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The Tragedie of Hamlet

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Barnardo and Francisco two Centinels.

Barnardo. Who's there?
Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold
your selfe

Bar. Long liue the King

Fran. Barnardo?
Bar. He


Fran. You come most carefully vpon your houre

Bar. 'Tis now strook twelueget thee to bed Francisco

Fran. For this releefe much thankes: 'Tis bitter cold
And I am sicke at heart

Barn. Haue you had quiet Guard?
Fran. Not a Mouse stirring


Barn. Wellgoodnight. If you do meet Horatio and
Marcellusthe Riuals of my Watchbid them make hast.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Fran. I thinke I heare them. Stand: who's there?
Hor. Friends to this ground


Mar. And Leige-men to the Dane

Fran. Giue you good night

Mar. O farwel honest Soldierwho hath relieu'd you?
Fra. Barnardo ha's my place: giue you goodnight.

Exit Fran.

Mar. Holla Barnardo

Bar. Saywhat is Horatio there?
Hor. A peece of him


Bar. Welcome Horatiowelcome good Marcellus

Mar. Whatha's this thing appear'd againe to night

Bar. I haue seene nothing

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


That if againe this Apparition come
He may approue our eyesand speake to it


Hor. Tushtush'twill not appeare

Bar. Sit downe a-while
And let vs once againe assaile your eares
That are so fortified against our Story
What we two Nights haue seene

Hor. Wellsit we downe
And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this

Barn. Last night of all
When yond same Starre that's Westward from the Pole
Had made his course t' illume that part of Heauen
Where now it burnesMarcellus and my selfe
The Bell then beating one

Mar. Peacebreake thee of:
Enter the Ghost.

Looke where it comes againe

Barn. In the same figurelike the King that's dead

Mar. Thou art a Scholler; speake to it Horatio

Barn. Lookes it not like the King? Marke it Horatio

Hora. Most like: It harrowes me with fear & wonder
Barn. It would be spoke too

Mar. Question it Horatio

Hor. What art thou that vsurp'st this time of night
Together with that Faire and Warlike forme
In which the Maiesty of buried Denmarke
Did sometimes march: By Heauen I charge thee speake

Mar. It is offended

Barn. Seeit stalkes away

Hor. Stay: speake; speake: I Charge theespeake.

Exit the Ghost.

Mar. 'Tis goneand will not answer

Barn. How now Horatio? You tremble & look pale:
Is not this something more then Fantasie?
What thinke you on't?

Hor. Before my GodI might not this beleeue
Without the sensible and true auouch
Of mine owne eyes

Mar. Is it not like the King?

Hor. As thou art to thy selfe
Such was the very Armour he had on
When th' Ambitious Norwey combatted:
So frown'd he oncewhen in an angry parle
He smot the sledded Pollax on the Ice.
'Tis strange


Mar. Thus twice beforeand iust at this dead houre
With Martiall stalkehath he gone by our Watch

Hor. In what particular thought to workI know not:
But in the grosse and scope of my Opinion
This boades some strange erruption to our State

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

Hor. That can I
At least the whisper goes so: Our last King
Whose Image euen but now appear'd to vs
Was (as you know) by Fortinbras of Norway
(Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate Pride)
Dar'd to the Combate. In whichour Valiant Hamlet
(For so this side of our knowne world esteem'd him)
Did slay this Fortinbras: who by a Seal'd Compact
Well ratified by Lawand Heraldrie
Did forfeite (with his life) all those his Lands
Which he stood seiz'd onto the Conqueror:
Against the whicha Moity competent
Was gaged by our King: which had return'd
To the Inheritance of Fortinbras
Had he bin Vanquisheras by the same Cou'nant
And carriage of the Article designe
His fell to Hamlet. Now siryoung Fortinbras
Of vnimproued Mettlehot and full
Hath in the skirts of Norwayheere and there
Shark'd vp a List of Landlesse Resolutes
For Foode and Dietto some Enterprize
That hath a stomacke in't: which is no other
(And it doth well appeare vnto our State)
But to recouer of vs by strong hand
And termes Compulsatiuethose foresaid Lands
So by his Father lost: and this (I take it)
Is the maine Motiue of our Preparations
The Sourse of this our Watchand the cheefe head
Of this post-hastand Romage in the Land.
Enter Ghost againe.

But softbehold: Loewhere it comes againe:
Ile crosse itthough it blast me. Stay Illusion:
If thou hast any soundor vse of Voyce
Speake to me. If there be any good thing to be done
That may to thee do easeand grace to me; speak to me.
If thou art priuy to thy Countries Fate
(Which happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh speake.
Orif thou hast vp-hoorded in thy life
Extorted Treasure in the wombe of Earth
(For whichthey sayyou Spirits oft walke in death)
Speake of it. Stayand speake. Stop it Marcellus


Mar. Shall I strike at it with my Partizan?
Hor. Doif it will not stand



Barn. 'Tis heere

Hor. 'Tis heere

Mar. 'Tis gone.

Exit Ghost.

We do it wrongbeing so Maiesticall
To offer it the shew of Violence
For it is as the Ayreinvulnerable
And our vaine blowesmalicious Mockery


Barn. It was about to speakewhen the Cocke crew

Hor. And then it startedlike a guilty thing
Vpon a fearfull Summons. I haue heard
The Cocke that is the Trumpet to the day
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding Throate
Awake the God of Day: and at his warning
Whether in Seaor Firein Earthor Ayre
Th' extrauagantand erring Spirithyes
To his Confine. And of the truth heerein
This present Obiect made probation

Mar. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke.
Some sayesthat euer 'gainst that Season comes
Wherein our Sauiours Birch is celebrated
The Bird of Dawning singeth all night long:
And then (they say) no Spirit can walke abroad
The nights are wholsomethen no Planets strike
No Faiery talkesnor Witch hath power to Charme:
So hallow'dand so gracious is the time

Hor. So haue I heardand do in part beleeue it.
But lookethe Morne in Russet mantle clad
Walkes o're the dew of yon high Easterne Hill
Breake we our Watch vpand by my aduice
Let vs impart what we haue seene to night
Vnto yong Hamlet. For vpon my life
This Spirit dumbe to vswill speake to him:
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it
As needfull in our Louesfitting our Duty?

Mar. Let do't I prayand I this morning know
Where we shall finde him most conueniently.

Exeunt.


Scena Secunda.


Enter Claudius King of DenmarkeGertrude the QueeneHamlet
Polonius
Laertesand his Sister OpheliaLords Attendant.


King. Though yet of Hamlet our deere Brothers death
The memory be greene: and that it vs befitted
To beare our hearts in greefeand our whole Kingdome
To be contracted in one brow of woe:
Yet so farre hath Discretion fought with Nature
That we with wisest sorrow thinke on him
Together with remembrance of our selues.
Therefore our sometimes Sisternow our Queene
Th' imperiall Ioyntresse of this warlike State
Haue weas 'twerewith a defeated ioy


With one Auspiciousand one Dropping eye
With mirth in Funeralland with Dirge in Marriage
In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole
Taken to Wife; nor haue we heerein barr'd
Your better Wisedomeswhich haue freely gone
With this affaire alongfor all our Thankes.
Now followesthat you know young Fortinbras
Holding a weake supposall of our worth;
Or thinking by our late deere Brothers death
Our State to be disioyntand out of Frame
Colleagued with the dreame of his Aduantage;
He hath not fayl'd to pester vs with Message
Importing the surrender of those Lands
Lost by his Father: with all Bonds of Law
To our most valiant Brother. So much for him.
Enter Voltemand and Cornelius.


Now for our selfeand for this time of meeting
Thus much the businesse is. We haue heere writ
To NorwayVncle of young Fortinbras
Who Impotent and Bedridscarsely heares
Of this his Nephewes purposeto suppresse
His further gate heerein. In that the Leuies
The Listsand full proportions are all made
Out of his subiect: and we heere dispatch
You good Corneliusand you Voltemand
For bearing of this greeting to old Norway
Giuing to you no further personall power
To businesse with the Kingmore then the scope
Of these dilated Articles allow:
Farewelland let your hast commend your duty


Volt. In thatand all thingswill we shew our duty

King. We doubt it nothingheartily farewell.

Exit Voltemand and Cornelius.


And now Laerteswhat's the newes with you?
You told vs of some suite. What is't Laertes?
You cannot speake of Reason to the Dane
And loose your voyce. What would'st thou beg Laertes
That shall not be my Offernot thy Asking?
The Head is not more Natiue to the Heart
The Hand more instrumentall to the Mouth
Then is the Throne of Denmarke to thy Father.
What would'st thou haue Laertes?


Laer. Dread my Lord
Your leaue and fauour to returne to France
From whencethough willingly I came to Denmarke
To shew my duty in your Coronation
Yet now I must confessethat duty done
My thoughts and wishes bend againe towards France
And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon

King. Haue you your Fathers leaue?
What sayes Pollonius?
Pol. He hath my Lord:
I do beseech you giue him leaue to go

King. Take thy faire houre Laertestime be thine
And thy best graces spend it at thy will:
But now my Cosin Hamletand my Sonne?

Ham. A little more then kinand lesse then kinde


King. How is it that the Clouds still hang on you?
Ham. Not so my LordI am too much i'th' Sun

Queen. Good Hamlet cast thy nightly colour off

And let thine eye looke like a Friend on Denmarke.

Do not for euer with thy veyled lids

Seeke for thy Noble Father in the dust;

Thou know'st 'tis commonall that liues must dye

Passing through Natureto Eternity

Ham. I Madamit is common

Queen. If it be;
Why seemes it so particular with thee

Ham. Seemes Madam? Nayit is: I know not Seemes:

'Tis not alone my Inky Cloake (good Mother)

Nor Customary suites of solemne Blacke

Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath

Nonor the fruitfull Riuer in the Eye

Nor the deiected hauiour of the Visage

Together with all FormesMoodsshewes of Griefe

That can denote me truly. These indeed Seeme

For they are actions that a man might play:

But I haue that Withinwhich passeth show;

Thesebut the Trappingsand the Suites of woe

King. 'Tis sweet and commendable

In your Nature Hamlet

To giue these mourning duties to your Father:

But you must knowyour Father lost a Father

That Father lostlost hisand the Suruiuer bound

In filiall Obligationfor some terme

To do obsequious Sorrow. But to perseuer

In obstinate Condolementis a course

Of impious stubbornnesse. 'Tis vnmanly greefe

It shewes a will most incorrect to Heauen

A Heart vnfortifieda Minde impatient

An Vnderstanding simpleand vnschool'd:

Forwhat we know must beand is as common

As any the most vulgar thing to sence

Why should we in our peeuish Opposition

Take it to heart? Fye'tis a fault to Heauen

A fault against the Deada fault to Nature

To Reason most absurdwhose common Theame

Is death of Fathersand who still hath cried

From the first Coarsetill he that dyed to day

This must be so. We pray you throw to earth

This vnpreuayling woeand thinke of vs

As of a Father; For let the world take note

You are the most immediate to our Throne

And with no lesse Nobility of Loue

Then that which deerest Father beares his Sonne

Do I impart towards you. For your intent

In going backe to Schoole in Wittenberg

It is most retrograde to our desire:

And we beseech youbend you to remaine

Heere in the cheere and comfort of our eye

Our cheefest Courtier Cosinand our Sonne

Qu. Let not thy Mother lose her Prayers Hamlet:
I prythee stay with vsgo not to Wittenberg


Ham. I shall in all my best
Obey you Madam

King. Why 'tis a louingand a faire Reply

Be as our selfe in Denmarke. Madam come

This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet

Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof

No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day

But the great Cannon to the Clowds shall tell

And the Kings Roucethe Heauens shall bruite againe

Respeaking earthly Thunder. Come away.

Exeunt.

Manet Hamlet.

Ham. Oh that this too too solid Fleshwould melt

Thawand resolue it selfe into a Dew:

Or that the Euerlasting had not fixt

His Cannon 'gainst Selfe-slaughter. O GodO God!

How wearystaleflatand vnprofitable

Seemes to me all the vses of this world?

Fie on't? Oh fiefie'tis an vnweeded Garden

That growes to Seed: Things rankand grosse in Nature

Possesse it meerely. That it should come to this:

But two months dead: Naynot so much; not two

So excellent a Kingthat was to this

Hiperion to a Satyre: so louing to my Mother

That he might not beteene the windes of heauen

Visit her face too roughly. Heauen and Earth

Must I remember: why she would hang on him

As if encrease of Appetite had growne

By what is fed on; and yet within a month?

Let me not thinke on't: Frailtythy name is woman.

A little Monthor ere those shooes were old

With which she followed my poore Fathers body

Like Niobeall teares. Why sheeuen she.

(O Heauen! A beast that wants discourse of Reason

Would haue mourn'd longer) married with mine Vnkle

My Fathers Brother: but no more like my Father

Then I to Hercules. Within a Moneth?

Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous Teares

Had left the flushing of her gauled eyes

She married. O most wicked speedto post

With such dexterity to Incestuous sheets:

It is notnor it cannot come to good.

But breake my heartfor I must hold my tongue.

Enter HoratioBarnardoand Marcellus.

Hor. Haile to your Lordship

Ham. I am glad to see you well:
Horatioor I do forget my selfe

Hor. The same my Lord
And your poore Seruant euer

Ham. Sir my good friend

Ile change that name with you:

And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?

Marcellus

Mar. My good Lord


Ham. I am very glad to see you: good euen Sir.
But what in faith make you from Wittemberge?
Hor. A truant dispositiongood my Lord

Ham. I would not haue your Enemy say so;
Nor shall you doe mine eare that violence
To make it truster of your owne report
Against your selfe. I know you are no Truant:
But what is your affaire in Elsenour?
Wee'l teach you to drinke deepeere you depart

Hor. My LordI came to see your Fathers Funerall

Ham. I pray thee doe not mock me (fellow Student)
I thinke it was to see my Mothers Wedding

Hor. Indeed my Lordit followed hard vpon

Ham. Thrift thrift Horatio: the Funerall Bakt-meats
Did coldly furnish forth the Marriage Tables;
Would I had met my dearest foe in heauen
Ere I had euer seene that day Horatio.
My fatherme thinkes I see my father

Hor. Oh where my Lord?
Ham. In my minds eye (Horatio)
Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly King


Ham. He was a mantake him for all in all:
I shall not look vpon his like againe

Hor. My LordI thinke I saw him yesternight

Ham. Saw? Who?
Hor. My Lordthe King your Father


Ham. The King my Father?

Hor. Season your admiration for a while
With an attent eare; till I may deliuer
Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen
This maruell to you

Ham. For Heauens loue let me heare

Hor. Two nights togetherhad these Gentlemen
(Marcellus and Barnardo) on their Watch
In the dead wast and middle of the night
Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father
Arm'd at all points exactlyCap a Pe
Appeares before themand with sollemne march
Goes slow and stately: By them thrice he walkt
By their opprest and feare-surprized eyes
Within his Truncheons length; whilst they bestil'd
Almost to Ielly with the Act of feare
Stand dumbe and speake not to him. This to me
In dreadfull secrecie impart they did
And I with them the third Night kept the Watch
Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time
Forme of the thing; each word made true and good
The Apparition comes. I knew your Father:
These hands are not more like

Ham. But where was this?
Mar. My Lord vpon the platforme where we watcht



Ham. Did you not speake to it?

Hor. My LordI did;
But answere made it none: yet once me thought
It lifted vp it headand did addresse
It selfe to motionlike as it would speake:
But euen thenthe Morning Cocke crew lowd;
And at the sound it shrunke in hast away
And vanisht from our sight

Ham. Tis very strange

Hor. As I doe liue my honourd Lord 'tis true;
And we did thinke it writ downe in our duty
To let you know of it

Ham. Indeedindeed Sirs; but this troubles me.
Hold you the watch to Night?
Both. We doe my Lord

Ham. Arm'dsay you?
Both. Arm'dmy Lord


Ham. From top to toe?
Both. My Lordfrom head to foote


Ham. Then saw you not his face?
Hor. O yesmy Lordhe wore his Beauer vp


Ham. Whatlookt he frowningly?
Hor. A countenance more in sorrow then in anger


Ham. Paleor red?
Hor. Nay very pale


Ham. And fixt his eyes vpon you?
Hor. Most constantly


Ham. I would I had beene there

Hor. It would haue much amaz'd you

Ham. Very likevery like: staid it long?
Hor. While one with moderate hast might tell a hundred

All. Longerlonger

Hor. Not when I saw't

Ham. His Beard was grisly? no

Hor. It wasas I haue seene it in his life
A Sable Siluer'd

Ham. Ile watch to Night; perchance 'twill wake againe

Hor. I warrant you it will

Ham. If it assume my noble Fathers person
Ile speake to itthough Hell it selfe should gape
And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all
If you haue hitherto conceald this sight;
Let it bee treble in your silence still:
And whatsoeuer els shall hap to night


Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue;
I will requite your loues; so fare ye well:
Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue
Ile visit you


All. Our duty to your Honour.

