Hamlet · William Shakespeare
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_Cap_. God buy you sir. _Ros_. Wil't please you goe my Lord? [Sidenote: 187, 195] _Ham_. Ile be with you straight, goe a little before.[9] [10]How all occasions[11] doe informe against me, [Continued on next text page.]] [Footnote 8: The meaning may be as in the following paraphrase: 'This quarrelling about nothing is (the breaking of) the abscess caused by wealth and peace--which breaking inward (in general corruption), would show no outward sore in sign of why death came.' Or it might be _forced_ thus:-- This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace. That (which) inward breaks, and shows no cause without-- Why, the man dies! But it may mean:--'The war is an imposthume, which will break within, and cause much affliction to the people that make the war.' On the other hand, Hamlet seems to regard it as a process for, almost a sign of health.]
In certain moods the action a man dislikes will _therefore_ look to him the more like a duty; and this helps to prevent Hamlet from knowing always how great a part conscience bears in the omission because of which he condemns and even contemns himself. The conscience does not naturally examine itself--is not necessarily self-conscious. In any soliloquy, a man must speak from his present mood: we who are not suffering, and who have many of his moods before us, ought to understand Hamlet better than he understands himself. To himself, sitting in judgment on himself, it would hardly appear a decent cause of, not to say reason for, a moment's delay in punishing his uncle, that he was so weighed down with misery because of his mother and Ophelia, that it seemed of no use to kill one villain out of the villainous world; it would seem but 'bestial oblivion'; and, although his reputation as a prince was deeply concerned, _any_ reflection on the consequences to himself would at times appear but a 'craven scruple'; while at times even the whispers of conscience might seem a 'thinking too precisely on the event.' A conscientious man of changeful mood wilt be very ready in either mood to condemn the other. The best and rightest men will sometimes accuse themselves in a manner that seems to those who know them best, unfounded, unreasonable, almost absurd. We must not, I say, take the hero's judgment of himself as the author's judgment of him. The two judgments, that of a man upon himself from within, and that of his beholder upon him from without, are not congeneric. They are different in origin and in kind, and cannot be adopted either of them into the source of the other without most serious and dangerous mistake. So adopted, each becomes another thing altogether. It is to me probable that, although it involves other unfitnesses, the Poet omitted the passage chiefly from coming to see the danger of its giving occasion, or at least support, to an altogether mistaken and unjust idea of his Hamlet.]
But how can he say he has strength and means--in the position in which he now finds himself? I am glad to be able to believe, let my defence of Hamlet against himself be right or wrong, that Shakspere intended the omission of the passage. I lay nothing on the great lack of logic throughout the speech, for that would not make it unfit for Hamlet in such mood, while it makes its omission from the play of less consequence to my general argument.] [Page 196] Which as her winkes, and nods, and gestures yeeld[1] them, Indeed would make one thinke there would[2] be thought, [Sidenote: there might[2] be] Though nothing sure, yet much vnhappily. _Qu_. 'Twere good she were spoken with,[3] [Sidenote: _Hora_.] For she may strew dangerous coniectures In ill breeding minds.[4] Let her come in. [Sidenote: _Enter Ophelia_.] To my sicke soule (as sinnes true Nature is) [Sidenote: _Quee_. 'To my[5]] Each toy seemes Prologue, to some great amisse, [Sidenote: 'Each] So full of Artlesse iealousie is guilt, [Sidenote: 'So] It spill's it selfe, in fearing to be spilt.[6] [Sidenote: 'It] _Enter Ophelia distracted_.[7] _Ophe_. Where is the beauteous Maiesty of Denmark. _Qu_. How now _Ophelia_? [Sidenote: _shee sings_.] _Ophe. How should I your true loue know from another one? By his Cockle hat and staffe, and his Sandal shoone._
_Qu_. Alas sweet Lady: what imports this Song? _Ophe_. Say you? Nay pray you marke. _He is dead and gone Lady, he is dead and gone, At his head a grasse-greene Turfe, at his heeles a stone._ [Sidenote: O ho.] _Enter King_. _Qu_. Nay but _Ophelia_. _Ophe_. Pray you marke. _White his Shrow'd as the Mountaine Snow._ [Sidenote: _Enter King_.] _Qu_. Alas looke heere my Lord, [Sidenote: 246] _Ophe. Larded[8] with sweet flowers_: [Sidenote: Larded all with] _Which bewept to the graue did not go_, [Sidenote: ground | _Song_.] _With true-loue showres_, [Footnote 7: _1st Q. Enter Ofelia playing on a Lute, and her haire downe singing._ Hamlet's apparent madness would seem to pass into real madness in Ophelia. King Lear's growing perturbation becomes insanity the moment he sees the pretended madman Edgar. The forms of Ophelia's madness show it was not her father's death that drove her mad, but his death by the hand of Hamlet, which, with Hamlet's banishment, destroyed all the hope the queen had been fostering in her of marrying him some day.] [Page 198] _King_. How do ye, pretty Lady? [Sidenote: you] _Ophe_. Well, God dil'd you.[1] They say the [Sidenote: good dild you,[1]] Owle was a Bakers daughter.[2] Lord, wee know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your Table.
