Players. note
Ham.
Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced note
it to you, trippingly on note the tongue: but if you mouth it, as
many of your players note do, I had as lief note the town-crier spoke note
my lines. Nor note do not saw the air too much with your note
hand, thus; but use all gently: for in the very torrent, tempest,
and, as I may say, whirlwind of your passion note, you
must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it
smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear note a robustious note
periwig-pated note fellow tear a passion to tatters note, to very
rags, to split note the ears of the groundlings, who, for the most
part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows
and noise: I would note have such a fellow whipped for o'er-doing
Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it.
-- 86 --
First Play. note
I warrant your honour.
Ham.
Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion
be your tutor: suit note the action to the word, the word
to the action; with this special observance, that you o'er-step note
not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone note
is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first note
and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to
nature; to show virtue her own feature note, scorn note her own
image, and the very note age note and body of the time his form and
pressure note. Now this overdone or come tardy note off note, though
it make note the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious
grieve; the censure noteof the which one note must in your allowance
o'erweigh note a whole theatre of others. O, there be
players that I have seen play, and heard others praise note, and
that highly, not to speak it profanely, that neither having
the accent of Christians note nor the note gait of Christian, pagan,
nor man note, note have so strutted and bellowed, that I have thought
some of nature's journeymen had made men note, and not made
them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
First Play. note
I hope we have reformed that indifferently
with us, sir note.
Ham.
O, reform it altogether. And let those that play
-- 87 --
your clowns speak no more than is set down for them: for
there be of them that will themselves note laugh, to set on some
quantity of barren spectators to laugh too note, though in the
mean time some necessary question of the play be then to
be considered: that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition
in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.
[Exeunt Players. note
Enter Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. note
note
How now, my lord! will the king hear this piece of work?
Pol.
And the queen too note, and that presently.
Ham.
Bid the players make haste.
[Exit Polonius. note
Will you two help to hasten them?
Ros. Guil. note
We will note, my lord.
[Exeunt note Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
note
Ham.
What ho! note Horatio!
Enter Horatio. note
Hor.
Here, sweet lord note, at your service.
Ham.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man
As e'er my conversation coped note withal.
Hor.
O, my dear lord,— note
Ham.
Nay, do not think I flatter;
For what advancement may I hope from thee,
-- 88 --
That no revenue hast note but thy good spirits,
To feed and clothe thee? note Why note should the poor be flatter'd?
No, let the candied tongue lick note absurd note pomp,
And crook the pregnant note hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow fawning. note Dost thou hear? note
Since my dear note soul was mistress of her note choice,
And could of men distinguish, her election
Hath note seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been
As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing;
A man that fortune's note buffets and rewards
Hast note ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those
Whose blood and judgement are so well commingled note
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger
To sound what stop note she please. Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart note,
As I do thee. Something too much of this.
There is a play to-night before the king;
One scene of it comes near the circumstance
Which I have told thee of note my father's death:
I prithee, when thou seest that act a-foot note,
Even with the very note comment of thy note soul
Observe my note uncle: if his occulted note guilt
Do not itself unkennel note in one speech,
-- 89 --
It is a damned ghost that we have seen,
And my imaginations are as foul
As Vulcan's stithy note. Give him heedful note note;
For I mine eyes will rivet to his face, note
And after we will both our judgements note join
In note censure of his seeming.
Hor.
Well, my lord:
If he note steal aught the whilst this play is playing,
And 'scape detecting note, I will pay the theft.
note
Ham.
They are note coming to the play: I must be idle:
Get you a place.
Danish march. A flourish. Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and other Lords attendant, with the Guard carrying torches. note
King.
How fares our note cousin Hamlet?
Ham.
Excellent, i' faith; of the chameleon's dish: I note eat
the air, promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so.
King.
I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these
words are not mine.
Ham.
No, nor mine now. [To Polonius] note My lord, note you
played once i' the note university, you say? note
Pol.
