The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare/Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso/shakes/text/34/05_02

Text File | 1991-04-10 | 20KB | 596 lines

A Hall in the Castle.
 Enter HAMLET and HORATIO.

Hamlet    So much for this, sir; now shall you see the other.
    You do remember all the circumstance?

Horatio    Remember it, my lord!

Hamlet    Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
    That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay
    Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly-
    And praised be rashness for it: let us know
    Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well
    When our deep plots do pall, and that should teach us
    There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
    Rough-hew them how we will.

Horatio                                That is most certain.

Hamlet    Up from my cabin,
    My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark
    Groped I to find out them; had my desire,
    Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew
    To mine own room again; making so bold,
    My fears forgetting manners, to unseal
    Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio-
    O royal knavery! - an exact command,
    Larded with many several sorts of reasons,
    Importing Denmark's health, and England's too,
    With ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
    That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,
    No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
    My head should be struck off.

Horatio                                        Is't possible?

Hamlet    Here's the commission, read it at more leisure.
    But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?

Horatio    I beseech you.

Hamlet    Being thus benetted round with villainies-
    Ere I could make a prologue to my brains,
    They had begun the play - I sat me down,
    Devised a new commission, wrote it fair.
    I once did hold it, as our statists do,
    A baseness to write fair, and laboured much
    How to forget that learning; but, sir, now
    It did me yeoman's service. Wilt thou know
    The effect of what I wrote?

Horatio                                        Ay, good my lord.

Hamlet    An earnest conjuration from the king,
    As England was his faithful tributary,
    As love between them like the palm should flourish,
    As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
    And stand a comma 'tween their amities,
    And many suchlike as'es of great charge,
    That, on the view and knowing of these contents,
    Without debatement further more or less,
    He should the bearers put to sudden death,
    Not shriving-time allowed.

Horatio                                    How was this sealed?

Hamlet    Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
    I had my father's signet in my purse,
    Which was the model of that Danish seal;
    Folded the writ up in the form of th' other,
    Subscribed it, gave't th' impression, placed it safely,
    The changeling never known. Now, the next day
    Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
    Thou know'st already.

Horatio    So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.

Hamlet    Why, man, they did make love to this employment;
    They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
    Does by their own insinuation grow.
    'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
    Between the pass and fell-incensd points
    Of mighty opposites.

Horatio                            Why, what a king is this!

Hamlet    Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon-
    He that hath killed my king and whored my mother,
    Popped in between th' election and my hopes,
    Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
    And with such coz'nage - is't not perfect conscience
    To quit him with this arm? And is't not to be damned
    To let this canker of our nature come
    In further evil?

Horatio    It must be shortly known to him from England
    What is the issue of the business there.

Hamlet    It will be short. The interim is mine,
    And a man's life's no more than to say 'one'.
    But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
    That to Laertes I forgot myself;
    For by the image of my cause I see
    The portraiture of his. I'll court his favours.
    But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
    Into a tow'ring passion.

Horatio                                Peace, who comes here?

                               Enter OSRIC.

Osric    Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.

Hamlet    I humbly thank you, sir.
    [Aside to HORATIO.] Dost know this water-fly?

Horatio    No, my good lord.

Hamlet    [Aside to HORATIO.] Thy state is the more gracious, for
    'tis a vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile.
    Let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at
    the king's mess. 'Tis a chough, but, as I say, spacious in
    the possession of dirt.

Osric    Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure I should
    impart a thing to you from his majesty.

Hamlet    I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Put
    your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head.

Osric    I thank your lordship, it is very hot.

Hamlet    No, believe me, 'tis very cold, the wind is northerly.

Osric    It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.

Hamlet    But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my
    complexion.

Osric    Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as 'twere - I
    cannot tell how. But, my lord, his majesty bade me signify
    to you that he has laid a great wager on your head. Sir,
    this is the matter-

Hamlet    I beseech you, remember.
                            [HAMLET moves him to put on his hat.

Osric    Nay, good my lord, for mine ease, in good faith. Sir, here
    is newly come to court Laertes; believe me, an absolute
    gentleman, full of most excellent differences, of very soft
    society, and great showing. Indeed, to speak feelingly of
    him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall
    find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would
    see.

Hamlet    Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you, though, I
    know, to divide him inventorially would dozy th' arithmetic
    of memory, and yet but yaw neither in respect of his quick
    sail. But in the verity of extolment I take him to be a
    soul of great article, and his infusion of such dearth and
    rareness as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is
    his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage,
    nothing more.

Osric    Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.

Hamlet    The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the gentleman in our
    more rawer breath?

Osric    Sir?

Horatio    Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will
    to't, sir, really.

Hamlet    What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

Osric    Of Laertes?

Horatio    His purse is empty already; all's golden words are spent.

Hamlet    Of him, sir.

Osric    I know you are not ignorant-

Hamlet    I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did it would
    not much approve me. Well, sir?

Osric    You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is-

Hamlet    I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in
    excellence; but to know a man well were to know himself.

