes by cause.

  1123 **Queene  Good my Lord be briefe.

  1124-33  **Cor.  Madam I will: my Lord, I haue a daughter,

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  1133 Haue while shee's mine: for that we thinke

  1133'1___Is surest, we often loose: now to the Prince.

  1133'2___My Lord, but note this letter,

  1134 The which my daughter in obedience

  1135 Deliuer'd to my handes.

  1135'1___**King  Reade it my Lord.

  1135'2___**Cor.  Marke my Lord.

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  1144 Doubt that in earth is fire,

  1145 Doubt that the starres doe moue,

  1146 Doubt trueth to be a liar,

  1147 But doe not doubt I loue.

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  1137-8 To the beautifull Ofelia:

  1151-2 Thine euer the most vnhappy Prince Hamlet.

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  1158 My Lord, what doe you thinke of me?

  1160-1 I, or what might you thinke when I sawe this?

  1159 **King  As of a true friend and a most louing subiect.

  1160 **Cor.  I would be glad to prooue so.

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  1169 Now when I saw this letter, thus I bespake my maiden:

  1170 Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of your starre,

  1170' And one that is vnequall for your loue:

  1171 Therefore I did commaund her refuse his letters,

  1172-3 Deny his tokens, and to absent her selfe.

  1174 Shee as my childe obediently obey'd me.

  1174'1___Now since which time, seeing his loue thus cross'd,

  1174'2___Which I tooke to be idle, and but sport,

  1176 He straitway grew into a melancholy,

  1176' From that vnto a fast, then vnto distraction,

  1176-9 Then into a sadnesse, from that vnto a madnesse,

  1177-8 And so by continuance, and weakenesse of the braine[D4^v

  1179 Into this frensie, which now possesseth him:

  1187 And if this be not true, take this from this.

  1181 **King  Thinke you t'is so?

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  1183 **Cor.  How? so my Lord, I would very faine know

  1184 That thing that I haue saide t'is so, positiuely,

  1185 And it hath fallen out otherwise.

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  1188 Nay, if circumstances leade me on,

  1188-9 Ile finde it out, if it were hid

  1190 As deepe as the centre of the earth.

  1191 **King.  how should wee trie this same?

  1191' **Cor.  Mary my good lord thus,

  1193-4 The Princes walke is here in the galery,

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  1196 There let Ofelia, walke vntill hee comes:

  1197 Your selfe and I will stand close in the study,

  1197' There shall you heare the effect of all his hart,

  1198 And if it proue any otherwise then loue,

  1198' Then let my censure faile an other time.

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  1204-5 **King.  see where hee comes poring vppon a booke.

  1203 =====Enter Hamlet.

  1206-8 **Cor.  Madame, will it please your grace

  1206-8 To leaue vs here?

  1687 **Que.  With all my hart. =========exit.

  1695 **Cor.  And here Ofelia, reade you on this booke,

  1694 And walke aloofe, the King shal be vnseene.

  1710 **Ham.  To be, or not to be, I there's the point,

  1714-8 To Die, to sleepe, is that all? I all:

  1719 No, to sleepe, to dreame, I mary there it goes,

  1720 For in that dreame of death, when wee awake,

  1733 And borne before an euerlasting Iudge,

  1734 From whence no passenger euer retur'nd,

  1733'1___The vndiscouered country, at whose sight

  1733'2___The happy smile, and the accursed damn'd.

  1733'3___But for this, the ioyfull hope of this,

  1724 Whol'd beare the scornes and flattery of the world,

  1725 Scorned by the right rich, the rich curssed of the poore?

  1725'1___The widow being oppressed, the orphan wrong'd,[E1^r

  1725'2___The taste of hunger, or a tirants raigne,

  1716-23  And thousand more calamities besides,

  1731 To grunt and sweate vnder this weary life,

  1729 When that he may his full Quietus make,

  1730 With a bare bodkin, who would this indure,

  1732 But for a hope of something after death?

  1734 Which pusles the braine, and doth confound the sence,

  1735 Which makes vs rather beare those euilles we haue,

  1736 Than flie to others that we know not of.

  1737 I that, O this conscience makes cowardes of vs all,

  1743-4 Lady in thy orizons, be all my sinnes remembred.

  1745 **Ofel.  My Lord, I haue sought opportunitie, which now

  1748-9 I haue, to redeliuer to your worthy handes, a small remem–

  1748 brance, such tokens which I haue receiued of you.

  1760 **Ham.  Are you faire?

  1759 **Ofel.  My Lord.

  1758 **Ham.  Are you honest?

  1761 **Ofel.  What meanes my Lord?

  1762 **Ham.  That if you be faire and honest,

  1762-3 Your beauty should admit no discourse to your honesty.

  1764 **Ofel.  My Lord, can beauty haue better priuiledge than

  1765 with honesty?

  1766-7 **Ham.  Yea mary may it; for Beauty may transforme

  1767 Honesty, from what she was into a bawd:

  1767-8 Then Honesty can transforme Beauty:

  1769 This was sometimes a Paradox,

  1769' But now the time giues it scope.

  1751 I neuer gaue you nothing.

  1752 **Ofel.  My Lord, you know right well you did,

  1753 And with them such earnest vowes of loue,

  1754 As would haue moou'd the stoniest breast aliue,

  1754' But now too true I finde,

  1756 Rich giftes waxe poore, when giuers grow vnkinde.

  1774 **Ham.  I neuer loued you.

  1771 **Ofel.  You made me beleeue you did.

  1772 **Ham.  O thou shouldst not a beleeued me![E1^v

  1776 Go to a Nunnery goe, why shouldst thou

  1777 Be a breeder of sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest,

  1778 But I could accuse my selfe of such crimes

  1778-9 It had beene better my mother had ne're borne me,

  1779-80  O I am very prowde, ambitious, disdainefull,

  1780-1 With more sinnes at my becke, then I haue thoughts

  1781-3 To put them in, what should such fellowes as I

  1783 Do, crawling between heauen and earth?

  1784-5 To a Nunnery goe, we are arrant knaues all,

  1784-5 Beleeue none of vs, to a Nunnery goe.

  1789-97  **Ofel.  O heauens secure him!

  1785 **Ham.  Wher's thy father?

  1786 **Ofel.  At home my lord.

  1787 **Ham.  For Gods sake let the doores be shut on him,

  1787-8 He may play the foole no where but in his

  1788-95  Owne house: to a Nunnery goe.

  1789 **Ofel.  Help him good God.

  1790 **Ham.  If thou dost marry, Ile giue thee

  1790-1 **This plague to thy dowry:

  1791 Be thou as chaste as yce, as pure as snowe,

  1792-5 Thou shalt not scape calumny, to a Nunnery goe.

  1792' **Ofel.  Alas, what change is this?

  1793 **Ham.  But if thou wilt needes marry, marry a foole,

  1794 For wisemen know well enough,

  1794-5 What monsters you make of them, to a Nunnery goe.

  1797 **Ofel.  Pray God restore him.

  1798 **Ham.  Nay, I haue heard of your paintings too,

  1799 God hath giuen you one face,

  1800 And you make your selues another,

  1800-1 You fig, and you amble, and you nickname Gods creatures,

  1801-2 Making your wantonnesse, your ignorance,

  1802 A pox, t'is scuruy, Ile no more of it,

  1802-3 It hath made me madde: Ile no more marriages,

  1803-4 All that are married but one, shall liue,

  1804-5 The rest shall keepe as they are, to a Nunnery goe,

  1805 To a Nunnery goe. =======exit.[E2^r

  1805' **Ofe.  Great God of heauen, what a quicke change is this?

  1807 The Courtier, Scholler, Souldier, all in him,

  1816 All dasht and splinterd thence, O woe is me,

  1817 To a seene what I haue seene, see what I see. ===exit.

  1818-9 **King  Loue? No, no, that's not the cause, ===Enter King and

  1818'1 Some deeper thing it is that troubles him. ===Corambis.

  1818'2 **Cor.  Wel, something it is: my Lord, content you a while,

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  1206-8 I will my selfe goe feele him: let me worke,

  1204-6 Ile try him euery way: see where he comes,

  1207 Send you those Gentlemen, let me alone

  1206 To finde the depth of this, away, be gone. ===exit King.

  1203-10  Now my good Lord, do you know me? ===Enter Hamlet.

  1211 **Ham.  Yea very well, y'are a fishmonger.

  1212 **Cor.  Not I my Lord.

  1213 **Ham.  Then sir, I would you were so honest a man,

  1215 For to be honest, as this age goes,

  1215-6 Is one man to be pickt out of tenne thousand.

  1229 **Cor.  What doe you reade my Lord?

  1230 **Ham.  Wordes, wordes.

  1231 **Cor.  What's the matter my Lord?

  1232 **Ham.  Betweene who?

  1233 **Cor.  I meane the matter you reade my Lord.

  1233' **Ham.  Mary most vile heresie:

  1234 For here the Satyricall Satyre writes,

  1235 That olde men haue hollow eyes, weake backes,

  1235-8 Grey beardes, pittifull weake hammes, gowty legges,

  1238-9 All which sir, I most potently beleeue not:

  1240-1 For sir, your selfe shalbe olde as I am,

  1241-2 If like a Crabbe, you could goe backeward.

  1248 **Cor.  How pregnant his replies are, and full of wit:

  1226-7 Yet at first he tooke me for a fishmonger:

  1226' All this comes by loue, the vemencie of loue,

  1227 And when I was yong, I was very idle,

  1228 And suffered much extasie in loue, very neere this:

  1244-5 Will you walke out of the aire my Lord?

  1246 **Ham.  Into my graue.[E2^v

  1247 **Cor.  By the masse that's out of the aire indeed,

  1248 Very shrewd answers,

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  1256-7 My lord I will take my leaue of you.

  1265 =====Enter Gilderstone, and Rossencraft.

  1258 **Ham.  You can take nothing from me sir,

  1258-9 I will more willingly part with all,

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  1262 Olde doating foole.

  1263-4 **Cor,  You seeke Prince Hamlet, see, there he is. ===exit.

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  0…-_____**Gil.  Health to your Lordship.

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  1270 **Ham.  What, Gilderstone, and Rossencraft,

  1270' Welcome kinde Schoole-fellowes to Elsanoure.

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  0…-_____**Gil.  We thanke your Grace, and would be very glad

  0…-_____You were as when we were at Wittenberg.

