Hamlet · William Shakespeare
_SCENA SECUNDA._[4]
_Enter King, Queene, Rosincrane, and Guildensterne Cum alijs. [Sidenote: Florish: Enter King and Queene, Rosencraus and Guyldensterne.[5]] _King._ Welcome deere _Rosincrance_ and _Guildensterne_. Moreouer,[6] that we much did long to see you, The neede we haue to vse you, did prouoke [Sidenote: 92] Our hastie sending.[7] Something haue you heard Of _Hamlets_ transformation: so I call it, [Sidenote: so call] Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man [Sidenote: Sith nor] Resembles that it was. What it should bee More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him So much from th'understanding of himselfe, I cannot deeme of.[8] I intreat you both, [Sidenote: dreame] That being of so young dayes[9] brought vp with him: And since so Neighbour'd to[10] his youth,and humour, [Sidenote: And sith | and hauior,] That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court Some little time: so by your Companies To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather [Sidenote: 116] So much as from Occasions you may gleane, [Sidenote: occasion] [A] That open'd lies within our remedie.[11] [Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto_:-- Whether ought to vs vnknowne afflicts him thus,] [Footnote 1: 'to be overwise--to overreach ourselves' 'ambition, which o'erleaps itself,' --_Macbeth_, act i. sc. 7.] [Footnote 3: He hopes now to get his daughter married to the prince. We have here a curious instance of Shakspere's not unfrequently excessive condensation. Expanded, the clause would be like this: 'which, being kept close, might move more grief by the hiding of love, than to utter love might move hate:' the grief in the one case might be greater than the hate in the other would be. It verges on confusion, and may not be as Shakspere wrote it, though it is like his way.
_1st Q._ Lets to the king, this madnesse may prooue, Though wilde a while, yet more true to thy loue.] [Page 74] _Qu._ Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, And sure I am, two men there are not liuing, [Sidenote: there is not] To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To shew vs so much Gentrie,[1] and good will, As to expend your time with vs a-while, For the supply and profit of our Hope,[2] Your Visitation shall receiue such thankes As fits a Kings remembrance. _Rosin._ Both your Maiesties Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs, Put your dread pleasures, more into Command Then to Entreatie, _Guil._ We both[3] obey, [Sidenote: But we] And here giue vp our selues, in the full bent,[4] To lay our Seruices freely at your feete, [Sidenote: seruice] To be commanded. _King._ Thankes _Rosincrance_, and gentle _Guildensterne_. _Qu._ Thankes _Guildensterne_ and gentle _Rosincrance_,[5] And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed Sonne. Go some of ye, [Sidenote: you] And bring the Gentlemen where _Hamlet_ is, [Sidenote: bring these] _Guil._ Heauens make our presence and our practises Pleasant and helpfull to him. _Exit_[6] _Queene._ Amen. [Sidenote: Amen. _Exeunt Ros. and Guyld._] _Enter Polonius._ [Sidenote: 18] _Pol._ Th'Ambassadors from Norwey, my good Lord, Are ioyfully return'd.
_Qu_. More matter, with lesse Art.[8] _Pol_. Madam, I sweare I vse no Art at all: That he is mad, 'tis true: 'Tis true 'tis pittie, [Sidenote: hee's mad] And pittie it is true; A foolish figure,[9] [Sidenote: pitty tis tis true,] [Page 80] But farewell it: for I will vse no Art. Mad let vs grant him then: and now remaines That we finde out the cause of this effect, Or rather say, the cause of this defect; For this effect defectiue, comes by cause, Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend, I haue a daughter: haue, whil'st she is mine, [Sidenote: while] Who in her Dutie and Obedience, marke, Hath giuen me this: now gather, and surmise. _The Letter_.[1] _To the Celestiall, and my Soules Idoll, the most beautified Ophelia_. That's an ill Phrase, a vilde Phrase, beautified is a vilde Phrase: but you shall heare these in her thus in her excellent white bosome, these.[2] [Sidenote: these, &c] _Qu_. Came this from _Hamlet_ to her. _Pol_. Good Madam stay awhile, I will be faithfull. _Doubt thou, the Starres are fire_, [Sidenote: _Letter_] _Doubt, that the Sunne doth moue; Doubt Truth to be a Lier, But neuer Doubt, I loue.[3] O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these Numbers: I haue not Art to reckon my grones; but that I loue thee best, oh most Best beleeue it. Adieu. Thine euermore most deere Lady, whilst this Machine is to him_, Hamlet. This in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me: [Sidenote: _Pol_. This showne] And more aboue hath his soliciting, [Sidenote: more about solicitings] As they fell out by Time, by Meanes, and Place, All giuen to mine eare.
