Hamlet (Modern, Editor’s Version). Internet Shakespeare Editions. University of Victoria. Editor: David Bevington. Adapted by James Sexton.

Scene 1

Enter^[1] old Polonius, with his man [Reynaldo] or two.

₈₉₀Polonius
Give him^[2] this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.
[He gives money and papers.]

Reynaldo
I will, my lord.

Polonius
You shall do marv’lous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire^[3]
Of his behavior.

₈₉₅Reynaldo
My lord, I did intend it.

Polonius
Marry,^[4] well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
Inquire me^[5] first what Danskers^[6] are in Paris,
And how,^[7] and who, what means,^[8] and where they keep,^[9]
₉₀₀What company, at what expense; and finding
By this encompassment and drift of question^[10]
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than your particular demands will touch it;^[11]
Take you,^[12] as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,
₉₀₅As thus: “I know his father, and his friends,
And in part him.” Do you mark this, Reynaldo?

Reynaldo
Ay, very well, my lord.

Polonius
“And in part him. But,” you may say, “not well,
But if’t be he I mean, he’s very wild,
₉₁₀Addicted so and so,” and there put on him^[13]
What forgeries^[14] you please–marry, none so rank^[15]
As may dishonor him, take heed of that,
But, sir, such wanton,^[16] wild, and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
₉₁₅To youth and liberty.

Reynaldo
As gaming,^[17] my lord?

Polonius
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling,^[18] drabbing^[19]–you may go so far.

Reynaldo
My lord, that would dishonor him.

₉₂₀Polonius
Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him
That he is open to incontinency^[20];
That’s not my meaning. But breathe^[21] his faults so quaintly^[22]
That they may seem the taints of liberty,^[23]
₉₂₅The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
Of general assault.^[24]

Reynaldo
But, my good lord–

Polonius
Wherefore should you do this?

Reynaldo
Ay, my lord, I would know that.

₉₃₀Polonius
Marry sir, here’s my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant.^[25]
You laying these slight sullies^[26] on my son
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i’th’ working,^[27]
Mark you, your party in converse,^[28] him you would sound,^[29]
₉₃₅Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty,^[30] be assured
He closes with you in this consequence:^[31]
“Good sir” (or so), or “friend,” or “gentleman,”
According to the phrase and the addition
₉₄₀Of man and country.

Reynaldo
Very good, my lord.

Polonius
And then, sir, does ‘a this, ‘a does–what was I about to say?
By the mass, I was about to say something.
Where did I leave?^[32]

₉₄₅Reynaldo
At “closes in the consequence.”
At “friend,” or so, and “gentleman.”

Polonius
At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry,
He closes with you thus: “I know the gentleman,
I saw him yesterday”–or t’other day,
₉₅₀Or then, or then–“with such and such, and as you say,
There was ‘a gaming, there o’ertook in’s rouse,
There falling out^[33] at tennis,” or perchance
“I saw him enter such a house of sale^[34],”
Videlicet,^[35] a brothel, or so forth. See you now,
₉₅₅Your bait of falsehood takes this carp^[36] of truth,
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses^[37] and with assays of bias,^[38]
By indirections find directions^[39] out;
So by my former lecture^[40] and advice
₉₆₀Shall you my son. You have me,^[41] have you not?

Reynaldo
My lord, I have.

Polonius
God b’wi’ ye, fare ye well.^[42]

Reynaldo
Good my lord.

Polonius
Observe his inclination in yourself.^[43]

₉₆₅Reynaldo
I shall, my lord.

Polonius
And let him ply his music.

Reynaldo
Well, my lord.
Exit Reynaldo.
Enter Ophelia.

Polonius
Farewell.–How now, Ophelia, what’s the matter?

Ophelia
Alas, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

Polonius
With what, i’th’ name of God?

Ophelia
My lord, as I was sewing in my chamber,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,^[44]
₉₇₅No hat upon his head,^[45] his stockings fouled,^[46]
Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle,^[47]
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport^[48]
As if he had been loosèd out of hell
₉₈₀To speak of horrors, he comes before me.

Polonius
Mad for thy love?

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

Polonius
What said he?

Ophelia
He took me by the wrist, and held me hard.
₉₈₅Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And with his other hand thus o’er his brow
He falls to such perusal of my face
As ‘a would draw it. Long stayed he so.
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
₉₉₀And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
That it did seem to shatter all his bulk^[49]
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
And with his head over his shoulder turned
₉₉₅He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
For out o’ doors he went without their help,
And to the last bended their light on me.

