Guildenstern.
Kin.
There's matter note in these sighs, these profound heaves;
You must translate; 'tis fit, we understand them:
Where is your son?
Que.
Bestow this place on us a little while.— note
[Exeunt Ros. and Gui.
Ah, my good lord, note what have I seen to-night?
Kin.
What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?
Que.
Mad as the sea, note and wind, when both contend
Which is the mightier: In his lawless fit,
-- 89 --
Behind the arras hearing something stir,
Whips out his rapier, cries note, A rat, a rat;
And, in this note brainish apprehension, kills
The unseen good old man.
Kin.
O heavy deed!
It had been so with us, had we been there:
His liberty is full of threats to all;
To you yourself, to us, to every one.
Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd?
It will be lay'd to us; whose providence
Should have kept short, restrain'd, and out of haunt,
This mad young man: but, so much was our love,
We would not understand what was most fit;
But, like the owner of a foul disease,
To keep it from divulging, let it note feed
Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?
Que.
To draw apart the body he hath kill'd:
O'er whom his very madness, like some ore
Among a mineral of metals note base,
Shows itself pure; he weeps for what is done.
Kin.
O, note Gertrude, come away!
The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch,
But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed
We must, with all our majesty and skill,
Both countenance and excuse.—Ho, Guildenstern!
Enter Rosincrantz, and Guildenstern.
Friends both, go join you with some further aid:
Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,
And from his mother's closet note hath he drag'd him:
Go, seek him out; speak fair, and bring the body
Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this.—
[Exeunt Ros. and Gui.
-- 90 --
Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends;
And let note them know, both what we mean to do,
And what's untimely done: so, haply, slander,— note14Q1460
Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter,
As level as the cannon to his blank,
Transports his poison'd shot,—may miss our name,
And hit the woundless air. O, come away;
My soul is full of discord, and dismay.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
The same. Another Room in the same.
Enter Hamlet.
Ham.
&lblank; Safely stow'd. But, soft; note
Ros. &c. [within.]
Hamlet! lord Hamlet! note
Ham.
What noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.
Enter Rosincrantz, and Guildenstern.
Ros.
What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
Ham.
Compounded note it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
Ros.
Tell us where 'tis; that we may take it thence,
And bear it to the chapel.
Ham.
Do not believe it.
Ros.
Believe what?
Ham.
That I can keep your counsel, and not mine
own. Besides, to be demanded of a spunge,—what replication
should be made by the son of a king?
Ros.
Take you me for a spunge, my lord?
Ham.
Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance,
his rewards, his authorities But such officers do the king
best service in the end: He keeps them, like an ape,14Q1461 in note
the corner of his jaw; first mouth'd, to be last swallow'd:
when he needs what you have glean'd, it is but squeezing
-- 91 --
you, and, spunge, you shall be dry again.
Ros.
I understand you not, my lord.
Ham.
I am glad of it: A knavish speech sleeps in a
foolish ear.
Ros.
My lord, you must tell us where the body is,
and go with us to the king.
Ham.
The body is with the king, but the king is not
with the body. The king is a thing—
Gui.
A thing, my lord?
Ham.
Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide, fox note, and
all after.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
The same. Another Room in the same.
Enter King, attended.
Kin.
I have sent to seek him, and to find the body.
How dangerous is it, that this man goes loose?
Yet must not we put the strong law on him:
He's lov'd of the distracted multitude,
Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes;
And, where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd,
But never note the offence. To bear all smooth and even,
This sudden sending him away must seem
Deliberate pause: Diseases, desperate grown,
By desperate appliance are reliev'd,
Enter Rosincrantz.
Or not at all.—How now? what hath befall'n?
Ros.
Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord,
We cannot get from him.
Kin.
But where is he?
Ros.
Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure.
Kin.
Bring him before us.
-- 92 --
Ros.
Ho! bring in the lord. note
Enter Hamlet, and Guildenstern.
Kin.
Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?
Ham.
At supper.
Kin.
At supper? Where?
Ham.
Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a
certain convocation of politick note worms are e'en at him.
Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all
creatures else, to fat us; and we fat ourselves note for maggots:
Your fat king, and your lean beggar, is but variable
service; two dishes, note but to one table; that's the
end.
Kin.
Alas, alas! note
Ham.
A man may fish with the worm that hath eat
of a king; and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.
Kin.
What dost thou mean by this?
Ham.
Nothing, but to shew you how a king may go
a progress through the guts note of a beggar.
Kin.
Where is Polonius?
Ham.
