Hamlet ⟨Act III Scene IV⟩: Q1 v Q2 v F1

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

  2374 ===Enter Queene and Corambis.

  2375-83^^Cor.  Madame, I heare yong Hamlet comming,

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  2379 I'le shrowde my selfe behinde the Arras. ===exit Cor.

  0…- ^^Queene  Do so my Lord.

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  2381 ^^Ham.  Mother, mother, O are you here?

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  2385 How i'st with you mother?

  2497 ^^Queene  How i'st with you?

  0…- ^^Ham.  I'le tell you, but first weele make all safe.

  2386 ^^Queene  Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

  2387 ^^Ham.  Mother, you haue my father much offended.

  2390 ^^Queene  How now boy?

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  2391-7 ^^Ham.  How now mother! come here, sit downe, for you

  2397' shall heare me speake.

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  2401 ^^Queene  What wilt thou doe? thou wilt not murder me:

  2402 Helpe hoe.

  2403 ^^Cor.  Helpe for the Queene.

  2404 ^^Ham.  I a Rat, dead for a Duckat.

  2413 Rash intruding foole, farewell,

  2414 I tooke thee for thy better.

  2406 ^^Queene  Hamlet, what hast thou done?

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  2409 ^^Ham.  Not so much harme, good mother,

  2410 As to kill a king, and marry with his brother.

  2411 ^^Queene  How! kill a king!

  2412-6 ^^Ham.  I a King: nay sit you downe, and ere you part,

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  2418 If you be made of penitrable stuffe,

  2417 I'le make your eyes looke downe into your heart,

  2466 And see how horride there and blacke it shews. ===(words?

  0…- ^^Queene  Hamlet, what mean'st thou by these killing ↑

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  2437 ^^Ham.  Why this I meane, see here, behold this picture,

  2437' It is the portraiture, of your deceased husband,

  2441 See here a face, to outface Mars himselfe,

  2441' An eye, at which his foes did tremble at,

  2440 A front wherin all vertues are set downe

  2440' For to adorne a king, and guild his crowne,

  736 Whose heart went hand in hand euen with that vow,

  737 He made to you in marriage, and he is dead.[G2^v

  2447 Murdred, damnably murdred, this was your husband,

  2447-8 Looke you now, here is your husband,

  0…- With a face like Vulcan.

  0…- A looke fit for a murder and a rape,

  0…- A dull dead hanging looke, and a hell-bred eie,

  0…- To affright children and amaze the world:

  0…- And this same haue you left to change with this.

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  2455-6 What Diuell thus hath cosoned you at hob-man blinde?

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  2449 A! haue you eyes and can you looke on him

  0…- That slew my father, and your deere husband,

  2468-9 To liue in the incestuous pleasure of his bed?

  2464 ^^Queene  O Hamlet, speake no more.

  0…- ^^Ham.  To leaue him that bare a Monarkes minde,

  2483 For a king of clowts, of very shreads.

  2474 ^^Queene  Sweete Hamlet cease.

  2468-9 ^^Ham.  Nay but still to persist and dwell in sinne,

  2469 To sweate vnder the yoke of infamie,

  0…- To make increase of shame, to seale damnation.

  2481 ^^Queene  Hamlet, no more.

  2453 ^^Ham.  Why appetite with you is in the waine,

  0…- Your blood runnes backeward now from whence it came,

  2459 Who'le chide hote blood within a Virgins heart,

  2458 When lust shall dwell within a matrons breast?

  2539-40^^Queene  Hamlet, thou cleaues my heart in twaine.

  2541 ^^Ham.  O throw away the worser part of it, and keepe the

  2542 better.

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  2482 =====Enter the ghost in his night gowne.

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  2484 Saue me, saue me, you gratious

  2484'1 Powers aboue, and houer ouer mee,

  2484'2 With your celestiall wings.

  2487 Doe you not come your tardy sonne to chide,

  2488 That I thus long haue let reuenge slippe by?

  2508-9 O do not glare with lookes so pittifull!

  2509-10Lest that my heart of stone yeelde to compassion,

  2510-1 And euery part that should assist reuenge,[G3^r

  0…- Forgoe their proper powers, and fall to pitty.

  2490 ^^Ghost Hamlet, I once againe appeare to thee,

  2491 To put thee in remembrance of my death:

  0…- Doe not neglect, nor long time put it off.