Polonius
Come, go with me. I will go seek the King.
This is the very ecstasy^[50] of love,
₁₀₀₀Whose violent property fordoes itself^[51]
And leads the will to desperate^[52] undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

₁₀₀₅Ophelia
No, my good lord, but as you did command
I did repel his letters, and denied
His access to me.

Polonius
That hath made him mad.
I am sorry that with better heed^[53] and judgment
₁₀₁₀I had not quoted^[54] him. I feared he did but trifle
And meant to wrack^[55] thee; but beshrew my jealousy!^[56]
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions^[57]
As it is common for the younger sort
₁₀₁₅To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.
This must be known,^[58] which, being kept close,^[59] might move
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.^[60]
Come.
Exeunt.

Scene 2

₁₀₂₀Flourish. Enter^[61] King, Queen, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern [with others].

King
Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Moreover that^[62] we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending.^[63] Something have you heard
₁₀₂₅Of Hamlet’s transformation–so I call it,
Since not th’exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that^[64] it was. What it should be,
More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him
So much from th’understanding of himself,
₁₀₃₀I cannot dream of. I entreat you both
That, being of^[65] so young days brought up with him,
And since so neighbored to his youth and humor,
That you vouchsafe your rest^[66] here in our court
Some little time, so by your companies^[67]
₁₀₃₅To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
So much as from occasions you may glean,^[68]
_1036.1Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus
That, opened,^[69] lies within our remedy.

Queen
Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,
And sure I am two men there is not living
₁₀₄₀To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry^[70] and good will
As to expend your time with us awhile
For the supply and profit of our hope,^[71]
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
₁₀₄₅As fits a king’s remembrance.^[72]

Rosencrantz
Both your majesties
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,^[73]
Put your dread pleasures^[74] more into command
Than to entreaty.

₁₀₅₀Guildenstern
But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves in the full bent^[75]
To lay our service freely at your feet
To be commanded.

King
Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.

₁₀₅₅Queen
Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz.
And I beseech you instantly to visit
My too-much-changèd son.–Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

₁₀₆₀Guildenstern
Heavens make our presence and our practices^[76]
Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen
Ay, amen.
Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern [and other Courtiers].
Enter Polonius.

Polonius
Th’ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
₁₀₆₅Are joyfully returned.

King
Thou still^[77] hast been the father of good news.

Polonius
Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king;
₁₀₇₀And I do think–or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy^[78] so sure
As it hath used to do–that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.

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

₁₀₇₅Polonius
Give first admittance to th’ambassadors.
My news shall be the fruit^[79] to that great feast.

King
Thyself do grace^[80] to them, and bring them in.
[Polonius goes to bring in the ambassadors.]
He tells me, my sweet Queen, that he hath found
The head^[81] and source of all your son’s distemper.

₁₀₈₀Queen
I doubt^[82] it is no other but the main:
His father’s death, and our o’erhasty marriage.
Enter Polonius, Voltemand, and Cornelius.

King
Well, we shall sift him.^[83]–Welcome, my good friends.
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?

₁₀₈₅Voltemand
Most fair return^[84] of greetings and desires.^[85]
Upon our first,^[86] he sent out to suppress
His nephew’s levies,^[87] which to him appeared
To be a preparation ‘gainst the Polack,
But, better looked into, he truly found
₁₀₉₀It was^[88] against your highness; whereat grieved
That so his sickness, age, and impotence^[89]
Was falsely borne in hand,^[90] sends out arrests^[91]
On Fortinbras, which he in brief obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine,^[92]
₁₀₉₅Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give th’assay of arms^[93] against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee^[94]
And his commission to employ those soldiers
₁₁₀₀So levied (as before) against the Polack,
With an entreaty herein further shown
[Giving a letter to the King]
That it might please you to give quiet pass^[95]
Through your dominions for his enterprise
On such regards of safety and allowance^[96]
₁₁₀₅As therein^[97] are set down.

King
It likes^[98] us well,
And at our more considered^[99] time we’ll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labor.
₁₁₁₀Go to your rest. At night we’ll feast together.
Most welcome home!
Exeunt Ambassadors.