When I had seene this hot loue on the wing, As I perceiued it, I must tell you that Before my Daughter told me, what might you Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere, think, If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke,[1] Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe, [Sidenote: working] Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle sight,[2] What might you thinke? No, I went round to worke, And (my yong Mistris) thus I did bespeake[3] Lord _Hamlet_ is a Prince out of thy Starre,[4] This must not be:[5] and then, I Precepts gaue her, [Sidenote: I prescripts] That she should locke her selfe from his Resort, [Sidenote: from her] [Sidenote: 42[6], 43, 70] Admit no Messengers, receiue no Tokens: Which done, she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice,[7] And he repulsed. A short Tale to make, [Sidenote: repell'd, a] Fell into a Sadnesse, then into a Fast,[8] Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknesse, [Sidenote: to a wath,] Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension [Sidenote: to lightnes] Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues, [Sidenote: wherein] And all we waile for.[9] [Sidenote: mourne for] _King_. Do you thinke 'tis this?[10] [Sidenote: thinke this?] _Qu_. It may be very likely. [Sidenote: like] _Pol_. Hath there bene such a time, I'de fain know that, [Sidenote: I would] That I haue possitiuely said, 'tis so, When it prou'd otherwise?
_King_. We will try it. _Enter Hamlet reading on a Booke._[2] _Qu_. But looke where sadly the poore wretch Comes reading.[3] _Pol_. Away I do beseech you, both away, He boord[4] him presently. _Exit King & Queen_[5] Oh giue me leaue.[6] How does my good Lord _Hamlet_? _Ham_. Well, God-a-mercy. _Pol_. Do you know me, my Lord? [Sidenote: 180] _Ham_. Excellent, excellent well: y'are a Fish-monger.[7] [Sidenote: Excellent well, you are] _Pol_. Not I my Lord. _Ham_. Then I would you were so honest a man. _Pol_. Honest, my Lord? _Ham_. I sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to bee one man pick'd out of two thousand. [Sidenote: tenne thousand[8]] _Pol_. That's very true, my Lord. _Ham_.[9] For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge, being a good kissing Carrion--[10] [Sidenote: carrion. Have] Haue you a daughter?[11] _Pol_. I haue my Lord. [Footnote 1: _1st Q_. The Princes walke is here in the galery, There let _Ofelia_, walke vntill hee comes: Your selfe and I will stand close in the study,] [Footnote 3: _1st Q_.-- _King_. See where hee comes poring vppon a booke.] [Page 86] _Ham_. Let her not walke i'th'Sunne: Conception[1] is a blessing, but not as your daughter may [Sidenote: but as your] conceiue. Friend looke too't. [Sidenote: 100] _Pol_.[2] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said [Sidenote: a sayd I] I was a Fishmonger: he is farre gone, farre gone: [Sidenote: Fishmonger, a is farre gone, and truly] and truly in my youth, I suffred much extreamity and truly for loue: very neere this. Ile speake to him againe.
What do you read my Lord? _Ham_. Words, words, words. _Pol_. What is the matter, my Lord? _Ham_. Betweene who?[3] _Pol_. I meane the matter you meane, my [Sidenote: matter that you reade my] Lord. _Ham_. Slanders Sir: for the Satyricall slaue [Sidenote: satericall rogue sayes] saies here, that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum-Tree Gumme: and that they haue [Sidenote: Amber, and] a plentifull locke of Wit, together with weake [Sidenote: lacke | with most weake] Hammes. All which Sir, though I most powerfully, and potently beleeue; yet I holde it not Honestie[4] to haue it thus set downe: For you [Sidenote: for your selfe sir shall grow old as I am:] your selfe Sir, should be old as I am, if like a Crab you could go backward. _Pol_.[5] Though this be madnesse, Yet there is Method in't: will you walke Out of the ayre[6] my Lord? _Ham_. Into my Graue? _Pol_. Indeed that is out o'th'Ayre: [Sidenote: that's out of the ayre;] How pregnant (sometimes) his Replies are? A happinesse, That often Madnesse hits on, Which Reason and Sanitie could not [Sidenote: sanctity] So prosperously be deliuer'd of. [Page 88] [A] I will leaue him, And sodainely contriue the meanes of meeting Betweene him,[1] and my daughter. My Honourable Lord, I will most humbly Take my leaue of you.
