William Shakespeare - The Complete Works

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HAMLET PRINCE OF DENMARK Act 2 Scene 2 (Flourish. Enter King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with others) l1l King Claudius Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. l2l Moreover that we much did long to see you, l3l The need we have to use you did provoke l4l Our hasty sending. Something have you heard l5l Of HamletÆs transformationùso I call it, l6l Since not thÆ exterior nor the inward man l7l Resembles that it was. What it should be, l8l More than his fatherÆs death, that thus hath put him l9l So much from thÆ understanding of himself, l10l I cannot deem of. I entreat you both l11l That, being of so young days brought up with him, l12l And since so neighboured to his youth and humour, l13l That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court l14l Some little time, so by your companies l15l To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, l16l So much as from occasions you may glean, l17l Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus l18l That, opened, lies within our remedy. l19l Queen Gertrude Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you, l20l And sure I am two men there is not living l21l To whom he more adheres. If it will please you l22l To show us so much gentry and good will l23l As to expend your time with us a while l24l For the supply and profit of our hope, l25l Your visitation shall receive such thanks l26l As fits a kingÆs remembrance. Rosencrantz Both your majesties l27l Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, l28l Put your dread pleasures more into command l29l Than to entreaty. Guildenstern But we both obey, l30l And here give up ourselves in the full bent l31l To lay our service freely at your feet l32l To be commanded. l33l King Claudius Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. l34l Queen Gertrude Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz. l35l And I beseech you instantly to visit l36l My too-much changΦd son.ùGo, some of ye, l37l And bring the gentlemen where Hamlet is. l38l Guildenstern Heavens make our presence and our practices l39l Pleasant and helpful to him. Queen Gertrude Ay, amen! (Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with others) (Enter Polonius) l40l Polonius ThÆ ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, l41l Are joyfully returned. l42l King Claudius Thou still hast been the father of good news. l43l Polonius Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege, l44l I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, l45l Both to my God and to my gracious King. l46l And I do thinkùor else this brain of mine l47l Hunts not the trail of policy so sure l48l As it hath used to doùthat I have found l49l The very cause of HamletÆs lunacy. l50l King Claudius O speak of that, that I do long to hear! l51l Polonius Give first admittance to thÆ ambassadors. l52l My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. l53l King Claudius Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. (Exit Polonius) l54l He tells me, my sweet queen, that he hath found l55l The head and source of all your sonÆs distemper. l56l Queen Gertrude I doubt it is no other but the mainù l57l His fatherÆs death and our oÆer-hasty marriage. l58l King Claudius Well, we shall sift him. (Enter Polonius, Valtemand, and Cornelius) Welcome, my good friends. l59l Say, Valtemand, what from our brother Norway? l60l Valtemand Most fair return of greetings and desires. l61l Upon our first he sent out to suppress l62l His nephewÆs levies, which to him appeared l63l To be a preparation Ægainst the Polack; l64l But better looked into, he truly found l65l It was against your highness; whereat grieved l66l That so his sickness, age, and impotence l67l Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests l68l On Fortinbras, which he, in brief, obeys, l69l Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine, l70l Makes vow before his uncle never more l71l To give thÆ essay of arms against your majesty; l72l Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, l73l Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee l74l And his commission to employ those soldiers l75l So levied as before, against the Polack, l76l With an entreaty herein further shown, (He gives a letter to Claudius) l77l That it might please you to give quiet pass l78l Through your dominions for his enterprise l79l On such regards of safety and allowance l80l As therein are set down. King Claudius It likes us well, l81l And at our more considered time weÆll read, l82l Answer, and think upon this business. l83l Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour. l84l Go to your rest; at night weÆll feast together. l85l Most welcome home. (Exeunt Valtemand and Cornelius) l86l Polonius This business is very well ended. l87l My liege, and madam, to expostulate l88l What majesty should be, what duty is, l89l Why day is day, night night, and time is time, l90l Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. l91l Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, l92l And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, l93l I will be brief. Your noble son is madù l94l ôMadö call I it, for to define true madness, l95l What is Æt but to be nothing else but mad? l96l But let that go. Queen Gertrude More matter