Scene I.
Enter Polonius with his Man.
“Pol.
Give him this money, and these two notes Reynaldo.
“Rey.
I will my Lord.
“Pol.
You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,
“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 your 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 Reynaldo?
“Rey.
I very well my Lord.
“Pol.
And in part him, but you may say not well,
“But if it be he I mean he's very wild,
“Addicted so and so, and there put on him
-- 23 --
“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.
I, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
“Quarrelling, drabbing, you may go so far.
“Rey.
My Lord, that would dishonour him.
“Pol.
Faith as you may season it in the charge.
“You must not put another scandal on him,
“That he is open to incontinency,
“That's not my meaning, but breath his faults so quaintly,
“That they may seem the taints of liberty,
“The flash and out-break of a fiery mind,
“A savageness in unreclaimed blood
“Of general assault.
“Rey.
But my good Lord.
“Pol.
Wherefore should you do this?
“Rey.
I 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 with working,
“Mark you, your party in converse, he you would sound,
“Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
“The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd
“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.
“Rey.
Very good my Lord.
“Pol.
And then Sir does he this, he does: what was I about to say?
“By the Mass I was about to say something,
“Where did I leave?
“Rey.
At closes in the consequence.
“Pol.
At closes in the consequence; I marry,
“He closes thus, I know the Gentleman,
“I saw him yesterday, or th' other day,
“Or then, or then, with such or such, and, as you say,
“There was he gaming there, or took in's rowse,
“There falling out at Tennis, or perchance
“I saw him enter such and such a house of sale,
“Videlicet, a Brothel, or so forth. See you now,
-- 24 --
“Your bait of falshood takes this carp of truth,
“And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
“With windlesses, and with essays of byas,
“By indirects 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 buy ye, fare ye well.
“Rey.
Good my Lord.
“Pol.
Observe his inclination in your self.
“Rey.
I shall my Lord.
“Pol.
And let him ply his Musick.
“Rey.
Well my Lord.
[Exit Rey. Enter Ophelia.
“Pol.
Farewel.’ How now Ophelia, what's the matter?
Oph.
O my Lord, my Lord, I have been so affrighted.
Polo.
With what?
Oph.
My Lord as I was reading in my closet,
Prince Hamlet with his doublet all unbrac'd,
No hat upon his head, his stockings loose,
“Ungartred, and down gyved to his anckle,
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous
As if he had been sent from hell
To speak of horrors, 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 hold me hard,
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And with his other hand thus o're his brow
He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it: long staid he so,
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised 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 shoulders turn'd
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out of doors he went without their helps,
And to the last bended their light on me.
Pol
Come, go with me, I will go seek the King,
This is the very extasie of love,
-- 25 --
“Whose violent property foregoes it self,
“And leads the will to desperate 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?
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 am sorry that with better heed and judgment
“I had not coated him; I fear'd he did but trifle,
“And meant to wrack thee, but beshrew my jealousie;
“By heaven it is as proper to our age
“To cast beyond our selves in our opinions,
“As it is common for the younger sort
“To lack discretion:” Come, go with me to the King,
This must be known, which being kept close might move
More grief to hide, than hate to utter love.
Come.
[Exeunt.
Flourish. Enter King, Queen, Rosencraus and Guildenstern.
King.
Welcome good Rosencraus and Guildenstern,
Besides, that we 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 call it;
Sith nor th' exterior, 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 the understanding of himself
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,
That being of so young days brought up with him,
“And sith so neighboured 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 ought to us unknown afflicts him thus,
That lies within our remedy.
Queen.
Good Gentlemen, he hath much talkt of you,
And sure I am two men there are not living
To whom he more adheres; if it will please you
To shew us so much gentleness and good will,
As to employ your time with us a while
For the supply and profit of our hope
-- 26 --
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a Kings remembrance.
Ros.
Both your Majesties
Might by the Sovereign power you have over us
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to intreaty.
Guil.