That did I note, my lord, and was accounted a good
actor.
Ham.
What note did you enact?
-- 90 --
Pol.
I did enact Julius Cæsar: I was killed i' the Capitol note;
Brutus killed me.
Ham.
It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a
calf there. Be the players ready?
Ros.
Ay, my lord; they stay note upon your patience note.
Queen.
Come hither, my dear note Hamlet, sit by me.
Ham.
No, good mother, here's metal note more attractive.
Pol. [To the King] note
O, ho! note do you mark that? note
Ham.
Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
[Lying note down at Ophelia's feet.
Oph.
No, my lord.
Ham.
I mean, my head upon note your lap?
Oph.
Ay, my lord. note
Ham.
Do you think I meant country note matters note?
Oph.
I think nothing, my lord.
Ham.
That's a fair thought to lie between maids' note legs.
Oph.
What is, my lord?
Ham.
Nothing.
Oph.
You are merry, my lord. note
Ham.
Who, I?
Oph.
Ay, my lord.
Ham.
O God, note your only jig-maker. What should a
man do but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my
mother looks, and my father died within 's note two hours.
Oph.
Nay, 'tis twice note two months, my lord.
Ham.
So long? Nay, then, let the devil note wear black, for
-- 91 --
I'll have note a suit note of sables note. O heavens! die two months ago,
and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope a great man's
memory may outlive his life half a year: but, by'r lady note, he
must build churches then; or else shall he note suffer not thinking
on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is, ‘For, O,
notefor, O, the hobby-horse is forgot.’
Hautboys play. The dumb-show enters.
Enter a King and a note Queen very lovingly; the Queen embracing him,
and he her note. She kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him.
He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck: lays him
down upon a bank of flowers: she, seeing him asleep, leaves him.
Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours
poison in the King's ears, and exit. note The Queen returns; finds the
King dead, and makes passionate action. The Poisoner, with
some two or three Mutes, comes in again, seeming to lament with
her. The dead body is carried away. The Poisoner wooes the
Queen with gifts: she seems loath and unwilling awhile, but in
the end accepts his love. note
[Exeunt. note
note
Oph.
What means this, my lord?
-- 92 --
Ham.
Marry note, this is note miching mallecho note; it note means
mischief.
Oph.
Belike note this show imports the argument of the play. note
Enter Prologue. note
Ham.
We shall know by this fellow note: the players cannot
keep counsel note; they'll tell all.
Oph.
Will he note tell us note what this show meant?
Ham.
Ay, or any show that you'll note show him: be not you note
ashamed to show, he'll not shame to tell you what it means.
Oph.
You are naught, you are naught: I'll mark note the
play.
Pro.
For us, and for our tragedy,
Here stooping to your clemency,
We beg your hearing patiently.
Ham.
Is this a prologue, or the posy note of a ring?
Oph.
'Tis brief, my lord.
Ham.
As woman's love.
Enter note two Players, King and Queen.
P. King. note
Full thirty times hath Phœbus' cart note gone round
-- 93 --
Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' note orbed note ground,
And thirty dozen moons with borrowed note sheen
About the world have times twelve thirties note been,
Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands
Unite commutual in most note sacred bands.
P. Queen. note
So many journeys may the sun and moon
Make us again count o'er ere love be done!
But, woe is me, you are so sick of late,
So far from cheer and note from your note former note state,
That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,
Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must:
For note women's fear and love holds note quantity,
In neither aught note, or in extremity.
Now, what my love note is, proof hath made note you know,
And as my love is sized note, my fear is so:
Where love is great, the littlest note doubts are fear,
Where little fears grow great, great love grows there. note
P. King.
Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too;
My operant note powers their functions note leave to do:
And thou shalt live in this fair note world behind,
Honour'd, beloved; and haply one as kind note
-- 94 --
For husband shalt thou— note
P. 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 kill'd note the first.
Ham. [Aside] note
Wormwood, wormwood. note
P. Queen. note
The instances that second marriage move
Are base respects of thrift note, but none of love:
A second time I kill my husband dead note,
When second husband kisses me in bed.
