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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016

https://archive.org/details/hamletprinceofde00shak_3

HAMLET,

Prince of Denmark;

A

TRAGEDY,

As it. i.<r-n-ew— A^rL -by — bk M-Juj ,E--s=atrY7r-— -Scrvanta.

Written by

William S h a k e s p e a r.

LONDON:

Printed for j. To^fon, and the reft of the Propretors ; And Sold by the Bookfellers of London and IVeJlmwfter . 1734. 00

(j~ </( f/J. <■/?

'fr /'**£<*_

Dramatis Perforin.

Laudius, Kin? of Denma rk, Fortinbras;* Norway. Hamlet, Sa# to ihe former King, Polonius, Lord Chamberlain , Horatio, Friend to Hamlet, Laertes, /<? Polonius, RcfencTangscy 7 Guildenfleern, \

Voltimand.

Courtiers.

8 Cornelius.

Oftrick, a Fop.

Marcelius, an Officer.

^rancnco, ^

r . , Reynaldo, Servant to Folonius.

Mr. Bickerftaff.

Mr. Wilkes. Mr. Crofs.

Mr. Mills.

Mr. Ryan.

Mr. Wilkes Mr. Quin.

Mr. Bowen. Mr. Shepherd.

Mr. Booth. Mr. Norris.

fr j- ^ Mr. Tohnfon.

Two <"«»%<. Leigh.

C.-nrude.^^./Oenmafk, ^ p

Mother to Hamlet, 1

Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius, l> ic ■■L.-/^,-5agrfet,

Ladies attending on the Queen.

1

Mrs. Santlow.

SCENE, E L S I N 0 0 R.

This Flay being too long to l e a Ted ; p on the Stage , fuch Lines as arl left out in ihe Afting, are marked

$kv y

H AM IF 7

I

\

H A M L E %

Prince of Denmark,

a c t i. g-e-g-?^^

S C E N E^L. before

the Palace »

Bernardo.

H O’s there ?

Fran Nay, anfwer me: Stand and un- fold your feif. .

Ber. Long live the King/

Fran. Bernardo?

Ber. He.

Tran. You come mod carefully upon your hour.

Ber. ’Tis now kruck twelve. get thee to bed, FrancifcOj Fran. For this relief much thanks: ’tis bitter cold. And I am Tick at heart.

Ber. Have you had ^ quiet Guard ?

Fran. Not a Moufe ftirring.

Ber. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio ahi Marce/Iusfol ie Rivals of my Watch, bid them make hafte.

r A3 Enter

<? H amlet. Prince of Denmark,

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Tran. I think I hear them. Stand,hoJ who’s there? Her. Friends to this Ground.

Mar., And Liege- men to the Dane.

Fran\f£j o&fmght.

Mar. OF arewel, honeft Soldier; who hath reliev’d you ?

Ber. Say, what is Horatio there ?

JHor. A piece of him.

Ber. Welcome, Horatio ; welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. What, has this thing appear’d again to-night ? Ber. I have feen nothing.

Mar. Horatio fays, ’ds but our Phantafy,

And will not let Belief take hold of him.

Touching th%dread£a fight, twice feen of us; Therefore I have intreated him along With us, to watch the Minutes of this Night,

That.if again this Apparition come.

He may approve our Eyes, and fpeak to j$.

Hor. fT will not appear. ^ l

Ber. Sit down a while ;

And let us once again aflail your Ears,

Tn2t are fo fortified againft our ftory.

What we have two Nigh^sJeenT Hor. Well, 4 fit we down,

-And ’ let us hear Bernardo fpeak of this.

Ber. Laft Night of all,

When yon fame Star, that’s Weft ward from the Pole, Had made his Courfe that part of Heav’n

Where now it burns, Marcellus and my felf.

JUUUU WiiCIC It V,UAAA^3 <a.£aAH'

Ber. In'the fame Figure, like the King that’s dead. Mar. ‘ Thou art a Scholar,’ fpeak to it, Horatio. Ber. ‘ Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.

[ Exit Francifco.

The Bell then beaming one

Hor. Moft like ; it

me with Fear and Wonder.

Ber.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 7

Mar. Speak to it, Horatio.

Hor. What art then that ufor^this^time of night. Together with that fair and Form,

In which theM^hyof buried Denmark Did fometim efm&sh ? I charge thee fpeak,

ftfarH Ft -re

Ber. See ! it^BKSSaway.

Hor. Stay ,fpeak,fpeak : I charge thee fpeak. [Ex.

Mar. ’Tis gone, and will not anfwer.

Ber. How now, Horatio ? you tremble and look pale* *' " Is not this fomething more than Phantafy?

What think you of it ?

Hor. I could not this believe.

Without the fenfible and true avouch Of mine own Eyes.

Mar. Is it not like the King?

Hor. As thou art to thy ieif T Stachrwac the ve-ry-^moiir'dic^ad'Tm',

When ho th’ ambitious Nvr^zuny combated-:

£■ So frown'd he once;^htmTt^-a^v-^ngty-pf^

fmotc lIil fleddud Puli>ax on the Ice-*

‘ ’Tis ftrange _

Mar^. Thus.twice before, and juljfat tht^tee hour, WitH^m^nth jEal^Tfiath he gone by our Watch.

Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know not j But, in the fcope of mine Opinion,

This bodes fome llrange Eruption to our State.

Mar. Pray tell me, he that knows.

Why this fame ftritl and moft obfervant Watch So nightly toils the Subje£ty of the Land :

* And why fuch daily coil of brazen Cannon,

‘ And foreign Mart for Implements of War :

‘ Why fuch Imprefs of Shipwrights, whofe fore Tads ‘ Does not divide the Sunday from the Week;

‘ What might be toward, that this fweaty hafte

* Doth make the Night joint-Labaurer with the Day-r

* Who is’t that can inform me ?

Hor. That can I ;

i At leak the Whifper goes fo.’ Our laft King,

A 4 W]iq%

S HamIet, Prince of Denmark.

(\Vhofe Image e*&n but now appear’d :• is,)

Was, as you know, by Y&rtinbras of Norway,

( Thereto prickt on by a mofr emulgtfcTride S Dar’d to the Combat ; in which our valiant Hamlet 4 (For fo this Side of our known World efteem’d him) Did Hay this Fortinbras l who,by a ieai’d Compact, Well ratified by Law gfel Heraldry,

Did forfeit (with his Life) all thole his Lands,

% Which he hood fei2’d c£, to the Conqueror :

* Againft the which a Moiety competent Was gaged by our King, which had return’d

‘ To the inheritance of Fortinbras ,

4 Had he been Vanquisher : A^by the fame Cqm^aj ft9 1 And Carriage of the Article) defign^i- 4 His fell to Hajnriet .’ Now, Sir, young Fortinbras ,

4 Of unimprov’d Metfclp. hot and full,

Hath^ in the Skirts of Norway, here and there.

