Characters in The Play: Oxford University Press, 2010, Hamlet Online, ISBN: 978-0-19-544009-6

Contents
Characters in the Play viii
ACT 1
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 1 6 13 17 20
ACT 2
Scene 1 Scene 2 26 29
ACT 3
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 46 51 62 65
ACT 4
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Scene 7 72 73 74 76 78 84 85
ACT 5
Scene 1 Scene 2 91 99
Oxford University Press, 2010, Hamlet Online, ISBN: 978-0-19-544009-6
viii
Characters in the Play

GHOsT GErTrudE CLAudIus HAmLET HOrATIO POLONIus LAErTEs OpHELIA REYNALdO FOrTINBrAs
The ghost of the dead King Hamlet. Queen of Denmark, Hamlets mother, and widow of the late King Hamlet. King of Denmark, and Hamlets stepfather and uncle. Prince of Denmark. Son of King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. A scholar and Hamlets closest friend. The kings advisor, Chief Minister of State, and father to Ophelia and Laertes. Son of Polonius and brother to Ophelia. Daughter of Polonius and sister to Laertes. Servant to Polonius. Son of the old King of Norway. Military captain in Fortinbrass army.
A NOrWEgIAN CApTAIN ROsENcrANTZ
GuILdENsTErN
Courtiers and former school friends of Hamlet.
AT THE KINGS COURT IN ELSINORE

FrANcIscO BArNArdO MArcELLus VOLTEmANd COrNELIus OsrIc
4
4
Castle guards.
Danish ambassadors sent to Norway. Courtier of the king.
A LOrd A GENTLEmAN A GrAvEdIggEr THE GrAvEdIggErs COmpANION A PrIEsT
PLAYERS VISITING THE COURT IN ELSINORE

FIrsT PLAYEr SEcONd PLAYEr THIrd PLAYEr FOurTH PLAYEr
Acting the part of the king. Acting the part of the queen. Acting the part of the kings nephew. Speaking the Prologue.
English Ambassadors, Messengers, Lords, Attendants, Guards, Players, Soldiers, Sailors Scene: Elsinore in the royal castle and its environs
ACT 1 Scene 1
Enter BARNARDO and FRANCISCO, two Sentinels
BARNARDO FRANCISCO BARNARDO FRANCISCO 5 BARNARDO FRANCISCO BARNARDO FRANCISCO
Whos there? Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself. Long live the king! Barnardo? He. You come most carefully upon your hour. Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco. For this relief much thanks. Tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Have you had quiet guard? Not a mouse stirring. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. I think I hear them.
10
BARNARDO FRANCISCO BARNARDO
15
FRANCISCO
Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS Stand, ho! Who is there?

HORATIO MARCELLUS FRANCISCO MARCELLUS FRANCISCO 20 MARCELLUS BARNARDO HORATIO BARNARDO HORATIO 25 BARNARDO MARCELLUS
Friends to this ground. And liegemen to the Dane. Give you good night. O, farewell honest soldier, who hath relievd you? Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night. Holla, Barnardo! Say, what, is Horatio there? A piece of him. Welcome, Horatio. Welcome, good Marcellus. What, has this thing appeard again tonight? I have seen nothing. Horatio says tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him, Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us. Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night, That if again this apparition come, [Exit
30
2 Stand and unfold yourself. stop and identify yourself 6 most carefully exactly 9 I am sick at heart I am deeply sad
14 rivals partners 16 this ground this country; Denmark
16 liegemen to the Dane loyal followers of the king 22 A piece of him. more or less 24 this thing the ghost
28 Touching concerning 29 entreated him along begged him to come
2
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
HORATIO BARNARDO
ACT 1 Scene 1
Tush, tush, twill not appear. Sit down awhile, And let us once again assail your ears, That are so fortied against our story, What we have two nights seen. Well, sit we down. And let us hear Barnardo speak of this. Last night of all, When yond same star thats westward from the pole, Had made his course tillume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one
35
HORATIO
BARNARDO
40
Enter GhOST
MARCELLUS BARNARDO 45 MARCELLUS BARNARDO HORATIO BARNARDO MARCELLUS HORATIO 50
Peace, break thee off. Look where it comes again. In the same gure like the king thats dead. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio. Looks a not like the king? Mark it, Horatio. Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder. It would be spoke to. Question it, Horatio. What art thou that usurpst this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee speak. It is offended. See, it stalks away. Stay, speak, speak, I charge thee speak. Tis gone and will not answer. How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale. Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you ont? Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Is it not like the king? As thou art to thyself. Such was the very armour he had on
45 scholar educated person (so he could speak to the Ghost in Latin) 46 a he 47 harrows tortures (harrow: a farming implement with metal teeth) 48 would be wants to be (ghosts could not be the rst to speak) 49 usurpst this time of night unrightfully claim this time as your own 51 majesty of buried Denmark the dead King Hamlet of Denmark 53 offended upset (turns away) 60 avouch testimony
MARCELLUS BARNARDO HORATIO 55 MARCELLUS BARNARDO
[Exit GhOST
HORATIO 60
MARCELLUS HORATIO
32 approve our eyes conrm what we have seen 34 assail your ears force you to listen 35 fortied hardened 39 pole North Star
ACT 1 Scene 1
3
When he thambitious Norway combated. So frownd he once, when in an angry parle He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. Tis strange.
65
MARCELLUS
Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. In what particular thought to work I know not, But in the gross and scope of my opinion, This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this same strict and most observant watch So nightly toils the subject of the land, And why such daily cast of brazen cannon And foreign mart for implements of war, Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Does not divide the Sunday from the week. What might be toward that this sweaty haste Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day, Who ist that can inform me? That can I. At least the whisper goes so: our last king, Whose image even but now appeard to us, Was as you know by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prickd on by a most emulate pride, Dard to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet (For so this side of our known world esteemd him) Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a seald compact Well ratied by law and heraldry Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands Which he stood seizd of to the conqueror; Against the which a moiety competent Was gaged by our king, which had returnd To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covnant And carriage of the article designd, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle, hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Sharkd up a list of lawless resolutes For food and diet to some enterprise That hath a stomach int, which is no other,
70 In what know not I dont know 92 seizd of in possession of precisely what to think of this 9395 a moiety Fortinbras a sufcient amount was pledged by 7477 Why this war why are King Hamlet, which would have gone guards posted everywhere and why do people work night and day, making to Prince Fortinbras brass cannons and trading war weapons 97 carriage of the article in 78 impress forced labour accordance with the details of the document 99 unimproved mettle uncertain courage or spirit 100 skirts outlying areas 102-103 For food int as cannon fodder for an undertaking that will devour many (or for an undertaking that requires courage in return for food)
70
HORATIO
MARCELLUS
75
80
HORATIO
85
90
95
100
64 Norway Fortinbras, King of Norway, father to Prince Fortinbras. 65 parle argument 66 Polacks Polish soldiers 68 jump exactly
4
As it doth well appear unto our state, But to recover of us by strong hand And terms compulsatory those foresaid lands So by his father lost. And this, I take it, Is the main motive of our preparations, The source of this our watch, and the chief head Of this post-haste and rummage in the land.
BARNARDO
ACT 1 Scene 1
105
110
I think it be no other but een so. Well may it sort that this portentous gure Comes armed through our watch so like the king That was and is the question of these wars. A mote it is to trouble the minds eye. In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets; As stars with trains of re and dews of blood, Disasters in the sun; and the moist star, Upon whose inuence Neptunes empire stands, Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse. And even the like precurse of feard events, As harbingers preceding still the fates And prologue to the omen coming on, Have heaven and earth together demonstrated Unto our climatures and countrymen.
115 HORATIO
120
125
Enter GhOST
130
But soft, behold. Lo, where it comes again. Ill cross it though it blast me. GhOST spreads its arms Stay, illusion: If thou hast any sound or use of voice, Speak to me. If there be any good thing to be done That may to thee do ease, and grace to me, Speak to me; If thou art privy to thy countrys fate, Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, O speak;
135
106 terms compulsatory forced agreement 109 chief head reason 110 poste-haste and rummage frantic activity
111 but een so but exactly that 112 portentous ominous 115 A mote a speck of dust 117 mightiest Julius Julius Caesar 120 stars with trains of re comets
121 Disasters warning signs 121 moist star moon 122 Neptunes empire the sea 123 sick almost to doomsday with eclipse almost completely eclipsed
124 like precurse same forewarning 125 harbingers messengers 128 climatures regions of the world 129 soft be quiet 136 art privy to know about
ACT 1 Scene 1
5
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which they say your spirits oft walk in death, Speak of it, stay and speak.
140
The cock crows Stop it, Marcellus.

MARCELLUS HORATIO 145 BARNARDO HORATIO MARCELLUS
Shall I strike at it with my partisan? Do if it will not stand. Tis here. Tis here. Tis gone. We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence, For it is as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. It was about to speak when the cock crew. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. I have heard The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat Awake the god of day, and at his warning, Whether in sea or re, in earth or air, Thextravagant and erring spirit hies To his conne; and of the truth herein This present object made probation. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Some say that ever gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviours birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallowd and so gracious is that time. So have I heard and do in part believe it. But look, the morn in russet mantle clad Walks oer the dew of yon high eastward hill. Break we our watch up, and by my advice Let us impart what we have seen tonight Unto young Hamlet; for upon my life
155 cock, that morn rooster that crows at daybreak 161 This present probation this ghost has proved that its correct 167 strike have an evil inuence 168 takes has power 171 in russet mantle clad wearing a red cloak
[Exit GhOST
150
BARNARDO HORATIO
155
160
MARCELLUS
165
170 HORATIO
175
139140 uphoarded in earth buried some illicit treasure while you were alive 143 partisan long-handled spear 151 our vain mockery our strikes are useless and only pretend harm
158159 Thextravagant and ... conne 163 gainst in preparation for the wandering, lost spirit returns 165 This bird of dawning the rooster to its prison in whatever element it comes from
6
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it As needful in our loves, tting our duty?
MARCELLUS 180
ACT 1 Scene 2
Lets dot, I pray, and I this morning know Where we shall nd him most convenient.
[Exeunt
Scene 2
Flourish. Enter CLAUDIUS, KINg Of DENmARk, GERTRUDE ThE QUEEN, COUNCIL, including VOLTEmAND, CORNELIUS, POLONIUS and his son LAERTES, HAmLET dressed in black, with OThERS
KINg
10
15
20
25
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brothers death The memory be green, and that it us betted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, Thimperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as twere with a defeated joy, With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole, Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barrd Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along. For all, our thanks. Now follows that you know young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal of our worth, Or thinking by our late dear brothers death Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, Colleagued with this dream of his advantage, He hath not faild to pester us 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. Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting, Thus much the business is: we have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears
8 sometime sister former sister-inlaw 9 imperial jointress joint ruler 11 With an eye with a happy eye and a sad eye 12 dirge sad song 13 dole sadness 14 taken to wife married 14 barrd rejected 15 freely gone agreed to 18 weak supposal low opinion 20 disjoint and out of frame chaotic and out of order 28 Norway the current King of Norway 29 impotent and bedrid weak and conned to bed
178 needful in our loves necessary because we care about him 2 green fresh 2 us betted was appropriate 4 To be woe to come together in our grief
ACT 1 Scene 2
30
7
Of this his nephews purposeto suppress His further gait herein, in that the levies, The lists, and full proportions are all made Out of his subject; and we here dispatch You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand, For bearers of this greeting to old Norway, Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king more than the scope Of these dilated articles allow. Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.
35
40
CORNELIUS and VOLTEmAND KINg
45
50 LAERTES
In that, and all things, will we show our duty. We doubt it nothing. Heartily farewell. [Exeunt VOLTEmAND and CORNELIUS And now, Laertes, whats the news with you? You told us of some suit: what ist, Laertes? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane And lose your voice. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth, Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. What wouldst thou have, Laertes? My dread lord, Your leave and favour to return to France, From whence though willingly I came to Denmark To show my duty in your coronation, Yet now I must confess, that duty done, My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. Have you your fathers leave? What says Polonius? He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave By laboursome petition, and at last Upon his will I seald my hard consent. I do beseech you give him leave to go. Take thy fair hour, Laertes, time be thine, And thy best graces spend it at thy will. But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son A little more than kin, and less than kind. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Not so, my lord, I am too much in the sun.
55
KINg POLONIUS
60
KINg
65
HAmLET KINg HAmLET
3031 suppress / His herein stop him going any further 31 the levies proportions the soldiers, enlisted men, and full army 37 To business to do business 38 dilated detailed
39 commend prove; fulll 44 Dane King of Denmark 45 lose your voice waste your words 47 native related 50 dread esteemed 58 slow leave reluctant permission
59 laboursome petition persistent asking 60 Upon his will I seald my hard consent I reluctantly agreed to his request 62 Take thy thine enjoy your youth, Laertes, youve still got time
63 graces qualities 65 more than kind more than related (both stepson and nephew) but hardly friendly or natural 67 sun A pun on the word son.
8
QUEEN
ACT 1 Scene 2
70
Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not for ever with thy vailed lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou knowst tis common: all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Ay, madam, it is common. If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee? Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not seems. Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forcd breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed seem, For they are actions that a man might play; But I have that within which passes show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe. Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father, But you must know your father lost a father, That father lost, lost hisand the survivor bound In lial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow. But to persever In obstinate condolement is a course Of impious stubbornness, tis unmanly grief, It shows a will most incorrect to heaven, A heart unfortied, a mind impatient, An understanding simple and unschoold; For what we know must be, and is as common As any the most vulgar thing to sense Why should we in our peevish opposition Take it to heart? Fie, tis a fault to heaven, A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, To reason most absurd, whose common theme Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried From the rst corse till he that died today, This must be so. We pray you throw to earth This unprevailing woe, and think of us
81 haviour expression 83 denote me express my emotions 85 passes show goes beyond external appearances 86 trappings and the suits outward markers and customary clothing 91 lial obligation sons duty 93 condolement grief 95 incorrect disobedient 96 unfortied without faith 101 fault insult 105 corse corpse 106 throw to earth get over
HAmLET QUEEN 75 HAmLET
80
85
KINg
90
95
100
105
68 nighted colour black 69 Denmark Claudius, King of Denmark 75 particular personal 79 windy suspiration sighs
ACT 1 Scene 2
9
As of a father; for let the world take note You are the most immediate to our throne, And with no less nobility of love Than that which dearest father bears his son Do I impart toward you. For your intent In going back to school in Wittenberg, It is most retrograde to our desire, And we beseech you bend you to remain Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye, Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet. I pray thee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. I shall in all my best obey you, madam. Why, tis a loving and a fair reply. Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come. This gentle and unforcd accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof No jocund health that Denmark drinks today But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, And the kings rouse the heaven shall bruit again, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. [Flourish. Exeunt all but HAmLET O that this too too sullied esh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not xd His canon gainst self-slaughter. O God! God! How weary, stale, at, and unprotable Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie ont, ah e, tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this! But two months deadnay, not so much, not two So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth, Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on; and yet within a month Let me not think ontFrailty, thy name is woman A little month, or ere those shoes were old
126 great cannon tell cannons will be red in celebration 127 rouse toast; carousing 127 bruit echo 130 resolve dissolve 132 Or that self-slaughter or that God had not forbidden suicide 137 merely completely 139 that was to this who, when compared with this man (i.e., Claudius) was like 140 Hyperion Ancient Greek sun god. 140 satyr A creature that is half man, half goat. In Greek mythology, satyrs were symbols of lust. 141 beteem permit 144 appetite desire
110
115
QUEEN
120 HAmLET KINg
125
HAmLET 130
135
140
145
114 retrograde to against 123 unforcd accord voluntary agreement 124 grace thanksgiving 125 jocund health happy toast
10
With which she followd my poor fathers body, Like Niobe, all tearswhy, she O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mournd longermarried with my uncle, My fathers brotherbut no more like my father Than I to Hercules. Within a month, Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the ushing in her galled eyes, She marriedO most wicked speed! To post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue. Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BARNARDO
160 HORATIO HAmLET
ACT 1 Scene 2
150
155
Hail to your lordship. I am glad to see you well. Horatio, or I do forget myself. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. Sir, my good friend, Ill change that name with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus. My good lord. I am very glad to see you.[To BARNARDO] Good even, sir. But what in faith make you from Wittenberg? A truant disposition, good my lord. I would not hear your enemy say so, Nor shall you do my ear that violence To make it truster of your own report Against yourself. I know you are no truant. But what is your affair with Elsinore? Well teach you to drink deep ere you depart. My lord, I came to see your fathers funeral. I prithee do not mock me, fellow-student. I think it was to see my mothers wedding. Indeed, my lord, it followd hard upon. Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral bakd meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio. My fathermethinks I see my father
153 Hercules Mythological Greek hero of superhuman strength. 154 unrighteous insincere 156 post hurry 157 dexterity craft; skill 172 truster believer 179 hard upon quickly after
HORATIO HAmLET
165 MARCELLUS HAmLET
HORATIO 170 HAmLET
175 HORATIO HAmLET
HORATIO 180 HAmLET
149 Niobe Queen of Thebes in Greek mythology. Niobe is a symbol of grief and mourning. 150 wants discourse of reason irrational thought
164 what make ... from what are you 182 Would I I wish that I 155 left the ushing in her galled eyes doing away from 183 Or ever before made her eyes red from crying 167 good even good evening
ACT 1 Scene 2
185 HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET
11
Where, my lord? In my minds eye, Horatio. I saw him once; a was a goodly king. A was a man, take him for all in all: I shall not look upon his like again. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Saw? Who? My lord, the king your father. The king my father? Season your admiration for a while With an attent ear till I may deliver Upon the witness of these gentlemen This marvel to you. For Gods love let me hear! Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch In the dead waste and middle of the night Been thus encounterd: a gure like your father Armed at point exactly, cap--pie, Appears before them, and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walkd By their oppressd and fear-surprised eyes Within his truncheons length, whilst they, distilld Almost to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secrecy impart they did, And I with them the third night kept the watch, Where, as they had deliverd, both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes. I knew your father; These hands are not more like. But where was this? My lord, upon the platform where we watch. Did you not speak to it? My lord, I did, But answer made it none. Yet once methought It lifted up it head and did address Itself to motion like as it would speak. But even then the morning cock crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away
198 dead waste desolation 200 at point to the last detail 200 cap--pie from head to foot 203 oppressd troubled 204 truncheon baton; club 204 distilld reduced 207 impart they did they told me 209 deliverd described 216217 did address speak started to move as if it wanted to speak
HORATIO 190 HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO
195 HAmLET HORATIO
200
205
210
HAmLET MARCELLUS HAmLET HORATIO 215
187 A was all he was a man, perfect in every way 192 Season your admiration hold back your amazement 193 attent attentive
12
220 HAmLET HORATIO
ACT 1 Scene 2
And vanishd from our sight. Tis very strange. As I do live, my honourd lord, tis true; And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it. Indeed, sirs; but this troubles me. Hold you the watch tonight? We do, my lord. Armd, say you? Armd my lord. From top to toe? My lord, from head to foot. Then saw you not his face? O yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up. What lookd he, frowningly? A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Pale, or red? Nay, very pale. And xd his eyes upon you? Most constantly. I would I had been there. It would have much amazd you. Very like. Stayd it long?
HORATIO
HAmLET 225 ALL HAmLET ALL HAmLET ALL HAmLET HORATIO 230 HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET 235 HORATIO HAmLET
While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Longer, longer. Not when I sawt. His beard was grizzled, no? It was as I have seen it in his life, A sable silverd. I will watch tonight. Perchance twill walk again. I warnt it will. If it assume my noble fathers person, Ill speak to it though hell itself should gape And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, If you have hitherto conceald this sight, Let it be tenable in your silence still;
242 A sable silvered black with grey hairs 243 Perchance perhaps 244 assume take the appearance of 245 though hell gape even if the gates of hell open 248 tenable kept secret
MARCELLUS and BARNARDO HORATIO 240 HAmLET HORATIO
HAmLET
HORATIO HAmLET 245
229 beaver visor (on a helmet) 240 grizzled grey
ACT 1 Scene 3
13
And whatsomever else shall hap tonight, Give it an understanding but no tongue. I will requite your loves. So fare you well. Upon the platform twixt eleven and twelve Ill visit you.
250
ALL HAmLET
Our duty to your honour. Your loves, as mine to you. Farewell. [Exeunt HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BARNARDO My fathers spiritin arms! All is not well. I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come. Till then sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth oerwhelm them, to mens eyes. [Exit
255
Scene 3
Enter LAERTES and OphELIA, his sister
LAERTES
My necessaries are embarkd. Farewell. And sister, as the winds give benet And convoy is assistant, do not sleep, But let me hear from you. Do you doubt that? For Hamlet, and the triing of his favour, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute, No more. No more but so? Think it no more. For nature crescent does not grow alone In thews and bulk, but as this temple waxes, The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will; but you must fear, His greatness weighd, his will is not his own. For he himself is subject to his birth: He may not, as unvalud persons do,
OphELIA 5 LAERTES
10 OphELIA LAERTES
15
251 requite your loves reward your friendship 256 doubt suspect 258 Though all them no matter how deeply they are buried 1 necessaries baggage
23 as the winds assistant when the winds are favourable and a ship is available 5 triing of his favour his attentions to you 6 Hold it blood consider it a passing fad and a supercial infatuation
7 primy spring-like 8 Forward owering early 9 suppliance pastime 11 crescent growing 12 thews muscles and sinews 12 temple waxes body grows
15 cautel deceit 16 virtue of his will his honourable intentions 17 greatness social position 19 unvalud common
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20
ACT 1 Scene 3
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40
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends The sanity and health of this whole state; And therefore must his choice be circumscribd Unto the voice and yielding of that body Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, It ts your wisdom so far to believe it As he in his particular act and place May give his saying deed; which is no further Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain If with too credent ear you list his songs, Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unmasterd importunity. Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep you in the rear of your affection Out of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal enough If she unmask her beauty to the moon. Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes. The canker galls the infants of the spring Too oft before their buttons be disclosd, And in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most imminent. Be wary then: best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
OphELIA
45
50
I shall theffect of this good lesson keep As watchman to my heart. But good my brother, Do not as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, Whiles like a puffd and reckless libertine Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads, And recks not his own rede. O fear me not. I stay too long.
LAERTES
Enter POLONIUS But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace: Occasion smiles upon a second leave.
55 POLONIUS
Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard for shame.
20 Carve choose 2224 circumscribd / Unto ... head limited by the state he rules 27 give his saying deed turn his words into action 28 goes withal agrees to 30 credent trusting
32 unmasterd importunity uncontrolled demands 34 keep you affection hold back your own affection 36 chariest most modest 38 calumnious strokes malicious gossip
39 canker galls spring worms ruin the early spring owers 40 buttons buds 42 Contagious blastments infections 44 Youth to near. young people lose their self-control even when no outside temptation is around
50 the primrose treads takes the easy road of fun 51 recks not his own rede doesnt take his own advice 54 Occasion smiles leave saying goodbye twice over is good luck
ACT 1 Scene 3
15
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are stayd for. There, my blessing with thee. And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportiond thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar; Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel, But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatchd, unedgd courage. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, Beart that thopposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each mans censure, but reserve thy judgement. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressd in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are of a most select and generous chief in that. Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell, my blessing season this in thee.
60
65
70
75
80
LAERTES POLONIUS LAERTES 85 OphELIA
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. The time invests you; go, your servants tend. Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well What I have said to you. Tis in my memory lockd, And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Farewell. What ist, Ophelia, he hath said to you? So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. Marry, well bethought. Tis told me he hath very oft of late Given private time to you, and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. If it be soas so tis put on me,
60 unproportiond thought illconsidered idea 6465 dull thy courage make friends with every brash newcomer 77 husbandry thrift (wise saving) 81 season ripen 83 invests you urges you 90 well bethought good thinking 94 as so tis put on me as I understand it is
LAERTES POLONIUS OphELIA 90 POLONIUS
[Exit
56 The wind sail the winds are favourable 57 you are stayd for they are waiting for you 58 precepts moral rules 59 character engrave
61 Be thou vulgar be friendly, but 69 censure opinion dont lower your standards 70 habit clothing 62 their adoption tried their 74 Are of that are well known for friendship tested their good taste in clothes
16
95
ACT 1 Scene 3
And that in way of cautionI must tell you You do not understand yourself so clearly As it behoves my daughter and your honour. What is between you? Give me up the truth.
OphELIA
100 POLONIUS
He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. Affection? Pooh, you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby That you have taen these tenders for true pay Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly Ornot to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thusyoull tender me a fool. My lord, he hath importund me with love In honourable fashion. Ay, fashion you may call it. Go to, go to. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat, extinct in both Even in their promise as it is a-making, You must not take for re. From this time Be something scanter of your maiden presence, Set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Believe so much in him that he is young, And with a larger tether may he walk Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia, Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers Not of that dye which their investments show, But mere implorators of unholy suits, Breathing like sanctied and pious bawds The better to beguile. This is for all. I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth Have you so slander any moment leisure As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.
OphELIA 105 POLONIUS
110 OphELIA
POLONIUS OphELIA
115 POLONIUS
120
125
130
97 it behoves is appropriate for 101 green nave 102 Unsifted inexperienced 107 sterling money; of real value
110 importund pursued 113 countenance support 115 springes to catch woodcocks traps to catch foolish birds
118 extinct extinguished 121 scanter of less free with 123 command to parley invitation to irt 125 larger tether longer rope 126 In few in short
127128 for they show for they are not what they appear to be (investments: clothing) 129 implorators of unholy suits expressions of sinful urges 131 beguile deceive 133 so slander any moment leisure waste your time
116 prodigal reckless 108 not to phrase not to wear out 117 blazes passions the metaphor
ACT 1 Scene 4
135 OphELIA
17
Look tot, I charge you. Come your ways. I shall obey, my lord. [Exeunt
Scene 4
Enter HAmLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS
HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO MARCELLUS HORATIO 5
The air bites shrewdly, it is very cold. It is a nipping and an eager air. What hour now? I think it lacks of twelve. No, it is struck. Indeed? I heard it not. It then draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
A ourish of trumpets, and two pieces of ordnance go off What does this mean, my lord?
HAmLET
10
The king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse; Keeps wassail, and the swaggring upspring reels; And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Is it a custom? Ay marry ist, But to my mind, though I am native here And to the manner born, it is a custom More honourd in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traducd and taxd of other nations They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase Soil our addition; and indeed it takes From our achievements, though performd at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. So, oft it chances in particular men That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As in their birth, wherein they are not guilty (Since nature cannot choose his origin), By their oergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Or by some habit, that too much oerleavens
16 in the breach by breaking it 18 traducd and taxd of maligned and criticized by 19 clepe call 20 Soil our addition ruin our good name 2022 takes attribute lessens our 25 As in such as achievements, as great as they are, 27 oergrowth of some complexion and the heart of our reputation imbalance in their personality 24 for some vicious mole because of 28 pales barriers some defect 29 too much oerleavens overpowers
HORATIO HAmLET
15
20
25
6 held his wont is accustomed 8 takes his rouse carouses; parties 9 Keeps wassail ... reels drinks toasts and dances wildly 10 Rhenish Rhine wine 12 triumph celebration
18
30
ACT 1 Scene 4
35
The form of plausive mannersthat these men, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being Natures livery or Fortunes star, His virtues else, be they as pure as grace, As innite as man may undergo, Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault. The dram of evil Doth all the noble substance often dout To his own scandal. Enter GhOST
HORATIO HAmLET
Look, my lord, it comes. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damnd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comst in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee. Ill call thee Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane. O answer me. Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell Why thy canonizd bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements, why the sepulchre Wherein we saw thee quietly inurnd Hath opd his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again. What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous and we fools of nature So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?
40
45
50
55
GhOST beckons
HORATIO
60 MARCELLUS
It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Look with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground. But do not go with it. No, by no means.
HORATIO
30 plausive good 32 Being Natures star whether inherited or determined by fate 33 virtues else other virtues 34 undergo support
35 general censure public opinion 3536 take corruption fault be ruined by one character aw 36 dram drop 37 dout overpower
38 To his ... scandal bringing shame 48 cerements shroud 47 canonizd bones A body that has 49 inurnd placed in an urn been buried properly, according to the 52 complete steel full armour canons of the Church. 59 impartment message 47 hearsed in death in a cofn; entombed
ACT 1 Scene 4
HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET 65
19
It will not speak. Then I will follow it. Do not, my lord. Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pins fee, And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself? It waves me forth again. Ill follow it. What if it tempt you toward the ood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles oer his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And draw you into madness? Think of it. The very place puts toys of desperation, Without more motive, into every brain That looks so many fathoms to the sea And hears it roar beneath. It waves me still. Go on, Ill follow thee. You shall not go, my lord. Hold off your hands. Be ruld; you shall not go. My fate cries out And makes each petty artire in this body As hardy as the Nemean lions nerve. Still am I calld. Unhand me, gentlemen. By heaven, Ill make a ghost of him that lets me. I say away.Go on, Ill follow thee. [Exeunt GhOST and HAmLET He waxes desperate with imagination. Lets follow. Tis not t thus to obey him. Have after. To what issue will this come? Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Heaven will direct it. Nay, lets follow him. [Exeunt
HORATIO 70
75
HAmLET
80
MARCELLUS HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET
85
HORATIO MARCELLUS HORATIO 90 MARCELLUS HORATIO MARCELLUS
65 set my life at a pins fee value my 73 deprive your reason take away 82 petty artire little artery your sanity life at the price of a pin 83 the Nemean lion A lion killed by Hercules. 75 toys of desperation desperate 69 ood sea thoughts 85 lets stops 71 beetles oer hangs over
87 waxes grows 89 Have after. lets follow him
20
ACT 1 Scene 5
Scene 5
Enter GhOST and HAmLET
HAmLET GhOST HAmLET GhOST
Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak, Ill go no further. Mark me. I will. My hour is almost come When I to sulphrous and tormenting ames Must render up myself. Alas, poor ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Speak, I am bound to hear. So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear. What? I am thy fathers spirit, Doomd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day connd to fast in res, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purgd away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular hair to stand an end Like quills upon the fretful porpentine. But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of esh and blood. List, list, O list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love O God! Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Murder! Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange and unnatural. Haste me to knowt, that I with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love May sweep to my revenge. I nd thee apt.
HAmLET 5 GhOST
HAmLET GhOST HAmLET GhOST 10
15
20
HAmLET 25 GhOST HAmLET GhOST
HAmLET 30
GhOST
3 tormenting ames the res of Purgatory 4 render up myself return 6 bound compelled 11 fast do penance 12 days of nature life on earth
13 But that I am forbid if I wasnt forbidden 16 harrow up torment; torture 17 start from fall from 18 knotted and combined locks all of your hair
20 porpentine porcupine 21 this eternal blazon these secrets of the afterlife 22 List listen
27 Murder most is murder, which is always terrible, even when it is justied 30 meditation thought 31 apt ready to act
ACT 1 Scene 5
21
And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear. Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung meso the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abusdbut know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy fathers life Now wears his crown.
35
40 HAmLET GhOST
O my prophetic soul! My uncle! Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power So to seduce!won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen. O Hamlet, what a falling off was there, From me, whose love was of that dignity That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine. But virtue, as it never will be movd, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, So lust, though to a radiant angel linkd, Will sate itself in a celestial bed And prey on garbage. But soft, methinks I scent the morning air: Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard, My custom always of the afternoon, Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, And in the porches of my ears did pour The leperous distilment, whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body, And with a sudden vigour it doth posset And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine, And a most instant tetter barkd about, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust
54 Though lewdness heaven though lust tempts it in the shape of an angel 56 sate itself satisfy itself 61 Upon my secure hour at a time when I was not on my guard 62 hebenon poison 64 leperous distilment mixture causing leprosy 66 courses rushes 68 posset thicken; coagulate 69 eager acid 71 a most about rapidly spreading scabs erupted over the skin like the rough bark of a tree 72 lazar-like leper-like
45
50
55
60
65
70
33 Lethe The river Lethe in Hades, the classical underworld. 37 forged process false account 38 Rankly abusd badly deceived 5051 decline / Upon go down to the level of
22
All my smooth body. Thus was I, sleeping, by a brothers hand Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatchd, Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhouseld, disappointed, unaneld, No reckning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. O horrible! O horrible! most horrible! If thou has nature in thee, bear it not, Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. But howsomever thou pursuest this act, Taint not thy mind nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven, And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once: The glow-worm shows the matin to be near And gins to pale his uneffectual re. Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.
HAmLET
ACT 1 Scene 5
75
80
85
90
[Exit
95
100
105
110
O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? O e! Hold, hold, my heart, And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, But bear me stify up. Remember thee? Ay, thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat In this distracted globe. Remember thee? Yea, from the table of my memory Ill wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past That youth and observation copied there, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmixd with baser matter. Yes, by heaven! O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling damned villain! My tables. Meet it is I set it down That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. [Writes] So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word. It is Adieu, adieu, remember me. I have swornt.
Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS [calling]

