Players.
Ham.
Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounc'd
it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth
it, as many of our note players do, I had as lieve the towncryer
spoke note my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much
with note your hand, thus; but use all gently: for in the very
-- 64 --
torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind note of your note
passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that
may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul, to
hear a note robustious periwig-pated note fellow tear a passion to
tatters note, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings;
who, for the most part, are capable of nothing, but inexplicable
dumb shows, and noise: I would note have such a
fellow whip'd for o'er-doing Termagant; it out-herods
Herod: Pray you, avoid it.
1. P.
I warrant your honour.
Ham.
Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion
be your tutor: sute the note 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 o'er-done note is from the purpose of playing, Whose end,
both at the first, note and now, was, and is, to hold, as 'twere,
the mirrour up to nature; to shew virtue her feature, note
scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the
time his form and pressure: Now this, over-done, or
come tardy off, though it makes note the unskillful laugh,
cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of
which note one must, in your allowance, o'er-weigh 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 prophanely, that, neither having the accent
of christians, nor the gait of christian, pagan, nor man note,
have so strutted, and bellow'd, that I have thought,
some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not
made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
1. P.
I hope, we have reform'd that indifferently
with us. note
-- 65 --
Ham.
O, reform it altogether. And let those, that play
your clowns, speak no more than is set down for them:
For there be of them, that will themselves laugh, to set
on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too;
though, in the mean time, some necessary question of
the play be then to be consider'd: that's villanous; and
shews a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it.
Go make you ready.—
[Exeunt Players.
Enter Polonius, Rosincrantz, and Guildenstern.
How now, my lord? will the king hear this piece of
work?
Pol.
And the queen too, and that presently.
Ham.
Bid the players make haste.—
[Exit Pol.
Will you two help to hasten them?
Ros.
Ay, my note lord.
[Exeunt Ros. and Gui.
Ham.
What, ho; Horatio note!
Enter Horatio.
Hor.
Here, sweet lord, at your service.
Ham.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man
As e'er my conversation cop'd withal.
Hor.
O, my dear lord,—
Ham.
Nay, do not think I flatter:
For what advancement may I hope from thee;
That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits,
To feed, and cloath thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd?
No, let the candy'd tongue lick note absurd pomp;
And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,
Where thrift may follow fawning. note Dost thou hear?
Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, note
And could of men distinguish, her election
Hath note seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been
-- 66 --
As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing;
A man, that fortune's buffets and rewards
Hast ta'en note with equal thanks: and blest are those,
Whose blood and judgment are so well comingl'd note,
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger
To sound what stop 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,
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 my father's death.
I pr'ythee, when thou see'st that act a-foot,
Even with the very note comment of thy note soul
Observe my uncle: note if his occult guilt note
Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
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;
And, after, we will both our judgments note join,
In censure note of his seeming.
Hor.
Well, my lord:
If he steal note ought, the whilst this play is playing,
And scape detecting note, I will pay the theft.
Ham.
They are coming to the play; I must be idle:
Get you a place.
Danish March. A Flourish.
Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia; Rosincrantz, Guildenstern, and Others, attendant; Guard, carrying Torches, preceding.
Kin.
How fares our cousin Hamlet?
-- 67 --
Ham.
Excellent, i' faith; of the camelion's dish: I
eat the air, promise-cram'd: You cannot feed capons
so.
Kin.
I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these
words are not mine.
[pass to their Seats.
Ham.
No, nor mine now, my lord.—You play'd once
i' the university, you say?
Pol.
That did I note, my lord; and was accounted a good
actor.
Ham.
And note what did you enact?
Pol.
I did enact Julius Cæsar: I was kill'd i' the capitol;
Brutus kill'd 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 upon your patience.
Que.
Come hither, my dear Hamlet, note sit by me.
Ham.
No, good mother, here's metal more attractive.
[seating himself at Ophelia's Feet.
&clquo;Pol.
&clquo;O ho! do you mark that?&crquo;
[to the King.
