Hamlet · William Shakespeare
SUMMARY.
To his cruel words Ophelia is impenetrable--from the conviction that not he but his madness speaks. The moment he leaves her, she breaks out in such phrase as a young girl would hardly have used had she known that the king and her father were listening. I grant, however, the speech may be taken as a soliloquy audible to the spectators only, who to the persons of a play are _but_ the spiritual presences.] [Page 130] With variable Obiects, shall expell This something setled matter[1] in his heart Whereon his Braines still beating, puts him thus From[2] fashion of himselfe. What thinke you on't? _Pol_. It shall do well. But yet do I beleeue The Origin and Commencement of this greefe [Sidenote: his greefe,] Sprung from neglected loue.[3] How now _Ophelia_? You neede not tell vs, what Lord _Hamlet_ saide, We heard it all.[4] My Lord, do as you please, But if you hold it fit after the Play, Let his Queene Mother all alone intreat him To shew his Greefes: let her be round with him, [Sidenote: griefe,] And Ile be plac'd so, please you in the eare Of all their Conference. If she finde him not,[5] To England send him: Or confine him where Your wisedome best shall thinke. _King_. It shall be so: Madnesse in great Ones, must not vnwatch'd go.[6] [Sidenote: unmatched] _Exeunt_.
_Enter Hamlet, and two or three of the Players_. [Sidenote: _and three_] _Ham_.[7] Speake the Speech I pray you, as I pronounc'd it to you trippingly[8] on the Tongue: But if you mouth it, as many of your Players do, [Sidenote: of our Players] I had as liue[9] the Town-Cryer had spoke my [Sidenote: cryer spoke] Lines:[10] Nor do not saw the Ayre too much your [Sidenote: much with] hand thus, but vse all gently; for in the verie Torrent, Tempest, and (as I may say) the Whirlewinde [Sidenote: say, whirlwind] of Passion, you must acquire and beget a [Sidenote: of your] Temperance that may giue it Smoothnesse.[11] O it offends mee to the Soule, to see a robustious Perywig-pated [Sidenote: to heare a] Fellow, teare a Passion to tatters, to [Sidenote: totters,] verie ragges, to split the eares of the Groundlings:[12] [Sidenote: spleet] who (for the most part) are capeable[13] of nothing, but inexplicable dumbe shewes,[14] and noise:[15] I could haue such a Fellow whipt for o're-doing [Sidenote: would] [Footnote 5: 'If she do not find him out': a comparable phrase, common at the time, was, _Take me with you_, meaning, _Let me understand you_. Polonius, for his daughter's sake, and his own in her, begs for him another chance.] [Footnote 10: 1st Q.:-- I'de rather heare a towne bull bellow, Then such a fellow speake my lines.
_Lines_ is a player-word still.] [Footnote 14: --gestures extravagant and unintelligible as those of a dumb show that could not by the beholder be interpreted; gestures incorrespondent to the words. A _dumb show_ was a stage-action without words.] [Page 132] Termagant[1]: it out-Herod's Herod[2] Pray you auoid it. _Player._ I warrant your Honor. _Ham._ Be not too tame neyther: but let your owne Discretion be your Tutor. Sute the Action to the Word, the Word to the Action, with this speciall obseruance: That you ore-stop not the [Sidenote: ore-steppe] modestie of Nature; for any thing so ouer-done, [Sidenote ore-doone] is fro[3] the purpose of Playing, whose end both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as 'twer the Mirrour vp to Nature; to shew Vertue her owne [Sidenote: her feature;] Feature, Scorne[4] her owne Image, and the verie Age and Bodie of the Time, his forme and pressure.[5] Now, this ouer-done, or come tardie off,[6] though it make the vnskilfull laugh, cannot but make the [Sidenote: it makes] Iudicious greeue; The censure of the which One,[7] [Sidenote: of which one] must in your allowance[8] o're-way a whole Theater of Others. Oh, there bee Players that I haue scene Play, and heard others praise, and that highly [Sidenote: praysd,] (not to speake it prophanely) that neyther hauing the accent of Christians, nor the gate of Christian, Pagan, or Norman, haue so strutted and bellowed, [Sidenote: Pagan, nor man, haue] that I haue thought some of Natures Iouerney-men had made men, and not made them well, they imitated Humanity so abhominably.[9]