75 at once dispatchd suddenly deprived 77 Unhouseld without receiving the last rites of confession and communion (housel: sacrament) 77 disappointed unprepared 77 unaneld unannointed with holy oil 86 Leave her to heaven let God judge her 78 No reckning no settling with God 89 matin morning 81 nature natural feelings of a son 93 couple add for a father 8586 nor let aught do not plot against your mother or hold any ill will toward her 97 distracted globe confused brain 98 table writing tablet 100 saws quotations 100 forms ideas 100 pressures impressions 105 pernicious ruinous 107 Meet it is right it is
ACT 1 Scene 5
HORATIO MARCELLUS 115 HORATIO HAmLET MARCELLUS HAmLET MARCELLUS 120 HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO HAmLET HORATIO 125 MARCELLUS HAmLET
23
My lord, my lord. Lord Hamlet. Heavens secure him. [Aside] So be it. Hillo, ho, ho, my lord. Hillo, ho, ho, boy. Come, bird, come. How ist, my noble lord? What news, my lord? O, wonderful! Good my lord, tell it. No, you will reveal it. Not I, my lord, by heaven. Nor I, my lord. How say you then, would heart of man once think it But youll be secret? Ay, by heaven. Theres never a villain dwelling in all Denmark But hes an arrant knave. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. Why, right, you are in the right. And so without more circumstance at all I hold it t that we shake hands and part, You as your business and desire shall point you For every man hath business and desire, Such as it isand for my own poor part, I will go pray. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. I am sorry they offend you, heartily Yes faith, heartily. Theres no offence, my lord. Yes by Saint Patrick but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you. For your desire to know what is between us, Oermastert as you may. And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request.
HORATIO and MARCELLUS HAmLET 130 HORATIO
HAmLET
135
HORATIO 140 HAmLET
HORATIO HAmLET
145
115 secure protect 117 Hillo, ho, ho A falconers call; Hamlet replies in kind.
130 arrant knave complete rascal 133 circumstance explanation
146 Oermastert overcome it
24
HORATIO HAmLET 150
ACT 1 Scene 5
What ist, my lord? We will.
Never make known what you have seen tonight. HORATIO and MARCELLUS My lord, we will not.
HAmLET HORATIO MARCELLUS HAmLET
Nay, but sweart. In faith, my lord, not I. Nor I, my lord, in faith. Upon my sword. We have sworn, my lord, already. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. [Cries under the stage] Swear. Ah ha, boy, sayst thou so? Art thou there, truepenny? Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellarage. Consent to swear. Propose the oath, my lord. Never to speak of this that you have seen. Swear by my sword. Swear.
155 MARCELLUS HAmLET GhOST HAmLET
160 HORATIO HAmLET
GhOST
They swear
HAmLET 165
Hic et ubique? Then well shift our ground. Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword. Swear by my sword Never to speak of this that you have heard. Swear by his sword.
GhOST
They swear
170 HAmLET
Well said, old mole. Canst work ithearth so fast? A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come, Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd someer I bear myself As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on That you, at such time seeing me, never shall,
HORATIO HAmLET
175
180
154 Upon my sword. The hilt of the sword, which resembles a cross. 158 truepenny honest man
159 cellarage cellars 164 Hic et ubique? Here and everywhere (Latin)
171 pioner miner 179 meet appropriate
180 put an antic disposition on pretend to be mad
ACT 1 Scene 5
25
With arms encumberd thus, or this head-shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As Well, we know, or We could and if we would, Or If we list to speak, or There be and if they might, Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of methis do swear, So grace and mercy at your most need help you.
185
GhOST
Swear.
They swear
190 HAmLET
195
Rest, rest, perturbed spirit. So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you; And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do texpress his love and friending to you, God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together. And still your ngers on your lips, I pray. The time is out of joint. O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right. Nay, come, lets go together.
[Exeunt
182 encumberd folded 184 and if if only
185 list wished 186 giving out signals
186 to note to suggest 195 still always
196 out of joint in disorder
26
ACT 2 Scene 1
ACT 2 Scene 1
Enter old POLONIUS, with his man REYNALDO
POLONIUS REYNALDO POLONIUS
Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo. I will, my lord. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquire Of his behaviour. My lord, I did intend it. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me rst what Danskers are in Paris, And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense; and nding By this encompassment and drift of question That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it. Take you as twere some distant knowledge of him, As thus, I know his father, and his friends, And in part himdo you mark this, Reynaldo? Ay, very well, my lord. And in part him. But, you may say, not well; But ift be he I mean, hes very wild, Addicted so and soand there put on him What forgeries you pleasemarry, none so rank As may dishonour himtake heed of that But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips As are companions noted and most known To youth and liberty. As gaming, my lord? Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, Quarrelling, drabbingyou may go so far. My lord, that would dishonour him. Faith no, as you may season it in the charge. You must not put another scandal on him, That he is open to incontinency Thats not my meaning; but breathe his faults so quaintly That they may seem the taints of liberty, The ash and outbreak of a ery mind, A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault.
10 encompassment and question indirect way of asking 11-12 come you it youll nd out more than if you ask directly (about Laertes) 13 Take you as twere pretend that you have 20 forgeries false accusations 22 usual slips common faults 26 drabbing visiting prostitutes 31 quaintly cleverly 32 taints minor faults 34 unreclaimed untamed
5
REYNALDO POLONIUS
10 15
REYNALDO POLONIUS
20
25 REYNALDO POLONIUS

REYNALDO POLONIUS
30 35
1 notes letters 7 Danskers Danes
89 And how company how they came to Paris, who they are, what income they have, where they stay, and what company they keep
30 is open to incontinency welcomes 35 Of general assault common to most young men loose behaviour
ACT 2 Scene 1
REYNALDO POLONIUS REYNALDO POLONIUS
27
But my good lord Wherefore should you do this? Ay, my lord, I would know that. Marry, sir, heres my drift, And I believe it is a fetch of warrant. You laying these slight sullies on my son, As twere a thing a little soild ith working, Mark you, Your party in converse, him you would sound, Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes The youth you breathe of guilty, be assurd He closes with you in this consequence: Good sir, or so, or friend, or gentleman, According to the phrase or the addition Of man and country. Very good, my lord. And then, sir, does a thisa doeswhat was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave? At closes in the consequence. At closes in the consequence, ay, marry. He closes thus: I know the gentleman, I saw him yesterday, or thother day, Or then, or then, with such or such, and as you say, There was a gaming, there oertook ins rouse, There falling out at tennis, or perchance I saw him enter such a house of sale Videlicet a brothel, or so forth. See you now, Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias, By indirections nd directions out. So by my former lecture and advice Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? My lord, I have. Good my lord. Observe his inclination in yourself. I shall, my lord.
43 sound question 58 there oertook ins rouse looking as if hed been drinking 65 windlasses roundabout methods 65 assays of bias indirect ways 69 buy ye be with you 71 Observe his yourself. let him do as he wants
40 45
REYNALDO 50 POLONIUS

REYNALDO POLONIUS 55
60 65
REYNALDO POLONIUS 70 REYNALDO POLONIUS REYNALDO
God buy ye, fare ye well.
39 fetch of warrant legitimate trick 40 sullies faults 41 soild ith working shopworn (familiar or common)
43 Your party in converse the person 48 addition form of address with whom you are speaking
44 prenominate already named 61 Videlicet that is to say 4546 be assurd consequence be assured that he agrees with you in the 64 we of wisdom and of reach we wise and experienced men following way
28
POLONIUS REYNALDO
ACT 2 Scene 1
And let him ply his music. [Exit
Well, my lord.
Enter OpHELIA
POLONIUS 75 OpHELIA POLONIUS OpHELIA
Farewell. How now, Ophelia, whats the matter? O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted. With what, ith name of God? My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbracd, No hat upon his head, his stockings fould, Ungarterd and down-gyved to his ankle, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, he comes before me. Mad for thy love? My lord, I do not know, But truly I do fear it. What said he? He took me by the wrist and held me hard. Then goes he to the length of all his arm, And with his other hand thus oer his brow He falls to such perusal of my face As a would draw it. Long stayd he so. At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raisd a sigh so piteous and profound As it did seem to shatter all his bulk And end his being. That done, he lets me go, And with his head over his shoulder turnd He seemd to nd his way without his eyes, For out odoors he went without their helps, And to the last bended their light on me. Come, go with me, I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstasy of love, Whose violent property fordoes itself And leads the will to desperate undertakings As oft as any passion under heaven That does afict our natures. I am sorry What, have you given him any hard words of late?
78 doublet all unbracd jacket all unbuttoned (in company, this type of clothing would be worn buttoned up) 80 down-gyved fallen down 82 in purport in expression 90 perusal careful study 91 As a would draw it as though he wanted to draw it 100 bended their light on me turned his eyes, or gaze, on me 102 ecstasy madness 103 property fordoes quality destroys
80
85 POLONIUS OpHELIA

POLONIUS OpHELIA
90 95 100
POLONIUS
105
72 ply his music carry on doing what hes doing 77 closet private room
ACT 2 Scene 2
OpHELIA
29
No, my good lord, but as you did command, I did repel his letters and denied His access to me. That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgement I had not quoted him. I feard he did but trie And meant to wrack thee. But beshrew my jealousy! By heaven, it is as proper to our age To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king. This must be known, which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love. Come. [Exeunt
110
POLONIUS
115 120
Scene 2
Flourish. Enter KING and QUEEN, ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN, with ATTENDANTS
KING
5 10 15
QUEEN 20 112 quoted observed 113 wrack dishonour
Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlets transformationso I call it, Sith nor thexterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be, More than his fathers death, that thus hath put him So much from thunderstanding of himself I cannot dream of. I entreat you both That, being of so young days brought up with him, And sith so neighbourd to his youth and haviour, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time, so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures and to gather, So much as from occasion you may glean, Whether aught to us unknown aficts him thus That, opend, lies within our remedy. Good gentlemen, he hath much talkd of you, And sure I am, two men there is not living To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry and good will
114 proper to our age common for old men 115 cast beyond ourselves in our opinions get unreasonable ideas 118119 might move love might cause more trouble if we try to hide Hamlets love than anger by bringing it to the kings attention 6 Sith nor since neither 12 so neighbourd to so familiar with 13 vouchsafe your rest agree to remain 18 opend discovered 22 gentry gentlemanly courtesy
113 beshrew my jealousy curse my suspicious thoughts
30
25 As to expend your time with us awhile For the supply and prot of our hope, Your visitation shall receive such thanks As ts a kings remembrance.
ACT 2 Scene 2
ROSENCrANTZ Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty.
GUILDENSTErN 30

