{"id":224,"date":"2017-06-24T20:36:36","date_gmt":"2017-06-24T20:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-geneseo-humanities1-1\/chapter\/hamlet-act-ii\/"},"modified":"2017-07-10T20:07:24","modified_gmt":"2017-07-10T20:07:24","slug":"hamlet-act-ii","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-geneseo-humanities1-1\/chapter\/hamlet-act-ii\/","title":{"raw":"Hamlet, Act II","rendered":"Hamlet, Act II"},"content":{"raw":"

Act 2<\/h2>\r\n

Scene 1. A room in Polonius' house.<\/span><\/h3>\r\nEnter POLONIUS and REYNALDO<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
I will, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Before you visit him, to make inquire<\/dd>\r\n \t
Of his behavior.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, I did intend it.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, sir,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,<\/dd>\r\n \t
What company, at what expense; and finding<\/dd>\r\n \t
By this encompassment and drift of question<\/dd>\r\n \t
That they do know my son, come you more nearer<\/dd>\r\n \t
Than your particular demands will touch it:<\/dd>\r\n \t
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him;<\/dd>\r\n \t
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And in part him: ' do you mark this, Reynaldo?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, very well, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
'And in part him; but' you may say 'not well:<\/dd>\r\n \t
But, if't be he I mean, he's very wild;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Addicted so and so:' and there put on him<\/dd>\r\n \t
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank<\/dd>\r\n \t
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;<\/dd>\r\n \t
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips<\/dd>\r\n \t
As are companions noted and most known<\/dd>\r\n \t
To youth and liberty.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
As gaming, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Drabbing: you may go so far.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, that would dishonour him.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge<\/dd>\r\n \t
You must not put another scandal on him,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That he is open to incontinency;<\/dd>\r\n \t
That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly<\/dd>\r\n \t
That they may seem the taints of liberty,<\/dd>\r\n \t
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,<\/dd>\r\n \t
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Of general assault.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
But, my good lord,--<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Wherefore should you do this?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, my lord,<\/dd>\r\n \t
I would know that.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Marry, sir, here's my drift;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And I believe, it is a fetch of wit:<\/dd>\r\n \t
You laying these slight sullies on my son,<\/dd>\r\n \t
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working, Mark you,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Your party in converse, him you would sound,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes<\/dd>\r\n \t
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured<\/dd>\r\n \t
He closes with you in this consequence;<\/dd>\r\n \t
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman,'<\/dd>\r\n \t
According to the phrase or the addition<\/dd>\r\n \t
Of man and country.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
Very good, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
And then, sir, does he this--he does--what was I<\/dd>\r\n \t
about to say? By the mass, I was about to say<\/dd>\r\n \t
something: where did I leave?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,'<\/dd>\r\n \t
and 'gentleman.'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
At 'closes in the consequence,' ay, marry;<\/dd>\r\n \t
He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman;<\/dd>\r\n \t
I saw him yesterday, or t' other day,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Or then, or then; with such, or such; and, as you say,<\/dd>\r\n \t
There was a' gaming; there o'ertook in's rouse;<\/dd>\r\n \t
There falling out at tennis:' or perchance,<\/dd>\r\n \t
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'<\/dd>\r\n \t
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.<\/dd>\r\n \t
See you now;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:<\/dd>\r\n \t
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,<\/dd>\r\n \t
With windlasses and with assays of bias,<\/dd>\r\n \t
By indirections find directions out:<\/dd>\r\n \t
So by my former lecture and advice,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, I have.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
God be wi' you; fare you well.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
Good my lord!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Observe his inclination in yourself.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
I shall, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
And let him ply his music.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Reynaldo<\/dt>\r\n \t
Well, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Farewell!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExit REYNALDO<\/i>\u00a0Enter OPHELIA<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
How now, Ophelia! what's the matter?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Ophelia<\/dt>\r\n \t
O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
With what, i' the name of God?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Ophelia<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;<\/dd>\r\n \t
No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ancle;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And with a look so piteous in purport<\/dd>\r\n \t
As if he had been loosed out of hell<\/dd>\r\n \t
To speak of horrors,--he comes before me.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Mad for thy love?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Ophelia<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, I do not know;<\/dd>\r\n \t
But truly, I do fear it.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
What said he?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Ophelia<\/dt>\r\n \t
He took me by the wrist and held me hard;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Then goes he to the length of all his arm;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,<\/dd>\r\n \t
He falls to such perusal of my face<\/dd>\r\n \t
As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;<\/dd>\r\n \t
At last, a little shaking of mine arm<\/dd>\r\n \t
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,<\/dd>\r\n \t
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound<\/dd>\r\n \t
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk<\/dd>\r\n \t
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:<\/dd>\r\n \t
And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd,<\/dd>\r\n \t
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;<\/dd>\r\n \t
For out o' doors he went without their helps,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And, to the last, bended their light on me.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.<\/dd>\r\n \t
This is the very ecstasy of love,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Whose violent property fordoes itself<\/dd>\r\n \t
And leads the will to desperate undertakings<\/dd>\r\n \t
As oft as any passion under heaven<\/dd>\r\n \t
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.<\/dd>\r\n \t
What, have you given him any hard words of late?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Ophelia<\/dt>\r\n \t
No, my good lord, but, as you did command,<\/dd>\r\n \t
I did repel his letters and denied<\/dd>\r\n \t
His access to me.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
That hath made him mad.<\/dd>\r\n \t
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment<\/dd>\r\n \t
I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy!<\/dd>\r\n \t
By heaven, it is as proper to our age<\/dd>\r\n \t
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions<\/dd>\r\n \t
As it is common for the younger sort<\/dd>\r\n \t
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:<\/dd>\r\n \t
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move<\/dd>\r\n \t
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExeunt<\/i>\r\n

Scene 2. A room in the castle.<\/span><\/h2>\r\nEnter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, ROSENCRANTZ,<\/i>\u00a0GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!<\/dd>\r\n \t
Moreover that we much did long to see you,<\/dd>\r\n \t
The need we have to use you did provoke<\/dd>\r\n \t
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard<\/dd>\r\n \t
Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man<\/dd>\r\n \t
Resembles that it was. What it should be,<\/dd>\r\n \t
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him<\/dd>\r\n \t
So much from the understanding of himself,<\/dd>\r\n \t
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That, being of so young days brought up with him,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and havior,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court<\/dd>\r\n \t
Some little time: so by your companies<\/dd>\r\n \t
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,<\/dd>\r\n \t
So much as from occasion you may glean,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That, open'd, lies within our remedy.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And sure I am two men there are not living<\/dd>\r\n \t
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you<\/dd>\r\n \t
To show us so much gentry and good will<\/dd>\r\n \t
As to expend your time with us awhile,<\/dd>\r\n \t
For the supply and profit of our hope,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Your visitation shall receive such thanks<\/dd>\r\n \t
As fits a king's remembrance.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Both your majesties<\/dd>\r\n \t
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Put your dread pleasures more into command<\/dd>\r\n \t
Than to entreaty.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
But we both obey,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent<\/dd>\r\n \t
To lay our service freely at your feet,<\/dd>\r\n \t
To be commanded.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:<\/dd>\r\n \t
And I beseech you instantly to visit<\/dd>\r\n \t
My too much changed son. Go, some of you,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
Heavens make our presence and our practises<\/dd>\r\n \t
Pleasant and helpful to him!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, amen!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some<\/i>\u00a0Attendants\u00a0Enter POLONIUS<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Are joyfully return'd.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Thou still hast been the father of good news.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,<\/dd>\r\n \t
I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Both to my God and to my gracious king:<\/dd>\r\n \t