_King_. Follow her close, Giue her good watch I pray you: Oh this is the poyson of deepe greefe, it springs All from her Fathers death. Oh _Gertrude, Gertrude_, [Sidenote: death, and now behold, ô _Gertrard, Gertrard_,] When sorrowes comes, they come not single spies,[1] [Sidenote: sorrowes come] But in Battaliaes. First, her Father slaine, [Sidenote: battalians:] Next your Sonne gone, and he most violent Author Of his owne iust remoue: the people muddied,[2] Thicke and vnwholsome in their thoughts, and whispers [Sidenote: in thoughts] For[3] good _Polonius_ death; and we haue done but greenly [Sidenote: 182] In hugger mugger[4] to interre him. Poore _Ophelia_ Diuided from her selfe,[5] and her faire Iudgement, Without the which we are Pictures, or meere Beasts. Last, and as much containing as all these, Her Brother is in secret come from France, Keepes on his wonder,[6] keepes himselfe in clouds, [Sidenote: Feeds on this[6]] And wants not Buzzers to infect his eare [Sidenote: care] With pestilent Speeches of his Fathers death, Where in necessitie of matter Beggard, [Sidenote: Wherein necessity] Will nothing sticke our persons to Arraigne [Sidenote: person] In eare and eare.[7] O my deere _Gertrude_, this, Like to a murdering Peece[8] in many places, Giues me superfluous death. _A Noise within_. _Enter a Messenger_. _Qu_. Alacke, what noyse is this?[9] _King_. Where are my _Switzers_?[10] [Sidenote: _King_. Attend, where is my Swissers,] Let them guard the doore. What is the matter?
_All_. No, let's come in. _Laer_. I pray you giue me leaue.[6] _All_. We will, we will. _Laer_. I thanke you: Keepe the doore. Oh thou vilde King, giue me my Father. _Qu_. Calmely good _Laertes_. _Laer_. That drop of blood, that calmes[7] [Sidenote: thats calme] Proclaimes me Bastard: Cries Cuckold to my Father, brands the Harlot Euen heere betweene the chaste vnsmirched brow Of my true Mother.[8] _Kin_. What is the cause _Laertes_, That thy Rebellion lookes so Gyant-like? Let him go _Gertrude_: Do not feare[9] our person: There's such Diuinity doth hedge a King,[10] That Treason can but peepe to what it would, Acts little of his will.[11] Tell me _Laertes_, [Footnote 3: This refers to the election of Claudius--evidently not a popular election, but effected by intrigue with the aristocracy and the army: 'They cry, Let us choose: Laertes shall be king!' We may suppose the attempt of Claudius to have been favoured by the lingering influence of the old Norse custom of succession, by which not the son but the brother inherited. 16, _bis._] [Footnote 8: In taking vengeance Hamlet must acknowledge his mother such as Laertes says inaction on his part would proclaim his mother. The actress should here let a shadow cross the queen's face: though too weak to break with the king, she has begun to repent.]