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  1320-2 **Ham.  I thanke you, but is this visitation free of

  1321 Your selues, or were you not sent for?

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  1323-8 Tell me true, come, I know the good King and Queene

  1326-8 Sent for you, there is a kinde of confession in your eye:

  1322-8 Come, I know you were sent for.

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  1336 **Gil.  What say you?

  1337 **Ham.  Nay then I see how the winde sits,

  1321-8 Come, you were sent for.

  1339 **Ross.  My lord, we were, and willingly if we might,

   _______Know the cause and ground of your discontent.

  2210 **Ham.  Why I want preferment.

  1294 **Ross.  I thinke not so my lord.

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  1345 **Ham.  Yes faith, this great world you see contents me not,

  1346-8 No nor the spangled heauens, nor earth, nor sea,

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  1355 No nor Man that is so glorious a creature,

  1355-6 Contents not me, no nor woman too, though you laugh.

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  1358 **Gil.  My lord, we laugh not at that.

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  1360 **Ham.  Why did you laugh then,

  1360-1 When I said, Man did not content mee?

  1362-3 **Gil.  My Lord, we laughed, when you said, Man did not

  1362-3 content you.

  1363 What entertainement the Players shall haue,

  1364-5 We boorded them a the way: they are comming to you.[E3^r

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  1372-3 **Ham.  Players, what Players be they?

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  1375 **Ross.  My Lord, the Tragedians of the Citty,

  1374 Those that you tooke delight to see so often. ========(stie?

  1376-84  **Ham.  How comes it that they trauell? Do they grow re– ↑

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  1385-6 **Gil.  No my Lord, their reputation holds as it was wont.

  0…-_____**Ham.  How then?

  1386-91  **Gil.  Yfaith my Lord, noueltie carries it away,

  1386-91  For the principall publike audience that

  1386-91  Came to them, are turned to priuate playes,

  1386-91  And to the humour of children.

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  1409 **Ham.  I doe not greatly wonder of it,

  1410 For those that would make mops and moes

  1410-1 At my vncle, when my father liued,

  1411 Now giue a hundred, two hundred pounds

  1412 For his picture: but they shall be welcome,

  1366-7 He that playes the King shall haue tribute of me,

  1367-8 The ventrous Knight shall vse his foyle and target,

  1368-9 The louer shall sigh gratis,

  1370 The clowne shall make them laugh ============(for't,

  1370-2 That are tickled in the lungs, or the blanke verse shall halt ↑

  1371-2 And the Lady shall haue leaue to speake her minde freely.

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  1415-27  =======The Trumpets sound, Enter Corambis.

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  1430 Do you see yonder great baby?

  1430-1 He is not yet out of his swadling clowts.

  1432-3 **Gil.  That may be, for they say an olde man

  1433 Is twice a childe. =====================(Players,

  1434-5 **Ham.  Ile prophecie to you, hee comes to tell mee a the ↑

  1435-6 You say true, a monday last, t'was so indeede.

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  1437 **Cor.  My lord, I haue news to tell you.

  1438 **Ham.  My Lord, I haue newes to tell you:

  1439 When Rossios was an Actor in Rome.

  1440 **Cor.  The Actors are come hither, my lord.

  1441 **Ham.  Buz, buz.

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  1444 **Cor.  The best Actors in Christendome,

  1444-5 Either for Comedy, Tragedy, Historie, Pastorall,

  1445-6 Pastorall, Historicall, Historicall, Comicall,[E3^v

  1446-7 Comicall historicall, Pastorall, Tragedy historicall:

  1448-9 Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plato too light:

  1449-50  For the law hath writ those are the onely men.

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  1451-2 **Ha.  O Iepha Iudge of Israel! what a treasure hadst thou?

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  1453 **Cor.  Why what a treasure had he my lord?

  1454 **Ham.  Why one faire daughter, and no more,

  1455 The which he loued passing well.

  1458 **Cor.  A, stil harping a my daughter! well my Lord,

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  1458-9 If you call me Iepha, I hane a daughter that

  1459 I loue passing well.

  1460 **Ham.  Nay that followes not.

  1461 **Cor.  What followes then my Lord?

  1462-3 **Ham.  Why by lot, or God wot, or as it came to passe,

  1463-4 And so it was, the first verse of the godly Ballet

  1464-5 Wil tel you all: for look you where my abridgement comes:

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  1466-7 Welcome maisters, welcome all, ===Enter players.

  1468-9 What my olde friend, thy face is vallanced

  1469-70  Since I saw thee last, com'st thou to beard me in Denmarke?

  1470-1 My yong lady and mistris, burlady but your =====(you were:

  1471-2 Ladiship is growne by the altitude of a chopine higher than ↑

  1472-3 Pray God sir your voyce, like a peece of vncurrant

  1473-4 Golde, be not crack't in the ring: come on maisters,

  1474-5 Weele euen too't, like French Falconers,

  1475-6 Flie at any thing we see, come, a taste of your

  1476-7 Quallitie, a speech, a passionate speech.

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  1478 **Players  What speech my good lord?

  1479 **Ham.  I heard thee speake a speech once,

  1479-80  But it was neuer acted: or if it were,

  1480-1 Neuer aboue twice, for as I remember,

  1481 It pleased not the vulgar, it was cauiary

  1481-2 To the million: but to me

  1482-3 And others, that receiued it in the like kinde,

  1483-4 Cried in the toppe of their iudgements, an excellent play,

  1484-5 Set downe with as great modestie as cunning:

  1485-7 One said there was no sallets in the lines to make thē sauory,

  1488 But called it an honest methode, as wholesome as sweete.[E4^r

  1489 Come, a speech in it I chiefly remember

  1489-90  Was AEneas tale to Dido,

  1490-1 And then especially where he talkes of Princes slaughter,

  1491-2 If it liue in thy memory beginne at this line,

  1492 Let me see.

  1492-3 The rugged Pyrrus, like th'arganian beast:

  1493 No t'is not so, it begins with Pirrus:

  1493' O I haue it.

  1494 The rugged Pirrus, he whose sable armes,

  1495 Blacke as his purpose did the night resemble,

  1496 When he lay couched in the ominous horse,

  1497 Hath now his blacke and grimme complexion smeered

  1498 With Heraldry more dismall, head to foote,

  1499 Now is he totall guise, horridely tricked

  1500 With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes,

  1501-4 Back't and imparched in calagulate gore,

  1503-6 Rifted in earth and fire, olde grandsire Pryam seekes:

  1506 So goe on. ===========================(accent.

  1507-8 **Cor.  Afore God, my Lord, well spoke, and with good ↑

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  1509-10  **Play.  Anone he finds him striking too short at Greeks,

  1510-1 His antike sword rebellious to his Arme,

  1511 Lies where it falles, vnable to resist.

  1513 Pyrrus at Pryam driues, but all in rage,

  1513-4 Strikes wide, but with the whiffe and winde

  1514-5 Of his fell sword, th'unnerued father falles.

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  1538 **Cor.  Enough my friend, t'is too long.

  1539 **Ham.  It shall to the Barbers with your beard:

  1540 A pox, hee's for a Iigge, or a tale of bawdry,

  1540-1 Or else he sleepes, come on to Hecuba, come.

  1542 **Play.  But who, O who had seene the mobled Queene?

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  1544 **Cor.  Mobled Queene is good, faith very good.

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  1550 **Play.  All in the alarum and feare of death rose vp,

  1549 And o're her weake and all ore-teeming loynes, a blancket

  1547 And a kercher on that head, where late the diademe stoode,

  1551 Who this had seene with tongue inuenom'd speech,

  1552 Would treason haue pronounced,[E4^v

  1553 For if the gods themselues had seene her then,

  1554 When she saw Pirrus with malitious strokes,

  1555 Mincing her husbandes limbs,

  1558 It would haue made milch the burning eyes of heauen,

  1559 And passion in the gods.

  1560 **Cor  Looke my lord if he hath not changde his colour,

  1560-1 And hath teares in his eyes: no more good heart, no more.

  1562-3 **Ham.  T'is well, t'is very well, I pray my lord,

  1563-4 Will you see the Players well bestowed,

  1564-5 I tell you they are the Chronicles

  1565 And briefe abstracts of the time,

  1565-6 After your death I can tell you,

  1566 You were better haue a bad Epiteeth,

  1566-7 Then their ill report while you liue.

  1568-9 **Cor.  My lord, I will vse them according to their deserts.

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  1570-1 **Ham.  O farre better man, vse euery man after his deserts,

  1571 Then who should scape whipping?

  1571-2 Vse them after your owne honor and dignitie,

  1572-3 The lesse they deserue, the greater credit's yours.

  000¦

  1575 **Cor.  Welcome my good fellowes. =========exit.

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  1577-8 **Ham.  Come hither maisters, can you not play the mur–

  1578 der of Gonsago?

  1579 **players  Yes my Lord.

  1580-1 **Ham.  And could'st not thou for a neede study me

  1581 Some dozen or sixteene lines,

  1581-2 Which I would set downe and insert?

  1583 **players  Yes very easily my good Lord.

  1584 **Ham.  T'is well, I thanke you: follow that lord:

  1584-5 And doe you heare sirs? take heede you mocke him not.

  0…-_____Gentlemen, for your kindnes I thanke you,

  1585 And for a time I would desire you leaue me.

  0…-_____**Gil.  Our loue and duetie is at your commaund.

  1587-8 =============Exeunt all but Hamlet.

  1590  Ham.  Why what a dunghill idiote slaue am I?

  1591-5 Why these Players here draw water from eyes:

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  1598-9 For Hecuba, why what is Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba?[F1^r

  1600-3 What would he do and if he had my losse?

  0…-_____His father murdred, and a Crowne bereft him,

  1602 He would turne all his teares to droppes of blood,

  1603-5 Amaze the standers by with his laments,

  0…-_____Strike more then wonder in the iudiciall eares,

  1605 Confound the ignorant, and make mute the wise,

  0…-_____Indeede his passion would be generall.