_Hora_. O my deere Lord.[6] _Ham_.[7] Nay do not thinke I flatter: For what aduancement may I hope from thee,[8] That no Reuennew hast, but thy good spirits To feed and cloath thee. Why shold the poor be flatter'd? No, let the Candied[9] tongue, like absurd pompe, [Sidenote: licke] And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee,[10] Where thrift may follow faining? Dost thou heare, [Sidenote: fauning;] Since my deere Soule was Mistris of my choyse;[11] [Sidenote: her choice,] And could of men distinguish, her election Hath seal'd thee for her selfe. For thou hast bene [Sidenote: S'hath seald] [Sidenote: 272] As one in suffering all, that suffers nothing. A man that Fortunes buffets, and Rewards Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And blest are those, [Sidenote: Hast] Whose Blood and Iudgement are so well co-mingled, [Sidenote: comedled,[12]] [Sidenote: 26] That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes finger, To sound what stop she please.[13] Giue me that man, That is not Passions Slaue,[14] and I will weare him In my hearts Core: I, in my Heart of heart,[15] As I do thee. Something too much of this.[16] [Footnote 9: _sugared_. _1st Q._: Let flattery sit on those time-pleasing tongs; To glose with them that loues to heare their praise; And not with such as thou _Horatio_. There is a play to night, &c.]
_King._ I haue nothing with this answer _Hamlet_, these words are not mine.[10] _Ham._ No, nor mine. Now[11] my Lord, you plaid once i'th'Vniuersity, you say? _Polon._ That I did my Lord, and was accounted [Sidenote: did I] a good Actor. [Footnote 1: Here follows in _1st Q._ Marke thou the King, doe but obserue his lookes, For I mine eies will riuet to his face: [Sidenote: 112] And if he doe not bleach, and change at that, It is a damned ghost that we haue seene. _Horatio_, haue a care, obserue him well. _Hor_. My lord, mine eies shall still be on his face, And not the smallest alteration That shall appeare in him, but I shall note it.] [Footnote 4: a dissyllable: _stithy_, _anvil_; Scotch, _studdy_. Hamlet's doubt is here very evident: he hopes he may find it a false ghost: what good man, what good son would not? He has clear cause and reason--it is his duty to delay. That the cause and reason and duty are not invariably clear to Hamlet himself--not clear in every mood, is another thing. Wavering conviction, doubt of evidence, the corollaries of assurance, the oppression of misery, a sense of the worthlessness of the world's whole economy--each demanding delay, might yet well, all together, affect the man's feeling as mere causes of rather than reasons for hesitation. The conscientiousness of Hamlet stands out the clearer that, throughout, his dislike to his uncle, predisposing him to believe any ill of him, is more than evident. By his incompetent or prejudiced judges, Hamlet's accusations and justifications of himself are equally placed to the _discredit_ of his account. They seem to think a man could never accuse himself except he were in the wrong; therefore if ever he excuses himself, he is the more certainly in the wrong: whatever point may tell on the other side, it is to be disregarded.]