Osric    I mean, sir, for his weapon. But in the imputation laid on
    him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed.

Hamlet    What's his weapon?

Osric    Rapier and dagger.

Hamlet    That's two of his weapons - but well.

Osric    The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary horses,
    against the which he has imponed, as I take it, six French
    rapiers and poniards, with their assigns as girdle, hanger,
    and so: three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to
    fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate
    carriages, and of very liberal conceit.

Hamlet    What call you the carriages?

Horatio    I knew you must be edified by the margent ere you had done.

Osric    The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

Hamlet    The phrase would be more germane to the matter if we could
    carry a cannon by our sides. I would it might be hangers
    till then. But on: six Barbary horses against six French
    swords, their assigns, and three liberal-conceited
    carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish. Why is
    this 'imponed', as you call it?

Osric    The king, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes
    between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three
    hits. He hath laid on twelve for nine, and it would come to
    immediate trial if your lordship would vouchsafe the
    answer.

Hamlet    How if I answer no?

Osric    I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.

Hamlet    Sir, I will walk here in the hall. If it please his
    majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me. Let the
    foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold
    his purpose, I will win for him an I can. If not, I will
    gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits.

Osric    Shall I deliver you so?

Hamlet    To this effect, sir, after what flourish your nature will.

Osric    I commend my duty to your lordship.

Hamlet    Yours, yours.
                                                [Exit OSRIC.
    He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues
    else for's turn.

Horatio    This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.

Hamlet    He did comply with his dug before a' sucked it. Thus has he
    - and many more of the same bevy that I know the drossy age
    dotes on - only got the tune of the time and outward habit
    of encounter, a kind of yeasty collection which carries
    them through and through the most fanned and winnowed
    opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles
    are out.

                              Enter a LORD.

Lord    My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osric,
    who brings back to him that you attend him in the hall. He
    sends to know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes,
    or that you will take longer time?

Hamlet    I am constant to my purposes; they follow the king's
    pleasure. If his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now or
    whensoever, provided I be so able as now.

Lord    The king and queen and all are coming down.

Hamlet    In happy time.

Lord    The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to
    Laertes before you fall to play.

Hamlet    She well instructs me.
                                                [Exit LORD.
Horatio    You will lose this wager, my lord.

Hamlet    I do not think so. Since he went into France, I have been
    in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. But thou
    wouldst not think how ill all's here about my heart; but it
    is no matter.

Horatio    Nay, good my lord-

Hamlet    It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving as
    would perhaps trouble a woman.

Horatio    If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall
    their repair hither, and say you are not fit.

Hamlet    Not a whit; we defy augury. There is special providence in
    the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if
    it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it
    will come. The readiness is all. Since no man has aught of
    what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes? Let be.

      Enter KING, QUEEN, LAERTES, LORDS, OSRIC, and ATTENDANTS with
           Trumpets, drums, and cushions; foils and gauntlets;
                   a table, and flagons of wine on it.

King    Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
                             [Puts LAERTES's hand into HAMLET's.

Hamlet    Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong;
    But pardon't as you are a gentleman.
    This presence knows,
    And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
    With sore distraction. What I have done
    That might your nature, honour, and exception
    Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
    Was't Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
    If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
    And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
    Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.
    Who does it, then? His madness? If't be so,
    Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged;
    His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
    Sir, in this audience,
    Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
    Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
    That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house
    And hurt my brother.

Laertes                            I am satisfied in nature,
    Whose motive in this case should stir me most
    To my revenge. But in my terms of honour
    I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement
    Till by some elder masters of known honour
    I have a voice and precedent of peace
    To keep my name ungored. But till that time
    I do receive your offered love like love,
    And will not wrong it.

Hamlet                                    I embrace it freely,
    And will this brother's wager frankly play.
    Give us the foils. Come on.

Laertes                                        Come, one for me.

Hamlet    I'll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance
    Your skill shall, like a star i'th' darkest night,
    Stick fiery off indeed.

Laertes                                You mock me, sir.

Hamlet    No, by this hand.

King    Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
    You know the wager?

Hamlet                            Very well, my lord;
    Your grace has laid the odds o'th' weaker side.

King    I do not fear it; I have seen you both.
    But since he's bettered, we have therefore odds.

Laertes    This is too heavy; let me see another.

Hamlet    This likes me well. These foils have all a length?

Osric    Ay, my good lord.
                                                [They prepare to play.

King    Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.
    If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
    Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
    Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;
    The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath,
    And in the cup an union shall he throw,
    Richer than that which four successive kings
    In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups,
    And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
    The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
    The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,
    'Now the king drinks to Hamlet'. Come, begin;
    And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

Hamlet    Come on, sir.

Laertes    Come, my lord.
                                                [They play.
Hamlet    One.

Laertes    No.

Hamlet    Judgement.

Osric    A hit, a very palpable hit.

Laertes    Well, again.