  1606-8 Yet I like to an asse and Iohn a Dreames,

  1609-11  Hauing my father murdred by a villaine,

  1609-11  Stand still, and let it passe, why sure I am a coward:

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  1613-4 Who pluckes me by the beard, or twites my nose,

  1614-5 Giue's me the lie i'th throate downe to the lungs,

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  1616-7 Sure I should take it, or else I haue no gall,

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  1618-9 Or by this I should a fatted all the region kites

  1620 With this slaues offell, this damned villaine,

  1620-1 Treacherous, bawdy, murderous villaine:

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  1623-4 Why this is braue, that I the sonne of my deare father,

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  1627-8 Should like a scalion, like a very drabbe

  1626-8 Thus raile in wordes. About my braine,

  1629 I haue heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play,

  1630-2 Hath, by the very cunning of the scene, confest a murder

  0…-_____Committed long before.

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  1638-9 This spirit that I haue seene may be the Diuell,

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  1641 And out of my weakenesse and my melancholy,

  1642 As he is very potent with such men,

  1643-4 Doth seeke to damne me, I will haue sounder proofes,

  1644 The play's the thing,

  1645 Wherein I'le catch the conscience of the King. ===exit.

• Second Quarto (1605)
  The Tragedie of
  H A M L E T
  Prince of Denmarke.

   

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  1019 ===Florish. == Enter King and Queene, Rosencraus and

  1020 =================Guyldensterne.

  1021 @#King.  Welcome deere Rosencraus, and Guyldensterne,

  1022 Moreouer, that we much did long to see you,

  1023 The need we haue to vse you did prouoke

  1024 Our hastie sending, something haue you heard

  1025 Of Hamlets transformation, so call it,

  1026 Sith nor th'exterior, nor the inward man

  1027 Resembles that it was, what it should be,

  1028 More then his fathers death, that thus hath put him

  1029 So much from th'vnderstanding of himselfe

  1030 I cannot dreame of: I entreate you both

  1031 That beeing of so young dayes brought vp with him,

  1032 And sith so nabored to his youth and hauior,

  1033 That you voutsafe your rest heere in our Court

  1034 Some little time, so by your companies

  1035 To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather

  1036 So much as from occasion you may gleane,[E3^r

  1036+1 Whether ought to vs vnknowne afflicts him thus,

  1037 That opend lyes within our remedie.

  1038 @#Quee.  Good gentlemen, he hath much talkt of you,

  1039 And sure I am, two men there is not liuing

  1040 To whom he more adheres, if it will please you

  1041 To shew vs so much gentry and good will,

  1042 As to expend your time with vs a while,

  1043 For the supply and profit of our hope,

  1044 Your visitation shall receiue such thanks

  1045 As fits a Kings remembrance.

  1046 @#Ros.  Both your Maiesties

  1047 Might by the soueraigne power you haue of vs,

  1048 Put your dread pleasures more into commaund

  1049 Then to entreatie.

  1050 @#Guyl.  But we both obey.

  1051 And heere giue vp our selues in the full bent,

  1052 To lay our seruice freely at your feete

  1053 To be commaunded.

  1054 @#King.  Thanks Rosencraus, and gentle Guyldensterne.

  1055 @#Quee.  Thanks Guyldensterne, and gentle Rosencraus.

  1056 And I beseech you instantly to visite

  1057 My too much changed sonne, goe some of you

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  1059 And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

  1060 @#Guyl.  Heauens make our presence and our practices

  1061 Pleasant and helpfull to him.

  1062 @#Quee.  I Amen. ==Exeunt Ros. and Guyld.

  1063 =========Enter Polonius.

  1064 @#Pol.  Th'embassadors from Norway my good Lord,

  1065 Are ioyfully returnd.

  1066 @#King.  Thou still hast been the father of good newes.

  1067 @#Pol.  Haue I my Lord? I assure my good Liege

  1068 I hold my dutie as I hold my soule,

  1069 Both to my God, and to my gracious King;

  1070 And I doe thinke, or els this braine of mine

  1071 Hunts not the trayle of policie so sure

  1072 As it hath vsd to doe, that I haue found

  1073 The very cause of Hamlets lunacie.

  1074 @#King.  O speake of that, that doe I long to heare.

  1075 @#Pol.  Giue first admittance to th'embassadors,[E3^v

  1076 My newes shall be the fruite to that great feast.

  1077 @#King.  Thy selfe doe grace to them, and bring them in.

  1078 He tells me my deere Gertrard he hath found

  1079 The head and source of all your sonnes distemper.

  1080 @#Quee.  I doubt it is no other but the maine

  1081 His fathers death, and our hastie marriage.

  1082 ============Enter Embassadors.

  1083 @#King.  Well, we shall sift him, welcome my good friends,

  1084 Say Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?

  1085 **Vol.  Most faire returne of greetings and desires;

  1086 Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse

  1087 His Nephews leuies, which to him appeard

  1088 To be a preparation gainst the Pollacke,

  1089 But better lookt into, he truly found

  1090 It was against your highnes, whereat greeu'd

  1091 That so his sicknes, age, and impotence

  1092 Was falsly borne in hand, sends out arrests

  1093 On Fortenbrasse, which he in breefe obeyes,

  1094 Receiues rebuke from Norway, and in fine,

  1095 Makes vow before his Vncle neuer more

  1096 To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie:

  1097 Whereon old Norway ouercome with ioy,

  1098 Giues him threescore thousand crownes in anuall fee,

  1099 And his commission to imploy those souldiers

  1100 So leuied (as before) against the Pollacke,

  1101 With an entreatie heerein further shone,

  1102 That it might please you to giue quiet passe

  1103 Through your dominions for this enterprise

  1104 On such regards of safety and allowance

  1105 As therein are set downe.

  1106 @#King.  It likes vs well,

  1107 And at our more considered time, wee'le read,

  1108 Answer, and thinke vpon this busines:

  1109 Meane time, we thanke you for your well tooke labour,

  1110 Goe to your rest, at night weele feast together,

  1111 Most welcome home. ==Exeunt Embassadors.

  1112 @#Pol.  This busines is well ended.

  1113 My Liege and Maddam, to expostulate[E4^r

  1114 What maiestie should be, what dutie is,

  1115 Why day is day, night, night, and time is time,

  1116 Were nothing but to wast night, day, and time,

  1117 Therefore breuitie is the soule of wit,

  1118 And tediousnes the lymmes and outward florishes,

  1119 I will be briefe, your noble sonne is mad:

  1120 Mad call I it, for to define true madnes,

  1121 What ist but to be nothing els but mad,

  1122 But let that goe.

  1123 @#Quee.  More matter with lesse art.

  1124 @#Pol.  Maddam, I sweare I vse no art at all,

  1125 That hee's mad tis true, tis true, tis pitty,

  1126 And pitty tis tis true, a foolish figure,

  1127 But farewell it, for I will vse no art.

  1128 Mad let vs graunt him then, and now remaines

  1129 That we find out the cause of this effect,

  1130 Or rather say, the cause of this defect,

  1131 For this effect defectiue comes by cause:

  1132 Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus

  1132' Perpend,

  1133 I haue a daughter, haue while she is mine,

  1134 Who in her dutie and obedience, marke,

  1135 Hath giuen me this, now gather and surmise,

  1137 ====To the Celestiall and my soules Idoll, the most beau-

  1137' ====tified Ophelia, that's an ill phrase, a vile phrase,

  1139 ====beautified is a vile phrase, but you shall heare: thus in

  1140 ====her excellent white bosome, these &c.

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  1142 @#Quee.  Came this from Hamlet to her?

  1143 @#Pol.  Good Maddam stay awhile, I will be faithfull,

  1144 Doubt thou the starres are fire, ========Letter.

  1145 Doubt that the Sunne doth moue,

  1146 Doubt truth to be a lyer,

  1147 But neuer doubt I loue.

  1148 O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers, I haue not art to recken

  1149 %-my grones, but that I loue thee best, ô most best belieue it, adew.

  1151 %-Thine euermore most deere Lady, whilst this machine is to him. ↓

  1153 Pol.  This in obedience hath my daughter showne me, ====(Hamlet.

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  1154 And more about hath his solicitings

  1155 As they fell out by time, by meanes, and place,[E4^v

  1156 All giuen to mine eare.

  1157 @#King.  But how hath she receiu'd his loue?

  1158 @#Pol.  What doe you thinke of me?

  1159 @#King.  As of a man faithfull and honorable.

  1160 @#Pol.  I would faine proue so, but what might you thinke

  1161 When I had seene this hote loue on the wing,

  1162 As I perceiu'd it (I must tell you that)

  1163 Before my daughter told me, what might you,

  1164 Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere thinke,

  1165 If I had playd the Deske, or Table booke,

  1166 Or giuen my hart a working mute and dumbe,

  1167 Or lookt vppon this loue with idle sight,

  1168 What might you thinke? no, I went round to worke,

  1169 And my young Mistris thus I did bespeake,

  1170 Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy star,

  1171 This must not be: and then I prescripts gaue her

  1172 That she should locke her selfe from her resort,

  1173 Admit no messengers, receiue no tokens,

  1174 Which done, she tooke the fruites of my aduise:

  1175 And he repell'd, a short tale to make,

  1176 Fell into a sadnes, then into a fast,

  1177 Thence to a wath, thence into a weakenes,

  1178 Thence to lightnes, and by this declension,

  1179 Into the madnes wherein now he raues,

  1180 And all we mourne for.

  1181 @#King.  Doe you thinke this?

  1182 @#Quee.  It may be very like.

  1183 @#Pol.  Hath there been such a time, I would faine know that,

  1184 That I haue positiuely said, tis so,

  1185 When it proou'd otherwise?

  1186 @#King.  Not that I know.

  1187 @#Pol.  Take this, from this, if this be otherwise;

  1188 If circumstances leade me, I will finde

  1189 Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede

  1190 Within the Center.

  1191 @#King.  How may we try it further?

  1192 @#Pol.  You know sometimes he walkes foure houres together

  1193 Heere in the Lobby.

  000¦

  1195 @#Quee.  So he dooes indeede.[Fl^r

  1196 @#Pol.  At such a time, Ile loose my daughter to him,

  1197 Be you and I behind an Arras then,

  1198 Marke the encounter, if he loue her not,

  1199 And be not from his reason falne thereon

  1200 Let me be no assistant for a state

  1201 But keepe a farme and carters.

  1202 @#King.  We will try it.

  1203 ===========Enter Hamlet.

  1204 @#Quee.  But looke where sadly the poore wretch comes reading.

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  1206 @#Pol.  Away, I doe beseech you both away, ==Exit King and Queene.

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  1207 Ile bord him presently, oh giue me leaue,

  1208 How dooes my good Lord Hamlet?

  1209 @#Ham.  Well, God a mercy.