Shark’d up a Lift of laMllefs Refolutes,

‘ For Food and Diet, to fome Enterprize

* That hath a Stomach in’t; which is no other,

4 (As it doth well appear unto our State,)

* But ’ to recover * of us^ by ftrong Hand,

' And Terms compul&ts^tkok Lands

So by his Father loft. And this^I take it.

Is the main Motive of our Preparations;

* The Source of this cur Watch; and the chief Head

* Of this Pcft-hafte, and Romage in the Land.

Ber. I think it be no other, but even foT~

Well mqvAt fort that this portentous Figure Gomcsnsm thro’ our Wacch;fo like the King That was, and is/the Queftion of thefe Wars.

Hor. 4 A Mote it is to trouble the Mind’s Eye.

* In the moil high and State of Rome ,

4 A little ere the mightieft Julius fel \ft^s^CcL?

4 The Gravesftcod teaamlefs, and the' iheeted Dead 4 Did fqueak and gibber in die Roman Street?,

* Stars (hone with Trains of Fire, Dews of Blood fell,

4 Diiafters veil’d the Sun, and tlye moill Star,

4 Upon whole Influence Empire hands,

* Was hek a! moil to Doomiday withEclipie;

4 And

1

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. p

‘ Aipd even the like Precurfe of fierce Events,

* As Harbingers preceding ftill the Fates,

‘ And Prologue to the omen’d conning on,

9 Have Heav’n and Earth together demonftrated

* Unto our Climatares and Countrymen.

Enter GvvjL /-

But foft, behold! lo where it comes again! /

Fll<croL Stay, Iiiufion !

If thou haft any Sound, or ufe of Voice,

Speak to me — If there be any good thing to be done. That may to thee do eafe, andQrace tome ; fpeak to me. If thou art privy to thy Country’s Fate,

Which, happily foreknowing^ may avoid, Oh fpeak!— Oi^if thou haft uphoarded in thy Life Extorted Treafure in the Womb of Earth ;

(tor which, they fay, you Spirits oft walk in Death, )

[Cock cmv* *.

Speak of it. Stay, and fpeak Stop --ii^Muricr/hs . —

Mitt, Shall I milee-«^wRir'iiiy Pai-thfagEF?

*fc#. Dir if .if ■will

Mar. ’Tis gone. [Exit

W-e do it wrong, being fo majeftieal,

To-ofFcr it the fh«w of Violence;

Jk-nlo wer, as the Air, Htvu Inc r able-.

And ew»- vain .Bio wo mafe^ous -Mockery-.

Ber. It was about to when the Cock crew.

Her. And then it ftarted like a guilty thing Upon a fearful Summons. I have heard The Cock that is the Trumpet to the Mom,

Doth with hL lofty and fhril 1-founding Throat Awake the Day; and^at his Warning,

Whether in Sea or Fire, in Earth or Air,

Th’ extravagant and erring Spirit hies To his Confine,* * And of the Truth herein,

* This prefent Object made probation.

* Mar. It fadedafc'the Crowing of the Cock.

* Some fay, that ever ’gainfl that Seafon co mz$p

* Wherein Saviour’s Bipth is celebrated,

A 5 v 5Thk'i

to H amlet, Prince of Denmark.

* This Bird of Dawning fingtag all night long :

f And^then, they fay, no Spirit dares ftir abroad,

* The Nights are wholfom, then no Planets ftrike,

6 No Fairy takes, norWitch hath power to charm ;

* So hallow’d, and fo gracious is the\ Time.

Hor. ‘ So have I heard, and do in part believe it.

But look, the Morn in ruffet Mantle clad.

Walks o’er the Dew of yon high Eaftern Hill;

Break we our Watch up; and, by my Advice,

Let us impart what we have teen to night Unto young Hamlet : Perhaps This Spirit,dumb to us, will fpeak to him. e Do youconfent we fhall acquaint him with it, e -Asl needful in our Loves, fitting our Duty ?

Mar. Let’s do’t, X pray/ and this Mornin^know Where we fhall find him mofl convenient^. [Exeunt.

^7; 9 trf Lr>~

SCENE II. The Palace.

'Unter^K. ing, Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, ‘Voltl- mand, Cornelius, 1 Gentlemen and. Guards.

King. Tho’ yet, of Hamlet our dear Brother’s Death The Memory be green; and that it us befitted To bear our Hearts in Grief, and our whole Kingdom, To be contra&ed in one brow of Woe;

Yet^l'o far hath Difcretion fought with Nature,

That we with wifeft forro\^ think on him.

Together with remembrance of our felves.

Therefore^ our fometime Sifter, now our Queen, "

Th’ Imperial Jointrefsof-this warlike State,

Have we,as ’twere with a defeated Joy,

^ With one aufpicious, and one dropping Eye,

4 With Mirth in Funeral, and with Dirge in Mafriage^

* In equal'Scale weighing Delight and Dole,

Taken to Wife. Nor have we herein barr’d Your better Wifdoms, which have freely- gone With this Affair along;— for all our thanks.

4 Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras,

* Holding a weak fuppofal of our Worth;

! Or thinking by our late d*tr Brother’s Death,

, - i Our

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, u

e Our State to be disjoint, and out of frame,

* Collegued with this Dream of his Advantage,

‘ He hath not fail’d to pefter us with Meffage,

* Importing the Surrender of thofe Lands

‘ Loft by his Father, with all Bands of Law,

‘ To our moft valiant Brother : So much for him, ‘ Now>for our felf, and for this time of Meeting :

‘ Thus much the Bufmefs is ; We have here writ

‘To Norway, Uncle of young Fortinbras, — ‘ Who, impotent and bed--rid/ fcarcely hears

* Of this his N ephew’s Purpofe,_jo fupprefs

* His further Gatfc herein? in that the Levies,-

* The Lifts, [and full Proportions, are all made ‘ Out of his Subje&s >^and we Leredifpatch

* Jou, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand ,

to, you no further perional Power

with the King, more than the Scope ‘ Of thefe dilated Articles allow-r* *

‘ Farewel? and let your Hafte commend your Duty.

‘ Cor. VoL In tha^and all things^ we wiiljffLew our Duty.

‘ King. We doubt it nothing: heartily rarewel.

[Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius;

‘ And now, Laertes , what’s the News with you ?

‘ You told us of feme Suit; what is’t Laertes ?