Polonius
This business is well ended.
My liege^[100] and madam, to expostulate^[101]
What majesty should be, what duty is,
₁₁₁₅Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,^[102]
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
₁₁₂₀Mad call I it, for to define true madness,
What is’t but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.

Queen
More matter with less art.^[103]

Polonius
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
₁₁₂₅That he is mad, ’tis true. ‘Tis true ’tis pity,
And pity ’tis ’tis true–a foolish figure,^[104]
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him, then. And now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,
₁₁₃₀Or rather say the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause.^[105]
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.^[106]
Perpend.^[107]
I have a daughter–have whilst she is mine–
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
₁₁₃₅Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise.^[108]
[He reads from] the letter.]

“To the celestial and my soul’s idol, the most beautified Ophelia.”
₁₁₄₀That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase; “beautified” is a vile phrase. But
you shall hear. “These in her excellent white bosom, these,” etc.^[109]

Queen
Came this from Hamlet to her?

Polonius
Good madam, stay^[110] awhile, I will be faithful.^[111]
[He reads the] letter.

“Doubt thou the stars are fire,^[112]
₁₁₄₅Doubt that the sun doth move,^[113]
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love.”

“O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers.^[114] I have not art to reckon^[115]
my groans. But that I love thee best, oh, most best, believe it. Adieu.
Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is^[116] to him,
Hamlet.”

This in obedience hath my daughter shown me,
And, more above, hath his solicitings,
₁₁₅₅As they fell out, by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.^[117]

King
But how hath she received his love?

Polonius
What do you think of me?

King
As of a man faithful and honorable.

₁₁₆₀Polonius
I would fain^[118] prove so. But what might you think,
When I had seen this hot love on the wing–
As I perceived it (I must tell you that)
Before my daughter told me–what might you,
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think
₁₁₆₅If I had played the desk or table-book,^[119]
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,^[120]
Or looked upon this love with idle sight,^[121]
What might you think? No, I went round^[122] to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:^[123]
₁₁₇₀“Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star.^[124]
This must not be.” And then I precepts^[125] gave her
That she should lock herself from his resort,^[126]
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
₁₁₇₅And he, repulsèd, a short tale to make,
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
Thence to a watch,^[127] thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness,^[128] and by this declension^[129]
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
₁₁₈₀And all we mourn for.

King
[To Queen] Do you think ’tis this?

Queen
It may be, very like.

Polonius
Hath there been such a time–I’d fain^[130] know that–
That I have positively said “‘Tis so”
₁₁₈₅When it proved otherwise?

King
Not that I know.

Polonius
Take this from this,^[131] if this be otherwise.
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
₁₁₉₀Within the center.^[132]

King
How may we try^[133] it further?

Polonius
You know sometimes he walks four hours together
Here in the lobby.^[134]

₁₁₉₅Queen
So he does indeed.

Polonius
At such a time, I’ll loose^[135] my daughter to him.
Be you and I behind an arras^[136] then;
Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
And be not from his reason fall’n thereon,^[137]
₁₂₀₀Let me be no assistant for a state
But keep a farm and carters.^[138]

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

Queen
₁₂₀₅But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.

Polonius
Away, I do beseech you both, away.
I’ll board him presently.^[139] Oh, give me leave.–^[140]
Exit King and Queen.
How does my good Lord Hamlet?

Hamlet
Well, God-a-mercy.^[141]

₁₂₁₀Polonius
Do you know me, my lord?

Hamlet
Excellent, excellent well. You’re a fishmonger.^[142]

Polonius
Not I, my lord.

Hamlet
Then I would you were so honest a man.

Polonius
Honest, my lord?

₁₂₁₅Hamlet
Ay, sir, to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten
thousand.^[143]

Polonius
That’s very true, my lord.

Hamlet
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion–^[144]
Have you a daughter?

Polonius
I have, my lord.

Hamlet
Let her not walk i’th’ sun.^[145] Conception^[146] is a blessing, but as your daughter
may conceive, friend, look to’t.^[147]

₁₂₂₅Polonius
[Aside] How say you by that? Still harping^[148] on my daughter. Yet he knew me
not at first. ‘A said I was a fishmonger. ‘A is far gone, far gone. And truly,
in my youth I suffered much extremity for love, very near this. I’ll speak to
him again.–What do you read, my lord?

₁₂₃₀Hamlet
Words, words, words.

Polonius
What is the matter,^[149] my lord?