Exeunt

Ham. Your loueas mine to you: farewell.

My Fathers Spirit in Armes? All is not well:

I doubt some foule play: would the Night were come;

Till then sit still my soule; foule deeds will rise

Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies.

Enter.

Scena Tertia

Enter Laertes and Ophelia.

Laer. My necessaries are imbark't; Farewell:

And Sisteras the Winds giue Benefit

And Conuoy is assistant; doe not sleepe

But let me heare from you

Ophel. Doe you doubt that?

Laer. For Hamletand the trifling of his fauours

Hold it a fashion and a toy in Bloude;

A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature;

Frowardnot permanent; sweet not lasting

The suppliance of a minute? No more

Ophel. No more but so

Laer. Thinke it no more:

For nature cressant does not grow alone

In thewes and Bulke: but as his Temple waxes

The inward seruice of the Minde and Soule

Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now

And now no soyle nor cautell doth besmerch

The vertue of his feare: but you must feare

His greatnesse weigh'dhis will is not his owne;

For hee himselfe is subiect to his Birth:

Hee may notas vnuallued persons doe

Carue for himselfe; foron his choyce depends

The sanctity and health of the whole State.

And therefore must his choyce be circumscrib'd

Vnto the voyce and yeelding of that Body

Whereof he is the Head. Then if he sayes he loues you

It fits your wisedome so farre to beleeue it;

As he in his peculiar Sect and force

May giue his saying deed: which is no further

Then the maine voyce of Denmarke goes withall.

Then weight what losse your Honour may sustaine

If with too credent eare you list his Songs;

Or lose your Heart; or your chast Treasure open

To his vnmastred importunity.

Feare it Opheliafeare it my deare Sister

And keepe within the reare of your Affection;

Out of the shot and danger of Desire.

The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough

If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone:


Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious stroakes
The Canker Gallsthe Infants of the Spring
Too oft before the buttons be disclos'd
And in the Morne and liquid dew of Youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary thenbest safety lies in feare;
Youth to it selfe rebelsthough none else neere


Ophe. I shall th' effect of this good Lesson keepe
As watchmen to my heart: but good my Brother
Doe not as some vngracious Pastors doe
Shew me the steepe and thorny way to Heauen;
Whilst like a puft and recklesse Libertine
Himselfethe Primrose path of dalliance treads
And reaks not his owne reade

Laer. Ohfeare me not.
Enter Polonius.

I stay too long; but here my Father comes:
A double blessing is a double grace;
Occasion smiles vpon a second leaue

Polon. Yet heere Laertes? Aboordaboord for shame
The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile
And you are staid for there: my blessing with you;
And these few Precepts in thy memory
See thou Character. Giue thy thoughts no tongue
Nor any vnproportion'd thoughts his Act:
Be thou familiar; but by no meanes vulgar:
The friends thou hastand their adoption tride
Grapple them to thy Soulewith hoopes of Steele:
But doe not dull thy palmewith entertainment
Of each vnhatch'tvnfledg'd Comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrell: but being in
Bear't that th' opposed may beware of thee.
Giue euery man thine eare; but few thy voyce:
Take each mans censure; but reserue thy iudgement:
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy;
But not exprest in fancie; richnot gawdie:
For the Apparell oft proclaimes the man.
And they in France of the best ranck and station
Are of a most select and generous cheff in that.
Neither a borrowernor a lender be;
For lone oft loses both it selfe and friend:
And borrowing duls the edge of Husbandry.
This aboue all; to thine owne selfe be true:
And it must followas the Night the Day
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my Blessing season this in thee

Laer. Most humbly doe I take my leauemy Lord

Polon. The time inuites yougoeyour seruants tend

Laer. Farewell Opheliaand remember well
What I haue said to you

Ophe. Tis in my memory lockt
And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it

Laer. Farewell.

Exit Laer.


Polon. What ist Ophelia he hath said to you?
Ophe. So please yousomthing touching the L[ord]. Hamlet


Polon. Marrywell bethought:
Tis told me he hath very oft of late
Giuen priuate time to you; and you your selfe
Haue of your audience beene most free and bounteous.
If it be soas so tis put on me;
And that in way of caution: I must tell you
You doe not vnderstand your selfe so cleerely
As it behoues my Daughterand your Honour.
What is betweene yougiue me vp the truth?

Ophe. He hath my Lord of latemade many tenders
Of his affection to me

Polon. Affectionpuh. You speake like a greene Girle
Vnsifted in such perillous Circumstance.
Doe you beleeue his tendersas you call them?

Ophe. I do not knowmy Lordwhat I should thinke

Polon. Marry Ile teach you; thinke your selfe a Baby
That you haue tane his tenders for true pay
Which are not starling. Tender your selfe more dearly;
Or not to crack the winde of the poore Phrase
Roaming it thusyou'l tender me a foole

Ophe. My Lordhe hath importun'd me with loue
In honourable fashion

Polon. Ifashion you may call itgo toogo too

Ophe. And hath giuen countenance to his speech
My Lordwith all the vowes of Heauen

Polon. ISpringes to catch Woodcocks. I doe know
When the Bloud burneshow Prodigall the Soule
Giues the tongue vowes: these blazesDaughter
Giuing more light then heate; extinct in both
Euen in their promiseas it is a making;
You must not take for fire. For this time Daughter
Be somewhat scanter of your Maiden presence;
Set your entreatments at a higher rate
Then a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet
Beleeue so much in himthat he is young
And with a larger tether may he walke
Then may be giuen you. In fewOphelia
Doe not beleeue his vowes; for they are Broakers
Not of the eyewhich their Inuestments show:
But meere implorators of vnholy Sutes
Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds
The better to beguile. This is for all:
I would notin plaine tearmesfrom this time forth
Haue you so slander any moment leisure
As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet:
Looke too'tI charge you; come your wayes

Ophe. I shall obey my Lord.

Exeunt.

Enter HamletHoratioMarcellus.

Ham. The Ayre bites shrewdly: is it very cold?


Hor. It is a nipping and an eager ayre

Ham. What hower now?
Hor. I thinke it lacks of twelue


Mar. Noit is strooke

Hor. Indeed I heard it not: then it drawes neere the season
Wherein the Spirit held his wont to walke.
What does this meane my Lord?

Ham. The King doth wake to nightand takes his rouse
Keepes wassels and the swaggering vpspring reeles
And as he dreines his draughts of Renish downe
The kettle Drum and Trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his Pledge

Horat. Is it a custome?

Ham. I marry ist;
And to my mindthough I am natiue heere
And to the manner borne: It is a Custome
More honour'd in the breachthen the obseruance.
Enter Ghost.

Hor. Looke my Lordit comes

Ham. Angels and Ministers of Grace defend vs:
Be thou a Spirit of healthor Goblin damn'd
Bring with thee ayres from Heauenor blasts from Hell
Be thy euents wicked or charitable
Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
That I will speake to thee. Ile call thee Hamlet
KingFatherRoyall Dane: Ohohanswer me
Let me not burst in Ignorance; but tell
Why thy Canoniz'd bones Hearsed in death
Haue burst their cermentswhy the Sepulcher
Wherein we saw thee quietly enurn'd
Hath op'd his ponderous and Marble iawes
To cast thee vp againe? What may this meane?
That thou dead Coarse againe in compleat steele
Reuisits thus the glimpses of the Moone
Making Night hidious? And we fooles of Nature
So horridly to shake our disposition
With thoughts beyond thee; reaches of our Soules
Saywhy is this? wherefore? what should we doe?

Ghost beckens Hamlet.

Hor. It beckons you to goe away with it
As if it some impartment did desire
To you alone

Mar. Looke with what courteous action
It wafts you to a more remoued ground:
But doe not goe with it

Hor. Noby no meanes

Ham. It will not speake: then will I follow it

Hor. Doe not my Lord

Ham. Whywhat should be the feare?
I doe not set my life at a pins fee;
And for my Soulewhat can it doe to that?


Being a thing immortall as it selfe:
It waues me forth againe; Ile follow it

Hor. What if it tempt you toward the Floud my Lord?
Or to the dreadfull Sonnet of the Cliffe
That beetles o're his base into the Sea
And there assumes some other horrible forme
Which might depriue your Soueraignty of Reason
And draw you into madnesse thinke of it?

Ham. It wafts me still: goe onIle follow thee

Mar. You shall not goe my Lord

Ham. Hold off your hand

Hor. Be rul'dyou shall not goe

Ham. My fate cries out
And makes each petty Artire in this body
As hardy as the Nemian Lions nerue:
Still am I cal'd? Vnhand me Gentlemen:
By Heau'nIle make a Ghost of him that lets me:
I say awaygoe onIle follow thee.

Exeunt. Ghost & Hamlet.

Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination

Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him

Hor. Haue afterto what issue will this come?
Mar. Something is rotten in the State of Denmarke


Hor. Heauen will direct it

Mar. Naylet's follow him.

Exeunt.

Enter Ghost and Hamlet.

Ham. Where wilt thou lead me? speak; Ile go no further

Gho. Marke me

Ham. I will

Gho. My hower is almost come
When I to sulphurous and tormenting Flames
Must render vp my selfe

Ham. Alas poore Ghost

Gho. Pitty me notbut lend thy serious hearing
To what I shall vnfold

Ham. SpeakeI am bound to heare

Gho. So art thou to reuengewhen thou shalt heare

Ham. What?

Gho. I am thy Fathers Spirit
Doom'd for a certaine terme to walke the night;
And for the day confin'd to fast in Fiers


Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature
Are burnt and purg'd away? But that I am forbid
To tell the secrets of my Prison-House;
I could a Tale vnfoldwhose lightest word
Would harrow vp thy soulefreeze thy young blood
Make thy two eyes like Starresstart from their Spheres
Thy knotty and combined lockes to part
And each particular haire to stand an end
Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine:
But this eternall blason must not be
To eares of flesh and bloud; list Hamletoh list
If thou didst euer thy deare Father loue


Ham. Oh Heauen!
Gho. Reuenge his foule and most vnnaturall Murther


Ham. Murther?
Ghost. Murther most fouleas in the best it is;
But this most foulestrangeand vnnaturall

Ham. Hasthast me to know it

That with wings as swift

As meditationor the thoughts of Loue

May sweepe to my Reuenge

Ghost. I finde thee apt

And duller should'st thou be then the fat weede

That rots it selfe in easeon Lethe Wharfe

Would'st thou not stirre in this. Now Hamlet heare:

It's giuen outthat sleeping in mine Orchard

A Serpent stung me: so the whole eare of Denmarke

Is by a forged processe of my death

Rankly abus'd: But know thou Noble youth

The Serpent that did sting thy Fathers life

Now weares his Crowne

Ham. O my Propheticke soule: mine Vncle?

Ghost. I that incestuousthat adulterate Beast

With witchcraft of his witshath Traitorous guifts.

Oh wicked Witand Giftsthat haue the power

So to seduce? Won to this shamefull Lust

The will of my most seeming vertuous Queene:

Oh Hamletwhat a falling off was there

From mewhose loue was of that dignity

That it went hand in handeuen with the Vow

I made to her in Marriage; and to decline

Vpon a wretchwhose Naturall gifts were poore

To those of mine. But Vertueas it neuer wil be moued

Though Lewdnesse court it in a shape of Heauen:

So Lustthough to a radiant Angell link'd

Will sate it selfe in a Celestiall bed& prey on Garbage.

But softme thinkes I sent the Mornings Ayre;

Briefe let me be: Sleeping within mine Orchard

My custome alwayes in the afternoone;

Vpon my secure hower thy Vncle stole

With iuyce of cursed Hebenon in a Violl

And in the Porches of mine eares did poure

The leaperous Distilment; whose effect

Holds such an enmity with bloud of Man

That swift as Quick-siluerit courses through

The naturall Gates and Allies of the body;

And with a sodaine vigour it doth posset

And curdlike Aygre droppings into Milke

The thin and wholsome blood: so did it mine;


And a most instant Tetter bak'd about
Most Lazar-likewith vile and loathsome crust
All my smooth Body.
Thus was Isleepingby a Brothers hand
Of Lifeof Crowneand Queene at once dispatcht;
Cut off euen in the Blossomes of my Sinne
Vnhouzzleddisappointedvnnaneld
No reckoning madebut sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head;
Oh horrible Oh horriblemost horrible:
If thou hast nature in thee beare it not;
Let not the Royall Bed of Denmarke be
A Couch for Luxury and damned Incest.
But howsoeuer thou pursuest this Act
Taint not thy mind; nor let thy Soule contriue
Against thy Mother ought; leaue her to heauen
And to those Thornes that in her bosome lodge
To pricke and sting her. Fare thee well at once;
The Glow-worme showes the Matine to be neere
And gins to pale his vneffectuall Fire:
AdueadueHamlet: remember me.
Enter.


Ham. Oh all you host of Heauen! Oh Earth; what els?
And shall I couple Hell? Oh fie: hold my heart;
And you my sinnewesgrow not instant Old;
But beare me stiffely vp: Remember thee?
Ithou poore Ghostwhile memory holds a seate
In this distracted Globe: Remember thee?
Yeafrom the Table of my Memory
Ile wipe away all triuiall fond Records
All sawes of Bookesall formesall presures past
That youth and obseruation coppied there;
And thy Commandment all alone shall liue
Within the Booke and Volume of my Braine
Vnmixt with baser matter; yes yesby Heauen:
Oh most pernicious woman!
Oh VillaineVillainesmiling damned Villaine!
My Tablesmy Tables; meet it is I set it downe
That one may smileand smile and be a Villaine;
At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmarke;
So Vnckle there you are: now to my word;
It is; AdueAdueRemember me: I haue sworn't

Hor. & Mar. within. My Lordmy Lord.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Mar. Lord Hamlet

Hor. Heauen secure him

Mar. So be it

Hor. Illohohomy Lord

Ham. Hillohohoboy; come birdcome

Mar. How ist my Noble Lord?
Hor. What newesmy Lord?
Ham. Oh wonderfull!
Hor. Good my Lord tell it


Ham. No you'l reueale it


Hor. Not Imy Lordby Heauen

Mar. Nor Imy Lord

Ham. How say you thenwould heart of man once think it?
But you'l be secret?
Both. Iby Heau'nmy Lord

Ham. There's nere a villaine dwelling in all Denmarke
But hee's an arrant knaue

Hor. There needs no Ghost my Lordcome from the
Graueto tell vs this

Ham. Why rightyou are i'th' right;
And sowithout more circumstance at all
I hold it fit that we shake handsand part:
Youas your busines and desires shall point you:
For euery man ha's businesse and desire
Such as it is: and for mine owne poore part
Looke youIle goe pray

Hor. These are but wild and hurling wordsmy Lord

Ham. I'm sorry they offend you heartily:
Yes faithheartily

Hor. There's no offence my Lord

Ham. Yesby Saint Patrickebut there is my Lord
And much offence tootouching this Vision heere:
It is an honest Ghostthat let me tell you:
For your desire to know what is betweene vs
O'remaster't as you may. And now good friends
As you are FriendsSchollers and Soldiers
Giue me one poore request

Hor. What is't my Lord? we will

Ham. Neuer make known what you haue seen to night

Both. My Lordwe will not

Ham. Naybut swear't

Hor. Infaith my Lordnot I

Mar. Nor I my Lord: in faith

Ham. Vpon my sword

Marcell. We haue sworne my Lord already

Ham. Indeedvpon my swordIndeed

Gho. Sweare.

Ghost cries vnder the Stage.

Ham. Ah ha boysayest thou so. Art thou there truepenny?
Come one you here this fellow in the selleredge
Consent to sweare

Hor. Propose the Oath my Lord

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

Gho. Sweare

Ham. Hic & vbique? Then wee'l shift for grownd
Come hither Gentlemen
And lay your hands againe vpon my sword
Neuer to speake of this that you haue heard:
Sweare by my Sword

Gho. Sweare

Ham. Well said old Molecan'st worke i'th' ground so fast?
A worthy Pioneronce more remoue good friends

Hor. Oh day and night: but this is wondrous strange

Ham. And therefore as a stranger giue it welcome.
There are more things in Heauen and EarthHoratio
Then are dream't of in our Philosophy. But come
Here as beforeneuer so helpe you mercy
How strange or odde so ere I beare my selfe;
(As I perchance heereafter shall thinke meet
To put an Anticke disposition on:)
That you at such time seeing meneuer shall
With Armes encombred thusor thushead shake;
Or by pronouncing of some doubtfull Phrase;
As wellwe knowor we could and if we would
Or if we list to speake; or there be and if there might
Or such ambiguous giuing out to note
That you know ought of me; this not to doe:
So grace and mercy at your most neede helpe you:
Sweare

Ghost. Sweare

Ham. Restrest perturbed Spirit: so Gentlemen
With all my loue I doe commend me to you;
And what so poore a man as Hamlet is
May doe t' expresse his loue and friending to you
God willing shall not lacke: let vs goe in together
And still your fingers on your lippes I pray
The time is out of ioynt: Oh cursed spight
That euer I was borne to set it right.
Naycome let's goe together.