In heaven; send thither to see: if your messenger
find him not there, seek him in the other place yourself.
But, indeed note, if you find him not this note month, you
shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.
Kin.
Go seek him there.
[to some Attendants.
Ham.
He will stay till you come. note
[Exeunt Attendants.
Kin.
Hamlet, this deed, for thine note especial safety,—
Which we do tender; as we dearly grieve
For that which thou hast done,—must send thee hence
With fiery quickness: note Therefore, prepare thyself;
The bark is ready, and the wind at help,
The associates tend, and every thing is bent note
For England.
-- 93 --
Ham.
For England?
Kin.
Ay, Hamlet.
Ham.
Good.
Kin.
So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.
Ham.
I see a cherub, that sees them. note—But, come; for
England:—Farewel, dear mother.
Kin.
Thy loving father, Hamlet.
Ham.
My mother: Father and mother is man and wife;
man and wife is one flesh: so note, my mother.—Come, for
England.
[Exit Hamlet.
Kin.
Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard;
Delay it not, I'll have him hence to-night:
Away; for every thing is seal'd and done,
That else leans on the affair: Pray you, make haste.
[Exeunt Ros. and Gui.
And, England, if my love thou hold'st at ought,
(As my great power thereof may give thee sense;
Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red
After the Danish sword, and thy free awe
Pays homage to us) thou may'st not coldly set by
Our sovereign process; which imports at full,
By letters congruing note to that effect,
The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England;
For like the hectick in my blood he rages,
And thou must cure me: 'Till I know 'tis done,
Howe'er my haps, my joys will ne'er begin. note
[Exit.
SCENE IV.
A Plain in Denmark.
Enter Fortinbras, and Forces, marching.
For.
Go, captain, from me greet the note Danish king;
Tell him, that, by his licence, Fortinbras
-- 94 --
Claims the note conveyance of a promis'd march
Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.
If that his majesty would ought with us,
We shall express our duty in his eye,
And let him know so.
Cap.
I will do't, my lord.
For.
Go softly note on.
[Exeunt For. and Forces.
Enter Hamlet, Rosincrantz, &c. note
Ham.
Good sir, whose powers are these?
Cap.
They are of Norway, sir.
Ham.
How purpos'd note, sir, I pray you?
Cap.
Sir, against
Some part of Poland.
Ham.
Who commands them, sir?
Cap.
The nephew to old note Norway, Fortinbras.
Ham.
Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,
Or for some frontier?
Cap.
Truly to speak, sir, and with no addition,
We go to gain a little patch of ground,
That hath in it no profit but the name.
To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;
Nor will it yield to Norway, or the Pole,
A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.
Ham.
Why, then the Polack never will defend it.
Cap.
O, yes, it is note already garrison'd.
Ham.
Two thousand souls, and twenty thousand ducats,
Will not debate the question of this straw:
This is the imposthume of much wealth, and peace;
That inward breaks, and shows no cause without
Why the man dies—I humbly thank you, sir.
Cap.
God be wi' you, sir.
[Exit Captain.
-- 95 --
Ros.
Will't please you go, my lord?
Ham.
I will be with you straight,
Go a little before.—
[Exeunt Ros. and the rest.
How all occasions do inform against me,
And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,
If his chief good, and market of his time,
Be but to sleep, and feed? a beast, no more.
Sure, he, that made us with such large discourse,
Looking before, and after, gave us not
That capability and godlike reason
To fust note in us unus'd. Now, whether it be
Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple
Of thinking too precisely on the event,—
A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom;
And, ever, three parts coward,—I do not know
Why yet I live to say, This thing's to do;
Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means
To do't. Examples, gross as earth, exhort me:
Witness, this army, of such mass, and charge,
Led by a delicate and tender prince;
Whose spirit, with divine ambition puft,
Makes mouths at the invisible event;
Exposing what is mortal, and unsure,
To all that fortune, death, and danger, dare,
Even for an egg-shell. Rightly, to be great
Is not,14Q1462 not to stir without great argument;
But greatly to find quarrel in a straw,
When honour's at the stake. How stand I then,
That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd,
Excitements of my reason, and my blood,
And let all sleep? while, to my shame, I see
The imminent death of twenty thousand men,
-- 96 --
That, for a fantasy, and trick of same,
Go to their graves like beds; fight for a plot,
Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,
Which is not tomb enough, and continent,
To hide the slain? O, then, from this time forth,
My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!
[Exit.
SCENE V.
Elsinour. A Room in the Castle.