And I do think, or else this brain of mine<\/dd>\r\n \t
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure<\/dd>\r\n \t
As it hath used to do, that I have found<\/dd>\r\n \t
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Give first admittance to the ambassadors;<\/dd>\r\n \t
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExit POLONIUS<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found<\/dd>\r\n \t
The head and source of all your son's distemper.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
I doubt it is no other but the main;<\/dd>\r\n \t
His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Well, we shall sift him.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nRe-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Welcome, my good friends!<\/dd>\r\n \t
Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Voltimand<\/dt>\r\n \t
Most fair return of greetings and desires.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress<\/dd>\r\n \t
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd<\/dd>\r\n \t
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;<\/dd>\r\n \t
But, better look'd into, he truly found<\/dd>\r\n \t
It was against your highness: whereat grieved,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That so his sickness, age and impotence<\/dd>\r\n \t
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests<\/dd>\r\n \t
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine<\/dd>\r\n \t
Makes vow before his uncle never more<\/dd>\r\n \t
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And his commission to employ those soldiers,<\/dd>\r\n \t
So levied as before, against the Polack:<\/dd>\r\n \t
With an entreaty, herein further shown,<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nGiving a paper<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
That it might please you to give quiet pass<\/dd>\r\n \t
Through your dominions for this enterprise,<\/dd>\r\n \t
On such regards of safety and allowance<\/dd>\r\n \t
As therein are set down.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
It likes us well;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Answer, and think upon this business.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:<\/dd>\r\n \t
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:<\/dd>\r\n \t
Most welcome home!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
This business is well ended.<\/dd>\r\n \t
My liege, and madam, to expostulate<\/dd>\r\n \t
What majesty should be, what duty is,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,<\/dd>\r\n \t
I will be brief: your noble son is mad:<\/dd>\r\n \t
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,<\/dd>\r\n \t
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?<\/dd>\r\n \t
But let that go.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
More matter, with less art.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.<\/dd>\r\n \t
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;<\/dd>\r\n \t
But farewell it, for I will use no art.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Mad let us grant him, then: and now remains<\/dd>\r\n \t
That we find out the cause of this effect,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,<\/dd>\r\n \t
For this effect defective comes by cause:<\/dd>\r\n \t
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend.<\/dd>\r\n \t
I have a daughter--have while she is mine--<\/dd>\r\n \t
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nReads<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
'To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most<\/dd>\r\n \t
beautified Ophelia,'--<\/dd>\r\n \t
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is<\/dd>\r\n \t
a vile phrase: but you shall hear. Thus:<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nReads<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
Came this from Hamlet to her?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nReads<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Doubt that the sun doth move;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Doubt truth to be a liar;<\/dd>\r\n \t
But never doubt I love.<\/dd>\r\n \t
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers;<\/dd>\r\n \t
I have not art to reckon my groans: but that<\/dd>\r\n \t
I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.<\/dd>\r\n \t
'Thine evermore most dear lady, whilst<\/dd>\r\n \t
this machine is to him, HAMLET.'<\/dd>\r\n \t
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And more above, hath his solicitings,<\/dd>\r\n \t
As they fell out by time, by means and place,<\/dd>\r\n \t
All given to mine ear.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
But how hath she<\/dd>\r\n \t
Received his love?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
What do you think of me?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
As of a man faithful and honourable.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
I would fain prove so. But what might you think,<\/dd>\r\n \t
When I had seen this hot love on the wing--<\/dd>\r\n \t
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Before my daughter told me--what might you,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,<\/dd>\r\n \t
If I had play'd the desk or table-book,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;<\/dd>\r\n \t
What might you think? No, I went round to work,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:<\/dd>\r\n \t
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;<\/dd>\r\n \t
This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That she should lock herself from his resort,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And he, repulsed--a short tale to make--<\/dd>\r\n \t
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Into the madness wherein now he raves,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And all we mourn for.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Do you think 'tis this?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
It may be, very likely.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that--<\/dd>\r\n \t
That I have positively said 'Tis so,'<\/dd>\r\n \t
When it proved otherwise?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Not that I know.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Pointing to his head and shoulder<\/i><\/dd>\r\n \t
Take this from this, if this be otherwise:<\/dd>\r\n \t
If circumstances lead me, I will find<\/dd>\r\n \t
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed<\/dd>\r\n \t
Within the centre.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
How may we try it further?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
You know, sometimes he walks four hours together<\/dd>\r\n \t
Here in the lobby.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
So he does indeed.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:<\/dd>\r\n \t
Be you and I behind an arras then;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Mark the encounter: if he love her not<\/dd>\r\n \t
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Let me be no assistant for a state,<\/dd>\r\n \t
But keep a farm and carters.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
King Claudius<\/dt>\r\n \t
We will try it.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\r\n \t
But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Away, I do beseech you, both away:<\/dd>\r\n \t
I'll board him presently.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, and<\/i>\u00a0Attendants\u00a0Enter HAMLET, reading<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
O, give me leave:<\/dd>\r\n \t
How does my good Lord Hamlet?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Well, God-a-mercy.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Do you know me, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Not I, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Then I would you were so honest a man.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Honest, my lord!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be<\/dd>\r\n \t
one man picked out of ten thousand.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
That's very true, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a<\/dd>\r\n \t
god kissing carrion,--Have you a daughter?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
I have, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a<\/dd>\r\n \t
blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Friend, look to 't.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Aside<\/i>\u00a0How say you by that? Still harping on my<\/dd>\r\n \t
daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I<\/dd>\r\n \t
was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and<\/dd>\r\n \t
truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for<\/dd>\r\n \t
love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.<\/dd>\r\n \t
What do you read, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Words, words, words.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
What is the matter, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Between who?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here<\/dd>\r\n \t
that old men have grey beards, that their faces are<\/dd>\r\n \t
wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and<\/dd>\r\n \t
plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of<\/dd>\r\n \t
wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir,<\/dd>\r\n \t
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet<\/dd>\r\n \t
I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for<\/dd>\r\n \t
yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab<\/dd>\r\n \t
you could go backward.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Aside<\/i>\u00a0Though this be madness, yet there is method<\/dd>\r\n \t
in 't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Into my grave.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Indeed, that is out o' the air.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nAside<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness<\/dd>\r\n \t
that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity<\/dd>\r\n \t
could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will<\/dd>\r\n \t
leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of<\/dd>\r\n \t
meeting between him and my daughter.--My honourable<\/dd>\r\n \t
lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will<\/dd>\r\n \t
more willingly part withal: except my life, except<\/dd>\r\n \t
my life, except my life.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Fare you well, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
These tedious old fools!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nEnter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
To POLONIUS<\/i>\u00a0God save you, sir!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExit POLONIUS<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
My honoured lord!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
My most dear lord!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
My excellent good friends! How dost thou,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
As the indifferent children of the earth.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