with less art. l97l Polonius Madam, I swear I use no art at all. l98l That he is mad, Ætis true; Ætis true Ætis pity, l99l And pity Ætis Ætis trueùa foolish figure, l100l But farewell it, for I will use no art. l101l Mad let us grant him, then; and now remains l102l That we find out the cause of this effectù l103l Or rather say ôthe cause of this defectö, l104l For this effect defective comes by cause. l105l Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. l106l Perpend. l107l I have a daughterùhave whilst she is mineù l108l Who in her duty and obedience, mark, l109l Hath given me this. Now gather and surmise. (He reads a letter) l110l ôTo the celestial and my soulÆs idol, the most beautified l111l OpheliaöùthatÆs an ill phrase, a vile phrase, ôbeautifiedö l112l is a vile phrase. But you shall hearùôthese in her l113l excellent white bosom, theseö. l114l Queen Gertrude Came this from Hamlet to her? l115l Polonius Good madam, stay a while. I will be faithful. l116l ôDoubt thou the stars are fire, l117l Doubt that the sun doth move, l118l Doubt truth to be a liar, l119l But never doubt I love. l120l O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not l121l art to reckon my groans. But that I love thee best, O l122l most best, believe it. Adieu. l123l Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this l124l machine is to him, l125l Hamlet.ö l126l This in obedience hath my daughter showed me, l127l And more above hath his solicitings, l128l As they fell out by time, by means, and place, l129l All given to mine ear. King Claudius But how hath she l130l Received his love? Polonius What do you think of me? l131l King Claudius As of a man faithful and honourable. l132l Polonius I would fain prove so. But what might you think, l133l When I had seen this hot love on the wing, l134l As I perceived itùI must tell you thatù l135l Before my daughter told me, what might you, l136l Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, l137l If I had played the desk or table-book, l138l Or given my heart a winking mute and dumb, l139l Or looked upon this love with idle sightù l140l What might you think? No, I went round to work, l141l And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: l142l ôLord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star. l143l This must not beö. And then I precepts gave her, l144l That she should lock herself from his resort, l145l Admit no messengers, receive no tokens; l146l Which done, she took the fruits of my advice, l147l And he, repulsΦdùa short tale to makeù l148l Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, l149l Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, l150l Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension, l151l Into the madness wherein now he raves, l152l And all we wail for. l153l King Claudius (to Gertrude) Do you think Ætis this? l154l Queen Gertrude It may be; very likely. l155l Polonius Hath there been such a timeùIÆd fain know thatù l156l That I have positively said ôÆTis soö l157l When it proved otherwise? King Claudius Not that I know. Polonius (touching his head, then his shoulder) l158l Take this from this if this be otherwise. l159l If circumstances lead me I will find l160l Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed l161l Within the centre. King Claudius How may we try it further? l162l Polonius You know sometimes he walks four hours together l163l Here in the lobby. Queen Gertrude So he does indeed. l164l Polonius At such a time IÆll loose my daughter to him. l165l (To Claudius) Be you and I behind an arras then. l166l Mark the encounter. If he love her not, l167l And be not from his reason fallÆn thereon, l168l Let me be no assistant for a state, l169l But keep a farm and carters. King Claudius We will try it. (Enter Prince Hamlet, madly attired, reading on a book) l170l Queen Gertrude But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. l171l Polonius Away, I do beseech you both, away. l172l IÆll board him presently. O give me leave. (Exeunt Claudius and Gertrude) l173l How does my good Lord Hamlet? l174l Hamlet Well, God-ÆaÆ-mercy. l175l Polonius Do you know me, my lord? l176l Hamlet Excellent, excellent well. YouÆre a fishmonger. l177l Polonius Not I, my lord. l178l Hamlet Then I would you were so honest a man. l179l Polonius Honest, my lord? l180l Hamlet Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to l181l be one man picked out of ten thousand. l182l Polonius ThatÆs very true, my lord. l183l Hamlet For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being l184l a good kissing carrionùhave you a daughter? l185l Polonius I have, my lord. l186l Hamlet Let her not walk iÆ thÆ sun. Conception is a l187l blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive. l188l Friend, look to Æt. l189l Polonius (aside) How say you by that? Still harping on l190l my daughter. Yet he knew me not at firstùa said I l191l was a fishmonger. A is far gone, far gone, and truly, l192l in my youth I suffered much extremity for love, very l193l near this. IÆll speak to him again.