_Ham._ Who I? _Ophe._ I my Lord.[8] _Ham._ Oh God, your onely Iigge-maker[9]: what should a man do, but be merrie. For looke you how cheerefully my Mother lookes, and my Father dyed within's two Houres. [Sidenote: 65] _Ophe._ Nay, 'tis twice two moneths, my Lord.[10] _Ham._ So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare [Sidenote: 32] blacke, for Ile haue a suite of Sables.[11] Oh Heauens! dye two moneths ago, and not forgotten yet?[12] Then there's hope, a great mans Memorie, may out-liue his life halfe a yeare: But byrlady [Sidenote: ber Lady a] he must builde Churches then: or else shall he [Sidenote: shall a] [Footnote 7: In _1st Quarto_, 'contrary.' Hamlet hints, probing her character--hoping her unable to understand. It is the festering soreness of his feeling concerning his mother, making him doubt with the haunting agony of a loathed possibility, that prompts, urges, forces from him his ugly speeches--nowise to be justified, only to be largely excused in his sickening consciousness of his mother's presence. Such pain as Hamlet's, the ferment of subverted love and reverence, may lightly bear the blame of hideous manners, seeing, they spring from no wantonness, but from the writhing of tortured and helpless Purity. Good manners may be as impossible as out of place in the presence of shameless evil.] [Footnote 12: _1st Q._
_Ophe._ What meanes this, my Lord? _Ham._ Marry this is Miching _Malicho_[3] that [Sidenote: this munching _Mallico_] meanes Mischeefe. _Ophe._ Belike this shew imports the Argument of the Play? _Ham._ We shall know by these Fellowes: [Sidenote: this fellow, _Enter Prologue_] the Players cannot keepe counsell, they'l tell [Sidenote: keepe, they'le] all.[4] _Ophe._ Will they tell vs what this shew meant? [Sidenote: Will a tell] _Ham._ I, or any shew that you'l shew him. Bee [Sidenote: you will] not you asham'd to shew, hee'l not shame to tell you what it meanes. _Ophe._ You are naught,[5] you are naught, Ile marke the Play. [Footnote 1: The king, not the queen, is aimed at. Hamlet does not forget the injunction of the Ghost to spare his mother. 54. The king should be represented throughout as struggling not to betray himself.] [Footnote 3: _skulking mischief_: the latter word is Spanish, To _mich_ is to _play truant_. How tenderly her tender hands betweene In yvorie cage she did the micher bind. _The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia_, page 84. My _Reader_ tells me the word is still in use among printers, with the pronunciation _mike_, and the meaning _to skulk_ or _idle_.] [Footnote 5: _naughty_: persons who do not behave well are treated as if they were not--are made nought of--are set at nought; hence our word naughty.
_King._ I do beleeue you. Think what now you speak: But what we do determine, oft we breake: Purpose is but the slaue to Memorie,[5] Of violent Birth, but poore validitie:[6] Which now like Fruite vnripe stickes on the Tree, [Sidenote: now the fruite] But fall vnshaken, when they mellow bee.[7] Most necessary[8] 'tis, that we forget To pay our selues, what to our selues is debt: What to our selues in passion we propose, The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. The violence of other Greefe or Ioy, [Sidenote: eyther,] Their owne ennactors with themselues destroy: [Sidenote: ennactures] Where Ioy most Reuels, Greefe doth most lament; Greefe ioyes, Ioy greeues on slender accident.[9] [Sidenote: Greefe ioy ioy griefes] This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange That euen our Loues should with our Fortunes change. For 'tis a question left vs yet to proue, Whether Loue lead Fortune, or else Fortune Loue. [Page 146] The great man downe, you marke his fauourites flies, [Sidenote: fauourite] The poore aduanc'd, makes Friends of Enemies: And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend, For who not needs, shall neuer lacke a Frend: And who in want a hollow Friend doth try, Directly seasons him his Enemie.[1] But orderly to end, where I begun, Our Willes and Fates do so contrary run, That our Deuices still are ouerthrowne, Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our owne.[2] [Sidenote: 246] So thinke thou wilt no second Husband wed. But die thy thoughts, when thy first Lord is dead.