KING QUEEN 35
But we both obey, And here give up ourselves in the full bent To lay our service freely at your feet To be commanded. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz. And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son. Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
GUILDENSTErN Heavens make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him.
QUEEN
Ay, amen. [Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN and an ATTENDANT
Enter POLONIUS
40 POLONIUS

KING POLONIUS
Thambassadors from Norway, my good lord, Are joyfully returnd. Thou still hast been the father of good news. Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege I hold my duty as I hold my soul, Both to my God and to my gracious king; And I do thinkor else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure As it hath usd to dothat I have found The very cause of Hamlets lunacy. O speak of that: that do I long to hear. Give rst admittance to thambassadors. My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. Thyself do grace to them and bring them in. [Exit POLONIUS
45
50 KING POLONIUS

KING
24 supply and prot help and benet 2829 Put your entreaty order us 30 in the full bent to the full extent to do your will, rather than just asking 47 trail of policy affairs of state
48 As it hath usd to do as it used to
ACT 2 Scene 2
31
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your sons distemper. I doubt it is no other but the main, His fathers death and our oer-hasty marriage. Well, we shall sift him.
55
QUEEN

KING
Enter POLONIUS, VOLTEMAND, and COrNELIUS Welcome, my good friends. Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?
60 VOLTEMAND
65 70 75 80
KING
Most fair return of greetings and desires. Upon our rst, he sent out to suppress His nephews levies, which to him appeard To be a preparation gainst the Polack; But better lookd into, he truly found It was against your highness; whereat grievd That so his sickness, age, and impotence Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys, Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in ne, Makes vow before his uncle never more To give thassay of arms against your majesty: Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee And his commission to employ those soldiers So levied, as before, against the Polack, With an entreaty, herein further shown, [Gives a paper] That it might please you to give quiet pass Through your dominions for this enterprise On such regards of safety and allowance As therein are set down.
It likes us well; And at our more considerd time well read, Answer, and think upon this business. Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labour. Go to your rest, at night well feast together. 85 Most welcome home. [Exeunt VOLTEMAND and COrNELIUS POLONIUS This business is well ended. My liege and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
58 sift him question him 59 Norway the King of Norway 61 Upon our rst as soon as we raised the matter 62 levies troops 63 a preparation Polack an army raised to ght the King of Poland 66 impotence powerlessness 67 falsely borne in hand deceived 69 in ne in conclusion 71 give thassay of arms take up arms 77 quiet pass safe passage 79 regards terms 86 expostulate philosophize about
32
90 95
QUEEN POLONIUS
ACT 2 Scene 2
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward ourishes, I will be brief. Your noble son is mad. Mad call I it, for to dene true madness, What ist but to be nothing else but mad? But let that go. More matter with less art. Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad tis true; tis true tis pity; And pity tis tis true. A foolish gure But farewell it, for I will use no art. Mad let us grant him then. And now remains That we nd out the cause of this effect, Or rather say the cause of this defect, For this effect defective comes by cause. Thus it remains; and the remainder thus: Perpend, I have a daughterhave while she is mine Who in her duty and obedience, mark, Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise. [Reads] To the celestial and my souls idol, the most beautied OpheliaThats an ill phrase, a vile phrase, beautied is a vile phrase. But you shall hearthese; in her excellent white bosom, these, &c. Came this from Hamlet to her? Good madam, stay awhile, I will be faithful. Doubt thou the stars are re, Doubt that the sun doth move, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love. O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not art to reckon my groans. But that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet. This in obedience hath my daughter shown me, And, more above, hath his solicitings, As they fell out by time, by means, and place, All given to mine ear. But how hath she receivd his love?
108 gather and surmise draw your own conclusions 119 numbers verses; poetic lines 122123 whilst this him while this body belongs to him 126 fell out occurred
100 105 110

QUEEN POLONIUS
115
120 125
KING
94 What ist mad what else would 98 gure gure of speech that be but madness 103 comes by cause has a cause 95 More matter with less art. more 105 Perpend pay careful attention information and less playing with words
ACT 2 Scene 2
POLONIUS 130 KING POLONIUS
33
What do you think of me? As of a man faithful and honourable. I would fain prove so. But what might you think, When I had seen this hot love on the wing As I perceivd it, I must tell you that, Before my daughter told mewhat might you Or my dear majesty your queen here think, If I had playd the desk or table-book, Or given my heart a winking mute and dumb, Or lookd upon this love with idle sight What might you think? No, I went round to work, And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star. This must not be. And then I prescripts gave her, That she should lock herself from his resort, Admit no messengers, receive no tokens; Which done, she took the fruits of my advice, And he, repelleda short tale to make Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension, Into the madness wherein now he raves And all we mourn for. It may be; very like. Hath there been such a timeI would fain know that That I have positively said Tis so, When it provd otherwise? Not that I know. Take this from this if this be otherwise. Do you think tis this?
135 140 145 150

KING QUEEN POLONIUS
155
KING POLONIUS
Points to his head and shoulder

KING 160 POLONIUS
If circumstances lead me, I will nd Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. How may we try it further? You know sometimes he walks four hours together Here in the lobby. So he does indeed. At such a time Ill loose my daughter to him.
137 given my dumb closed my eyes and remained silent 141 out of thy star beyond your reach, or social status 142 prescripts orders 143 resort visits 148149 to a declension to sleeplessness, weakness, and then to delirium (declension: decline) 159 Within the centre at the centre of the Earth 162 loose release

QUEEN POLONIUS
131 fain gladly 136 playd the table-book acted like a notebook, receiving the information
34
165
KING
ACT 2 Scene 2
Be you and I behind an arras then, Mark the encounter. If he love her not, And be not from his reason falln thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm and carters. We will try it.
Enter HAMLET, reading on a book

QUEEN POLONIUS 170
But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Away, I do beseech you both, away. Ill board him presently. O give me leave. [Exeunt KING and QUEEN and ATTENDANTS How does my good Lord Hamlet? Well, God-a-mercy. Do you know me, my lord? Excellent well. You are a shmonger. Not I, my lord. Then I would you were so honest a man. Honest, my lord? Ay sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Thats very true, my lord. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrionHave you a daughter? I have, my lord. Let her not walk ith sun. Conception is a blessing, but as your daughter may conceivefriend, look tot. [Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet he knew me not at rst; a said I was a shmonger. A is far gone. And truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love, very near this. Ill speak to him again.What do you read, my lord? Words, words, words. What is the matter, my lord? Between who? I mean the matter that you read, my lord. Slanders, sir. For the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled,

HAMLET POLONIUS HAMLET 175 POLONIUS HAMLET POLONIUS HAMLET
180 POLONIUS HAMLET
POLONIUS HAMLET 185 POLONIUS
190 HAMLET POLONIUS HAMLET POLONIUS 195 HAMLET
163 arras hanging tapestry 165 thereon on account of that 168 sadly seriously 170 board him greet him
172 God-a-mercy God have mercy 174 shmonger An insult. 181 if the dog Elizabethan scientists believed maggots grew spontaneously on dead meat.
182 carrion carcass 184 walk ith sun walk about in public 184 Conception becoming pregnant
186 harping talking on and on about (like a harpist playing one note) 192 What is the matter what is it about (i.e., the book, although Hamlet deliberately misunderstands)
ACT 2 Scene 2
35
their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hamsall which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down. For yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am if like a crab you could go backward. [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method int.Will you walk out of the air, my lord? Into my grave? Indeed, thats out of the air.[Aside] How pregnant sometimes his replies area happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter.My lord, I will take my leave of you. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will not more willingly part withalexcept my life, except my life, except my life. Fare you well, my lord. These tedious old fools.
200

POLONIUS
205 HAMLET POLONIUS
210

HAMLET
215 POLONIUS HAMLET
Enter ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN

POLONIUS
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is. God save you, sir. My honoured lord. My most dear lord. [Exit POLONIUS
ROSENCrANTZ GUILDENSTErN
220 ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET
My excellent good friends. How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz. Good lads, how do you both? As the indifferent children of the earth. Happy in that we are not over-happy: on Fortunes cap we are not the very button. Nor the soles of her shoe? Neither, my lord. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favours? Faith, her privates we. In the secret parts of Fortune? O most true, she is a strumpet. What news?
204 walk out of the air come inside 206 pregnant meaningful 224 indifferent ordinary 226 very button highest point 231 privates soldiers; private parts 233 strumpet prostitute
ROSENCrANTZ
225 GUILDENSTErN

HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET
230
GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
197 purging discharging 199 hams thighs
203204 there is method int there is 210 suddenly right away; immediately some sense to it
36

ROSENCrANTZ
ACT 2 Scene 2
None, my lord, but the worlds grown honest.
235 HAMLET
Then is doomsday near. But your news is not true. Let me question more in particular. What have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison hither? Prison, my lord? Then is the world one. Denmarks a prison. A goodly one, in which there are many connes, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one oth worst. We think not so, my lord. Why, then tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison. Why, then your ambition makes it one: tis too narrow for your mind.
GUILDENSTErN
240 HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ
245 HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ
250 HAMLET
O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of innite spacewere it not that I have bad dreams. Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. A dream itself is but a shadow. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadows shadow.
GUILDENSTErN
255 HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET 260

HAMLET 265
Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars shadows. Shall we to th court? For by my fay, I cannot reason. and GUILDENSTErN Well wait upon you. No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully attended. But in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore? To visit you, my lord, no other occasion. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but I thank you. And sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come. Nay, speak. What should we say, my lord?
259260 Then are shadows then our men without ambition (i.e., beggars) are more real than our kings and heroes 261 by my fay by my faith 263 sort classify 266 what make you what brings you 269 too dear overpriced at
ROSENCrANTZ

HAMLET 270
ROSENCrANTZ
GUILDENSTErN
253255 the very dream what an ambitious man achieves is only a shadow of what he dreamed he would achieve
ACT 2 Scene 2
HAMLET 275
37
Anything but to th purpose. You were sent for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to colour. I know the good king and queen have sent for you. To what end, my lord? That, you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer can charge you withal, be even and direct with me whether you were sent for or no. [Aside to GUILDENSTErN] What say you? Nay, then I have an eye of you. If you love me, hold not off. My lord, we were sent for. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather. I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame the earth seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy the air, look you, this brave oerhanging rmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden re, why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how innite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the beauty of the world, the paragon of animalsand yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not menor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. Why did ye laugh then, when I said man delights not me? To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what Lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you. We coted them on the way, and hither are they coming to offer you service.
286 I have an eye of you Im watching you 290291 moult no feather stay intact 292 foregone all exercises given up my usual pastimes 295 promontory outcrop of land 297 fretted decorated (fretwork is a design carved or cut out) 302 apprehension understanding 304 quintessence purest essence 311 Lenten frugal; poor 312 coted overtook
ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET
280
GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
290
295
300
305

HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ
310 ROSENCrANTZ
276 to colour to disguise 280 consonancy friendship
289290 so shall discovery that 282283 by what withal by way you wont have to break your whatever stronger bond a more skilled promise to the king and queen by oath-writer might hold you to telling me directly
38
HAMLET 315
ACT 2 Scene 2
320
He that plays the king shall be welcomehis majesty shall have tribute on me, the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target, the lover shall not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in peace, the clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle a th sear, and the lady shall say her mind freelyor the blank verse shall halt fort. What players are they? Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the tragedians of the city.
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET
How chances it they travel? Their residence, both in reputation and prot, was better both ways. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation.
325 ROSENCrANTZ

HAMLET
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city? Are they so followed? No, indeed are they not. How comes it? Do they grow rusty? Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped fort. These are now the fashion, and so berattle the common stagesso they call themthat many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.
ROSENCrANTZ
330 HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ
335

HAMLET 340
What, are they children? Who maintains em? How are they escotted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing? Will they not say afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common playersas it is most like, if their means are no bettertheir writers do them wrong to make them exclaim against their own succession? Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and the nation holds it no sin to tar them to controversy. There was for a while no money bid for argument unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question. O, there has been much throwing about of brains. Ay, that they do, my lord, Hercules and his load too.
345 ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET
Ist possible? Do the boys carry it away?
350 GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ
317 humorous melancholy; sad 318 tickle a th sear quick to laugh 325326 the late innovation the recent political uprising 331 their endeavour pace their performances are as good as always
332 eyrie nest
335 common stages public theatres
346 tar them to provoke 347 bid for argument to be made in theatre 351 carry it away claim victory 352 Hercules The Greek hero who briey took over the task of carrying the Earth from Atlas.
332 eyases baby hawks (a reference 336 goose-quills pens (writers) to a popular group of child actors who 339 escotted cared for were playing in London at the time) 339 pursue the quality keep acting 332334 cry out fort cry 339340 no longer sing only until loudly, being controversial, and are their voices break excessively applauded for it
ACT 2 Scene 2
HAMLET 355
39
It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of Denmark, and those that would make mouths at him while my father lived give twenty, forty, fty, a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in little. Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could nd it out.
A ourish of trumpets
GUILDENSTErN
There are the players.
360 HAMLET
365

HAMLET
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come then. Thappurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply with you in this garblest my extent to the players, which I tell you must show fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome. But my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. In what, my dear lord? I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.
GUILDENSTErN
Enter POLONIUS
370 POLONIUS HAMLET
Well be with you, gentlemen. Hark you, Guildenstern, and you tooat each ear a hearer. That great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts. Happily he is the second time come to them, for they say an old man is twice a child.
ROSENCrANTZ
375 HAMLET
I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players. Mark it.You say right, sir, a Monday morning, twas then indeed. My lord, I have news to tell you. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome The actors are come hither, my lord. Buzz, buzz. Upon my honour Then came each actor on his ass The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,
POLONIUS 380 HAMLET

POLONIUS HAMLET POLONIUS 385 HAMLET POLONIUS
354 make mouths at make fun of 355 ducats gold coins 356 picture in little miniature portrait 356 Sblood by Christs blood 357 philosophy science
361 Thappurtenance of welcome the appropriate way to welcome you 362 garb way 363 my extent my welcome 364 entertainment a friendly welcome or greeting
368 I am west. Im not completely 373 swaddling-clouts clothes or blankets for a newborn baby mad 369 handsaw hernshaw (heron) 374 Happily perhaps 371372 at each ear a hearer one of 380 Roscius A famous Roman actor. you at each ear 383 Buzz, buzz An expression meaning Thats old news.
40
tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ, and the liberty, these are the only men. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou! What a treasure had he, my lord?
ACT 2 Scene 2
390

HAMLET POLONIUS HAMLET
Why, 395 One fair daughter and no more, The which he loved passing well.
POLONIUS HAMLET POLONIUS 400 HAMLET POLONIUS HAMLET
[Aside] Still on my daughter. Am I not ith right, old Jephthah? If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. Nay, that follows not. What follows then, my lord?
Why, As by lot God wot, 405 and then, you know, It came to pass, as most like it was. The rst row of the pious chanson will show you more, for look where my abridgement comes. Enter the PLAYErS 410 You are welcome, masters. Welcome, all.I am glad to see thee well.Welcome, good friends.O, old friend, why thy face is valanced since I saw thee last. Comst thou to beard me in Denmark?What, my young lady and mistress! Byr lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last by the altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring.Masters, you are all welcome. Well een tot like French falconers, y at anything we see. Well have a speech straight. Come, give us a taste of your quality. Come, a passionate speech. What speech, my good lord? I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted, or if it was, not above oncefor the play, I remember, pleased not the million, twas caviar to the general. But it was, as I received itand others, whose
396 passing very 404 by lot God wot perhaps God knows 407 row verse; stanza 407 pious chanson religious song 412 young lady boy actor (boys played the female roles in Elizabethan theatre) 413 Byr lady by the Virgin Mary 413414 nearer to heaven taller 415 chopine high-heeled shoe 415416 Pray God ring pray God your voice has not broken, like a coin that is worthless because it has cracked 417 een tot try it 424425 caviar to the general too sophisticated for the general public
415
420
FIrST PLAYEr HAMLET
425
389 Seneca A Roman playwright. 390 Plautus A Roman comic playwright. 390 law of writ rules of drama
392 Jephthah Jephthah sacriced his 411 valanced bearded only daughter for his political ambitions. 412 beard challenge
ACT 2 Scene 2
41
judgements in such matters cried in the top of mine an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of affection, but called it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very much more handsome than ne. One speech int I chiey loved twas Aeneas tale to Didoand thereabout of it especially when he speaks of Priams slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this linelet me see, let me see The rugged Pyrrhus, like th Hyrcanian beast Tis not so. It begins with Pyrrhus The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble When he lay couched in the ominous horse, Hath now this dread and black complexion smeard With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot Now is he total gules, horridly trickd With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Bakd and impasted with the parching streets, That lend a tyrannous and a damned light To their lords murder. Roasted in wrath and re, And thus oersized with coagulate gore, With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks. So proceed you. Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion. Anon he nds him, Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword, Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, Repugnant to command. Unequal matchd, Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide; But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword Thunnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium, Seeming to feel this blow, with aming top Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
430
435
440
445
450

POLONIUS 455 FIrST PLAYEr
460
426 cried in the top of mine were better than mine 427 digested organized 429 sallets salads (slang for dirty jokes); spicy parts 431 affection showing-off
440 sable arms black armour 434 Aeneas tale to Dido Dido, Queen of Carthage, loved Aeneas, but 442 ominous horse Trojan horse was abandoned by him. 445 total gules red all over 435 Priam King of Troy. 445 trickd spotted; decorated 438 Pyrrhus Son of Achilles. Pyrrhus was killed at Troy after trying 447 Bakd and impasted baked to a crisp to avenge his fathers death.
451 carbuncles glowing red jewels 456 Anon soon 459 Repugnant to command refusing to obey 461 fell cruel 462 Ilium central tower of Troy
42
465
ACT 2 Scene 2
470
475
480
485 POLONIUS HAMLET
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus ear. For lo, his sword, Which was declining on the milky head Of reverend Priam, seemd ith air to stick; So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood, And like a neutral to his will and matter, Did nothing. But as we often see against some storm A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, The bold winds speechless, and the orb below As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region; so after Pyrrhus pause Aroused vengeance sets him new awork, And never did the Cyclops hammers fall On Marss armour, forgd for proof eterne, With less remorse than Pyrrhus bleeding sword Now falls on Priam. Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods In general synod take away her power, Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven As low as to the ends. This is too long. It shall to the barbers with your beard.Prithee say on. Hes for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on, come to Hecuba. But whoah, woe!had seen the mobbled queen The mobbled queen. Thats good. Run barefoot up and down, threatning the ames With bisson rheum, a clout upon that head Where late the diadem stood, and, for a robe, About her lank and all oerteemed loins A blanket, in thalarm of fear caught up Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steepd, Gainst Fortunes state would treason have pronouncd. But if the gods themselves did see her then, When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her husbands limbs, The instant burst of clamour that she made, Unless things mortal move them not at all,
490 FIrST PLAYEr HAMLET POLONIUS FIrST PLAYEr 495
500
465 Takes prisoner deafens 469 like a neutral as if indifferent 471 against before 472 rack clouds
477 Cyclops Mythological, one-eyed 483 fellies pieces of a wheel rim giants who made armour for the gods. 484 nave hub (of the wheel) 478 proof eterne eternal protection 489 Hecuba Priams wife 482 synod assembly 490 mobbled mufed; veiled 494 bisson rheum blinding tears
494 clout rag 495 diadem jewelled crown 496 oerteemed exhausted 498 with tongue steepd speaking bitter words
ACT 2 Scene 2
505
43
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven And passion in the gods. Look wheer he has not turned his colour and has tears ins eyes. Prithee no more. Tis well. Ill have thee speak out the rest of this soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time. After your death you were better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. Gods bodkin, man, much better. Use every man after his desert, and who shall scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in. Come, sirs. Follow him, friends. Well hear a play tomorrow. [To FIrST PLAYEr] Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play The Murder of Gonzago? Ay, my lord. Well hat tomorrow night. You could for a need study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down and insert int, could you not? Ay, my lord. Very well. [To all the PLAYErS] Follow that lord, and look you mock him not. [Exeunt POLONIUS and PLAYErS [To ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN] My good friends, Ill leave you till night. You are welcome to Elsinore. Good my lord. [Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN
POLONIUS
HAMLET 510
515 POLONIUS HAMLET
520 POLONIUS HAMLET
FIrST PLAYEr 525 HAMLET