ùWhat do you read, l194l my lord? l195l Hamlet Words, words, words. l196l Polonius What is the matter, my lord? l197l Hamlet Between who? l198l Polonius I mean the matter you read, my lord. l199l Hamlet Slanders, sir; for the satirical slave says here that l200l old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, l201l their eyes purging thick amber or plum-tree gum, and l202l that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with l203l most weak hams. All which, sir, though I most l204l powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty l205l to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, should l206l be old as I amùif, like a crab, you could go backward. l207l Polonius (aside) Though this be madness, yet there is l208l method in Æt.ùWill you walk out of the air, my lord? l209l Hamlet Into my grave. l210l Polonius Indeed, that is out oÆ thÆ air. (Aside) How pregnant l211l sometimes his replies are! A happiness that often l212l madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not l213l so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him, and l214l suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him l215l and my daughter.ùMy lord, I will take my leave of l216l you. l217l Hamlet You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I l218l will more willingly part withalùexcept my life, my life, l219l my life. l220l Polonius (going) Fare you well, my lord. l221l Hamlet These tedious old fools! (Enter Guildenstern and Rosencrantz) l222l Polonius You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is. l223l Rosencrantz God save you, sir. l224l Guildenstern (to Polonius) Mine honoured lord. (Exit Polonius) l225l Rosencrantz (to Hamlet) My most dear lord. l226l Hamlet My exÆllent good friends. How dost thou, l227l Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantzùgood lads, how do ye l228l both? l229l Rosencrantz As the indifferent children of the earth. l230l Guildenstern Happy in that we are not over-happy, l231l On FortuneÆs cap we are not the very button. l232l Hamlet Nor the soles of her shoe? l233l Rosencrantz Neither, my lord. l234l Hamlet Then you live about her waist, or in the middle l235l of her favour? l236l Guildenstern Faith, her privates we. l237l Hamlet In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true, she l238l is a strumpet. WhatÆs the news? l239l Rosencrantz None, my lord, but that the worldÆs grown l240l honest. l241l Hamlet Then is doomsday near. But your news is not l242l true. Let me question more in particular. What have l243l you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune l244l that she sends you to prison hither? l245l Guildenstern Prison, my lord? l246l Hamlet DenmarkÆs a prison. l247l Rosencrantz Then is the world one. l248l Hamlet A goodly one, in which there are many confines, l249l wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one oÆ thÆ worst. l250l Rosencrantz We think not so, my lord. l251l Hamlet Why, then Ætis none to you, for there is nothing l252l either good or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it l253l is a prison. l254l Rosencrantz Why, then your ambition makes it one; Ætis l255l too narrow for your mind. l256l Hamlet O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and l257l count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that l258l I have bad dreams. l259l Guildenstern Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the l260l very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow l261l of a dream. l262l Hamlet A dream itself is but a shadow. l263l Rosencrantz Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and l264l light a quality that it is but a shadowÆs shadow. l265l Hamlet Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs l266l and outstretched heroes the beggarsÆ shadows. Shall l267l we to thÆ court? For, by my fay, I cannot reason. l268l Rosencrantz Guildenstern WeÆll wait upon you. l269l Hamlet No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest l270l of my servants, for, to speak to you like an honest l271l man, I am most dreadfully attended. But in the beaten l272l way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore? l273l Rosencrantz To visit you, my lord, no other occasion. l274l Hamlet Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks, but l275l I thank you; and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too l276l dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your l277l own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly l278l with me. Come, come. Nay, speak. l279l Guildenstern What should we say, my lord? l280l Hamlet Why, anythingùbut to thÆ purpose. You were l281l sent for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks l282l which your modesties have not craft enough to colour. l283l I know the good King and Queen have sent for you. l284l Rosencrantz To what end, my lord? l285l Hamlet That you must teach me. But let me conjure you l286l by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of l287l our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, l288l and by what more dear a better proposer could charge l289l you withal, be even and direct with me whether you l290l were sent for or no. l291l Rosencrantz (to Guildenstern) What say you? l292l Hamlet Nay then, I have an eye of youùif you love me, l293l hold not off. l294l Guildenstern My lord, we were sent for. l295l Hamlet I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation l296l prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King l297l and Queen moult no feather. I have of lateùbut l298l wherefore I know notùlost all my mirth, forgone all l299l custom of exercise; and indeed it goes so heavily with l300l