  0…- But I perceiue by thy distracted lookes,

  2492 Thy mother's fearefull, and she stands amazde:

  2494-5 Speake to her Hamlet, for her sex is weake,

  2493 Comfort thy mother, Hamlet, thinke on me.

  2496 ^^Ham.  How i'st with you Lady?

  2497 ^^Queene  Nay, how i'st with you

  2498 That thus you bend your eyes on vacancie,

  2499 And holde discourse with nothing but with ayre?

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  2515 ^^Ham.  Why doe you nothing heare?

  2516 ^^Queene  Not I.

  2513 ^^Ham.  Nor doe you nothing see?

  2514 ^^Queene  No neither. ======================(habite

  2517-8 ^^Ham.  No, why see the king my father, my father, in the ↑

  2506 As he liued, looke you how pale he lookes,

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  2519 See how he steales away out of the Portall,

  2519' Looke, there he goes. ===exit ghost.

  2520 ^^Queene  Alas, it is the weakenesse of thy braine,

  0…- Which makes thy tongue to blazon thy hearts griefe:

  0…- But as I haue a soule, I sweare by heauen,

  0…- I neuer knew of this most horride murder:

  2521 But Hamlet, this is onely fantasie,

  0…- And for my loue forget these idle fits.

  2522-3 ^^Ham.  Idle, no mother, my pulse doth beate like yours,

  2524 It is not madnesse that possesseth Hamlet.

  0708 O mother, if euer you did my deare father loue,

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  2543 Forbeare the adulterous bed to night,

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  2545 And win your selfe by little as you may,

  0…- In time it may be you wil lothe him quite:

  0…- And mother, but assist mee in reuenge,

  0…- And in his death your infamy shall die.

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  2573 ^^Queene  Hamlet, I vow by that maiesty,

  0…- That knowes our thoughts, and lookes into our hearts,[G3^v

  0…- I will conceale, consent, and doe my best,

  0…- What stratagem soe're thou shalt deuise.

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  2584 ^^Ham.  It is enough, mother good night:

  2581 Come sir, I'le prouide for you a graue,

  2582 Who was in life a foolish prating knaue.

  2585 =========Exit Hamlet with the dead body.

   

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

  2374 =============Enter Gertrard and Polonius.

  2375-6 ^^Pol.  A will come strait, looke you lay home to him,

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  2377 Tell him his prancks haue beene too braod to beare with,

  2378 And that your grace hath screend and stood betweene

  2379 Much heate and him, Ile silence me euen heere,

  2380 Pray you be round.

   

  2384 ============Enter Hamlet.

  2382 ^^Ger.  Ile wait you, feare me not,

  2383 With-drawe, I heare him comming.

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  2385 ^^Ham.  Now mother, what's the matter?

  2386 ^^Ger.  Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

  2387 ^^Ham.  Mother, you haue my father much offended.

  2388 ^^Ger.  Come, come, you answere with an idle tongue.

  2389 ^^Ham.  Goe, goe, you question with a wicked tongue.

  2390 ^^Ger.  Why how now Hamlet?

  2391 ^^Ham.  What's the matter now?

  2392 ^^Ger.  Haue you forgot me?

  2393 ^^Ham.  No by the rood not so,

  2394 You are the Queene, your husbands brothers wife,

  2395 And would it were not so, you are my mother.

  2396 ^^Ger.  Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.

  2397-8 ^^Ham.  Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not boudge,

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  2399 You goe not till I set you vp a glasse

  2400 Where you may see the most part of you.

  2401 ^^Ger.  What wilt thou doe, thou wilt not murther me,

  2402 Helpe how.

  2403 ^^Pol.  What how helpe.

  2404 ^^Ham.  How now, a Rat, dead for a Duckat, dead.

  2405 ^^Pol.  O I am slaine.

  2406 ^^Ger.  O me, what hast thou done?

  2407 ^^Ham.  Nay I knowe not, is it the King?

  2408 ^^Ger.  O what a rash and bloody deede is this.[I2^v

  2409 ^^Ham.  A bloody deede, almost as bad, good mother

  2410 As kill a King, and marry with his brother.

  2411 ^^Ger.  As kill a King.

  2412 ^^Ham.  I Lady, it was my word.