P. King.
I do believe you think note what now you speak,
But what we do determine oft we break.
Purpose is but the slave to memory,
Of violent birth but note poor validity:
Which now, like note fruit note 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 note grief or joy
Their own enactures note with themselves destroy:
Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;
Grief joys note, joy grieves note, on slender accident.
This world is not for aye, nor note 'tis not note strange
That even our loves should with our fortunes change,
For 'tis a question left us yet to prove,
Whether love lead fortune note or else note fortune love.
-- 95 --
The great man down, you mark his favourite note flies;
The poor advanced makes friends of enemies:
And hitherto note doth love on fortune tend;
For who not needs shall never lack a friend, note
And who in want a hollow friend doth try
Directly seasons him note 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 note thou wilt no second husband wed,
But die thy thoughts note when thy first lord is dead.
P. Queen.
Nor earth to me give note food nor heaven light!
Sport and repose lock from me day and night!
To desperation turn my trust and hope!
An anchor's note cheer note in prison be my scope! note
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 wife note!
Ham.
If she should break it now note! note
P. King.
'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here note awhile; note
My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile
The tedious day with sleep.
[Sleeps. note
-- 96 --
P. Queen.
Sleep rock thy brain;
And never come mischance between note us twain!
[Exit. note
Ham.
Madam, how like you this note play?
Queen.
The lady doth protest note too much, methinks.
Ham.
O, but she'll keep her word.
King.
Have you heard the argument? Is there no
offence in't?
Ham.
No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest; no offence
i' the world note.
King.
What do you call the play?
Ham.
The Mouse-trap. Marry, how? note Tropically.
This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago note
is the duke's name; his wife note, Baptista: you shall see
anon; 'tis a knavish piece of work: but what o' note that? your
majesty, and we that have note free souls, it touches us not note: let
the galled jade wince note, our withers are unwrung note.
Enter Lucianus. note
This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king note.
Oph.
You are as good as a note chorus, my lord.
Ham.
I could interpret between you and your love, if
I could see the puppets dallying.
Oph.
You are keen, my lord, you are keen.
Ham.
It would cost you a groaning to take off my note edge.
Oph.
Still better, note and worse.
Ham.
So you must take your husbands. note Begin murderer; note
-- 97 --
pox, note leave thy damnable faces, and begin. Come:
the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge. note
Luc.
Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing; note
Confederate note season, else note no creature seeing;
Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,
With Hecate's ban note thrice blasted, thrice infected note,
Thy note natural magic and dire property,
On wholesome life usurp note immediately.
[Pours the poison into the sleeper's ear. note
Ham.
He note poisons him i' the garden for his note estate. His
name's note Gonzago: the story is extant, and written in very note
choice Italian: you shall see anon how the murderer gets
the love of Gonzago's wife.
Oph.
The king rises.
Ham.
What, frighted with false fire note!
Queen.
How fares my lord?
Pol.
Give o'er the play.
King.
Give me some light. Away!
Pol. note
Lights, lights, lights!
[Exeunt note all but Hamlet and Horatio.
note
Ham.
Why, let the stricken note deer go weep,
The hart note ungalled play;
-- 98 --
For some must watch, while note some must sleep: note
Thus note runs the world away.
Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers—if the rest of
my fortunes turn Turk with me—with two note Provincial note roses
on my razed note shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry note of players note,
sir note?
Hor.
Half a share.
Ham.
A whole one, I. note
For thou dost know, O Damon dear,
This realm dismantled was
Of Jove himself note; and now reigns here
A very, very—pajock note.
Hor.
You might have rhymed.
Ham.
O good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for a
thousand pound note. Didst perceive?
Hor.
Very well, my lord.
Ham.
Upon the talk of the poisoning? note
Hor.
I did very well note him.
Ham.