*' You cannot fpeak of Reafon to the Dane ,

‘ And lpfe your Voice : What wouldft thou beg, Laertes*

* That fhall not be my Offer, not thy asking r ‘ The Head is not more native to the Heart,

‘ The Hand more inftru mental to the Mouth,

‘ Than is the Throne of Denmark to thy Father.

‘ What wouldft thou have, Laertes ?

Laer. My djnufLord,

Your Leave ana Favour to return to Frans e ;

From whence, tho^ willingly, I came to Denmark,

To fhew my Duty in your Coronation ;

Yetmovv^I muft confefs, that Duty done,

My Thoughts and Wifhes bend again towards France ;

* And bow them to your gracious Leave and ^

King. Have you your Father’s Leave ? what fays Fob-

it Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

t Pol. He hath, my Lord, (by labourfon^Petition, \ Wrung from me my flow Leave/; and, at laft Upon his Will I feal’d my hara Confent : y ‘ I do befeech you give him Leave to go.

King. Take thy fair Hour, Laertes ,• time be thine,

‘ And thy beft Graces fpend it at thy willr-

But,now, my Coufm Hasnlet, and my Son

Ham. A little more than kin, and lefs than kind. King, How is it, that the Clouds ftill hang on you? Ham. Notfo, my Le d, I am too mnch i’th’ Sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, catt thy nigh [^Colour off. And let thine Eye look like a Frien'd on Denmark.

Do not for ever, with thy veiled Lids,

Seek for thy noble Father in the Dull ;

Thou know’ll ’tis common, all that live mull die, . PalTing thro’ Nature to Eternity.

Ham. Ay, Madam, it is common.

Queen. If it be.

Why feems it fo particular with thee ?

Ham. Seems-Madam ! Navvit is; I know not feemss ’Tisnot alone tfj Xf good Mother,

c Nor cuflomary Suits of folemn Black, , *

‘Nor windy Sufpiration of forc’d Breath,

‘ No, nor the fruitful River in the Eye,

4 Nor the dcje&ed Kaviour of the Vifage,

Together wifh all Forms, Mode?. Shapes of Grief, . That can denote me truly. Thefejndecd. feem.

* For they are Adlions that a Man might play ;

But I have that within which pafleth Shew.

Thefeibut the Trappings, and the Suits of Woe.

King. ’Tis fweet and commendable in your Nature, To gu e thefe mourning Duties to your Father: [ Hamlet*. Biit;you muft know, your Father loft a Father,

That Father loft, loft his, and the Surviver bound •

In filial Obligation for fome term

To do obfequious Sorrow* But to perfevere

In obftinate Condolement, dr^.-T ErfprSs^''

M impice* Stubbornnefs; 'tis unmanly Grief.

4 It fhews - Will meft inccrreft to Heaven;

4 A Heart unfonify’d, dTMiiid impaiitnrj

Ham t, e t, Prince of Denmark, i %

4 An Undemanding fimple and unfchool’d :

4 Foyvhat we know mud be, and is as com me*

* As any the moil vulgar thing to Senfe.

4 Why diould w^in our peevidi Oppoficioiv 4 Take it to heart? Fy ! *tis a Fault to Heav’n,.

4 A fault againft the Dead, a fault to Nature,

* To Reafon mod abfurd; whofe common Theme 4 Is Death of Fathers, and who Hill hath cry’d

* From the firft Co|[rfe, till he that died to-day,

* This mud be fo * We pray you, throw to Earth This unprevailinsWoe, and think of us

As of a Father; let the World take note.

You are the mod immediate to our Throne :

4 And, with no lefs Nobility of Love,

4 Than that which dearefl: Father bears his Son,

4 Do I impart towards you t For your intent,

4 In going back to fchoolt& Wittenberg,

4 It is mod retrograde to our Defire:

4 And we befeech you, bend you to remain 4 Herein the Cheer and Comfort of our Eye,

Our chiefed Courtier, Coufin, and our Son.

Queen. Let not thy Mdther lofe her Prayers, Hamkt > I pray thee day with us, go not to Wittenberg.

Ham. I (hall in all my bed obe/ you, Madam.*

King. Why, ’tis a loving and a fair Reply, - —

Be as our fell in Denmark. ^Mzdam, come.

This gentle and unfdrc’d Accord ©f Hamlet Sits fmiling to my Heart ; in grace whereof.

No jocund Health that Denmark drinks to-day.

But the great Cannon to the Clouds (hall tell,

4 And the King’s Roufe, the Heav’n fkall bruit again,

4 Re-fpeaking earthly Thunder. Come^way. [ Exeurt Manet Hamlet. .

Ham. O that this too too folid Fiefh would melt.

Thaw, and refolve itfelf into a Dew;

Or that the Eve: lading had not fix’d His Can|on ’gainft Self-Mrmiei How weary, dale, flat, and unwarrantable Seem to me all the Ufes of this World.1 Fyccn’t ! Q fjd ’tis an unweeded .Garden,

?4 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

That grows to Seed; things rank and grofs in Nature PofTefs it merely. That it fhould come to this/

But two Months dead i^na^ not fo much, not two — So excellent a King, ‘ that was to-thia,

* Hyperion to a- Sat>W . So loving to my Mother,

That he nft^Winds of Heav’n

Vifit her Face too roughly. ‘ Heav’n and Earth!

4 Muft I remember ? whj^fhe would hang on him.

As if Increafe of Appetite had grown

By what it fed on ; and yet,within a Month ?

Let me not think on’t — Frailty, thy Name is Woman \—

A little Month ! * or erethofe Shoes were old,

‘ With which fhe followed my poor Father’s Body,

* Like Niobe, all Tears Why fhe, even fhe

* O Heav’n! AiBeaf^that wants Difcourfeof Reafon,

* Would have mourn’d longer^ - married with mine Unde%>- My Father’s Brother ; but no more like my Father,

Than 1 to Hercules. * Within a Month !

4 Ere yet the fait of moil unrighteous Tear*

* Had left the Flufhing in her galled Eyes

* She married. O moll wicked Speed/ to poll

* With fuch dexterity to incefluous Sheets f

* It is not, nor it cannot come tggoodj

* But,break,my Heart; for I mult hold my tongue/

Enter Horatio, Bernardo, Marcellus.

Hor. Hail to your Lordfhip.

Ham . I am glad to fee you well;

Horatio , or I forget my felf?

Hor. The fame, my Lord, and your poor Servant ever. Ham. Sir, my good Friend; I’ll change that Name with you:

And what makes you from Wittenberg , Horatio ? Marcellus ? ■■ ■

Mar. My good Lord !

Ham. I am very glad to fee you ; good even, Sir.

But what, -in -faith, makes you from Wittenberg ?