Happy, in that we are not over-happy;<\/dd>\r\n \t
On fortune's cap we are not the very button.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Nor the soles of her shoe?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Neither, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of<\/dd>\r\n \t
her favours?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Faith, her privates we.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she<\/dd>\r\n \t
is a strumpet. What's the news?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Let me question more in particular: what have you,<\/dd>\r\n \t
my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune,<\/dd>\r\n \t
that she sends you to prison hither?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
Prison, my lord!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Denmark's a prison.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Then is the world one.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
A goodly one; in which there are many confines,<\/dd>\r\n \t
wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
We think not so, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing<\/dd>\r\n \t
either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me<\/dd>\r\n \t
it is a prison.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Why then, your ambition makes it one; 'tis too<\/dd>\r\n \t
narrow for your mind.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count<\/dd>\r\n \t
myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I<\/dd>\r\n \t
have bad dreams.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very<\/dd>\r\n \t
substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
A dream itself is but a shadow.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a<\/dd>\r\n \t
quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and<\/dd>\r\n \t
outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we<\/dd>\r\n \t
to the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
We'll wait upon you.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest<\/dd>\r\n \t
of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest<\/dd>\r\n \t
man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the<\/dd>\r\n \t
beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I<\/dd>\r\n \t
thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are<\/dd>\r\n \t
too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it<\/dd>\r\n \t
your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,<\/dd>\r\n \t
deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
What should we say, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent<\/dd>\r\n \t
for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks<\/dd>\r\n \t
which your modesties have not craft enough to colour:<\/dd>\r\n \t
I know the good king and queen have sent for you.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
To what end, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by<\/dd>\r\n \t
the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of<\/dd>\r\n \t
our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved<\/dd>\r\n \t
love, and by what more dear a better proposer could<\/dd>\r\n \t
charge you withal, be even and direct with me,<\/dd>\r\n \t
whether you were sent for, or no?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Aside to GUILDENSTERN<\/i>\u00a0What say you?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Aside<\/i>\u00a0Nay, then, I have an eye of you.--If you<\/dd>\r\n \t
love me, hold not off.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, we were sent for.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation<\/dd>\r\n \t
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king<\/dd>\r\n \t
and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but<\/dd>\r\n \t
wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all<\/dd>\r\n \t
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily<\/dd>\r\n \t
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the<\/dd>\r\n \t
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most<\/dd>\r\n \t
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave<\/dd>\r\n \t
o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted<\/dd>\r\n \t
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to<\/dd>\r\n \t
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.<\/dd>\r\n \t
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!<\/dd>\r\n \t
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how<\/dd>\r\n \t
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!<\/dd>\r\n \t
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the<\/dd>\r\n \t
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,<\/dd>\r\n \t
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not<\/dd>\r\n \t
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling<\/dd>\r\n \t
you seem to say so.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me'?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what<\/dd>\r\n \t
lenten entertainment the players shall receive from<\/dd>\r\n \t
you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they<\/dd>\r\n \t
coming, to offer you service.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty<\/dd>\r\n \t
shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight<\/dd>\r\n \t
shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not<\/dd>\r\n \t
sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part<\/dd>\r\n \t
in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose<\/dd>\r\n \t
lungs are tickled o' the sere; and the lady shall<\/dd>\r\n \t
say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt<\/dd>\r\n \t
for't. What players are they?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Even those you were wont to take delight in, the<\/dd>\r\n \t
tragedians of the city.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
How chances it they travel? their residence, both<\/dd>\r\n \t
in reputation and profit, was better both ways.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the<\/dd>\r\n \t
late innovation.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was<\/dd>\r\n \t
in the city? are they so followed?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
No, indeed, are they not.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
How comes it? do they grow rusty?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/span><\/dt>\r\n \t
Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace: but<\/dd>\r\n \t
there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases,<\/dd>\r\n \t
that cry out on the top of question, and are most<\/dd>\r\n \t
tyrannically clapped for't: these are now the<\/dd>\r\n \t
fashion, and so berattle the common stages--so they<\/dd>\r\n \t
call them--that many wearing rapiers are afraid of<\/dd>\r\n \t
goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
What, are they children? who maintains 'em? how are<\/dd>\r\n \t
they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no<\/dd>\r\n \t
longer than they can sing? will they not say<\/dd>\r\n \t
afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common<\/dd>\r\n \t
players--as it is most like, if their means are no<\/dd>\r\n \t
better--their writers do them wrong, to make them<\/dd>\r\n \t
exclaim against their own succession?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and<\/dd>\r\n \t
the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to<\/dd>\r\n \t
controversy: there was, for a while, no money bid<\/dd>\r\n \t
for argument, unless the poet and the player went to<\/dd>\r\n \t
cuffs in the question.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Is't possible?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
O, there has been much throwing about of brains.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Do the boys carry it away?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king of<\/dd>\r\n \t
Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while<\/dd>\r\n \t
my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an<\/dd>\r\n \t
hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little.<\/dd>\r\n \t
'Sblood, there is something in this more than<\/dd>\r\n \t
natural, if philosophy could find it out.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nFlourish of trumpets within<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
There are the players.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands,<\/dd>\r\n \t
come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion<\/dd>\r\n \t
and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb,<\/dd>\r\n \t
lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you,<\/dd>\r\n \t
must show fairly outward, should more appear like<\/dd>\r\n \t
entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my<\/dd>\r\n \t
uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Guildenstern<\/dt>\r\n \t
In what, my dear lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is<\/dd>\r\n \t
southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nEnter POLONIUS<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Well be with you, gentlemen!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a<\/dd>\r\n \t
hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet<\/dd>\r\n \t
out of his swaddling-clouts.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Happily he's the second time come to them; for they<\/dd>\r\n \t
say an old man is twice a child.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players;<\/dd>\r\n \t
mark it. You say right, sir: o' Monday morning;<\/dd>\r\n \t
'twas so indeed.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, I have news to tell you.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, I have news to tell you.<\/dd>\r\n \t
When Roscius was an actor in Rome,--<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
The actors are come hither, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Buz, buz!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Upon mine honour,--<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Then came each actor on his ass,--<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,<\/dd>\r\n \t
comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical,<\/dd>\r\n \t
historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-<\/dd>\r\n \t
comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or<\/dd>\r\n \t
poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor<\/dd>\r\n \t
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the<\/dd>\r\n \t
liberty, these are the only men.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
What a treasure had he, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Why,<\/dd>\r\n \t
'One fair daughter and no more,<\/dd>\r\n \t
The which he loved passing well.'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Aside<\/i>\u00a0Still on my daughter.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter<\/dd>\r\n \t
that I love passing well.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Nay, that follows not.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
What follows, then, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Why,<\/dd>\r\n \t
'As by lot, God wot,'<\/dd>\r\n \t
and then, you know,<\/dd>\r\n \t
'It came to pass, as most like it was,'--<\/dd>\r\n \t
the first row of the pious chanson will show you<\/dd>\r\n \t