Exeunt.

Actus Secundus.

Enter Poloniusand Reynoldo.

Polon. Giue him his moneyand these notes Reynoldo

Reynol. I will my Lord

Polon. You shall doe maruels wisely: good Reynoldo
Before you visite him you make inquiry
Of his behauiour

Reynol. My LordI did intend it


Polon. Marrywell said;
Very well said. Looke you Sir
Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
And howand who; what meanes; and where they keepe:
What companyat what expence: and finding
By this encompassement and drift of question
That they doe know my sonne: Come you more neerer
Then your particular demands will touch it
Take you as 'twere some distant knowledge of him
And thus I know his father and his friends
And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo?

Reynol. Ivery well my Lord

Polon. And in part himbut you may say not well;
But if't be hee I meanehees very wilde;
Addicted so and so; and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marrynone so ranke
As may dishonour him; take heed of that:
But Sirsuch wantonwildand vsuall slips
As are Companions noted and most knowne
To youth and liberty

Reynol. As gaming my Lord

Polon. Ior drinkingfencingswearing
Quarellingdrabbing. You may goe so farre

Reynol. My Lord that would dishonour him

Polon. Faith noas you may season it in the charge;
You must not put another scandall on him
That hee is open to Incontinencie;
That's not my meaning: but breath his faults so quaintly
That they may seeme the taints of liberty;
The flash and out-breake of a fiery minde
A sauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall assault

Reynol. But my good Lord

Polon. Wherefore should you doe this?
Reynol. I my LordI would know that


Polon. Marry Sirheere's my drift
And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant:
You laying these slight sulleyes on my Sonne
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th' working:
Marke you your party in conuerse; him you would sound
Hauing euer seene. In the prenominate crimes
The youth you breath of guiltybe assur'd
He closes with you in this consequence:
Good siror soor friendor Gentleman.
According to the Phrase and the Addition
Of man and Country

Reynol. Very good my Lord

Polon. And then Sir does he this?
He does: what was I about to say?
I was about say somthing: where did I leaue?

Reynol. At closes in the consequence:
At friendor soand Gentleman

Polon. At closes in the consequenceI marry


He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman
I saw him yesterdayor tother day;
Or then or thenwith such and such; and as you say
There was he gamingthere o'retooke in's Rouse
There falling out at Tennis; or perchance
I saw him enter such a house of saile;
Videliceta Brothellor so forth. See you now;
Your bait of falshoodtakes this Cape of truth;
And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach
With windlessesand with assaies of Bias
By indirections finde directions out:
So by my former Lecture and aduice
Shall you my Sonne; you haue mehaue you not?


Reynol. My Lord I haue

Polon. God buy you; fare you well

Reynol. Good my Lord

Polon. Obserue his inclination in your selfe

Reynol. I shall my Lord

Polon. And let him plye his Musicke

Reynol. Wellmy Lord.
Enter.

Enter Ophelia.

Polon. Farewell:
How now Opheliawhat's the matter?
Ophe. Alas my LordI haue beene so affrighted

Polon. With whatin the name of Heauen?

Ophe. My Lordas I was sowing in my Chamber
Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd
No hat vpon his headhis stockings foul'd
Vngartredand downe giued to his Anckle
Pale as his shirthis knees knocking each other
And with a looke so pitious in purport
As if he had been loosed out of hell
To speake of horrors: he comes before me

Polon. Mad for thy Loue?
Ophe. My LordI doe not know: but truly I do feare it

Polon. What said he?

Ophe. He tooke me by the wristand held me hard;
Then goes he to the length of all his arme;
And with his other hand thus o're his brow
He fals to such perusall of my face
As he would draw it. Long staid he so
At lasta little shaking of mine Arme:
And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe;
He rais'd a sighso pittious and profound
That it did seeme to shatter all his bulke
And end his being. That donehe lets me goe
And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd
He seem'd to finde his way without his eyes
For out adores he went without their helpe;
And to the lastbended their light on me

Polon. Goe with meI will goe seeke the King


This is the very extasie of Loue
Whose violent property foredoes it selfe
And leads the will to desperate Vndertakings
As oft as any passion vnder Heauen
That does afflict our Natures. I am sorrie
What haue you giuen him any hard words of late?


Ophe. No my good Lord: but as you did command
I did repell his Lettersand deny'de
His accesse to me

Pol. That hath made him mad.
I am sorrie that with better speed and iudgement
I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle
And meant to wracke thee: but beshrew my iealousie:
It seemes it is as proper to our Age
To cast beyond our selues in our Opinions
As it is common for the yonger sort
To lacke discretion. Comego we to the King
This must be knownebeing kept close might moue
More greefe to hidethen hate to vtter loue.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter KingQueeneRosincraneand Guildensterne Cum alijs.

King. Welcome deere Rosincrance and Guildensterne.
Moreouerthat we much did long to see you
The neede we haue to vse youdid prouoke
Our hastie sending. Something haue you heard
Of Hamlets transformation: so I call it
Since not th' exteriornor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should bee
More then his Fathers deaththat thus hath put him
So much from th' vnderstanding of himselfe
I cannot deeme of. I intreat you both
That being of so young dayes brought vp with him:
And since so Neighbour'd to his youthand humour
That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court
Some little time: so by your Companies
To draw him on to pleasuresand to gather
So much as from Occasions you may gleane
That open'd lies within our remedie

Qu. Good Gentlemenhe hath much talk'd of you
And sure I amtwo men there are not liuing
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To shew vs so much Gentrieand good will
As to expend your time with vs a-while
For the supply and profit of our Hope
Your Visitation shall receiue such thankes
As fits a Kings remembrance

Rosin. Both your Maiesties
Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs
Put your dread pleasuresmore into Command
Then to Entreatie

Guil. We both obey
And here giue vp our seluesin the full bent
To lay our Seruices freely at your feete
To be commanded


King. Thankes Rosincranceand gentle Guildensterne

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

Guil. Heauens make our presence and our practises
Pleasant and helpfull to him.
Enter.

Queene. Amen.
Enter Polonius.

Pol. Th' Ambassadors from Norweymy good Lord
Are ioyfully return'd

King. Thou still hast bin the father of good Newes

Pol. Haue Imy Lord? Assure youmy good Liege
I hold my dutieas I hold my Soule
Both to my Godone to my gracious King:
And I do thinkeor else this braine of mine
Hunts not the traile of Policieso sure
As I haue vs'd to do: that I haue found
The very cause of Hamlets Lunacie

King. Oh speake of thatthat I do long to heare

Pol. Giue first admittance to th' Ambassadors
My Newes shall be the Newes to that great Feast

King. Thy selfe do grace to themand bring them in.
He tels me my sweet Queenethat he hath found
The head and sourse of all your Sonnes distemper

Qu. I doubt it is no otherbut the maine
His Fathers deathand our o're-hasty Marriage.
Enter PoloniusVoltumandand Cornelius.

King. Wellwe shall sift him. Welcome good Frends:
Say Voltumandwhat from our Brother Norwey?

Volt. Most faire returne of Greetingsand Desires.
Vpon our firsthe sent out to suppresse
His Nephewes Leuieswhich to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Poleak:
But better look'd intohe truly found
It was against your Highnessewhereat greeued
That so his SicknesseAgeand Impotence
Was falsely borne in handsends out Arrests
On Fortinbraswhich he (in breefe) obeyes
Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine
Makes Vow before his Vnkleneuer more
To giue th' assay of Armes against your Maiestie.
Whereon old Norweyouercome with ioy
Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee
And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers
So leuied as beforeagainst the Poleak:
With an intreaty heerein further shewne
That it might please you to giue quiet passe
Through your Dominionsfor his Enterprize
On such regards of safety and allowance


As therein are set downe

King. It likes vs well:

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

Answerand thinke vpon this Businesse.

Meane time we thanke youfor your well-tooke Labour.

Go to your restat night wee'l Feast together.

Most welcome home.

Exit Ambass.

Pol. This businesse is very well ended.

My Liegeand Madamto expostulate

What Maiestie should bewhat Dutie is

Why day is day; nightnight; and time is time

Were nothing but to waste NightDayand Time.

Thereforesince Breuitie is the Soule of Wit

And tediousnessethe limbes and outward flourishes

I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad:

Mad call I it; for to define true Madnesse

What is'tbut to be nothing else but mad.

But let that go

Qu. More matterwith lesse Art

Pol. MadamI sweare I vse no Art at all:

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

And pittie it is true: A foolish figure

But farewell it: for I will vse no Art.

Mad let vs grant him then: and now remaines

That we finde out the cause of this effect

Or rather saythe cause of this defect;

For this effect defectiuecomes by cause

Thus it remainesand the remainder thus. Perpend

I haue a daughter: hauewhil'st she is mine

Who in her Dutie and Obediencemarke

Hath giuen me this: now gatherand surmise.

The Letter.

To the Celestialland my Soules Idollthe most beautifed Ophelia.
That's an ill Phrasea vilde Phrasebeautified is a vilde
Phrase: but you shall heare these in her excellent white
bosomethese

Qu. Came this from Hamlet to her

Pol. Good Madam stay awhileI will be faithfull.

Doubt thouthe Starres are fire

Doubtthat the Sunne doth moue:

Doubt Truth to be a Lier

But neuer DoubtI loue.

O deere OpheliaI am ill at these Numbers: I haue not Art to

reckon my grones; but that I loue thee bestoh most Best beleeue

it. Adieu.

Thine euermore most deere Ladywhilst this

Machine is to himHamlet.

This in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me:

And more aboue hath his soliciting

As they fell out by Timeby Meanesand Place

All giuen to mine eare

King. But how hath she receiu'd his Loue?
Pol. What do you thinke of me?



King. As of a manfaithfull and Honourable

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

When I had seene this hot loue on the wing

As I perceiued itI must tell you that

Before my Daughter told me what might you

Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heerethink

If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke

Or giuen my heart a winkingmute and dumbe

Or look'd vpon this Louewith idle sight

What might you thinke? NoI went round to worke

And (my yong Mistris) thus I did bespeake

Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre

This must not be: and thenI Precepts gaue her

That she should locke her selfe from his Resort

Admit no Messengersreceiue no Tokens:

Which doneshe tooke the Fruites of my Aduice

And he repulsed. A short Tale to make

Fell into a Sadnessethen into a Fast

Thence to a Watchthence into a Weaknesse

Thence to a Lightnesseand by this declension

Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues

And all we waile for

King. Do you thinke 'tis this?
Qu. It may be very likely


Pol. Hath there bene such a timeI'de fain know that

That I haue possitiuely said'tis so

When it prou'd otherwise?
King. Not that I know

Pol. Take this from this; if this be otherwise

If Circumstances leade meI will finde

Where truth is hidthough it were hid indeede

Within the Center

King. How may we try it further?

Pol. You know sometimes

He walkes foure houres togetherheere

In the Lobby

Qu. So he ha's indeed

Pol. At such a time Ile loose my Daughter to him

Be you and I behinde an Arras then

Marke the encounter: If he loue her not

And be not from his reason falne thereon;

Let me be no Assistant for a State

And keepe a Farme and Carters

King. We will try it.
Enter Hamlet reading on a Booke.

Qu. But looke where sadly the poore wretch
Comes reading

Pol. Away I do beseech youboth away
Ile boord him presently.

Exit King & Queen.

Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet?
Ham. WellGod-a-mercy


Pol. Do you know memy Lord?
Ham. Excellentexcellent well: y'are a Fishmonger


Pol. Not I my Lord

Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man

Pol. Honestmy Lord?
Ham. I sirto be honest as this world goesis to bee
one man pick'd out of two thousand

Pol. That's very truemy Lord

Ham. For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge
being a good kissing Carrion-
Haue you a daughter?

Pol. I haue my Lord

Ham. Let her not walke i'thSunne: Conception is a
blessingbut not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend
looke too't

Pol. How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter:
yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a Fishmonger:
he is farre gonefarre gone: and truly in my youth
I suffred much extreamity for loue: very neere this. Ile
speake to him againe. What do you read my Lord?

Ham. Wordswordswords

Pol. What is the mattermy Lord?
Ham. Betweene who?
Pol. I meane the matter you meanemy Lord


Ham. Slanders Sir: for the Satyricall slaue saies here
that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrinkled;
their eyes purging thicke Amberor Plum-Tree
Gumme: and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit
together with weake Hammes. All which Sirthough I
most powerfullyand potently beleeue; yet I holde it
not Honestie to haue it thus set downe: For you your
selfe Sirshould be old as I amif like a Crab you could
go backward

Pol. Though this be madnesse
Yet there is Method in't: will you walke
Out of the ayre my Lord?

Ham. Into my Graue?

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

Ham. You cannot Sir take from me any thingthat I
will more willingly part withallexcept my lifemy
life


Polon. Fare you well my Lord

Ham. These tedious old fooles

Polon. You goe to seeke my Lord Hamlet; there
hee is.
Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne.

Rosin. God saue you Sir

Guild. Mine honour'd Lord?

Rosin. My most deare Lord?

Ham. My excellent good friends? How do'st thou
Guildensterne? OhRosincrane; good Lads: How doe ye
both?

Rosin. As the indifferent Children of the earth

Guild. Happyin that we are not ouer-happy: on Fortunes
Capwe are not the very Button

Ham. Nor the Soales of her Shoo?
Rosin. Neither my Lord


Ham. Then you liue about her wasteor in the middle
of her fauour?
Guil. Faithher priuateswe

Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? Ohmost true:
she is a Strumpet. What's the newes?
Rosin. None my Lord; but that the World's growne
honest

Ham. Then is Doomesday neere: But your newes is
not true. Let me question more in particular: what haue
you my good friendsdeserued at the hands of Fortune
that she sends you to Prison hither?

Guil. Prisonmy Lord?

Ham. Denmark's a Prison

Rosin. Then is the World one

Ham. A goodly onein which there are many Confines
Wardsand Dungeons; Denmarke being one o'th'
worst

Rosin. We thinke not so my Lord

Ham. Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing
either good or badbut thinking makes it so: to me it is
a prison

Rosin. Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis
too narrow for your minde

Ham. O GodI could be bounded in a nutshelland
count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that
I haue bad dreames

Guil. Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the
very substance of the Ambitiousis meerely the shadow
of a Dreame

Ham. A dreame it selfe is but a shadow


Rosin. Truelyand I hold Ambition of so ayry and
light a qualitythat it is but a shadowes shadow

Ham. Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Monarchs
and out-stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes:
shall wee to th' Court: forby my fey I cannot reason?

Both. Wee'l wait vpon you

Ham. No such matter. I will not sort you with the
rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest
man: I am most dreadfully attended; but in the beaten
way of friendshipWhat make you at Elsonower?

Rosin. To visit you my Lordno other occasion

Ham. Begger that I amI am euen poore in thankes;
but I thanke you: and sure deare friends my thanks
are too deare a halfepeny; were you not sent for? Is it
your owne inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come
deale iustly with me: comecome; nay speake

Guil. What should we say my Lord?

Ham. Why any thing. But to the purpose; you were
sent for; and there is a kinde confession in your lookes;
which your modesties haue not craft enough to color
I know the good King & Queene haue sent for you

Rosin. To what end my Lord?

Ham. That you must teach me: but let mee coniure
you by the rights of our fellowshipby the consonancy of
our youthby the Obligation of our euer-preserued loue
and by what more dearea better proposer could charge
you withall; be euen and direct with mewhether you
were sent for or no

Rosin. What say you?
Ham. Nay then I haue an eye of you: if you loue me
hold not off

Guil. My Lordwe were sent for

Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
preuent your discouery of your secricie to the King and
Queene: moult no featherI haue of latebut wherefore
I know notlost all my mirthforgone all custome of exercise;
and indeedit goes so heauenly with my disposition;
that this goodly frame the Earthseemes to me a sterrill
Promontory; this most excellent Canopy the Ayre
look youthis braue ore-hangingthis Maiesticall Roofe
fretted with golden fire: whyit appeares no other thing
to meethen a foule and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in
Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing
how expresse and admirable? in Actionhow like an Angel?
in apprehensionhow like a God? the beauty of the
worldthe Parragon of Animals; and yet to mewhat is
this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no
nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme
to say so

Rosin. My Lordthere was no such stuffe in my
thoughts

Ham. Why did you laughwhen I saidMan delights
not me?


Rosin. To thinkemy Lordif you delight not in Man
what Lenton entertainment the Players shall receiue
from you: wee coated them on the wayand hither are
they comming to offer you Seruice

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

Rosin. Euen those you were wont to take delight in
the Tragedians of the City

Ham. How chances it they trauaile? their residence
both in reputation and profit was better both
wayes

Rosin. I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes
of the late Innouation?
Ham. Doe they hold the same estimation they did
when I was in the City? Are they so follow'd?
Rosin. No indeedthey are not

Ham. How comes it? doe they grow rusty?