_Bap._ Nor Earth to giue me food, nor Heauen light, [Sidenote: _Quee._] Sport and repose locke from me day and night:[3] [A] Each opposite that blankes the face of ioy, Meet what I would haue well, and it destroy: Both heere, and hence, pursue me lasting strife,[4] If once a Widdow, euer I be Wife.[5] [Sidenote: once I be a | be a wife] _Ham._ If she should breake it now.[6] _King._ 'Tis deepely sworne: Sweet, leaue me heere a while, My spirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile The tedious day with sleepe. _Qu._ Sleepe rocke thy Braine, [Sidenote: Sleepes[7]] And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine, _Exit_ [Sidenote: _Exeunt._] _Ham._ Madam, how like you this Play? _Qu._ The Lady protests to much me thinkes, [Sidenote: doth protest] _Ham._ Oh but shee'l keepe her word. [Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto:_-- To desperation turne my trust and hope,[8] And Anchors[9] cheere in prison be my scope] [Page 148] _King_. Haue you heard the Argument, is there no Offence in't?[1] _Ham_. No, no, they do but iest, poyson in iest, no Offence i'th'world.[2] _King_. What do you call the Play? _Ham._ The Mouse-trap: Marry how? Tropically:[3] This Play is the Image of a murder done in _Vienna: Gonzago_ is the Dukes name, his wife _Baptista_: you shall see anon: 'tis a knauish peece of worke: But what o'that? Your Maiestie, and [Sidenote: of that?] wee that haue free soules, it touches vs not: let the gall'd iade winch: our withers are vnrung.[4]
_Enter Lucianus._[5] This is one _Lucianus_ nephew to the King. _Ophe_. You are a good Chorus, my Lord. [Sidenote: are as good as a Chorus] _Ham_. I could interpret betweene you and your loue: if I could see the Puppets dallying.[6] _Ophe_. You are keene my Lord, you are keene. _Ham_. It would cost you a groaning, to take off my edge. [Sidenote: mine] _Ophe_. Still better and worse. _Ham_. So you mistake Husbands.[7] [Sidenote: mistake your] Begin Murderer. Pox, leaue thy damnable Faces, [Sidenote: murtherer, leave] and begin. Come, the croaking Rauen doth bellow for Reuenge.[8] _Lucian_. Thoughts blacke, hands apt, Drugges fit, and Time agreeing: Confederate season, else, no Creature seeing:[9] [Sidenote: Considerat] Thou mixture ranke, of Midnight Weeds collected, With Hecats Ban, thrice blasted, thrice infected, [Sidenote: invected] Thy naturall Magicke, and dire propertie, On wholsome life, vsurpe immediately. [Sidenote: vsurps] _Powres the poyson in his eares_.[10] _Ham_. He poysons him i'th Garden for's estate: [Sidenote: A poysons | for his] [Footnote 3: Figuratively: from _trope_. In the _1st Q._ the passage stands thus: _Ham_. Mouse-trap: mary how trapically: this play is The image of a murder done in _guyana_,] [Page 150] His name's _Gonzago_: the Story is extant and writ [Sidenote: and written] in choyce Italian. You shall see anon how the [Sidenote: in very choice] Murtherer gets the loue of _Gonzago's_ wife.
_Ophe_. The King rises.[1] _Ham_. What, frighted with false fire.[2] _Qu_. How fares my Lord? _Pol_. Giue o're the Play. _King_. Giue me some Light. Away.[3] _All_. Lights, Lights, Lights. _Exeunt_ [Sidenote: _Pol. | Exeunt all but Ham. & Horatio._] _Manet Hamlet & Horatio._ _Ham_.[4] Why let the strucken Deere go weepe, The Hart vngalled play: For some must watch, while some must sleepe; So runnes the world away. Would not this[5] Sir, and a Forrest of Feathers, if the rest of my Fortunes turne Turke with me; with two Prouinciall Roses[6] on my rac'd[7] Shooes, get me [Sidenote: with prouinciall | raz'd] a Fellowship[8] in a crie[9] of Players sir. [Sidenote: Players?] _Hor_. Halfe a share. _Ham_. A whole one I,[10] [11] For thou dost know: Oh Damon deere, This Realme dismantled was of Loue himselfe, And now reignes heere. A verie verie Paiocke.[12] _Hora_. You might haue Rim'd.[13] _Ham_. Oh good _Horatio_, Ile take the Ghosts word for a thousand pound. Did'st perceiue? _Hora_. Verie well my Lord. _Ham_. Vpon the talke of the poysoning? _Hora_. I did verie well note him. _Enter Rosincrance and Guildensterne_.[14] _Ham_. Oh, ha? Come some Musick.[15] Come the Recorders: [Sidenote: Ah ha,] [Footnote 12: The lines are properly measured in the _Quarto_: For thou doost know oh Damon deere This Realme dismantled was Of _Ioue_ himselfe, and now raignes heere A very very paiock.