But we both obey,
And here give up our selves in the full bent
To lay our service freely at your feet.
King.
Thanks Rosencraus and gentle Guildenstern.
“Queen.
Thanks Guildenstern and gentle Rosencraus.
And I beseech you instantly to visit
My too much changed son: go some of you
And bring these Gentlemen where Hamlet is.
Guil.
Heavens make our presence and our practices
Pleasant and helpful to him.
Queen.
Amen.
[Exeunt Ros. and Guil.
Enter Polonius.
“Pol.
Th' Embassadors from Norway, my good Lord,
“Are joyfully return'd.
“King.
Thou still hast been the father of good news.
“Pol.
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 think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
As it has us'd to do, that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
King.
O speak of that, that I do long to hear.
“Pol.
Give first admittance to the Embassadors.
“My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.
“King.
Thy self do grace to them, and bring them in.
“He tells me, my dear Gertrud, he hath found
“The head and source of all your sons distemper.
“Queen.
I doubt it is no other but the main,
“His fathers death, and our hasty marriage.
Enter Embassadors.
“King.
Well, we shall sift him: welcome my good friends:
“Say Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?
“Vol.
Most fair return of greetings and desires:
“Upon our first he sent out to suppress
“His Nephews levies, which to him appear'd
“To be a preparation 'gainst the Pollack,
“But better lookt into, he truly found
-- 27 --
“It was against your Highness; whereat griev'd
“That so his sickness, age, and impotence
“Was falsly born in hand, sends out arrests
“On Fortinbrass, 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 threescore thousand Crowns in annual fee,
“And his Commission, to imploy those Souldiers
“So levied as before, against the Pollack,
“With an entreaty herein further shown,
“That it might please you to give quiet pass
“Through your Dominions for this enterprize
“On such regards of safety and allowance
“As herein are set down.
“King.
It likes us well,
“And at our more considered 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.
[Exeunt Embassadors.
“Pol.
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,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time;
Therefore brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes:
I will be brief: your noble son is mad,
Mad 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.
Pol.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all,
That he's mad, 'tis true, 'tis true, 'tis pity,
And pity 'tis 'tis true, a foolish figure,
But farewel 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,
Or rather say the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Consider.
-- 28 --
I have a daughter, have 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 beautified Ophelia.
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; beautified is a vile phrase: but you
shall hear, thus in her excellent white bosom, These, &c.
Queen.
Came this from Hamlet to her?
Pol.
Good Madam stay a while, I will be faithful.
Doubt thou the Stars are fire,
Letter.
Doubt that the Sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a lyar,
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.
Pol.
This in obedience hath my daughter shown me,
And more concerning his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
“All given to mine ear.
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,
If I had plaid the Desk, or Table-book,
“Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
Or lookt upon this love with idle sight,
What might you think? no, I went round to work,
And my young Mistriss thus I charg'd:
Lord Hamlet is a Prince above thy sphere,
This must not be: and then I precepts gave her,
That she should lock her self from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;
And he repell'd, a short tale to make,
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
“Thence to a watch, then into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and by this declension
Into the madness wherein he now raves,
And all we mourn for.
-- 29 --
King.
Do you think 'tis this?
Queen.
It may be very likely.
Pol.
Hath there been such a time, I would fain know that,
That I have positively said, 'tis so,
When it prov'd otherwise?
King.
Not that I know.
Pol.
Take this from this, if this be otherwise,
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
King.
How may we try it further?
Pol.
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 the 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.
[Enter Hamlet.
Queen.
But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
Pol.
Away, I do beseech you both away,
[Exit King and Queen.
I'll board him presently. Oh give me leave.
“How does my good Lord Hamlet?
“Ham.
Excellent well.
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.
I Sir, to be honest as this world goes
Is to be one man pickt out of ten thousand.
Pol.
That's very true my Lord.
Ham.
For if the Sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good
kissing carrion. Have you a daughter?
Pol.
I have my Lord.
Ham.