To thine own self be true; And it must follow, _as the night the day_ (!) Thou canst not then be false to any man. Like the aphorism 'Honesty is the best policy,' it reveals the difference between a fact and a truth. Both sayings are correct as facts, but as guides of conduct devilishly false, leading to dishonesty and treachery. To be true to the divine self in us, is indeed to be true to all; but it is only by being true to all, against the ever present and urging false self, that at length we shall see the divine self rise above the chaotic waters of our selfishness, and know it so as to be true to it. Of Laertes we must note also that it is not all for love of his father that he is ready to cast allegiance to hell, and kill the king: he has the voice of the people to succeed him.] [Page 206] [Sidenote: 184] It shall as leuell to your Iudgement pierce [Sidenote: peare'] As day do's to your eye.[1] _A noise within. [2]Let her come in._ _Enter Ophelia[3]_ _Laer_. How now? what noise is that?[4] [Sidenote: _Laer_. Let her come in. How now,] Oh heate drie vp my Braines, teares seuen times salt, Burne out the Sence and Vertue of mine eye. By Heauen, thy madnesse shall be payed by waight, [Sidenote: with weight] Till our Scale turnes the beame. Oh Rose of May, [Sidenote: turne] Deere Maid, kinde Sister, sweet _Ophelia_: Oh Heauens, is't possible, a yong Maids wits, Should be as mortall as an old mans life?[5] [Sidenote: a poore mans] Nature is fine[6] in Loue, and where 'tis fine, It sends some precious instance of it selfe After the thing it loues.[7]
_Ophe. They bore him bare fac'd on the Beer._ [Sidenote: _Song_.] [Sidenote: bare-faste] _Hey non nony, nony, hey nony:[8] And on his graue raines many a teare_, [Sidenote: And in his graue rain'd] _Fare you well my Doue._ _Laer_. Had'st thou thy wits, and did'st perswade Reuenge, it could not moue thus. _Ophe_. You must sing downe a-downe, and [Sidenote: sing a downe a downe, And] you call him[9] a-downe-a. Oh, how the wheele[10] becomes it? It is the false Steward that stole his masters daughter.[11] _Laer_. This nothings more then matter.[12] _Ophe_. There's Rosemary,[13] that's for Remembraunce. Pray loue remember: and there is [Sidenote: , pray you loue] Paconcies, that's for Thoughts. [Sidenote: Pancies[14]] _Laer_. A document[15] in madnesse, thoughts and remembrance fitted. _Ophe_. There's Fennell[16] for you, and Columbines[16]: ther's Rew[17] for you, and heere's some for [Footnote 1: 'pierce as _directly_ to your judgment.' But the simile of the _day_ seems to favour the reading of the _Q._--'peare,' for _appear_. In the word _level_ would then be indicated the _rising_ sun.] [Footnote 5: _1st Q._ I'st possible a yong maides life, Should be as mortall as an olde mans sawe?] [Footnote 13: --an evergreen, and carried at funerals: _Johnson_. For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep Seeming and savour ail the winter long: Grace and remembrance be to you both.