  2413 Thou wretched, rash, intruding foole farwell,

  2414 I tooke thee for thy better, take thy fortune,

  2415 Thou find'st to be too busie is some danger,

  2416 Leaue wringing of your hands, peace sit you downe,

  2417 And let me wring your hart, for so I shall

  2418 If it be made of penitrable stuffe,

  2419 If damned custome haue not brasd it so,

  2420 That it be proofe and bulwark against sence.

  2421 ^^Ger.  What haue I done, that thou dar'st wagge thy tongue

  2422 In noise so rude against me?

  2423 ^^Ham.  Such an act

  2424 That blurres the grace and blush of modesty,

  2425 Cals vertue hippocrit, takes of the Rose

  2426 From the faire forhead of an innocent loue,

  2427 And sets a blister there, makes marriage vowes

  2428 As false as dicers oathes, ô such a deede,

  2429 As from the body of contraction plucks

  2430 The very soule, and sweet religion makes

  2431 A rapsedy of words; heauens face dooes glowe

  2432 Ore this solidity and compound masse

  2433 With heated visage, as against the doome

  2434 Is thought sick at the act

  2435 ^^Quee.  Ay me, what act?

  2435-6 ^^Ham.  That roares so low'd, and thunders in the Index,

  2437  Looke heere vpon this Picture, and on this,

  2438 The counterfeit presentment of two brothers,

  2439 See what a grace was seated on this browe,

  2440 Hiperions curles, the front of Ioue himselfe,

  2441 An eye like Mars, to threaten and command,

  2442 A station like the herald Mercury,

  2443 New lighted on a heaue, a kissing hill,

  2444 A combination, and a forme indeede,

  2445 Where euery God did seeme to set his seale

  2446 To giue the world assurance of a man,

  2447 This was your husband, looke you now what followes,[I3^r

  2448 Heere is your husband like a mildewed eare,

  2449 Blasting his wholsome brother, haue you eyes,

  2450 Could you on this faire mountaine leaue to feede,

  2451 And batten on this Moore; ha, haue you eyes?

  2452 You cannot call it loue, for at your age

  2453 The heyday in the blood is tame, it's humble,

  2454 And waits vppon the iudgement, and what iudgement

  2455 Would step from this to this, sence sure youe haue

  2455+1 Els could you not haue motion, but sure that sence

  2455+2 Is appoplext, for madnesse would not erre

  2455+3 Nor sence to extacie was nere so thral'd

  2455+4 But it reseru'd some quantity of choise

  2455+5 To serue in such a difference, what deuill wast

  2456 That thus hath cosund you at hodman blind;

  2456+1 Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,

  2456+2 Eares without hands, or eyes, smelling sance all,

  2456+3 Or but a sickly part of one true sence

  2456+4 Could not so mope: ô shame where is thy blush?

  2457 Rebellious hell,

  2458 If thou canst mutine in a Matrons bones,

  2459 To flaming youth let vertue be as wax

  2460 And melt in her owne fire, proclaime no shame

  2461 When the compulsiue ardure giues the charge,

  2462 Since frost it selfe as actiuely doth burne,

  2463 And reason pardons will.

  2464 ^^Ger.  O Hamlet speake no more,

  2465 Thou turnst my very eyes into my soule,

  2466 And there I see such blacke and greeued spots

  2467 As will leaue there their tin'ct.

  2468 ^^Ham.  Nay but to liue

  2469 In the ranck sweat of an inseemed bed

  2470 Stewed in corruption, honying, and making loue

  2471 Ouer the nasty stie.

  2472 ^^Ger.  O speake to me no more,

  2473 These words like daggers enter in my eares,

  2474 No more sweete Hamlet.

  2475 ^^Ham.  A murtherer and a villaine,

  2476 A slaue that is not twentith part the kyth

  2477 Of your precedent Lord, a vice of Kings,[I3^v

  2478 A cut-purse of the Empire and the rule,

  2479 That from a shelfe the precious Diadem stole

  2480 And put it in his pocket.

  2481 ^^Ger.  No more.

  2482 ============Enter Ghost.

  2483 ^^Ham.  A King of shreds and patches,

  2484 Saue me and houer ore me with your wings

  2485 You heauenly gards: what would your gracious figure?

  2486 ^^Ger.  Alas hee's mad.