Hamlet
Between who?

Polonius
I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

Hamlet
₁₂₃₅Slanders sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men have gray beards,
that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plumtree
gum,^[150] and that they have a plentiful lack of wit,^[151] together with most weak hams–all
₁₂₄₀which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not
honesty^[152] to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am,
if, like a crab, you could go backward.

Polonius
₁₂₄₅[Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.–Will you walk out
of the air,^[153] my lord?

Hamlet
Into my grave.

Polonius
[Aside] Indeed, that’s out of the air. How pregnant^[154] sometimes his replies are!
₁₂₅₀A happiness^[155] that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not
so prosperously^[156] be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the
₁₂₅₅means of meeting between him and my daughter.–My honorable lord, I will
most humbly take my leave of you.

Hamlet
You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part
₁₂₆₀withal^[157]–except my life, except my life, except my life.
Enter Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.

Polonius
Fare you well, my lord.

Hamlet
These tedious old fools!

Polonius
[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] You go to seek the Lord Hamlet? There he is.

Rosencrantz
[To Polonius] God save you, sir.
[Exit Polonius.]

Guildenstern
My honored lord!

Rosencrantz
My most dear lord!

Hamlet
₁₂₇₀My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?

Rosencrantz
As the indifferent^[158] children of the earth.

Guildenstern
Happy^[159] in that we are not over-happy. On Fortune’s cap we are not the very
button.^[160]

₁₂₇₅Hamlet
Nor the soles of her shoe?

Rosencrantz
Neither, my lord.

Hamlet
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favors.^[161]

Guildenstern
Faith,^[162] her privates^[163] we.

₁₂₈₀Hamlet
In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true, she is a strumpet.^[164] What’s the
news?

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

Hamlet
₁₂₈₅Then is doomsday near.^[165] 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?

Guildenstern
Prison, my lord?

Hamlet
Denmark’s a prison.

₁₂₉₀Rosencrantz
Then is the world one.

Hamlet
A goodly one, in which there are many confines,^[166] wards, and dungeons,
Denmark being one o’th’ worst.

Rosencrantz
We think not so, my lord.

₁₂₉₅Hamlet
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.

Rosencrantz
Why, then your ambition makes it one. ‘Tis too narrow for your mind.

₁₃₀₀Hamlet
Oh, God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of
infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.

Guildenstern
Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very substance of the ambitious
₁₃₀₅is merely the shadow of a dream.^[167]

Hamlet
A dream itself is but a shadow.

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

Hamlet
₁₃₁₀Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the
beggars’ shadows.^[168] Shall we to th’court? For, by my fay,^[169]] I cannot reason.

Both
We'll wait upon^[170] you.

Hamlet
₁₃₁₅No such matter.^[171] I will not sort^[172] 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^[173] of friendship, what make you^[174] at Elsinore?

Rosencrantz
To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.

Hamlet
₁₃₂₀Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but I thank you; and sure, dear
friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny.^[175] Were you not sent for? Is it your
own inclining? Is it a free^[176] visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me. Come,
come, nay, speak.

Guildenstern
What should we say, my lord?

₁₃₂₅Hamlet
Why, anything--but to th' purpose.^[177] You were sent for, and there is a kind
of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to
color.^[178] I know the good King and Queen have sent for you.

Rosencrantz
To what end, my lord?

₁₃₃₀Hamlet
That you must teach me. But let me conjure^[179] you, by the rights of our
fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth,^[180] by the obligation of our ever-
preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer could charge you
₁₃₃₅withal,^[181] be even^[182] and direct with me whether you were sent for or no.

Rosencrantz
[Aside to Guildenstern] What say you?

Hamlet
[Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you.^[183]--If you love me, hold not off.^[184]

Guildenstern
My lord, we were sent for.

₁₃₄₀Hamlet
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and
your secrecy to the King and Queen molt no feather.^[185] I have of late, but
wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercise^[186]; and
₁₃₄₅indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition^[187] that this goodly frame,^[188] the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory. This most excellent canopy the air,
look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament,^[189] this majestical roof fretted with golden
fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent
₁₃₅₀congregation^[190] of vapors. What a piece of work is a man! How noble in
reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving^[191] how express^[192] and
admirable! In action, how like an angel! In apprehension,^[193] how like a god;
₁₃₅₅the beauty of the world; the paragon of animals. And yet to me what is this
quintessence^[194] of dust? Man delights not me, no, nor woman neither, though
by your smiling you seem to say so.