FIrST PLAYEr HAMLET 530
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET 535
540
Ay, so, God buy to you. Now I am alone. O what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a ction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit That from her working all his visage wannd, Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing!
505 made milch milked tears from 507 wheer whether 510 bestowed looked after 511 used treated 512 abstract summary
515 their desert what they deserve 516 Gods bodkin by Gods precious body (a mild oath) 517 scape escape 519 bounty generosity
525 for a need if required 534 God buy to you God be with you; goodbye 538 conceit imagination 539 her the souls
539 visage wannd face grew pale 540 aspect appearance 541 function energy 542 forms gestures
44
545 550 555 560 565 570 575 580 For Hecuba! Whats Hecuba to him, or he to her, That he should weep for her? What would he do Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I have? He would drown the stage with tears, And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty and appal the free, Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, And can say nothingno, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damnd defeat was made. Am I a coward? Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across, Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face, Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie ith throat As deep as to the lungswho does me this? Ha! Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be But I am pigeon-liverd and lack gall To make oppression bitter, or ere this I should ha fatted all the region kites With this slaves offal. Bloody, bawdy villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, tshe son of a dear father murderd, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must like a whore unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab, A scullion! Fie upont! Foh! About, my brains. HumI have heard That guilty creatures sitting at a play Have, by the very cunning of the scene, Been struck so to the soul that presently They have proclaimd their malefactions. For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ. Ill have these players Play something like the murder of my father
ACT 2 Scene 2
543 Hecuba The King of Troys wife who mourned his death. 548 cleave the general ear burst or split the audiences ears 549 free innocent 553 muddy-mettled sluggish; spiritless
553 peak mope 554 John-a-dreams a daydreamer 554 unpregnant not moved to act 558 pate The top of the head. 559 Plucks off face calls me a coward
560561 gives me lungs calls me a liar and makes me swallow the insult 563 Swounds by Gods wounds 564 I am gall I am cowardly 566 kites birds of prey
567 offal guts 573 drab prostitute 574 scullion kitchen maid 575 About get to work 579 malefactions evil deeds 581 organ voice
ACT 2 Scene 2
45
Before mine uncle. Ill observe his looks; Ill tent him to the quick. If a do blench, I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be a devil, and the devil hath power Tassume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps, Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. Ill have grounds More relative than this. The plays the thing Wherein Ill catch the conscience of the king.
585 590
[Exit
584 tent probe; question 584 a do blench he inches
590 Abuses me deceives me
590591 Ill have this. I need more conclusive proof
46
ACT 3 Scene 1
ACT 3 Scene 1
Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OpHELIA, ROSENCrANTZ,
GUILDENSTErN KING
And can you by no drift of conference Get from him why he puts on this confusion, Grating so harshly all his days of quiet With turbulent and dangerous lunacy? He does confess he feels himself distracted, But from what cause a will by no means speak.
ROSENCrANTZ
GUILDENSTErN
10 QUEEN
Nor do we nd him forward to be sounded, But with a crafty madness keeps aloof When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Did he receive you well? Most like a gentleman.
ROSENCrANTZ GUILDENSTErN
But with much forcing of his disposition. ROSENCrANTZ Niggard of question, but of our demands Most free in his reply.
QUEEN 15
Did you assay him To any pastime? Madam, it so fell out that certain players We oerraught on the way. Of these we told him, And there did seem in him a kind of joy To hear of it. They are here about the court, And, as I think, they have already order This night to play before him. Tis most true, And he beseechd me to entreat your Majesties To hear and see the matter. With all my heart; and it doth much content me To hear him so inclind. Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, And drive his purpose into these delights. We shall, my lord. [Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN Sweet Gertrude, leave us too, For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither That he, as twere by accident, may here Affront Ophelia.
13 Niggard of question reluctant to speak himself 14 assay tempt 17 oerraught passed 26 edge encouragement 29 closely secretly 31 Affront meet
ROSENCrANTZ
20
POLONIUS
KING 25
ROSENCrANTZ KING
30
1 by no drift of conference not in the 5 distracted mentally unbalanced course of conversation 7 forward to be sounded willing to be questioned 3 Grating so quiet acting so contrary to his usual behaviour 12 disposition behaviour; mood
ACT 3 Scene 1
47
Her father and myself, lawful espials, Well so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen, We may of their encounter frankly judge, And gather by him, as he is behavd, Ift be thafiction of his love or no That thus he suffers for.
35
QUEEN
40
I shall obey you. And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish That your good beauties be the happy cause Of Hamlets wildness; so shall I hope your virtues Will bring him to his wonted way again, To both your honours. Madam, I wish it may. [Exit QUEEN Ophelia, walk you here.Gracious, so please you, We will bestow ourselves.Read on this book, That show of such an exercise may colour Your loneliness.We are oft to blame in this, Tis too much provd, that with devotions visage And pious action we do sugar oer The devil himself. [Aside] O tis too true. How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience. The harlots cheek, beautied with plastring art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden! I hear him coming. Lets withdraw, my lord. [Exeunt KING and POLONIUS
OpHELIA
POLONIUS
45
KING 50
55
POLONIUS
Enter HAMLET
HAMLET
60
65 32 espials spies 33 bestow hide
To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To dieto sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That esh is heir to: tis a consummation Devoutly to be wishd. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dreamay, theres the rub:
4546 That show loneliness which will be your excuse for being alone 47 Tis too much provd it is all too common 47 devotions visage the appearance 53 painted hypocritical of devotion 63 consummation completion 48 sugar oer conceal 65 rub catch; obstacle 51 plastring art cosmetics
41 wonted way normal behaviour 43 Gracious your Grace
48
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shufed off this mortal coil, Must give us pausetheres the respect That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Thoppressors wrong, the proud mans contumely, The pangs of disprizd love, the laws delay, The insolence of ofce, and the spurns That patient merit of thunworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscoverd country, from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than y to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied oer with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry And lose the name of action. Soft you now, The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins rememberd.
OpHELIA
ACT 3 Scene 1
70
75
80
85
90
Good my lord, How does your honour for this many a day? I humbly thank you, well. My lord, I have remembrances of yours That I have longed long to redeliver. I pray you now receive them. No, not I. I never gave you aught. My honourd lord, you know right well you did, And with them words of so sweet breath composd As made the things more rich. Their perfume lost, Take these again; for to the noble mind Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord. Ha, ha! Are you honest?
HAMLET OpHELIA
95 HAMLET
OpHELIA
100
HAMLET
67 shufed off this mortal coil died; shaken off lifes turmoil 6869 theres the life thats the reason that misfortunes last so long
73 ofce ofcials 74 That patient takes that the unworthy takes from the deserving
76 fardels burdens 79 bourn border
8788 currents turn action get diverted, and lose their momentum 89 orisons prayers 93 remembrances keepsakes 101 wax grow 103 honest serious; chaste
8485 the native thought natural 75 his quietus make make his peace courage turns pale and sickly from (too much) thinking 71 contumely humiliating insults 76 bodkin small dagger 86 pitch and moment scale and 72 disprizd unrequited; unreturned importance
ACT 3 Scene 1
OpHELIA 105 HAMLET OpHELIA HAMLET
49
My lord? Are you fair? What means your lordship? That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than with honesty? Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness. This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you not. I was the more deceived. Get thee to a nunnery. Why, wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me. I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves all, believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery. Wheres your father? At home, my lord. Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool nowhere but ins own house. Farewell. O help him, you sweet heavens. If thou dost marry, Ill give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, farewell. Of if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, goand quickly too. Farewell. Heavenly powers, restore him. I have heard of your paintings well enough. God hath given you one face and you make yourselves another.
114 sometime once 114 paradox contradiction 114 gives it proof proves it to be true 121 nunnery convent; brothel (Elizabethan slang) 125 at my beck at my command; ready to be committed 137 calumny lies; slander 139 monsters cuckolds (men whose wives have been unfaithful) 142 paintings putting on makeup
OpHELIA 110 HAMLET
115 OpHELIA HAMLET
120 OpHELIA HAMLET
125
130 OpHELIA HAMLET
OpHELIA 135 HAMLET
140 OpHELIA HAMLET
105 fair beautiful; just 107108 your honesty beauty your chastity and your beauty should be separated from each other 109 commerce trade; association
117118 virtue cannot it virtue 129 arrant utter; complete cant be so grafted onto our roots that 112 bawd prostitute; brothel-keeper we get rid of our basically sinful natures
50
You jig and amble, and you lisp, you nickname Gods creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance. Go to, Ill no more ont, it hath made me mad. I say we will have no mo marriage. Those that are married alreadyall but oneshall live; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go. [Exit O, what a noble mind is here oerthrown! The courtiers, soldiers, scholars, eye, tongue, sword, Thexpectancy and rose of the fair state, The glass of fashion and the mould of form, Thobservd of all observers, quite, quite down! And I, of ladies most deject and wretched, That suckd the honey of his music vows, Now see that noble and most sovereign reason Like sweet bells jangled out of tune and harsh, That unmatchd form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy. O woe is me Thave seen what I have seen, see what I see.
ACT 3 Scene 1
145
150 OpHELIA
155
160
Enter KING and POLONIUS

KING
165
170
175 POLONIUS
Love? His affections do not that way tend, Nor what he spake, though it lackd form a little, Was not like madness. Theres something in his soul Oer which his melancholy sits on brood, And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose Will be some danger; which for to prevent, I have in quick determination Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England For the demand of our neglected tribute. Haply the seas and countries different, With variable objects, shall expel This something settled matter in his heart, Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus From fashion of himself. What think you ont? It shall do well. But yet do I believe The origin and commencement of his grief Sprung from neglected love. How now, Ophelia? You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said, We heard it all. My lord, do as you please, But if you hold it t, after the play Let his queen-mother all alone entreat him
observd respected music sweet-sounding blown blooming ecstasy madness sits on brood broods over doubt fear 166 hatch outcome 172 variable objects different sights
180
145 make your ignorance pretend 154 that your immoral actions are due to 156 innocence 159 152 Thexpectancy and rose the 160 hope and pride 153 mould of form model of courtly 165 behaviour 166
170 our neglected tribute A reference 173 This something heart this to the Danegeld, protection money the matter that weighs heavily on his mind English had historically paid to the 174 still continually Danes. 175 From fashion of himself at odds 171 Haply perhaps with his normal behaviour
ACT 3 Scene 2
51
To show his grief, let her be round with him, And Ill be placd, so please you, in the ear Of all their conference. If she nd him not, To England send him; or conne him where Your wisdom best shall think.
185
KING
It shall be so. Madness in great ones must not unwatchd go. [Exeunt
Scene 2
Enter HAMLET and three of the PLAYErS
HAMLET
10
Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise. I would have such a fellow whipped for oerdoing Termagant. It outHerods Herod. Pray you avoid it. I warrant your honour. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you oerstep not the modesty of nature. For anything so oerdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the rst and now, was and is to hold as twere the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone or come tardy off, though it makes the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve, the censure of the which one must in your allowance oerweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I have seen playand heard others praise, and that highlynot to speak it profanely,
9 periwig-pated wig-wearing 15 warrant assure 20 from the playing contrary to the purpose of theatre 2223 to show image to present a model of virtue, and virtues opposite 2324 the very pressure and create a true image of the times 24 come tardy off poorly performed 26 the censure which whose negative opinion
15
FIrST PLAYEr HAMLET
20
25
183 round open and direct
184185 in the conference where 10 groundlings audience I can listen to what they say 13 Termagant A loud, overbearing 185 If she nd him not if she doesnt character from medieval drama. nd out whats wrong with him 14 Herod Another loud, angry gure 3 had as lief would rather that from medieval drama.
52
30
ACT 3 Scene 2
that neither having thaccent of Christians, nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of Natures journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
FIrST PLAYEr HAMLET
35
I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us. O reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns speak no more than is set down for themfor there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too, though in the meantime some necessary question of the play be then to be considered. Thats villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go make you ready. [Exeunt PLAYErS
40
Enter POLONIUS, ROSENCrANTZ, and GUILDENSTErN

45 POLONIUS HAMLET
How now, my lord? Will the king hear this piece of work? And the queen too, and that presently. Bid the players make haste. Will you two help to hasten them? Ay, my lord. What ho, Horatio! [Exit POLONIUS
ROSENCrANTZ 50 HAMLET
[Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN
Enter HOrATIO
HOrATIO HAMLET
Here, sweet lord, at your service. Horatio, thou art een as just a man As eer my conversation copd withal. O my dear lord. Nay, do not think I atter, For what advancement may I hope from thee That no revenue hast but thy good spirits To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be atterd? No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, And could of men distinguish her election, Shath seald thee for herself; for thou hast been As one, in suffring all, that suffers nothing,
46 presently right away 52 een indeed 53 As eer withal as ever Ive met 55 advancement advantage 58 candied attering 59 And crook knee and kneel down (in the hope of reward) 60 thrift gain 60 fawning attery or praise 61 was mistress of her choice could choose for itself 62 election choice 63 seald claimed; chosen 6364 for thou nothing for you never let on that you are suffering
HOrATIO HAMLET 55
60
30 Christians decent folk 33 journeymen workmen; labourers 35 indifferently to some extent 3839 to set spectators to encourage an unresponsive audience
ACT 3 Scene 2
65
53
A man that Fortunes buffets and rewards Hast taen with equal thanks; and blest are those Whose blood and judgement are so well commeddled That they are not a pipe for Fortunes nger To sound what stop she please. Give me that man That is not passions slave, and I will wear him In my hearts core, ay, in my heart of heart, As I do thee. Something too much of this. There is a play tonight before the king: One scene of it comes near the circumstance Which I have told thee of my fathers death. I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, Even with the very comment of thy soul Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech, It is a damned ghost that we have seen, And my imaginations are as foul As Vulcans stithy. Give him heedful note; For I mine eyes will rivet to his face, And after we will both our judgements join In censure of his seeming.
70
75
80
85 HOrATIO
Well, my lord. If a steal aught the whilst this play is playing And scape detecting, I will pay the theft.
Enter TrUMpETS and KETTLE-DrUMS and sound a ourish

HAMLET
They are coming to the play. I must be idle. Get you a place.
Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OpHELIA, ROSENCrANTZ, GUILDENSTErN, and other LOrDS attendant, with the Kings GUArD carrying torches
90 KING HAMLET
How fares our cousin Hamlet? Excellent, ifaith, of the chameleons dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet. These words are not mine. No, nor mine now.[To POLONIUS] My lord, you played once ithuniversity, you say? That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor. What did you enact?
79 unkennel break open; reveal 82 Vulcans stithy Vulcans forge; a blacksmiths workshop 82 heedful note close attention 85 In censure of his seeming to interpret his behaviour 86 If a steal aught if he gets away with anything 87 pay the theft answer for it 90 fares does (also eats) 91 chameleons dish air (it was thought that chameleons ate only air) 92 promisd-crammed stuffed with promises (made by Claudius) 9394 These words are not mine. this doesnt answer my question
KING
95
HAMLET
POLONIUS HAMLET 67 blood passion
6869 not a please not a ute that Fortune can play upon 77 very comment closest attention 78 occulted hidden
54
POLONIUS 100 HAMLET
ACT 3 Scene 2
I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed ithCapitol. Brutus killed me. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there. Be the players ready? Ay, my lord, they stay upon your patience. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me. No, good mother, heres metal more attractive.
ROSENCrANTZ QUEEN 105 HAMLET
Turns to OpHELIA
POLONIUS HAMLET
[Aside to the KING] O ho! do you mark that? [Lying down at OpHELIAs feet] Lady, shall I lie in your lap? No, my lord. I mean, my head upon your lap. Ay, my lord. Do you think I meant country matters? I think nothing, my lord. Thats a fair thought to lie between maids legs. What is, my lord? Nothing. You are merry, my lord. Who, I? Ay, my lord. O God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry? For look you how cheerfully my mother looks and my father died withins two hours. Nay, tis twice two months, my lord. So long? Nay then, let the devil wear black, for Ill have a suit of sables. O heavens, die two months ago and not forgotten yet! Then theres hope a great mans memory may outlive his life half a year. But byr lady a must build churches then, or else shall a suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is For O, for O, the hobby-horse is forgot.
OpHELIA 110 HAMLET OpHELIA HAMLET OpHELIA HAMLET 115 OpHELIA HAMLET OpHELIA HAMLET OpHELIA 120 HAMLET
OpHELIA HAMLET 125
130
The trumpets sound. A dumb-show follows Enter a KING and a QUEEN, the QUEEN embracing him and he her. She kneels, and makes a show of protestation unto him. He takes her up, and declines his head upon her
105 more attractive i.e., magnetic 112 country matters sexual intercourse 120 jig-maker writer of comedies 125 suit of sables mourning clothes 128129 or else on or be resigned to being forgotten 129 hobby-horse A character dressed as a horse in a traditional folk dance. 130 s.d. dumb-show mime
ACT 3 Scene 2
55
neck. He lies him down upon a bank of owers. She, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon comes in another MAN, takes off the kings crown, kisses it, pours poison in the sleepers ears, and leaves him. The QUEEN returns, nds the KING dead, makes passionate action. The POISONEr with some THrEE Or FOUr comes in again. They seem to condole with her. The dead body is carried away. The POISONEr woos the QUEEN with gifts. She seems harsh awhile, but in the end accepts his love.
OpHELIA HAMLET OpHELIA
[Exeunt
What means this, my lord? Marry, this is miching malicho. It means mischief. Belike this show imports the argument of the play.
Enter PrOLOGUE
HAMLET 135 OpHELIA HAMLET
We shall know by this fellow. The players cannot keep counsel: theyll tell all. Will a tell us what this show meant? Ay, or any show that you will show him. Be not you ashamed to show, hell not shame to tell you what it means. You are naught, you are naught. Ill mark the play. For us and for our tragedy, Here stooping to your clemency, We beg your hearing patiently. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring? Tis brief, my lord. As womans love.
140 OpHELIA PrOLOGUE
[Exit
HAMLET 145 OpHELIA HAMLET
Enter the PLAYEr KING and QUEEN

PLAYEr KING
150
Full thirty times hath Phoebus cart gone round Neptunes salt wash and Tellus orbed ground, And thirty dozen moons with borrowd sheen About the world have times twelve thirties been Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands. So many journeys may the sun and moon Make us again count oer ere love be done. But woe is me, you are so sick of late, So far from cheer and from your former state, That I distrust you. Yet though I distrust,
140 naught rude 142 clemency mercy 144 posy of a ring Simple poetry or motto engraved on a ring. 147 Phoebus cart the chariot of the 151 Hymen Greek god of marriage. sun god, Phoebus 152 Unite commutual bands join in marriage bonds 148 Neptunes salt wash the sea 148 Tellus orbed ground the globe 149 borrowd sheen reected light 157 distrust worry about
PLAYEr QUEEN 155
132 miching malicho sneaky mischief 133 imports the argument explains the plot 135 counsel secrets
56
Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must; For womens fear and love hold quantity, In neither aught, or in extremity. Now what my love is, proof hath made you know, And as my love is sizd, my fear is so. Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear; Where little fears grow great, great love grows there. Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too: My operant powers their functions leave to do; And thou shalt live in this fair world behind, Honourd, belovd; and haply one as kind For husband shalt thou PLAYEr QUEEN O confound the rest. Such love must needs be treason in my breast. In second husband let me be accurst; None wed the second but who killd the rst.
HAMLET
ACT 3 Scene 2
160
165 PLAYEr KING
170
[Aside] Thats wormwood. The instances that second marriage move Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. A second time I kill my husband dead, When second husband kisses me in bed.
PLAYEr QUEEN 175
PLAYEr KING 180
185
190
195
I do believe you think what now you speak; But what we do determine, oft we break. Purpose is but the slave to memory, Of violent birth but poor validity, Which now, the fruit unripe, sticks on the tree, But fall unshaken when they mellow be. Most necessary tis that we forget To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt. What to ourselves in passion we propose, The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. The violence of either grief or joy Their own enactures with themselves destroy. Where joy most revels grief doth most lament; Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident. This world is not for aye, nor tis not strange That even our loves should with our fortunes change, For tis a question left us yet to prove, Whether love lead fortune or else fortune love. The great man down, you mark his favourite ies; The poor advancd makes friends of enemies;
175 base respects of thrift for the lowly reason of money 180 Purpose is memory our resolve depends on how much we remember 181 violent passionate 181 validity staying power 191 slender accident the slightest change in fortune
159 hold quantity are in balance 160 In neither aught, or in extremity its either nothing or too much 166 operant powers faculties 166 leave to do have stopped 173 wormwood bitter tasting
184 necessary inevitable 192 for aye forever 186187 What to lose. what we 196 mark his favourite ies see how plan to do when our emotions run high is lost when these emotions pass his loved ones desert him 189 enactures actions 197 poor advancd poor man promoted
ACT 3 Scene 2
57
And hitherto doth love on fortune tend: For who not needs shall never lack a friend, And who in want a hollow friend doth try Directly seasons him his enemy. But orderly to end where I begun, Our wills and fates do so contrary run That our devices still are overthrown: Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own. So think thou wilt no second husband wed, But die thy thoughts when thy rst lord is dead.
200
205
PLAYEr QUEEN 210
215 HAMLET PLAYEr KING
Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light, Sport and repose lock from me day and night, To desperation turn my trust and hope, An anchors cheer in prison be my scope, Each opposite, that blanks the face of joy, Meet what I would have well and it destroy, Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, If, once a widow, ever I be a wife.
If she should break it now. Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile. My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile The tedious day with sleep.
[He sleeps]
PLAYEr QUEEN 220 HAMLET QUEEN HAMLET KING 225 HAMLET
Sleep rock thy brain, And never come mischance between us twain.
[Exit
Madam, how like you this play? The lady doth protest too much, methinks. O, but shell keep her word. Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence int? No, no, they do but jestpoison in jest. No offence ithworld. What do you call the play? The Mousetrapmarry, how tropically! This play is the image of a murder done in ViennaGonzago is the dukes name, his wife Baptistayou shall see anon. Tis a knavish piece of work, but what o that? Your Majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not. Let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung.
KING HAMLET
230
Enter LUCIANUS
200 hollow insincere 200 try test 201 seasons him turns him into 204 devices plans 211 anchors hermits 211 be my scope is all that I ask for 218 fain I would beguile I would love to pass 212213 Each opposite destroy 220 mischance bad luck may everything that I desire be taken from me and all my happiness 222 doth protest too much makes too destroyed many promises 216 break it break her vow 224 argument plot 228 tropically metaphorically 228229 the image of based on the story of 232 free souls clear consciences 232233 Let the unwrung. let the guilty wince, our consciences are clear
58
This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king.
235 OpHELIA HAMLET
ACT 3 Scene 2
You are as good as a chorus, my lord. I could interpret between you and your love if I could see the puppets dallying. You are keen, my lord, you are keen. It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge. Still better, and worse. So you mis-take your husbands.Begin, murderer. Leave thy damnable faces and begin. Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge. Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs t, and time agreeing, Confederate season, else no creature seeing, Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, With Hecates ban thrice blasted, thrice infected, Thy natural magic and dire property On wholesome life usurps immediately.
OpHELIA HAMLET 240 OpHELIA HAMLET
LUCIANUS 245
[Pours the poison in the sleepers ears]