more; for look, where my abridgement comes.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nEnter four or five Players<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad<\/dd>\r\n \t
to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old<\/dd>\r\n \t
friend! thy face is valenced since I saw thee last:<\/dd>\r\n \t
comest thou to beard me in Denmark? What, my young<\/dd>\r\n \t
lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is<\/dd>\r\n \t
nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the<\/dd>\r\n \t
altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like<\/dd>\r\n \t
a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the<\/dd>\r\n \t
ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en<\/dd>\r\n \t
to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see:<\/dd>\r\n \t
we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste<\/dd>\r\n \t
of your quality; come, a passionate speech.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
First Player<\/dt>\r\n \t
What speech, my lord?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was<\/dd>\r\n \t
never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the<\/dd>\r\n \t
play, I remember, pleased not the million; 'twas<\/dd>\r\n \t
caviare to the general: but it was--as I received<\/dd>\r\n \t
it, and others, whose judgments in such matters<\/dd>\r\n \t
cried in the top of mine--an excellent play, well<\/dd>\r\n \t
digested in the scenes, set down with as much<\/dd>\r\n \t
modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there<\/dd>\r\n \t
were no sallets in the lines to make the matter<\/dd>\r\n \t
savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might<\/dd>\r\n \t
indict the author of affectation; but called it an<\/dd>\r\n \t
honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very<\/dd>\r\n \t
much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I<\/dd>\r\n \t
chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido; and<\/dd>\r\n \t
thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of<\/dd>\r\n \t
Priam's slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin<\/dd>\r\n \t
at this line: let me see, let me see--<\/dd>\r\n \t
'The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,'--<\/dd>\r\n \t
it is not so:--it begins with Pyrrhus:--<\/dd>\r\n \t
'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble<\/dd>\r\n \t
When he lay couched in the ominous horse,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd<\/dd>\r\n \t
With heraldry more dismal; head to foot<\/dd>\r\n \t
Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd<\/dd>\r\n \t
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Baked and impasted with the parching streets,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That lend a tyrannous and damned light<\/dd>\r\n \t
To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore,<\/dd>\r\n \t
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus<\/dd>\r\n \t
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'<\/dd>\r\n \t
So, proceed you.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and<\/dd>\r\n \t
good discretion.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
First Player<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Anon he finds him<\/dd>\r\n \t
Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Repugnant to command: unequal match'd,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide;<\/dd>\r\n \t
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword<\/dd>\r\n \t
The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top<\/dd>\r\n \t
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash<\/dd>\r\n \t
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Which was declining on the milky head<\/dd>\r\n \t
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick:<\/dd>\r\n \t
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And like a neutral to his will and matter,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Did nothing.<\/dd>\r\n \t
But, as we often see, against some storm,<\/dd>\r\n \t
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,<\/dd>\r\n \t
The bold winds speechless and the orb below<\/dd>\r\n \t
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder<\/dd>\r\n \t
Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus' pause,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;<\/dd>\r\n \t
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall<\/dd>\r\n \t
On Mars's armour forged for proof eterne<\/dd>\r\n \t
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword<\/dd>\r\n \t
Now falls on Priam.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,<\/dd>\r\n \t
In general synod 'take away her power;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven,<\/dd>\r\n \t
As low as to the fiends!'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
This is too long.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee,<\/dd>\r\n \t
say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he<\/dd>\r\n \t
sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
First Player<\/dt>\r\n \t
'But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen--'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
'The mobled queen?'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
That's good; 'mobled queen' is good.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
First Player<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames<\/dd>\r\n \t
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head<\/dd>\r\n \t
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,<\/dd>\r\n \t
About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins,<\/dd>\r\n \t
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up;<\/dd>\r\n \t
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd,<\/dd>\r\n \t
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have<\/dd>\r\n \t
pronounced:<\/dd>\r\n \t
But if the gods themselves did see her then<\/dd>\r\n \t
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport<\/dd>\r\n \t
In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,<\/dd>\r\n \t
The instant burst of clamour that she made,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Unless things mortal move them not at all,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And passion in the gods.'<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Look, whether he has not turned his colour and has<\/dd>\r\n \t
tears in's eyes. Pray you, no more.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
'Tis well: I'll have thee speak out the rest soon.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Good my lord, will you see the players well<\/dd>\r\n \t
bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for<\/dd>\r\n \t
they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the<\/dd>\r\n \t
time: after your death you were better have a bad<\/dd>\r\n \t
epitaph than their ill report while you live.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
My lord, I will use them according to their desert.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
God's bodykins, man, much better: use every man<\/dd>\r\n \t
after his desert, and who should 'scape whipping?<\/dd>\r\n \t
Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less<\/dd>\r\n \t
they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.<\/dd>\r\n \t
Take them in.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\r\n \t
Come, sirs.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExit POLONIUS with all the Players but the First<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the<\/dd>\r\n \t
Murder of Gonzago?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
First Player<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need,<\/dd>\r\n \t
study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which<\/dd>\r\n \t
I would set down and insert in't, could you not?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
First Player<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, my lord.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him<\/dd>\r\n \t
not.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExit First Player<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
My good friends, I'll leave you till night: you are<\/dd>\r\n \t
welcome to Elsinore.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\r\n \t
Good my lord!<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n
\r\n \t
Hamlet<\/dt>\r\n \t
Ay, so, God be wi' ye;<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN<\/i>\r\n
\r\n \t
Now I am alone.<\/dd>\r\n \t
O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!<\/dd>\r\n \t
Is it not monstrous that this player here,<\/dd>\r\n \t
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Could force his soul so to his own conceit<\/dd>\r\n \t
That from her working all his visage wann'd,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,<\/dd>\r\n \t
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting<\/dd>\r\n \t
With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing!<\/dd>\r\n \t
For Hecuba!<\/dd>\r\n \t
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That he should weep for her? What would he do,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Had he the motive and the cue for passion<\/dd>\r\n \t
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears<\/dd>\r\n \t
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed<\/dd>\r\n \t
The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,<\/dd>\r\n \t
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Upon whose property and most dear life<\/dd>\r\n \t
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?<\/dd>\r\n \t
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?<\/dd>\r\n \t
Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?<\/dd>\r\n \t
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,<\/dd>\r\n \t
As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?<\/dd>\r\n \t
Ha!'swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be<\/dd>\r\n \t
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall<\/dd>\r\n \t
To make oppression bitter, or ere this<\/dd>\r\n \t
I should have fatted all the region kites<\/dd>\r\n \t
With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain!<\/dd>\r\n \t
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!<\/dd>\r\n \t
O, vengeance!<\/dd>\r\n \t
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,<\/dd>\r\n \t
That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,<\/dd>\r\n \t
And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,<\/dd>\r\n \t
A scullion! Fie upon't! foh! About, my brains!<\/dd>\r\n \t
Hum, I have heard<\/dd>\r\n \t
That guilty creatures sitting at a play<\/dd>\r\n \t
Have by the very cunning of the scene<\/dd>\r\n \t
Been struck so to the soul that presently<\/dd>\r\n \t
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;<\/dd>\r\n \t
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak<\/dd>\r\n \t
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players<\/dd>\r\n \t
Play something like the murder of my father<\/dd>\r\n \t
Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;<\/dd>\r\n \t
I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,<\/dd>\r\n \t
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen<\/dd>\r\n \t
May be the devil: and the devil hath power<\/dd>\r\n \t
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps<\/dd>\r\n \t
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,<\/dd>\r\n \t