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

₁₃₆₀Hamlet
Why did you laugh, then, when I said man delights not me?

Rosencrantz
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment^[195] the
players shall receive from you. We coted them on the way, and hither are
they coming to offer you service.

Hamlet
He that plays the King shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of
me.^[196] The Adventurous Knight shall use his foil and target, the Lover shall not
₁₃₇₀sigh gratis,^[197] the Humorous Man shall end his part in peace,^[198] the Clown shall
make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o'th' sear,^[199] and the Lady shall say
her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't. What players are they?

Rosencrantz
₁₃₇₅Even those you were wont to take such delight in,^[200] the tragedians^[201] of the city.

Hamlet
How chances it they travel?^[202] Their residence^[203] both in reputation and profit
was better both ways.

Rosencrantz
₁₃₈₀I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation.^[204]

Hamlet
Do they hold the same estimation^[205] they did when I was in the city? Are they
so followed?

Rosencrantz
No, indeed, they are not.

Hamlet
How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

₁₃₈₅Rosencrantz
Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted pace.^[206] But there is, sir, an eyrie^[207] of
children, little eyases,^[208] that cry out on the top of question,^[209] and are most
tyrannically^[210] clapped for't. These are now the fashion, and so berattle the
₁₃₉₀common stages^[211]--so they call them--that many wearing rapiers are afraid of
goose quills^[212] and dare scarce come thither.

Hamlet
What, are they children? Who maintains 'em? How are they escoted?^[213] Will
they pursue the quality^[214] no longer than they can sing?^[215] Will they not say
₁₃₉₅afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common players^[216]--as it is most
like if their means are not better^[217]--their writers do them wrong to make them
exclaim against their own succession?^[218]

Rosencrantz
₁₄₀₀Faith,^[219] there has been much to-do^[220] on both sides, and the nation^[221] holds it no sin
to tarre^[222] 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.^[223]

Hamlet
Is't possible?

₁₄₀₅Guildenstern
Oh, there has been much throwing about of brains.^[224]

Hamlet
Do the boys carry it away?^[225]

Rosencrantz
Ay, that they do, my lord, Hercules and his load^[226] too.

Hamlet
₁₄₁₀It is not very strange, for my uncle is King of Denmark, and those that would
make mows^[227] at him while my father lived give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred
ducats^[228] apiece for his picture in little.^[229] 'Sblood,^[230] there is something in this more than
natural, if philosophy could find it out.
₁₄₁₅Flourish for the players.^[231]

Guildenstern
There are the players.

Hamlet
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come.
Th'appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony.^[232] Let me comply with you
₁₄₂₀in this garb,^[233] lest my extent to the players,^[234] which, I tell you, must show fairly outward,^[235] should more appear like entertainment^[236] than yours.^[237] You are
welcome. But my uncle-father^[238] and aunt-mother^[239] are deceived.

Guildenstern
In what, my dear lord?

₁₄₂₅Hamlet
I am but mad north-north-west;^[240] when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk
from a handsaw.^[241]
Enter Polonius.

Polonius
Well be^[242] with you, gentlemen.

Hamlet
₁₄₃₀Hark you, Guildenstern, and you too, at each ear a hearer: that great baby
you see there is not yet out of his swaddling clouts.^[243]

Rosencrantz
Haply^[244] he is the second time come to them, for they say an old man is twice
a child.

Hamlet
₁₄₃₅I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players. Mark it.-- You say right,
sir, o'Monday morning, 'twas then indeed.

Polonius
My lord, I have news to tell you.

Hamlet
My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor^[245] in Rome--

₁₄₄₀Polonius
The actors are come hither, my lord.

Hamlet
Buzz, buzz.^[246]

Polonius
Upon my honor--

Hamlet
Then came each actor on his ass.

Polonius
₁₄₄₅The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral,
pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-
historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited.^[247]Seneca^[248] cannot be
₁₄₅₀too heavy nor Plautus^[249] too light. For the law of writ and the liberty,^[250] these^[251] are
the only men.

Hamlet
O Jephthah, judge of Israel,^[252] what a treasure hadst thou?

Polonius
What a treasure had he, my lord?