  1210 @#Pol.  Doe you knowe me my Lord?

  1211 @#Ham.  Excellent well, you are a Fishmonger.

  1212 @#Pol.  Not I my Lord.

  1213 @#Ham.  Then I would you were so honest a man.

  1214 @#Pol.  Honest my Lord.

  1215 @#Ham.  I sir to be honest as this world goes,

  1216 Is to be one man pickt out of tenne thousand.

  1217 @#Pol.  That's very true my Lord.

  1218 @#Ham.  For if the sunne breede maggots in a dead dogge, being a

  1219 %-good kissing carrion. Haue you a daughter?

  000¦

  1221 @#Pol.  I haue my Lord.

  1222 @#Ham.  Let her not walke i'th Sunne, conception is a blessing,

  1223 But as your daughter may conceaue, friend looke to't.

  000¦

  1225 @#Pol.  How say you by that, still harping on my daughter, yet hee

  1226 %-knewe me not at first, a sayd I was a Fishmonger, a is farre gone,

  1227 %-and truly in my youth, I suffred much extremity for loue, very

  1228 %-neere this. Ile speake to him againe. What doe you reade my

  1229 %-Lord.

  1230 @#Ham.  Words, words, words.

  1231 @#Pol.  What is the matter my Lord.

  1232 @#Ham.  Betweene who.

  1233 @#Pol.  I meane the matter that you reade my Lord.

  1234 @#Ham.  Slaunders sir; for the satericall rogue sayes heere, that old

  1235 %-men haue gray beards, that their faces are wrinckled, their eyes

  1236 %-purging thick Amber, & plumtree gum, & that they haue a plen-

  1237 tifull lacke of wit, together with most weake hams, all which sir[Fl^v

  1238 though I most powerfully and potentlie belieue, yet I hold it not

  1240 honesty to haue it thus set downe, for your selfe sir shall growe old

  1241 as I am: if like a Crab you could goe backward.

  000¦

  000¦

  1243 @#Pol.  Though this be madnesse, yet there is method in't, will you

  1244 walke out of the ayre my Lord?

  000¦

  1246 @#Ham.  Into my graue.

  1247 @#Pol.  Indeede that's out of the ayre; how pregnant sometimes

  1248 his replies are, a happines that often madnesse hits on, which reason

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  000¦

  1251 and sanctity could not so prosperously be deliuered of. I will leaue

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  1255 him and my daughter. My Lord, I will take my leaue of you.

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  1258 **Ham.  You cannot take from mee any thing that I will not more

  1259 willingly part withall: except my life, except my life, except my

  1260 life.========Enter Guyldersterne, and Rosencraus.

  1261 @#Pol.  Fare you well my Lord.

  1262 @#Ham.  These tedious old fooles.

  1263 @#Pol.  You goe to seeke the Lord Hamlet, there he is.

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  000¦

  1266 @#Ros.  God saue you sir.

  1267 @#Guyl.  My honor'd Lord.

  1268 @#Ros.  My most deere Lord.

  1269 @#Ham.  My extent good friends, how doost thou Guyldersterne?

  1270 A Rosencraus, good lads how doe you both?

  000¦

  1272 @#Ros.  As the indifferent children of the earth.

  1273 @#Guyl.  Happy, in that we are not euer happy on Fortunes lap,

  1274 We are not the very button.

  1275 @#Ham.  Nor the soles of her shooe.

  1276 @#Ros.  Neither my Lord.

  1277 @#Ham.  Then you liue about her wast, or in the middle of her fa- ↓

  1279 @#Guyl.  Faith her priuates we. =====================(uours.

  000¦

  1280 @#Ham.  In the secret parts of Fortune, oh most true, she is a strumpet,

  1281 What newes?

  1282 @#Ros.  None my Lord, but the worlds growne honest.

  000¦

  1284 @#Ham.  Then is Doomes day neere, but your newes is not true;

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  1316-7 But in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsonoure?

  1318 @#Ros.  To visit you my Lord, no other occasion.

  1319 @#Ham.  Begger that I am, I am euer poore in thankes, but I thanke

  1320 you, and sure deare friends, my thankes are too deare a halfpeny:

  1321 were you not sent for? is it your owne inclining? is it a free visitati-

  1322 on? come, come, deale iustly with me, come, come, nay speake.

  000¦

  1324 @#Guy.  What should we say my Lord?

  1325 @#Ham.  Any thing but to'th purpose: you were sent for, and there is[F2^r

  1326 a kind of confession in your lookes, which your modesties haue not

  1327 craft enough to cullour, I know the good King and Queene haue

  1328 sent for you.

  1329 @#Ros.  To what end my Lord?

  1330 @#Ham.  That you must teach me: but let me coniure you, by the

  1331 rights of our fellowship, by the consonancie of our youth, by the

  1332 obligation of our euer preserued loue; and by what more deare a

  1333 better proposer can charge you withall, bee euen and direct with

  1334 me whether you were sent for or no.

  000¦

  1336 @#Ros.  What say you.

  1337-8 @#Ham.  Nay then I haue an eye of you? if you loue me hold not of.

  000¦

  1339 @#Guyl.  My Lord we were sent for.

  1340-1 @#Ham.  I will tell you why, so shall my anticipation preuent your

  1341-2 discouery, and your secrecie to the King & Queene moult no fea-

  1342-3 ther, I haue of late, but wherefore I knowe not, lost all my mirth,

  1343-4 forgon all custome of exercises: and indeede it goes so heauily with

  1344-5 my disposition, that this goodly frame the earth, seemes to mee a

  1345-7 sterill promontorie, this most excellent Canopie the ayre, looke

  000¦

  1347-8 you, this braue orehanging firmament, this maiesticall roofe fret-

  1348-9 ted with golden fire, why it appeareth nothing to me but a foule

  1349-50  and pestilent congregation of vapoures. What peece of worke is a

  1350-1 man, how noble in reason, how infinit in faculties, in forme and

  1351-2 moouing, how expresse and admirable in action, how like an An-

  000¦

  1353-4 gell in apprehension, how like a God: the beautie of the world; the

  1354-5 paragon of Annimales; and yet to me, what is this Quintessence of

  1355-6 dust: man delights not me, nor women neither, though by your

  1356-7 smilling, you seeme to say so.

  000¦

  1358-9 @#Ros.  My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my thoughts.

  000¦

  1360-1 @#Ham.  Why did yee laugh then, when I sayd man delights not me.

  000¦

  1362-3 @#Ros.  To thinke my Lord if you delight not in man, what Lenton

  1363-4 entertainment the players shall receaue from you, we coted them

  1364-5 on the way, and hether are they comming to offer you seruice.

  000¦

  1366-7 @#Ham.  He that playes the King shal be welcome, his Maiestie shal

  1367-8 haue tribute on me, the aduenterous Knight shall vse his foyle and

  1368-9 target, the Louer shall not sigh gratis, the humorus Man shall end

  1369-72  his part in peace, and the Lady shall say her minde freely: or the

  000¦

  000¦

  1372-3 black verse shall hault for't. What players are they?

  000¦

  1374-5 @#Ros.  Euen those you were wont to take such delight in, the Trage-

  1375 dians of the Citty.

  1376-7 @#Ham.  How chances it they trauaile? their residence both in repu- [F2^v

  1377-8 tation, and profit was better both wayes.

  000¦

  1379-80  @#Ros.  I thinke their inhibition, comes by the meanes of the late

  1380 innouasion.

  1381-2 @#Ham.  Doe they hold the same estimation they did when I was in

  1382 the Citty; are they so followed.

  1383 @#Ros.  No indeede are they not.

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  1409 Ham.  It is not very strange, for my Vncle is King of Denmarke, and

  1410 %-those that would make mouths at him while my father liued, giue

  1411 %-twenty, fortie, fifty, a hundred duckets a peece, for his Picture

  1412 %-in little, s'bloud there is somthing in this more then naturall, if

  1413 %-Philosophie could find it out. ============A Florish.

  000¦

  000¦

  1416 Guyl.  There are the players.

  1417 Ham.  Gentlemen you are welcome to Elsonoure, your hands come

  1418 %-then, th'appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremonie; let

  1419 %-mee comply with you in this garb: let me extent to the players,

  1420 %-which I tell you must showe fairely outwards, should more ap-

  1421 %-peare like entertainment then yours? you are welcome: but my

  1422 %-Vncle-father, and Aunt-mother, are deceaued.

  000¦

  1424 @#Guyl.  In what my deare Lord.

  1425 @#Ham.  I am but mad North North west; when the wind is Sou-

  1426 therly, I knowe a Hauke, from a hand saw.

  1427 ===========Enter Polonius.

  1428 @#Pol.  Well be with you Gentlemen.

  1429 @#Ham.  Harke you Guyldensterne, and you to, at each eare a hearer,

  1430 that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swadling clouts.

  000¦

  1432 @#Ros.  Happily he is the second time come to them, for they say an

  1433 old man is twice a child.

  1434 @#Ham.  I will prophecy, he comes to tell me of the players, mark it,

  1435 You say right sir, a Monday morning, t'was then indeede.

  000¦

  1437 @#Pol.  My Lord I haue newes to tell you.

  1438 @#Ham.  My Lord I haue newes to tel you: when Rossius was an Aƈtor

  1439 in Rome.

  1440 @#Pol.  The Actors are come hether my Lord.

  1441 @#Ham.  Buz, buz.

  1442 @#Pol.  Vppon my honor.

  1443 @#Ham.  Then came each Actor on his Asse.

  1444 @#Pol.  The best actors in the world, either for Tragedie, Comedy,

  1445 History, Pastorall, Pastorall Comicall, Historicall Pastorall, scene

  000¦

  1447 indeuidible, or Poem vnlimited, Sceneca cannot be too heauy, nor[F3^r

  1448 Plautus too light for the lawe of writ, and the liberty: these are the

  1450 only men.

  000¦

  1451-2 @#Ham.  O Ieptha Iudge of Israell, what a treasure had'st thou?

  000¦

  1453 @#Pol.  What a treasure had he my Lord?

  1454 @#Ham.  Why one faire daughter and no more, the which he loued

  1455 passing well.

  1456 @#Pol.  Still on my daughter.

  1457 @#Ham.  Am I not i'th right old Ieptha?