Ham.
Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
Oph.
No, my lord.
Ham.
I mean, my head in your lap? note
Oph.
Ay, my lord.
Ham.
Do you think, I meant country matters?
Oph.
I think nothing, my lord.
Ham.
That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs.
Oph.
What is, my lord?
Ham.
Nothing.
Oph.
You are merry, my lord.
Ham.
Who, I?
Oph.
Ay, my lord.
Ham.
O God, your only jig-maker. What should a
-- 68 --
man do, but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully
my mother looks, and my father dy'd within 's two
hours.
Oph.
Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord.
Ham.
So long? Nay, then let the devil wear black,
for I'll have a sute of sables. O heavens! die two months
ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope, a great
man's memory may out-live his life half a year: But,
by-r-lady, he must build churches then: or else shall he
suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse; whose epitaph
is, For, o, for, o, the hobby-horse is forgot.14Q1446
Musick. Dumb Show.
Enter a King,and a Queen, very lovingly; the Queen
embracing him, and he her: she kneels, and makes shew 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 another
man; takes off his crown, kisses it, pours poison in the
sleeper's ears, and leaves him. The Queen returns; finds
the King dead, and makes passionate action. The poisoner,
with some three or four mutes, comes in again; seems to
condole with her; the dead body is carry'd away. The poisoner
woes the Queen with gifts; she seems harsh a while,
but, in the end, accepts love.
[Exeunt.
Oph.
What means this, my lord?
Ham.
Marry, this is note munching Malicho14Q1447; it means note mischief.
Oph.
Belike, this show imports the argument of the
play.
Enter Prologue.
Ham.
We shall know by this fellow: note the players cannot
keep counsel; note they'll tell all.
-- 69 --
Oph.
Will he tell note us what this show meant?
Ham.
Ay, or any show that you'll show him: Be not
you asham'd to show, he'll not shame to tell you what
it means.
Oph.
You are naught, you are naught; I'll mark the note
play.
&cast;Pro.
&cast;For us, and for our tragedy,
&cast;Here stooping to your clemency,
&cast;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 a Duke, and a Dutchess.
&cast;Duk.
&cast;Full thirty times14Q1448 hath Phœbus' cart gone round
&cast;Neptune's salt wash, and Tellus' orbed ground; note
&cast;And thirty dozen moons, with borrow'd sheen,
&cast;About the world have times note twelve thirties been;
&cast;Since love our hearts, and Hymen did our hands,
&cast;Unite co-mutual in most sacred bands.
&cast;Dut.
&cast;So many journies may the sun and moon
&cast;Make us again count o'er, ere love be done!
&cast;But, woe is me, you are so sick of late,
&cast;So far from cheer, and from your note former state, note
&cast;That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,
&cast;Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must: note
&cast;For women's fear and love hold note quantity;
&cast;In neither ought, or in note extremity:
&cast;Now, what my love is note, proof hath made you know;
&cast;And as my love is siz'd, note my fear is so.
&cast;Where love is great, the littl'st doubts are fear; note
&cast;Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.
&cast;Duk.
&cast;'Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too;
-- 70 --
&cast;My operant powers their functions note leave to do:
&cast;And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,
&cast;Honour'd, belov'd; and, haply, one as kind
&cast;For husband shalt thou—
&cast;Dut.
&cast;O, confound the rest!
&cast;Such love must needs be treason in my breast:
&cast;In second husband let me be accurst!
&cast;None wed the second, but who kill'd the first.
&clquo;Ham.
&clquo;That's wormwood. note&crquo;
&cast;Dut.
&cast;The instances, that second marriage move,
&cast;Are base respects of thrift, but none of love:
&cast;A second time I kill my husband dead,
&cast;When second husband kisses me in bed.
&cast;Duk.
&cast;I do believe, you think what now you speak:
&cast;But, what we do determine, oft we break.