_Ham_. You cannot Sir take from[2] me any thing, that I will more willingly part withall, except my [Sidenote: will not more | my life, except my] life, my life.[3] [Sidenote: _Enter Guyldersterne, and Rosencrans_.] _Polon_. Fare you well my Lord. _Ham_. These tedious old fooles. _Polon_. You goe to seeke my Lord _Hamlet_; [Sidenote: the Lord] there hee is. _Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne_.[4] _Rosin_. God saue you Sir. _Guild_. Mine honour'd Lord? _Rosin_. My most deare Lord? _Ham_. My excellent good friends? How do'st [Sidenote: My extent good] thou _Guildensterne_? Oh, _Rosincrane_; good Lads: [Sidenote: A Rosencraus] How doe ye both? [Sidenote: you] _Rosin_. As the indifferent Children of the earth. _Guild_. Happy, in that we are not ouer-happy: [Sidenote: euer happy on] on Fortunes Cap, we are not the very Button. [Sidenote: Fortunes lap,] _Ham_. Nor the Soales of her Shoo? _Rosin_. Neither my Lord. _Ham_. Then you liue about her waste, or in the middle of her fauour? [Sidenote: fauors.] _Guil_. Faith, her priuates, we. _Ham_. In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true: she is a Strumpet.[5] What's the newes? [Sidenote: What newes?] _Rosin_. None my Lord; but that the World's [Sidenote: but the] growne honest. _Ham_. Then is Doomesday neere: But your [Footnote A: _In the Quarto, the speech ends thus_:--I will leaue him and my daughter.[6] My Lord, I will take my leaue of you.]
_Rosin_. Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis too narrow for your minde.[4] _Ham_. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that I haue bad dreames. _Guil_. Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the very substance[5] of the Ambitious, is meerely the shadow of a Dreame. _Ham_. A dreame it selfe is but a shadow. _Rosin_. Truely, and I hold Ambition of so ayry and light a quality, that it is but a shadowes shadow. _Ham_. Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Monarchs and out-stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes: shall wee to th'Court: for, by my fey[6] I cannot reason?[7] _Both_. Wee'l wait vpon you. _Ham_. No such matter.[8] I will not sort you with the rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest man: I am most dreadfully attended;[9] but in the beaten way of friendship,[10] [Sidenote: But in] What make you at _Elsonower_? [Footnote 2: This passage, beginning with 'Let me question,' and ending with 'dreadfully attended,' is not in the _Quarto_. Who inserted in the Folio this and other passages? Was it or was it not Shakspere? Beyond a doubt they are Shakspere's all. Then who omitted those omitted? Was Shakspere incapable of refusing any of his own work? Or would these editors, who profess to have all opportunity, and who, belonging to the theatre, must have had the best of opportunities, have desired or dared to omit what far more painstaking editors have since presumed, though out of reverence, to restore?]
_Ham_. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation preuent your discouery of your secricie to [Sidenote: discovery, and your secrecie to the King and Queene moult no feather,[10]] the King and Queene[9] moult no feather, I haue [Sidenote: 116] of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custome of exercise; and indeed, [Sidenote: exercises;] it goes so heauenly with my disposition; that this [Sidenote: heauily] goodly frame the Earth, seemes to me a sterrill Promontory; this most excellent Canopy the Ayre, look you, this braue ore-hanging, this Maiesticall [Sidenote: orehanging firmament,] Roofe, fretted with golden fire: why, it appeares no [Sidenote: appeareth] [Page 94] other thing to mee, then a foule and pestilent congregation [Sidenote: nothing to me but a] of vapours. What a piece of worke is [Sidenote: what peece] a man! how Noble in Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing how expresse and [Sidenote: faculties,] admirable? in Action, how like an Angel? in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me;[1] no, nor Woman neither; though by your [Sidenote: not me, nor women] smiling you seeme to say so.[2] _Rosin._ My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my thoughts.