Rosin. Naytheir indeauour keepes in the wonted
pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Childrenlittle
Yasesthat crye out on the top of question; and
are most tyrannically clap't for't: these are now the
fashionand so be-ratled the common Stages (so they
call them) that many wearing Rapiersare affraide of
Goose-quilsand dare scarse come thither

Ham. What are they Children? Who maintains 'em?
How are they escorted? Will they pursue the Quality no
longer then they can sing? Will they not say afterwards
if they should grow themselues to common Players (as
it is most like if their meanes are not better) their Writers
do them wrongto make them exclaim against their
owne Succession

Rosin. Faith there ha's bene much to do on both sides:
and the Nation holds it no sinneto tarre them to Controuersie.
There was for a whileno mony bid for argument
vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in
the Question

Ham. Is't possible?
Guild. Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of
Braines

Ham. Do the Boyes carry it away?
Rosin. I that they do my Lord. Hercules & his load too


Ham. It is not strange: for mine Vnckle is King of
Denmarkeand those that would make mowes at him
while my Father liued; giue twentyfortyan hundred
Ducates a peecefor his picture in Little. There is something
in this more then Naturallif Philosophie could
finde it out.

Flourish for the Players.


Guil. There are the Players

Ham. Gentlemenyou are welcom to Elsonower: your
handscome: The appurtenance of Welcomeis Fashion
and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe
lest my extent to the Players (which I tell you must shew
fairely outward) should more appeare like entertainment
then yours. You are welcome: but my Vnckle Father
and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd

Guil. In what my deere Lord?

Ham. I am but mad NorthNorth-West: when the
Winde is SoutherlyI know a Hawke from a Handsaw.
Enter Polonius.

Pol. Well be with you Gentlemen

Ham. Hearke you Guildensterneand you too: at each
eare a hearer: that great Baby you see thereis not yet
out of his swathing clouts

Rosin. Happily he's the second time come to them: for
they sayan old man is twice a childe

Ham. I will Prophesie. Hee comes to tell me of the
Players. Mark ityou say right Sir: for a Monday morning
'twas so indeed

Pol. My LordI haue Newes to tell you

Ham. My LordI haue Newes to tell you.
When Rossius an Actor in RomePol.
The Actors are come hither my Lord

Ham. Buzzebuzze

Pol. Vpon mine Honor

Ham. Then can each Actor on his Asse


Polon. The best Actors in the worldeither for Tragedie
ComedieHistoriePastorall:
Pastoricall-Comicall-Historicall-Pastorall:
Tragicall-Historicall: Tragicall-Comicall-Historicall-Pastorall:
Scene indiuidible: or Poem
vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauynor Plautus
too lightfor the law of Writand the Liberty. These are
the onely men

Ham. O Iephta Iudge of Israelwhat a Treasure had'st

thou?
Pol. What a Treasure had hemy Lord?
Ham. Why one faire Daughterand no more

The which he loued passing well

Pol. Still on my Daughter

Ham. Am I not i'th' right old Iephta?
Polon. If you call me Iephta my LordI haue a daughter
that I loue passing well

Ham. Nay that followes not

Polon. What followes thenmy Lord?


Ha. WhyAs by lotGod wot: and then you knowIt
came to passeas most like it was: The first rowe of the
Pons Chanson will shew you more. For looke where my
Abridgements come.
Enter foure or fiue Players.

Y'are welcome Masterswelcome all. I am glad to see
thee well: Welcome good Friends. Oh my olde Friend?
Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last: Com'st thou to
beard me in Denmarke? Whatmy yong Lady and Mistris?
Byrlady your Ladiship is neerer Heauen then when
I saw you lastby the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God
your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd
within the ring. Mastersyou are all welcome: wee'l e'ne
to't like French Faulconersflie at any thing we see: wee'l
haue a Speech straight. Come giue vs a tast of your quality:
comea passionate speech

1.Play. What speechmy Lord?

Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech oncebut it was
neuer Acted: or if it wasnot aboue oncefor the Play I
remember pleas'd not the Million'twas Cauiarie to the
Generall: but it was (as I receiu'd itand otherswhose
iudgement in such matterscried in the top of mine) an
excellent Play; well digested in the Scoenesset downe
with as much modestieas cunning. I remember one said
there was no Sallets in the linesto make the matter sauory;
nor no matter in the phrasethat might indite the
Author of affectationbut cal'd it an honest method. One
cheefe Speech in itI cheefely lou'd'twas Aeneas Tale
to Didoand thereabout of it especiallywhere he speaks
of Priams slaughter. If it liue in your memorybegin at
this Linelet me seelet me see: The rugged Pyrrhus like
th'Hyrcanian Beast. It is not so: it begins with Pyrrhus
The rugged Pyrrhushe whose Sable Armes
Blacke as his purposedid the night resemble
When he lay couched in the Ominous Horse
Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd
With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote
Now is he to take Geulleshorridly Trick'd
With blood of FathersMothersDaughtersSonnes
Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets
That lend a tyrannousand damned light
To their vilde Murthersroasted in wrath and fire
And thus o're-sized with coagulate gore
With eyes like Carbunclesthe hellish Pyrrhus
Olde Grandsire Priam seekes

Pol. Fore Godmy Lordwell spokenwith good accent
and good discretion

1.Player. Anon he findes him
Striking too short at Greekes. His anticke Sword
Rebellious to his Armelyes where it falles
Repugnant to command: vnequall match
Pyrrhus at Priam driuesin Rage strikes wide:
But with the whiffe and winde of his fell Sword
Th' vnnerued Father fals. Then senselesse Illium
Seeming to feele his blowwith flaming top
Stoopes to his Baceand with a hideous crash
Takes Prisoner Pyrrhus eare. For loehis Sword
Which was declining on the Milkie head
Of Reuerend Priamseem'd i'th' Ayre to sticke:
So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrhus stood


And like a Newtrall to his will and matterdid nothing.
But as we often see against some storme
A silence in the Heauensthe Racke stand still
The bold windes speechlesseand the Orbe below
As hush as death: Anon the dreadfull Thunder
Doth rend the Region. So after Pyrrhus pause
A rowsed Vengeance sets him new a-worke
And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall
On Mars his Armoursforg'd for proofe Eterne
With lesse remorse then Pyrrhus bleeding sword
Now falles on Priam.
Outoutthou Strumpet-Fortuneall you Gods
In generall Synod take away her power:
Breake all the Spokes and Fallies from her wheele
And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen
As low as to the Fiends


Pol. This is too long

Ham. It shall to'th Barbarswith your beard. Prythee
say on: He's for a Iiggeor a tale of Baudryor hee
sleepes. Say on; come to Hecuba

1.Play. But whoO whohad seen the inobled Queen

Ham. The inobled Queene?
Pol. That's good: Inobled Queene is good


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

Pol. Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colourand
ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more

Ham. 'Tis wellIle haue thee speake out the rest
soone. Good my Lordwill you see the Players wel bestow'd.
Do ye hearelet them be well vs'd: for they are
the Abstracts and breefe Chronicles of the time. After
your deathyou were better haue a bad Epitaphthen
their ill report while you liued

Pol. My LordI will vse them according to their desart

Ham. Gods bodykins manbetter. Vse euerie man
after his desartand who should scape whipping: vse
them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lesse they
deseruethe more merit is in your bountie. Take them
in

Pol. Come sirs.


Exit Polon.

Ham. Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to morrow.

Dost thou heare me old Friendcan you play the

murther of Gonzago?
Play. I my Lord

Ham. Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a

need study a speech of some dosen or sixteene lineswhich

I would set downeand insert in't? Could ye not?
Play. I my Lord

Ham. Very well. Follow that Lordand looke you

mock him not. My good FriendsIle leaue you til night

you are welcome to Elsonower?
Rosin. Good my Lord.

Exeunt.

Manet Hamlet.

Ham. I soGod buy'ye: Now I am alone.

Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slaue am I?

Is it not monstrous that this Player heere

But in a Fixionin a dreame of Passion

Could force his soule so to his whole conceit

That from her workingall his visage warm'd;

Teares in his eyesdistraction in's Aspect

A broken voyceand his whole Function suiting

With Formesto his Conceit? And all for nothing?

For Hecuba?

What's Hecuba to himor he to Hecuba

That he should weepe for her? What would he doe

Had he the Motiue and the Cue for passion

That I haue? He would drowne the Stage with teares

And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech:

Make mad the guiltyand apale the free

Confound the ignorantand amaze indeed

The very faculty of Eyes and Eares. Yet I

A dull and muddy-metled Rascallpeake

Like Iohn a-dreamesvnpregnant of my cause

And can say nothing: Nonot for a King

Vpon whose propertyand most deere life

A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward?

Who calles me Villaine? breakes my pate a-crosse?

Pluckes off my Beardand blowes it in my face?

Tweakes me by'th' Nose? giues me the Lye i'th' Throate

As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this?

Ha? Why I should take it: for it cannot be

But I am Pigeon-Liuer'dand lacke Gall

To make Oppression bitteror ere this

I should haue fatted all the Region Kites

With this Slaues Offallbloudy: a Bawdy villaine

RemorselesseTreacherousLetcherouskindles villaine!

Oh Vengeance!

Who? What an Asse am I? I surethis is most braue

That Ithe Sonne of the Deere murthered

Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauenand Hell

Must (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words

And fall a Cursing like a very Drab.

A Scullion? Fye vpon't: Foh. About my Braine.

I haue heardthat guilty Creatures sitting at a Play

Haue by the very cunning of the Scoene

Bene strooke so to the soulethat presently


They haue proclaim'd their Malefactions.
For Murtherthough it haue no tonguewill speake
With most myraculous Organ. Ile haue these Players
Play something like the murder of my Father
Before mine Vnkle. Ile obserue his lookes
Ile rent him to the quicke: If he but blench
I know my course. The Spirit that I haue seene
May be the Diuelland the Diuel hath power
T' assume a pleasing shapeyea and perhaps
Out of my Weaknesseand my Melancholly
As he is very potent with such Spirits
Abuses me to damne me. Ile haue grounds
More Relatiue then this: The Play's the thing
Wherein Ile catch the Conscience of the King.


Exit


Enter KingQueenePoloniusOpheliaRosincrance
Guildensternand
Lords.


King. And can you by no drift of circumstance
Get from him why he puts on this Confusion:
Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet
With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy

Rosin. He does confesse he feeles himselfe distracted
But from what cause he will by no meanes speake

Guil. Nor do we finde him forward to be sounded
But with a crafty Madnesse keepes aloofe:
When we would bring him on to some Confession
Of his true state

Qu. Did he receiue you well?
Rosin. Most like a Gentleman


Guild. But with much forcing of his disposition

Rosin. Niggard of questionbut of our demands
Most free in his reply

Qu. Did you assay him to any pastime?

Rosin. Madamit so fell outthat certaine Players
We ore-wrought on the way: of these we told him
And there did seeme in him a kinde of ioy
To heare of it: They are about the Court
And (as I thinke) they haue already order
This night to play before him

Pol. 'Tis most true:
And he beseech'd me to intreate your Maiesties
To heareand see the matter

King. With all my heartand it doth much content me
To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen
Giue him a further edgeand driue his purpose on
To these delights

Rosin. We shall my Lord.

Exeunt.

King. Sweet Gertrude leaue vs too


For we haue closely sent for Hamlet hither
That heas 'twere by accidentmay there
Affront Ophelia. Her Fatherand my selfe (lawful espials)
Will so bestow our seluesthat seeing vnseene
We may of their encounter frankely iudge
And gather by himas he is behaued
If't be th' affliction of his loueor no.
That thus he suffers for


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

Ophe. MadamI wish it may

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

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

Pol. I heare him comminglet's withdraw my Lord.

Exeunt.

Enter Hamlet.

Ham. To beor not to bethat is the Question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer
The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune
Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles
And by opposing end them: to dyeto sleepe
No more; and by a sleepeto say we end
The Heart-akeand the thousand Naturall shockes
That Flesh is heyre too? 'Tis a consummation
Deuoutly to be wish'd. To dye to sleepe
To sleepeperchance to Dreame; Ithere's the rub
For in that sleepe of deathwhat dreames may come
When we haue shuffel'd off this mortall coile
Must giue vs pawse. There's the respect
That makes Calamity of so long life:
For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time
The Oppressors wrongthe poore mans Contumely
The pangs of dispriz'd Louethe Lawes delay
The insolence of Officeand the Spurnes
That patient merit of the vnworthy takes
When he himselfe might his Quietus make
With a bare Bodkin? Who would these Fardles beare
To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life
But that the dread of something after death
The vndiscouered Countreyfrom whose Borne
No Traueller returnesPuzels the will
And makes vs rather beare those illes we haue


Then flye to others that we know not of.
Thus Conscience does make Cowards of vs all
And thus the Natiue hew of Resolution
Is sicklied o'rewith the pale cast of Thought
And enterprizes of great pith and moment
With this regard their Currants turne away
And loose the name of Action. Soft you now
The faire Ophelia? Nimphin thy Orizons
Be all my sinnes remembred


Ophe. Good my Lord
How does your Honor for this many a day?
Ham. I humbly thanke you: wellwellwell

Ophe. My LordI haue Remembrances of yours
That I haue longed long to re-deliuer.
I pray you nowreceiue them

Ham. NonoI neuer gaue you ought

Ophe. My honor'd LordI know right well you did
And with them words of so sweet breath compos'd
As made the things more richthen perfume left:
Take these againefor to the Noble minde
Rich gifts wax poorewhen giuers proue vnkinde.
There my Lord

Ham. Haha: Are you honest?
Ophe. My Lord


Ham. Are you faire?
Ophe. What meanes your Lordship?
Ham. That if you be honest and faireyour Honesty


should admit no discourse to your Beautie

Ophe. Could Beautie my Lordhaue better Comerce
then your Honestie?

Ham. I trulie: for the power of Beautiewill sooner
transforme Honestie from what isto a Bawdthen the
force of Honestie can translate Beautie into his likenesse.
This was sometime a Paradoxbut now the time giues it
proofe. I did loue you once

Ophe. Indeed my Lordyou made me beleeue so

Ham. You should not haue beleeued me. For vertue
cannot so innocculate our old stockebut we shall rellish
of it. I loued you not

Ophe. I was the more deceiued

Ham. Get thee to a Nunnerie. Why would'st thou
be a breeder of Sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest
but yet I could accuse me of such thingsthat it were better
my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowdreuengefull
Ambitiouswith more offences at my becke
then I haue thoughts to put them in imaginationto giue
them shapeor time to acte them in. What should such
Fellowes as I docrawling betweene Heauen and Earth.
We are arrant Knaues allbeleeue none of vs. Goe thy
wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father?

Ophe. At homemy Lord

Ham. Let the doores be shut vpon himthat he may


play the Foole no waybut in's owne house. Farewell

Ophe. O helpe himyou sweet Heauens

Ham. If thou doest MarryIle giue thee this Plague
for thy Dowrie. Be thou as chast as Iceas pure as Snow
thou shalt not escape Calumny. Get thee to a Nunnery.
GoFarewell. Or if thou wilt needs Marrymarry a fool:
for Wise men know well enoughwhat monsters you
make of them. To a Nunnery goand quickly too. Farwell

Ophe. O heauenly Powersrestore him

Ham. I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough.
God has giuen you one paceand you make your selfe another:
you gidgeyou ambleand you lispeand nickname
Gods creaturesand make your Wantonnesseyour Ignorance.
Go tooIle no more on'tit hath made me mad.
I saywe will haue no more Marriages. Those that are
married alreadyall but one shall liuethe rest shall keep
as they are. To a Nunnerygo.

Exit Hamlet.

Ophe. O what a Noble minde is heere o're-throwne?
The CourtiersSoldiersSchollers: Eyetonguesword
Th' expectansie and Rose of the faire State
The glasse of Fashionand the mould of Forme
Th' obseru'd of all Obseruersquitequite downe.
Haue I of Ladies most deiect and wretched
That suck'd the Honie of his Musicke Vowes:
Now see that Nobleand most Soueraigne Reason
Like sweet Bels iangled out of tuneand harsh
That vnmatch'd Forme and Feature of blowne youth
Blasted with extasie. Oh woe is me
T'haue seene what I haue seene: see what I see.
Enter Kingand Polonius.

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

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


King. It shall be so:
Madnesse in great Onesmust not vnwatch'd go.

Exeunt.

Enter Hamletand two or three of the Players.