250 HAMLET
A poisons him ith garden for his estate. His names Gonzago. The story is extant, and written in very choice Italian. You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzagos wife. The king rises. What, frighted with false re? How fares my lord? Give oer the play. Give me some light. Away. Lights, lights, lights. [Exeunt all but HAMLET and HOrATIO Why, let the strucken deer go weep, The hart ungalled play; For some must watch while some must sleep, Thus runs the world away. Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers, if the rest of my fortunes turn Turk with me, with Provincial roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players? Half a share.
OpHELIA 255 HAMLET QUEEN POLONIUS KING POLONIUS
260 HAMLET
265
HOrATIO
235 chorus An actor who explained the actions of a play. 237 dallying making love 238 keen sharp 239 cost you a groaning make you cry (also a sexual reference) 239 edge lust
240 Still better, and worse. even sharper, and ruder 241 So you husbands. i.e., by vowing to take them for better or for worse 245 Confederate appropriate 247 Hecate Ancient Greek goddess of witchcraft and the moon.
247 ban curse 251 is extant still exists
265 turn Turk turn against
265266 with Provincial shoes wearing shoes decorated with slashes 263 Thus runs the world away this is and rosettes how the world works 266 cry troupe 264 a forest of feathers Actors often 268 Half a share. i.e., even wore hats with feathers. betteryou would be a part-owner
ACT 3 Scene 2
HAMLET 270
59
A whole one, I. For thou dost know, O Damon dear, This realm dismantled was Of Jove himself, and now reigns here A very, verypajock. You might have rhymed. O good Horatio, Ill take the ghosts word for a thousand pound. Didst perceive? Very well, my lord. Upon the talk of the poisoning? I did very well note him. Ah ha! Come, some music; come, the recorders. For if the king like not the comedy, Why then, belike he likes it not, perdie. Come, some music.
HOrATIO 275 HAMLET
HOrATIO HAMLET HOrATIO 280 HAMLET
Enter ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN

GUILDENSTErN 285 HAMLET
Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you. The king, sir Is in his retirement marvellous distempered. No, my lord, with choler.
Sir, a whole history. Ay, sir, what of him? With drink, sir? Your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to the doctor, for for me to put him to his purgation would perhaps plunge him into more choler. Good my lord, put your discourse into some frame, and start not so wildly from my affair.
GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
290 GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
I am tame, sir. Pronounce. The queen your mother, in most great afiction of spirit, hath sent me to you. You are welcome. Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do your mothers commandment; if not, your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business.
GUILDENSTErN
HAMLET
300 GUILDENSTErN
270 Damon faithful friend 271 dismantled was has been deprived 272 Of Jove Jupiter, Roman king of the heavens.
273 pajock peacock 282 perdie by God 284 vouchsafe grant 288 marvellous distempered very upset
290 choler anger (also, bile from the liver)
295 start not affair dont change the subject so abruptly
292 put him to his purgation treat his 301 breed kind disorder 301 wholesome reasonable; sane 294 put your frame talk sensibly
60
305 HAMLET
ACT 3 Scene 2
Sir, I cannot. What, my lord? Make you a wholesome answer. My wits diseased. But sir, such answer as I can make, you shall commandor rather, as you say, my mother. Therefore no more, but to the matter. My mother, you say Then thus she says: your behaviour hath struck her into amazement and admiration.
ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET
310
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET
315
O wonderful son, that can so stonish a mother! But is there no sequel at the heels of this mothers admiration? Impart. She desires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed.
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET
We shall obey, were she ten times our mother. Have you any further trade with us? My lord, you once did love me. And do still, by these pickers and stealers. Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? You do surely bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to your friend. How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark?
ROSENCrANTZ
325 HAMLET
Sir, I lack advancement.
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET
Ay, sir, but while the grass growsthe proverb is something musty.
Enter the PLAYErS with recorders

330
O, the recorders. Let me see one.To withdraw with you, why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me into a toil?
GUILDENSTErN
O my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe? My lord, I cannot. Believe me, I cannot. I know no touch of it, my lord.
328 while the grass grows From the proverb, while the grass grows, the horse starves. 329 something musty somewhat stale 330331 withdraw speak privately 331332 go about toil circle around to get the wind behind you in order to drive me into a trap 333334 if my unmannerly if I am speaking too boldly, it is only out of love for you
335 HAMLET
GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
I pray you. I do beseech you.
GUILDENSTErN 314 admiration astonishment 316 closet private room 321 pickers and stealers hands 325 advancement promotion 326 voice support
ACT 3 Scene 2
HAMLET
61
It is as easy as lying. Govern these ventages with your ngers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops. But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony. I have not the skill.
345
GUILDENSTErN
HAMLET
350
355
Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me. You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the heart of my mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you fret me, you cannot play upon me.
Enter POLONIUS God bless you, sir.

POLONIUS 360 HAMLET
My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. Do you see yonder cloud thats almost in shape of a camel? By th mass and tislike a camel indeed. Methinks it is like a weasel. It is backed like a weasel. Or like a whale. Very like a whale. Then I will come to my mother by and by. [Aside] They fool me to the top of my bent.I will come by and by. I will say so. [Exit By and by is easily said.Leave me, friends. [Exeunt all but HAMLET Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood, And do such bitter business as the day Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother. O heart, lose not thy nature. Let not ever The soul of Nero enter this rm bosom; Let me be cruel, not unnatural.
359 presently right now 368 to the top of my bent to my limit (bent: the farthest a bow can be stretched before the arrow is released) 373 churchyards yawn graves open 374 Contagion evil 377 nature natural feeling 378 Nero A Roman emperor who killed his own mother.
POLONIUS HAMLET POLONIUS 365 HAMLET POLONIUS HAMLET
370 POLONIUS HAMLET
375
342 ventages stops (air holes) in a recorder 352 compass range 355 fret annoy
62
380
ACT 3 Scene 3
I will speak daggers to her, but use none. My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites: How in my words somever she be shent, To give them seals never my soul consent.
[Exit
Scene 3
Enter KING, ROSENCrANTZ, and GUILDENSTErN
KING
I like him not, nor stands it safe with us To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you. I your commission will forthwith dispatch, And he to England shall along with you. The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow Out of his brows. We will ourselves provide. Most holy and religious fear it is To keep those many many bodies safe That live and feed upon your Majesty.
GUILDENSTErN
10
ROSENCrANTZ
15
20
The single and peculiar life is bound With all the strength and armour of the mind To keep itself from noyance; but much more That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests The lives of many. The cess of majesty Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw Whats near it with it. Or it is a massy wheel Fixd on the summit of the highest mount, To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things Are mortisd and adjoind, which when it falls, Each small annexment, petty consequence, Attends the boistrous ruin. Never alone Did the king sigh, but with a general groan. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage, For we will fetters put about this fear Which now goes too free-footed. We will haste us. [Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN
KING 25
ROSENCrANTZ
Enter POLONIUS
POLONIUS
My lord, hes going to his mothers closet. Behind the arras Ill convey myself
13 noyance harm 14 weal health; well-being 15 cess of majesty the end of a monarchs rule 17 massy massive 20 mortisd and adjoind connected
5 The terms of our estate my status 381 My tongue hypocrites. my words will not reveal what is on my mind (as king) 382 shent condemned 3 commission instructions 7 provide make preparations 11 single and peculiar individual 383 seals authorization; conrmation 8 fear care
22 Attends the boistrous ruin is part of the disastrous fall 24 Arm you prepare yourselves 25 fetters chains 28 arras hanging tapestry
ACT 3 Scene 3
63
To hear the process. Ill warrant shell tax him home, And as you saidand wisely was it said Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should oerhear The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege. Ill call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you what I know.
30
35 KING
Thanks, dear my lord. [Exit POLONIUS O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upont A brothers murder. Pray can I not, Though inclination be as sharp as will, My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall rst begin, And both neglect. What if this cursed hand Were thicker than itself with brothers blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy But to confront the visage of offence? And whats in prayer but this twofold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall Or pardond being down? Then Ill look up. My fault is pastbut O, what form of prayer Can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder? That cannot be, since I am still possessd Of those effects for which I did the murder My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardond and retain thoffence? In the corrupted currents of this world Offences gilded hand may shove by justice, And oft tis seen the wicked prize itself Buys out the law. But tis not so above: There is no shufing, there the action lies In his true nature, and we ourselves compelld Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults To give in evidence.What then? What rests? Try what repentance can. What can it not? Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? O wretched state! O bosom black as death!
49 forestalled ere stopped before 39 Though inclination will although my desire is as strong as my 56 retain thoffence keep the determination benets of the sin 41 to double business bound with 57 corrupted currents wicked course two things to do of events 47 confront the offence meet sin face to face 58 gilded gold-covered 61 There in heaven 61 shufing trickery 63 Even to faults face to face with our sins 64 What rests? what is the alternative
40
45
50
55
60
65
29 tax him home scold him 31 meet suitable 33 of vantage as well 36 rank rotten 37 primal eldest curse the rst and oldest curse
64
O limed soul, that struggling to be free Art more engagd! Help, angels! Make assay. Bow, stubborn knees; and heart with strings of steel, Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe. All may be well. He kneels Enter HAMLET
HAMLET
ACT 3 Scene 3
70
Now might I do it pat, now a is a-praying. And now Ill dot.
Draws his sword

75
80
85
90
95
And so a goes to heaven; And so am I revengd. That would be scannd: A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. A took my father grossly, full of bread, With all his crimes broad blown, as ush as May; And how his audit stands who knows save heaven? But in our circumstance and course of thought Tis heavy with him. And am I then revengd, To take him in the purging of his soul, When he is t and seasond for his passage? No. Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent: When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in thincestuous pleasure of his bed, At game a-swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation int, Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven And that his soul may be as damnd and black As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays. This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. [Exit
KING
My words y up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
[Exit
68 limed trapped 69 engagd entangled 69 Make assay. come and help me 73 pat neatly; instantly 75 would be scannd needs to be thought about carefully
79 hire and salary compensation (as 82 audit account (with God) opposed to punishment) 8384 in our him as far as we 80 grossly as he was (without time (here on Earth) know, he would be in grave trouble to prepare himself) 81 all his crimes broad blown all his sins in full bloom 88 hent opportunity; situation
92 relish taste 93 his heels heaven that he fall headrst into hell 95 stays is waiting 96 physic medicine; i.e., praying
ACT 3 Scene 4
65
Scene 4
Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS
POLONIUS
5 QUEEN
A will come straight. Look you lay home to him, Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with And that your Grace hath screend and stood between Much heat and him. Ill silence me even here. Pray you be round. Ill warnt you, fear me not. Withdraw, I hear him coming.
POLONIUS hides behind the arras Enter HAMLET

HAMLET QUEEN HAMLET 10 QUEEN HAMLET QUEEN HAMLET QUEEN HAMLET
Now, mother, whats the matter? Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Mother, you have my father much offended. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. Why, how now, Hamlet? Whats the matter now? Have you forgot me? No, by the rood, not so. You are the queen, your husbands brothers wife, And, would it were not so, you are my mother. Nay, then Ill set those to you that can speak. Come, come, and sit you down, you shall not budge. You go not till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me? Help, ho! [Behind the arras] What ho! Help! How now? A rat! Dead for a ducat, dead.
15 QUEEN HAMLET
20
QUEEN
POLONIUS HAMLET
Thrusts his rapier through the arras

POLONIUS 25 QUEEN HAMLET
[Behind] O, I am slain. O me, what hast thou done? Nay, I know not. Is it the king?
1 straight right away 1 lay home to deal rmly with
2 broad offensive 4 silence me hide myself
5 be round be blunt 13 by the rood by the holy cross
18 glass mirror 23 Dead for a ducat, dead. I bet a ducat Ive killed him (ducat: gold coin)
66
Lifts up the arras and discovers POLONIUS, dead
QUEEN HAMLET
ACT 3 Scene 4
O what a rash and bloody deed is this! A bloody deed. Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother. As kill a king? Ay, lady, it was my word. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune: Thou ndst to be too busy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit you down, And let me wring your heart; for so I shall If it be made of penetrable stuff, If damned custom have not brazd it so, That it be proof and bulwark against sense. What have I done, that thou darst wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Such an act That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, Call virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose From the fair forehead of an innocent love And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows As false as dicers oathsO, such a deed As from the body of contraction plucks The very soul, and sweet religion makes A rhapsody of words. Heavens face does glow Oer this solidity and compound mass With tristful visage, as against the doom, Is thought-sick at the act. Ay me, what act That roars so loud and thunders in the index? Look here upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See what a grace was seated on this brow, Hyperions curls, the front of Jove himself, An eye like Mars to threaten and command, A station like the herald Mercury New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill, A combination and a form indeed Where every god did seem to set his seal To give the world assurance of a man.
42 rose bloom 46 contraction the marriage contract 48 glow blush 49 solidity and mass entire world 50 tristful visage sorrowful face 50 as against the doom as if it were watching the approach of doomsday 52 index prologue; preface 56 front of Jove Jupiters forehead 57 Mars Roman god of war. 58 station bearing
30
QUEEN HAMLET
35
QUEEN 40 HAMLET
45
50
QUEEN
HAMLET
55
60
32 thy better the king 33 too busy meddlesome 37 damned custom wicked ways 37 brazd hardened 38 proof and bulwark impenetrable and armoured
58 Mercury Roman messenger of 56 Hyperion Ancient Greek sun god. the gods. 59 New-lighted recently landed
ACT 3 Scene 4
67
This was your husband. Look you now what follows. Here is your husband, like a mildewd ear Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes? You cannot call it love; for at your age The heyday in the blood is tame, its humble, And waits upon the judgement, and what judgement Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have, Else could you not have motion; but sure that sense Is apoplexd, for madness would not err Nor sense to ecstasy was neer so thralld But it reservd some quantity of choice To serve in such a difference. What devil wast That thus hath cozend you at hoodman-blind? Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight, Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all, Or but a sickly part of one true sense Could not so mope. O shame, where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, If thou canst mutine in a matrons bones, To aming youth let virtue be as wax And melt in her own re; proclaim no shame When the compulsive ardour gives the charge, Since frost itself as actively doth burn And reason panders will.
65
70
75
80
85
QUEEN
90
O Hamlet, speak no more. Thou turnst my eyes into my very soul, And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct. Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stewd in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty! O speak to me no more. These words like daggers enter in my ears. No more, sweet Hamlet. A murderer and a villain, A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings, A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
7476 Nor sense difference nor was perception ever so enslaved by madness that it couldnt make the distinction (between these two men) 77 cozend cheated 77 hoodman-blind blindmans bluff 81 mope be unaware 83 mutine mutiny; rebel 86 the compulsive charge sexual passion leads the attack 88 reason panders will good sense is ruled by desire 91 will not leave their tinct will not fade (cannot be washed away) 92 enseamed full of sweat and oil 97 not twentieth part the tithe not worth even one-twentieth of a tenth 98 vice villain 99 cutpurse thief
HAMLET
QUEEN 95
HAMLET
64 mildewd ear rotten ear of corn 65 Blasting infecting 67 batten gorge 69 heyday passion 70 waits upon is governed by 73 apoplexd paralyzed
68
100
ACT 3 Scene 4
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole And put it in his pocket
QUEEN HAMLET
No more. A king of shreds and patches
Enter GHOST
105 QUEEN HAMLET
Save me and hover oer me with your wings, You heavenly guards! What would your gracious gure? Alas, hes mad. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, That, lapsd in time and passion, lets go by Thimportant acting of your dread command? O say. Do not forget. This visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But look, amazement on thy mother sits. O step between her and her ghting soul. Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works. Speak to her, Hamlet. How is it with you, lady? Alas, how ist with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy, And with thincorporal air do hold discourse? Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep, And, as the sleeping soldiers in thalarm, Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, Start up and stand an end. O gentle son, Upon the heat and ame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Where do you look? On him, on him. Look you how pale he glares. His form and cause conjoind, preaching to stones, Would make them capable.Do not look upon me, Lest with this piteous action you convert My stern effects. Then what I have to do Will want true colourtears perchance for blood. To whom do you speak this? Do you see nothing there? Nothing at all; yet all that is I see. Nor did you nothing hear?
110 GHOST
115 HAMLET QUEEN
120
125 HAMLET
130 QUEEN HAMLET QUEEN HAMLET
100 diadem jewelled crown 107 tardy slow 107 chide scold 108 lapsd in time and passion having lost his drive by delaying too long
111 whet sharpen 112 amazement bewilderment 114 Conceit imagination 117 bend your eye on vacancy stare at nothing
121 excrements things growing out from the body (e.g., hair and nails)
128129 convert effects divert me from my purpose
126 His form and cause conjoind his 130 Will want true colour will lack justication appearance matching his purpose 127 capable able to respond 130 tears perchance for blood tears may be shed, instead of blood
ACT 3 Scene 4
135 QUEEN HAMLET
69
No, nothing but ourselves. Why, look you there, look how it steals away. My father, in his habit as he livd! Look where he goes even now out at the portal. [Exit GHOST This is the very coinage of your brain. This bodiless creation ecstasy Is very cunning in. My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time, And makes as healthful music. It is not madness That I have utterd. Bring me to the test, And I the matter will re-word, which madness Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace, Lay not that attering unction to your soul, That not your trespass but my madness speaks. It will but skin and lm the ulcerous place, Whiles rank corruption, mining all within, Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven, Repent whats past, avoid what is to come; And do not spread the compost on the weeds To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue; For in the fatness of these pursy times Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. O throw away the worser part of it And live the purer with the other half. Good night. But go not to my uncles bed. Assume a virtue if you have it not. That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat Of habits evil, is angel yet in this, That to the use of actions fair and good He likewise gives a frock or livery That aptly is put on. Refrain tonight, And that shall lend a kind of easiness To the next abstinence, the next more easy; For use almost can change the stamp of nature, And either [lodge] the devil or throw him out With wondrous potency. Once more, good night, And when you are desirous to be blest, Ill blessing beg of you. For this same lord
146 gambol from shy away from 147 unction ointment 155 pursy abby; i.e., morally weak 157 curb and woo for leave atter for permission 157 him i.e., vice 171 [lodge] The rst printed version 163164 all sense evil destroys our awareness of evil habits; makes it of Hamlet is missing a word here. The editors have chosen lodge. easy to maintain bad habits 166 frock or livery clothing or uniform 170 use almost nature practice (habit) can almost overcome natural tendencies 173174 when you you when you are ready to ask Gods forgiveness, Ill ask yours 174 this same lord Polonius
QUEEN 140
HAMLET
145
150
155
QUEEN HAMLET 160
165
170
137 in his habit as he livd dressed as he did when he was alive 139 coinage creation 140141 ecstasy / Is very cunning in madness is very clever at 142 temperately regularly
70
175
ACT 3 Scene 4
180
I do repent; but heaven hath pleasd it so, To punish me with this and this with me, That I must be their scourge and minister. I will bestow him, and will answer well The death I gave him. So, again, good night. I must be cruel only to be kind. This bad begins, and worse remains behind. One word more, good lady.
QUEEN HAMLET
What shall I do? Not this, by no means, that I bid you do: Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed, Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse, And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses, Or paddling in your neck with his damnd ngers, Make you to ravel all this matter out That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft. Twere good you let him know, For who thats but a queen, fair, sober, wise, Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib, Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so? No, in despite of sense and secrecy, Unpeg the basket on the houses top, Let the birds y, and like the famous ape, To try conclusions, in the basket creep, And break your own neck down. Be thou assurd, if words be made of breath, And breath of life, I have no life to breathe What thou hast said to me. I must to England, you know that? Alack, I had forgot. Tis so concluded on. Theres letters seald, and my two schoolfellows, Whom I will trust as I will adders fangd They bear the mandate, they must sweep my way And marshal me to knavery. Let it work; For tis the sport to have the enginer Hoist with his own petard, andt shall go hard But I will delve one yard below their mines And blow them at the moon. O, tis most sweet When in one line two crafts directly meet.
185
190
195
QUEEN 200
HAMLET QUEEN
HAMLET 205
210
177 scourge and minister the agent of divine justice 178 bestow dispose of 178 answer well atone for 181 remains behind lies ahead 185 wanton lustfully
186 reechy lthy 190 in craft in pretence 192 from a gib from a toad, a bat, a tomcat 193 dear concernings important personal matters
195 Unpeg the top open up the door; reveal the secret 197 try conclusions test a theory 206 sweep my way escort me 207 marshal me to knavery lead me to a trap
209 Hoist with his own petard blown up by his own bomb 209 andt shall go hard unless Im unlucky 210 delve dig 212 crafts plots
ACT 3 Scene 4
71
This man shall set me packing. Ill lug the guts into the neighbour room. Mother, good night indeed. This counsellor Is now most still, most secret, and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave. Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you. Good night, mother. [Exit lugging in POLONIUS
215
The QUEEN remains
213 set me packing get me started (because he will have to leave quickly)
214 the guts Poloniuss body
217 prating babbling
218 draw toward an end nish
72
ACT 4 Scene 1
ACT 4 Scene 1
Enter KING, with ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN, to the QUEEN
KING
Theres matter in these sighs, these profound heaves, You must translate. Tis t we understand them. Where is your son? Bestow this place on us a little while. [Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight! What, Gertrude, how does Hamlet? Mad as the sea and wind when both contend Which is the mightier. In his lawless t, Behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries A rat, a rat, And in this brainish apprehension kills The unseen good old man. O heavy deed! It had been so with us had we been there. His liberty is full of threats to all To you yourself, to us, to everyone. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answerd? It will be laid to us, whose providence Should have kept short, restraind, and out of haunt This mad young man. But so much was our love, We would not understand what was most t, But like the owner of a foul disease, To keep it from divulging, let it feed Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone? To draw apart the body he hath killd, Oer whomhis very madness, like some ore Among a mineral of metals base, Shows itself purea weeps for what is done. O Gertrude, come away. The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch But we will ship him hence; and this vile deed We must with all our majesty and skill Both countenance and excuse.Ho, Guildenstern!
QUEEN
5 KING QUEEN
10
KING
15
20
QUEEN 25
KING
30
Enter ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN Friends, both, go join you with some further aid.
1 heaves sighs 4 Bestow this place on us give us some privacy 7 contend compete 8 lawless uncontrollable 9 arras hanging tapestry 11 brainish apprehension unbalanced state of mind 13 had been so with us would have been me (who was killed) 17 providence foresight 18 out of haunt away from the public eye 22 divulging becoming known 23 pith essence 24 draw apart take away 2527 like some pure as gold stands out for its purity among baser metals 32 countenance take responsibility for 33 join you with some further aid get others to help you
ACT 4 Scene 2
73
Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain, And from his mothers closet hath he draggd him. Go seek him outspeak fairand bring the body Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this. [Exeunt ROSENCrANTZ and GUILDENSTErN Come, Gertrude, well call up our wisest friends, And let them know both what we mean to do And whats untimely done. [So envious slander], Whose whisper oer the worlds diameter, As level as the cannon to his blank, Transports his poisond shot, may miss our name And hit the woundless air. O come away, My soul is full of discord and dismay. [Exeunt
35
40
45
Scene 2
Enter HAMLET
HAMLET
Safely stowed.
Calling within But soft, what noise? Who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come. Enter ROSENCrANTZ, GUILDENSTErN, and OThErS
What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
Compounded it with dust, whereto tis kin. Tell us where tis, that we may take it thence and bear it to the chapel. Do not believe it. Believe what? That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a spongewhat replication should be made by the son of a king? Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET
ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET 15
Ay, sir, that soaks up the kings countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such ofcers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jawrst mouthed, to be last swallowed. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again. I understand you not, my lord.
41 oer the worlds diameter across the entire world 5 Compounded mixed 11 demanded of questioned by 5 whereto tis kin which is what it is 11 replication reply made of 14 countenance favour 10 counsel secret 18 gleaned gathered
20
ROSENCrANTZ
36 fair gently and tactfully
40 untimely unfortunately 42 level straight 40 [So envious slander] Some words 42 blank target are missing from the original text. The editors have chosen so envious 44 woundless air air, which is slander. immune to attack
74
HAMLET
ACT 4 Scene 3
I am glad of it. A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear. My lord, you must tell us where the body is and go with us to the king.
ROSENCrANTZ
HAMLET 25
The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing A thing, my lord? [Exeunt Of nothing. Bring me to him.
GUILDENSTErN HAMLET
Scene 3
Enter KING and two or three LOrDS
KING
10
I have sent to seek him and to nd the body. How dangerous is it that this man goes loose! Yet must not we put the strong law on him: Hes lovd of the distracted multitude, Who like not in their judgement but their eyes, And where tis so, thoffenders scourge is weighd, But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even, This sudden sending him away must seem Deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown By desperate appliance are relievd, Or not at all.
Enter ROSENCrANTZ and OThErS How now, what hath befalln? ROSENCrANTZ Where the dead body is bestowd, my lord, We cannot get from him.
KING
But where is he? ROSENCrANTZ Without, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure.
15
Bring him before us. ROSENCrANTZ Ho! Bring in the lord.