  1458 @#Pol.  If you call me Ieptha my Lord, I haue a daughter that I loue ↓

  1460 @#Ham.  Nay that followes not. =================(passing well.

  000¦

  1461 @#Pol.  What followes then my Lord?

  1462 @#Ham.  Why as by lot God wot, and then you knowe it came to

  1463 passe, as most like it was; the first rowe of the pious chanson will

  1464 showe you more, for looke where my abridgment comes.

  000¦

  1466 =========Enter the Players.

  1467 Ham.  You are welcome maisters, welcome all, I am glad to see thee

  1468 ##well, welcome good friends, oh old friend, why thy face is va-

  1469 ##lanct since I saw thee last, com'st thou to beard me in Denmark?

  1470 ##what my young Lady and mistris, by lady your Ladishippe is

  1471 ##nerer to heauen, then when I saw you last by the altitude of a

  1472 ##chopine, pray God your voyce like a peece of vncurrant gold,

  1473 ##bee not crackt within the ring: maisters you are all welcome,

  1474 ##weele ento't like friendly Fankners, fly at any thing we see,

  1475 ##weele haue a speech straite, come giue vs a tast of your quality,

  000¦

  1477 ##come a passionate speech.

  1478 Player.  What speech my good Lord?

  1479 Ham.  I heard thee speake me a speech once, but it was neuer aƈted,

  1480 ##or if it was, not aboue once, for the play I remember pleasd not

  1481-2 ##the million, t'was cauiary to the generall, but it was as I receaued

  1482-3 ##it & others, whose iudgements in such matters cried in the top

  1483-4 ##of mine, an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set downe

  000¦

  1485-6 ##with as much modestie as cunning. I remember one sayd there

  1486-7 ##were no sallets in the lines, to make the matter sauory, nor no

  1487-8 ##matter in the phrase that might indite the author of affection,

  1488 ##but cald it an honest method, as wholesome as sweete, & by very

  1488+1 ##much, more handsome then fine: one speech in't I chiefely loued,

  000¦

  000¦

  1489-90  ##t'was Aeneas talke to Dido, & there about of it especially when he

  1490-1 ##speakes of Priams slaughter, if it liue in your memory begin at

  1492-3 ##this line, let me see, let me see, the rugged Pirhus like Th'ircanian

  1493-4 beast, tis not so, it beginnes with Pirrhus, the rugged Pirrhus, he whose[F3^v

  1494 sable Armes,

  1495 Black as his purpose did the night resemble,

  1496 When he lay couched in th'omynous horse,

  1497 Hath now this dread and black complection smeard,

  1498 With heraldy more dismall head to foote,

  1499 Now is he totall Gules horridly trickt

  1500 With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes,

  1501 Bak'd and empasted with the parching streetes

  1502 That lend a tirranus and a damned light

  1503 To their Lords murther, rosted in wrath and fire,

  1504 And thus ore-cised with coagulate gore,

  1505 With eyes like Carbunkles, the hellish Phirrhus

  1506 Old grandsire Priam seekes; so proceede you.

  1507-8 @#Pol.  Foregod my Lord well spoken, with good accent and good ↓

  1509 **Play. Anon he finds him, =====================(discretion.

  000¦

  1510 Striking too short at Greekes, his anticke sword

  1511 Rebellious to his arme, lies where it fals,

  1512 Repugnant to commaund; vnequall matcht,

  1513 Pirrhus at Priam driues, in rage strikes wide,

  1514 But with the whiffe and winde of his fell sword,

  1515 Th'vnnerued father fals:

  1516 Seeming to feele this blowe, with flaming top

  1517 Stoopes to his base; and with a hiddious crash

  1518 Takes prisoner Pirrhus eare, for loe his sword

  1519 Which was declining on the milkie head

  1520 Of reuerent Priam, seem'd i'th ayre to stick,

  1521 So as a painted tirant Pirrhus stood

  1522  Like a newtrall to his will and matter,

  1522' Did nothing:

  1523 But as we often see against some storme,

  1524 A silence in the heauens, the racke stand still,

  1525 The bold winds speechlesse, and the orbe belowe

  1526 As hush as death, anon the dreadfull thunder

  1527 Doth rend the region, so after Pirrhus pause,

  1528 A rowsed vengeance sets him new a worke,

  1529 And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall,

  1530 On Marses Armor forg'd for proofe eterne,

  1531 With lesse remorse then Pirrhus bleeding sword

  1532 Now falls on Priam.

  1533 Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune, all you gods,[F4^r

  1534 In generall sinod take away her power,

  1535 Breake all the spokes, and follies from her wheele,

  1536 And boule the round naue downe the hill of heauen

  1537 As lowe as to the fiends.

  1538 @#Pol.  This is too long.

  1539-40  @#Ham.  It shall to the barbers with your beard; prethee say on, he's

  1540-1 for a Iigge, or a tale of bawdry, or he sleepes, say on, come to Hecuba.

  000¦

  1542 **Play. But who, a woe, had seene the mobled Queene,

  1543 @#Ham.  The mobled Queene.

  1544 @#Pol.  That's good.

  1545-6 **Play. Runne barefoote vp and downe, threatning the flames

  000¦

  1547 With Bison rehume, a clout vppon that head

  1548 Where late the Diadem stood, and for a robe,

  1549 About her lanck and all ore-teamed loynes,

  1550 A blancket in the alarme of feare caught vp,

  1551 Who this had seene, with tongue in venom steept,

  1552 Gainst fortunes state would treason haue pronounst;

  1553 But if the gods themselues did see her then,

  1554 When she saw Pirrhus make malicious sport

  1555 In mincing with his sword her husband limmes,

  1556 The instant burst of clamor that she made,

  1557 Vnlesse things mortall mooue them not at all,

  1558 Would haue made milch the burning eyes of heauen

  1559 And passion in the gods.

  1560-1 @#Pol.  Looke where he has not turnd his cullour, and has teares in's

  1561 eyes, prethee no more.

  1562-3 @#Ham.  Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest of this soone,

  1563-4 Good my Lord will you see the players well bestowed; doe you

  1564-5 heare, let them be well vsed, for they are the abstract and breefe

  1565-6 Chronicles of the time; after your death you were better haue a

  1566-7 bad Epitaph then their ill report while you liue.

  000¦

  000¦

  1568-9 @#Pol.  My Lord, I will vse them according to their desert.

  000¦

  1570-1 @#Ham.  Gods bodkin man, much better, vse euery man after his de-

  1571-2 sert, & who shall scape whipping, vse them after your owne honor

  1572-3 and dignity, the lesse they deserue the more merrit is in your boun-

  1573-4 ty.===Take them in.

  000¦

  1575 @#Pol.  Come sirs.

  1576-7 @#Ham.  Follow him friends, weele heare a play to morrowe; dost thou

  1578 heare me old friend, can you play the murther of Gonzago?[F4^v

  000¦

  1579 **Play. I my Lord.

  1580-1 @#Ham.  Weele hate to morrowe night, you could for neede study

  1581-2 a speech of some dosen lines, or sixteene lines, which I would set

  1582 downe and insert in't, could you not?

  1583 **Play. I my Lord.

  1584-5 @#Ham.  Very well, followe that Lord, & looke you mock him not.

  1585-6 My good friends, Ile leaue you tell night, you are welcome to Elson-

  1586 oure. =======Exeunt Pol. and Players.

  1587 @#Ros.  Good my Lord. =========Exeunt.

  000¦

  1589 @#Ham.  I so God buy to you, now I am alone,

  1590 O what a rogue and pesant slaue am I.

  1591 Is it not monstrous that this player heere

  1592 But in a fixion, in a dreame of passion

  1593 Could force his soule so to his owne conceit

  1594 That from her working all the visage wand,

  1595 Teares in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,

  1596 A broken voyce, an his whole function suting

  1597 With formes to his conceit; and all for nothing,

  1598 For Hecuba.

  1599 What's Hecuba to him, or he to her,

  1600 That he should weepe for her? what would he doe

  1601 Had he the motiue, and that for passion

  1602 That I haue? he would drowne the stage with teares,

  1603 And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech,

  1604 Make mad the guilty, and appale the free,

  1605 Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeede

  1606 The very faculties of eyes and eares; yet I,

  1607 A dull and muddy metteld raskall peake,

  1608 Like Iohn-a-dreames, vnpregnant of my cause,

  1609 And can say nothing; no not for a King,

  1610 Vpon whose property and most deare life,

  1611 A damn'd defeate was made: am I a coward,

  1612 Who cals me villaine, breakes my pate a crosse,

  1613 Pluckes off my beard, and blowes it in my face,

  1614 Twekes me by the nose, giues me the lie i'th thraote

  1615 As deepe as to the lunges, who does me this,

  1616 Hah, s'wounds I should take it: for it cannot be

  1617 But I am pidgion liuerd, and lack gall

  1618 To make oppression bitter, or ere this[G1^r

  1619 I should a fatted all the region kytes

  1620 With this slaues offall, bloody, baudy villaine,

  1621 Remorslesse, trecherous, lecherous, kindlesse villaine.

  000¦

  1623 Why what an Asse am I, this is most braue,

  1624 That I the sonne of a deere murthered,

  1625 Prompted to my reuenge by heauen and hell,

  1626 Must like a whore vnpacke my hart with words,

  1627-8 And fall a cursing like a very drabbe; a stallyon, fie vppont, foh.

  1628-9 About my braines; hum, I haue heard,

  1629 That guilty creatures sitting at a play,

  1630 Haue by the very cunning of the scene,

  1631 Beene strooke so to the soule, that presently

  1632 They haue proclaim'd their malefactions:

  1633 For murther, though it haue no tongue will speake

  1634 With most miraculous organ: Ile haue these Players

  1635 Play something like the murther of my father

  1636 Before mine Vncle, Ile obserue his lookes,

  1637 Ile tent him to the quicke, if a doe blench

  1638 I know my course. The spirit that I haue seene

  1639 May be a deale, and the deale hath power

  1640 T'assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps,

  1641 Out of my weakenes, and my melancholy,

  1642 As he is very potent with such spirits,

  1643 Abuses me to damne me; Ile haue grounds

  1644 More relatiue then this, the play's the thing

  1645 Wherein Ile catch the conscience of the King. ===Exit.

• First Folio (1623)
   
  THE TRAGEDIE OF
  H A M L E T, Prince of Denmarke.