Hamlet
Why,
One fair daughter and no more,
₁₄₅₅The which he lovèd passing^[253] well.^[254]

Polonius
[Aside] Still on my daughter.

Hamlet
Am I not i'th' right, old Jephthah?

Polonius
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well.

₁₄₆₀Hamlet
Nay, that follows not.^[255]

Polonius
What follows then, my lord?^[256]

Hamlet
Why,
As by lot,^[257]
God wot,^[258]
and then you know,
It came to pass,
As most like it was.^[259]
₁₄₆₅The first row of the pious chanson will show you more,^[260] for look where my
abridgment comes.^[261]
Enter four or five Players.
You are welcome, masters,^[262] welcome all.--I am glad to see thee well. Welcome,
good friends.--Oh, my old friend! Thy face is valanced^[263] since I saw thee last.
₁₄₇₀Com'st thou to beard^[264] me in Denmark?-- What, my young lady^[265] and mistress!^[266]
By'r Lady,^[267] your ladyship is nearer heaven^[268] than when I saw you last, by the
altitude of a chopine.^[269] Pray God your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold,^[270] be
₁₄₇₅not cracked within the ring.^[271]--Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en to't,
like French falconers:^[272] fly at anything we see. We'll have a speech straight.^[273]
Come, give us a taste of your quality.^[274] Come, a passionate speech.

First Player
What speech, my good lord?

Hamlet
₁₄₈₀I heard thee speak me^[275] a speech once, but it was^[276] never acted, or, if it was, not
above once; for the play, I remember, pleased not the million, 'twas caviare
to the general.^[277] But it was, as I received it, and others whose judgments in
such matters cried in the top of mine,^[278] an excellent play, well digested in the
₁₄₈₅scenes,^[279] set down with as much modesty^[280] as cunning.^[281] I remember one said
there were no sallets^[282] in the lines to make the matter savory, nor no matter in
_1488.1the phrase that might indict^[283] the author of affectation, but called it an honest
₁₄₉₀method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine.^[284] One speech in't I chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido,^[285]
and thereabout of it especially where he speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this line--let me see, let me see--
The rugged^[286] Pyrrhus,^[287] like th'Hyrcanian beast--^[288]
'Tis not so, it begins with Pyrrhus.
The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,^[289]
₁₄₉₅Black as his purpose, did the night resemble
When he lay couchèd^[290] in the ominous horse,^[291]
Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared
With heraldry more dismal.^[292] Head to foot
Now is he total gules,^[293] horridly tricked^[294]
₁₅₀₀With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
Baked and empasted with the parching streets^[295]
That lend a tyrannous^[296] and damnèd light
To their vile murders.^[297] Roasted in wrath and fire,
And thus o'ersizèd^[298] with coagulate^[299] gore,
₁₅₀₅With eyes like carbuncles,^[300] the hellish Phyrrhus
Old grandsire Priam seeks.
So proceed you.

Polonius
'Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.

First Player
Anon^[301] he finds him,
₁₅₁₀Striking too short at Greeks. His antique^[302] sword,
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
Repugnant to command.^[303] Unequal matched,
Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide,
But with the whiff and wind of his fell^[304] sword
₁₅₁₅Th'unnervèd father^[305] falls. Then senseless Ilium,^[306]
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
Stoops to his base,^[307] and with a hideous crash
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear; for lo! his sword,
Which was declining^[308] on the milky^[309] head
₁₅₂₀Of reverend Priam, seemed i'th' air to stick.
So as a painted^[310] tyrant Pyrrhus stood,
And, like a neutral to his will and matter,^[311]
Did nothing.
But as we often see against^[312] some storm
A silence in the heavens, the rack^[313] stand still,
₁₅₂₅The bold winds speechless, and the orb^[314] below
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region,^[315] so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
A rousèd vengeance sets him new a-work,
And never did the Cyclops'^[316] hammers fall
₁₅₃₀On Mars his^[317] armor forged for proof eterne^[318]
With less remorse^[319] than Pyrrhus' bleeding^[320] sword
Now falls on Priam.
Out, out,^[321] thou strumpet^[322] Fortune! All you gods
In general synod^[323] take away her power,
₁₅₃₅Break all the spokes and fellies^[324] from her wheel,
And bowl the round nave^[325] down the hill of heaven^[326]
As low as to the fiends!

Polonius
This is too long.