Hor. A truant Difpofition, good my Lord.

Ham. I would not hear your Enemy fay fo;

Nor ft^aU \oudo mine Ear that viole nee, To1ue-a$5^«of your own Repor;

/igaiaflT

r

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, i f

Againft your felf. I know you are no Truants But what is your Affair in Eljinoor?

We’ll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

Hor. My Lord, I came to fee your Father’s Funeral. Ham . I prithee do not mock me, Fellow-Student ;

I think it was to fee my Mother’s Wedding.

Iior. Indeed, my Lord, it followed hard upon.

Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatioi the funeral bak’d Meats Did coldly furnifh forth the Marriage-Tables :

Would I had met my deareft Foe in Heav’n,

Ererl had feen that Day, Horatio h My Father, — r methinks I fee my Father,

Hor. Where, my Lord ?

HoratU- ., r. ,

Hor. I wv(hirii'eiw; he was a goodly King,

Ham. He was a Man, Take him for all in all,

I fhall not look upon his like again.

Hor. My Lord, I think I faw him yeflemight*

Ham. Saw ! who ? — ■■■»—

Hor . My Lord, the King your Father.

Ham^ The King my Father !

HorfusiSci your Admiration for awhile

With an attentive Ear, till I may deliver.

Upon the Witnefs of thefe Gentlemen,

This Wonder to you, j

Ham.fSzsqr let me hear. a,

Hor. Two Nights together had thefe GefttlemeBj

Meertellus and Bernardo , on their Watch,

In the dead Wafte* and middle of the Night,

Been thus encounter’d: A Figare,like your Father,

Appears before them, and with folemn March Goes flow and ftately by them; ewice he walked,

* By their opprefs’d and fean-furprifed Eyes,

Within my Rapier’s lengtlywhilft they, d

Almoft to jelly with tne$^Frar,

Stand dumb, and fpeak not to him. This to me.

In dreadful Secrecy, impart they did,

And I^with them^the third Night kept the Watch; Sphere, as they had deliver’d, both in time.

I * Ha m l e t. Prince of Denmark,

Fcrm of the thing, each word made true and good,

The Apparition comes. 4 I knew your Father:

* Thefe Hands are not more like.

Ham. But where was this?

Mar. My Lord, upon the Platform where we watch V. Ham. Did you not fpeak to it ?

Hor. My Lord, I did,

But anfwer made it none; yet once, met hough t,

It lifted up its Headland did addrefs It felf to Motion, like as it would fpeak :

But even then the Morning Cock crew loud;

And at the Sound it fhrunk in haftc away.

And vanilh’d from our Sight.

Ham . ’Tis very flrange.

Hor. As I do live, my, honour’d Lord, ’tis true ;

And we did think it^ o^Sty To let you knowit,. Q

Ham. Jndeed^SirsTbut this troubles me.

Hold you the Watch to-night?

Both. We do, my Lord.

Hum, Arm’d, fay youf- -

Both.

’d, my Lord.

?

ore his Beaver up.

?

Ham. Fro:

Both.

Ham. Then faw you"

Hor. O, yes, my Lor Ham. What,

Hor. A Countenance more Ham.

Hor.

And fix’d his Eyes upon you ? Mnft rnnftant4y- Ham. 1 would I had been there.

Hor. It would feave-much amaz’d you

in Anger.

Ham. Very Ukj^ftzid it long ?

Hor. While one with moderate hake might tell a hundred.

All. Longer, longer.

Hor. Not when 1 lawtt.

was griflgfrr*

Hor,

A>~t>.y^, ~v 5^ ^ /~"^>

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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 17

Hor.'it WQij QO 1 ha -0 ■Tl'l 1L ill ,ii LiTe,

A ^ablc-friv.er’d: "

Ham. fiT watch to night* perchance ’twill walk again.

Hor. I warrant, my j_oiu it will.

Ham. if it affume my nJo e Fathers Pcrfon, l’il ipeak to ir# Hefl -k~ i-c*tr ir u ald-^.vry*-,

An4 Did me hojn mr i'cr.t:^ ] pray you ail,

If yot^ h^e . rto concea^d tTus Sight,

Let it tfqrmr your f knee iti il :

And whatioever elfe ilia.ll hap to-night,

Give it an Under!: ancLrg^ but no Tongue;

J will requite your Loves. So,fare yagwell;

Upon the Platform, ’twixt eleven and twelve, rilvifit you.

All. Our Duty to your Honour. [Exeunt.

Ham. Your Loves, as mine to you: Farevvel :

My Father’s Spirit waters:! All is not well ;

I doubt fome foul play I’would the Night were come* Till then, fit Hill, my Soul : foul Deeds^will rife,

Tho’ all the Earth o’er whelm them, from Men’s Eves.

Laer. My Neceffaries are imbark’d, farewel : AndjSiRer, as the Winds permit.

And Convoy is afliflaDtr do not fleep.

But let me hear from you.

CXpb. Do you doubt that ?

Laer. For Hamlet , and the trifling of his Favour*. Hold it a Falhion and a toy in Blood;

A Violet in the Youth and Primyof Nature^

17 1 - - rha? fweet, not lafiing,

Laer. Think it no more:

* For Nature, crefcent, does not growalone^

* In Thews and Bulk; but,as this Temple waxes, 4 The inward Service of tne Mind and Soul

‘ Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves^tfise no^ 4 And now no Soil nor Cau&Tdoth befmerch

* The Virtue of his Will: But,you mull fear:

l His Greatnefs weigh’d, his Will is not his own;

Enrer juaerres ana v^piicxm.

For

i8 H amlet, Prince of Denmark,

For he himfelfis^^bj^et to his Birth ;

He may not, as*l^^trerfons do.

Carve for himfejf; for on his Choice depends The Safety an^fiealth of thi&.whole State. c And therefore mull his Choice be circumfcrib’d ‘ Unto the Voice and yielding of that Body,

* Whereof he is the Head.Then,if he fays he loves you>

* It fits yourWifdorn fo far to believe it,

* As he, in his peculiar Adt and Place^

* May give his Saying deed $ which is no further,

‘ Than the main Voice cf Denmark goes withal.

Then weigh what Lofs yeur Honour may fujtain,

If with^yeor credt^Sin Ear you Bear his *

* Or lofe your-ik.n't « sr your chuftc Ticafuii'opcfr To hio urrmaflcr’-i ) mpnrtafti»y.

Fear it, Ophelia , fear it, my dear Siller, *

* And keep^TSsfc in the Rear of your Aftedtion,

* Out of the ihot and d .rer of Delire.

The charieil Maid i? pr -gui enough.