_Ham._ Why did you laugh, when I said, Man [Sidenote: yee laugh then, when] delights not me? _Rosin._ To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man, what Lenton entertainment the Players shall receiue from you:[3] wee coated them[4] on the way, and hither are they comming to offer you Seruice. _Ham._[5] He that playes the King shall be welcome; his Maiesty shall haue Tribute of mee: [Sidenote: on me,] the aduenturous Knight shal vse his Foyle and Target: the Louer shall not sigh _gratis_, the humorous man[6] shall end his part in peace: [7] the Clowne shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled a'th' sere:[8] and the Lady shall say her minde freely; or the blanke Verse shall halt for't[9]: [Sidenote: black verse] what Players are they? _Rosin._ Euen those you Were wont to take [Sidenote: take such delight] delight in the Tragedians of the City. _Ham._ How chances it they trauaile? their residence both in reputation and profit was better both wayes. _Rosin._ I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes of the late Innouation?[10] [Footnote 7: This part of the speech--from [7] to [8], is not in the _Quarto_.] [Footnote 8: Halliwell gives a quotation in which the touch-hole of a pistol is called the _sere_: the _sere_, then, of the lungs would mean the opening of the lungs--the part with which we laugh: those 'whose lungs are tickled a' th' sere,' are such as are ready to laugh on the least provocation: _tickled_--_irritable, ticklish_--ready to laugh, as another might be to cough. 'Tickled o' the sere' was a common phrase, signifying, thus, _propense_.
_1st Q._ The clowne shall make them laugh That are tickled in the lungs,] [Page 96] _Ham_. Doe they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the City? Are they so follow'd? _Rosin_. No indeed, they are not. [Sidenote: are they not.] [1]_Ham_. How comes it? doe they grow rusty? _Rosin_. Nay, their indeauour keepes in the wonted pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children,[2] little Yases,[3] that crye out[4] on the top of question;[5] and are most tyrannically clap't for't: these are now the fashion, and so be-ratled the common Stages[6] (so they call them) that many wearing Rapiers,[7] are affraide of Goose-quils, and dare scarse come thither.[8] _Ham_. What are they Children? Who maintains 'em? How are they escoted?[9] Will they pursue the Quality[10] no longer then they can sing?[11] Will they not say afterwards if they should grow themselues to common Players (as it is like most[12] if their meanes are no better) their Writers[13] do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their owne Succession.[14] _Rosin_. Faith there ha's bene much to do on both sides: and the Nation holds it no sinne, to tarre them[15] to Controuersie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argument, vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in the Question.[16] _Ham_. Is't possible?
_Guild_. Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of Braines. _Ham_. Do the Boyes carry it away?[17] _Rosin_. I that they do my Lord, _Hercules_ and his load too.[18] _Ham_. It is not strange: for mine Vnckle is [Sidenote: not very strange, | my] King of Denmarke, and those that would make mowes at him while my Father liued; giue twenty, [Sidenote: make mouths] [Footnote 1: The whole of the following passage, beginning with 'How comes it,' and ending with 'Hercules and his load too,' belongs to the _Folio_ alone--is not in the _Quarto_. In the _1st Quarto_ we find the germ of the passage--unrepresented in the _2nd_, developed in the _Folio_. _Ham_. Players, what Players be they? _Ross_. My Lord, the Tragedians of the Citty, Those that you tooke delight to see so often. _Ham_. How comes it that they trauell? Do they grow restie? _Gil_. No my Lord, their reputation holds as it was wont. _Ham_. How then? _Gil_. Yfaith my Lord, noueltie carries it away, For the principall publike audience that Came to them, are turned to priuate playes,[19] And to the humour[20] of children. _Ham_. I doe not greatly wonder of it, For those that would make mops and moes At my vncle, when my father liued, &c.] [Footnote 5: 'cry out beyond dispute'--_unquestionably_; 'cry out and no mistake.' 'He does not top his part.' _The Rehearsal_, iii. 1.--'_He is not up to it_.' But perhaps here is intended _above reason_: 'they cry out excessively, excruciatingly.' 103.
This said, in top of rage the lines she rents,--_A Lover's Complaint_.] [Page 98] forty, an hundred Ducates a peece, for his picture[1] [Sidenote: fortie, fifty, a hundred] in Little.[2] There is something in this more then [Sidenote: little, s'bloud there is] Naturall, if Philosophic could finde it out. _Flourish for tke Players_.[3] [Sidenote: _A Florish_.] _Guil_. There are the Players. _Ham_. Gentlemen, you are welcom to _Elsonower_: your hands, come: The appurtenance of [Sidenote: come then, th'] Welcome, is Fashion and Ceremony. Let me [Sidenote: 260] comply with you in the Garbe,[4] lest my extent[5] to [Sidenote: in this garb: let me extent] the Players (which I tell you must shew fairely outward) should more appeare like entertainment[6] [Sidenote: outwards,] then yours.[7] You are welcome: but my Vnckle Father, and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd. _Guil_. In what my deere Lord? _Ham_. I am but mad North, North-West: when the Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handsaw.[8] _Enter Polonius_. _Pol_. Well[9] be with you Gentlemen. _Ham_. Hearke you _Guildensterne_, and you too: at each eare a hearer: that great Baby you see there, is not yet out of his swathing clouts. [Sidenote: swadling clouts.] _Rosin_. Happily he's the second time come to [Sidenote: he is] them: for they say, an old man is twice a childe. _Ham_. I will Prophesie. Hee comes to tell me of the Players. Mark it, you say right Sir: for a [Sidenote: sir, a Monday] Monday morning 'twas so indeed.[10] [Sidenote: t'was then indeede.]