As he is very potent with such spirits,<\/dd>\r\n \t
Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds<\/dd>\r\n \t
More relative than this: the play 's the thing<\/dd>\r\n \t
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\nExit<\/i>","rendered":"

Act 2<\/h2>\n

Scene 1. A room in Polonius’ house.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
I will, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,<\/dd>\n
Before you visit him, to make inquire<\/dd>\n
Of his behavior.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
My lord, I did intend it.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, sir,<\/dd>\n
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;<\/dd>\n
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,<\/dd>\n
What company, at what expense; and finding<\/dd>\n
By this encompassment and drift of question<\/dd>\n
That they do know my son, come you more nearer<\/dd>\n
Than your particular demands will touch it:<\/dd>\n
Take you, as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him;<\/dd>\n
As thus, ‘I know his father and his friends,<\/dd>\n
And in part him: ‘ do you mark this, Reynaldo?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
Ay, very well, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
‘And in part him; but’ you may say ‘not well:<\/dd>\n
But, if’t be he I mean, he’s very wild;<\/dd>\n
Addicted so and so:’ and there put on him<\/dd>\n
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank<\/dd>\n
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;<\/dd>\n
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips<\/dd>\n
As are companions noted and most known<\/dd>\n
To youth and liberty.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
As gaming, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,<\/dd>\n
Drabbing: you may go so far.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
My lord, that would dishonour him.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
‘Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge<\/dd>\n
You must not put another scandal on him,<\/dd>\n
That he is open to incontinency;<\/dd>\n
That’s not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly<\/dd>\n
That they may seem the taints of liberty,<\/dd>\n
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,<\/dd>\n
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,<\/dd>\n
Of general assault.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
But, my good lord,–<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Wherefore should you do this?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
Ay, my lord,<\/dd>\n
I would know that.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Marry, sir, here’s my drift;<\/dd>\n
And I believe, it is a fetch of wit:<\/dd>\n
You laying these slight sullies on my son,<\/dd>\n
As ’twere a thing a little soil’d i’ the working, Mark you,<\/dd>\n
Your party in converse, him you would sound,<\/dd>\n
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes<\/dd>\n
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured<\/dd>\n
He closes with you in this consequence;<\/dd>\n
‘Good sir,’ or so, or ‘friend,’ or ‘gentleman,’<\/dd>\n
According to the phrase or the addition<\/dd>\n
Of man and country.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
Very good, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
And then, sir, does he this–he does–what was I<\/dd>\n
about to say? By the mass, I was about to say<\/dd>\n
something: where did I leave?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
At ‘closes in the consequence,’ at ‘friend or so,’<\/dd>\n
and ‘gentleman.’<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
At ‘closes in the consequence,’ ay, marry;<\/dd>\n
He closes thus: ‘I know the gentleman;<\/dd>\n
I saw him yesterday, or t’ other day,<\/dd>\n
Or then, or then; with such, or such; and, as you say,<\/dd>\n
There was a’ gaming; there o’ertook in’s rouse;<\/dd>\n
There falling out at tennis:’ or perchance,<\/dd>\n
‘I saw him enter such a house of sale,’<\/dd>\n
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.<\/dd>\n
See you now;<\/dd>\n
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:<\/dd>\n
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,<\/dd>\n
With windlasses and with assays of bias,<\/dd>\n
By indirections find directions out:<\/dd>\n
So by my former lecture and advice,<\/dd>\n
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
My lord, I have.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
God be wi’ you; fare you well.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
Good my lord!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Observe his inclination in yourself.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
I shall, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
And let him ply his music.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Reynaldo<\/dt>\n
Well, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Farewell!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exit REYNALDO<\/i>\u00a0Enter OPHELIA<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
How now, Ophelia! what’s the matter?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Ophelia<\/dt>\n
O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
With what, i’ the name of God?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Ophelia<\/dt>\n
My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,<\/dd>\n
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;<\/dd>\n
No hat upon his head; his stockings foul’d,<\/dd>\n
Ungarter’d, and down-gyved to his ancle;<\/dd>\n
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;<\/dd>\n
And with a look so piteous in purport<\/dd>\n
As if he had been loosed out of hell<\/dd>\n
To speak of horrors,–he comes before me.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Mad for thy love?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Ophelia<\/dt>\n
My lord, I do not know;<\/dd>\n
But truly, I do fear it.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
What said he?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Ophelia<\/dt>\n
He took me by the wrist and held me hard;<\/dd>\n
Then goes he to the length of all his arm;<\/dd>\n
And, with his other hand thus o’er his brow,<\/dd>\n
He falls to such perusal of my face<\/dd>\n
As he would draw it. Long stay’d he so;<\/dd>\n
At last, a little shaking of mine arm<\/dd>\n
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,<\/dd>\n
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound<\/dd>\n
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk<\/dd>\n
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:<\/dd>\n
And, with his head over his shoulder turn’d,<\/dd>\n
He seem’d to find his way without his eyes;<\/dd>\n
For out o’ doors he went without their helps,<\/dd>\n
And, to the last, bended their light on me.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.<\/dd>\n
This is the very ecstasy of love,<\/dd>\n
Whose violent property fordoes itself<\/dd>\n
And leads the will to desperate undertakings<\/dd>\n
As oft as any passion under heaven<\/dd>\n
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.<\/dd>\n
What, have you given him any hard words of late?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Ophelia<\/dt>\n
No, my good lord, but, as you did command,<\/dd>\n
I did repel his letters and denied<\/dd>\n
His access to me.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
That hath made him mad.<\/dd>\n
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment<\/dd>\n
I had not quoted him: I fear’d he did but trifle,<\/dd>\n
And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy!<\/dd>\n
By heaven, it is as proper to our age<\/dd>\n
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions<\/dd>\n
As it is common for the younger sort<\/dd>\n
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:<\/dd>\n
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move<\/dd>\n
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exeunt<\/i><\/p>\n

Scene 2. A room in the castle.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, ROSENCRANTZ,<\/i>\u00a0GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants<\/p>\n

\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!<\/dd>\n
Moreover that we much did long to see you,<\/dd>\n
The need we have to use you did provoke<\/dd>\n
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard<\/dd>\n
Of Hamlet’s transformation; so call it,<\/dd>\n
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man<\/dd>\n
Resembles that it was. What it should be,<\/dd>\n
More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him<\/dd>\n
So much from the understanding of himself,<\/dd>\n
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,<\/dd>\n
That, being of so young days brought up with him,<\/dd>\n
And sith so neighbour’d to his youth and havior,<\/dd>\n
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court<\/dd>\n
Some little time: so by your companies<\/dd>\n
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,<\/dd>\n
So much as from occasion you may glean,<\/dd>\n
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,<\/dd>\n
That, open’d, lies within our remedy.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
Good gentlemen, he hath much talk’d of you;<\/dd>\n
And sure I am two men there are not living<\/dd>\n
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you<\/dd>\n
To show us so much gentry and good will<\/dd>\n
As to expend your time with us awhile,<\/dd>\n
For the supply and profit of our hope,<\/dd>\n
Your visitation shall receive such thanks<\/dd>\n
As fits a king’s remembrance.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Both your majesties<\/dd>\n
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,<\/dd>\n
Put your dread pleasures more into command<\/dd>\n
Than to entreaty.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
But we both obey,<\/dd>\n
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent<\/dd>\n
To lay our service freely at your feet,<\/dd>\n
To be commanded.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:<\/dd>\n
And I beseech you instantly to visit<\/dd>\n
My too much changed son. Go, some of you,<\/dd>\n
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
Heavens make our presence and our practises<\/dd>\n
Pleasant and helpful to him!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
Ay, amen!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some<\/i>\u00a0Attendants\u00a0Enter POLONIUS<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,<\/dd>\n
Are joyfully return’d.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Thou still hast been the father of good news.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,<\/dd>\n
I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,<\/dd>\n
Both to my God and to my gracious king:<\/dd>\n
And I do think, or else this brain of mine<\/dd>\n
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure<\/dd>\n
As it hath used to do, that I have found<\/dd>\n
The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Give first admittance to the ambassadors;<\/dd>\n
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exit POLONIUS<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found<\/dd>\n
The head and source of all your son’s distemper.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