KING
Enter HAMLET with GUArDS

KING HAMLET KING HAMLET 20
Now, Hamlet, wheres Polonius? At supper. At supper? Where? Not where he eats, but where a is eaten. A certain convocation of politic worms are een at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat
67 thoffenders offence the punishment is criticized, but not the crime 9 Deliberate pause a considered action 10 appliance remedy 12 bestowd hidden 20 politic shrewd; crafty 2021 Your worm diet even emperors become a meal for worms when they die 2122 we fat maggots we fatten other animals in order to eat them ourselves, but we fatten ourselves to make food for maggots
21 A knavish ear. a witty speech is wasted on a fool 24 with the king in the kings palace 27 Of nothing. of no importance 4 distracted multitude common people
ACT 4 Scene 3
75
king and your lean beggar is but variable servicetwo dishes, but to one table. Thats the end.
25
KING HAMLET
Alas, alas. A man may sh with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the sh that hath fed of that worm. What dost thou mean by this? Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar. Where is Polonius? In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger nd him not there, seek him ithother place yourself. But if indeed you nd him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. [To some ATTENDANTS] Go seek him there. A will stay still you come. [Exeunt ATTENDANTS Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve For that which thou hast donemust send thee hence With ery quickness. Therefore prepare thyself. The bark is ready, and the wind at help, Thassociates tend, and everything is bent For England. For England? Ay, Hamlet. Good. So is it, if thou knewst our purposes. I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England. Farewell, dear mother. Thy loving father, Hamlet. My mother. Father and mother is man and wife, man and wife is one esh; so my mother. Come, for England. [Exit Follow him at foot. Tempt him with speed aboard, Delay it notIll have him hence tonight. Away, for everything is seald and done That else leans on thaffair. Pray you make haste. [Exeunt all but the KING And England, if my love thou holdst at aught As my great power thereof may give thee sense, Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red
42 at help favourable 43 Thassociates tend your companions wait for you 43 bent directed 49 cherub all-knowing angel 54 at foot closely 57 leans on is connected with 58 England the King of England 58 if my love thou holdst at aught if you value my friendship at all 5960 As my red as you should, given our great power (i.e., the power of the Danes), which you are aware of since you are still scarred by the wounds we have inicted (cicatrice: scar)
KING HAMLET 30 KING HAMLET
35 KING HAMLET KING
40
45
HAMLET KING HAMLET KING HAMLET
50 KING HAMLET
KING 55
60
23 variable service different courses (of a meal) 29 go a progress on a state journey 35 nose smell 39 do tender have concern for
76
After the Danish sword, and thy free awe Pays homage to usthou mayst not coldly set Our sovereign process, which imports at full, By letters congruing to that effect, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England; For like the hectic in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me. Till I know tis done, Howeer my haps, my joys were neer begun.
ACT 4 Scene 4
65
[Exit
Scene 4
Enter FOrTINBrAS with his ArMY, marching over the stage
FOrTINBrAS
Go, captain, from me greet the Danish king. Tell him that by his licence Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promisd march Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous. If that his Majesty would aught with us, We shall express our duty in his eye; And let him know so. I will dot, my lord. Go softly on. [Exeunt all but the CAPTAIN
CAPTAIN FOrTINBrAS
Enter HAMLET, ROSENCrANTZ, and OThErS

HAMLET 10 CAPTAIN HAMLET CAPTAIN HAMLET CAPTAIN 15 HAMLET
Good sir, whose powers are these? They are of Norway, sir. How purposd, sir, I pray you? Against some part of Poland. Who commands them, sir? The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. Goes it against the main of Poland, sir, Or for some frontier? Truly to speak, and with no addition, We go to gain a little patch of ground That hath in it no prot but the name. To pay ve ducatsveI would not farm it; Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole A ranker rate should it be sold in fee. Why, then the Polack never will defend it. Yes, it is already garrisond.
CAPTAIN
20
HAMLET CAPTAIN
61 free awe voluntary respect 62 coldly set undervalue 63 sovereign process royal orders 63 imports at full gives complete instructions
64 congruing agreeing 65 present immediate 66 hectic fever 68 Howeer my haps whatever else happens to me
3 conveyance safe passage 5 would aught with us wishes to negotiate 6 express our duty in his eye speak to him face to face
9 powers troops 17 addition exaggeration 22 ranker rate greater price 22 in fee outright 23 the Polack the King of Poland
ACT 4 Scene 4
25 HAMLET
77
Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats Will not debate the question of this straw! This is thimpostume of much wealth and peace, That inward breaks, and shows no cause without Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir. God buy you, sir. Willt please you go, my lord? [Exit
30
CAPTAIN
ROSENCrANTZ HAMLET
35
40
45
50
55
60
Ill be with you straight. Go a little before. [Exeunt all but HAMLET How all occasions do inform against me, And spur my dull revenge. What is a man If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more. Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unusd. Now whether it be Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple Of thinking too precisely on thevent A thought which, quarterd, hath but one part wisdom And ever three parts cowardI do not know Why yet I live to say this things to do, Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means To dot. Examples gross as earth exhort me, Witness this army of such mass and charge, Led by a delicate and tender prince, Whose spirit, with divine ambition puffd, Makes mouths at the invisible event, Exposing what is mortal and unsure To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great argument, But greatly to nd quarrel in a straw When honours at the stake. How stand I then, That have a father killd, a mother staind, Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let all sleep, while to my shame I see The imminent death of twenty thousand men That, for a fantasy and trick of fame, Go to their graves like beds, ght for a plot Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,
36 large discourse powerful intelligence or reasoning 39 fust go mouldy 46 gross obvious 50 Makes mouths at the invisible event scorns the unforseen outcome 60 twenty thousand men Hamlet has confused the price of 20,000 ducats with the 2,000 soldiers estimated earlier.
26 Will not straw will not be enough to settle this trivial matter 27 thimpostume abscess; swelling
32 inform against denounce; rebuke 40 Bestial oblivion an animals lack of awareness 40 craven scruple cowardly concern
5356 Rightly to stake. greatness 63 Whereon the cause where comes not from waiting for a good there is not even room for them all reason to ght, but from defending a to ght trivial cause when it is for honour
78
Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain? O, from this time forth My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth.
ACT 4 Scene 5
65
[Exit
Scene 5
Enter QUEEN, HOrATIO, and a GENTLEMAN
QUEEN GENTLEMAN
I will not speak with her. She is importunate, Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied. What would she have? She speaks much of her father, says she hears Theres tricks ith world, and hems, and beats her heart, Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing, Yet the unshaped use of it doth move The hearers to collection. They aim at it, And botch the words up t to their own thoughts, Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them, Indeed would make one think there might be thought, Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily. Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds. Let her come in. [Exit GENTLEMAN [Aside] To my sick soul, as sins true nature is, Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. So full of artless jealousy is guilt, It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.
QUEEN GENTLEMAN 5
10
HOrATIO 15 QUEEN
20
Enter OPhELIA
OPhELIA QUEEN OPhELIA
Where is the beauteous Majesty of Denmark? How now, Ophelia? [Sings] How should I your true love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff And his sandal shoon.
25
QUEEN OPhELIA
Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song? Say you? Nay, pray you mark. [Sings] He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone,
5 hems says mmm and clears her 7 nothing nonsense throat 9 to collection to try and work out its meaning 6 Spurns enviously at straws becomes angry about the most trivial 10 botch patch things 18 toy insignicant event 6 in doubt unintelligible 18 amiss misfortune
30
6465 not tomb slain not large enough to bury and contain the dead 1 importunate insistent 2 distract distracted; mad 2 will needs be demands to be
19 artless jealousy uncontrolled suspicion 20 spills destroys 2526 cockle hat shoon hat decorated with a shell, a walking stick, and sandals (shoon: worn)
ACT 4 Scene 5
79
At his head a grass-green turf, At his heels a stone. O ho!
QUEEN 35 OPhELIA
Nay, but Ophelia Pray you mark. [Sings] White his shroud as the mountain snow
Enter KING
QUEEN OPhELIA
Alas, look here, my lord. [Sings] Larded with sweet owers Which bewept to the grave did not go With true-love showers.
40 KING OPhELIA
How do you, pretty lady? Well, good dild you. They say the owl was a bakers daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table. Conceit upon her father. Pray lets have no words of this, but when they ask you what it means, say you this. [Sings] Tomorrow is Saint Valentines day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donnd his cloes, And duppd the chamber door, Let in the maid that out a maid Never departed more. Pretty Ophelia Indeed, without an oath, Ill make an end ont. By Gis and by Saint Charity, Alack and e for shame, Young men will dot if they come tot By Cock, they are to blame. Quoth she, Before you tumbled me, You promisd me to wed. He answers So would I a done, by yonder sun, And thou hadst not come to my bed. How long hath she been thus? I hope all will be well. We must be patient. But I cannot
45 Conceit upon she is thinking about 48 Saint Valentines day Ophelia sings of the tradition that true love was found early in the morning of St. Valentines Day. 49 betime early 52 cloes clothes 53 duppd opened up 5455 that out more that was a maid, or virgin, no longer 58 Gis Jesus 60 Young men tot young men will take advantage of a girl if given the chance 62 tumbled me had sex with me 66 And if
45
KING OPhELIA
50
55 KING OPhELIA
60
65
KING OPhELIA
42 good dild you may God reward you 4243 the owl was a bakers daughter In a well-known folk tale, the bakers daughter was turned into an owl because she shortchanged her customers.
80
choose but weep to think they would lay him ith cold ground. My brother shall know of it. And so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach. Good night, ladies, good night. Sweet ladies, good night, good night. [Exit
KING
ACT 4 Scene 5
70
Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you. [Exit HOrATIO O, this is the poison of deep grief: it springs All from her fathers death. And now behold O Gertrude, Gertrude, When sorrows come, they come not single spies, But in battalions. First, her father slain; Next, your son gone, and he most violent author Of his own just remove; the people muddied, Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers For good Polonius deathand we have done but greenly In hugger-mugger to inter him; Poor Ophelia Divided from herself and her fair judgement, Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts; Last, and as much containing as all these, Her brother is in secret come from France, Feeds on this wonder, keeps himself in clouds, And wants not buzzers to infect his ear With pestilent speeches of his fathers death, Wherein necessity, of matter beggard, Will nothing stick our person to arraign In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this, Like to a murdring-piece, in many places Gives me superuous death.
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80
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95
A noise within Attend! Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door. Enter a MESSENGEr What is the matter?
MESSENGEr
100
Save yourself, my lord. The ocean, overpeering of his list, Eats not the ats with more impetuous haste Than young Laertes, in a riotous head, Oerbears your ofcers. The rabble call him lord,
88 Feeds on clouds broods over and imagines things, and keeps himself apart 89 wants not buzzers does not lack gossip 91 of matter beggard without the facts 92 Will nothing arraign will not hesitate to accuse me 93 In ear and ear to this person and that 94 murdring-piece cannon 95 Gives me ... death kills me many times 96 Switzers Swiss guards 98 overpeering of his list rising above its shoreline 99 ats low-lying coastal areas 100 in a riotous head with a band of rebels
80 remove banishment 80 muddied stirred up 82 greenly foolishly; rashly 83 hugger-mugger quickly and in secret 86 as much containing as serious
ACT 4 Scene 5
81
And, as the world were now but to begin, Antiquity forgot, custom not known The ratiers and props of every word They cry, Choose we! Laertes shall be king. Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds, Laertes shall be king, Laertes king.
105
QUEEN
How cheerfully on the false trail they cry. O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs.
A noise within
100 KING
The doors are broke.
Enter LAErTES with FOLLOWErS

LAErTES FOLLOWErS LAErTES FOLLOWErS LAErTES
Where is this king?Sirs, stand you all without. No, lets come in. I pray you give me leave. We will, we will. I thank you. Keep the door. [Exeunt FOLLOWErS O thou vile king, Give me my father. [Holding him] Calmly, good Laertes. That drop of blood thats calm proclaims me bastard, Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot Even here between the chaste unsmirched brow Of my true mother. What is the cause, Laertes, That thy rebellion looks so giant-like? Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person. Theres such divinity doth hedge a king That treason can but peep to what it would, Acts little of his will.Tell me, Laertes, Why thou art thus incensd.Let him go, Gertrude. Speak, man. Where is my father? Dead. But not by him. Let him demand his ll. How came he dead? Ill not be juggled with. To hell, allegiance! Vows to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
117 cuckold fool 118 unsmirched unstained 122 Theres such king such divine protection surrounds a king 123 can but would can only peer (over the top of the hedge) at what it would like to do 124 Acts little of his will cannot do what it wants 129 juggled with played with 131 the profoundest pit hell
115 QUEEN LAErTES
KING 120
125
LAErTES KING QUEEN KING LAErTES 130
102 as the begin as if the world were just beginning anew 104 The ratiers word the pillars of every aspect of a civilized society 109 counter the wrong way
82
I dare damnation. To this point I stand, That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only Ill be revengd Most throughly for my father.
KING LAErTES
ACT 4 Scene 5
135
Who shall stay you? My will, not all the worlds. And for my means, Ill husband them so well, They shall go far with little. Good Laertes, If you desire to know the certainty Of your dear father, ist writ in your revenge That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe, Winner and loser? None but his enemies. Will you know them then? To his good friends thus wide Ill ope my arms, And, like the kind life-rendring pelican, Repast them with my blood. Why, now you speak Like a good child and a true gentleman. That I am guiltless of your fathers death And am most sensibly in grief for it, It shall as level to your judgement pear As day does to your eye.
KING 140
LAErTES KING LAErTES 145 KING
150
A noise within. OPhELIA is heard singing Let her come in.

LAErTES
How now, what noise is that?
Enter OPhELIA O heat, dry up my brains. Tears seven times salt Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye. By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May! Dear maidkind sistersweet Ophelia O heavens, ist possible a young maids wits Should be as mortal as an old mans life? Nature is ne in love, and where tis ne It sends some precious instance of itself After the thing it loves.
143 Will you do you want to 145146 like the blood like the pelican, nourish them with my own blood (repast: feed) 149 most sensibly deeply 150 level clearly 154 sense and virtue use and power 155 paid with weight repaid 160 ne rened
155
160
133 both the negligence I dont care what happens to me either in this world or in the hereafter 135 stay prevent 141142 swoopstake, you loser without differentiating, you will take revenge on both friends and enemies
161 instance part (Laertes believes Ophelia has sent her sanity away with 156 our scale turn the beam our her father) revenge tips the balance in our favour 162 After the thing it loves to follow 160 Nature human nature a loved one that has gone away
ACT 4 Scene 5
OPhELIA
83
[Sings] They bore him bare-facd on the bier, And in his grave raind many a tear Fare you well, my dove.
165 LAErTES
Hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge, It could not move thus. You must sing A-down a-down, and you Call him a-down-a. O, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward that stole his masters daughter. This nothings more than matter. Theres rosemary, thats for remembrancepray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, thats for thoughts. A document in madness: thoughts and remembrance tted. Theres fennel for you, and columbines. Theres rue for you. And heres some for me. We may call it herb of grace a Sundays. You must wear your rue with a difference. Theres a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say a made a good end. [Sings] For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy. Thought and afiction, passion, hell itself She turns to favour and to prettiness. [Sings] And will a not come again? And will a not come again? No, no, he is dead, Go to thy death-bed, He never will come again.
OPhELIA
170 LAErTES OPhELIA
175 LAErTES
OPhELIA
180
LAErTES 185 OPhELIA
190
195
His beard was as white as snow, All axen was his poll. He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan. God a mercy on his soul. And of all Christian souls. God buy you.
LAErTES KING
[Exit
Do you see this, O God? Laertes, I must commune with your grief, Or you deny me right. Go but apart, Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will, And they shall hear and judge twixt you and me. If by direct or by collateral hand They nd us touchd, we will our kingdom give,
169 wheel change in beat or pace 171 This nothings matter. this nonsense is more sensible than rational words 175 document lesson 177 rue Scented evergreen plant; symbol of repentance. 184 Thought melancholy 185 favour charm 192 axen was his poll white was his hair 194 we cast away moan we waste our tears 199 Go but apart wait just a minute 202 If by direct or collateral hand if by our own hand or indirectly 203 touchd guilty
200
163 bier funeral carriage 166 didst persuade revenge asked me to seek revenge 167 It could not move thus it could not persuade me more 168169 Call him a-down-a call him dead
84
Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours To you in satisfaction; but if not, Be you content to lend your patience to us, And we shall jointly labour with your soul To give it due content.
LAErTES 210
ACT 4 Scene 6
205
Let this be so. His means of death, his obscure funeral No trophy, sword, nor hatchment oer his bones, No noble rite, nor formal ostentation Cry to be heard, as twere from heaven to earth, That I must callt in question. So you shall. And where thoffence is, let the great axe fall. I pray you go with me.
KING 215
[Exeunt
Scene 6
Enter HOrATIO and a SErVANT
HOrATIO SErVANT HOrATIO
What are they that would speak with me? Seafaring men, sir. They say they have letters for you. Let them come in. [Exit SErVANT I do not know from what part of the world I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
Enter SAILOrS
FIrST SAILOr HOrATIO FIrST SAILOr
God bless you, sir. Let him bless thee too. A shall, sir, and please him. Theres a letter for you, sir. It came from thambassador that was bound for Englandif your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. [Reads the letter] Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the king. They have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled valour, and in the grapple I boarded them. On the instant they got clear of our ship, so I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy. But they knew what they did: I am to do a turn for them. Let the
213 callt in question demand an answer 214 let the great axe fall let the punishment be given 8 and please him if it pleases God 9 thambassador Hamlet 13 overlooked read 13 some means access 15 very warlike appointment heavily armoured and ready for battle 1617 put on valour were forced to be courageous 17 grapple fastenings between two ships 19 thieves of mercy compassionate thieves 20 a turn a favour
10
HOrATIO
15
20
205 satisfaction restitution 210 trophy death memorial 210 hatchment painted coat of arms 211 formal ostentation ofcial ceremony
ACT 4 Scene 7
85
king have the letters I have sent, and repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest y death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England; of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell. He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet. Come, I will give you way for these your letters, And dot the speedier that you may direct me To him from whom you brought them. [Exeunt
25
30
Scene 7
Enter KING and LAErTES
KING
5 LAErTES
Now must your conscience my acquittance seal, And you must put me in your heart for friend, Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear, That he which hath your noble father slain Pursud my life. It well appears. But tell me Why you proceeded not against these feats So crimeful and so capital in nature, As by your safety, wisdom, all things else You mainly were stirrd up. O, for two special reasons, Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewd, But yet to me thare strong. The queen his mother Lives almost by his looks, and for myself My virtue or my plague, be it either which She is so conjunctive to my life and soul That, as the star moves not but in his sphere, I could not but by her. The other motive Why to a public count I might not go Is the great love the general gender bear him, Who, dipping all his faults in their affection, Work like the spring that turneth wood to stone, Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows, Too slightly timberd for so loud a wind, Would have reverted to my bow again,
6 proceeded not feats did not take action against these evil deeds 7 so capital in nature deserving of capital punishment (execution) 9 mainly greatly 10 much unsinewd very weak 14 conjunctive closely joined 16 I could not but by her I could not function without her 17 count trial 18 general gender common people 20 spring lime-rich water that coats all objects within it 21 gyves faults (gyves: chains) 22 Too slightly timberd for so loud a wind not strong enough to overcome the will of the people
KING 10
15
20
21 repair come 24 much too matter inadequate for the importance of their meaning 1 my acquittance seal conrm my innocence 3 knowing understanding
86
But not where I had aimd them.
25 LAErTES
ACT 4 Scene 7
And so have I a noble father lost, A sister driven into desprate terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age For her perfections. But my revenge will come. Break not your sleeps for that. You must not think That we are made of stuff so at and dull That we can let our beard be shook with danger And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more. I lovd your father, and we love ourself, And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine
30
KING
35
Enter a MESSENGEr with letters