&cast;Purpose is but the slave to memory;
&cast;Of violent birth, but poor validity:
&cast;Which now, like fruit note unripe, sticks on the tree;
&cast;But fall, unshaken, when they mellow be.
&cast;Most necessary 'tis, that we forget
&cast;To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt:
&cast;What to ourselves in passion we propose,
&cast;The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.
&cast;The violence of either note grief or joy
&cast;Their own enactures note with themselves destroy:
&cast;Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;
&cast;Grief joys, joy grieves, note on slender accident.
&cast;This world is not for aye; nor 'tis not strange,
&cast;That even our loves should with our fortunes change;
&cast;For 'tis a question left us yet to prove,
&cast;Whether love lead fortune, or else fortune love.
&cast;The great man down, you mark, his favourite note flies:
-- 71 --
&cast;The poor advanc'd makes friends of enemies.
&cast;And hitherto doth love on fortune tend:
&cast;For who not needs, shall never lack a friend;
&cast;And who in want a hollow friend doth try,
&cast;Directly seasons him his enemy.
&cast;But, orderly to end where I begun,—
&cast;Our wills, and fates, do so contrary run,
&cast;That our devices still are overthrown;
&cast;Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own:
&cast;So think thou wilt no second husband wed;
&cast;But die thy thoughts, when thy first lord is dead.
&cast;Dut.
&cast;Nor, earth, o, give note me note food; nor, heaven, light!
&cast;Sport, and repose, lock from me, day, and night!
&cast;To desperation note turn my trust and hope!
&cast;An anchor's note cheer in prison be my scope!
&cast;Each opposite, that blanks the face of joy,
&cast;Meet what I would have well, and it destroy!
&cast;Both here, and hence, pursue me lasting strife,
&cast;If, once a widow, ever I be wife! note
Ham.
If she should break it now,—
to Oph.
&cast;Duk.
&cast;'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here a while;
&cast;My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile
&cast;The tedious day with sleep.
[lays him down.
&cast;Dut.
&cast;Sleep rock thy brain;
&cast;And never come mischance betwixt note us twain!
[Exit Dutchess. Duke sleeps.
Ham.
Madam, how like you this play? note
Que.
The lady protests note too much, methinks.
Ham.
O, but she'll keep her word.
Kin.
Have you heard the argument? is there no offence
in't?
-- 72 --
Ham.
No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest; no offence
i' the world.
Kin.
What do you call the play?
Ham.
The mouse-trap: Marry, how? Tropically.
This play is the image of a murther done in Vienna:
Gonzago is the duke's name; his wife, Baptista: you shall
see anon; 'tis a knavish piece of work: But what of that?
your majesty, and we that have note free souls, it touches us
not: Let the gall'd jade winch, our withers are unwrung. note—
Enter Nephew, with a Vial.
This is one Lucianus, nephew to the duke note.
Oph.
You are as good as a chorus, note 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
edge. note
Oph.
Still better, and worse.14Q1449
Ham.
So you mis-take husbands note.—Begin, murtherer;
leave note thy damnable faces, and begin: Come, The croaking
raven doth bellow for revenge.
&cast;Nep.
&cast;Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing;
&cast;Confederate note season, else no creature seeing;
&cast;Thou mixture † rank, of midnight weeds collected,
&cast;With Hecat's ban thrice blasted, thrice infected, note
&cast;Thy natural magick, and dire property,
&cast;On wholesome life usurps note immediately.
[pouring it in the Sleeper's Ear.
Ham.
He poisons note him i' the garden for his estate note; his
name's Gonzago: the story is extant, and written in very
-- 73 --
choice note Italian: You shall see anon, how the murtherer
gets the love of Gonzago's wife.
Oph.
The king rises.
Ham.
What, frighted with false fire! note
Que.
How fares my lord?
Pol.
Give o'er the play.
Kin.
Give me some light: away.
Pol.
Lights, note lights, lights!
[Exeunt All but Hamlet, and Horatio.
Ham.