Enter Queen,14Q1463 attended; Horatio, and a Gentleman.
Que.
&lblank; I will not speak with her.
Gen.
She is note importunate; indeed, distract;
Her mood will needs be pity'd.
Que.
What would she have?
Gen.
She speaks note much of her father; says, she hears,
There's tricks i' the world; and hems, and beats her hearts;
Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt,
That carry but half sense: her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection; they aim at note it,
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts;
Which, as her winks note, and nods, and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think, there might be note thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.
Hor.
'Twere good note, she were spoken with; for she may strew
Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds:
Let her come in.
[Exit Gen.
&clquo;Que. note
&clquo;To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is,&crquo;
&clquo;Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss:&crquo;
&clquo;So full of artless jealousy is guilt,&crquo;
&clquo;It spills itself, in fearing to be spilt.&crquo;
-- 97 --
Enter Ophelia, wildly.
Oph.
Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?
Que.
How now, Ophelia?
Oph.
How should I14Q1464 your true-love know
[sings.
from another one?
By his cockle hat, and staff,
and his note sandal shoon.
Que.
Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?
Oph.
Say you? nay, pray you, mark.
He is dead and gone, lady,
[sings.
he is dead and gone;
at his head a grass-green turf,
at his heels a stone.
O, o!
Que.
Nay, but Ophelia,—
Oph.
Pray you, mark.
White his shrowd as the mountain snow,
[sings.
Enter King.
Que.
Alas, look here, my lord.
Oph.
Larded all note with sweet flowers;
which bewept to the ground did note go note,
with true-love showers.
Kin.
How do you note, pretty lady?
Oph.
Well, God 'ild note you. They say, the owl was a
baker's daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know
not what we may be. God be at your table!
Kin.
Conceit upon her father.
Oph.
Pray, let's note have no words of this; but when they
ask you, what it means, say you this:
To-morrow is St. Valentine's day,
[sings.
all in the morn betime note,
and I a maid at your window,
to be your Valentine:
-- 98 --
Then up he rose,
and d'on'd his cloaths, note
and d'op'd the chamber door;
let in the maid,
that out a maid note
never departed more.
Kin.
Pretty Ophelia!
Oph.
Indeed, without note an oath, I'll make an end on't.
[sings.
By Gis, and by
St. Charity,
alack, and fie for shame!
young men will do't,
if they come to't;
by cock, they are to blame.
Before, quoth she note,
you tumbl'd me,
you promis'd me to wed:
He answers, note
So would I note ha' done,
by yonder sun,
an thou hadst not come to my bed.
Kin.
How long hath she been thus? note
Oph.
I hope, all will be well. We must be patient:
but I cannot choose but weep, to think, they would note lay
him i' the cold ground: My brother shall know of it,
and so I thank you for your good counsel.—Come, my
coach!—Good night note, ladies; good night, sweet ladies;
good night, good night.
[Exit Ophelia.
Kin.
Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you
[Exeunt Hor. and Att.
O! This is the poison of deep grief; it springs
All from her father's death. O Gertrude, Gertrude note,
When sorrows come, they come note not single spies,
-- 99 --
But in battalions. note First, her father slain:
Next, your son gone; and he most violent author
Of his own just remove: The people muddy'd,
Thick and unwholsome in their note thoughts, and whispers,
For good Polonius' death; and we have done14Q1465
But greenly to interr him: Poor Ophelia
Divided from herself, and her fair judgment;
Without the which we are note pictures, or meer beasts.
Last, and as much containing as all these,
Her brother is in secret come from France:
Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in note clouds,
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
With pestilent speeches of his father's death;
Wherein necessity, of matter beggar'd,
Will nothing stick our persons note to arraign
In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this,
Like to a murthering piece, in many places
Gives me superfluous death.
[Noise within.
Que.
Alack, what noise is this? note
Kin.
Where note are my note Switzers? let them guard the door:—
Enter a Gentleman, hastily.
What is the matter?
Gen.
Save yourself, my lord;
The ocean, overpeering of his list,
Eats not the flats with more impetuous haste,
Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O'er-bears your officers! The rabble call him, lord:
And, as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every work, note
They cry note, Choose we; Laertes shall be king:14Q1466
-- 100 --
Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds,
Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!
[Noise again, and Shouts: Door assaulted.
Que.
How cheerfully on the false trail they cry!
O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs.
Kin.
The doors are broke.
Enter Laertes, arm'd; Danes following.
Lae.
Where is this king? note—Sirs, stand you all without.
Dan.
No, let's come in.