Let her not walk i'th Sun, conception is a blessing,
But as your daughter may conceive, friend look to't.
Pol.
How say you by that? still harping on my Daughter, yet he
knew me not at first, but said I was a fish-monger, he is far gone; and
truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love, very near this:
I'le speak to him again. What do you read my Lord?
Ham.
Words, words, words.
-- 30 --
Pol.
What is the matter my Lord?
Ham.
Between who?
Pol.
I mean the matter that you read my Lord.
Ham.
Slanders Sir; for the Satyrical Rogue says here, that old
men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging
thick Amber, and Plum-tree Gum, and that they have a plentiful
lack of wit, together with most weak hams, all which Sir
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty
to have it thus set down, for your self Sir shall grow old, as I
am, if like a crab you could go backward.
Pol.
Though this be madness, yet there is method in't, will you
walk out of the air my Lord?
Ham.
Into my grave.
Pol.
Indeed that's out of the air; how pregnant sometimes his
replyes are! a happiness that often madness hits on, “which reason
and sanctity could not so happily be delivered of.” I will
leave him and my daughter. My Lord I will take my leave of you.
Ham.
You cannot take from me any thing that I will not more
willingly part withal, except my life, except my life, except my life.
Enter Guildenstern and Rosencraus.
Pol.
Fare you well my Lord.
Ham.
These tedious old fools.
Pol.
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet, there he is.
Ros.
Save you Sir.
Guil.
My honoured Lord.
Ros.
My most dear Lord.
Ham.
My excellent good friends, how dost thou Guildenstern?
Ah Rosencraus, good lads, how do you both?
“Ros.
As the indifferent children of the earth.
“Guil.
Happy in that we are not ever happy on fortunes cap,
“We are not the very button.
“Ham.
Nor the soles of her shooe.
“Ros.
Neither my Lord.
“Ham.
Then you live about her wast, or in the middle of her favours.
“Guil.
Faith her privates we.
“Ham.
In the secret parts of fortune, oh most true, she is a strumpet.”
What news?
Ros.
None my Lord, but the world's grown honest.
Ham.
Then is Dooms-day near: sure your news is not true.
But in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsenour?
Ros.
To visit you my Lord no other occasion.
Ham.
Begger that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but I thank
you, “and sure dear friends my thanks are too dear a half peny:”
were you not sent for? is it your own inclining? is it a free visitation?
-- 31 --
come, come, deal justly with me, come, come, nay speak.
Guil.
What should we say my Lord?
Ham
Any thing, but toth' 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.
Ros.
To what end my Lord?
Ham.
That you must teach me: but let me conjure you by the
rights of our fellowships, by the consonancy of our youth, by the
obligation of our ever preferred 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.
Ros.
What say you?
Ham.
Nay then I have an eye of you, if you love me hold not off.
Guil.
My Lord we were sent for.
Ham.
I will tell you why, so shall my anticipation prevent your
discovery, and your secresie 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 steril promontory; this most excellent Canopy the air look
you, this brave o're-hanged firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire, why it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent
congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is man! how
noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving
how express and admirable! in action how like an Angel! in apprehension,
the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals; and
yet to me what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me,
nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.
Ros
My Lord there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
Ham.
Why did ye laugh then, when I said man delights not me?
Ros.
To think my Lord, if you delight not in man, what Lenten
entertainment the Players shall receive from you, we met them on
the way, and hither are they coming to offer you service.
Ham.
He that plays the King shall be welcome, his Majesty shall
have tribute of me, the adventurous Knight shall use his soil and
target, the lover shall not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end
his part in peace, and the Lady shall say her mind freely, or the
blank verse shall halt for't. What Players are they?
Ros.
Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the
Tragedians of the City.
Ham.
How chances it they travel? their residence both in reputation
and profit was better both ways.
-- 32 --
Ros.
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation.
Ham.
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in
the City? are they so followed?
Ros.
No indeed they are not.
Ham.