_Guild._ Good my Lord put your discourse into some frame,[3] and start not so wildely from my [Sidenote: stare] affayre. _Ham._ I am tame Sir, pronounce. _Guild._ The Queene your Mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you. _Ham._ You are welcome.[4] _Guild._ Nay, good my Lord, this courtesie is not of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholsome answer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment: if not, your pardon, and my returne shall bee the end of my Businesse. [Sidenote: of busines.] _Ham._ Sir, I cannot. _Guild._ What, my Lord? _Ham._ Make you a wholsome answere: my wits diseas'd. But sir, such answers as I can make, you [Sidenote: answere] shal command: or rather you say, my Mother: [Sidenote: rather as you] therfore no more but to the matter. My Mother you say. [Page 154] _Rosin._ Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke her into amazement, and admiration.[1] _Ham._ Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can so astonish [Sidenote: stonish] a Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mothers admiration? [Sidenote: admiration, impart.] _Rosin._ She desires to speake with you in her Closset, ere you go to bed. _Ham._ We shall obey, were she ten times our Mother. Haue you any further Trade with vs? _Rosin._ My Lord, you once did loue me.
_Ham._ So I do still, by these pickers and [Sidenote: And doe still] stealers.[2] _Rosin._ Good my Lord, what is your cause of distemper? You do freely barre the doore of your [Sidenote: surely barre the door vpon your] owne Libertie, if you deny your greefes to your your Friend. _Ham._ Sir I lacke Aduancement. _Rosin._ How can that be, when you haue the [Sidenote: 136] voyce of the King himselfe, for your Succession in Denmarke? _Ham._ I, but while the grasse growes,[4] the [Sidenote: I sir,] Prouerbe is something musty. _Enter one with a Recorder._[5] O the Recorder. Let me see, to withdraw with, [Sidenote: ô the Recorders, let mee see one, to] you,[6] why do you go about to recouer the winde of mee,[7] as if you would driue me into a toyle?[8] _Guild._ O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue is too vnmannerly.[9] _Ham._ I do not well vnderstand that.[10] Will you, play vpon this Pipe? _Guild._ My Lord, I cannot. _Ham._ I pray you. _Guild._ Beleeue me, I cannot. _Ham._ I do beseech you. [Footnote 2: He swears an oath that will not hold, being by the hand of a thief. In the Catechism: 'Keep my hands from picking and stealing.'] [Page 156] _Guild_. I know no touch of it, my Lord.
_Ham_. Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these [Sidenote: It is] Ventiges with your finger and thumbe, giue it [Sidenote: fingers, & the vmber, giue] breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most [Sidenote: most eloquent] excellent Musicke. Looke you, these are the stoppes. _Guild_. But these cannot I command to any vtterance of hermony, I haue not the skill. _Ham_. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest Note, to the top of my [Sidenote: note to my compasse] Compasse: and there is much Musicke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot you make [Sidenote: it speak, s'hloud do you think I] it. Why do you thinke, that I am easier to bee plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will, though you can fret[1] me, you cannot [Sidenote: you fret me not,] [Sidenote: 184] play vpon me. God blesse you Sir.[2] _Enter Polonius_. _Polon_. My Lord; the Queene would speak with you, and presently. _Ham_. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in [Sidenote: yonder clowd] shape like a Camell. [Sidenote: shape of a] _Polon_. By'th'Misse, and it's like a Camell [Sidenote: masse and tis,] indeed.