_The Winter's Tale_, act iv. sc. 3.] [Page 208] me. Wee may call it Herbe-Grace a Sundaies: [Sidenote: herbe of Grace a Sondaies, you may weare] Oh you must weare your Rew with a difference.[1] There's a Daysie,[2] I would giue you some Violets,[3] but they wither'd all when my Father dyed: They say, he made a good end; [Sidenote: say a made] _For bonny sweet Robin is all my ioy._ _Laer_. Thought, and Affliction, Passion, Hell it selfe: [Sidenote: afflictions,] She turnes to Fauour, and to prettinesse. [Sidenote:_Song._] _Ophe. And will he not come againe_, [Sidenote: will a not] _And will he not come againe_: [Sidenote: will a not] _No, no, he is dead, go to thy Death-bed, He neuer wil come againe. His Beard as white as Snow_, [Sidenote: beard was as] _All[4] Flaxen was his Pole: He is gone, he is gone, and we cast away mone, Gramercy[5] on his Soule._ [Sidenote: God a mercy on] And of all Christian Soules, I pray God.[6] [Sidenote: Christians soules,] God buy ye.[7] _Exeunt Ophelia_[8] [Sidenote: you.] _Laer_. Do you see this, you Gods? [Sidenote: Doe you this ô God.] _King. Laertes_, I must common[9] with your greefe, [Sidenote: commune] Or you deny me right: go but apart, Make choice of whom your wisest Friends you will, And they shall heare and iudge 'twixt you and me; If by direct or by Colaterall hand They finde vs touch'd,[10] we will our Kingdome giue, Our Crowne, our Life, and all that we call Ours To you in satisfaction. But if not, Be you content to lend your patience to vs,[11] And we shall ioyntly labour with your soule To giue it due content.
Horatio, _When thou shalt haue ouerlook'd this_, [Sidenote: _Hor. Horatio_ when] _giue these Fellowes some meanes to the King: They haue Letters for him. Ere we were two dayes[8] old at Sea, a Pyrate of very Warlicke appointment gaue vs Chace. Finding our selues too slow of Saile, we put on a compelled Valour. In the Grapple, I boarded_ [Sidenote: valour, and in the] _them: On the instant they got cleare of our Shippe, so I alone became their Prisoner.[9] They haue dealt with mee, like Theeues of Mercy, but they knew what they did. I am to doe a good turne for them. Let_ [Sidenote: a turne] _the King have the Letters I haue sent, and repaire thou to me with as much hast as thou wouldest flye_ [Sidenote: much speede as] _death[10] I haue words to speake in your eare, will_ [Sidenote: in thine eare] [Footnote 9: Note once more the unfailing readiness of Hamlet where there was no question as to the fitness of the action seemingly required. This is the man who by too much thinking, forsooth, has rendered himself incapable of action!--so far ahead of the foremost behind him, that, when the pirate, not liking such close quarters, 'on the instant got clear,' he is the only one on her deck! There was no question here as to what ought to be done: the pirate grappled them; he boarded her. Thereafter, with his prompt faculty for dealing with men, he soon comes to an understanding with his captors, and they agree, upon some certain condition, to put him on shore.
He writes in unusual spirits; for he has now gained full, presentable, and indisputable proof of the treachery which before he scarcely doubted, but could not demonstrate. The present instance of it has to do with himself, not his father, but in itself would justify the slaying of his uncle, whose plausible way had possibly perplexed him so that he could not thoroughly believe him the villain he was: bad as he must be, could he actually have killed his own brother, and _such_ a brother? A better man than Laertes might have acted more promptly than Hamlet, and so happened to _do_ right; but he would not have _been_ right, for the proof was _not_ sufficient.] [Page 212] _make thee dumbe, yet are they much too light for the bore of the Matter.[1] These good Fellowes will bring_ [Sidenote: the bord of] _thee where I am. Rosincrance and Guildensterne, hold their course for England. Of them I haue much to tell thee, Farewell. He that thou knowest thine._ [Sidenote: _So that thou knowest thine Hamlet._] Hamlet. Come, I will giue you way for these your Letters, [Sidenote: _Hor_. Come I will you way] And do't the speedier, that you may direct me To him from whom you brought them. _Exit_. [Sidenote: _Exeunt._] _Enter King and Laertes._[2] _King_. Now must your conscience my acquittance seal, And you must put me in your heart for Friend, Sith you haue heard, and with a knowing eare,[3] That he which hath your Noble Father slaine, Pursued my life.[4]
_Laer_. It well appeares. But tell me, Why you proceeded not against these feates,[5] [Sidenote: proceede] So crimefull, and so Capitall in Nature,[6] [Sidenote: criminall] As by your Safety, Wisedome, all things else, [Sidenote: safetie, greatnes, wisdome,] You mainly[7] were stirr'd vp? _King_. O for two speciall Reasons, Which may to you (perhaps) seeme much vnsinnowed,[8] And yet to me they are strong. The Queen his Mother, [Sidenote: But yet | tha'r strong] Liues almost by his lookes: and for my selfe, My Vertue or my Plague, be it either which,[9] She's so coniunctiue to my life and soule; [Sidenote: she is so concliue] That as the Starre moues not but in his Sphere,[10] I could not but by her. The other Motiue, Why to a publike count I might not go, [Sidenote: 186] Is the great loue the generall gender[11] beare him, Who dipping all his Faults in their affection, [Footnote 11: Here used in the sense of the Fr. _'genre'--sort_. It is not the only instance of the word so used by Shakspere. The king would rouse in Laertes jealousy of Hamlet.] [Page 214] Would like the Spring that turneth Wood to Stone, [Sidenote: Worke like] Conuert his Gyues to Graces.[1] So that my Arrowes Too slightly timbred for so loud a Winde, [Sidenote: for so loued Arm'd[2]] Would haue reuerted to my Bow againe, And not where I had arm'd them.[2] [Sidenote: But not | have aym'd them.]