If Ihe unmask her Bs. y .•> the Moon:

* Virtue it felf fcapes n< calumnious Strokes, ,

'The Canker galls the Infantsof the Spring,

* Too oft before their Buttons be difclos’d ;

* And in the Morn and liquid Dew of Youth,

* Contagious Blaitments are moil imminent.

* Be wary, then; bell Cafety lies in fear ;

* Youth to it felf rebels, tho’ none elfe near.

M flial1 th’ effe<fts °L^is S°°d Leffon kee?

Ahaitt my Heart: But,goadfprother,

Do not, as fome ungracious Pallors do.

Shew me the fleep and thoimv way to Heaven;

W hilll, likeA^Ob elrtTni

Hirnfelf, the Primrofe Path of Dalliance treads,.

And reek not his own Read.

Laer. Oh, fear me not,

I flay too long ; but here my Father comes t

Enter Polonius.

‘ A double Bfefiing is a double Grace v Occafion fmiles upon a fecond Leave.

PqK

H amlet, Prince of Denmark, ip

Pol. Yet here, Laertes ! aboard, aboard, for lhame,

‘ The Wind fits in the flioulder of_your Sail,

‘ And you are Itaid for. Therejny Blefling with you,

* And thefe few Precepts in thy Memory

See thou charadter : Give thy Thoughts no Tongue, Nor any uuproportion’d Thought his Adi :

* Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar ;

4 The Friends thou hall, and their Adoption try’d,

* Grapple them to thy Soul with Hooks of Steel :

4 But do not dull thy Palm, with Entertainment

‘ Of each new-hatch’d, unfledg’d Comrade. Beware

* Of entrance to a Quarrel; but, being in,

* Bearjt^that tliJOppoler may beware of thee.

* Give every Man thine Ear, but few thy Voice;

‘ Take each Man’s Genfure, but referve thy Judgment.

4 Coftly thy Habit as thy Purfe can buy,

* But not exprefs’d in Fancy; rich, not gaudy:

4 For the Apparel oft proclaims the Man,

* And they, in France , of the bell Rank and Station^

4 Are moft feledl and generous, chief in that.

* Neither a Borrower nor a Lender be ;

‘For Loan oft Wes both it felf and Friend :

* And borrowing dulls the Edge of Husbandry.

‘ This^above all, to thine own felf be true;

* And it mull follow, as the Night the Day,

* Thou canlt not then be falfe to any Man.

4 Farewel; my Blefling feafon this in thee.1

Laer. Molt humbly 'F do^take my leave, my Lord. Pol. The Time invites you; go, your Servants tend. Laer. Farewel, Ophelia, and remember well What I have faid to you.

Oph. ’Tis in my Memory locked.

And you yourfelf lhall keep the Key of it.

Laer. Farewel. [Exit Laer.

Pol. What is’t, Ophelia , he ha^faid to you?

Oph. So pleafeyou, fomething tou chine; theLor dHa mitt, Pol. fciiu ty* ‘W€ll bethought )

’Tis told me^he hath very oft^of late,

Given private time jto^you ; and you yourfelf Have of your Audience been moil free and bounteous.

If

zo H amlet, Prince of Denmark.

If it be fo, ( is fo it teems to be,

And tnac in way of Caution,! I rouft tell you,

You do no: underhand you Mel f fo clearly.

As it behove.- my Daughter, and your Honour*

What is between you? give me up the Truth.

Opb. He hath, my Lord, of late made many Tender* Of his Affed ion to me.

Pol Affection ! puhf you fpeak like a green Girl, Unlifted m fach perilous Circamftance.

Do you believe his lenders, as you cail them ?

Opb.Ld ojigt know, my Lord, what I (hould think.

Til teach you ; think your felf a Baby; That you have ta’ea thefe Tenders for true Pay,

Which are not Sterling. Tender youMeif more dearly ;

‘ ^Orj^not to c'ack the Wind of the poor Purafe,

* Wringing it thu*) you’ii tender me a Fool.

Opb. iVJy Lord, he hath importun’d me with Love,

In honourable falhion.

Pol. Ay, fafhion you may call it: ga to, go to.

Opb. And hath given countenance to hh Speech, my With almoit all the holy Vows of Heaven. [Lord.

Pol. Ay, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I do know^ When the Blood barns, how prodigal the Soul Lends the Tongue Vows : ‘ Thde Blazes, Daughter,

* Giving more Light than Heat, extind in both,

‘ Even in their Pra.mife, a; it i a making,

‘ You mull not take 'or Fire. From this time. Da ughter, ‘ Be fomewhat fcanter of your Maiden Prefence;

4 Set your Intreatments at a higher rate.

‘ Than a Command to parley : For Lord Hamlet,

4 Believe fo much in him, that ne is young;

‘ And with a larger tether may he walk,

4 Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia. ,

* Do not believe his Vows; for they are Brokers, c Not of that Dye, which their Inveflments (hew,

* But mere ftnplorers of unholy Suits,

* Breathing like fandify’d and pious Bawds,

‘ The better to beguile.’ This is for all :

I would not, in plain Terms, from this time forth, Have you £o (lander any moa^ent’s kifure.

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As to give words, er talk with the Lord Hamlet :

Look to’t, I charge you ; come your ways.

Opb. I ihali obey, my Lord. [ Exeunt .

SCENE 11/. 'The Platform before the Palace .

Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellos, Ham. The Air bites fnrewdly ; it is very cold. Bor . It is a nipping and an eager Air.

Bam. What hour now 7 Bor. I think it lacks of twelve.

k ftruck- /

Hor.fi Heard it not : Then it draws near the Seafon, Wherein the Spirit held his wont to walk.

/\

Wh7rir-T4f!f^ my laag

Bam. The Km^^Cvvake^- night, and takes his roufe,

* Keeps wafiel, and the fwaggering Upfes^feels ;

Anglpm Ife tak’e^is^Thaughts of R henifhyd own, ^ i ^ ’SSm Kettle-Drum and Trumpet

The Triumph of his Pledge.

Borf^ta it a Cuiiom ?

Bam A/Ir marrjp-itdn ^ •

But,to my Mind,^tho’ I am native here,

And to the manner born,Ait is a Cuiiom

More honour’d in the Breach than the Obfervance,

* This heavy-headed Revel. Eail and Welt,

* Makes us traduc’d and tax’d of other Nations :

* They cl^ple us. Drunkards, and, with fwinilh Phrafe,

‘ Soil our Addition: and, indeed, it takes

* From our Atchievements, tho’ perform’d at height,

* The Pith and Marrow of our Attribute.

