Polonius.
Give him this mony, and these notes, Reynoldo.

Rey.
I will, my lord.

Pol.
You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynoldo,

Before you visit him, to make inquiry
Of his behaviour.

Rey.
My lord, I did intend it.

Pol.
Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, Sir,
Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expence; and finding,
By this encompassment and drift of question,
That they do know my son, come you more near;
Then 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, him—Do you mark this, Reynoldo?

Rey.
Ay, very well, my lord.

Pol.
And, in part, him—but you may say—not well;
But if't be he, I mean, he's very wild;
Addicted so and so—and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank,
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;
But Sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips,
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

Rey.
As gaming, my lord—

Pol.
Ay, or ^{1 note}drinking, [fencing,] swearing,
Quarrelling, drabbing—You may go so far.

Rey.
My lord, that would dishonour him.

Pol.
Faith, no, as you may season it in the Charge;
You must not put (a) ^note an utter scandal on him,
That he is open to incontinency,
That's not my meaning; but breathe his faults so quaintly,

That they may seem the taints of liberty;
The flash and out-break of a fiery mind,
^{2 note}A savageness in unreclaimed blood
^{3 note}Of general assault.

Rey.
But, my good lord—

Pol.
Wherefore should you do this?

Rey.
Ay, my lord, I would know that.

Pol.
Marry, Sir, here's my drift;
And I believe it is a fetch of wit.
You, laying these slight sullies on my son,
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' th' working,
Mark you, your party in converse, he you would sound,
Having ever seen, in the prenominate crimes,
The youth, you breathe of, guilty, be assur'd,
^{4 note}He closes with you in this consequence;
^{5 note}
Good sir, or sire, or friend, or gentleman,
(According to the phrase or the addition
Of man and country.)

Rey.
Very good, my lord.

Pol.
And then, Sir, does he this;
He does—what was I about to say?
I was about to say something—where did I leave?—

Rey.
At, closes in the consequence.

Pol.
At, closes in the consequence—Ay marry.
He closes thus;—I know the gentleman,
I saw him yesterday, or t' other day,
Or then, with such and such; and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in's rowse,
There falling out at tennis; or, perchance,
I saw him enter such a house of sale,
Videlicet, a Brothel, or so forsooth.—See you now;

Your bait of Falshood takes this carp of Truth;
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlaces, and with assays of Byas,
By indirections find directions out:
So by my former lecture and advice
Shall you my son; you have me, have you not?

Rey.
My lord, I have.

Pol.
God b' w' you; fare you well.

Rey.
Good my lord—

Pol.
Observe his inclination (a) ^note e'en yourself.

Rey.
I shall, my lord.

Pol.
And let him ply his musick.

Rey.
Well, my lord. [Exit. SCENE II. Enter Ophelia.

Pol.
Farewel. How now, Ophelia, what's the matter?

Oph.
Alas, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

Pol.
With what, in the name of heav'n?

Oph.
My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his Doublet all unbrac'd,
No hat upon his head, his stockings loose,
Ungarter'd, and down-gyred to his ancle;
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; thus he comes before me.

Pol.
Mad for thy love?

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

Pol.
What said he?

Oph.
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 o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face,
As he would draw it. Long time staid he so;
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He rais'd a sigh, so piteous and profound,
That it did seem to shatter all his bulk,
And end his Being. Then he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd,
He seem'd 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.

Pol
Come, go with me, I will go seek the King.
This is the very ecstasie of love;
Whose violent property foregoes itself,
And leads the will to desp'rate undertakings,
As oft as any passion under heav'n,
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry;
What, have you giv'n him any hard words of late?

Oph.
No, my good lord; but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters, and deny'd
His access to me.

Pol.
That hath made him mad.
I'm sorry, that with better speed and judgment
^{6 note}I had not noted him. I fear'd, he trifl'd,
And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy;
It seems, 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.

^{7 note}
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move
More grief to hide, than hate to utter love. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Changes to the Palace. Enter King, Queen, Rosincrantz, Guildenstern, Lords, and other Attendants.

King.
Welcome, dear Rosincrantz, and Guildenstern!
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need, we have to use you, did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something you have heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it,
Since not th' exterior, nor the inward man
Resembles That it was. What it should be
More than his Father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of. I entreat you Both,
That being of so young days brought up with him,
And since so neighbour'd to his youth and 'havour,
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 occasions you may glean,
If aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,
That open'd lies within our remedy.

Queen.
Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you;
And, sure I am, two men there are not living,
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
^{8 note}To shew us so much gentry and good will,
As to extend your time with us a while,
^{9 note}For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks,
As fits a King's remembrance.

Ros.
Both your Majesties
Might, by the sov'reign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.

Guil.
But we both obey,
And here give up our selves, * ^notein the full bent,
To lay our service freely at your feet.

King.
Thanks, Rosincrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.

Queen.
Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosincrantz.
And, I beseech you, instantly to visit
My too much changed son. Go some of ye,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guil.
Heav'ns make our presence and our practices
Pleasant and helpful to him! [Exeunt Ros. and Guil.

Queen.
Amen. Enter Polonius.

Pol.
Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good Lord,
Are joyfully return'd.

King.
Thou still hast been the father of good news.

Pol.
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;
And I do think, (or else this brain of mine

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
As I have us'd to do) that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

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

Pol.
Give first admittance to th' ambassadors:
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.