_Kin_. A Norman. _Laer_. Vpon my life _Lamound_. [Sidenote: _Lamord_.] _Kin_. The very same. _Laer_. I know him well, he is the Brooch indeed, And Iemme of all our Nation, [Sidenote: all the Nation.] _Kin_. Hee mad confession of you, And gaue you such a Masterly report, For Art and exercise in your defence; And for your Rapier most especially, [Sidenote: especiall,] That he cryed out, t'would be a sight indeed,[7] If one could match you [A] Sir. This report of his [Sidenote: ; sir this] [Sidenote: 120, 264] Did _Hamlet_ so envenom with his Enuy,[8] That he could nothing doe but wish and begge, Your sodaine comming ore to play with him;[9] [Sidenote: with you] Now out of this.[10] _Laer_. Why out of this, my Lord? [Sidenote: What out] _Kin. Laertes_ was your Father deare to you? Or are you like the painting[11] of a sorrow, A face without a heart? _Laer_. Why aske you this? _Kin_. Not that I thinke you did not loue your Father, But that I know Loue is begun by Time[12]: [Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto:--_ ; the Scrimures[13] of their nation He swore had neither motion, guard nor eye, If you opposd them;] [Footnote 3: There is no mistake in the order 'had he beene'; the transposition is equivalent to _if_: 'as if he had been unbodied with, and shared half the nature of the brave beast.'
These two lines, from _As_ to _thought_, must be taken parenthetically; or else there must be supposed a dash after _Beast_, and a fresh start made. 'But he (as if Centaur-like he had been one piece with the horse) was no more moved than one with the going of his own legs:' 'it seemed, as he borrowed the horse's body, so he lent the horse his mind:'--Sir Philip Sidney. _Arcadia_, B. ii. p. 115.] [Page 220] And that I see in passages of proofe,[1] Time qualifies the sparke and fire of it:[2] [A] _Hamlet_ comes backe: what would you vndertake, To show your selfe your Fathers sonne indeed, [Sidenote: selfe indeede your fathers sonne] More then in words? _Laer_. To cut his throat i'th'Church.[3] _Kin_. No place indeed should murder Sancturize; Reuenge should haue no bounds: but good _Laertes_ Will you doe this, keepe close within your Chamber, _Hamlet_ return'd, shall know you are come home: Wee'l put on those shall praise your excellence, And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gaue you, bring you in fine together, And wager on your heads, he being remisse,[4] [Sidenote: ore your] [Sidenote: 218] Most generous, and free from all contriuing, Will not peruse[5] the Foiles? So that with ease, Or with a little shuffling, you may choose A Sword vnbaited,[6] and in a passe of practice,[7] [Sidenote: pace of] Requit him for your Father.