‘ So^oft it changes, in particular Men,

* That^for fome vicious Mole of Nature in them,

* As,in their Birth, wherein they are not guilty,

* (Since Nature cannot choofe his Origin)

* By theft, o’er-growth of tome Complexion,

Oft breaking down the Pales and Forts of Reafon:

Or by fome Habitj that too much o’er- leavens 6 The Form of plauhve Manners? that thefe Men, —

s - Car-

ti Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

« Carrying, I fay, the Stamp of one Defeft,

* Being Nature’s Livery, or Fortune’s Scar,

« Their Virtues elfe,(t>e they as pure as Grace,

‘ As infinite as Man may undergOj)

* Shall in the general Cenfure take Corruption

* From that particular Fault : The Dram of Bafe]

* Doth all the noble Subfiance off&orth^but,

* To his own Scandal.

Enter

Hor. Look, my" Lord, it comes/

Ham. A-ngek and -M+nifieis uf Giace defend ns ! Bft-theu -a-Spirit-af Health, or Goblin daimi’cb Bring with thrr Ain from -Heaven, 01 DldffcrfiuinHgib Be thy Intent? wicked or charitable,

TLou com’ft in fuch a queftionable Shape,

That I will fpeak to thee : I’ll call th zeyHamlet,

King, Father. Royal Danej Oh ! anfwer me.

Let me not burft in Ignorance J -but -tell Whynhy canonis’d Banco hcifcd in Death,

Harc-burft. their C garments ? why-the-Sepulchfe, Wherein we -Taw. thee qtttetly interr’d.

Hath op’d his pondcr-ouj and marble- fewr,

Tiriali tlvee up agaiir* What ma^this mean.

That thou^dead again in ean^WnSfee^,

Revifitktthus the Glimpfes of the Moon,

Making Night hideous? And we,Fools of Nature,

So horridly to ihake our Difpofition

With Thoughts beyond the reaches of our Souls ?

Say, Why is this ? wherefore ? what fhould we do ?

[ Gksft Ham

Her, --k beckons -you to-go-away -wkk-ifc,

Ac if it feme Lnprmment did defiro.

To you. alow*-.

jUbr.—Look with what courteou^A^Uen- jM^ay«&-yovr-to a-remote Ground-;

But do not go with it.

No, by no means. ^ / [ Holding Hamlet. Ham. It will not fpeak; then will I follow it.

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H a m l e.t, Prince of Denmark,

am. Why, what fhould be the fear ? notjny Life ^ ^ .

And, for my Soul, what can it do to that?

yc - Flood, my Lord,

Or to the dreadful'*£S5TO'6f the Cliff,

* That Beetles o’er his Bafe into the Sea,

And there affume fome other horrible Form,

* ‘ Which might deprive your Sovereignty of Reafon,

And draw you into Madnefs ? ‘ Think of it;

* The very Place puts Toys of Defperation,

* Without more motive, into every Brain,

* That looks fo many Fathoms to the Sea,

‘ And hears it roar beneath.

flumr-it wavco me flill,

Qtrmi, I’ll follow tine.

Mar. You (hall not go, my Lord.

Ham. Hold ©ff your Hands.

Hor. Be rul’d, you (hall not go.

Ham. My Fate cries out,

And makes each petty Artery in thk Body

As hardy as the Nemean Lion’s Nerve,

■fcfill-f am call’d; ttnhand me. Gentlemen.

«By- Hoav’nl’ll make •aGhoft--©f him that lctfe-me-:

I faraway : Go on. I’ll follow thee.

# [ Exeunt Qksjl-*nd Ham% v> <2^. fei.Bet;. He grates defperate with Imagination.

A/^r^efsfollow ; ’tis not fit thus to obey him. hat^iffue will this come ?

Mar. Something isjgtxen in the State of Denmark.

Heaven will cfeover it.

Mar. Nay, let’s follow him.

ter Ghttft and ■Hamlet:

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— shatter 1 jifid// ana ~fiam ten £ftrrTnT£^^“

,Whither wilt thou lead me ? Speak, XliLgo^no

Ghoft. Mari Ham. I will,

Gbojl. My houi^Js-alifibll com? WhenJ^Jfid^Prous and tormenting' render up, my felf.

Ham ,

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lam. Alas, poor Ghoft.

oft. Pity me not, b t tend i y ferious hearing To u&at I fhaii unfoib.

Ham* Speak ; 1 am bound to hear.

Ghojk So art thou to revenge what thou (halt hear*

L^.UVhat ?

Ghoft. iWn thy Father’s Spirit,

Doom’d fom. certain '\ erm to walk the Night,

And for the Day confin’d to faft in Fires,

Till the foul crimes done in my Days of Nature Are burnt and Yurg’d away : But that I am forbid To tell the SecrVs of my Prifbn houfe,

I could a Tale uifold, whole lighted Word Would harrow upYhy Soul, freeze thy young Blood, Make thy two Eyas like Stars icart from their Spheres., Thy knotted and combined Locks to part,

And each particular Hair to {land on end Like ‘Quills upon the fretfji Porcupine ;

But this eternal Blazon muft not be To Earsof Flefh andVfood : lift, lift, O lift,

Jf thou didft ever thy Year Father love.

Ham. Oh Heaven!

Ghoji . Revenge his fo\l and mod unnatural Murder.

Ham Murder !

s in the belt it is ; nd unnatural, that I with wings as fwift s ©f Love,

Ghoft. Murder moil fou!

But this moil foul, ftrange Ham. Hafte me to know’t As Meditation, or the Tnou May fly to my Revenge.

Ghof. 1 find thee apt,

‘ And duller fhouldit thou be thVi the fat Weed * That roots it feif in eale on Lethe's Wharf,

4 Wouldft thou not ftir in this ? Now Hamlet hear, ’Tis given out that Peeping in my Carden A Serpent ftung me : fo the whole E Y of Denmark Is by a forged Procefs of my Deat Rankly abufd. But know, thou noblAYouth,

The Serpent that diditingthy Father’sYHear:

Now wears his Crown.

Ham, O my prephetick Soul, myJLJii^e I

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H a u l e t. Prince of Denmark. zf

}. Ay, that inceffuous, that adulterate Beall,

Will Witchcraft of his Wit, with trait’ rous Giftf?