  +++++————————————————————

  1018 Scena Secunda.

  +++++————————————————————

  1019 ====Enter King, Queene, Rosincrane, and Guilden-

  1020 ============sterne Cum alijs.

  1021 @#King.  Welcome deere Rosincrance and Guildensterne.

  1022 Moreouer, that we much did long to see you,

  1023 The neede we haue to vse you, did prouoke

  1024 Our hastie sending. Something haue you heard

  1025 Of Hamlets transformation: so I call it,

  1026 Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man

  1027 Resembles that it was. What it should bee

  1028 More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him

  1029 So much from th'vnderstanding of himselfe,

  1030 I cannot deeme of. I intreat you both,

  1031 That being of so young dayes brought vp with him:

  1032 And since so Neighbour'd to his youth, and humour,

  1033 That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court

  1034 Some little time: so by your Companies

  1035 To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather

  1036 So much as from Occasions you may gleane,

  000¦

  1037 That open'd lies within our remedie.

  1038 @#Qu.  Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,

  1039 And sure I am, two men there are not liuing,

  1040 To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

  1041 To shew vs so much Gentrie, and good will,

  1042 As to expend your time with vs a-while,

  1043 For the supply and profit of our Hope,

  1044 Your Visitation shall receiue such thankes

  1045 As fits a Kings remembrance.

  1046 @#Rosin.  Both your Maiesties

  1047 Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs,

  1048 Put your dread pleasures, more into Command

  1049 Then to Entreatie.

  1050 @#Guil.  We both obey,

  1051 And here giue vp our selues, in the full bent,

  1052 To lay our Seruices freely at your feete,

  1053 To be commanded.

  1054 @#King.  Thankes Rosincrance, and gentle Guildensterne.

  1055 @#Qu.  Thankes Guildensterne and gentle Rosincrance.

  1056 And I beseech you instantly to visit

  1057 My too much changed Sonne.

  1058 Go some of ye,

  1059 And bring the Gentlemen where Hamlet is.

  1060 @#Guil.  Heauens make our presence and our practises

  1061 Pleasant and helpfull to him. ===Exit.

  1062 @#Queene.  Amen.

  1063 ==========Enter Polonius.

  1064 @#Pol.  Th'Ambassadors from Norwey, my good Lord,

  1065 Are ioyfully return'd.

  1066 @#King.  Thou still hast bin the Father of good Newes.

  1067 @#Pol.  Haue I, my Lord? Assure you, my good Liege,

  1068 I hold my dutie, as I hold my Soule,

  1069 Both to my God, one to my gracious King:

  1070 And I do thinke, or else this braine of mine

  1071 Hunts not the traile of Policie, so sure

  1072 As I haue vs'd to do: that I haue found

  1073 The very cause of Hamlets Lunacie.

  1074 @#King.  Oh speake of that, that I do long to heare.

  1075 @#Pol.  Giue first admittance to th'Ambassadors,

  1076 My Newes shall be the Newes to that great Feast.

  1077 @#King.  Thy selfe do grace to them, and bring them in.

  1078 He tels me my sweet Queene, that he hath found

  1079 The head and sourse of all your Sonnes distemper.

  1080 @#Qu.  I doubt it is no other, but the maine,

  1081 His Fathers death, and our o're-hasty Marriage.

  1082 ==========Enter Polonius, Voltumand, and Cornelius.

  1083 @#King.  Well, we shall sift him. Welcome good Frends:

  1084 Say Voltumand, what from our Brother Norwey?

  1085 **Volt.  Most faire returne of Greetings, and Desires.

  1086 Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse

  1087 His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd

  1088 To be a preparation 'gainst the Poleak:

  1089 But better look'd into, he truly found

  1090 It was against your Highnesse, whereat greeued,

  1091 That so his Sicknesse, Age, and Impotence

  1092 Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests

  1093 On Fortinbras, which he (in breefe) obeyes,

  1094 Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine,

  1095 Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more

  1096 To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie.

  1097 Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy,

  1098 Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee,

  1099 And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers

  1100 So leuied as before, against the Poleak:

  1101 With an intreaty heerein further shewne,

  1102 That it might please you to giue quiet passe

  1103 Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize,

  1104 On such regards of safety and allowance,

  1105 As therein are set downe.

  1106 @#King.  It likes vs well:

  1107 And at our more consider'd time wee'l read,

  1108 Answer, and thinke vpon this Businesse.

  1109 Meane time we thanke you, for your well-tooke Labour.

  1110 Go to your rest, at night wee'l Feast together.

  1111 Most welcome home. =====Exit Ambass.

  1112 @#Pol.  This businesse is very well ended.

  1113 My Liege, and Madam, to expostulate

  1114 What Maiestie should be, what Dutie is,

  1115 Why day is day; night, night; and time is time,

  1116 Were nothing but to waste Night, Day and Time.

  1117 Therefore, since Breuitie is the Soule of Wit,

  1118 And tediousnesse, the limbes and outward flourishes,

  1119 I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad:

  1120 Mad call I it; for to define true Madnesse,

  1121 What is't, but to be nothing else but mad.

  1122 But let that go.

  1123 @#Qu.  More matter, with lesse Art.

  1124 @#Pol.  Madam, I sweare I vse no Art at all:

  1125 That he is mad, 'tis true: 'Tis true 'tis pittie,

  1126 And pittie it is true: A foolish figure,

  1127 But farewell it: for I will vse no Art.

  1128 Mad let vs grant him then: and now remaines [oo3^r

  1129 That we finde out the cause of this effect,

  1130 Or rather say, the cause of this defect;

  1131 For this effect defectiue, comes by cause,

  1132 Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend,

  1133 I haue a daughter: haue, whil'st she is mine,

  1134 Who in her Dutie and Obedience, marke,

  1135 Hath giuen me this: now gather, and surmise.

  1136 ================The Letter.

  1137 To the Celestiall, and my Soules Idoll, the most beautified O-

  1138 ========phelia.

  1139 That's an ill Phrase, a vilde Phrase, beautified is a vilde

  1140 Phrase: but you shall heare these in her excellent white

  1141 bosome, these.

  1142 @#Qu.  Came this from Hamlet to her.

  1143 @#Pol.  Good Madam stay awhile, I will be faithfull.

  1144 Doubt thou, the Starres are fire,

  1145 Doubt, that the Sunne doth moue:

  1146 Doubt Truth to be a Lier,

  1147 But neuer Doubt, I loue.

  1148 O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these Numbers: I haue not Art to

  1149 reckon my grones; but that I loue thee best, oh most Best be-

  1150 leeue it. ==Adieu.

  1151 ========Thine euermore most deere Lady, whilst this

  1152 =============Machine is to him, Hamlet.

  1153 This in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me:

  1154 And more aboue hath his soliciting,

  1155 As they fell out by Time, by Meanes, and Place,

  1156 All giuen to mine eare.

  1157 @#King.  But how hath she receiu'd his Loue?

  1158 @#Pol.  What do you thinke of me?

  1159 @#King.  As of a man, faithfull and Honourable.

  1160 @#Pol.  I wold faine proue so. But what might you think?

  1161 When I had seene this hot loue on the wing,

  1162 As I perceiued it, I must tell you that

  1163 Before my Daughter told me, what might you

  1164 Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere, think,

  1165 If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke,

  1166 Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe,

  1167 Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle sight,

  1168 What might you thinke? No, I went round to worke,

  1169 And (my yong Mistris) thus I did bespeake

  1170 Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre,

  1171 This must not be: and then, I Precepts gaue her,

  1172 That she should locke her selfe from his Resort,

  1173 Admit no Messengers, receiue no Tokens:

  1174 Which done, she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice,

  1175 And he repulsed. A short Tale to make,

  1176 Fell into a Sadnesse, then into a Fast,

  1177 Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknesse,

  1178 Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension

  1179 Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues,

  1180 And all we waile for.

  1181 @#King.  Do you thinke 'tis this?

  1182 @#Qu.  It may be very likely.

  1183 @#Pol.  Hath there bene such a time, I'de fain know that,

  1184 That I haue possitiuely said, 'tis so,

  1185 When it prou'd otherwise?

  1186 @#King.  Not that I know.

  1187 @#Pol.  Take this from this; if this be otherwise,

  1188 If Circumstances leade me, I will finde

  1189 Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede

  1190 Within the Center.

  1191 @#King.  How may we try it further?

  1192 @#Pol.  You know sometimes

  1193 He walkes foure houres together, heere

  1194 In the Lobby.

  1195 @#Qu.  So he ha's indeed.

  1196 @#Pol.  At such a time Ile loose my Daughter to him,

  1197 Be you and I behinde an Arras then,

  1198 Marke the encounter: If he loue her not,

  1199 And be not from his reason falne thereon;

  1200 Let me be no Assistant for a State,

  1201 And keepe a Farme and Carters.

  1202 @#King.  We will try it.

  1203 =========Enter Hamlet reading on a Booke.

  1204 @#Qu.  But looke where sadly the poore wretch

  1205 Comes reading.

  1206 @#Pol.  Away I do beseech you, both away,

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  1207 Ile boord him presently.===========Exit King & Queen.

  1208 Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet?

  1209 @#Ham.  Well, God-a-mercy.

  1210 @#Pol.  Do you know me, my Lord?

  1211 @#Ham.  Excellent, excellent well: y'are a Fishmonger.

  1212 @#Pol.  Not I my Lord.

  1213 @#Ham.  Then I would you were so honest a man.

  1214 @#Pol.  Honest, my Lord?

  1215 @#Ham.  I sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to bee

  1216 one man pick'd out of two thousand.

  1217 @#Pol.  That's very true, my Lord.

  1218 @#Ham.  For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge,

  1219 being a good kissing Carrion————

  1220 Haue you a daughter?

  1221 @#Pol.  I haue my Lord.

  1222 @#Ham.  Let her not walke i'th'Sunne: Conception is a

  1223 blessing, but not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend

  1224 looke too't.

  1225 @#Pol.  How say you by that? Still harping on my daugh-

  1226 ter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a Fishmon-

  1227 ger: he is farre gone, farre gone: and truly in my youth,

  1228 I suffred much extreamity for loue: very neere this. Ile

  1229 speake to him againe. What do you read my Lord?

  1230 @#Ham.  Words, words, words.

  1231 @#Pol.  What is the matter, my Lord?

  1232 @#Ham.  Betweene who?

  1233 @#Pol.  I meane the matter you meane, my Lord.