I doubt it is no other but the main;<\/dd>\n
His father’s death, and our o’erhasty marriage.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Well, we shall sift him.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Welcome, my good friends!<\/dd>\n
Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Voltimand<\/dt>\n
Most fair return of greetings and desires.<\/dd>\n
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress<\/dd>\n
His nephew’s levies; which to him appear’d<\/dd>\n
To be a preparation ‘gainst the Polack;<\/dd>\n
But, better look’d into, he truly found<\/dd>\n
It was against your highness: whereat grieved,<\/dd>\n
That so his sickness, age and impotence<\/dd>\n
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests<\/dd>\n
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;<\/dd>\n
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine<\/dd>\n
Makes vow before his uncle never more<\/dd>\n
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.<\/dd>\n
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,<\/dd>\n
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,<\/dd>\n
And his commission to employ those soldiers,<\/dd>\n
So levied as before, against the Polack:<\/dd>\n
With an entreaty, herein further shown,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Giving a paper<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
That it might please you to give quiet pass<\/dd>\n
Through your dominions for this enterprise,<\/dd>\n
On such regards of safety and allowance<\/dd>\n
As therein are set down.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
It likes us well;<\/dd>\n
And at our more consider’d time we’ll read,<\/dd>\n
Answer, and think upon this business.<\/dd>\n
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:<\/dd>\n
Go to your rest; at night we’ll feast together:<\/dd>\n
Most welcome home!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
This business is well ended.<\/dd>\n
My liege, and madam, to expostulate<\/dd>\n
What majesty should be, what duty is,<\/dd>\n
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,<\/dd>\n
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.<\/dd>\n
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,<\/dd>\n
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,<\/dd>\n
I will be brief: your noble son is mad:<\/dd>\n
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,<\/dd>\n
What is’t but to be nothing else but mad?<\/dd>\n
But let that go.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
More matter, with less art.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.<\/dd>\n
That he is mad, ’tis true: ’tis true ’tis pity;<\/dd>\n
And pity ’tis ’tis true: a foolish figure;<\/dd>\n
But farewell it, for I will use no art.<\/dd>\n
Mad let us grant him, then: and now remains<\/dd>\n
That we find out the cause of this effect,<\/dd>\n
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,<\/dd>\n
For this effect defective comes by cause:<\/dd>\n
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend.<\/dd>\n
I have a daughter–have while she is mine–<\/dd>\n
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,<\/dd>\n
Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Reads<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
‘To the celestial and my soul’s idol, the most<\/dd>\n
beautified Ophelia,’–<\/dd>\n
That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase; ‘beautified’ is<\/dd>\n
a vile phrase: but you shall hear. Thus:<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Reads<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
‘In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.’<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
Came this from Hamlet to her?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Reads<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
‘Doubt thou the stars are fire;<\/dd>\n
Doubt that the sun doth move;<\/dd>\n
Doubt truth to be a liar;<\/dd>\n
But never doubt I love.<\/dd>\n
‘O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers;<\/dd>\n
I have not art to reckon my groans: but that<\/dd>\n
I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.<\/dd>\n
‘Thine evermore most dear lady, whilst<\/dd>\n
this machine is to him, HAMLET.’<\/dd>\n
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me,<\/dd>\n
And more above, hath his solicitings,<\/dd>\n
As they fell out by time, by means and place,<\/dd>\n
All given to mine ear.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
But how hath she<\/dd>\n
Received his love?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
What do you think of me?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
As of a man faithful and honourable.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
I would fain prove so. But what might you think,<\/dd>\n
When I had seen this hot love on the wing–<\/dd>\n
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,<\/dd>\n
Before my daughter told me–what might you,<\/dd>\n
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,<\/dd>\n
If I had play’d the desk or table-book,<\/dd>\n
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,<\/dd>\n
Or look’d upon this love with idle sight;<\/dd>\n
What might you think? No, I went round to work,<\/dd>\n
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:<\/dd>\n
‘Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;<\/dd>\n
This must not be:’ and then I precepts gave her,<\/dd>\n
That she should lock herself from his resort,<\/dd>\n
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.<\/dd>\n
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;<\/dd>\n
And he, repulsed–a short tale to make–<\/dd>\n
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,<\/dd>\n
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,<\/dd>\n
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,<\/dd>\n
Into the madness wherein now he raves,<\/dd>\n
And all we mourn for.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Do you think ’tis this?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
It may be, very likely.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Hath there been such a time–I’d fain know that–<\/dd>\n
That I have positively said ‘Tis so,’<\/dd>\n
When it proved otherwise?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
Not that I know.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Pointing to his head and shoulder<\/i><\/dd>\n
Take this from this, if this be otherwise:<\/dd>\n
If circumstances lead me, I will find<\/dd>\n
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed<\/dd>\n
Within the centre.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
How may we try it further?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
You know, sometimes he walks four hours together<\/dd>\n
Here in the lobby.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
So he does indeed.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him:<\/dd>\n
Be you and I behind an arras then;<\/dd>\n
Mark the encounter: if he love her not<\/dd>\n
And be not from his reason fall’n thereon,<\/dd>\n
Let me be no assistant for a state,<\/dd>\n
But keep a farm and carters.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
King Claudius<\/dt>\n
We will try it.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Queen Gertrude<\/dt>\n
But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Away, I do beseech you, both away:<\/dd>\n
I’ll board him presently.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exeunt KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, and<\/i>\u00a0Attendants\u00a0Enter HAMLET, reading<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
O, give me leave:<\/dd>\n
How does my good Lord Hamlet?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Well, God-a-mercy.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Do you know me, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Not I, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Then I would you were so honest a man.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Honest, my lord!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be<\/dd>\n
one man picked out of ten thousand.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
That’s very true, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a<\/dd>\n
god kissing carrion,–Have you a daughter?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
I have, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Let her not walk i’ the sun: conception is a<\/dd>\n
blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive.<\/dd>\n
Friend, look to ‘t.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Aside<\/i>\u00a0How say you by that? Still harping on my<\/dd>\n
daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I<\/dd>\n
was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: and<\/dd>\n
truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for<\/dd>\n
love; very near this. I’ll speak to him again.<\/dd>\n
What do you read, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Words, words, words.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
What is the matter, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Between who?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here<\/dd>\n
that old men have grey beards, that their faces are<\/dd>\n
wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and<\/dd>\n
plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of<\/dd>\n
wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir,<\/dd>\n
though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet<\/dd>\n
I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for<\/dd>\n
yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab<\/dd>\n
you could go backward.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Aside<\/i>\u00a0Though this be madness, yet there is method<\/dd>\n
in ‘t. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Into my grave.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Indeed, that is out o’ the air.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Aside<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness<\/dd>\n
that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity<\/dd>\n
could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will<\/dd>\n
leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of<\/dd>\n
meeting between him and my daughter.–My honourable<\/dd>\n
lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will<\/dd>\n
more willingly part withal: except my life, except<\/dd>\n
my life, except my life.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Fare you well, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
These tedious old fools!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
To POLONIUS<\/i>\u00a0God save you, sir!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exit POLONIUS<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
My honoured lord!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
My most dear lord!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
My excellent good friends! How dost thou,<\/dd>\n
Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
As the indifferent children of the earth.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
Happy, in that we are not over-happy;<\/dd>\n