_Laer_. I will doo't, And for that purpose Ile annoint my Sword:[8] [Sidenote: for purpose,] I bought an Vnction of a Mountebanke So mortall, I but dipt a knife in it,[9] [Sidenote: mortall, that but dippe a] Where it drawes blood, no Cataplasme so rare, Collected from all Simples that haue Vertue [Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto_:-- There liues within the very flame of loue A kind of weeke or snufe that will abate it,[10] And nothing is at a like goodnes still,[11] For goodnes growing to a plurisie,[12] Dies in his owne too much, that we would doe We should doe when we would: for this would change,[13] And hath abatements and delayes as many, As there are tongues, are hands, are accedents, And then this should is like a spend thrifts sigh, That hurts by easing;[14] but to the quick of th'vlcer,] [Footnote 9: 'So mortal, yes, a knife being but dipt in it,' or, 'So mortal, did I but dip a knife in it.'] [Footnote 12: A _plurisie_ is just a _too-muchness_, from _plus, pluris--a plethora_, not our word _pleurisy_, from [Greek: pleura]. See notes in _Johnson and Steevens_.] [Page 222] Vnder the Moone, can saue the thing from death, That is but scratcht withall: Ile touch my point, With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly,[1] It may be death.
_Other_. Will you ha the truth on't: if this had [Sidenote: truth an't] not beene a Gentlewoman, shee should haue beene buried out of[2] Christian Buriall. [Sidenote: out a] _Clo_. Why there thou say'st. And the more pitty that great folke should haue countenance in this world to drowne or hang themselues, more then their euen[3] Christian. Come, my Spade; there is no ancient Gentlemen, but Gardiners, Ditchers and Graue-makers; they hold vp _Adams_ Profession. _Other_. Was he a Gentleman? _Clo_. He was the first that euer bore Armes. [Sidenote: A was] [4]_Other_. Why he had none. _Clo_. What, ar't a Heathen? how dost thou vnderstand the Scripture? the Scripture sayes _Adam_ dig'd; could hee digge without Armes?[4] Ile put another question to thee; if thou answerest me not to the purpose, confesse thy selfe---- _Other_. Go too. _Clo_. What is he that builds stronger then either the Mason, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter? _Other_. The Gallowes-maker; for that Frame outliues a thousand Tenants. [Sidenote: that outliues] [Page 228] _Clo_. I like thy wit well in good faith, the Gallowes does well; but how does it well? it does well to those that doe ill: now, thou dost ill to say the Gallowes is built stronger then the Church: Argall, the Gallowes may doe well to thee. Too't againe, Come.
_Other_. Who builds stronger then a Mason, a Shipwright, or a Carpenter? _Clo_. I, tell me that, and vnyoake.[1] _Other_. Marry, now I can tell. _Clo_. Too't. _Other_. Masse, I cannot tell. _Enter Hamlet and Horatio a farre off._[2] _Clo_. Cudgell thy braines no more about it; for your dull Asse will not mend his pace with beating, and when you are ask't this question next, say a Graue-maker: the Houses that he makes, lasts [Sidenote: houses hee makes] till Doomesday: go, get thee to _Yaughan_,[3] fetch [Sidenote: thee in, and fetch mee a soope of] me a stoupe of Liquor. _Sings._[4] _In youth when I did loue, did loue_, [Sidenote: _Song._] _me thought it was very sweete: To contract O the time for a my behoue, O me thought there was nothing meete[5]_ [Sidenote: there a was nothing a meet.] [Sidenote: _Enter Hamlet & Horatio_] _Ham_. Ha's this fellow no feeling of his businesse, [Sidenote: busines? a sings in graue-making.] that he sings at Graue-making?[6] _Hor_. Custome hath made it in him a property[7] of easinesse. _Ham_. 'Tis ee'n so; the hand of little Imployment hath the daintier sense. _Clowne sings._[8] _But Age with his stealing steps_ [Sidenote _Clow. Song._] _hath caught me in his clutch_: [Sidenote: hath clawed me] [Footnote 3: Whether this is the name of a place, or the name of an innkeeper, or is merely an inexplicable corruption--some take it for a stage-direction to yawn--I cannot tell. See _Q._ reading.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.