my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems l301l to me a sterile promontory. This most excellent canopy l302l the air, look you, this brave oÆerhanging, this majestical l303l roof fretted with golden fireùwhy, it appears no other l304l thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of l305l vapours. What a piece of work is a man! How noble l306l in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form and moving l307l how express and admirable, in action how like an l308l angel, in apprehension how like a godùthe beauty of l309l the world, the paragon of animals! And yet to me what l310l is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not meùno, l311l nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem l312l to say so. l313l Rosencrantz My lord, there was no such stuff in my l314l thoughts. l315l Hamlet Why did you laugh, then, when I said ôMan l316l delights not meö? l317l Rosencrantz To think, my lord, if you delight not in man l318l what lenten entertainment the players shall receive l319l from you. We coted them on the way, and hither are l320l they coming to offer you service. l321l Hamlet He that plays the King shall be welcome; his l322l majesty shall have tribute of me. The adventurous l323l Knight shall use his foil and target, the Lover shall not l324l sigh gratis, the Humorous Man shall end his part in l325l peace, the Clown shall make those laugh whose lungs l326l are tickled oÆ thÆ sear, and the Lady shall say her mind l327l freely, or the blank verse shall halt for Æt. What players l328l are they? l329l Rosencrantz Even those you were wont to take delight l330l in, the tragedians of the city. l331l Hamlet How chances it they travel? Their residence both l332l in reputation and profit was better both ways. l333l Rosencrantz I think their inhibition comes by the means l334l of the late innovation. l335l Hamlet Do they hold the same estimation they did when l336l I was in the city? Are they so followed? l337l Rosencrantz No, indeed, they are not. l338l Hamlet How comes it? Do they grow rusty? l339l Rosencrantz Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted l340l pace. But there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, l341l that cry out on the top of question and are most l342l tyrannically clapped for Æt. These are now the fashion, l343l and so berattle the common stagesùso they call themù l344l that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, l345l and dare scarce come thither. l346l Hamlet What, are they children? Who maintains Æem? l347l How are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no l348l longer than they can sing? Will they not say afterwards, l349l if they should grow themselves to common playersù l350l as it is like most will, if their means are not betterù l351l their writers do them wrong to make them exclaim l352l against their own succession? l353l Rosencrantz Faith, there has been much to-do on both l354l sides, and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to l355l controversy. There was for a while no money bid for l356l argument unless the poet and the player went to cuffs l357l in the question. l358l Hamlet Is Æt possible? l359l Guildenstern O, there has been much throwing about of l360l brains. l361l Hamlet Do the boys carry it away? l362l Rosencrantz Ay, that they do, my lord, Hercules and his l363l load too. l364l Hamlet It is not strange; for mine uncle is King of l365l Denmark, and those that would make mows at him l366l while my father lived give twenty, forty, an hundred l367l ducats apiece for his picture in little. ÆSblood, there is l368l something in this more than natural, if philosophy l369l could find it out. (A flourish for the Players) l370l Guildenstern There are the players. l371l Hamlet Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your l372l hands, come. ThÆ appurtenance of welcome is fashion l373l and ceremony. Let me comply with you in the garb, l374l lest my extent to the playersùwhich, I tell you, must l375l show fairly outwardùshould more appear like l376l entertainment than yours. (He shakes hands with them) l377l You are welcome. But my uncle-father and aunt-mother l378l are deceived. l379l Guildenstern In what, my dear lord? l380l Hamlet I am but mad north-north-west; when the wind l381l is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw. (Enter Polonius) l382l Polonius Well be with you, gentlemen. l383l Hamlet (aside) Hark you, Guildenstern, and you tooùat l384l each ear a hearerùthat great baby you see there is l385l not yet out of his swathing-clouts. l386l Rosencrantz (aside) Haply heÆs the second time come to l387l them, for they say an old man is twice a child. l388l Hamlet (aside) I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the l389l players. Mark it.