On fortune’s cap we are not the very button.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Nor the soles of her shoe?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Neither, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of<\/dd>\n
her favours?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
‘Faith, her privates we.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she<\/dd>\n
is a strumpet. What’s the news?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
None, my lord, but that the world’s grown honest.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true.<\/dd>\n
Let me question more in particular: what have you,<\/dd>\n
my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune,<\/dd>\n
that she sends you to prison hither?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
Prison, my lord!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Denmark’s a prison.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Then is the world one.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
A goodly one; in which there are many confines,<\/dd>\n
wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ the worst.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
We think not so, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Why, then, ’tis none to you; for there is nothing<\/dd>\n
either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me<\/dd>\n
it is a prison.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Why then, your ambition makes it one; ’tis too<\/dd>\n
narrow for your mind.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count<\/dd>\n
myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I<\/dd>\n
have bad dreams.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very<\/dd>\n
substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
A dream itself is but a shadow.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a<\/dd>\n
quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and<\/dd>\n
outstretched heroes the beggars’ shadows. Shall we<\/dd>\n
to the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
We’ll wait upon you.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest<\/dd>\n
of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest<\/dd>\n
man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the<\/dd>\n
beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I<\/dd>\n
thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are<\/dd>\n
too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it<\/dd>\n
your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,<\/dd>\n
deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
What should we say, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent<\/dd>\n
for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks<\/dd>\n
which your modesties have not craft enough to colour:<\/dd>\n
I know the good king and queen have sent for you.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
To what end, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by<\/dd>\n
the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of<\/dd>\n
our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved<\/dd>\n
love, and by what more dear a better proposer could<\/dd>\n
charge you withal, be even and direct with me,<\/dd>\n
whether you were sent for, or no?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Aside to GUILDENSTERN<\/i>\u00a0What say you?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Aside<\/i>\u00a0Nay, then, I have an eye of you.–If you<\/dd>\n
love me, hold not off.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
My lord, we were sent for.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation<\/dd>\n
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king<\/dd>\n
and queen moult no feather. I have of late–but<\/dd>\n
wherefore I know not–lost all my mirth, forgone all<\/dd>\n
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily<\/dd>\n
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the<\/dd>\n
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most<\/dd>\n
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave<\/dd>\n
o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted<\/dd>\n
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to<\/dd>\n
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.<\/dd>\n
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!<\/dd>\n
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how<\/dd>\n
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!<\/dd>\n
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the<\/dd>\n
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,<\/dd>\n
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not<\/dd>\n
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling<\/dd>\n
you seem to say so.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Why did you laugh then, when I said ‘man delights not me’?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what<\/dd>\n
lenten entertainment the players shall receive from<\/dd>\n
you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they<\/dd>\n
coming, to offer you service.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty<\/dd>\n
shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight<\/dd>\n
shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not<\/dd>\n
sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part<\/dd>\n
in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose<\/dd>\n
lungs are tickled o’ the sere; and the lady shall<\/dd>\n
say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt<\/dd>\n
for’t. What players are they?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Even those you were wont to take delight in, the<\/dd>\n
tragedians of the city.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
How chances it they travel? their residence, both<\/dd>\n
in reputation and profit, was better both ways.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
I think their inhibition comes by the means of the<\/dd>\n
late innovation.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was<\/dd>\n
in the city? are they so followed?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
No, indeed, are they not.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
How comes it? do they grow rusty?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/span><\/dt>\n
Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace: but<\/dd>\n
there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases,<\/dd>\n
that cry out on the top of question, and are most<\/dd>\n
tyrannically clapped for’t: these are now the<\/dd>\n
fashion, and so berattle the common stages–so they<\/dd>\n
call them–that many wearing rapiers are afraid of<\/dd>\n
goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
What, are they children? who maintains ’em? how are<\/dd>\n
they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no<\/dd>\n
longer than they can sing? will they not say<\/dd>\n
afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common<\/dd>\n
players–as it is most like, if their means are no<\/dd>\n
better–their writers do them wrong, to make them<\/dd>\n
exclaim against their own succession?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
‘Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and<\/dd>\n
the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to<\/dd>\n
controversy: there was, for a while, no money bid<\/dd>\n
for argument, unless the poet and the player went to<\/dd>\n
cuffs in the question.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Is’t possible?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
O, there has been much throwing about of brains.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Do the boys carry it away?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king of<\/dd>\n
Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while<\/dd>\n
my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an<\/dd>\n
hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little.<\/dd>\n
‘Sblood, there is something in this more than<\/dd>\n
natural, if philosophy could find it out.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Flourish of trumpets within<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
There are the players.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands,<\/dd>\n
come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion<\/dd>\n
and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb,<\/dd>\n
lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you,<\/dd>\n
must show fairly outward, should more appear like<\/dd>\n
entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my<\/dd>\n
uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Guildenstern<\/dt>\n
In what, my dear lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is<\/dd>\n
southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Enter POLONIUS<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Well be with you, gentlemen!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a<\/dd>\n
hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet<\/dd>\n
out of his swaddling-clouts.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Happily he’s the second time come to them; for they<\/dd>\n
say an old man is twice a child.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players;<\/dd>\n
mark it. You say right, sir: o’ Monday morning;<\/dd>\n
’twas so indeed.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
My lord, I have news to tell you.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
My lord, I have news to tell you.<\/dd>\n
When Roscius was an actor in Rome,–<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
The actors are come hither, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Buz, buz!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Upon mine honour,–<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Then came each actor on his ass,–<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,<\/dd>\n
comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical,<\/dd>\n
historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-<\/dd>\n
comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or<\/dd>\n
poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor<\/dd>\n
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the<\/dd>\n
liberty, these are the only men.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
What a treasure had he, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Why,<\/dd>\n
‘One fair daughter and no more,<\/dd>\n
The which he loved passing well.’<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Aside<\/i>\u00a0Still on my daughter.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Am I not i’ the right, old Jephthah?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter<\/dd>\n
that I love passing well.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Nay, that follows not.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
What follows, then, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Why,<\/dd>\n
‘As by lot, God wot,’<\/dd>\n
and then, you know,<\/dd>\n
‘It came to pass, as most like it was,’–<\/dd>\n
the first row of the pious chanson will show you<\/dd>\n
more; for look, where my abridgement comes.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Enter four or five Players<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad<\/dd>\n
to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old<\/dd>\n
friend! thy face is valenced since I saw thee last:<\/dd>\n