Ham. Speake the Speech I pray youas I pronounc'd
it to you trippingly on the Tongue: But if you mouth it
as many of your Players doI had as liue the Town-Cryer
had spoke my Lines: Nor do not saw the Ayre too much
your hand thusbut vse all gently; for in the verie Torrent
Tempestand (as I say) the Whirle-winde of
Passionyou must acquire and beget a Temperance that
may giue it Smoothnesse. O it offends mee to the Soule
to see a robustious Pery-wig-pated Fellowteare a Passion
to tattersto verie raggesto split the eares of the
Groundlings: who (for the most part) are capeable of
nothingbut inexplicable dumbe shewes& noise: I could
haue such a Fellow whipt for o're-doing Termagant: it
outHerod's Herod. Pray you auoid it

Player. I warrant your Honor

Ham. Be not too tame neyther: but let your owne
Discretion be your Tutor. Sute the Action to the Word
the Word to the Actionwith this speciall obseruance:
That you ore-stop not the modestie of Nature; for any
thing so ouer-doneis fro[m] the purpose of Playingwhose
end both at the first and nowwas and isto hold as 'twer
the Mirrour vp to Nature; to shew Vertue her owne
FeatureScorne her owne Imageand the verie Age and
Bodie of the Timehis forme and pressure. Nowthis
ouer-doneor come tardie offthough it make the vnskilfull
laughcannot but make the Iudicious greeue; The
censure of the which Onemust in your allowance o'reway
a whole Theater of Others. Ohthere bee Players
that I haue seene Playand heard others praiseand that
highly (not to speake it prophanely) that neyther hauing
the accent of Christiansnor the gate of ChristianPagan
or Normanhaue so strutted and bellowedthat I haue
thought some of Natures Iouerney-men had made men
and not made them wellthey imitated Humanity so abhominably

Play. I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with
vsSir

Ham. O reforme it altogether. And let those that
play your Clownesspeake no more then is set downe for
them. For there be of themthat will themselues laugh
to set on some quantitie of barren Spectators to laugh
toothough in the meane timesome necessary Question
of the Play be then to be considered: that's Villanous&
shewes a most pittifull Ambition in the Foole that vses
it. Go make you readie.

Exit Players.

Enter PoloniusRosincranceand Guildensterne.

How now my Lord
Will the King heare this peece of Worke?
Pol. And the Queene tooand that presently


Ham. Bid the Players make hast.

Exit Polonius.

Will you two helpe to hasten them?
Both. We will my Lord.

Exeunt.

Enter Horatio.

Ham. What hoaHoratio?

Hora. Heere sweet Lordat your Seruice

Ham. Horatiothou art eene as iust a man
As ere my Conuersation coap'd withall

Hora. O my deere Lord

Ham. Naydo not thinke I flatter:

For what aduancement may I hope from thee

That no Reuennew hastbut thy good spirits

To feed & cloath thee. Why shold the poor be flatter'd?

Nolet the Candied tonguelike absurd pompe

And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee

Where thrift may follow faining? Dost thou heare

Since my deere Soule was Mistris of my choyse

And could of men distinguishher election

Hath seal'd thee for her selfe. For thou hast bene

As one in suffering allthat suffers nothing.

A man that Fortunes buffetsand Rewards

Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And blest are those

Whose Blood and Iudgement are so well co-mingled

That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes finger.

To sound what stop she please. Giue me that man

That is not Passions Slaueand I will weare him

In my hearts Core. Iin my Heart of heart

As I do thee. Something too much of this.

There is a Play to night to before the King.

One Scoene of it comes neere the Circumstance

Which I haue told theeof my Fathers death.

I prytheewhen thou see'st that Acte a-foot

Euen with the verie Comment of my Soule

Obserue mine Vnkle: If his occulted guilt

Do not it selfe vnkennell in one speech

It is a damned Ghost that we haue seene:

And my Imaginations are as foule

As Vulcans Stythe. Giue him needfull note

For I mine eyes will riuet to his Face:

And after we will both our iudgements ioyne

To censure of his seeming

Hora. Well my Lord.

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

And scape detectingI will pay the Theft.

Enter KingQueenePoloniusOpheliaRosincrance

Guildensterneand

other Lords attendant with his Guard carrying Torches. Danish

March. Sound

a Flourish.

Ham. They are comming to the Play: I must be idle.
Get you a place


King. How fares our Cosin Hamlet?
Ham. Excellent Ifaithof the Camelions dish: I eate
the Ayre promise-cramm'dyou cannot feed Capons so

King. I haue nothing with this answer Hamletthese
words are not mine

Ham. Nonor mine. Now my Lordyou plaid once
i'th' Vniuersityyou say?
Polon. That I did my Lordand was accounted a good
Actor

Ham. And what did you enact?
Pol. I did enact Iulius CaesarI was kill'd i'th' Capitol:
Brutus kill'd me

Ham. It was a bruite part of himto kill so Capitall a
Calfe there. Be the Players ready?
Rosin. I my Lordthey stay vpon your patience

Qu. Come hither my good Hamletsit by me

Ha. No good Motherhere's Mettle more attractiue

Pol. Oh hodo you marke that?
Ham. Ladieshall I lye in your Lap?
Ophe. No my Lord


Ham. I meanemy Head vpon your Lap?
Ophe. I my Lord


Ham. Do you thinke I meant Country matters?
Ophe. I thinke nothingmy Lord


Ham. That's a faire thought to ly betweene Maids legs
Ophe. What is my Lord?
Ham. Nothing


Ophe. You are merriemy Lord?
Ham. Who I?
Ophe. I my Lord


Ham. Oh Godyour onely Iigge-maker: what should
a man dobut be merrie. For looke you how cheerefully
my Mother lookesand my Father dyed within's two
Houres

Ophe. Nay'tis twice two monethsmy Lord

Ham. So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare blacke
for Ile haue a suite of Sables. Oh Heauens! dye two moneths
agoand not forgotten yet? Then there's hopea
great mans Memoriemay out-liue his life halfe a yeare:
But byrlady he must builde Churches then: or else shall
he suffer not thinking onwith the Hoby-horssewhose
Epitaph isFor oFor othe Hoby-horse is forgot.

Hoboyes play. The dumbe shew enters.

Enter a King and Queenevery louingly; the Queene embracing
him. She
kneelesand makes shew of Protestation vnto him. He takes her
vpand


declines his head vpon her neck. Layes him downe vpon a Banke
of Flowers.
She seeing him a-sleepeleaues him. Anon comes in a Fellow
takes off his
Crownekisses itand powres poyson in the Kings earesand
Exits. The
Queene returnesfindes the King deadand makes passionate
Action. The
Poysonerwith some two or three Mutes comes in againeseeming
to lament
with her. The dead body is carried away: The Poysoner Wooes the
Queene with
Giftsshe seemes loath and vnwilling awhilebut in the end
accepts his
loue.

Exeunt.

Ophe. What meanes thismy Lord?
Ham. Marry this is Miching Malichothat meanes
Mischeefe

Ophe. Belike this shew imports the Argument of the
Play?
Ham. We shall know by these Fellowes: the Players
cannot keepe counsellthey'l tell all

Ophe. Will they tell vs what this shew meant?

Ham. Ior any shew that you'l shew him. Bee not
you asham'd to shewhee'l not shame to tell you what it
meanes

Ophe. You are naughtyou are naughtIle marke the
Play.
Enter Prologue.

For vsand for our Tragedie
Heere stooping to your Clemencie:
We begge your hearing Patientlie

Ham. Is this a Prologueor the Poesie of a Ring?
Ophe. 'Tis briefe my Lord


Ham. As Womans loue.
Enter King and his Queene.

King. Full thirtie times hath Phoebus Cart gon round
Neptunes salt Washand Tellus Orbed ground:
And thirtie dozen Moones with borrowed sheene
About the World haue times twelue thirties beene
Since loue our heartsand Hymen did our hands
Vnite comutuallin most sacred Bands

Bap. So many iournies may the Sunne and Moone
Make vs againe count o'reere loue be done.
But woe is meyou are so sicke of late
So farre from cheereand from your former state
That I distrust you: yet though I distrust
Discomfort you (my Lord) it nothing must:
For womens Feare and Loueholds quantitie
In neither oughtor in extremity:
Now what my loue isproofe hath made you know
And as my Loue is siz'dmy Feare is so


King. Faith I must leaue thee Loueand shortly too:
My operant Powers my Functions leaue to do:
And thou shalt liue in this faire world behinde
Honour'dbelou'dand haplyone as kinde.
For Husband shalt thou


Bap. Oh confound the rest:
Such Louemust needs be Treason in my brest:
In second Husbandlet me be accurst
None wed the secondbut who kill'd the first

Ham. WormwoodWormwood

Bapt. The instances that second Marriage moue
Are base respects of Thriftbut none of Loue.
A second timeI kill my Husband dead
When second Husband kisses me in Bed

King. I do beleeue you. Think what now you speak:
But what we do determineoft we breake:
Purpose is but the slaue to Memorie
Of violent Birthbut poore validitie:
Which now like Fruite vnripe stickes on the Tree
But fall vnshakenwhen they mellow bee.
Most necessary 'tisthat we forget
To pay our selueswhat to our selues is debt:
What to our selues in passion we propose
The passion endingdoth the purpose lose.
The violence of other Greefe or Ioy
Their owne ennactors with themselues destroy:
Where Ioy most ReuelsGreefe doth most lament;
Greefe ioyesIoy greeues on slender accident.
This world is not for ayenor 'tis not strange
That euen our Loues should with our Fortunes change.
For 'tis a question left vs yet to proue
Whether Loue lead Fortuneor else Fortune Loue.
The great man downeyou marke his fauourites flies
The poore aduanc'dmakes Friends of Enemies:
And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend
For who not needsshall neuer lacke a Frend:
And who in want a hollow Friend doth try
Directly seasons him his Enemie.
But orderly to endwhere I begun
Our Willes and Fates do so contrary run
That our Deuices still are ouerthrowne
Our thoughts are ourstheir ends none of our owne.
So thinke thou wilt no second Husband wed.
But die thy thoughtswhen thy first Lord is dead

Bap. Nor Earth to giue me foodnor Heauen light
Sport and repose locke from me day and night:
Each opposite that blankes the face of ioy
Meet what I would haue welland it destroy:
Both heereand hencepursue me lasting strife
If once a Widdoweuer I be Wife

Ham. If she should breake it now

King. 'Tis deepely sworne:
Sweetleaue me heere a while
My spirits grow dulland faine I would beguile
The tedious day with sleepe

Qu. Sleepe rocke thy Braine


Sleepes

And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine.

Exit

Ham. Madamhow like you this Play?
Qu. The Lady protests to much me thinkes


Ham. Oh but shee'l keepe her word

King. Haue you heard the Argumentis there no Offence
in't?
Ham. Nonothey do but iestpoyson in iestno Offence
i'th' world

King. What do you call the Play?

Ham. The Mouse-trap: Marry how? Tropically:
This Play is the Image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago
is the Dukes namehis wife Baptista: you shall see
anon: 'tis a knauish peece of worke: But what o'that?
Your Maiestieand wee that haue free soulesit touches
vs not: let the gall'd iade winch: our withers are vnrung.
Enter Lucianus.

This is one Lucianus nephew to the King

Ophe. You are a good Chorusmy Lord

Ham. I could interpret betweene you and your loue:
if I could see the Puppets dallying

Ophe. You are keene my Lordyou are keene

Ham. It would cost you a groaningto take off my
edge

Ophe. Still better and worse

Ham. So you mistake Husbands.
Begin Murderer. Poxleaue thy damnable Facesand
begin. Comethe croaking Rauen doth bellow for Reuenge

Lucian. Thoughts blackehands apt
Drugges fitand Time agreeing:
Confederate seasonelseno Creature seeing:
Thou mixture rankeof Midnight Weeds collected
With Hecats Banthrice blastedthrice infected
Thy naturall Magickeand dire propertie
On wholsome lifevsurpe immediately.

Powres the poyson in his eares.

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

Ophe. The King rises

Ham. Whatfrighted with false fire

Qu. How fares my Lord?
Pol. Giue o're the Play



King. Giue me some Light. Away

All. LightsLightsLights.

Exeunt.

Manet Hamlet & Horatio.

Ham. Why let the strucken Deere go weepe
The Hart vngalled play:
For some must watchwhile some must sleepe;
So runnes the world away.
Would not this Sirand a Forrest of Feathersif the rest of
my Fortunes turne Turke with me; with two Prouinciall
Roses on my rac'd Shooesget me a Fellowship in a crie
of Players sir

Hor. Halfe a share

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

Hora. You might haue Rim'd

Ham. Oh good HoratioIle take the Ghosts word for
a thousand pound. Did'st perceiue?
Hora. Verie well my Lord

Ham. Vpon the talke of the poysoning?
Hora. I did verie well note him.
Enter Rosincrance and Guildensterne.

Ham. Ohha? Come some Musick. Come y Recorders:
For if the King like not the Comedie
Why then belike he likes it not perdie.
Come some Musicke

Guild. Good my Lordvouchsafe me a word with you

Ham. Sira whole History

Guild. The Kingsir

Ham. I sirwhat of him?
Guild. Is in his retyrementmaruellous distemper'd


Ham. With drinke Sir?
Guild. No my Lordrather with choller


Ham. Your wisedome should shew it selfe more richer
to signifie this to his Doctor: for for me to put him
to his Purgationwould perhaps plundge him into farre
more Choller

Guild. Good my Lord put your discourse into some
frameand start not so wildely from my affayre

Ham. I am tame Sirpronounce

Guild. The Queene your Motherin most great affliction


of spirithath sent me to you

Ham. You are welcome

Guild. Naygood my Lordthis courtesie is not of
the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholsome
answerI will doe your Mothers command'ment:
if notyour pardonand my returne shall bee the end of
my Businesse

Ham. SirI cannot

Guild. Whatmy Lord?

Ham. Make you a wholsome answere: my wits diseas'd.
But sirsuch answers as I can makeyou shal command:
or rather you saymy Mother: therfore no more
but to the matter. My Mother you say

Rosin. Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke
her into amazementand admiration

Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonnethat can so astonish a
Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mothers
admiration?

Rosin. She desires to speake with you in her Closset
ere you go to bed

Ham. We shall obeywere she ten times our Mother.
Haue you any further Trade with vs?
Rosin. My Lordyou once did loue me

Ham. So I do stillby these pickers and stealers

Rosin. Good my Lordwhat is your cause of distemper?
You do freely barre the doore of your owne Libertie
if you deny your greefes to your Friend

Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement

Rosin. How can that bewhen you haue the voyce of
the King himselfefor your Succession in Denmarke?

Ham. Ibut while the grasse growesthe Prouerbe is
something musty.
Enter one with a Recorder.

O the Recorder. Let me seeto withdraw with youwhy
do you go about to recouer the winde of meeas if you
would driue me into a toyle?

Guild. O my Lordif my Dutie be too boldmy loue
is too vnmannerly

Ham. I do not well vnderstand that. Will you play
vpon this Pipe?
Guild. My LordI cannot

Ham. I pray you

Guild. Beleeue meI cannot

Ham. I do beseech you

Guild. I know no touch of itmy Lord

Ham. 'Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these Ventiges


with your finger and thumbegiue it breath with your
mouthand it will discourse most excellent Musicke.
Looke youthese are the stoppes

Guild. But these cannot I command to any vtterance
of hermonyI haue not the skill

Ham. Why looke you nowhow vnworthy a thing
you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would
seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart
of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest
Noteto the top of my Compasse: and there is much Musicke
excellent Voicein this little Organeyet cannot
you make it. Why do you thinkethat I am easier to bee
plaid onthen a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will
though you can fret meyou cannot play vpon me. God
blesse you Sir.
Enter Polonius.

Polon. My Lord; the Queene would speak with you
and presently

Ham. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in shape
like a Camell

Polon. By'th' Masseand it's like a Camell indeed

Ham. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell

Polon. It is back'd like a Weazell

Ham. Or like a Whale?
Polon. Verie like a Whale


Ham. Then will I come to my Motherby and by:
They foole me to the top of my bent.
I will come by and by

Polon. I will say so.
Enter.

Ham. By and byis easily said. Leaue me Friends:
'Tis now the verie witching time of night
When Churchyards yawneand Hell it selfe breaths out
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood
And do such bitter businesse as the day
Would quake to looke on. Soft nowto my Mother:
Oh Heartloose not thy Nature; let not euer
The Soule of Neroenter this firme bosome:
Let me be cruellnot vnnaturall
I will speake Daggers to herbut vse none:
My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites.
How in my words someuer she be shent
To giue them Sealesneuer my Soule consent.
Enter KingRosincranceand Guildensterne.

King. I like him notnor stands it safe with vs
To let his madnesse range. Therefore prepare you
I your Commission will forthwith dispatch
And he to England shall along with you:
The termes of our estatemay not endure
Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow
Out of his Lunacies


Guild. We will our selues prouide:
Most holie and Religious feare it is
To keepe those many many bodies safe
That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie

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

King. Arme youI pray you to this speedie Voyage;
For we will Fetters put vpon this feare
Which now goes too free-footed

Both. We will haste vs.

Exeunt. Gent.

Enter Polonius.