MESSENGEr KING MESSENGEr
These to your Majesty, this to the queen. From Hamlet! Who brought them? Sailors, my lord, they say. I saw them not. They were given me by Claudio. He received them Of him that brought them. Laertes, you shall hear them. [Exit MESSENGEr Leave us. [Reads] High and mighty, you shall know I am set naked on your kingdom. Tomorrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes, when I shall, rst asking your pardon, thereunto recount the occasion of my sudden and more strange return. Hamlet What should this mean? Are all the rest come back? Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? Know you the hand? Tis Hamlets character. Naked And in a postscript here he says Alone. Can you devise me?
40 KING
45
50
LAErTES KING
LAErTES 55
I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come. It warms the very sickness in my heart That I shall live and tell him to his teeth, Thus diest thou. If it be so, Laertes As how should it be so, how otherwise?
50 hand handwriting 50 character style of handwriting 53 devise me make this clear to me
KING
30 Break not your sleeps do not lose 42 naked without possessions any sleep 4344 see your kingly eyes see you, the king, in person 32 let our danger permit 2829 Stood challenger perfections ourselves to tolerate insults 49 abuse trick was so obviously rst above all women 42 High and mighty A formal in her perfection address. 27 if praises may go back again if I can sing the praises of how she used to be
ACT 4 Scene 7
87
Will you be ruld by me?
LAErTES 60 KING
Ay, my lord, So you will not oerrule me to a peace. To thine own peace. If he be now returnd, As checking at his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it, I will work him To an exploit, now ripe in my device, Under the which he shall not choose but fall; And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, But even his mother shall uncharge the practice And call it accident. My lord, I will be ruld, The rather if you could devise it so That I might be the organ. It falls right. You have been talkd of since your travel much, And that in Hamlets hearing, for a quality Wherein they say you shine. Your sum of parts Did not together pluck such envy from him As did that one, and that, in my regard, Of the unworthiest siege. What part is that, my lord? A very ribbon in the cap of youth Yet needful too, for youth no less becomes The light and careless livery that it wears Than settled age his sables and his weeds Importing health and graveness. Two months since Here was a gentleman of Normandy I have seen myself, and servd against, the French, And they can well on horseback, but this gallant Had witchcraft int. He grew unto his seat, And to such wondrous doing brought his horse As had he been incorpsd and demi-naturd With the brave beast. So far he toppd my thought That I in forgery of shapes and tricks Come short of what he did. A Norman wast? A Norman. Upon my life, Lamord. The very same.
67 uncharge the practice not suspect any trickery 69 The rather more readily 70 organ agent (of Hamlets death) 76 unworthiest seige least worthy 77 very ribbon trivial accessory 79 careless livery carefree clothing 80 sables and his weeds furs and dark-coloured clothing 81 Importing projecting an image of 85 He grew unto his seat sat perfectly on horseback 87 As had demi-naturd as if he had become half-man, half-horse 8889 So far tricks he so surpassed my expectations, that I had never even imagined the feats he performed
65
LAErTES 70 KING
75 LAErTES KING
80
85
90 LAErTES KING LAErTES KING
60 So you peace as long as you do not advise me to make peace 62 checking at stopping short 64 exploit plan
64 now ripe in my device that I have 73 Your sum of parts all of your qualities and accomplishments just come up with
88
LAErTES
ACT 4 Scene 7
I know him well. He is the brooch indeed And gem of all the nation. He made confession of you, And gave you such a masterly report For art and exercise in your defence, And for your rapier most especial, That he cried out twould be a sight indeed If one could match you. The scrimers of their nation He swore had neither motion, guard, nor eye, If you opposd them. Sir, this report of his Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy That he could nothing do but wish and beg Your sudden coming oer to play with you. Now out of this What out of this, my lord? Laertes, was your father dear to you? Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, A face without a heart? Why ask you this? Not that I think you did not love your father, But that I know love is begun by time, And that I see, in passages of proof, Time qualies the spark and re of it. There lives within the very ame of love A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it; And nothing is at a like goodness still, For goodness, growing to a pleurisy, Dies in his own too-much. That we would do, We should do when we would: for this would changes And hath abatements and delays as many As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents, And then this should is like a spendthrift sigh That hurts by easing. But to the quick of thulcer: Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake To show yourself in deed your fathers son More than in words? To cut his throat ith church. No place indeed should murder sanctuarize; Revenge should have no bounds. But good Laertes,
95
KING
100
105 LAErTES KING
LAErTES 110 KING
115
120
125 LAErTES KING
9394 brooch indeed nation jewel 111 begun by time born due to circumstances and pride of the country 95 made confession of you acknowledged that he knew you
117 to a pleurisy to excess
122 spendthrift sigh wasteful sigh 123 hurts by easing takes blood while making us feel better 123 quick of thulcer heart of the matter 127 sanctuarize protect
118 too-much excess 112 passages of proof examples that 118 That we would do what we want prove to do 97 art and exercise skill and practice 115 wick or it charred wick that 119 when we would when we want to will make it icker 97 defence fencing 120121 as many accidents 116 still at all times (in other words, a countless number) 100 scrimers fencers
ACT 4 Scene 7
89
Will you do this, keep close within your chamber; Hamlet, returnd, shall know you are come home; Well put on those shall praise your excellence, And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gave you, bring you, in ne, together, And wager oer your heads. He, being remiss, Most generous, and free from all contriving, Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease Or with a little shufingyou may choose A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice Requite him for your father.
130
135
LAErTES 140
145
I will dot. And for that purpose, Ill anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank So mortal that but dip a knife in it, Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare, Collected from all simples that have virtue Under the moon, can save the thing from death That is but scratchd withal. Ill touch my point With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly, It may be death. Lets further think of this, Weigh what convenience both of time and means May t us to our shape. If this should fail, And that our drift look through our bad performance, Twere better not essayd. Therefore this project Should have a back or second that might hold If this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see. Well make a solemn wager on your cunnings I hat! When in your motion you are hot and dry As make your bouts more violent to that end And that he calls for drink, Ill have prepard him A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venomd stuck, Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?
KING 150
155
160
Enter QUEEN
QUEEN
One woe doth tread upon anothers heel, So fast they follow. Your sisters drownd, Laertes.
129 Will you if you are willing to 131 put on those shall choose those who will 132 set a double varnish put a second layer of gloss 133 in ne nally
134 wager oer your heads bet on you 141 mountebank quack doctor 134 remiss carelessly unsuspecting 136 peruse the foils inspect the swords (foils: swords used in fencing) 138 unbated unblunted; sharp 141 unction ointment 143 cataplasm dressing; treatment 144 simples medicinal herbs 151 drift look aim be detected 153 back backup plan
154 If this did blast in proof if this blows up when put to the test 158 As make and you should make 160 A chalice for the nonce a cup of wine for the occasion 161 stuck thrust; i.e., of the sword
90
165 LAErTES QUEEN
ACT 4 Scene 7
Drownd? O, where? There is a willow grows askant the brook That shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream. Therewith fantastic garlands did she make Of crow-owers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead mens ngers call them. There on the pendent boughs her crownet weeds Clambring to hang, an envious sliver broke, When down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide, And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up, Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds, As one incapable of her own distress, Or like a creature native and indued Unto that element. But long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulld the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death. Alas, then she is drownd. Drownd, drownd. Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears. But yet It is our trick; nature her custom holds, Let shame say what it will. [Weeps] When these are gone, The woman will be out. Adieu, my lord, I have a speech o re that fain would blaze But that this folly douts it. [Exit Lets follow, Gertrude. How much I had to do to calm his rage. Now fear I this will give it start again. Therefore lets follow.
170
175
180
LAErTES QUEEN 185 LAErTES
190 KING
[Exeunt
166 askant leaning over 167 hoary grey 169 long purples wild orchids 170 liberal free-speaking 171 cold pure
172 pendent hanging 172 crownet weeds weeds woven into a wreath 173 sliver branch 177 lauds songs; hymns
178 incapable unaware 179 native and indued born to and adapted 182 lay song 187 It is our trick it is our natural way
188 these i.e., his tears 189 The woman will be out Ill have nished crying (and be a man again) 190 that fain would is eager to 191 douts douses; extinguishes
ACT 5 Scene 1
91
ACT 5 Scene 1
Enter two CLOWNS [the GRAVEDIggER and ANOTHER]
GRAVEDIggER
Is she to be buried in Christian burial, when she wilfully seeks her own salvation? I tell thee she is, therefore make her grave straight. The crowner hath sat on her and nds it Christian burial. How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defence? Why, tis found so.
OTHER
GRAVEDIggER
OTHER
GRAVEDIggER 10
It must be se offendendo, it cannot be else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath three branchesit is to act, to do, to perform; argal, she drowned herself wittingly. Nay, but hear you, Goodman Delver
OTHER
GRAVEDIggER 15
Give me leave. Here lies the watergood. Here stands the mangood. If the man go to this water and drown himself, it is, will he nill he, he goes, mark you that. But if the water come to him and drown him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life. But is this law? Aye, marry ist, crowners quest law. Will you ha the truth ant? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o Christian burial.
OTHER 20
GRAVEDIggER OTHER
GRAVEDIggER 25
Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even-Christen. Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and gravemakersthey hold up Adams profession.
He digs
30 OTHER
Was he a gentleman? A was the rst that ever bore arms. Why, he had none. What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the Scripture? The Scripture says Adam digged. Could he
GRAVEDIggER OTHER
GRAVEDIggER
0 s.d Clowns comic actors 1 Christian burial People who committed suicide were denied a Church burial service. 2 salvation The clown means damnation. 4 crowner coroner
4 sat on her ruled 8 se offendendo The clown means se defendendo, or self-defence. 11 argal A mispronunciation of the Latin ergo, meaning therefore. 12 Goodman Master
15 will he nill he willy-nilly; whether 2829 Adams profession Adam, the Biblical rst man, cared for the or not he wants to Garden of Eden. 20 quest law law of inquest 31 bore arms A coat of arms. Also a 25 countenance advantage play on words as Adam was the rst 26 even-Christen ordinary, fellow man to have arms. Christians
92
35
ACT 5 Scene 1
dig without arms? Ill put another question to thee. If thou answerest me not to the purpose, confess thyself
OTHER
Go to. What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter? The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand tenants. I like thy wit well in good faith, the gallows does well. But how does it well? It does well to those that do ill. Now, thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church; argal, the gallows may do well to thee. Tot again, come. Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter? Ay, tell me that and unyoke. Tot. Marry, now I can tell. Mass, I cannot tell. Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And when you are asked this question next, say A gravemaker. The houses he makes lasts till doomsday. Go, get thee to Yaughan; fetch me a stoup of liquor. [Exit the OTHER CLOWN
GRAVEDIggER
40
OTHER
GRAVEDIggER
45
OTHER
GRAVEDIggER 50 OTHER
GRAVEDIggER OTHER
GRAVEDIggER 55
The GRAVEDIggER continues digging In youth when I did love, did love, Methought it was very sweet: To contractOthe time foramy behove, O methought thereawas nothingameet. Enter HAMLET and HORATIO
HAMLET
[Sings]
60
Has this fellow no feeling of his business a sings in grave-making? Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness. Tis een so, the hand of little employment hath the daintier sense. [Sings] But age with his stealing steps Hath clawd me in his clutch, And hath shippd me intil the land, As if I had never been such.
60 contract pass 60 my behove my advantage 61 meet better 62 no feeling of no respect for 64 a property of easiness a task he can perform with ease of mind 66 daintier sense more delicate feeling 69 intil the land to the grave
HORATIO 65 HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER
70 3536 If thou thyself if you cant answer me, admit it 37 Go to. hurry up and talk 49 unyoke put an end to it
53 Cudgel beat 54 mend his pace move any quicker 56 Yaughan This may be the name of a local innkeeper. 57 stoup jug
ACT 5 Scene 1
93
[He throws up a skull]

HAMLET
75 HORATIO HAMLET
That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once. How the knave jowls it to th ground, as if twere Cains jawbone, that did the rst murder. This might be the pate of a politician which this ass now oer-ofces, one that would circumvent God, might it not? It might, my lord. Or of a courtier, which could say, Good morrow, sweet lord. How dost thou, sweet lord? This might be my Lord Such-a-one, that praised my Lord Such-a-ones horse when a meant to beg it, might it not? Ay, my lord. Why, een so, and now my Lady Worms, chopless, and knocked about the mazard with a sextons spade. Heres ne revolution and we had the trick to seet. Did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggets with em? Mine ache to think ont. [Sings] A pickaxe and a spade, a spade, For and a shrouding-sheet, O a pit of clay for to be made For such a guest is meet.
80 HORATIO HAMLET
85
GRAVEDIggER
90
[Throws up another skull]

HAMLET
95
100
Theres another. Why, may not that be the skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his quillities, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Why does he suffer this mad knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty shovel, and will not tell him of his action of battery? Hum, this fellow might be ins time a great buyer of land, with his statutes, his recognizances, his nes, his double vouchers, his recoveries. Is this the ne of his nes and the recovery of his recoveries, to have his ne pate full of ne dirt? Will his vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases, and double ones too, than the length and breadth of a pair of indentures? The very conveyances of his lands will scarcely lie in this box, and must thinheritor himself have no more, ha? Not a jot more, my lord. Is not parchment made of sheepskins? Ay, my lord, and of calveskins too.
8384 Heres ne revolution heres a change 8485 Did these more are these bones only worth 85 loggets A game that consists of throwing pieces of wood at a target. 92 quiddities trivial arguments 92 quillities meanings 94 sconce head 9798 statutes, his recoveries These legal terms concern the acquisition of property and the payment of debts. 98 ne end 102 pair of indentures A legal document in two parts. 103 conveyances deed; ownership
105 HORATIO HAMLET HORATIO 72 jowls throws
74 pate the top of the head 74 oer-ofces gets the better of 82 my Lady Worms food for worms 82 chopless without a jaw 83 mazard head
94
HAMLET
ACT 5 Scene 1
110
They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance in that. I will speak to this fellow.Whose graves this, sirrah? Mine, sir. [Sings] O a pit of clay for to be made I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest int. You lie out ont, sir, and therefore tis not yours. For my part, I do not lie int, yet it is mine.
GRAVEDIggER
HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER 115 HAMLET
Thou dost lie int, to be int and say tis thine. Tis for the dead, not for the quick: therefore thou liest. Tis a quick lie, sir, twill away again from me to you.
GRAVEDIggER HAMLET 120
What man dost thou dig it for? GRAVEDIggER For no man, sir.
HAMLET
What woman then? For none neither. One that was a woman, sir; but rest her soul, shes dead. Who is to be buried int? How absolute the knave is. We must speak by the card or equivocation will undo us. By the Lord, Horatio, this three years I have took note of it, the age is grown so picked that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier he galls his kibe.How long hast thou been grave-maker? Of all the days ith year I came tot that day that our last King Hamlet oercame Fortinbras. How long is that since? Cannot you tell that? Every fool can tell that. It was that very day that young Hamlet was bornhe that is mad and sent into England.
GRAVEDIggER HAMLET
130
GRAVEDIggER
HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER 135
HAMLET
Ay, marry. Why was he sent into England? Why, because a was mad. A shall recover his wits there. Or if a do not, tis no great matter there. Why? Twill not be seen in him there. There the men are as mad as he. How came he mad? Very strangely, they say. Faith, een with losing his wits.
125 absolute literal 125 card book 126 equivocation ambiguity 127128 the age picked people have become so sophisticated 128129 the toe kibe the commoner is so like the noble that he is close enough to rub heels with him
GRAVEDIggER
140 HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER
HAMLET
How strangely?
GRAVEDIggER 108 sheep and calves idiots 110 sirrah fellow 117 quick living
ACT 5 Scene 1
HAMLET
95
Upon what ground? Why, here in Denmark. I have been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years. How long will a man lie ith earth ere he rot? Faith, if a be not rotten before a dieas we have many pocky corses nowadays that will scarce hold the laying ina will last you some eight year or nine year. A tanner will last you nine year. Why he more than another? Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade that a will keep out water a great while, and your water is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body. Heres a skull now hath lien you ith earth three and twenty years. Whose was it? A whoreson mad fellows it was. Whose do you think it was? Nay, I know not. A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! A poured a agon of Rhenish on my head once. This same skull, sir, was Yoricks skull, the kings jester. This?
GRAVEDIggER
150 HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER
155 HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER
160 HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER
HAMLET
GRAVEDIggER 165
HAMLET
Takes the skull

GRAVEDIggER HAMLET 170
Een that.
175
180 HORATIO HAMLET
Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of innite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his back a thousand times, and nowhow abhorred in my imagination it is. My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now, your gambols, your songs, your ashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now to mock your own grinning? Quite chop-fallen? Now get you to my ladys chamber and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come. Make her laugh at that.Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing. Whats that, my lord? Dost thou think Alexander looked o this fashion inth earth? Een so.
159 lien you ith earth been lying in the ground 172 My gorge rises at it. I feel ill at the sight of it 178179 to this come she will look this way in the end 182 Alexander Alexander the Great (356323 BCE). He established the largest empire in the ancient world.
HORATIO
152 pocky corses diseased corpses 154 tanner One who tans, or cures, animal hides to make leather. 158 whoreson An insulting expression.
164165 agon of Rhenish container 174 gibes jests of Rhine wine 177 chop-fallen sad 170 fancy imagination
96
185 HAMLET
ACT 5 Scene 1
And smelt so? Pah!
Puts down the skull

HORATIO HAMLET
Een so, my lord. To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why, may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till a nd it stopping a bung-hole? Twere to consider too curiously to consider so. No, faith, not a jot, but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it. Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we make loam, and why of that loam whereto he was converted might they not stop a beer-barrel? Imperious Caesar, dead and turnd to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away. O that that earth which kept the world in awe Should patch a wall texpel the winters aw. But soft, but soft awhile. Here comes the king, The queen, the courtiers.
190 HORATIO HAMLET
195
200
Enter BEARERS with a Cofn, a PRIEST, KINg, QUEEN, LAERTES, LORDS Attendant Who is this they follow? And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken The corse they follow did with desprate hand Fordo it own life. Twas of some estate. Couch we awhile and mark.
LAERTES HAMLET LAERTES 210 PRIEST
205
What ceremony else? That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark. What ceremony else? Her obsequies have been as far enlargd As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful; And but that great command oersways the order, She should in ground unsanctied been lodgd Till the last trumpet: for charitable prayers Shards, ints, and pebbles should be thrown on her. Yet here she is allowd her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Of bell and burial.
215
197 Imperious Caesar Julius Caesar, 206 Couch we lets conceal ourselves emperor of Ancient Rome. 210 obsequies funeral rites 190 too curiously in too much detail 200 aw wind storm 211 warranty authority 203 maimed rites lack of ceremony 211 doubtful suspicious 192 modesty moderation 189 bung-hole A hole in a barrel for pouring beer. 192 likelihood to lead it the way it is 205 Fordo take 212 but that order if the king likely to happen 205 estate means or status in society had not overruled the normal way of things 194 loam plaster
216 crants funeral garland for young girls 217 strewments owers thrown over the body (as a sign of chastity) 217218 the bringing burial funeral rites accompanied by the ringing of the church bell
ACT 5 Scene 1
LAERTES PRIEST 220
97
Must there no more be done? No more be done. We should profane the service of the dead To sing sage requiem and such rest to her As to peace-parted souls. Lay her inth earth, And from her fair and unpolluted esh May violets spring. I tell thee, churlish priest, A ministring angel shall my sister be When thou liest howling. What, the fair Ophelia! [Scattering owers] Sweets to the sweet. Farewell. I hopd thou shouldst have been my Hamlets wife: I thought thy bride-bed to have deckd, sweet maid, And not have strewd thy grave. O, treble woe Fall ten times treble on that cursed head Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense Deprivd thee of.Hold off the earth awhile, Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.
LAERTES
225
HAMLET QUEEN
230 LAERTES
Leaps into the grave

235
Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead, Till of this at a mountain you have made Toertop old Pelion or the skyish head Of blue Olympus.
HAMLET
240
What is he whose grief Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow Conjures the wandring stars and makes them stand Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I, Hamlet the Dane. [Grappling with him] The devil take thy soul! Thou prayst not well. I prithee take thy ngers from my throat, For though I am not splenative and rash, Yet have I in me something dangerous, Which let thy wiseness fear. Hold off thy hand.
LAERTES HAMLET
245
KINg QUEEN 250 ALL
Pluck them asunder. Hamlet! Hamlet! Gentlemen!