Lae.
I pray you, give me leave.
Dan.
We will, we will.
[retiring without the Door.
Lae.
I thank you; keep the door.—O thou vile king,
Give me my father.
Que.
Calmly, good Laertes.
Lae.
That drop of blood, that's calm note, proclaims me bastard;
Cries, cuckold, to my father; brands the harlot
Even here, between the chast unsmirched note brow
Of my true mother.
Kin.
What is the cause, Laertes,
That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?—
Let him go, Gertrude; do not fear our person;
There's such divinity doth hedge a king,
That treason can but peep note to what it would
Acts little of his will.—Tell me, Laertes,
Why thou art thus incens'd;—Let him go, Gertrude;—
Speak, man.
Lae.
Where is note my father?
Kin.
Dead, Laertes.
Que.
But not by him.
Kin.
Let him demand his fill.
Lae.
How came he dead? I'll not be juggl'd with:
-- 101 --
To hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience, and grace, to the profoundest pit!
I dare damnation: To this point I stand,—
That both the worlds I give to negligence,
Let come what comes; only I'll be reveng'd
Most throughly for my father.
Kin.
Who shall stay you?
Lae.
My will, not all the world's: note
And, for my means, I'll husband them so well,
They shall go far with little.
Kin.
Good Laertes,
If you desire to know the certainty
Of your dear father's death, is't note writ note in your revenge,
That, sweep-stake, note14Q1467 you will draw both friend and foe,
Winner and loser?
Lae.
None but his enemies.
Kin.
Will you know them then?
Lae.
To his good friends thus wide I'll ope note my arms;
And, like the kind life-rend'ring pelican, note
Repast them with my blood.
Kin.
Why, now you speak note
Like a good child, and a true gentleman.
That I am guiltless of your father's death,
And am most sensibly note in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment pierce note
As day does to your eye.
[Noise within.
Dan. [within.]
Let her come in. note
Lae.
How now! what noise is that?
Enter Ophelia, fantastically drest up with Flowers, &c.
O heat, dry up my brains! tears, seven times salt,
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!—
-- 102 --
By heaven, thy madness shall be pay'd by weight note,
'Till note our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!—
O heavens! is't possible, a young maid's wits
Should be as mortal as an old man's note life?
Nature is fine in love14Q1468: and, where 'tis fine, note
It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.
Oph.
They bore him bare-fac'd note on the bier,
[sings.
and on his grave rains note many a tear;—
Fare you well, my dove.
Lae.
Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.
Oph.
You must sing, Down, a-down note, an you call him
a-down-a. O, how the wheel becomes note it! It is the false
steward, that stole his master's daughter.
Lae.
This nothing's more than matter.
Oph.
There's &dagger2; rosemary,14Q1469 that's for remembrance;
pray you, love note, remember: and there is note &dagger2; pansies, that's
for thoughts.
Lae.
A document in madness; thoughts and remembrance fitted.
Oph.
There's &dagger2; fennel for you, and columbines:—
There's &dagger2; rue for you;—and here's some for me: we
may call it, herb of grace, o'sundays:—you may wear note
your rue with a difference.—There's &dagger2; a daisy:—I would
give you some violets; but they wither'd all, when my
father dy'd: They say, he made note a good end,—
For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy,—
[sings.
Lae.
Thought note, and affliction, note passion, hell itself,
She turns to favour and to prettiness.
Oph.
[1.]
And will note he not come again?
[sings.
-- 103 --
and will note he not come again?
No, no, he is dead,
go to thy death-bed,
he never will come again.
2.
His beard was note as white as snow,
all note flaxen was his pole:
he is gone, he is gone,
and we cast away moan;
Gramercy note on his soul!
And of all note christian note souls, I pray God. note God be wi' you!
[Exit Ophelia.
Lae.
Do you see note this, o God! note
Kin.
Laertes, I must commune note with your grief,
Or you deny note me right. Go but apart,
Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,
And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me:
If by direct or by collateral hand
They find us touch'd, we will our kingdom give,
Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours,
To you in satisfaction; but, if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us,
And we shall jointly labour with your soul
To give it due content.
Lae.
Let this be so;
His means of death, his obscure burial, note—
No trophee sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
No noble rite, nor note formal ostentation,—
Cry to be heard, as 'twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call't in note question.
Kin.
So you shall;
And, where the offence is, let the great axe fall.
-- 104 --
I pray you, go with me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VI.
The same. Another Room in the same.
Enter Horatio, and a Servant.
Hor.