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

King. Thankes deere my Lord.
Oh my offence is rankeit smels to heauen
It hath the primall eldest curse vpon't
A Brothers murther. Pray can I not
Though inclination be as sharpe as will:
My stronger guiltdefeats my strong intent
And like a man to double businesse bound
I stand in pause where I shall first begin
And both neglect; what if this cursed hand
Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood
Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heauens
To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy
But to confront the visage of Offence?
And what's in Prayerbut this two-fold force
To be fore-stalled ere we come to fall
Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp
My fault is past. But ohwhat forme of Prayer
Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther:
That cannot besince I am still possest
Of those effects for which I did the Murther.
My Crownemine owne Ambitionand my Queene:
May one be pardon'dand retaine th' offence?
In the corrupted currants of this world
Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice


And oft 'tis seenethe wicked prize it selfe
Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue
There is no shufflingthere the Action lyes
In his true Natureand we our selues compell'd
Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults
To giue in euidence. What then? What rests?
Try what Repentance can. What can it not?
Yet what can itwhen one cannot repent?
Oh wretched state! Oh bosomeblacke as death!
Oh limed soulethat strugling to be free
Art more ingag'd: Helpe Angelsmake assay:
Bow stubborne kneesand heart with strings of Steele
Be soft as sinewes of the new-borne Babe
All may be well.
Enter Hamlet.


Ham. Now might I do it patnow he is praying
And now Ile doo'tand so he goes to Heauen
And so am I reueng'd: that would be scann'd
A Villaine killes my Fatherand for that
I his foule Sonnedo this same Villaine send
To heauen. Oh this is hyre and Sallerynot Reuenge.
He tooke my Father grosselyfull of bread
With all his Crimes broad blowneas fresh as May
And how his Audit standswho knowessaue Heauen:
But in our circumstance and course of thought
'Tis heauie with him: and am I then reueng'd
To take him in the purging of his Soule
When he is fit and season'd for his passage? No.
Vp Swordand know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunke asleepe: or in his Rage
Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed
At gamingswearingor about some acte
That ha's no rellish of Saluation in't
Then trip himthat his heeles may kicke at Heauen
And that his Soule may be as damn'd and blacke
As Hellwhereto it goes. My Mother stayes
This Physicke but prolongs thy sickly dayes.
Enter.

King. My words flye vpmy thoughts remain below
Words without thoughtsneuer to Heauen go.
Enter.

Enter Queene and Polonius.

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

Ham. within. Mothermothermother

Qu. Ile warrant youfeare me not.
WithdrawI heare him coming.
Enter Hamlet.

Ham. Now Motherwhat's the matter?
Qu. Hamletthou hast thy Father much offended


Ham. Motheryou haue my Father much offended


Qu. Comecomeyou answer with an idle tongue

Ham. Gogoyou question with an idle tongue

Qu. Why how now Hamlet?
Ham. Whats the matter now?
Qu. Haue you forgot me?
Ham. No by the Roodnot so:


You are the Queeneyour Husbands Brothers wife
But would you were not so. You are my Mother

Qu. Naythen Ile set those to you that can speake

Ham. Comecomeand sit you downeyou shall not
boudge:
You go not till I set you vp a glasse
Where you may see the inmost part of you?

Qu. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me?
Helpehelpehoa

Pol. What hoahelpehelpehelpe

Ham. How nowa Rat? dead for a Ducatedead

Pol. Oh I am slaine.

Killes Polonius

Qu. Oh mewhat hast thou done?
Ham. Nay I know notis it the King?
Qu. Oh what a rashand bloody deed is this?
Ham. A bloody deedalmost as bad good Mother


As kill a Kingand marrie with his Brother

Qu. As kill a King?

Ham. I Lady'twas my word.
Thou wretchedrashintruding foole farewell
I tooke thee for thy Betterstake thy Fortune
Thou find'st to be too busieis some danger.
Leaue wringing of your handspeacesit you downe
And let me wring your heartfor so I shall
If it be made of penetrable stuffe;
If damned Custome haue not braz'd it so
That it is proofe and bulwarke against Sense

Qu. What haue I donethat thou dar'st wag thy tong
In noise so rude against me?

Ham. Such an Act
That blurres the grace and blush of Modestie
Cals Vertue Hypocritetakes off the Rose
From the faire forehead of an innocent loue
And makes a blister there. Makes marriage vowes
As false as Dicers Oathes. Oh such a deed
As from the body of Contraction pluckes
The very souleand sweete Religion makes
A rapsidie of words. Heauens face doth glow
Yea this solidity and compound masse
With tristfull visage as against the doome
Is thought-sicke at the act

Qu. Aye me; what actthat roares so lowd& thunders
in the Index

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

Qu. O Hamletspeake no more.
Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soule
And there I see such blacke and grained spots
As will not leaue their Tinct

Ham. Naybut to liue
In the ranke sweat of an enseamed bed
Stew'd in Corruption; honying and making loue
Ouer the nasty Stye

Qu. Oh speake to meno more
These words like Daggers enter in mine eares.
No more sweet Hamlet

Ham. A Murdererand a Villaine:
A Slauethat is not twentieth part the tythe
Of your precedent Lord. A vice of Kings
A Cutpurse of the Empire and the Rule.
That from a shelfethe precious Diadem stole
And put it in his Pocket

Qu. No more.
Enter Ghost.

Ham. A King of shreds and patches.
Saue me; and houer o're me with your wings
You heauenly Guards. What would your gracious figure?

Qu. Alas he's mad

Ham. Do you not come your tardy Sonne to chide
That laps't in Time and Passionlets go by
Th' important acting of your dread command? Oh say

Ghost. Do not forget: this Visitation
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.
But lookeAmazement on thy Mother sits;


O step betweene herand her fighting Soule
Conceit in weakest bodiesstrongest workes.
Speake to her Hamlet

Ham. How is it with you Lady?

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

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

Qu. To who do you speake this?
Ham. Do you see nothing there?
Qu. Nothing at allyet all that is I see


Ham. Nor did you nothing heare?
Qu. Nonothing but our selues


Ham. Why look you there: looke how it steals away:
My Father in his habiteas he liued
Looke where he goes euen now out at the Portall.
Enter.

Qu. This is the very coynage of your Braine
This bodilesse Creation extasie is very cunning in

Ham. Extasie?
My Pulse as yours doth temperately keepe time
And makes as healthfull Musicke. It is not madnesse
That I haue vttered; bring me to the Test
And I the matter will re-word: which madnesse
Would gamboll from. Motherfor loue of Grace
Lay not a flattering Vnction to your soule
That not your trespassebut my madnesse speakes:
It will but skin and filme the Vlcerous place
Whil'st ranke Corruption mining all within
Infects vnseene. Confesse your selfe to Heauen
Repent what's pastauoyd what is to come
And do not spred the Compost on the Weedes
To make them ranke. Forgiue me this my Vertue
For in the fatnesse of this pursie times
Vertue it selfeof Vice must pardon begge
Yea courband woefor leaue to do him good

Qu. Oh Hamlet
Thou hast cleft my heart in twaine

Ham. O throw away the worser part of it
And liue the purer with the other halfe.
Good nightbut go not to mine Vnkles bed
Assume a Vertueif you haue it notrefraine to night
And that shall lend a kinde of easinesse
To the next abstinence. Once more goodnight
And when you are desirous to be blest


Ile blessing begge of you. For this same Lord
I do repent: but heauen hath pleas'd it so
To punish me with thisand this with me
That I must be their Scourge and Minister.
I will bestow himand will answer well
The death I gaue him: so againegood night.
I must be cruellonely to be kinde;
Thus bad begins and worse remaines behinde


Qu. What shall I do?

Ham. Not this by no meanes that I bid you do:
Let the blunt King tempt you againe to bed
Pinch Wanton on your cheekecall you his Mouse
And let him for a paire of reechie kisses
Or padling in your necke with his damn'd Fingers
Make you to rauell all this matter out
That I essentially am not in madnesse
But made in craft. 'Twere good you let him know
For who that's but a Queenefairesoberwise
Would from a Paddockefrom a Bata Gibbe
Such deere concernings hideWho would do so
No in despight of Sense and Secrecie
Vnpegge the Basket on the houses top:
Let the Birds flyeand like the famous Ape
To try Conclusions in the Basketcreepe
And breake your owne necke downe

Qu. Be thou assur'dif words be made of breath
And breath of life: I haue no life to breath
What thou hast saide to me

Ham. I must to Englandyou know that?
Qu. Alacke I had forgot: 'Tis so concluded on


Ham. This man shall set me packing:
Ile lugge the Guts into the Neighbor roome
Mother goodnight. Indeede this Counsellor
Is now most stillmost secretand most graue
Who was in lifea foolish prating Knaue.
Come sirto draw toward an end with you.
Good night Mother.
Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius.

Enter King.

King. There's matters in these sighes.
These profound heaues
You must translate; Tis fit we vnderstand them.
Where is your Sonne?

Qu. Ah my good Lordwhat haue I seene to night?
King. What Gertrude? How do's Hamlet?
Qu. Mad as the Seasand windewhen both contend


Which is the Mightierin his lawlesse fit
Behinde the Arrashearing something stirre
He whips his Rapier outand cries a Rata Rat
And in his brainish apprehension killes
The vnseene good old man

King. Oh heauy deed:
It had bin so with vs had we beene there:
His Liberty is full of threats to all
To you your selfeto vsto euery one.
Alashow shall this bloody deede be answered?
It will be laide to vswhose prouidence


Should haue kept shortrestrain'dand out of haunt
This mad yong man. But so much was our loue
We would not vnderstand what was most fit
But like the Owner of a foule disease
To keepe it from divulginglet's it feede
Euen on the pith of life. Where is he gone?


Qu. To draw apart the body he hath kild
O're whom his very madnesse like some Oare
Among a Minerall of Mettels base
Shewes it selfe pure. He weepes for what is done

King. Oh Gertrudecome away:
The Sun no sooner shall the Mountaines touch
But we will ship him henceand this vilde deed
We must with all our Maiesty and Skill
Both countenanceand excuse.
Enter Ros. & Guild.

Ho Guildenstern:
Friends both go ioyne you with some further ayde:
Hamlet in madnesse hath Polonius slaine
And from his Mother Clossets hath he drag'd him.
Go seeke him outspeake faireand bring the body
Into the Chappell. I pray you hast in this.
Exit Gent.


Come Gertrudewee'l call vp our wisest friends
To let them know both what we meane to do
And what's vntimely done. Oh come away
My soule is full of discord and dismay.


Exeunt.


Enter Hamlet.


Ham. Safely stowed

Gentlemen within. HamletLord Hamlet

Ham. What noise? Who cals on Hamlet?
Oh heere they come.
Enter Ros. and Guildensterne.

Ro. What haue you done my Lord with the dead body?
Ham. Compounded it with dustwhereto 'tis Kinne


Rosin. Tell vs where 'tisthat we may take it thence
And beare it to the Chappell

Ham. Do not beleeue it

Rosin. Beleeue what?

Ham. That I can keepe your counselland not mine
owne. Besidesto be demanded of a Spundgewhat replication
should be made by the Sonne of a King

Rosin. Take you me for a Spundgemy Lord?

Ham. I sirthat sokes vp the Kings Countenancehis
Rewardshis Authorities (but such Officers do the King
best seruice in the end. He keepes them like an Ape in
the corner of his iawfirst mouth'd to be last swallowed
when he needes what you haue glean'dit is but squeezing
youand Spundge you shall be dry againe


Rosin. I vnderstand you not my Lord

Ham. I am glad of it: a knauish speech sleepes in a
foolish eare

Rosin. My Lordyou must tell vs where the body is
and go with vs to the King

Ham. The body is with the Kingbut the King is not

with the body. The Kingis a thingGuild.
A thing my Lord?
Ham. Of nothing: bring me to himhide Foxand all

after.

Exeunt.

Enter King.

King. I haue sent to seeke himand to find the bodie:
How dangerous is it that this man goes loose:
Yet must not we put the strong Law on him:
Hee's loued of the distracted multitude
Who like not in their iudgementbut their eyes:
And where 'tis soth' Offenders scourge is weigh'd
But neerer the offence: to beare all smoothand euen
This sodaine sending him awaymust seeme
Deliberate pausediseases desperate growne
By desperate appliance are releeued
Or not at all.
Enter Rosincrane.

How now? What hath befalne?
Rosin. Where the dead body is bestow'd my Lord
We cannot get from him

King. But where is he?
Rosin. Without my Lordguarded to know your
pleasure

King. Bring him before vs

Rosin. HoaGuildensterne? Bring in my Lord.
Enter Hamlet and Guildensterne.

King. Now Hamletwhere's Polonius?
Ham. At Supper


King. At Supper? Where?

Ham. Not where he eatsbut where he is eatena certaine
conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm
is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else
to fat vsand we fat our selfe for Magots. Your fat King
and your leane Begger is but variable seruice to dishes
but to one Table that's the end

King. What dost thou meane by this?
Ham. Nothing but to shew you how a King may go
a Progresse through the guts of a Begger

King. Where is Polonius

Ham. In heauensend thither to see. If your Messenger
finde him not thereseeke him i'th other place your
selfe: but indeedif you finde him not this monethyou


shall nose him as you go vp the staires into the Lobby

King. Go seeke him there

Ham. He will stay till ye come

K. Hamletthis deed of thinefor thine especial safety
Which we do tenderas we deerely greeue
For that which thou hast donemust send thee hence
With fierie Quicknesse. Therefore prepare thy selfe
The Barke is readieand the winde at helpe
Th' Associates tendand euery thing at bent
For England
Ham. For England?
King. I Hamlet


Ham. Good

King. So is itif thou knew'st our purposes

Ham. I see a Cherube that see's him: but comefor
England. Farewell deere Mother

King. Thy louing Father Hamlet

Hamlet. My Mother: Father and Mother is man and

wife: man & wife is one fleshand so my mother. Come

for England.

Exit

King. Follow him at foote

Tempt him with speed aboord:

Delay it notIle haue him hence to night.

Awayfor euery thing is Seal'd and done

That else leanes on th' Affairepray you make hast.

And Englandif my loue thou holdst at ought

As my great power thereof may giue thee sense

Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red

After the Danish Swordand thy free awe

Payes homage to vs; thou maist not coldly set

Our Soueraigne Processewhich imports at full

By Letters coniuring to that effect

The present death of Hamlet. Do it England

For like the Hecticke in my blood he rages

And thou must cure me: Till I know 'tis done

How ere my happesmy ioyes were ne're begun.

Exit

Enter Fortinbras with an Armie.

For. Go Captainefrom me greet the Danish King

Tell him that by his licenseFortinbras

Claimes the conueyance of a promis'd March

Ouer his Kingdome. You know the Rendeuous:

If that his Maiesty would ought with vs

We shall expresse our dutie in his eye

And let him know so

Cap. I will doo'tmy Lord

For. Go safely on.


Enter.

Enter Queene and Horatio.

Qu. I will not speake with her

Hor. She is importunateindeed distracther moode
will needs be pittied

Qu. What would she haue?

Hor. She speakes much of her Father; saies she heares
There's trickes i'th' worldand hemsand beats her heart
Spurnes enuiously at Strawesspeakes things in doubt
That carry but halfe sense: Her speech is nothing
Yet the vnshaped vse of it doth moue
The hearers to Collection; they ayme at it
And botch the words vp fit to their owne thoughts
Which as her winkesand nodsand gestures yeeld them
Indeed would make one thinke there would be thought
Though nothing sureyet much vnhappily

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

Ophe. Where is the beauteous Maiesty of Denmark

Qu. How now Ophelia?
Ophe. How should I your true loue know from another one?
By his Cockle hat and staffeand his Sandal shoone

Qu. Alas sweet Lady: what imports this Song?

Ophe. Say you? Nay pray you marke.
He is dead and gone Ladyhe is dead and gone
At his head a grasse-greene Turfeat his heeles a stone.
Enter King.

Qu. Nay but Ophelia

Ophe. Pray you marke.
White his Shrow'd as the Mountaine Snow

Qu. Alaslooke heere my Lord

Ophe. Larded with sweet Flowers:
Which bewept to the graue did not go
With true-loue showres

King. How do yepretty Lady?

Ophe. WellGod dil'd you. They say the Owle was
a Bakers daughter. Lordwee know what we arebut
know not what we may be. God be at your Table

King. Conceit vpon her Father

Ophe. Pray you let's haue no words of this: but when
they aske you what it meanessay you this:
To morrow is S[aint]. Valentines dayall in the morning betime
And I a Maid at your Windowto be your Valentine.


Then vp he rose& don'd his clothes& dupt the chamber dore
Let in the Maidthat out a Maidneuer departed more

King. Pretty Ophelia

Ophe. Indeed la? without an oath Ile make an end ont.
By gisand by S[aint]. Charity
Alackeand fie for shame:
Yong men wil doo'tif they come too't
By Cocke they are too blame.
Quoth she before you tumbled me
You promis'd me to Wed:
So would I ha done by yonder Sunne
And thou hadst not come to my bed

King. How long hath she bin thus?