  2487 ^^Ham.  Doe you not come your tardy sonne to chide,

  2488 That lap'st in time and passion lets goe by

  2489 Th'important acting of your dread command, ô say.

  2490 ^^Ghost.  Doe not forget, this visitation

  2491 Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose,

  2492 But looke, amazement on thy mother sits,

  2493 O step betweene her, and her fighting soule,

  2494 Conceit in weakest bodies strongest workes,

  2495 Speake to her Hamlet.

  2496 ^^Ham.  How is it with you Lady?

  2497 ^^Ger.  Alas how i'st with you?

  2498 That you doe bend your eye on vacancie,

  2499 And with th'incorporall ayre doe hold discourse,

  2500 Foorth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep,

  2501 And as the sleeping souldiers in th'alarme,

  2502 Your bedded haire like life in excrements

  2503 Start vp and stand an end, ô gentle sonne

  2504 Vpon the heat and flame of thy distemper

  2505 Sprinckle coole patience, whereon doe you looke?

  2506 ^^Ham.  On him, on him, looke you how pale he glares,

  2507 His forme and cause conioynd, preaching to stones

  2508 Would make them capable, doe not looke vpon me,

  2509 Least with this pittious action you conuert

  2510 My stearne effects, then what I haue to doe

  2511 Will want true cullour, teares perchance for blood.

  2512 ^^Ger.  To whom doe you speake this?

  2513 ^^Ham.  Doe you see nothing there?

  2514 ^^Ger.  Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.

  2515 ^^Ham.  Nor did you nothing heare?

  2516 ^^Ger.  No nothing but our selues.

  2517 ^^Ham.  Why looke you there, looke how it steales away,[I4^r

  2518 My father in his habit as he liued,

  2519 Looke where he goes, euen now out at the portall. ===Exit Ghost.

  2520 ^^Ger.  This is the very coynage of your braine,

  2521 This bodilesse creation extacie is very cunning in.

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  2523 ^^Ham.  My pulse as yours doth temperatly keepe time,

  2524 And makes as healthfull musicke, it is not madnesse

  2525 That I haue vttred, bring me to the test,

  2526 And the matter will reword, which madnesse

  2527 Would gambole from, mother for loue of grace,

  2528 Lay not that flattering vnction to your soule

  2529 That not your trespasse but my madnesse speakes,

  2530 It will but skin and filme the vlcerous place

  2531 Whiles ranck corruption mining all within

  2532 Infects vnseene, confesse your selfe to heauen,

  2533 Repent what's past, auoyd what is to come,

  2534 And doe not spread the compost on the weedes

  2535 To make them rancker, forgiue me this my vertue,

  2536 For in the fatnesse of these pursie times

  2537 Vertue it selfe of vice must pardon beg,

  2538 Yea curbe and wooe for leaue to doe him good.

  2539-40^^Ger.  O Hamlet thou hast cleft my hart in twaine.

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  2541 ^^Ham.  O throwe away the worser part of it,

  2542 And leaue the purer with the other halfe,

  2543 Good night, but goe not to my Vncles bed,

  2544 Assune a vertue if you haue it not,

  2544+1 That monster custome, who all sence doth eate

  2544+2 Of habits deuill, is angell yet in this

  2544+3 That to the vse of actions faire and good,

  2544+4 He likewise giues a frock or Liuery

  2544+5 That aptly is put on to refraine night,

  2545 And that shall lend a kind of easines

  2546 To the next abstinence, the next more easie:

  2546+1 For vse almost can change the stamp of nature,

  2546+2 And either the deuill, or throwe him out

  2546+3 With wonderous potency: once more good night,

  2547 And when you are desirous to be blest,

  2548 Ile blessing beg of you, for this same Lord

  2549 I doe repent; but heauen hath pleasd it so

  2550 To punish me with this, and this with me,[I4^v

  2551 That I must be their scourge and minister,

  2552 I will bestowe him and will answere well

  2553 The death I gaue him; so againe good night

  2554 I must be cruell only to be kinde,

  2555 This bad beginnes, and worse remaines behind.

  2555+1 One word more good Lady.

  2556 ^^Ger.  What shall I doe?