  1234 @#Ham.  Slanders Sir: for the Satyricall slaue saies here,

  1235 that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrin-

  1236 kled; their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum-Tree

  1237 Gumme: and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit,

  1238 together with weake Hammes. All which Sir, though I

  1239 most powerfully, and potently beleeue; yet I holde it

  1240 not Honestie to haue it thus set downe: For you your

  1241 selfe Sir, should be old as I am, if like a Crab you could

  1242 go backward.

  1243 @#Pol.  Though this be madnesse,

  1244 Yet there is Method in't: will you walke

  1245 Out of the ayre my Lord?

  1246 @#Ham.  Into my Graue?

  1247 @#Pol.  Indeed that is out o'th'Ayre:

  1248 How pregnant (sometimes) his Replies are?

  1249 A happinesse,

  1250 That often Madnesse hits on,

  1251 Which Reason and Sanitie could not

  1252 So prosperously be deliuer'd of.

  1253 I will leaue him,

  1254 And sodainely contriue the meanes of meeting

  1255 Betweene him, and my daughter.

  1256 My Honourable Lord, I will most humbly

  1257 Take my leaue of you.

  1258 @#Ham.  You cannot Sir take from me any thing, that I[oo3^v

  1259 will more willingly part withall, except my life, my

  1260 life.

  1261 @#Polon.  Fare you well my Lord.

  1262 @#Ham.  These tedious old fooles.

  1263 @#Polon.  You goe to seeke my Lord Hamlet; there

  1264 hee is.

  1265 =============Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne.

  1266 @#Rosin.  God saue you Sir.

  1267 @#Guild.  Mine honour'd Lord?

  1268 @#Rosin.  My most deare Lord?

  1269 @#Ham.  My excellent good friends? How do'st thou

  1270 Guildensterne? Oh, Rosincrane; good Lads: How doe ye

  1271 both?

  1272 @#Rosin.  As the indifferent Children of the earth.

  1273 @#Guild.  Happy, in that we are not ouer-happy: on For-

  1274 tunes Cap, we are not the very Button.

  1275 @#Ham.  Nor the Soales of her Shoo?

  1276 @#Rosin.  Neither my Lord.

  1277 @#Ham.  Then you liue about her waste, or in the mid-

  1278 dle of her fauour?

  1279 @#Guil.  Faith, her priuates, we.

  1280 @#Ham.  In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true:

  1281 she is a Strumpet. What's the newes?

  1282 @#Rosin.  None my Lord; but that the World's growne

  1283 honest.

  1284 @#Ham.  Then is Doomesday neere: But your newes is

  1285 not true. Let me question more in particular: what haue

  1286 you my good friends, deserued at the hands of Fortune,

  1287 that she sends you to Prison hither?

  1288 @#Guil.  Prison, my Lord?

  1289 @#Ham.  Denmark's a Prison.

  1290 @#Rosin.  Then is the World one.

  1291 @#Ham.  A goodly one, in which there are many Con-

  1292 fines, Wards, and Dungeons; Denmarke being one o'th'

  1293 worst.

  1294 @#Rosin.  We thinke not so my Lord.

  1295 @#Ham.  Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing

  1296 either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is

  1297 a prison.

  1298 @#Rosin.  Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis

  1299 too narrow for your minde.

  1300 @#Ham.  O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and

  1301 count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that

  1302 I haue bad dreames.

  1303 ^^Guil.  Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the

  1304 very substance of the Ambitious, is meerely the shadow

  1305 of a Dreame.

  1306 @#Ham.  A dreame it selfe is but a shadow.

  1307 @#Rosin.  Truely, and I hold Ambition of so ayry and

  1308 light a quality, that it is but a shadowes shadow.

  1309 @#Ham.  Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Mo-

  1310 narchs and out-stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes:

  1311 shall wee to th'Court: for, by my fey I cannot rea-

  1312 son?

  1313 **Both.  Wee'l wait vpon you.

  1314 @#Ham.  No such matter. I will not sort you with the

  1315 rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest

  1316 man: I am most dreadfully attended; but in the beaten

  1317 way of friendship, What make you at Elsonower?

  1318 @#Rosin.  To visit you my Lord, no other occasion.

  1319 @#Ham.  Begger that I am, I am euen poore in thankes;

  1320 but I thanke you: and sure deare friends my thanks

  1321 are too deare a halfepeny; were you not sent for? Is it

  1322 your owne inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,

  1323 deale iustly with me: come, come; nay speake.

  1324 @#Guil.  What should we say my Lord?

  1325 @#Ham.  Why any thing. But to the purpose; you were

  1326 sent for; and there is a kinde confession in your lookes;

  1327 which your modesties haue not craft enough to co-

  1328 lor, I know the good King & Queene haue sent for you.

  1329 @#Rosin.  To what end my Lord?

  1330 @#Ham.  That you must teach me: but let mee coniure

  1331 you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of

  1332 our youth, by the Obligation of our euer-preserued loue,

  1333 and by what more deare, a better proposer could charge

  1334 you withall; be euen and direct with me, whether you

  1335 were sent for or no.

  1336 @#Rosin.  What say you?

  1337 @#Ham.  Nay then I haue an eye of you: if you loue me

  1338 hold not off.

  1339 @#Guil.  My Lord, we were sent for.

  1340 @#Ham.  I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation

  1341 preuent your discouery of your secricie to the King and

  1342 Queene: moult no feather, I haue of late, but wherefore

  1343 I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custome of ex-

  1344 ercise; and indeed, it goes so heauenly with my dispositi-

  1345 on; that this goodly frame the Earth, seemes to me a ster-

  1346 rill Promontory; this most excellent Canopy the Ayre,

  1347 look you, this braue ore-hanging, this Maiesticall Roofe,

  1348 fretted with golden fire: why, it appeares no other thing

  1349 to mee, then a foule and pestilent congregation of va-

  1350 pours. What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in

  1351 Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing

  1352 how expresse and admirable? in Action, how like an An-

  1353 gel? in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the

  1354 world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is

  1355 this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no,

  1356 nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme

  1357 to say so.

  1358 @#Rosin.  My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my

  1359 thoughts.

  1360 @#Ham.  Why did you laugh, when I said, Man delights

  1361 not me?

  1362 @#Rosin.  To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man,

  1363 what Lenton entertainment the Players shall receiue

  1364 from you: wee coated them on the way, and hither are

  1365 they comming to offer you Seruice.

  1366 @#Ham.  He that playes the King shall be welcome; his

  1367 Maiesty shall haue Tribute of mee: the aduenturous

  1368 Knight shal vse his Foyle and Target: the Louer shall

  1369 not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in

  1370 peace: the Clowne shall make those laugh whose lungs

  1371 are tickled a'th'sere: and the Lady shall say her minde

  1372 freely; or the blanke Verse shall halt for't: what Players

  1373 are they?

  1374 @#Rosin.  Euen those you were wont to take delight in

  1375 the Tragedians of the City.

  1376 @#Ham.  How chances it they trauaile? their resi-

  1377 dence both in reputation and profit was better both

  1378 wayes.

  1379 @#Rosin.  I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes

  1380 of the late Innouation?

  1381 @#Ham.  Doe they hold the same estimation they did

  1382 when I was in the City? Are they so follow'd?

  1383 @#Rosin.  No indeed, they are not.

  1384 @#Ham.  How comes it? doe they grow rusty?

  1385 @#Rosin.  Nay, their indeauour keepes in the wonted

  1386 pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children, little

  1387 Yases, that crye out on the top of question; and

  1388 are most tyrannically clap't for't: these are now the

  1389 fashion, and so be-ratled the common Stages (so they[oo4^r

  1390 call them) that many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of

  1391 Goose-quils, and dare scarse come thither.

  1392 @#Ham.  What are they Children? Who maintains 'em?

  1393 How are they escoted? Will they pursue the Quality no

  1394 longer then they can sing? Will they not say afterwards

  1395 if they should grow themselues to common Players (as

  1396 it is like most if their meanes are no better) their Wri-

  1397 ters do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their

  1398 owne Succession.

  1399 @#Rosin.  Faith there ha's bene much to do on both sides:

  1400 and the Nation holds it no sinne, to tarre them to Con-

  1401 trouersie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argu-

  1402 ment, vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in

  1403 the Question.

  1404 @#Ham.  Is't possible?

  1405 @#Guild.  Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of

  1406 Braines.

  1407 @#Ham.  Do the Boyes carry it away?

  1408 @#Rosin.  I that they do my Lord, Hercules & his load too.

  1409 @#Ham.  It is not strange: for mine Vnckle is King of

  1410 Denmarke, and those that would make mowes at him

  1411 while my Father liued; giue twenty, forty, an hundred

  1412 Ducates a peece, for his picture in Little. There is some-

  1413 thing in this more then Naturall, if Philosophie could

  1414 finde it out.

  1415 =======Flourish for the Players.

  1416 @#Guil.  There are the Players.

  1417 @#Ham.  Gentlemen, you are welcom to Elsonower: your

  1418 hands, come: The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fashion

  1419 and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe,

  1420 lest my extent to the Players (which I tell you must shew

  1421 fairely outward) should more appeare like entertainment

  1422 then yours. You are welcome: but my Vnckle Father,

  1423 and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd.

  1424 @#Guil.  In what my deere Lord?

  1425 @#Ham.  I am but mad North, North-West: when the

  1426 Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handsaw.

  1427 =====Enter Polonius.

  1428 @#Pol.  Well be with you Gentlemen.

  1429 @#Ham.  Hearke you Guildensterne, and you too: at each

  1430 eare a hearer: that great Baby you see there, is not yet

  1431 out of his swathing clouts.

  1432 @#Rosin.  Happily he's the second time come to them: for

  1433 they say, an old man is twice a childe.

  1434 @#Ham.  I will Prophesie. Hee comes to tell me of the

  1435 Players. Mark it, you say right Sir: for a Monday mor-

  1436 ning 'twas so indeed.

  1437 @#Pol.  My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you.

  1438 @#Ham.  My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you.

  1439 When Rossius an Actor in Rome

  1440 @#Pol.  The Actors are come hither my Lord.

  1441 @#Ham.  Buzze, buzze.

  1442 @#Pol.  Vpon mine Honor.