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, fifty, a hundred duckets a piece for his picture
in little: there is something in this more than natural, if Philosophy
could find it out.
[A Flourish.
Guil.
Shall we call the Players?
Ham.
Gentlemen you are welcome to Elsenour, your hands:
come then, th' appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony,
let me comply with you in this garb, “lest my extent to the Players,
which I tell you must shew fairly outwards, should more appear
like entertainment than yours; you are welcome:” but
my Uncle-father, and Aunt-mother are deceived.
Guil.
In what my dear Lord?
Ham.
I am but mad North-North-west, when the wind is Southerly
I know a hawk from a hand saw.
[Enter Polonius.
Pol.
Well be with you Gentlemen.
Ham.
Hark you Guildenstern, and you too, at each ear a hearer,
that great baby as you see is not yet out of his swadling clouts.
Ros
Happily he is the second time come to them, for they say an
old man is twice a child.
Ham.
I will prophesie that he comes to tell me of the Players,
mark it: You say right Sir, a Munday morning 'twas then indeed.
Pol.
My Lord I have news to tell you.
Ham.
My Lord I have news to tell you: when Rossius was an
Actor in Rome.
Pol.
The Actors are come hither my Lord.
Ham.
Buz, buz.
Pol.
Upon mine honour.
Ham.
Then came each Actor on his Ass.
Pol.
The best Actors in the world, either for Tragedy, Comedy,
History, Pastoral, Pastoral-Comical, Historical-Pastoral Scene, individable,
or Poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus
too light for the law of wit and the liberty; these are the only men.
Ham.
O Jeptha Judge of Israel what a treasure hadst thou?
Pol.
What a treasure had he my Lord?
Ham.
Why one fair daughter and no more, the which he loved
passing well.
Pol.
Still on my daughter.
Ham.
Am I not i'th right old Jeptha?
-- 33 --
Pol.
What follows then my Lord?
“Ham.
Why as by lot God wot, and then you know it came to
pass, as most like it was:” the first row of the Rubrick will
shew you more, for look where my abridgement comes.
Enter Players.
Ham.
You are welcome masters, welcome all, “I am glad to see
thee well, welcome good friends;” oh old friend! why thy face
is valanc'd since I saw thee last, com'st thou to beard me in Denmark?
what my young Lady and Mistriss! my Lady your Ladiship
is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last by the altitude of a
Chopine, I wish your voice, like a piece of uncurrant gold, be not
crackt within the ring: masters you are all welcome, we'll e'ne to't
like friendly Faulkeners, fly at any thing we see, we'll have a speech
strait, come give us a taste of your quality, come a passionate
peech.
Player.
What speech my good Lord?
Ham.
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted,
or if it was, not above once, for the Play I remember pleased
not the million, 'twas a caviary to the general, “but it was as I received
it and others, whose judgments 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 indite the author of affection,
but call'd it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very
much more handsome than fine;” one speech in't I chiefly loved,
'twas Æneas talk to Dido, and thereabout of it especially when he
speaks of Priams slaughter, if it live in your memory begin at this
line, let me see, let me see, the rugged Pyrrhus like th'Hircanian Beast,
'tis not it begins with Pyrrhus. The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable
arms,
Black as his purpose did the night resemble,
“When he lay couched in th'ominous horse,
“Hath now his dread and black complexion smear'd
“With Heraldry more dismal head to foot:
“Now is he total Gules, horridly trickt
“With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
“Bak'd and embasted with the parching streets,
“That lend a tyrannous and a damned light
“To their Lords murder, roasted in wrath and fire,
“And thus o're-cised with coagulate gore,
“With eyes like Carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
“Old grandsire Priam seeks; so proceed you.
-- 34 --
Pol.
My Lord well spoken, with good accent and good discretion
So proceed.
Play.
Anon he finds him
Striking too short at Greeks, his antick sword
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
Repugnant to command; unequal matcht,
Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide,
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
Th' unnerved father falls.
“Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
“Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash
“Takes prisoner Pyrrhus ear: for loe his sword,
“Which was declining on the milky head
“Of reverend Priam seem'd i'th air to stick,
“So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood,
“Like a neutral to his will and matter,
“Did nothing:
But as we often see against some storm,
A silence in the heavens, the racks stand still,
The bold wind speechless, and the orb below
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region: so after Pyrrhus pawse,
A rowsed vengeance sets him new awork,
And never did the Cyclops hammers fall,
On Mars his armour, forg'd for proof etern,
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 felloes from her wheel,
“And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven,
“As low as to the fiends.
Pol.
This is too long.
Ham.
It shall to the Barbers with your beard: prethee say on,
he's for a jig, or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps; say on, come to
Hecuba.
Pla.
But who alas had seen the mobled Queen.
Ham.
The mobled Queen!
Pol.
That's good.
Play
Run bare-foot up and down, threatning the flames,
A clout upon that head.
Where late the Diadem stood, and for a robe,
About her lank and all o're-teamed loyns,
A blanket in the alarm of fear caught up.
-- 35 --
Who this had seen, with tongue in venome steept,
'Gainst fortunes state would Treason have pronounc'd:
“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,
“Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,
“And passion in the gods.
Pol.
Look where he has not turned his colour, and has tears
in's eyes: prethee no more.
Ham.
'Tis well, I'll 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.
Pol.
My Lord I will use them according to their desert.
Ham.
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.
Pol.
Come sirs.
Ham.
Follow him friends; we'll hear a Play to morrow; doest
thou hear me old friend, can you play the murder of Gonzago?
Play.
I my Lord.
Ham.
We'll have't to morrow night: you could for need study
a speech of some dosen lines, which I would set down and insert
in't, could you not?
Pol.
I my Lord.
Ham.
Very well: follow that Lord, and look you mock him
not. My good friends, I'le leave you till night, you are welcome to
Elsenour.
[Exeunt Pol. and Players.
Ros.
Good my Lord.
[Exit.
“Ham.
I so, God buy to you; now am I alone.
O what a rogue and pesant 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 own conceit,
That from her working all the visage wand,
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,
A broken voice, and his whole function suting
With forms to his conceit, and all for nothing,
For Hecuba?
What's Hecuba to him, or he to her,
That he should weep for her? what wouldhe do
-- 36 --
Had he the motive, and that 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 appeal the free,
“Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
“The very faculties of eyes and ears; yet I,
“A dull and muddy metled raskal, peak
“Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
“And can say nothing, no not for a King,
“Upon whose property and most dear life
“A damn'd 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,
“Twekes me by th' nose gives me the lye i'th throat
“As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?
“Hah? s'wounds I should take it, for it cannot be
But I am pigeon liver'd, and lack gall
To make oppression bitter, or e're this
I should have fatted all the region Kites
With this slaves offal: “bloody, bawdy villain,
“Remorsless, treacherous lecherous, kindless villain.
“Why what an ass am I? this is most brave,
“That I the son of a dear father murthered,
“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, stallion, fie upon't, foh.
“About my brains,” hum, I have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at a Play
Have by the very cunning of the Scene
Been strook so to the soul, that presently
They have proclaim'd their malefactions:
For murther though it have no tongue will speak
“With most miraculous organ.” I'll have these Players
Play something like the murther of my father
Before mine Uncle: I'll observe his looks,
“I'll tent him to the quick, if he do blench
“I know my course.” The spirit that I have seen
May be a Devil, and the Devil hath power
T assume a pleasing shape, “yea and perhaps
“Out of my weakness and my melancholly,
“As he is very potent with such spirits,
“Abuses me to damn me:” I'll have grounds
More relative than this, the Play's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.
[Exit.
-- 37 --
Thomas Betterton [1676], The tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark. As it is now Acted at his Highness the Duke of York's Theatre. By William Shakespeare (Printed by Andr. Clark, for J. Martyn, and H. Herringman [etc.], London) [word count] [S33700].