King    Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;
    Here's to thy health.
                    [Drum and trumpets sound, and shot goes off.

    Give him the cup.

Hamlet    I'll play this bout first; set it by a while.
    Come.
                                                [They play.
            Another hit; what say you?

Laertes    A touch, a touch, I do confess.

King    Our son shall win.

Queen                    He's fat and scant of breath.
    Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.
    The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

Hamlet    Good madam.

King    Gertrude, do not drink.

Queen    I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me.

King    [Aside.] It is the poisoned cup; it is too late.

Hamlet    I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.

Queen    Come, let me wipe thy face.

Laertes    My lord, I'll hit him now.

King    I do not think't.

Laertes    [Aside.] And yet it is almost against my conscience.

Hamlet    Come for the third, Laertes; you do but dally.
    I pray you, pass with your best violence;
    I am sure you make a wanton of me.

Laertes    Say you so? Come on.
                                                [They play.
Osric    Nothing neither way.

Laertes    Have at you now!
              [LAERTES wounds HAMLET. Then, in scuffling, they
                      change rapiers, and HAMLET wounds LAERTES.

King    Part them; they are incensed.

Hamlet    Nay, come again.
                                                [The QUEEN falls.
Osric    Look to the queen there, ho!

Horatio    They bleed on both sides. [To HAMLET.]  How is it, my lord?

Osric    How is't, Laertes?

Laertes    Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;
    I am justly killed with mine own treachery.

Hamlet    How does the queen?

King                        She swoons to see them bleed.

Queen    No, no, the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet;
    The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.
                                                [Dies.
Hamlet    O villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked.
    Treachery, seek it out!
                                                [Exit OSRIC.
                                                [LAERTES falls.
Laertes    It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain.
    No med'cine in the world can do thee good;
    In thee there is not half an hour of life.
    The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
    Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice
    Hath turned itself on me; lo, here I lie,
    Never to rise again. Thy mother's poisoned.
    I can no more. The king, the king's to blame.

Hamlet    The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy work.
                                                [Stabs the KING.
All    Treason! Treason!

King    O yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.

Hamlet    Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damnd Dane,
    Drink off this potion. - Is thy union here?
    Follow my mother.
                                                [KING dies.
Laertes                        He is justly served;
    It is a poison tempered by himself.
    Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
    Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
    Nor thine on me.
                                                [Dies.
Hamlet    Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.
    I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu!
    You that look pale, and tremble at this chance,
    That are but mutes or audience to this act,
    Had I but time - as this fell sergeant Death
    Is strict in his arrest - O, I could tell you-
    But let it be. Horatio, I am dead;
    Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
    To the unsatisfied.

Horatio                            Never believe it.
    I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
    Here's yet some liquor left.

Hamlet                                        As thou'rt a man,
    Give me the cup. Let go; by heaven I'll ha't.
    O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,
    Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!
    If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
    Absent thee from felicity a while,
    And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
    To tell my story.
                                [March afar off, and shot within.

                            What warlike noise is this?

Osric    Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
    T' the ambassadors of England gives
    This warlike volley.

Hamlet                                O, I die, Horatio.
    The potent poison quite o'ercrows my spirit.
    I cannot live to hear the news from England,
    But I do prophesy th' election lights
    On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice;
    So tell him, with th' occurrents, more and less,
    Which have solicited. The rest is silence.
                                                [Dies.
Horatio    Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
    And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
                                                [March within.
    Why does the drum come hither?

           Enter FORTINBRAS, and the ENGLISH AMBASSADORS, with
                      DRUM, COLOURS, and ATTENDANTS.

Fortinbras    Where is this sight?

Horatio                                What is it you would see?
    If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.

Fortinbras    This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death,
    What feast is toward in thine eternal cell
    That thou so many princes at a shot
    So bloodily hast struck?

1st Ambassador                                    The sight is dismal;
    And our affairs from England come too late.
    The ears are senseless that should give us hearing
    To tell him his commandment is fulfilled,
    That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
    Where should we have our thanks?

Horatio                                        Not from his mouth,
    Had it th' ability of life to thank you;
    He never gave commandment for their death.
    But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
    You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
    Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
    High on a stage be placd to the view;
    And let me speak to th' yet unknowing world
    How these things came about. So shall you hear
    Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
    Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters,
    Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
    And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
    Fall'n on th' inventors' heads. All this can I
    Truly deliver.

Fortinbras                    Let us haste to hear it,
    And call the noblest to the audience.
    For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune;
    I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
    Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.

Horatio    Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
    And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more.
    But let this same be presently performed,
    Even while men's minds are wild, lest more mischance
    On plots and errors happen.

Fortinbras                                    Let four captains
    Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,
    For he was likely, had he been put on,
    To have proved most royal; and for his passage,
    The soldiers' music and the rites of war
    Speak loudly for him.
    Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this
    Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
    Go, bid the soldiers shoot.

                 [Exeunt, marching, bearing off the dead bodies;
                     after which a peal of ordnance is shot off.