* O u\ked Wit, and Gifts that have the Power 4 So tolfeduce ’ won to his fhameful Luft The Will of my moil feemin^ virtuous Queen,

4 O Harriet, what a falling off was thftre 4 From nA whofe Love was of that Dignity,

4 That it v\nt hand in hand even \5jifh, the Vow 4 I made'toVer in Marriage? and to decline 4 Upon a vVetch, whole natural Gifts were poor 4 To thofe of Vine : but Virtue, as it never vyill be mov'd,* 4 Tho’ Leudnels court it in a lhape of Heav’ns 4 So Luft, thoVto a radiant Ar}gel link’d,

4 Will fate it Min aceleftial Bed,

4 And prey on (Garbage.

But foft, methinlV I icent the Mprning Air,

Brief let me be : sleeping within my Garden,

My Cuftom alwaA of the; Afternoon,

Upon my fecure Motor thy Uncle Hole With Juice- of curfedVlebona in a Vial,

And in the Porches of\ny Ears djcl pour The leprous Diftilmentl whole. Effeds Hold fuch an Enmity with Blood of ?yjan*

That fwift as Quicklilvet it courles thro’

The natural Gates and Alleys oft he Body,

dpes ppifet >ings ipto Milk,

And with 3. fudden Vigour 4 And curd, like eager Dro]

The thin and wholiom BloodAib did.it mine. And ar moil inftant Tetter baa k\l about,

Moft Lazar like, with vile and lo^hfom Cru(l All my fmooth Body.

Thus was I, fleeping, by a Brolherh Hand, Of Life, of Crown, of Quisen at «nge bereft. Cut off even in the Blolfoms ofmyVjin,

4 Unhouzzled, unanqirtted, unanel No reckoning made, but. lent to n With all my Imperfections on my ‘ O hoyribie, O horrible, moft hcyr Jf thou haft Nature in thee, bear \ t n\t,

Let no; the Royal Bed of Denmaf-k m

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16 H amlet, Prince of Denmark.

Couch for Luxury and damned Inced. m

lowfoever thou purfu’d this A6t, *

Taidt not thy Mind, nor let thy Soul defign /

Againd thy Mother ought, leave her to Heavqn,

And to fhofe Thorns that in her Bofom lodge, *

To goacNand ding her. Fare thee well at pnce.

The Glowftim diewsthe Morning to be neap,

And ’gins toWle his unefFedlual Fire:

Farewel, remWnber me. J [Exit.

Ham. * O all\ou Hod of Heaven l O E^rth ! what elfe ? * And lhall I couple Hell? O fy ! *■ Fold,, Fold my Heart, And you my Sinews grow not Indant ol<£.

But bear me drongl)Tup. Remember thee !

Ay, thou poor GholKwhile Memory »holds a Seat In this didra&ed Globes remember tja'ee !

Yes, from the Table ofnay Memory^

I’ll wipe away all' trivial fWid Records,

All Regiilers of Books, all Harms and Prefiures pad. That Youth and Obfervation copied there,

And thy Commandment all alone lhall live Within the Book and Volume otSpy Brain,

‘ Unmix’d with bafer matter; yes Heaven,

O mod pernicious Woman !

O Villain, Villain, fmiling damned Villain My Tables ; meet it is I lhould fet down.

That one may fmile, and fmile, and be a vsJlain;

At lead I’m fure it may be fo in Denmark. ^ 'Writing .

So Uncle there you are: Now to my Word,

It is, farewel, remember me ;

-F have fworrdfr

Use.

ifegr within. My Lord, my Lord.

Max- within . Lord Hamlet,

Eos. within. Heaven fecure him !

Ham . So be it. /

within. Illj&, ho, ho, my LorcL^ Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy, come bSyTcome.

Enter Ilnrnt'n an i Marcelltis, Mar. How is’t, my noble Lord?

.to r What Ne^ws my Lord ? Ham. O wonderful 1 ,

Gcod my Lord, tell it.

Ham.

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H ami.e t, Prince of Denmark. 17

Ham. No, you’ll reveal it.

Not I, my Lord. ,

Ham. ^How'fay you°then, would Heart of Man once But you’ll be fecret.

Both . As Death, my Lord.

Ham. There’s ne’er a Viliam

Dwelling in all Denmark, ("Grave

^“^TherTneed^noGhoft, my Lord, comefromthe

To tell us this. . , . .

Ham. Why. right; you are in the right ;

A nd.fo. without more Circum dance at all I hold it fit that we {hake Hands and part :

You as your Bufinefsand Defire {hall point you;

For every Man hath Bufinefs and Defire,

^c^s^itjs; and/or my own

Thefeare but wild and waady Words, my Lord,

or \ ... Up-rh v :

Ham. lam forty thty °ffen<^ you> heartily ; Yesi^fheartily.

ffe

I cS hsIIwXI? •

fUJiazr There’s no offence, my Lord. .

Ham. Yes by St. P-at**ek, but there is,- — ^ - And much offence tojqrlou^n^hia ^n/er£^^. It is an honed Ghott, tliar let rrfetelr your For your Denre to know what is between us, . O’er-mafter’t as you may : And,now,good Friends,

As you are Friends, Scholars, and Soldiers,

Grant me one poor Requeft.

^ H&t. What is’Lmy Lord? we will. .

Ham. Never make known what you have feen to-mgnt. Both. My Lord, we will not.

Ham. Nay but fwear’t.

Ah* Hoc. Iri 7&SQ' my Lord, not I.

/£e^. Nor I, my Lord, in

* Ham. UpoiHay Sword-. , ,

. Wc’haVe fwom, my-xi)id;~alrcady.

* Ham* Indeed upen my-Sword, indeed Shrfh Swear.

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-^Gkoft criervTttirr the Stegt*. 1 Ham,

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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Jam. Ha, ha. Boy, fay’ft thou fo? art thou there, old ^ \True-penny? ^

Common, you hear this Fellow in the Celleridge, ConfenNio fwear.

Bor. Ptopofe the Oath, my Lord.

Ham. NWr to fpeak of this that you have feen.

Swear by my^word.

Ghojiy belowr^wtzr. j

Ham. Then wkftl fliift our ground :

Come hither, hithit Gentlemen, ' g,

And lay your Hand^gain upon my Sword:

Swear by my Sword

Never to fpeak of this that you have heard.

Ghoji, below. Swear. [fo faft ?

Ham. Well Laid, old Mole\anft thou work i’th Earth A worthy Pioneer! once more remove, good Friends.

Hor. O day and night ! but tnis is wondrous ftrauge. Bam. And therefore as a Strangkr give. it welcome : There arc more things in Heaven anra£arth, Horatio,. Than are dreamt of in your Philofophy^But come,

4-rrre, ac before, nevci, fo help yo (How ft ran ge^ or odd foe’er,I bear my felf.

As I, perchance^ hereafter iha 11 think meet.

To put an antick Difpontion on,

That you, at fuch times feeing^me, never fhall With Arms encumbr^d thus, or^Head-^h»«r{hak% by pronouncing offome doubtful Phrafe, w- >ve know, "or, we could, and if we would.