  2557 ^^Ham.  Not this by no meanes that I bid you doe,

  2558 Let the blowt King temp't you againe to bed,

  2559 Pinch wanton on your cheeke, call you his Mouse,

  2560 And let him for a paire of reechie kisses,

  2561 Or padling in your necke with his damn'd fingers.

  2562 Make you to rouell all this matter out

  2563 That I essentially am not in madnesse,

  2564 But mad in craft, t'were good you let him knowe,

  2565 For who that's but a Queene, faire, sober, wise,

  2566 Would from a paddack, from a bat, a gib,

  2567 Such deare concernings hide, who would doe so,

  2568 No, in dispight of sence and secrecy,

  2569 Vnpeg the basket on the houses top,

  2570 Let the birds fly, and like the famous Ape,

  2571 To try conclusions in the basket creepe,

  2572 And breake your owne necke downe.

  2573 ^^Ger.  Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath

  2574 And breath of life, I haue no life to breath

  2575 What thou hast sayd to me.

  2576 ^^Ham.  I must to England, you knowe that.

  2577 ^^Ger.  Alack I had forgot.

  2577' Tis so concluded on.

  2577+1 ^^Ham.  Ther's letters seald, and my two Schoolefellowes,

  2577+2 Whom I will trust as I will Adders fang'd,

  2577+3 They beare the mandat, they must sweep my way

  2577+4 And marshall me to knauery: let it worke,

  2577+5 For tis the sport to haue the enginer

  2577+6 Hoist with his owne petar, an't shall goe hard

  2577+7 But I will delue one yard belowe their mines,

  2577+8 And blowe them at the Moone: ô tis most sweete

  2577+9 When in one line two crafts directly meete,

  2578 This man shall set me packing,[K1^r

  2579 Ile lugge the guts into the neighbour roome;

  2580 Mother good night indeed, this Counsayler

  2581 Is now most still, most secret, and most graue,

  2582 Who was in life a most foolish prating knaue.

  2583 Come sir, to draw toward an end with you.

  2584 Good night mother. ===Exit.

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

  2374 =============Enter Queene and Polonius.

  2375 ^^Pol.  He will come straight:

  2376 Looke you lay home to him,

  2377 Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with,

  2378 And that your Grace hath scree'nd, and stoode betweene

  2379 Much heate, and him. Ile silence me e'ene heere:

  2380 Pray you be round with him.

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  2381 ^^Ham.within. Mother, mother, mother.

  2382 ^^Qu.  Ile warrant you, feare me not.

  2383 Withdraw, I heare him comming.

  2384 =============Enter Hamlet.

  2385 ^^Ham.  Now Mother, what's the matter?

  2386 ^^Qu.  Hamlet, thou hast thy Father much offended.

  2387 ^^Ham.  Mother, you haue my Father much offended.

  2388 ^^Qu.  Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

  2389 ^^Ham.  Go, go, you question with an idle tongue.

  2390 ^^Qu.  Why how now Hamlet?

  2391 ^^Ham.  Whats the matter now?

  2392 ^^Qu.  Haue you forgot me?

  2393 ^^Ham.  No by the Rood, not so:

  2394 You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife,

  2395 But would you were not so. You are my Mother.

  2396 ^^Qu.  Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.

  2397 ^^Ham.  Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not

  2398 boudge:

  2399 You go not till I set you vp a glasse,

  2400 Where you may see the inmost part of you?

  2401 ^^Qu.  What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me?

  2402 Helpe, helpe, hoa.

  2403 ^^Pol.  What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe.

  2404 ^^Ham.  How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate, dead.

  2405 ^^Pol.  Oh I am slaine. ==========Killes Polon˂ ˃ius.

  2406 ^^Qu.  Oh me, what hast thou done?

  2407 ^^Ham.  Nay I know not, is it the King?

  2408 ^^Qu.  Oh what a rash, and bloody deed is this?

  2409 ^^Ham.  A bloody deed, almost as bad good Mother,

  2410 As kill a King, and marrie with his Brother.

  2411 ^^Qu.  As kill a King?

  2412 ^^Ham.  I Lady, 'twas my word.

  2413 Thou wretched, rash, intruding foole farewell,

  2414 I tooke thee for thy Betters, take thy Fortune,

  2415 Thou find'st to be too busie, is some danger.

  2416 Leaue wringing of your hands, peace, sit you downe,

  2417 And let me wring your heart, for so I shall

  2418 If it be made of penetrable stuffe;

  2419 If damned Custome haue not braz'd it so,

  2420 That it is proofe and bulwarke against Sense.

  2421 ^^Qu.  What haue I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tong,

  2422 In noise so rude against me?

  2423 ^^Ham.  Such an Act

  2424 That blurres the grace and blush of Modestie,

  2425 Cals Vertue Hypocrite, takes off the Rose

  2426 From the faire forehead of an innocent loue,

  2427 And makes a blister there. Makes marriage vowes

  2428 As false as Dicers Oathes. Oh such a deed,

  2429 As from the body of Contraction pluckes[pp2^r

  2430 The very soule, and sweete Religion makes

  2431 A rapsidie of words. Heauens face doth glow,

  2432 Yea this solidity and compound masse,

  2433 With tristfull visage as against the doome,

  2434 Is thought-sicke at the act.

  2435 ^^Qu.  Aye me; what act, that roares so lowd, & thun-

  2436 ders in the Index.