ùYou say right, sir, for oÆ Monday l390l morning, Ætwas so indeed. l391l Polonius My lord, I have news to tell you. l392l Hamlet My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius l393l was an actor in Romeù l394l Polonius The actors are come hither, my lord. l395l Hamlet Buzz, buzz. l396l Polonius Upon mine honourù l397l Hamlet Then came each actor on his ass. l398l Polonius The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, l399l comedy, history, pastoral, pastorical-comical, historical- l400l pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical- l401l pastoral, scene individable or poem unlimited. Seneca l402l cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law l403l of writ and the liberty, these are the only men. l404l Hamlet O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst l405l thou! l406l Polonius What a treasure had he, my lord? l407l Hamlet Why, l408l ôOne fair daughter and no more, l409l The which he lovΦd passing wellö. l410l Polonius (aside) Still on my daughter. l411l Hamlet Am I not iÆ thÆ right, old Jephthah? l412l Polonius If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a l413l daughter that I love passing well. l414l Hamlet Nay, that follows not. l415l Polonius What follows then, my lord? l416l Hamlet Why l417l ôAs by lot l418l God wotö, l419l and then you know l420l ôIt came to pass l421l As most like it wasöù l422l the first row of the pious chanson will show you more, l423l for look where my abridgements come. (Enter four or five Players) l424l YouÆre welcome, masters, welcome all.ùI am glad to l425l see thee well.ùWelcome, good friends.ùO, my old l426l friend! Thy face is valanced since I saw thee last. l427l ComÆst thou to beard me in Denmark?ùWhat, my l428l young lady and mistress. By Ær Lady, your ladyship is l429l nearer heaven than when I saw you last by the altitude l430l of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a piece of l431l uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring.ù l432l Masters, you are all welcome. WeÆll eÆen to Æt like French l433l falcÆners, fly at anything we see. WeÆll have a speech l434l straight. Come, give us a taste of your quality. Come, l435l a passionate speech. l436l First Player What speech, my good lord? l437l Hamlet I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was l438l never acted, or, if it was, not above once; for the play, l439l I remember, pleased not the million. ÆTwas caviare to l440l the general. But it wasùas I received it, and others l441l whose judgements in such matters cried in the top of l442l mineùan excellent play, well digested in the scenes, l443l set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember l444l one said there was no sallets in the lines to make the l445l matter savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might l446l indict the author of affectation, but called it an honest l447l method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very much l448l more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly l449l loved, Ætwas AeneasÆ tale to Dido, and thereabout of it l450l especially where he speaks of PriamÆs slaughter. If it l451l live in your memory, begin at this lineùlet me see, let l452l me see: l453l ôThe rugged Pyrrhus, like thÆ Hyrcanian beastöù l454l Ætis not so. It begins with Pyrrhusù l455l ôThe rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, l456l Black as his purpose, did the night resemble l457l When he lay couchΦd in the ominous horse, l458l Hath now this dread and black complexion smeared l459l With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot l460l Now is he total gules, horridly tricked l461l With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, l462l Baked and impasted with the parching streets, l463l That lend a tyrranous and damnΦd light l464l To their vile murders. Roasted in wrath and fire, l465l And thus oÆer-sizΦd with coagulate gore, l466l With eyes like carbuncles the hellish Pyrrhus l467l Old grandsire Priam seeks.ö l468l So, proceed you. l469l Polonius Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good l470l accent and good discretion. l471l First Player ôAnon he finds him, l472l Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword, l473l Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, l474l Repugnant to command. Unequal match, l475l Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide; l476l But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword l477l ThÆ unnervΦd father falls. Then senseless Ilium, l478l Seeming to feel his blow, with flaming top l479l Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash l480l Takes prisoner PyrrhusÆ ear. For lo, his sword, l481l Which was declining on the milky head l482l Of reverend Priam, seemed iÆ thÆ air to stick. l483l So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood, l484l And, like a neutral to his will and matter, l485l Did nothing. l486l But as we often see against some storm l487l A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, l488l The bold winds speechless, and the orb below l489l As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder l490l Doth rend the region: so, after PyrrhusÆ pause, l491l A rousΦd vengeance sets him new a-work; l492l And never did the CyclopsÆ hammers fall l493l On Mars his armour, forged for proof eterne, l494l With less remorse than PyrrhusÆ bleeding sword l495l Now falls on Priam. l496l Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods, l497l In general synod, take away her power, l498l Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, l499l And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven, l500l As low as to the fiends!