_Enter foure or fiue Players._ [Sidenote: _Enter the Players._] Y'are welcome Masters, welcome all. I am glad [Sidenote: You are] to see thee well: Welcome good Friends. O my [Sidenote: oh old friend, why thy face is valanct[10]] olde Friend? Thy face is valiant[10] since I saw thee last: Com'st thou to beard me in Denmarke? What, my yong Lady and Mistris?[11] Byrlady [Sidenote: by lady] your Ladiship is neerer Heauen then when I saw [Sidenote: nerer to] you last, by the altitude of a Choppine.[12] Pray God your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd within the ring.[13] Masters, you are all welcome: wee'l e'ne to't like French Faulconers,[14] [Sidenote: like friendly Fankner] flie at any thing we see: wee'l haue a Speech [Footnote 1: From [1] to [1] is not in the _Quarto_.] [Footnote 4: _Point thus_: 'too light. For the law of Writ, and the Liberty, these are the onely men':--_either for written plays_, that is, _or for those in which the players extemporized their speeches_. _1st Q_. 'For the law hath writ those are the onely men.'] [Page 102] straight. Come giue vs a tast of your quality: come, a passionate speech. _1. Play._ What speech, my Lord? [Sidenote: my good Lord?]
_Pol_. Looke where[9] he ha's not turn'd his colour, and ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more. [Sidenote: prethee] _Ham_. 'Tis well, He haue thee speake out the rest, soone. Good my Lord, will you see the [Sidenote: rest of this] Players wel bestow'd. Do ye heare, let them be [Sidenote: you] well vs'd: for they are the Abstracts and breefe [Sidenote: abstract] Chronicles of the time. After your death, you [Footnote 1: '_mobled_'--also in _1st Q_.--may be the word: _muffled_ seems a corruption of it: compare _mob-cap_, and 'The moon does mobble up herself' --_Shirley_, quoted by _Farmer_; but I incline to '_inobled_,' thrice in the _Folio_--once with a capital: I take it to stand for _'ignobled,' degraded_.] [Footnote 6: This butcher, whilst his hands were yet held up, Treading upon his breast, struck off his hands. Marlowe's _Dido, Queen of Carthage_.] [Page 108] were better haue a bad Epitaph, then their ill report while you liued.[1] [Sidenote: live] _Pol_. My Lord, I will vse them according to their desart. _Ham_. Gods bodykins man, better. Vse euerie [Sidenote: bodkin man, much better,] man after his desart, and who should scape whipping: [Sidenote: shall] vse them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lesse they deserue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them in. _Pol_. Come sirs. _Exit Polon_.[2]
_Ham_. Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to morrow.[3] Dost thou heare me old Friend, can you play the murther of _Gonzago_? _Play_. I my Lord. _Ham_. Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a need[4] study[5] a speech of some dosen or sixteene [Sidenote: for neede | dosen lines, or] lines, which I would set downe, and insert in't? Could ye not?[6] [Sidenote: you] _Play_. I my Lord. _Ham_. Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you mock him not.[7] My good Friends, Ile leaue you til night you are welcome to _Elsonower_? [Sidenote: _Exeuent Pol. and Players_.] _Rosin_. Good my Lord. _Exeunt_. _Manet Hamlet_.[8] _Ham_. I so, God buy'ye[9]: Now I am alone. [Sidenote: buy to you,[9]] Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slaue am I?[10] Is it not monstrous that this Player heere,[11] But in a Fixion, in a dreame of Passion, Could force his soule so to his whole conceit,[12] [Sidenote: his own conceit] That from her working, all his visage warm'd; [Sidenote: all the visage wand,] Teares in his eyes, distraction in's Aspect, [Sidenote: in his] A broken voyce, and his whole Function suiting [Sidenote: an his] With Formes, to his Conceit?[13] And all for nothing? [Footnote 10: _1st Q_. Why what a dunghill idiote slaue am I? Why these Players here draw water from eyes: For Hecuba, why what is Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba?]
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.