Hamlet
₁₅₄₀It shall to the barber's with your beard.--Prithee, say on. He's for a jig,^[327] or a
tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on. Come to Hecuba..^[328]

First Player
But who, oh, who, had seen the moblèd^[329] queen--.

Hamlet
The moblèd queen!

Polonius
That's good. "Mobleèd queen" is good.

₁₅₄₅First Player
Run barefoot up and down, threat'ning the flames
With bisson rheum,^[330] a clout upon that head
Where late^[331] the diadem^[332] stood, and, for a robe,
About her lank and all-o'erteemèd loins^[333]
₁₅₅₀A blanket in th'alarm of fear caught up--
Who this had seen,^[334] with tongue in venom steeped
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounced;^[335]
But if^[336] the gods themselves did see her then,
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
₁₅₅₅In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,
The instant burst of clamor that she made,
Unless things mortal move them not at all,
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven^[337]
And passion^[338] in the gods.

₁₅₆₀Polonius
Look whe'er he has not turned his color, and has tears in's eyes.--Prithee,
no more.

Hamlet
'Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon. [To Polonius] Good my lord,
will you see the players well bestowed?^[339] Do ye hear, let them be well used,^[340]
₁₅₆₅for they are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time.^[341] After your death
you were better have a bad epitaph^[342] than their ill report while you live.

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

₁₅₇₀Hamlet
God's bodykins,^[343] man, much better. Use every man after his desert and who should
scape whipping? Use them after^[344] your own honor and dignity; the less they
deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in.

₁₅₇₅Polonius
Come, sirs.
Exit Polonius.

Hamlet
Follow him, friends. We'll hear a play tomorrow. [Aside to the First Player]
Dost thou hear me, old friend, can you play "The Murder of Gonzago"?

[First] Player
Ay, my lord.

₁₅₈₀Hamlet
We'll ha't^[345] tomorrow night. You could for a need^[346] study^[347] a speech of some
dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down and insert in't, could you not?

[First] Player
Ay, my lord.

Hamlet
₁₅₈₅Very well. Follow that lord, and look you mock him not.
Exeunt Players.
My good friends, I'll leave you till night. You are welcome to Elsinore.

Rosencrantz
Good my lord.^[348]

Hamlet
Ay, so, God b'wi' you.
Exeunt [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern].
Now I am alone.
₁₅₉₀Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,
Could force his soul so to his whole conceit^[349]
That from her working^[350] all his visage^[351] waned,^[352]
₁₅₉₅Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,^[353]
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
With forms to his conceit?^[354] And all or nothing?
For Hecuba?
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
₁₆₀₀That 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^[355] with horrid^[356] speech,
Make mad the guilty, and appal the free,^[357]
₁₆₀₅Confound the ignorant,^[358] and amaze^[359] indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,
A dull and muddy-mettled^[360] rascal, peak^[361]
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,^[362]
And can say nothing; no, not for a king
₁₆₁₀Upon whose property^[363] and most dear life
A damned defeat^[364] was made. Am I a coward?
Who calls me villain? Breaks my pate across?^[365]
Plucks off my beard^[366] and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by th' nose? Gives me the lie i'th' throat^[367]
₁₆₁₅As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this,^[368]
Ha? 'Swounds,^[369] I should take it;^[370] for it cannot be^[371]
But I am pigeon-livered,^[372] and lack gall
To make oppression bitter,^[373] or ere^[374] this
I should ha' fatted all the region kites^[375]
₁₆₂₀With this slave's offal.^[376] Bloody, bawdy^[377] villain!
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless^[378] villain!
Oh, vengeance!
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,^[379]
That I, the son of a dear father murdered,
₁₆₂₅Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must like a whore unpack my heart with words,
And fall a-cursing like a very drab,^[380]
A scullion.^[381] Fie upon't, foh! About,^[382] my brain!
Hum, I have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at a play
₁₆₃₀Have by the very cunning^[383] of the scene
Been struck so to the soul that presently^[384]
They have proclaimed their malefactions;^[385]
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players
₁₆₃₅Play something like the murder of my father
Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;
I'll tent him to the quick.^[386] If 'a but blench^[387]
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
May be the devil, and the devil hath power
₁₆₄₀T'assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps,
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses^[388] me to damn me. I'll have grounds
More relative^[389] than this. The play's the thing
₁₆₄₅Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.
Exit.