_Ham_. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell. _Polon_. It is back'd like a Weazell. _Ham_. Or like a Whale?[3] _Polon_. Verie like a Whale.[4] _Ham_. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by: [Sidenote: I will] [Sidenote: 60, 136, 178] They foole me to the top of my bent.[5] I will come by and by. [Page 158] _Polon_.[1] I will say so. _Exit_.[1] _Ham_.[1] By and by, is easily said. Leaue me Friends: 'Tis now the verie witching time of night, When Churchyards yawne, and Hell it selfe breaths out [Sidenote: brakes[2]] Contagion to this world.[3] Now could I drink hot blood, And do such bitter businesse as the day [Sidenote: such busines as the bitter day] Would quake to looke on.[4] Soft now, to my Mother: Oh Heart, loose not thy Nature;[5] let not euer The Soule of _Nero_[6] enter this firme bosome: Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall. [Sidenote: 172] I will speake Daggers[7] to her, but vse none: [Sidenote: dagger] My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites.[8] How in my words someuer she be shent,[9] To giue them Seales,[10] neuer my Soule consent.[4] [Sidenote: _Exit._] _Enter King, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne_. _King_. I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs, To let his madnesse range.[11] Therefore prepare you, [Sidenote: 167] I your Commission will forthwith dispatch,[12] [Sidenote: 180] And he to England shall along with you: The termes of our estate, may not endure[13] Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow [Sidenote: so neer's as] Out of his Lunacies. [Sidenote: his browes.]
_Guild_. We will our selues prouide: Most holie and Religious feare it is[14] To keepe those many many bodies safe That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie.[15] _Rosin_. The single And peculiar[16] life is bound With all the strength and Armour of the minde, [Footnote 1: The _Quarto_, not having _Polon., Exit, or Ham._, and arranging differently, reads thus:-- They foole me to the top of my bent, I will come by and by, Leaue me friends. I will, say so. By and by is easily said, Tis now the very &c.] [Page 160] To keepe it selfe from noyance:[1] but much more, That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests [Sidenote: whose weale depends] The lives of many, the cease of Maiestie [Sidenote: cesse] Dies not alone;[2] but like a Gulfe doth draw What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele [Sidenote: with it, or it is] Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount, To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things [Sidenote: hough spokes] Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles, Each small annexment, pettie consequence Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone [Sidenote: raine,] Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone. [Sidenote: but a[3]] _King._[4] Arme you,[5] I pray you to this speedie Voyage; [Sidenote: viage,] For we will Fetters put vpon this feare,[6] [Sidenote: put about this] Which now goes too free-footed.
And like a man to double businesse bound,[1] I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both[2] neglect; what if this cursed hand Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood, Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heauens To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy, But to confront the visage of Offence? And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force, To be fore-stalled ere we come to fall, Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp, [Sidenote: pardon] My fault is past. But oh, what forme of Prayer Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther: That cannot be, since I am still possest Of those effects for which I did the Murther.[3] My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene: May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence? In the corrupted currants of this world, Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice [Sidenote: showe] And oft 'tis seene, the wicked prize it selfe Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue, There is no shuffling, there the Action lyes In his true Nature, and we our selues compell'd Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults, To giue in euidence. What then? What rests? Try what Repentance can. What can it not? Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?[4] Oh wretched state! Oh bosome, blacke as death! Oh limed[5] soule, that strugling to be free, Art more ingag'd[6]: Helpe Angels, make assay:[7] Bow stubborne knees, and heart with strings of Steele, Be soft as sinewes of the new-borne Babe, All may be well.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.