What are they, that would speak with me?
Ser.
Sailors, sir; note
They say, they have letters for you.
Hor.
Let them come in.—
[Exit Servant.
I do not know from what part of the world
I should be greeted, if not from lord Hamlet.
Enter Sailors.
1. S.
God bless you, sir.
Hor.
Let him bless thee too.
1. S.
He shall note, sir, an't please him. There's &dagger2; a letter
for you, sir: it comes note from th' embassador note, that was bound
for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know
it is.
Hor. [reads.]
Horatio, when thou shalt have over-look'd
this, give these fellows some means to the king; they have
letters for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate
of very warlike appointment gave us chace: Finding
ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compell'd valour:
in note the grapple, I boarded them: on the instant, they got
clear of our ship; so I alone became their prisoner: They
have dealt with me like thieves of mercy: but they knew
what they did; I am to do a turn note for them. Let the king
have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me, with
as much speed as note thou would'st fly death: I have words to
speak in thine ear, note will make thee dumb; yet are they much
too light for the bore of note the matter: these good fellows
will bring thee where I am. Rosincrantz, and Guildenstern,
hold their course for England: of them I have
-- 105 --
much to tell thee. Farewel. He that note thou knowest thine,
Hamlet.
Come, I will give you way for these your letters;
And do't the speedier, that you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VII.
The same. Another Room in the same.
Enter King, and Laertes.
Kin.
Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,
And you must put me in your heart for friend;
Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,
That he, which hath your noble father slain,
Pursu'd my life.
Lae.
It well appears: But tell me
Why you proceeded note not against these feats,
So crimeful and note so capital note in nature,
As by your safety, wisdom, note all things note else,
You mainly were stir'd up.
Kin.
O, for two special reasons;
Which may to you, perhaps, seem much unsinew'd,
But yet note to me they are strong. The queen, his mother,
Lives almost by his looks; and for myself,
(My virtue, or my plague, be it either which)
She is so conjunctive note to my life and soul,
That, as the star moves not but in his sphere,
I could not but by her. The other motive,
Why to a publick count I might not go,
Is, the great love the general gender bear him:
Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
Would, like note the spring that turneth wood to stone,
Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows,
Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind, note
-- 106 --
Would have reverted to my bow again,
And not note where I had aim'd them.
Lae.
And so have I a noble father lost;
A sister driven into desperate terms;
Whose note worth, if praises may go back again,
Stood challenger on mount of all the age
For her perfections: But my revenge will come.
Kin.
Break not your sleeps for that: you must not think,
That we are made of stuff so flat and dull,
That we can let our beard note be shook with danger, note
And think it pastime. note You shortly shall hear more:
I lov'd your father, and we love ourself; note
And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine,—
Enter a Gentleman.
How now? what news? note
Gen.
Letters, my lord, from Hamlet: note
These &dagger2; to your note majesty; this † to the queen.
Kin.
From Hamlet! Who brought them?
Gen.
Sailors, my lord, they say: I saw them not;
They were given me by Claudio, he receiv'd them
Of him that brought them note.
Kin.
Laertes, you shall hear note them:—
Leave us.
[Exit Gentleman.
High and mighty, [reads.] You shall know, I am set
naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave to
see your kingly eyes: when I shall, first asking your pardon note
thereunto, recount the occasion note of my sudden return note.
Hamlet.
What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?
Or is it some abuse, and no note such thing?
Lae.
Know you the hand?
-- 107 --
Kin.
'Tis Hamlet's character. Naked!
And in a postscript here he says, alone:
Can you advise note me?
Lae.
I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come;
It warms the very sickness in my heart,
That I shall live note and tell him to his teeth,
Thus diddest thou.
Kin.
If it be so, Laertes,
As how should it be so? how otherwise?
Will you be rul'd by me?
Lae.
I will note, my lord;
So you will not o'er-rule me to a peace.
Kin.
To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,—
As checking at note his voyage, and that he means
No more to undertake it,—I will work him
To an exploit, now ripe in my devise,
Under the which he shall not choose but fall:
And for his death no wind of blame shall breath;
But even his mother shall uncharge the practise,
And call it, accident.
Lae.
My lord, I will be rul'd; note
The rather, if you could devise it so
That I might be the organ.
Kin.
It falls right.
You have been talk'd of since your travel much,
And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality
Wherein, they say, you shine: your sum of parts
Did not together pluck such envy from him,
As did that one; and that, in my regard,
Of the unworthiest siege.14Q1470
Lae.