  2437 ^^Ham.  Looke heere vpon this Picture, and on this,

  2438 The counterfet presentment of two Brothers:

  2439 See what a grace was seated on his Brow,

  2440 Hyperions curles, the front of Ioue himselfe,

  2441 An eye like Mars, to threaten or command

  2442 A Station, like the Herald Mercurie

  2443 New lighted on a heauen-kissing hill:

  2444 A Combination, and a forme indeed,

  2445 Where euery God did seeme to set his Seale,

  2446 To giue the world assurance of a man.

  2447 This was your Husband. Looke you now what followes.

  2448 Heere is your Husband, like a Mildew'd eare

  2449 Blasting his wholsom breath. Haue you eyes?

  2450 Could you on this faire Mountaine leaue to feed,

  2451 And batten on this Moore? Ha? Haue you eyes?

  2452 You cannot call it Loue: For at your age,

  2453 The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble,

  2454 And waites vpon the Iudgement: and what Iudgement

  2455 Would step from this, to this? What diuell was't,

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  2456 That thus hath cousend you at hoodman-blinde?

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  2457 O Shame! where is thy Blush? Rebellious Hell,

  2458 If thou canst mutine in a Matrons bones,

  2459 To flaming youth, let Vertue be as waxe,

  2460 And melt in her owne fire. Proclaime no shame,

  2461 When the compulsiue Ardure giues the charge,

  2462 Since Frost it selfe, as actiuely doth burne,

  2463 As Reason panders Will.

  2464 ^^Qu.  O Hamlet, speake no more.

  2465 Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soule,

  2466 And there I see such blacke and grained spots,

  2467 As will not leaue their Tinct.

  2468 ^^Ham.  Nay, but to liue

  2469 In the ranke sweat of an enseamed bed,

  2470 Stew'd in Corruption; honying and making loue

  2471 Ouer the nasty Stye.

  2472 ^^Qu.  Oh speake to me, no more,

  2473 These words like Daggers enter in mine eares.

  2474 No more sweet Hamlet.

  2475 ^^Ham.  A Murderer, and a Villaine:

  2476 A Slaue, that is not twentieth part the tythe

  2477 Of your precedent Lord. A vice of Kings,

  2478 A Cutpurse of the Empire and the Rule.

  2479 That from a shelfe, the precious Diadem stole,

  2480 And put it in his Pocket.

  2481 ^^Qu.  No more.

  2482 Enter Ghost.

  2483 ^^Ham.  A King of shreds and patches.

  2484 Saue me; and houer o're me with your wings

  2485 You heauenly Guards. What would you gracious figure?

  2486 ^^Qu.  Alas he's mad.

  2487 ^^Ham.  Do you not come your tardy Sonne to chide,

  2488 That laps't in Time and Passion, lets go by

  2489 Th'important acting of your dread command? Oh say.

  2490 ^^Ghost.  Do not forget: this Visitation

  2491 Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.

  2492 But looke, Amazement on thy Mother sits;

  2493 O step betweene her, and her fighting Soule,

  2494 Conceit in weakest bodies, strongest workes.

  2495 Speake to her Hamlet.

  2496 ^^Ham.  How is it with you Lady?

  2497 ^^Qu.  Alas, how is't with you?

  2498 That you bend your eye on vacancie,

  2499 And with their corporall ayre do hold discourse.

  2500 Forth at your eyes, your spirits wildely peepe,

  2501 And as the sleeping Soldiours in th'Alarme,

  2502 Your bedded haire, like life in excrements,

  2503 Start vp, and stand an end. Oh gentle Sonne,

  2504 Vpon the heate and flame of thy distemper

  2505 Sprinkle coole patience. Whereon do you looke?

  2506 ^^Ham.  On him, on him: look you how pale he glares,

  2507 His forme and cause conioyn'd, preaching to stones,

  2508 Would make them capeable. Do not looke vpon me,

  2509 Least with this pitteous action you conuert

  2510 My sterne effects: then what I haue to do,

  2511 Will want true colour; teares perchance for blood.

  2512 ^^Qu.  To who do you speake this?