Ah, ha! note Come, some music! come, the recorders!
For if the king like note not the comedy,
Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy.
Come, some music!
-- 99 --
Re-enter note Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Guil.
Good my lord, vouchsafe note me a word with you.
Ham.
Sir, a whole history.
Guil.
The king, sir,— note
Ham.
Ay, sir, what of him? note
Guil.
Is in his retirement marvellous distempered.
Ham.
With drink, sir?
Guil.
No, my lord, rather note with choler.
Ham.
Your wisdom should show itself more richer note to
signify this to the doctor note; for, for note me to put him to his purgation
would perhaps plunge him into far note more choler.
Guil.
Good my lord, put your discourse into some
frame, and start note not so wildly from note my note affair note. note
Ham.
I am tame, sir: pronounce.
Guil.
The queen, your mother, in most great affliction
of spirit, hath sent me to you.
Ham.
note
You are welcome.
Guil.
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 mother's commandment: if not, your
pardon and my return shall be the end of my note business.
Ham.
Sir, I cannot.
Guil. note
What, my lord? note
Ham.
Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's note diseased:
but, sir, such answer note as I can make, you shall command;
-- 100 --
or rather, as you note say, my mother: therefore no
more, but to the matter: my mother, you say,— note
Ros.
Then thus she says; your behaviour hath struck note
her into amazement and admiration.
Ham.
O wonderful son, that can so note astonish note a mother!
But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration note? note
Impart. note
Ros.
She desires to speak with you in her closet, ere
you go to bed.
Ham.
We shall obey, were she ten times our mother.
Have you any further trade with us?
Ros.
My lord, you once did love me.
Ham.
So I note do still, by these pickers and stealers.
Ros.
Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper?
you do surely bar note the door upon note your own liberty, if you
deny your griefs to your friend.
Ham.
Sir, I lack advancement.
Ros.
How can that be, when you have the voice of the
king himself for your succession in Denmark?
Ham.
Ay, sir note, but ‘while the grass grows,’— notethe proverb
is something musty.
Re-enter note Players with recorders.
O, the recorders note! let me see one. To note withdraw with you: note— note
-- 101 --
why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you
would drive me into a toil?
Guil.
O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is
too unmannerly. note
Ham.
I do not well understand that. Will you play
upon this pipe?
Guil. note
My lord, I cannot.
Ham.
I pray you.
Guil.
Believe me, I cannot.
Ham.
I do note beseech you.
Guil. note
I know no touch of it, my lord.
Ham.
It is note as easy as lying: govern these ventages note
with your fingers note and thumb note, note give it breath with your
mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent note music. Look
you, these are the stops.
Guil.
But these cannot I command to any utterance
of harmony; I have not the skill.
Ham.
Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you
make note 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 note my compass: and there is much music, excellent
voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you make it speak note.
'Sblood note, do you think I note am easier to be played on than a
pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can
fret me note, yet note you cannot play upon me.
-- 102 --
Enter Polonius. note
God bless you note, sir!
Pol.
My lord, the queen would speak with you, and
presently.
Ham.
Do you see yonder note cloud that's almost in shape
of note a camel? note
Pol.
By the mass note, and 'tis like note a camel note, indeed.
Ham.
Methinks it is like a weasel.
Pol.
It is backed note like a weasel note.
Ham.
Or like a whale? note
Pol.
Very like a whale.
Ham.
Then I will note come to my mother by and by.
They fool me note to the top of my bent. note I will come by and
by.
Pol.
I will say so.
[Exit Polonius. note
note
Ham.
‘By and by’ is easily said. Leave me, friends.
[Exeunt note all but Hamlet.
'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes note out
Contagion to this note world: now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day note
-- 103 --
Would quake to look on. Soft! now note to my mother.
O heart, lose note not thy nature; let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom:
Let me be cruel, not note unnatural:
I will speak daggers note to her, but use none;
My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites;
How in my words soever note she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent note! note
[Exit. note
note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