Why, let the strooken note deer go weep,
The heart ungalled play:
For some must watch, while note some must sleep;
So runs note 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 Provencial
roses on my ray'd note note shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of note
players, note, sir? note
Hor.
Half a share.
Ham.
A whole one, I.
For thou dost know, o Damon dear,
This realm dismantl'd was
Of Jove himself; and now reigns here
A very, very—peacock note.14Q1450
Hor.
You might have rhim'd.
Ham.
O good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for
a thousand pound. Didst perceive?
Hor.
Very well, my lord.
Ham.
Upon the talk of the poisoning,—
Hor.
I did very well note him.
Enter Rosincrantz, and Guildenstern.
Ham.
Ha, ha! note—Come, some musick; come, the recorders.—
-- 74 --
For if the king like not the comedy,
Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy.—
Come, some musick.
Gui.
Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.
Ham.
Sir, a whole history.
Gui.
The king, sir,—
Ham.
Ay, sir, what of him?
Gui.
Is, in his retirement, marvelous distemper'd.
Ham.
With drink, sir?
Gui.
No, my lord, with note choler.
Ham.
Your wisdom should shew itself more richer note, to
signify this to the doctor; note for, for me note to put him to
his purgation, would, perhaps, plunge him into more note
choler.
Gui.
Good my lord, put your discourse into some
frame, and start not note so wildly from my affair.
Ham.
I am tame, sir; pronounce.
Gui.
The queen, your mother, in most great affliction
of spirit, hath sent me to you:
Ham.
You are welcome.
[with great Ceremony.
Gui.
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
business note.
Ham.
Sir, I cannot.
Ros.
What note, my lord?14Q1451
Ham.
Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseas'd:
But, sir, such answer note as note I can make, you shall
command; or, rather, as you say, my mother: therefore
no more, but to the matter; My mother, you say,—
Ros.
Then thus she says; Your behaviour hath strook
-- 75 --
her into amazement and admiration.
Ham.
O wonderful son, that can so 'stonish note a mother!—
But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration?
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.
And do note still, by these pickers and stealers.
Ros.
Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper?
you do, surely, bar note the door upon your note 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?
Enter the Players, with Recorders.
Ham.
Ay, sir; note but, While the grass grows,—the proverb
is something musty.—O, the recorders: note—let me see
&dagger2; one.—&clquo;To withdraw with you:&crquo;—Why do you go
about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive
me into a toil?
Gui.
O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love
is too unmannerly.
Ham.
I do not well understand that. Will you play
upon this † pipe?
Gui.
My lord, I cannot.
Ham.
I pray you.
Gui.
Believe me, I cannot.
Ham.
I beseech note you.
Gui.
I know no touch of it, my lord.
Ham.
'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages note
-- 76 --
with your fingers and the umber, note give it breath with
your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent note musick:
Look you, these are the stops.
Gui.
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 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 musick,
excellent voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you
make it speak. note 'S blood, do you think, I note am easier to
be play'd on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you
will, though you can fret me, you note cannot note play upon
Enter Polonius.
me.—God bless you, sir!
Pol.
My lord, the queen would speak with you, and
presently.
Ham.
Do you see yonder cloud, note that's almost in shape
of a note weazel?14Q1452
Pol.
By the note mass, note and 'tis like a weazel, indeed.
Ham.
Methinks, it is like a camel.
Pol.
It is back'd like note a camel.
Ham.
Or like a whale.
Pol.
Very like a whale.
Ham.
Then will I note come to my mother by and by.—
They fool me [to Hor.] to the top of my bent.—I will
come by and by note.
Pol.
I will say so.
[Exit Polonius.
Ham.
By and by is easily said.—Leave me, friends.
[Exeunt Ros. and Gui. Horatio, and the Players, withdraw.
-- 77 --
'Tis now the very witching time of night;
When church-yards yawn, and hell itself breaths note out
Contagion to this world: note Now could I drink hot blood;
And do such bitter business, as the day note
Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.
O, heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom:
Let me be cruel, not 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.
[Exeunt.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