ö l501l Polonius This is too long. l502l Hamlet It shall to the barberÆs, with your beard. l503l (To First Player) Prithee, say on. HeÆs for a jig or a tale of l504l bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on, come to Hecuba. l505l First Player ôBut who, O who had seen the mobbled queenöù l506l Hamlet ôThe mobbled queenö? l507l Polonius ThatÆs good; ômobbled queenö is good. l508l First Player ôRun barefoot up and down, threatÆning the flames l509l With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head l510l Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe, l511l About her lank and all oÆer-teemΦd loins, l512l A blanket in thÆ alarm of fear caught upù l513l Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steeped, l514l ÆGainst FortuneÆs state would treason have pronounced. l515l But if the gods themselves did see her then, l516l When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport l517l In mincing with his sword her husbandÆs limbs, l518l The instant burst of clamour that she madeù l519l Unless things mortal move them not at allù l520l Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven, l521l And passion in the gods.ö l522l Polonius Look wheÆer he has not turned his colour, and l523l has tears in Æs eyes. (To First Player) Prithee, no more. l524l Hamlet (to First Player) ÆTis well. IÆll have thee speak out l525l the rest soon. (To Polonius) Good my lord, will you see l526l the players well bestowed? Do ye hear?ùlet them be l527l well used, for they are the abstracts and brief chronicles l528l of the time. After your death you were better have a l529l bad epitaph than their ill report while you live. l530l Polonius My lord, I will use them according to their l531l desert. l532l Hamlet GodÆs bodykins, man, much better. Use every l533l man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? l534l Use them after your own honour and dignityùthe less l535l they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take l536l them in. l537l Polonius (to Players) Come, sirs. (Exit) l538l Hamlet (to Players) Follow him, friends. WeÆll hear a play l539l tomorrow. Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play l540l the murder of Gonzago? l541l [Players] Ay, my lord. l542l Hamlet WeÆll ha Æt tomorrow night. You could for a need l543l study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I l544l would set down and insert in Æt, could ye not? l545l [Players] Ay, my lord. l546l Hamlet Very well. Follow that lord, and look you mock l547l him not. (Exeunt Players) l548l My good friends, IÆll leave you till night. You are l549l welcome to Elsinore. l550l Rosencrantz Good my lord. l551l Hamlet Ay, so. God bÆ wiÆ ye. (Exeunt all but Hamlet) Now I am alone. l552l O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! l553l Is it not monstrous that this player here, l554l But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, l555l Could force his soul so to his whole conceit l556l That from her working all his visage wanned, l557l Tears in his eyes, distraction in Æs aspect, l558l A broken voice, and his whole function suiting l559l With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing. l560l For Hecuba! l561l WhatÆs Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, l562l That he should weep for her? What would he do l563l Had he the motive and the cue for passion l564l That I have? He would drown the stage with tears, l565l And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, l566l Make mad the guilty and appal the free, l567l Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed l568l The very faculty of eyes and ears. Yet I, l569l A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak l570l Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, l571l And can say nothingùno, not for a king l572l Upon whose property and most dear life l573l A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward? l574l Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across, l575l Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face, l576l Tweaks me by thÆ nose, gives me the lie iÆ thÆ throat l577l As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this? l578l Ha? ÆSwounds, I should take it; for it cannot be l579l But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall l580l To make oppression bitter, or ere this l581l I should ÆaÆ fatted all the region kites l582l With this slaveÆs offal. Bloody, bawdy villain! l583l Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! l584l O, vengeance!ù l585l Why, what an ass am I? Ay, sure, this is most brave, l586l That I, the son of the dear murderΦd, l587l Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, l588l Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words l589l And fall a-cursing like a very drab, l590l A scullion! Fie upon Æt, foh!ùAbout, my brain. l591l I have heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play l592l Have by the very cunning of the scene l593l Been struck so to the soul that presently l594l They have proclaimed their malefactions; l595l For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak l596l With most miraculous organ. IÆll have these players l597l Play something like the murder of my father l598l Before mine uncle. IÆll observe his looks, l599l IÆll tent him to the quick. If a but blench, l600l I know my course. The spirit that I have seen l601l May be the devil, and the devil hath power l602l TÆ assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps, l603l Out of my weakness and my melancholyù l604l As he is very potent with such spiritsù l605l Abuses me to damn me. IÆll have grounds l606l More relative than this. The playÆs the thing l607l Wherein IÆll catch the conscience of the King. (Exit)