  2513 ^^Ham.  Do you see nothing there?

  2514 ^^Qu.  Nothing at all, yet all that is I see.

  2515 ^^Ham.  Nor did you nothing heare?

  2516 ^^Qu.  No, nothing but our selues.

  2517 ^^Ham.  Why look you there: looke how it steals away:

  2518 My Father in his habite, as he liued,

  2519 Looke where he goes euen now out at the Portall. =====Exit.

  2520 ^^Qu.  This is the very coynage of your Braine,

  2521 This bodilesse Creation extasie is very cunning in.

  2522 ^^Ham.  Extasie?

  2523 My Pulse as yours doth temperately keepe time,

  2524 And makes as healthfull Musicke. It is not madnesse

  2525 That I haue vttered; bring me to the Test

  2526 And I the matter will re-word: which madnesse

  2527 Would gamboll from. Mother, for loue of Grace,

  2528 Lay not a flattering Vnction to your soule,

  2529 That not your trespasse, but my madnesse speakes:

  2530 It will but skin and filme the Vlcerous place,

  2531 Whil'st ranke Corruption mining all within,

  2532 Infects vnseene. Confesse your selfe to Heauen,

  2533 Repent what's past, auoyd what is to come,

  2534 And do not spred the Compost or the Weedes,

  2535 To make them ranke. Forgiue me this my Vertue,

  2536 For in the fatnesse of this pursie times,

  2537 Vertue it selfe, of Vice must pardon begge,

  2538 Yea courb, and woe, for leaue to do him good.

  2539 ^^Qu.  Oh Hamlet,

  2540 Thou hast cleft my heart in twaine.

  2541 ^^Ham.  O throw away the worser part of it,

  2542 And liue the purer with the other halfe.

  2543 Good night, but go not to mine Vnkles bed,

  2544 Assume a Vertue, if you haue it not, refraine to night,

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  2545 And that shall lend a kinde of easinesse

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  2546 To the next abstinence. Once more goodnight,

  2547 And when you are desirous to be blest,

  2548 Ile blessing begge of you. For this same Lord,

  2549 I do repent: but heauen hath pleas'd it so,

  2550 To punish me with this, and this with me,

  2551 That I must be their Scourge and Minister.

  2552 I will bestow him, and will answer well

  2553 The death I gaue him: so againe, good night.

  2554 I must be cruell, onely to be kinde;

  2555 Thus bad begins, and worse remaines behinde.

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  2556 ^^Qu.  What shall I do?

  2557 ^^Ham.  Not this by no meanes that I bid you do:

  2558 Let the blunt King tempt you againe to bed,

  2559 Pinch Wanton on your cheeke, call you his Mouse,

  2560 And let him for a paire of reechie kisses,

  2561 Or padling in your necke with his damn'd Fingers,[pp2^v

  2562 Make you to rauell all this matter out,

  2563 That I essentially am not in madnesse,

  2564 But made in craft. 'Twere good you let him know,

  2565 For who that's but a Queene, faire, sober, wise,

  2566 Would from a Paddocke, from a Bat, a Gibbe,

  2567 Such deere concernings hide, Who would do so,

  2568 No in despight of Sense and Secrecie,

  2569 Vnpegge the Basket on the houses top:

  2570 Let the Birds flye, and like the famous Ape

  2571 To try Conclusions in the Basket, creepe

  2572 And breake your owne necke downe.

  2573 ^^Qu.  Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath,

  2574 And breath of life: I haue no life to breath

  2575 What thou hast saide to me.

  2576 ^^Ham.  I must to England, you know that?

  2577 ^^Qu.  Alacke I had forgot: 'Tis so concluded on.

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  2578 ^^Ham.  This man shall set me packing:

  2579 Ile lugge the Guts into the Neighbor roome,

  2580 Mother goodnight. Indeede this Counsellor

  2581 Is now most still, most secret, and most graue,

  2582 Who was in life, a foolish prating Knaue.

  2583 Come sir, to draw toward an end with you.

  2584 Good night Mother.

  2585 =======Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius.

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