King.
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [Exit Pol.
He tells me, my sweet Queen, that he hath found
The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Queen.
I doubt, it is no other but the main,
His father's death, and our o'er-hasty marriage. SCENE IV. Re-enter Polonius, with Voltimand, and Cornelius.

King.
Well, we shall sift him.—Welcome, my good friends!
Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?

Volt.
Most fair return of Greetings, and Desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His Nephew's levies, which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack:
But, better look'd into, he truly found
It was against your Highness: Whereat griev'd,
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 fine,
Makes vow before his uncle, never more
To give th' assay 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 shewn,

That it might please you to give quiet Pass
Through your Dominions for this enterprize,
On such regards of safety and allowance,
As therein are set down.

King.
It likes us well;
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour.
Go to your Rest; at night we'll feast together.
Most welcome home! [Exit Ambas.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;This business is well ended.
&wlquo;^{1 note}

&wlquo;What Majesty should be, what duty is,
&wlquo;Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
&wlquo;Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
&wlquo;Therefore, since brevity's the soul of wit,
&wlquo;And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
&wlquo;I will be brief; your noble son is mad;
&wlquo;Mad, call I it; for, to define true madness,
&wlquo;What is't, but to be nothing else but mad?
&wlquo;But let that go.—

Queen.
More matter, with less art.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;Madam, I swear, I use no art at all:—
&wlquo;That he is mad, 'tis true; 'tis true, 'tis pity;
&wlquo;And pity 'tis, 'tis true; A foolish figure;
&wlquo;But farewel it; for I will use no art.
&wlquo;Mad let us grant him then; and now remains
&wlquo;That we find out the cause of this effect,
&wlquo;Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
&wlquo;For this effect, defective, comes by cause;
&wlquo;Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.—Perpend.—

&wlquo;I have a daughter; have, whilst she is mine;
&wlquo;Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
&wlquo;Hath giv'n me this; now gather, and surmise. [He opens a letter, and reads.]

To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beatified Ophelia.—That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase: (a) ^note beatified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear—These to her excellent white bosom, these.—

Queen.

Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol.
Good Madam, stay a while, I will be faithful.

Doubt thou, the stars are fire, [Reading.
Doubt, that the Sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt, I love.

Oh, dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, oh most best, believe it.

Adieu.

Thine evermore, most dear Lady, whilst
this Machine is to him, Hamlet.

King.
But how hath she receiv'd his love?

Pol.
What do you think of me?

King.
As of a man, faithful and honourable.

Pol.
I would fain prove so. But what might you think?
When I had seen this hot love on the wing,
(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me:) what might you,

Or my dear Majesty your Queen here, think?
^{3 note}


If I had play'd the desk or table-book,
Or giv'n my heart a working mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
&wlquo;What might you think? no, I went round to work,
&wlquo;And my young mistress thus I did bespeak;
&wlquo;Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy sphere,
&wlquo;This must not be; and then, I precepts gave her,
&wlquo;That she should lock herself from his resort,
&wlquo;Admit no messengers, receive no tokens:
&wlquo;^{4 note}


Which done, see too the fruits of my advice;
&wlquo;For, he repulsed, ^{5 note}


a short tale to make,
&wlquo;Fell to a sadness, then into a fast,
&wlquo;Thence to a watching, thence into a weakness,

&wlquo;Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
&wlquo;Into the madness wherein now he raves,
&wlquo;And all we wail for.

King.
Do you think this?

Queen.
It may be very likely.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;Hath there been such a time, I'd fain know that,
&wlquo;That I have positively said, 'tis so,
&wlquo;When it prov'd otherwise?

King.
Not that I know.

Pol.
Take this from this, if this be otherwise. [Pointing to his Head and Shoulder.
&wlquo;If circumstances lead me, I will find
&wlquo;Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
&wlquo;Within the center.

King.
How may we try it further?

Pol.
You know, sometimes he walks four hours together,
Here in the lobby.

Queen.
So he does, indeed.

Pol.
At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him;
Be you and I behind an Arras then,
Mark the encounter: If he love her not,
And be not from his reason fal'n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a State,
But keep a farm and carters.

King.
We will try it. SCENE V. Enter Hamlet reading.

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

Pol.
Away, I do beseech you, both away.
I'll board him presently. [Exeunt King and Queen.
Oh, give me leave.—How does my good lord Hamlet?

Ham.

Well, God o' mercy.

Pol.

Do you know me, my lord?

Ham.

Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.

Pol.

Not I, my lord?

Ham.

Then I would you were so honest a man.

Pol.

Honest, my lord?

Ham.

Ay, Sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man pick'd out of ten thousand.

Pol.

That's very true, my lord.

Ham.
^{6 note}

Pol.

I have, my lord.

Ham.

Let her not walk i' th' Sun; conception is a blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to't.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;How say you by that? still harping on my daughter!—
&wlquo;Yet he knew me not at first; he said, I was a fishmonger.
&wlquo;He is far gone; and, truly, in my youth, [Aside.
&wlquo;I suffer'd much extremity for love;
&wlquo;Very near this.—I'll speak to him again.
What do you read, my lord?

Ham.

Words, words, words.

Pol.

What is the matter, my lord?

Ham.

Between whom?

Pol.

I mean the matter that you read, my lord.

Ham.

^{7 note}