Ophe. I hope all will be well. We must bee patient
but I cannot choose but weepeto thinke they should
lay him i'th' cold ground: My brother shall knowe of it
and so I thanke you for your good counsell. Comemy
Coach: Goodnight Ladies: Goodnight sweet Ladies:
Goodnightgoodnight.
Enter.

King. Follow her close
Giue her good watch I pray you:
Oh this is the poyson of deepe greefeit springs
All from her Fathers death. Oh GertrudeGertrude
When sorrowes comesthey come not single spies
But in Battalians. Firsther Father slaine
Next your Sonne goneand he most violent Author
Of his owne iust remoue: the people muddied
Thicke and vnwholsome in their thoughtsand whispers
For good Polonius death; and we haue done but greenly
In hugger mugger to interre him. Poore Ophelia
Diuided from her selfeand her faire Iudgement
Without the which we are Picturesor meere Beasts.
Lastand as much containing as all these
Her Brother is in secret come from France
Keepes on his wonderkeepes himselfe in clouds
And wants not Buzzers to infect his eare
With pestilent Speeches of his Fathers death
Where in necessitie of matter Beggard
Will nothing sticke our persons to Arraigne
In eare and eare. O my deere Gertrudethis
Like to a murdering Peece in many places
Giues me superfluous death.

A Noise within.

Enter a Messenger.

Qu. Alackewhat noyse is this?
King. Where are my Switzers?
Let them guard the doore. What is the matter?

Mes. Saue your selfemy Lord.
The Ocean (ouer-peering of his List)
Eates not the Flats with more impittious haste
Then young Laertesin a Riotous head
Ore-beares your Officersthe rabble call him Lord
And as the world were now but to begin
Antiquity forgotCustome not knowne
The Ratifiers and props of euery word
They cry choose we? Laertes shall be King


Capshandsand tonguesapplaud it to the clouds
Laertes shall be KingLaertes King

Qu. How cheerefully on the false Traile they cry
Oh this is Counter you false Danish Dogges.

Noise within. Enter Laertes.

King. The doores are broke

Laer. Where is the Kingsirs? Stand you all without

All. Nolet's come in

Laer. I pray you giue me leaue

Al. We willwe will

Laer. I thanke you: Keepe the doore.
Oh thou vilde Kinggiue me my Father

Qu. Calmely good Laertes

Laer. That drop of bloodthat calmes
Proclaimes me Bastard:
Cries Cuckold to my Fatherbrands the Harlot
Euen heere betweene the chaste vnsmirched brow
Of my true Mother

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

Laer. Where's my Father?
King. Dead


Qu. But not by him

King. Let him demand his fill

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

King. Who shall stay you?

Laer. My Willnot all the world
And for my meanesIle husband them so well
They shall go farre with little

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


Laer. None but his Enemies

King. Will you know them then

La. To his good Friendsthus wide Ile ope my Armes:
And like the kinde Life-rend'ring Politician
Repast them with my blood

King. Why now you speake
Like a good Childeand a true Gentleman.
That I am guiltlesse of your Fathers death
And am most sensible in greefe for it
It shall as leuell to your Iudgement pierce
As day do's to your eye.

A noise within. Let her come in.

Enter Ophelia.

Laer. How now? what noise is that?
Oh heate drie vp my Brainesteares seuen times salt
Burne out the Sence and Vertue of mine eye.
By Heauenthy madnesse shall be payed by waight
Till our Scale turnes the beame. Oh Rose of May
Deere Maidkinde Sistersweet Ophelia:
Oh Heauensis't possiblea yong Maids wits
Should be as mortall as an old mans life?
Nature is fine in Loueand where 'tis fine
It sends some precious instance of it selfe
After the thing it loues

Ophe. They bore him bare fac'd on the Beer
Hey non nonynonyhey nony:
And on his graue raines many a teare
Fare you well my Doue

Laer. Had'st thou thy witsand did'st perswade Reuenge
it could not moue thus

Ophe. You must sing downe a-downeand you call
him a-downe-a. Ohhow the wheele becomes it? It is
the false Steward that stole his masters daughter

Laer. This nothings more then matter

Ophe. There's Rosemarythat's for Remembraunce.
Pray loue remember: and there is Paconciesthat's for
Thoughts

Laer. A document in madnessethoughts & remembrance
fitted

Ophe. There's Fennell for youand Columbines: ther's
Rew for youand heere's some for me. Wee may call it
Herbe-Grace a Sundaies: Oh you must weare your Rew
with a difference. There's a DaysieI would giue you
some Violetsbut they wither'd all when my Father dyed:
They sayhe made a good end;
For bonny sweet Robin is all my ioy

Laer. Thoughtand AfflictionPassionHell it selfe:
She turnes to Fauourand to prettinesse

Ophe. And will he not come againe


And will he not come againe:
Nonohe is deadgo to thy Death-bed
He neuer wil come againe.
His Beard as white as Snow
All Flaxen was his Pole:
He is gonehe is goneand we cast away mone
Gramercy on his Soule.
And of all Christian SoulesI pray God.
God buy ye.


Exeunt. Ophelia


Laer. Do you see thisyou Gods?

King. LaertesI must common with your greefe
Or you deny me right: go but apart
Make choice of whom your wisest Friends you will
And they shall heare and iudge 'twixt you and me;
If by direct or by Colaterall hand
They finde vs touch'dwe will our Kingdome giue
Our Crowneour Lifeand all that we call Ours
To you in satisfaction. But if not
Be you content to lend your patience to vs
And we shall ioyntly labour with your soule
To giue it due content

Laer. Let this be so:
His meanes of deathhis obscure buriall;
No TropheeSwordnor Hatchment o're his bones
No Noble ritenor formall ostentation
Cry to be heardas 'twere from Heauen to Earth
That I must call in question

King. So you shall:
And where th' offence islet the great Axe fall.
I pray you go with me.

Exeunt.

Enter Horatiowith an Attendant.

Hora. What are they that would speake with me?
Ser. Saylors sirthey say they haue Letters for you


Hor. Let them come in
I do not know from what part of the world
I should be greetedif not from Lord Hamlet.
Enter Saylor.

Say. God blesse you Sir

Hor. Let him blesse thee too

Say. Hee shall Sirand't please him. There's a Letter
for you Sir: It comes from th' Ambassadours that was
bound for Englandif your name be Horatioas I am let
to know it is.

Reads the Letter.

HoratioWhen thou shalt haue ouerlook'd thisgiue these
Fellowes some meanes to the King: They haue Letters
for him. Ere we were two dayes old at Seaa Pyrate of very
Warlicke appointment gaue vs Chace. Finding our selues too
slow of Sailewe put on a compelled Valour. In the GrappleI


boorded them: On the instant they got cleare of our Shippeso
I alone became their Prisoner. They haue dealt with meelike
Theeues of Mercybut they knew what they did. I am to doe
a good turne for them. Let the King haue the Letters I haue
sentand repaire thou to me with as much hast as thou wouldest
flye death. I haue words to speake in your earewill make thee
dumbeyet are they much too light for the bore of the Matter.
These good Fellowes will bring thee where I am. Rosincrance
and Guildensternehold their course for England. Of them
I haue much to tell theeFarewell.
He that thou knowest thine
Hamlet.
ComeI will giue you way for these your Letters
And do't the speedierthat you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them.
Enter.

Enter King and Laertes.

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

Laer. It well appeares. But tell me
Why you proceeded not against these feates
So crimefulland so Capitall in Nature
As by your SafetyWisedomeall things else
You mainly were stirr'd vp?

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

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

King. Breake not your sleepes for that
You must not thinke
That we are made of stuffeso flatand dull
That we can let our Beard be shooke with danger
And thinke it pastime. You shortly shall heare more
I lou'd your Fatherand we loue our Selfe
And that I hope will teach you to imagine-
Enter a Messenger.

How now? What Newes?
Mes. Letters my Lord from HamletThis to your


Maiesty: this to the Queene

King. From Hamlet? Who brought them?
Mes. Saylors my Lord they sayI saw them not:
They were giuen me by Claudiohe receiu'd them

King. Laertes you shall heare them:
Leaue vs.

Exit Messenger


High and Mightyyou shall know I am set naked on your
Kingdome. To morrow shall I begge leaue to see your Kingly
Eyes. When I shall (first asking your Pardon thereunto) recount
th' Occasions of my sodaineand more strange returne.
Hamlet.
What should this meane? Are all the rest come backe?
Or is it some abuse? Or no such thing?


Laer. Know you the hand?
Kin. 'Tis Hamlets Characternaked and in a Postscript
here he sayes alone: Can you aduise me?

Laer. I'm lost in it my Lord; but let him come
It warmes the very sicknesse in my heart
That I shall liue and tell him to his teeth;
Thus diddest thou

Kin. If it be so Laertesas how should it be so:
How otherwise will you be rul'd by me?
Laer. If so you'l not o'rerule me to a peace

Kin. To thine owne peace: if he be now return'd
As checking at his Voyageand that he meanes
No more to vndertake it; I will worke him
To an exployt now ripe in my Deuice
Vnder the which he shall not choose but fall;
And for his death no winde of blame shall breath
But euen his Mother shall vncharge the practice
And call it accident: Some two Monthes hence
Here was a Gentleman of Normandy
I'ue seene my selfeand seru'd against the French
And they ran well on Horsebacke; but this Gallant
Had witchcraft in't; he grew into his Seat
And to such wondrous doing brought his Horse
As had he beene encorps't and demy-Natur'd
With the braue Beastso farre he past my thought
That I in forgery of shapes and trickes
Come short of what he did

Laer. A Norman was't?
Kin. A Norman


Laer. Vpon my life Lamound

Kin. The very same

Laer. I know him wellhe is the Brooch indeed
And Iemme of all our Nation

Kin. Hee mad confession of you
And gaue you such a Masterly report
For Art and exercise in your defence;
And for your Rapier most especiall
That he cryed outt'would be a sight indeed
If one could match you Sir. This report of his


Did Hamlet so envenom with his Enuy
That he could nothing doe but wish and begge
Your sodaine comming ore to play with him;
Now out of this


Laer. Why out of thismy Lord?

Kin. Laertes was your Father deare to you?
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow
A face without a heart?

Laer. Why aske you this?

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

Laer. To cut his throat i'th' Church

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

Laer. I will doo't.
And for that purpose Ile annoint my Sword:
I bought an Vnction of a Mountebanke
So mortallI but dipt a knife in it
Where it drawes bloodno Cataplasme so rare
Collected from all Simples that haue Vertue
Vnder the Moonecan saue the thing from death
That is but scratcht withall: Ile touch my point
With this contagionthat if I gall him slightly
It may be death

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

Queen. One woe doth tread vpon anothers heele
So fast they'l follow: your Sister's drown'd Laertes

Laer. Drown'd! O where?

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

Laer. Alas thenis she drown'd?
Queen. Drown'ddrown'd


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

Kin. Let's followGertrude:
How much I had to doe to calme his rage?
Now feare I this will giue it start againe;
Therefore let's follow.

Exeunt.

Enter two Clownes.

Clown. Is she to bee buried in Christian buriallthat
wilfully seekes her owne saluation?

Other. I tell thee she isand therefore make her Graue
straightthe Crowner hath sate on herand finds it Christian
buriall

Clo. How can that bevnlesse she drowned her selfe in
her owne defence?
Other. Why 'tis found so

Clo. It must be Se offendendoit cannot bee else: for
heere lies the point; If I drowne my selfe wittinglyit argues
an Act: and an Act hath three branches. It is an
Act to doe and to performe; argall she drown'd her selfe
wittingly

Other. Nay but heare you Goodman Deluer

Clown. Giue me leaue; heere lies the water; good:
heere stands the man; good: If the man goe to this water
and drowne himselfe; it is will he nill hehe goes;
marke you that? But if the water come to him & drowne
him; hee drownes not himselfe. Argallhee that is not
guilty of his owne deathshortens not his owne life


Other. But is this law?
Clo. I marry is'tCrowners Quest Law


Other. Will you ha the truth on't: if this had not
beene a Gentlewomanshee should haue beene buried
out of Christian Buriall

Clo. Why there thou say'st. And the more pitty that
great folke should haue countenance in this world to
drowne or hang themseluesmore then their euen Christian.
Comemy Spade; there is no ancient Gentlemen
but GardinersDitchers and Graue-makers; they hold vp
Adams Profession

Other. Was he a Gentleman?
Clo. He was the first that euer bore Armes


Other. Why he had none

Clo. Whatar't a Heathen? how doth thou vnderstand
the Scripture? the Scripture sayes Adam dig'd;
could hee digge without Armes? Ile put another question
to thee; if thou answerest me not to the purposeconfesse
thy selfe


Other. Go too

Clo. What is he that builds stronger then either the
Masonthe Shipwrightor the Carpenter?
Other. The Gallowes maker; for that Frame outliues a
thousand Tenants

Clo. I like thy wit well in good faiththe Gallowes
does well; but how does it well? it does well to those
that doe ill: nowthou dost ill to say the Gallowes is
built stronger then the Church: Argallthe Gallowes
may doe well to thee. Too't againeCome

Other. Who builds stronger then a Masona Shipwright
or a Carpenter?
Clo. Itell me thatand vnyoake

Other. Marrynow I can tell

Clo. Too't

Other. MasseI cannot tell.
Enter Hamlet and Horatio a farre off.

Clo. Cudgell thy braines no more about it; for your
dull Asse will not mend his pace with beating; and when
you are ask't this question nextsay a Graue-maker: the
Houses that he makeslasts till Doomesday: goget thee
to Yaughanfetch me a stoupe of Liquor.

Sings.

In youth when I did louedid loue
me thought it was very sweete:
To contract O the time for a my behoue
O me thought there was nothing meete

Ham. Ha's this fellow no feeling of his businessethat
he sings at Graue-making?


Hor. Custome hath made it in him a property of easinesse

Ham. 'Tis ee'n so; the hand of little Imployment hath
the daintier sense

Clowne sings. But Age with his stealing steps
hath caught me in his clutch:
And hath shipped me intill the Land
as if I had neuer beene such

Ham. That Scull had a tongue in itand could sing
once: how the knaue iowles it to th' growndas if it
were Caines Iaw-bonethat did the first murther: It
might be the Pate of a Polititian which this Asse o're Offices:
one that could circumuent Godmight it not?

Hor. It mightmy Lord

Ham. Or of a Courtierwhich could sayGood Morrow
sweet Lord: how dost thougood Lord? this
might be my Lord such a onethat prais'd my Lord such
a ones Horsewhen he meant to begge it; might it not?

Hor. Imy Lord

Ham. Why ee'n so: and now my Lady Wormes
Chaplesseand knockt about the Mazard with a Sextons
Spade; heere's fine Reuolutionif wee had the tricke to
see't. Did these bones cost no more the breedingbut
to play at Loggets with 'em? mine ake to thinke
on't

Clowne sings. A Pickhaxe and a Spadea Spade
for and a shrowding-Sheete:
O a Pit of Clay for to be made
for such a Guest is meete

Ham. There's another: why might not that bee the
Scull of a Lawyer? where be his Quiddits now? his
Quillets? his Cases? his Tenuresand his Tricks? why
doe's he suffer this rude knaue now to knocke him about
the Sconce with a dirty Shouelland will not tell him of
his Action of Battery? hum. This fellow might be in's
time a great buyer of Landwith his Statuteshis Recognizances
his Fineshis double Vouchershis Recoueries:
Is this the fine of his Finesand the recouery of his Recoueries
to haue his fine Pate full of fine Dirt? will his
Vouchers vouch him no more of his Purchasesand double
ones toothen the length and breadth of a paire of
Indentures? the very Conueyances of his Lands will
hardly lye in this Boxe; and must the Inheritor himselfe
haue no more? ha?

Hor. Not a iot moremy Lord

Ham. Is not Parchment made of Sheep-skinnes?
Hor. I my Lordand of Calue-skinnes too


Ham. They are Sheepe and Calues that seek out assurance
in that. I will speake to this fellow: whose Graue's
this Sir?

Clo. Mine Sir:
O a Pit of Clay for to be made
for such a Guest is meete

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


Clo. You lye out on't Sirand therefore it is not yours:
for my partI doe not lye in't; and yet it is mine

Ham. Thou dost lye in'tto be in't and say 'tis thine:
'tis for the deadnot for the quicketherefore thou
lyest

Clo. 'Tis a quicke lye Sir'twill away againe from me
to you

Ham. What man dost thou digge it for?
Clo. For no man Sir


Ham. What woman then?
Clo. For none neither


Ham. Who is to be buried in't?
Clo. One that was a woman Sir; but rest her Soule
shee's dead

Ham. How absolute the knaue is? wee must speake
by the Cardeor equiuocation will vndoe vs: by the
Lord Horatiothese three yeares I haue taken note of it
the Age is growne so pickedthat the toe of the Pesant
comes so neere the heeles of our Courtierhee galls his
Kibe. How long hast thou been a Graue-maker?