226 howling i.e., in hell 227 Sweets owers 229 deckd adorned 232 ingenious lively 235 quick living 237238 Toertop Olympus higher than Pelion or Olympus (the mountains of Ancient Greece) 239 Bears such an emphasis is so strongly expressed 240241 Conjures the hearers bewitches the planets and makes them still and awestruck 245 splenative quick-tempered
221 sage requiem solemn music for the dead 222 peace-parted souls people who died with the blessing of the church 224 churlish unkind; rude
98
HORATIO HAMLET
ACT 5 Scene 1
Good my lord, be quiet. Why, I will ght with him upon this theme Until my eyelids will no longer wag. O my son, what theme? I lovd Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her? O, he is mad, Laertes. For love of God forbear him. Swounds, show me what thout do. Woot weep, woot ght, woot fast, woot tear thyself, Woot drink up eisel, eat a crocodile? Ill dot. Dost come here to whine, To outface me with leaping in her grave? Be buried quick with her, and so will I. And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw Millions of acres on us, till our ground, Singeing his pate against the burning zone, Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, and thoult mouth, Ill rant as well as thou. This is mere madness, And thus awhile the t will work on him. Anon, as patient as the female dove When that her golden couplets are disclosd, His silence will sit drooping. Hear you, sir, What is the reason that you use me thus? I lovd you ever. But it is no matter. Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, and dog will have his day. I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him. [Exit HORATIO [To LAERTES] Strengthen your patience in our last nights speech: Well put the matter to the present push. Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. This grave shall have a living monument. An hour of quiet shortly shall we see; Till then in patience our proceeding be. [Exeunt
QUEEN 255 HAMLET
KINg QUEEN 260 HAMLET
265
270 QUEEN
HAMLET 275
[Exit
KINg
280
285
253 wag utter (as a sign of life) 259 forbear him leave him alone 260 what thout do what you will do 261 Woot would you 262 eisel vinegar 265 quick alive
267268 till our zone until our grave is so high it touches the edge of the sun 269 Ossa Mount Ossa (in Greece) 269 and thoult mouth if you want to rant (about how much you loved Ophelia)
273 golden couplets are disclosd twin chicks are hatched 277 Hercules Greek mythological hero known for his great strength and dramatic speeches.
278 The cat day the cat will still make itself heard and the dog cannot be held back forever 281 to the present push into immediate action 283 living lasting
ACT 5 Scene 2
99
Scene 2
Enter HAMLET and HORATIO
HAMLET
So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other. You do remember all the circumstance? Remember it, my lord! Sir, in my heart there was a kind of ghting That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly And praisd be rashness for it: let us know Our indiscretion sometime serves us well When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn us Theres a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will That is most certain. Up from my cabin, My sea-gown scarfd about me, in the dark Gropd I to nd out them, had my desire, Fingerd their packet, and in ne withdrew To mine own room again, making so bold, My fears forgetting manners, to unseal Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio Ah, royal knavery!an exact command, Larded with many several sorts of reasons Importing Denmarks health, and Englands too, With ho! such bugs and goblins in my life, That on the supervise, no leisure bated, No, not to stay the grinding of the axe, My head should be struck off. Ist possible? Heres the commission, read it at more leisure. But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed? I beseech you. Being thus benetted round with villainies Or I could make a prologue to my brains, They had begun the playI sat me down, Devisd a new commission, wrote it fair I once did hold it, as our statists do, A baseness to write fair, and labourd much How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
HORATIO HAMLET 5
10
HORATIO HAMLET
15
20
25 HORATIO HAMLET
HORATIO HAMLET 30
35
6 mutines in the bilboes mutineers in chains 7 let us know we must remember 9 pall fail; go wrong 11 Rough-hew them how we will however we plan them out
13 sea-gown rough clothing worn by sailors 14 them Rosencrantz and Guildenstern 15 Fingerd their packet stole their documents
22 such bugs life such threats and horrors if I should remain alive 23 on the supervise as soon as the document is read 23 no leisure bated no time wasted 29 benetted trapped
3031 Or I play before I could begin to think, my mind began to act 32 fair correctly 33 statists statesmen; politicians 34 A baseness to write fair a lowly skill to have good handwriting
100
It did me yeomans service. Wilt thou know Theffect of what I wrote?
HORATIO HAMLET
ACT 5 Scene 2
Ay, good my lord. An earnest conjuration from the king, As England was his faithful tributary, As love between them like the palm might ourish, As peace should still her wheaten garland wear And stand a comma tween their amities, And many such-like ases of great charge, That on the view and knowing of these contents, Without debatement further more or less, He should those bearers put to sudden death, Not shriving-time allowd. How was this seald? Why, even in that was heaven ordinant. I had my fathers signet in my purse, Which was the model of that Danish seal, Folded the writ up in the form of thother, Subscribd it, gavet thimpression, placd it safely, The changeling never known. Now the next day Was our sea-ght, and what to this was sequent Thou knowest already. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go tot. Why, man, they did make love to this employment. They are not near my conscience, their defeat Does by their own insinuation grow. Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell incensed points Of mighty opposites. Why, what a king is this! Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon He that hath killd my king and whord my mother, Poppd in between thelection and my hopes, Thrown out his angle for my proper life And with such coznageist not perfect conscience To quit him with this arm? And ist not to be damnd To let this canker of our nature come In further evil? It must be shortly known to him from England What is the issue of the business there.
47 Not shriving-time allowd no time to confess their sins 56 go tot will die 60 the baser nature an inferior person 61 pass and points thrust and erce, deadly points of swords 63 stand me now upon tell me what you think 65 thelection i.e., the election to become king 67 coznage deception 68 quit him pay him back 69 canker spreading sore 72 issue result
40
45
HORATIO HAMLET
50
55 HORATIO HAMLET
60
HORATIO HAMLET
65
70 HORATIO
36 yeomans service loyal service
38 conjuration order 48 ordinant operating on my behalf 41 wheaten garland wreath symbolic 49 signet ring of peace and prosperity 42 stand a amities act as a link between them 45 debatement discussion 52 Subscribd signed 52 impression ofcial seal 54 was sequent followed
ACT 5 Scene 2
HAMLET
101
It will be short. The interim is mine. And a mans lifes no more than to say one. But I am very sorry, good Horatio, That to Laertes I forgot myself; For by the image of my cause I see The portraiture of his. Ill court his favours. But sure the bravery of his grief did put me Into a towring passion. Peace, who comes here?
75
80 HORATIO
Enter OSRIc, a Courtier

OSRIc HAMLET HORATIO HAMLET 85
Your Lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. I humbly thank you, sir.Dost know this water-y? No, my good lord. Thy state is the more gracious, for tis a vice to know him. He hath much land and fertile. Let a beast be lord of beasts and his crib shall stand at the kings mess. Tis a chuff, but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his Majesty. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Your bonnet to his right use: tis for the head. I thank your lordship, it is very hot. No, believe me, tis very cold, the wind is northerly. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion. Exceedingly, my lord, it is very sultryas twereI cannot tell how. My lord, his Majesty bade me signify to you that a has laid a great wager on your head. Sir, this is the matter [Signing to him to put on his hat] I beseech you remember Nay, good my lord, for my ease, in good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court Laertesbelieve me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent differences, of very soft society and great showing. Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry; for you shall nd in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see.
87 spacious in dirt owns a lot of land 9091 Your bonnet use put on your hat 94 indifferent somewhat 96 complexion temperament 105 differences qualities 106 soft society agreeable manners 107 card or calendar perfect example 108109 the continent see everything a gentleman should be
OSRIc
90
HAMLET
OSRIc HAMLET OSRIc 95 HAMLET
OSRIc
100 HAMLET
OSRIc
105
74 no more than to say one lasts no 8586 Let a mess. he would set up his feeding trough beside the longer than it takes to say one table of whoever is in power, even an 77 image likeness animal who rules over other animals 78 court his favours be friendly to 87 chuff peasant him 82 water-y mosquito
102
110 HAMLET
ACT 5 Scene 2
115
Sir, his denement suffers no perdition in you, though I know to divide him inventorially would dozy tharithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article and his infusion of such dearth and rareness as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror and who else would trace him his umbrage, nothing more. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him. The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? Sir? Ist not possible to understand in another tongue? You will tot, sir, really. What imports the nomination of this gentleman? Of Laertes? His purse is empty already, alls golden words are spent. Of him, sir. I know you are not ignorant I would you did, sir. Yet in faith if you did, it would not much approve me. Well, sir? You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence; but to know a man well were to know himself. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him, by them in his meed, hes unfellowed. Whats his weapon? Rapier and dagger. Thats two of his weapons. But well. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary horses, against the which he has impawned, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hanger, and so. Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit. What call you the carriages?
OSRIc HAMLET 120 OSRIc HORATIO
HAMLET 125 OSRIc HORATIO HAMLET OSRIc HAMLET 130 OSRIc HAMLET
135 OSRIc
HAMLET OSRIc HAMLET 140 OSRIc
145 HAMLET
113117 in the ... more in praising him truly, I take him to be of such great soul, and of such rare character, that, to 111112 to divide ... memory to list speak truthfully, his only equal is found his qualities would stupefy the memory in the mirror, or in his descendants (Hamlet is mocking Osrics overblown 116117 who else umbrage those language.) who follow him (his descendants) 112 yaw move unsteadily 120 rawer breath cruder language 110 his denement ... you your description does him justice
141 impawned wagered 122 Ist not tongue? cant you understand your own manner of speech 142 poniards daggers when someone else is speaking it 143 hanger Straps on the girdle 130 approve atter from which the sword hangs. 132 compare compete 144 very dear to fancy very 136 by them unfellowed by those who can judge his achievements, he is unmatched tastefully decorated 145 liberal conceit elegant design
ACT 5 Scene 2
HORATIO
103
I knew you must be edied by the margin ere you had done. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. The phrase would be more german to the matter if we could carry a cannon by our sidesI would it might be hangers till then. But on. Six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriagesthats the French bet against the Danish. Why is thisimpawned, as you call it? The king, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him he shall not exceed you three hits; he hath laid on twelve for nine. And it would come to immediate trial if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. How if I answer no? I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial. Sir, I will walk here in the hall. If it please his Majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me. Let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold his purpose, I will win for him and I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits. Shall I deliver you so? To this effect, sir, after what ourish your nature will. I commend my duty to your lordship. Yours. A does well to commend it himself, there are no tongues else fors turn. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head. A did comply with his dug before a sucked it. Thus has heand many more of the same bevy that I know the drossy age dotes ononly got the tune of the time and, out of an habit of encounter, a kind of yeasty collection, which carries them through and through the most fanned and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out. [Exit OSRIc
OSRIc 150 HAMLET
155 OSRIc
160 HAMLET OSRIc HAMLET
165
OSRIc HAMLET 170 OSRIc HAMLET
HORATIO 175 HAMLET
180
Enter a LORD
LORD
My lord, his Majesty commended him to you by young Osric, who brings back to him that you attend him in the hall. He sends to know if your pleasure hold to play
175 dug mothers breast 176 bevy ock 177 drossy worthless 178 yeasty collection frothy conversation 180 fanned and opinions select and rened men
147 edied by the margin enlightened 159160 vouchsafe the answer accept the wager by the explanation (of a note in the margin) 164 the breathing day exercise time 150151 The phrase sides the word carriage would be more 172173 A does turn. he may as appropriate if we were carrying a well praise himself; no one else will cannon, rather than a sword 174 lapwing A bird that leaves the nest soon after it is hatched.
177 tune of the time fashionable way 180181 do but out if they are of speaking tested, this frothy conversation is 178 out of an habit of encounter from attened; there is no substance to it habit
104
185 HAMLET
ACT 5 Scene 2
with Laertes or that you will take longer time. I am constant to my purposes, they follow the kings pleasure. If his tness speaks, mine is ready. Now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now. The king and queen and all are coming down. In happy time. The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play. She well instructs me. You will lose, my lord. I do not think so. Since he went into France, I have been in continual practice. I shall win at the odds. Thou wouldst not think how ill alls here about my heart; but it is no matter. Nay, good my lord. It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a woman. If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall their repair hither and say you are not t. Not a whit. We defy augury. There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all. Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows aught, what ist to leave betimes? Let be. [Exit LORD
LORD 190 HAMLET LORD
HAMLET HORATIO 195 HAMLET
HORATIO 200 HAMLET
HORATIO
HAMLET 205
A table prepared. TRUMpETS, DRUMS, and OFFIcERS with cushions. Enter KINg, QUEEN, LAERTES, OSRIc, and all the STATE, and ATTENDANTS with foils and daggers
KINg
Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
Puts LAERTESS hand into HAMLETS

210 HAMLET
215
Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong; But pardont as you are a gentleman. This presence knows, and you must needs have heard, How I am punishd with a sore distraction. What I have done That might your nature, honour, and exception Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness. Wast Hamlet wrongd Laertes? Never Hamlet.
200 gaingiving doubt; qualm 203 repair hither coming here 204 We I (Hamlet uses the royal we) 205 it death 207208 no man aught no one knows about the things that happen after his or her death 212 This presence everyone in this court 213 sore distraction mental illness 215 exception disapproval
190 In happy time. just at the right time 191192 use some gentle entertainment be polite 197 how ill alls here about my heart how heartsick I am
208 what ist to leave betimes what 204 augury predictions difference does it make to leave (die) 204 special providence a divine plan early
ACT 5 Scene 2
105
If Hamlet from himself be taen away, And when hes not himself does wrong Laertes, Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it. Who does it then? His madness. Ift be so, Hamlet is of the faction that is wrongd; His madness is poor Hamlets enemy. Sir, in this audience, Let my disclaiming from a purposd evil Free me so far in your most generous thoughts That I have shot my arrow oer the house And hurt my brother.
220
225
LAERTES
230
235
I am satised in nature, Whose motive in this case should stir me most To my revenge; but in my terms of honour I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement Till by some elder masters of known honour I have a voice and precedent of peace To keep my name ungord. But till that time I do receive your offerd love like love And will not wrong it. I embrace it freely, And will this brothers wager frankly play. Give us the foils. Come, one for me. Ill be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance Your skill shall like a star ith darkest night Stick ery off indeed. You mock me, sir. No, by this hand. Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet, You know the wager? Very well, my lord. Your Grace has laid the odds oth weaker side. I do not fear it. I have seen you both, But since he is betterd, we have therefore odds. This is too heavy. Let me see another. This likes me well. These foils have all a length? Ay, my good lord.
HAMLET
LAERTES 240 HAMLET
LAERTES HAMLET KINg 245 HAMLET
KINg
LAERTES 250 HAMLET OSRIc
They prepare to play

222 faction party 225 disclaiming from evil declaration that I intended no harm 228 in nature personally 230 in my terms of with respect to my 234 ungord untainted 232 elder masters honour experts in the matter of honour 233 I have peace I have it on good authority, and past examples, that we can be reconciled without a ght 237 frankly freely and honestly 240 foil A metal background placed behind a jewel to make it shine. 242 Stick ery off shine brightly 248 betterd the favourite to win 250 have all a length are all the same length
106
Enter SERVANTS with agons of wine
KINg
ACT 5 Scene 2
255
260
Set me the stoups of wine upon that table. If Hamlet give the rst or second hit, Or quit in answer of the third exchange, Let all the battlements their ordnance re: The king shall drink to Hamlets better breath, And in the cup an union shall he throw Richer than that which four successive kings In Denmarks crown have worngive me the cups And let the kettle to the trumpet speak, The trumpet to the cannoneer without, The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, Now the king drinks to Hamlet. Come, begin. And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Come on, sir. Come, my lord.
265 HAMLET LAERTES
They play
HAMLET LAERTES HAMLET 270 OSRIc LAERTES KINg
One. No. Judgement. A hit, a very palpable hit. Well, again. Stay, give me drink. Hamlet this pearl is thine. Heres to thy health.
Drums; trumpets; and shot goes off Give him the cup.
HAMLET 275
Ill play this bout rst. Set it by awhile. Come.
They play again Another hit. What say you?

LAERTES KINg QUEEN
I do confesst. Our son shall win. Hes fat and scant of breath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows. The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet. Good madam.
255 ordnance cannons 260 kettle kettledrum 270 palpable denite; clear 278 fat sweaty and unt 279 napkin handkerchief 280 carouses drinks
280 HAMLET
252 stoups large goblets
254 quit in exchange score in the 257 an union a precious pearl third bout
ACT 5 Scene 2
KINg QUEEN
107
Gertrude, do not drink. I will, my lord, I pray you pardon me.
She drinks and offers the cup to HAMLET

KINg 285 HAMLET QUEEN LAERTES KINg LAERTES HAMLET 290
[Aside] It is the poisond cup. It is too late. I dare not drink yet, madamby and by. Come, let me wipe thy face. My lord, Ill hit him now. I do not thinkt. [Aside] And yet it is almost against my conscience. Come for the third, Laertes. You do but dally. I pray you pass with your best violence. I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Say you so? Come on.
LAERTES
They play
OSRIc LAERTES
Nothing neither way. Have at you now.
LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then, in scufing, they change rapiers

295 KINg HAMLET
Part them; they are incensed. Nay, come again.
He wounds LAERTES. The QUEEN falls

OSRIc HORATIO OSRIc 300 LAERTES
Look to the queen there, ho! They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord? How ist, Laertes? Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric. I am justly killd with mine own treachery. How does the queen? She swoons to see them bleed. No, no, the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet! The drink, the drink! I am poisond. O villainy! Ho! Let the door be lockd. Treachery! Seek it out. It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain. No medicine in the world can do thee good; In thee there is not half an hours life.
291 you make a wanton of you are toying with 300 woodcock foolish game bird 300 springe snare
HAMLET KINg QUEEN
[Dies [Exit OSRIc
305 HAMLET
LAERTES
289 dally waste time 290 pass thrust
108
310
ACT 5 Scene 2
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenomd. The foul practice Hath turnd itself on me. Lo, here I lie, Never to rise again. Thy mothers poisond. I can no more. The kingthe kings to blame. The point envenomd too! Then, venom, to thy work. Wounds the KINg
ALL KINg HAMLET
315 HAMLET
Treason! treason! O yet defend me, friends. I am but hurt. Here, thou incestuous, murdrous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother. He is justly servd. It is a poison temperd by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my fathers death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me. Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu. You that look pale and tremble at this chance, That are but mutes or audience to this act, Had I but timeas this fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrestO, I could tell you But let it be. Horatio, I am dead, Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright To the unsatised. Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Heres yet some liquor left. As thart a man Give me the cup. Let go, by Heaven Ill hat. O God, Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind me. If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain To tell my story.
320 LAERTES
[KINg dies
[Dies
325 HAMLET
330
HORATIO
335 HAMLET
340
A march afar off and shot within What warlike noise is this?
311 Unbated and envenomd sharp and poisoned 319 thy union your pearl 321 temperd prepared 325 make thee free forgive or absolve you 327 chance occurrence 328 mutes silent spectators 329 fell cruel 330 strict just 330 I could tell you I could predict 333 unsatised those unknowing 334 antique Roman one who prefers death to dishonour 340 Absent thee awhile do not die yet; put off your happiness in eternity
ACT 5 Scene 2
109
Enter OSRIc
OSRIc
345 HAMLET
Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland, To the ambassadors of England gives This warlike volley. O, I die, Horatio. The potent poison quite oercrows my spirit. I cannot live to hear the news from England, But I do prophesy thelection lights On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice. So tell him, with thoccurrents more and less Which have solicitedthe rest is silence.
350
[Dies
HORATIO
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, And ights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
March within Why does the drum come hither? Enter FORTINbRAS, and the English AMbASSADORS, and SOLDIERS with drum and colours
355 FORTINbRAS HORATIO
Where is this sight? What is it you would see? If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search. This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death, What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, That thou so many princes at a shot So bloodily hast struck? The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late. The ears are senseless that should give us hearing To tell him his commandment is fullld, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. Where should we have our thanks? Not from his mouth, Had it thability of life to thank you. He never gave commandment for their death. But since, so jump upon this bloody question, You from the Polack wars and you from England Are here arrivd, give order that these bodies High on a stage be placed to the view, And let me speak to thyet unknowing world
349 voice vote 350 thoccurents the events 354 colours banners 356 aught anything 357 quarry heap of bodies 357 cries on havoc shouts of a massacre 358 toward being prepared 368 so jump question so directly after this bloody quarrel 371 stage platform
FORTINbRAS
360
FIRST AMbASSADOR
365 HORATIO
370
345 warlike volley gunre salute 346 oercrows triumphs over
351 solicited brought about; 348349 thelection Fortinbras the election will choose Fortinbras (to persuaded me be King of Denmark) 354 the drum marching soldiers
110
How these things came about. So shall you hear Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters, Of deaths put on by cunning and forcd cause, And, in this upshot, purposes mistook Falln on thinventors heads. All this can I Truly deliver.
FORTINbRAS 380
ACT 5 Scene 2
375
Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me. Of that I shall have also cause to speak, And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more. But let this same be presently performd Even while mens minds are wild, lest more mischance On plots and errors happen. Let four captains Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, For he was likely, had he been put on, To have provd most royal; and for his passage, The soldiers music and the rite of war Speak loudly for him. Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this Becomes the eld, but here shows much amiss. Go, bid the soldiers shoot. [Exeunt marching, bearing off the bodies, after which a peal of ordnance is shot off
HORATIO 385
FORTINbRAS
390
395
375 accidental judgements acts of divine punishment that appear accidental 376 put on carried out 376 forcd dishonest
377 purposes mistook plans that went wrong 382 rights of memory claims that have not been forgotten 383 Which now me which I now have the opportunity to lay claim to
385 draw on more persuade others 386 this same the ofcial inquiry 386 presently immediately 387 wild disturbed 390 put on tested
391 for his passage for his funeral procession 395 Becomes the eld is appropriate on the battleeld 396 s.d. peal of ordnance gun salute
111
Notes
112
Notes

Characters in The Play: Oxford University Press, 2010, Hamlet Online, ISBN: 978-0-19-544009-6

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Characters in the Play viii

Oxford University Press, 2010, Hamlet Online, ISBN: 978-0-19-544009-6