What part is that, my lord?
Kin.
A very riband note in the cap of youth,
-- 108 --
Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes
The light and careless livery that it wears,
Than settl'd age his sables, and his weeds,
Importing health, and graveness. Two months since note
Here was a gentleman of Normandy,—
I have seen myself, and serv'd against, the French,
And they can note well on horse-back: but this gallant
Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto note his seat;
And to such wondrous doing brought his horse,
As he had note been incorps'd and demy-natur'd
With the brave beast: so far he top'd my note thought, note
That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks,
Come note short of what he did.
Lae.
A Norman was't?
Kin.
A Norman.
Lae.
Upon my life, Lamord. note
Kin.
The very same.
Lae.
I know him well; he is the brooch, indeed,
And jem of all the nation. note
Kin.
He made confession of you:
And gave you such a masterly report,
For art and exercise in your defence,
And for your rapier most especial, note
That he cry'd out, 'Twould be a sight indeed,
If one could match you; the scrimers of their nation, note
He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye,
If you oppos'd them: Sir, this report of his
Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy,
That he could nothing do, but wish and beg
Your sudden coming o'er note, to play with you. note
Now, out of this,—
Lae.
What out note of this, my lord?
-- 109 --
Kin.
Laertes, was your father dear to you?
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
A face without a heart?
Lae.
Why ask you this?
Kin.
Not that I think, you did not love your father;
But that I know, love is begun by time;
And that I see, in passages of proof,
Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.
There lives within the very flame of love note
A kind of wick, or snuff, that will abate it;
And nothing is at a like goodness still;
For goodness, growing to a plurisy,
Dies in his own too much: That we would do,
We should do when we would: for this would changes,
And hath abatements and delays as many,
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents;
And then this should14Q1471 is like a spend-thrift's note sigh,
That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the ulcer:
Hamlet comes note back; What would you undertake,
To show yourself indeed your father's son note
More than in words?
Lae.
To cut his throat i' the church.
Kin.
No place, indeed, should murther sanctuarize;
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
Will you do this; keep close within your chamber?
Hamlet, return'd, shall know you are come home:
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence,
And set a double varnish on the fame
The Frenchman gave you; bring you, in fine, together,
And wager o'er your note heads: he, being remiss,
Most generous, and free from all contriving,
Will not peruse the foils; so that, with ease,
-- 110 --
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A sword unbated note, and, in a pass of practice,
Requite note him for your father.
Lae.
I will do't:
And, for the purpose note, I'll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank;
So mortal, that, but dip note a knife in it,
Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death,
That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point
With this contagion; that, if I gall him slightly,
It may be death.
Kin.
Let's further think of this;
Weigh what convenience note, both of time and means,
May fit us to our shape: If this should fail,
And that our drift look through our bad performance,
'Twere better not assay'd; therefore, this project
Should have a back, or second, that might hold,
If this did blast note in proof. Soft; let me see:
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings, note—
I ha't: note
When in your motion you are hot and dry,
(As make your bouts more violent to that end) note
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prefer'd note him
A chalice for the nonce; note whereon but sipping,
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck, note
Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise? note—
Enter Queen.
How now, sweet queen? note
Que.
One woe doth tread upon another's heel,
So fast they follow: note—
-- 111 --
Your sister's drown'd, Laertes.
Lae.
Drown'd! o, where?
Que.
There is a willow14Q1472 grows ascant the brook, note
That shews his hoar note leaves in the glassy stream;
Therewith note fantastick garlands did she make, note
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold note maids do dead men's fingers call them:
Then on note the pendant boughs her coronet note weeds
Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver note broke;
When down her weedy note trophies, and herself,
Fell in the weeping brook. Her cloaths spread wide;
And, mermaid-like, a while they bore her up:
Which time, she chaunted snatches of old tunes; note
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and indu'd note
Unto that element: but long it could not be,
'Till that her garments, heavy with their drink note,
Pull'd the poor wretch note from her melodious lay note
To muddy death.
Lae.
Alas, then, she is note drown'd?
Que.
Drown'd, drown'd.
Lae.
Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
And therefore I forbid my tears: But yet
It is our trick; nature her custom holds,
Let shame say what it will: when these are gone,
The woman will be out.—Adieu, my lord:
I have a speech of fire note; that fain would blaze,
But that this folly drowns it. note
[Exit.
Kin.
Let's follow, Gertrude:
How much I had to do to calm his rage!
Now fear I, this will give it start again;
-- 112 --
Therefore, let's follow.
[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].