Clo. Of all the dayes i'th' yeareI came too't that day
that our last King Hamlet o'recame Fortinbras

Ham. How long is that since?

Clo. Cannot you tell that? euery foole can tell that:
It was the very daythat young Hamlet was bornehee
that was madand sent into England

Ham. I marrywhy was he sent into England?
Clo. Whybecause he was mad; hee shall recouer his
wits there; or if he do notit's no great matter there

Ham. Why?
Clo. 'Twill not be seene in himthere the men are as
mad as he

Ham. How came he mad?
Clo. Very strangely they say


Ham. How strangely?
Clo. Faith e'ene with loosing his wits


Ham. Vpon what ground?
Clo. Why heere in Denmarke: I haue bin sixeteene
heereman and Boy thirty yeares

Ham. How long will a man lie i'th' earth ere he rot?

Clo. Ifaithif he be not rotten before he die (as we haue
many pocky Coarses now adaiesthat will scarce hold
the laying in) he will last you some eight yeareor nine
yeare. A Tanner will last you nine yeare

Ham. Why hemore then another?

Clo. Why sirhis hide is so tan'd with his Tradethat
he will keepe out water a great while. And your water
is a sore Decayer of your horson dead body. Heres a Scull
now: this Sculhas laine in the earth three & twenty years


Ham. Whose was it?
Clo. A whoreson mad Fellowes it was;
Whose doe you thinke it was?
Ham. NayI know not

Clo. A pestilence on him for a mad Roguea pour'd a
Flaggon of Renish on my head once. This same Scull
Sirthis same Scull sirwas Yoricks Scullthe Kings Iester

Ham. This?
Clo. E'ene that


Ham. Let me see. Alas poore YorickI knew him Horatio
a fellow of infinite Iest; of most excellent fancyhe
hath borne me on his backe a thousand times: And how
abhorred my Imagination ismy gorge rises at it. Heere
hung those lippsthat I haue kist I know not how oft.
Where be your Iibes now? Your Gambals? Your
Songs? Your flashes of Merriment that were wont to
set the Table on a Rore? No one now to mock your own
Ieering? Quite chopfalne? Now get you to my Ladies
Chamberand tell herlet her paint an inch thicketo this
fauour she must come. Make her laugh at that: prythee
Horatio tell me one thing

Hor. What's that my Lord?
Ham. Dost thou thinke Alexander lookt o'this fashion
i'th' earth?
Hor. E'ene so

Ham. And smelt so? Puh

Hor. E'ene somy Lord

Ham. To what base vses we may returne Horatio.
Why may not Imagination trace the Noble dust of Alexander
till he find it stopping a bunghole

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

Ham. No faithnot a iot. But to follow him thether
with modestie enough& likeliehood to lead it; as thus.
Alexander died: Alexander was buried: Alexander returneth
into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make
Lomeand why of that Lome (whereto he was conuerted)
might they not stopp a Beere-barrell?
Imperiall Caesardead and turn'd to clay
Might stop a hole to keepe the winde away.
Ohthat that earthwhich kept the world in awe
Should patch a Wallt' expell the winters flaw.
But softbut softaside; heere comes the King.
Enter KingQueeneLaertesand a Coffinwith Lords attendant.

The Queenethe Courtiers. Who is that they follow
And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken
The Coarse they followdid with disperate hand
Fore do it owne life; 'twas some Estate.
Couch we a whileand mark


Laer. What Cerimony else?
Ham. That is Laertesa very Noble youth: Marke


Laer. What Cerimony else?
Priest. Her Obsequies haue bin as farre inlarg'd.



As we haue warrantieher death was doubtfull
And but that great Commando're-swaies the order
She should in ground vnsanctified haue lodg'd
Till the last Trumpet. For charitable praier
ShardesFlintsand Peeblesshould be throwne on her:
Yet heere she is allowed her Virgin Rites
Her Maiden strewmentsand the bringing home
Of Bell and Buriall


Laer. Must there no more be done ?

Priest. No more be done:
We should prophane the seruice of the dead
To sing sage Requiemand such rest to her
As to peace-parted Soules

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

Ham. Whatthe faire Ophelia?

Queene. Sweetsto the sweet farewell.
I hop'd thou should'st haue bin my Hamlets wife:
I thought thy Bride-bed to haue deckt (sweet Maid)
And not t'haue strew'd thy Graue

Laer. Oh terrible woer
Fall ten times trebbleon that cursed head
Whose wicked deedthy most Ingenious sence
Depriu'd thee of. Hold off the earth a while
Till I haue caught her once more in mine armes:

Leaps in the graue.


Now pile your dustvpon the quickeand dead
Till of this flat a Mountaine you haue made
To o're top old Pelionor the skyish head
Of blew Olympus


Ham. What is hewhose griefes
Beares such an Emphasis? whose phrase of Sorrow
Coniure the wandring Starresand makes them stand
Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I
Hamlet the Dane

Laer. The deuill take thy soule

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

King. Pluck them asunder

Qu. HamletHamlet

Gen. Good my Lord be quiet

Ham. Why I will fight with him vppon this Theme.
Vntill my eielids will no longer wag

Qu. Oh my Sonnewhat Theame?
Ham. I lou'd Ophelia; fortie thousand Brothers



Could not (with all there quantitie of Loue)

Make vp my summe. What wilt thou do for her?
King. Oh he is mad Laertes
Qu. For loue of God forbeare him

Ham. Come show me what thou'lt doe.
Woo't weepe? Woo't fight? Woo't teare thy selfe?
Woo't drinke vp Esileeate a Crocodile?
Ile doo't. Dost thou come heere to whine;
To outface me with leaping in her Graue?
Be buried quicke with herand so will I.
And if thou prate of Mountaines; let them throw
Millions of Akers on vs; till our ground
Sindging his pate against the burning Zone
Make Ossa like a wart. Nayand thou'lt mouth
Ile rant as well as thou

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

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

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

Exeunt.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio

Ham. So much for this Sir; now let me see the other
You doe remember all the Circumstance

Hor. Remember it my Lord?

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

Hor. That is most certaine

Ham. Vp from my Cabin
My sea-gowne scarft about me in the darke
Grop'd I to finde out them; had my desire
Finger'd their Packetand in finewithdrew
To mine owne roome againemaking so bold
(My feares forgetting manners) to vnseale
Their grand Commissionwhere I found Horatio


Oh royall knauery: An exact command
Larded with many seuerall sorts of reason;
Importing Denmarks healthand Englands too
With hoosuch Bugges and Goblins in my life
That on the superuize no leasure bated
No not to stay the grinding of the Axe
My head should be struck off


Hor. Ist possible?
Ham. Here's the Commissionread it at more leysure:
But wilt thou heare me how I did proceed?
Hor. I beseech you

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

Hor. Igood my Lord

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

Hor. How was this seal'd?

Ham. Whyeuen in that was Heauen ordinate;
I had my fathers Signet in my Purse
Which was the Modell of that Danish Seale:
Folded the Writ vp in forme of the other
Subscrib'd itgau't th' impressionplac't it safely
The changeling neuer knowne: Nowthe next day
Was our Sea Fightand what to this was sement
Thou know'st already

Hor. So Guildensterne and Rosincrancego too't

Ham. Why manthey did make loue to this imployment
They are not neere my Conscience; their debate
Doth by their owne insinuation grow:
'Tis dangerouswhen the baser nature comes
Betweene the passeand fell incensed points
Of mighty opposites

Hor. Whywhat a King is this?

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


Hor. It must be shortly knowne to him from England
What is the issue of the businesse there

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

Hor. Peacewho comes heere?
Enter young Osricke.

Osr. Your Lordship is right welcome back to Denmarke

Ham. I humbly thank you Sirdost know this waterflie?
Hor. No my good Lord


Ham. Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to
know him: he hath much Landand fertile; let a Beast
be Lord of Beastsand his Crib shall stand at the Kings
Messe; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I saw spacious in the possession
of dirt

Osr. Sweet Lordif your friendship were at leysure
I should impart a thing to you from his Maiesty

Ham. I will receiue it with all diligence of spirit; put
your Bonet to his right vse'tis for the head

Osr. I thanke your Lordship'tis very hot

Ham. Nobeleeue mee 'tis very coldthe winde is
Northerly

Osr. It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed

Ham. Mee thinkes it is very soultryand hot for my
Complexion

Osr. Exceedinglymy Lordit is very soultryas 'twere
I cannot tell how: but my Lordhis Maiesty bad me signifie
to youthat he ha's laid a great wager on your head:
Sirthis is the matter

Ham. I beseech you remember

Osr. Nayin good faithfor mine ease in good faith:
Siryou are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at
his weapon

Ham. What's his weapon?
Osr. Rapier and dagger


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

Osr. The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary horses
against the which he impon'd as I take itsixe French
Rapiers and Poniardswith their assignesas Girdle
Hangers or so: three of the Carriages infaith are very
deare to fancyvery responsiue to the hiltsmost delicate
carriagesand of very liberall conceit


Ham. What call you the Carriages?
Osr. The Carriages Sirare the hangers


Ham. The phrase would bee more Germaine to the
matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides; I would
it might be Hangers till then; but on sixe Barbary Horses
against sixe French Swords: their Assignesand three
liberall conceited Carriagesthat's the French but against
the Danish; why is this impon'd as you call it?

Osr. The King Sirhath laid that in a dozen passes betweene
you and himhee shall not exceed you three hits;
He hath one twelue for mineand that would come to
imediate tryallif your Lordship would vouchsafe the
Answere

Ham. How if I answere no?
Osr. I meane my Lordthe opposition of your person
in tryall

Ham. SirI will walke heere in the Hall; if it please
his Maiestie'tis the breathing time of day with me; let
the Foyles bee broughtthe Gentleman willingand the
King hold his purpose; I will win for him if I can: if
notIle gaine nothing but my shameand the odde hits

Osr. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n so?
Ham. To this effect Sirafter what flourish your nature
will

Osr. I commend my duty to your Lordship

Ham. Yoursyours; hee does well to commend it
himselfethere are no tongues else for's tongue

Hor. This Lapwing runs away with the shell on his
head

Ham. He did Complie with his Dugge before hee
suck't it: thus had he and mine more of the same Beauty
that I know the drossie age dotes on; only got the tune of
the timeand outward habite of encountera kinde of
yesty collectionwhich carries them through & through
the most fond and winnowed opinions; and doe but blow
them to their tryalls: the Bubbles are out

Hor. You will lose this wagermy Lord

Ham. I doe not thinke sosince he went into France
I haue beene in continuall practice; I shall winne at the
oddes: but thou wouldest not thinke how all heere about
my heart: but it is no matter

Hor. Naygood my Lord

Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kinde of
gain-giuing as would perhaps trouble a woman

Hor. If your minde dislike any thingobey. I will forestall
their repaire hitherand say you are not fit

Ham. Not a whitwe defie Augury; there's a speciall
Prouidence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now'tis not
to come: if it bee not to comeit will bee now: if it


be not now; yet it will come; the readinesse is allsince no
man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue betimes?
Enter KingQueeneLaertes and Lordswith other Attendants with
Foyles
and Gauntletsa Table and Flagons of Wine on it.


Kin. Come Hamletcomeand take this hand from me

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

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

Ham. I do embrace it freely
And will this Brothers wager frankely play.
Giue vs the Foyles: Come on

Laer. Come one for me

Ham. Ile be your foile Laertesin mine ignorance
Your Skill shall like a Starre i'th' darkest night
Sticke fiery off indeede

Laer. You mocke me Sir

Ham. No by this hand

King. Giue them the Foyles yong Osricke
Cousen Hamletyou know the wager

Ham. Verie well my Lord
Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th' weaker side

King. I do not feare it
I haue seene you both:
But since he is better'dwe haue therefore oddes

Laer. This is too heauy
Let me see another


Ham. This likes me well
These Foyles haue all a length.

Prepare to play.

Osricke. I my good Lord

King. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table:
If Hamlet giue the firstor second hit
Or quit in answer of the third exchange
Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire
The King shal drinke to Hamlets better breath
And in the Cup an vnion shal he throw
Richer then thatwhich foure successiue Kings
In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne.
Giue me the Cups
And let the Kettle to the Trumpets speake
The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without
The Cannons to the Heauensthe Heauen to Earth
Now the King drinkes to Hamlet. Comebegin
And you the Iudges beare a wary eye

Ham. Come on sir

Laer. Come on sir.

They play.

Ham. One

Laer. No

Ham. Iudgement

Osr. A hita very palpable hit

Laer. Well: againe

King. Staygiue me drinke.
Hamletthis Pearle is thine
Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup

Trumpets soundand shot goes off.

Ham. Ile play this bout firstset by a-while.
Come: Another hit; what say you?
Laer. A toucha touchI do confesse

King. Our Sonne shall win

Qu. He's fatand scant of breath.
Heere's a Napkinrub thy browes
The Queene Carowses to thy fortuneHamlet

Ham. Good Madam

King. Gertrudedo not drinke

Qu. I will my Lord;
I pray you pardon me

King. It is the poyson'd Cupit is too late


Ham. I dare not drinke yet Madam
By and by

Qu. Comelet me wipe thy face

Laer. My LordIle hit him now

King. I do not thinke't

Laer. And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience

Ham. Come for the third.
Laertesyou but dally
I pray you passe with your best violence
I am affear'd you make a wanton of me

Laer. Say you so? Come on.

Play.

Osr. Nothing neither way

Laer. Haue at you now.

In scuffling they change Rapiers.

King. Part themthey are incens'd

Ham. Nay comeagaine

Osr. Looke to the Queene there hoa

Hor. They bleed on both sides. How is't my Lord?
Osr. How is't Laertes?
Laer. Why as a Woodcocke

To mine SprindgeOsricke
I am iustly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie


Ham. How does the Queene?
King. She sounds to see them bleede


Qu. Nonothe drinkethe drinke.
Oh my deere Hamletthe drinkethe drinke
I am poyson'd

Ham. Oh Villany! How? Let the doore be lock'd.
Treacherieseeke it out

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

Ham. The point envenom'd too
Then venome to thy worke.

Hurts the King.

All. TreasonTreason


King. O yet defend me FriendsI am but hurt

Ham. Heere thou incestuousmurdrous
Damned Dane
Drinke off this Potion: Is thy Vnion heere?
Follow my Mother.

King Dyes.

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

Dyes.

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

Hor. Neuer beleeue it.
I am more an Antike Roman then a Dane:
Heere's yet some Liquor left

Ham. As th'art a mangiue me the Cup.
Let goby Heauen Ile haue't.
Oh good Horatiowhat a wounded name
(Things standing thus vnknowne) shall liue behind me.
If thou did'st euer hold me in thy heart
Absent thee from felicitie awhile
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in paine
To tell my Storie.

March afarre offand shout within.

What warlike noyse is this?
Enter Osricke.

Osr. Yong Fortinbraswith conquest come fro[m] Poland
To th' Ambassadors of England giues this warlike volly

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

Dyes

Hora. Now cracke a Noble heart:
Goodnight sweet Prince
And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest
Why do's the Drumme come hither?
Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassadorwith DrummeColours


and
Attendants.

Fortin. Where is this sight?
Hor. What is it ye would see;
If ought of woeor wondercease your search

For. His quarry cries on hauocke. Oh proud death
What feast is toward in thine eternall Cell.
That thou so many Princesat a shoote
So bloodily hast strooke

Amb. The sight is dismall
And our affaires from England come too late
The eares are senselesse that should giue vs hearing
To tell him his command'ment is fulfill'd
That Rosincrance and Guildensterne are dead:
Where should we haue our thankes?

Hor. Not from his mouth
Had it th' abilitie of life to thanke you:
He neuer gaue command'ment for their death.
But since so iumpe vpon this bloodie question
You from the Polake warresand you from England
Are heere arriued. Giue order that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view
And let me speake to th' yet vnknowing world
How these things came about. So shall you heare
Of carnallbloudieand vnnaturall acts
Of accidentall iudgementscasuall slaughters
Of death's put on by cunningand forc'd cause
And in this vpshotpurposes mistooke
Falne on the Inuentors head. All this can I
Truly deliuer

For. Let vs hast to heare it
And call the Noblest to the Audience.
For mewith sorrowI embrace my Fortune
I haue some Rites of memory in this Kingdome
Which are to claimemy vantage doth
Inuite me

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

For. Let foure Captaines
Beare Hamlet like a Soldier to the Stage
For he was likelyhad he beene put on
To haue prou'd most royally:
And for his passage
The Souldiours Musickeand the rites of Warre
Speake lowdly for him.
Take vp the body; Such a sight as this
Becomes the Fieldbut heere shewes much amis.
Gobid the Souldiers shoote.

Exeunt. Marching: after the whicha Peale of Ordenance are shot
off.

FINIS. The tragedie of HAMLETPrince of Denmarke.