  1443 @#Ham.  Then can each Actor on his Asse

  1444 @#Polon.  The best Actors in the world, either for Trage-

  1445 die, Comedie, Historie, Pastorall: Pastoricall-Comicall-

  1446 Historicall-Pastorall: Tragicall-Historicall: Tragicall-

  1447 Comicall-Historicall-Pastorall: Scene indiuible, or Po-

  1448 em vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plautus

  1449 too light, for the law of Writ, and the Liberty. These are

  1450 the onely men.

  1451 @#Ham.  O Iephta Iudge of Israel, what a Treasure had'st

  1452 thou?

  1453 @#Pol.  What a Treasure had he, my Lord?

  1454 @#Ham.  Why one faire Daughter, and no more,

  1455 The which he loued passing well.

  1456 @#Pol.  Still on my Daughter.

  1457 @#Ham.  Am I not i'th'right old Iephta?

  1458 @#Polon.  If you call me Iephta my Lord, I haue a daugh-

  1459 ter that I loue passing well.

  1460 @#Ham.  Nay that followes not.

  1461 @#Polon.  What followes then, my Lord?

  1462 @#Ha.  Why, As by lot, God wot: and then you know, It

  1463 came to passe, as most like it was: The first rowe of the

  1464   Pons Chanson will shew you more. For looke where my

  1465 Abridgements come.

  1466 =======Enter foure or fiue Players.

  1467 Y'are welcome Masters, welcome all. I am glad to see

  1468 thee well: Welcome good Friends. O my olde Friend?

  1469 Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last: Com'st thou to

  1470 beard me in Denmarke? What, my yong Lady and Mi-

  1471 stris? Byrlady your Ladiship is neerer Heauen then when

  1472 I saw you last, by the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God

  1473 your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd

  1474 within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome: wee'l e'ne

  1475 to't like French Faulconers, flie at any thing we see: wee'l

  1476 haue a Speech straight. Come giue vs a tast of your qua-

  1477 lity: come, a passionate speech.

  1478 @#I. Play.  What speech, my Lord?

  1479 @#Ham.  I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was

  1480 neuer Acted: or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I

  1481 remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cauiarie to the

  1482 Generall: but it was (as I receiu'd it, and others, whose

  1483 iudgement in such matters, cried in the top of mine) an

  1484 excellent Play; well digested in the Scoenes, set downe

  1485 with as much modestie, as cunning. I remember one said,

  1486 there was no Sallets in the lines, to make the matter sa-

  1487 uoury; nor no matter in the phrase, that might indite the  

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  1488 Author of affectation, but cal'd it an honest method. One

  1489 cheefe Speech in it, I cheefely lou'd, 'twas Aeneas Tale

  1490 to Dido, and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks

  1491 of Priams slaughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at

  1492 this Line, let me see, let me see: The rugged Pyrrhus like

  1493 th'Hyrcanian Beast. It is not so: it begins with Pyrrhus

  1494 The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose Sable Armes

  1495 Blacke as his purpose, did the night resemble

  1496 When he lay couched in the Ominous Horse,

  1497 Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd

  1498 With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote

  1499 Now is he to take Geulles, horridly Trick'd

  1500 With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes,

  1501 Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,

  1502 That lend a tyrannous, and damned light

  1503 To their vilde Murthers, roasted in wrath and fire,

  1504 And thus o're-sized with coagulate gore,

  1505 VVith eyes like Carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus 

  1506 Old Grandsire Priam seekes.

  1507 @#Pol.  Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good ac-

  1508 cent, and good discretion.

  1509 @#1. Player.  Anon he findes him,

  1510 Striking too short at Greekes. His anticke Sword,

  1511 Rebellious to his Arme, lyes where it falles

  1512 Repugnant to command: vnequall match,

  1513 Pyrrhus at Priam driues, in Rage strikes wide:

  1514 But with the whiffe and winde of his fell Sword,

  1515 Th'vnnerued Father fals. Then senselesse Illium,

  1516 Seeming to feele his blow, with flaming top

  1517 Stoopes to his Bace, and with a hideous crash

  1518 Takes Prisoner Pyrrhus eare. For loe, his Sword

  1519 Which was declining on the Milkie head

  1520 Of Reuerend Priam, seem'd i'th'Ayre to sticke:

  1521 So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrhus stood,[oo4^v

  1522 And like a Newtrall to his will and matter, did nothing.

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  1523 But as we often see against some storme,

  1524 A silence in the Heauens, the Racke stand still,

  1525 The bold windes speechlesse, and the Orbe below

  1526 As hush as death: Anon the dreadfull Thunder

  1527 Doth rend the Region. So after Pyrrhus pause,

  1528 A rowsed Vengeance sets him new a-worke,

  1529 And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall

  1530 On Mars his Armours, forg'd for proofe Eterne,

  1531 With lesse remorse then Pyrrhus bleeding sword

  1532 Now falles on Priam.

  1533 Out, out, thou Strumpet-Fortune, all you Gods,

  1534 In generall Synod take away her power:

  1535 Breake all the Spokes and Fallies from her wheele,

  1536 And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen,

  1537 As low as to the Fiends.

  1538 @#Pol.  This is too long.

  1539 @#Ham.  It shall to'th Barbars, with your beard. Pry-

  1540 thee say on: He's for a Iigge, or a tale of Baudry, or hee

  1541 sleepes. Say on; come to Hecuba.

  1542 @#I. Play.  But who, O who, had seen the inobled Queen.

  1543 @#Ham.  The inobled Queene?

  1544 @#Pol.  That's good: Inobled Queene is good.

  1545 @#I. Play.  Run bare-foot vp and downe,

  1546 Threatning the flame

  1547 With Bisson Rheume: A clout about that head,

  1548 Where late the Diadem stood, and for a Robe

  1549 About her lanke and all ore-teamed Loines,

  1550 A blanket in th'Alarum of feare caught vp.

  1551 Who this had seene, with tongue in Venome steep'd,

  1552 'Gainst Fortunes State, would Treason haue pronounc'd?

  1553 But if the Gods themselues did see her then,

  1554 When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport

  1555 In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes,

  1556 The instant Burst of Clamour that she made

  1557 (Vnlesse things mortall moue them not at all)

  1558 Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen,

  1559 And passion in the Gods.

  1560 @#Pol.  Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colour, and

  1561 ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more.

  1562 @#Ham.  'Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest,

  1563 soone. Good my Lord, will you see the Players wel be-

  1564 stow'd. Do ye heare, let them be well vs'd: for they are

  1565 the Abstracts and breefe Chronicles of the time. After

  1566 your death, you were better haue a bad Epitaph, then

  1567 their ill report while you liued.

  000¦

  1568 @#Pol.  My Lord, I will vse them according to their de-

  1569 sart.

  1570 @#Ham.  Gods bodykins man, better. Vse euerie man

  1571 after his desart, and who should scape whipping: vse

  1572 them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lesse they

  1573 deserue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them

  1574 in.

  1575 @#Pol.  Come sirs. ==============Exit Polon.

  1576 @#Ham.  Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to mor-

  1577 row. Dost thou heare me old Friend, can you play the

  1578 murther of Gonzago?

  1579 @#Play.  I my Lord.

  1580 @#Ham.  Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a

  1581 need study a speech of some dosen or sixteene lines, which

  1582 I would set downe, and insert in't? Could ye not?

  1583 @#Play.  I my Lord.

  1584 @#Ham.  Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you

  1585 mock him not. My good Friends, Ile leaue you til night

  1586 you are welcome to Elsonower?

  1587 @#Rosin.  Good my Lord. ============Exeunt.

  1588 ==============Manet Hamlet.

  1589 @#Ham.  I so, God buy'ye: Now I am alone.

  1590 Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slaue am I?

  1591 Is it not monstrous that this Player heere,

  1592 But in a Fixion, in a dreame of Passion,

  1593 Could force his soule so to his whole conceit,

  1594 That from her working, all his visage warm'd;

  1595 Teares in his eyes, distraƈtion in's Aspeƈt,

  1596 A broken voyce, and his whole Funƈtion suiting

  1597 With Formes, to his Conceit? And all for nothing?

  1598 For Hecuba?

  1599 What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,

  1600 That he should weepe for her? What would he doe,

  1601 Had he the Motiue and the Cue for passion

  1602 That I haue? He would drowne the Stage with teares,

  1603 And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech:

  1604 Make mad the guilty, and apale the free,

  1605 Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed,

  1606 The very faculty of Eyes and Eares. Yet I,

  1607 A dull and muddy-metled Rascall, peake

  1608 Like Iohn a-dreames, vnpregnant of my cause,

  1609 And can say nothing: No, not for a King,

  1610 Vpon whose property, and most deere life,

  1611 A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward?

  1612 Who calles me Villaine? breakes my pate a-crosse?

  1613 Pluckes off my Beard, and blowes it in my face?

  1614 Tweakes me by'th'Nose? giues me the Lye i'th'Throate,

  1615 As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this?

  1616 Ha? Why I should take it: for it cannot be,

  1617 But I am Pigeon-Liuer'd, and lacke Gall

  1618 To make Oppression bitter, or ere this,

  1619 I should haue fatted all the Region Kites

  1620 With this Slaues Offall, bloudy: a Bawdy villaine,

  1621 Remorselesse, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine!

  1622 Oh Vengeance!

  1623 Who? What an Asse am I? I sure, this is most braue,

  1624 That I, the Sonne of the Deere murthered,

  1625 Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauen, and Hell,

  1626 Must (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words,

  1627 And fall a Cursing like a very Drab,

  1628 A Scullion? Fye vpon't: Foh. About my Braine.

  1629 I haue heard, that guilty Creatures sitting at a Play,

  1630 Haue by the very cunning of the Scoene,

  1631 Bene strooke so to the soule, that presently

  1632 They haue proclaim'd their Malefactions.

  1633 For Murther, though it haue no tongue, will speake

  1634 With most myraculous Organ. Ile haue these Players,

  1635 Play something like the murder of my Father,

  1636 Before mine Vnkle. Ile obserue his lookes,

  1637 Ile tent him to the quicke: If he but blench

  1638 I know my course. The Spirit that I haue seene

  1639 May be the Diuell, and the Diuel hath power

  1640 T'assume a pleasing shape, yea and perhaps

  1641 Out of my Weaknesse, and my Melancholly,

  1642 As he is very potent with such Spirits,

  1643 Abuses me to damne me. Ile haue grounds

  1644 More Relatiue then this: The Play's the thing,

  1645 Wherein Ile catch the Conscience of the King. ===Exit