comest thou to beard me in Denmark? What, my young<\/dd>\n
lady and mistress! By’r lady, your ladyship is<\/dd>\n
nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the<\/dd>\n
altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like<\/dd>\n
a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the<\/dd>\n
ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We’ll e’en<\/dd>\n
to’t like French falconers, fly at any thing we see:<\/dd>\n
we’ll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste<\/dd>\n
of your quality; come, a passionate speech.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
First Player<\/dt>\n
What speech, my lord?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was<\/dd>\n
never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the<\/dd>\n
play, I remember, pleased not the million; ’twas<\/dd>\n
caviare to the general: but it was–as I received<\/dd>\n
it, and others, whose judgments in such matters<\/dd>\n
cried in the top of mine–an excellent play, well<\/dd>\n
digested in the scenes, set down with as much<\/dd>\n
modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there<\/dd>\n
were no sallets in the lines to make the matter<\/dd>\n
savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might<\/dd>\n
indict the author of affectation; but called it an<\/dd>\n
honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very<\/dd>\n
much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I<\/dd>\n
chiefly loved: ’twas Aeneas’ tale to Dido; and<\/dd>\n
thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of<\/dd>\n
Priam’s slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin<\/dd>\n
at this line: let me see, let me see–<\/dd>\n
‘The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,’–<\/dd>\n
it is not so:–it begins with Pyrrhus:–<\/dd>\n
‘The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms,<\/dd>\n
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble<\/dd>\n
When he lay couched in the ominous horse,<\/dd>\n
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear’d<\/dd>\n
With heraldry more dismal; head to foot<\/dd>\n
Now is he total gules; horridly trick’d<\/dd>\n
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,<\/dd>\n
Baked and impasted with the parching streets,<\/dd>\n
That lend a tyrannous and damned light<\/dd>\n
To their lord’s murder: roasted in wrath and fire,<\/dd>\n
And thus o’er-sized with coagulate gore,<\/dd>\n
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus<\/dd>\n
Old grandsire Priam seeks.’<\/dd>\n
So, proceed you.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
‘Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and<\/dd>\n
good discretion.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
First Player<\/dt>\n
‘Anon he finds him<\/dd>\n
Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,<\/dd>\n
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,<\/dd>\n
Repugnant to command: unequal match’d,<\/dd>\n
Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide;<\/dd>\n
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword<\/dd>\n
The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,<\/dd>\n
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top<\/dd>\n
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash<\/dd>\n
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus’ ear: for, lo! his sword,<\/dd>\n
Which was declining on the milky head<\/dd>\n
Of reverend Priam, seem’d i’ the air to stick:<\/dd>\n
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,<\/dd>\n
And like a neutral to his will and matter,<\/dd>\n
Did nothing.<\/dd>\n
But, as we often see, against some storm,<\/dd>\n
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,<\/dd>\n
The bold winds speechless and the orb below<\/dd>\n
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder<\/dd>\n
Doth rend the region, so, after Pyrrhus’ pause,<\/dd>\n
Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;<\/dd>\n
And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall<\/dd>\n
On Mars’s armour forged for proof eterne<\/dd>\n
With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword<\/dd>\n
Now falls on Priam.<\/dd>\n
Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,<\/dd>\n
In general synod ‘take away her power;<\/dd>\n
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,<\/dd>\n
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven,<\/dd>\n
As low as to the fiends!’<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
This is too long.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
It shall to the barber’s, with your beard. Prithee,<\/dd>\n
say on: he’s for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he<\/dd>\n
sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
First Player<\/dt>\n
‘But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen–‘<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
‘The mobled queen?’<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
That’s good; ‘mobled queen’ is good.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
First Player<\/dt>\n
‘Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames<\/dd>\n
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head<\/dd>\n
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,<\/dd>\n
About her lank and all o’er-teemed loins,<\/dd>\n
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up;<\/dd>\n
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep’d,<\/dd>\n
‘Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have<\/dd>\n
pronounced:<\/dd>\n
But if the gods themselves did see her then<\/dd>\n
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport<\/dd>\n
In mincing with his sword her husband’s limbs,<\/dd>\n
The instant burst of clamour that she made,<\/dd>\n
Unless things mortal move them not at all,<\/dd>\n
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,<\/dd>\n
And passion in the gods.’<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Look, whether he has not turned his colour and has<\/dd>\n
tears in’s eyes. Pray you, no more.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
‘Tis well: I’ll have thee speak out the rest soon.<\/dd>\n
Good my lord, will you see the players well<\/dd>\n
bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for<\/dd>\n
they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the<\/dd>\n
time: after your death you were better have a bad<\/dd>\n
epitaph than their ill report while you live.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
My lord, I will use them according to their desert.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
God’s bodykins, man, much better: use every man<\/dd>\n
after his desert, and who should ‘scape whipping?<\/dd>\n
Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less<\/dd>\n
they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.<\/dd>\n
Take them in.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Lord Polonius<\/dt>\n
Come, sirs.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Follow him, friends: we’ll hear a play to-morrow.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exit POLONIUS with all the Players but the First<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the<\/dd>\n
Murder of Gonzago?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
First Player<\/dt>\n
Ay, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
We’ll ha’t to-morrow night. You could, for a need,<\/dd>\n
study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which<\/dd>\n
I would set down and insert in’t, could you not?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
First Player<\/dt>\n
Ay, my lord.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him<\/dd>\n
not.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exit First Player<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
My good friends, I’ll leave you till night: you are<\/dd>\n
welcome to Elsinore.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Rosencrantz<\/dt>\n
Good my lord!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Hamlet<\/dt>\n
Ay, so, God be wi’ ye;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN<\/i><\/p>\n

\n
Now I am alone.<\/dd>\n
O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!<\/dd>\n
Is it not monstrous that this player here,<\/dd>\n
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,<\/dd>\n
Could force his soul so to his own conceit<\/dd>\n
That from her working all his visage wann’d,<\/dd>\n
Tears in his eyes, distraction in’s aspect,<\/dd>\n
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting<\/dd>\n
With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing!<\/dd>\n
For Hecuba!<\/dd>\n
What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,<\/dd>\n
That he should weep for her? What would he do,<\/dd>\n
Had he the motive and the cue for passion<\/dd>\n
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears<\/dd>\n
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,<\/dd>\n
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,<\/dd>\n
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed<\/dd>\n
The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I,<\/dd>\n
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,<\/dd>\n
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,<\/dd>\n
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,<\/dd>\n
Upon whose property and most dear life<\/dd>\n
A damn’d defeat was made. Am I a coward?<\/dd>\n
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?<\/dd>\n
Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?<\/dd>\n
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i’ the throat,<\/dd>\n
As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?<\/dd>\n
Ha!’swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be<\/dd>\n
But I am pigeon-liver’d and lack gall<\/dd>\n
To make oppression bitter, or ere this<\/dd>\n
I should have fatted all the region kites<\/dd>\n
With this slave’s offal: bloody, bawdy villain!<\/dd>\n
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!<\/dd>\n
O, vengeance!<\/dd>\n
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,<\/dd>\n
That I, the son of a dear father murder’d,<\/dd>\n
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,<\/dd>\n
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,<\/dd>\n
And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,<\/dd>\n
A scullion! Fie upon’t! foh! About, my brains!<\/dd>\n
Hum, I have heard<\/dd>\n
That guilty creatures sitting at a play<\/dd>\n
Have by the very cunning of the scene<\/dd>\n
Been struck so to the soul that presently<\/dd>\n
They have proclaim’d their malefactions;<\/dd>\n
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak<\/dd>\n
With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players<\/dd>\n
Play something like the murder of my father<\/dd>\n
Before mine uncle: I’ll observe his looks;<\/dd>\n
I’ll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,<\/dd>\n
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen<\/dd>\n
May be the devil: and the devil hath power<\/dd>\n
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps<\/dd>\n
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,<\/dd>\n
As he is very potent with such spirits,<\/dd>\n
Abuses me to damn me: I’ll have grounds<\/dd>\n
More relative than this: the play ‘s the thing<\/dd>\n
Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Exit<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div>