Or there be. an if the»^ might,

Or fuch ambiguous giving out, to note)

That you know ought of me,_4his you mulHweac,

^ £ i.-rCji'iu.... .,n3 M:rcy at youi muft nood help you.' Gljfh Swear.

Ham. j^riV-re^p^rrnrbfrd ftpirit- So, Gentlemen,

With all my Love Ido commend me to you;

And what fo poor a Man as Hamlet is •

. . yAlay do^t^x^refs his Love and Frier.df&rp to you, nacw-iftiL: let us go in together,- ‘And^ftill.your Fingers on your Lips, I pray.

*

The

Ha ai l e T, Prince of Denmark, 25

‘ ;fefay--comc^4c& go-togethai.

{Exeunt.

ACT II. g=€-#N"E^t

S C E N Ejl /in Apartment in Polon ills’/ llonfc.

, Enter Polonius, 4 %^=hrF=Mem,

Pol. I V E him this Money, and thefe-fcea Notes, VJr 4 Rey. I will, my Lord. {Reynaldo.

‘ Pal. Yoli foall do marvellous wifely, good Reynaldo,

* Before you Vlfit him, to make Ihdulry 4 Of his Behaviour.

4 Rey. My Lord, I aid intend it.

* Pol- Marry wellfaid, very welJfa'd; Ifeok you, Sir, 4 Inquire me firft What DdniTers are in Paris;

And how, and Who, what rneans, arid Where they keep, 4 What Company, at what Expence : arid hnding 4 By this encompaflment and drift of Qiicftibri,

That they do know my §cfn, come you more near,

* Then y 6ur‘ particular Demands will touch it,

4 Take you as ’twere fome dirtant knowledge of him,

* As thus, I 'know his Father, and his Friends.

4 And in partjhim : Do you mark this, Reynaldo?

4 Rey. Ay, very Well, iriy Lord.

, n P°rx V? part hut^ you may fay not wells butjiMtbe he I mean, he's very wild,

Addicted fo arid fo, and therepu^ on him vhat forgeries, you pleafe; ■reran y. none fo rank 4 As may diflionbur him, take heed of that:

I But, Sir, fuch wanton, wild arid ufual Slips 4 As are Companions noted, and moft known 4 To Youth and Liberty.

\ Rey. As Gaming, my Lord,

P°l- Ay, or drinking, fencirg, fwearing,

Quarreling, yoa-mav

Rey. My. Lord, that will dill o iour him B-J

‘Pal.

30 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

‘ Pol. Fakii no, as you may feafon it in the Charge

* You mu it not-put another Scandal on him,

* T-hafr-he is ope-n-to Inconrin^ney,

‘ That’s not my meaning, but breathe hisFaults fo quaintly, ‘ That they may feem the Taints of Liberty,

‘ The Flafh and Out- break of a fiery Mind,

* A Savagenefs in unreclaimed Blood

* Of general Affault.

‘ Rey. But, my good Lord — —

‘ Pol. Wherefore fhould you do this ?

‘ Rey. Ay, my Lord, I would know that.

‘ Pol. Marty, Sir, here’s my Drift,

* And^I believe it is a Fetch of WSrtt t&*.t :

* You laying tnefe flight Sullies on my Son,

‘ As ’twere a thing a little foil’d i’th’ working.

* Mark you,your Party in converfe, h^you would found, ‘ Having ever feen in the prenominate Crimes

‘ The Youth you breathe ofj guilty, be allur’d ' He clofes with you in this Confequence ;

* Good Sir (or fo) or Friend, or Gentleman,

‘ According to the Phrafe, or the Addition

' Of Man and Country.

* Rey. Very good, my Lord.

‘ Pol. And then, Sir, does he this ? he does ; what wa$

* I about to fay ?

‘ -By-.tho-MaL I was about to fay fomething,

‘ Where did I leave ?

‘ Rey. At clofes in the Confequence.

‘ Pol. At doles in the Confequence : Ay n»arry,

‘ He clo^uTTl know the Gentleman,

* I few him yefterday, or tV other day,

‘ Or then, or then; with fuch,or fuch, and,as you fay, ‘ There was he gaming, there o’ertook in^S" Roufe,

‘ There falling out at Tennis, or pfHv4nrnrre^,

c n Br orb-el, or fo fot*h» See you now,

4 Your Bait of Falfhood takes this Carp of Truth,

* And thus do we of Wifdom and of Reach,

4 With Windlaces, and with Effays of Bias,

4 By Indireflions find Directions out :

7 ‘ So

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 3 1

‘ So,by my former Le&ure and Advice,

* Shall you my Son : you have me, have you not ?

4 Rey. My Lord, I have.

* Pol. Good by t’ye, fare ye well.

4 Rey . Good, my Lord, —

4 Pol. Obferve his Inclination in your felf.

* Rey. I lhall, my Lord.

4 Pol. And let him ply his Mufick.

4 Rey . Well, my Lord. [Exit Rey,

Enter Ophelia.

Pol. ‘ Farewel. ’ How now Ophelia , what’s the matter ? Oph. O, my Lord, my Lord! I have been fo affrighted* Pol. With what ?

Oph. My Lord, as I was reading in my Clofet,

Prince Hamlet , 4 with his Doublet, ’ all unbrac’d,

4 No Hat upon his Head, his Stockings loofe,

4 Ungarjr^d, and down-gyved to his Ancle;

Pale as nis Shirt, his Knees knocking each other.

And with a Look fo piteous.

As i£-hfr hftd-been fent from Ht4h To •fpeah-o^Horron:-, thus he comes before me.

Pol. Mad for thy Love I Oph. My Lord, I do not know;

But, truly, l do fear it. #

Pol. What laid he?

Oph. He took me by the Wrift, and held me hard;

Then goes he to the length of all his Arm,

And,with his other Hand, thus, o’er his Brow,

He falls to fuch perufal of my Face,

As he would draw it : long ftaid he fo ;

At laft, a little lhaking of my Arm,

And thrice his Head thus waving up and down.

He rais’d a Sigh fo piteous and profound.

As it did feem to lhatter all his Bulk,

And end his Being. That done, he lets me go.

And, with his Head over his Shoulder turn’d.

He feemkd to find his way without his Eyes ;

For out of doors he went without their help^*.

And, to the laft, bended their Light on me.

Pol. Come, go with me. I will go feek the Kin? :

B 4 This

C- «

<**£*-*- ■

a— v

V

£ uC'£ . v. As

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark;

This is the very Ecftafy of Love.

‘ Whofe violent Property foredoes it felf,

* And leads the Will to defperate Undertakings,

4 As oft as any Pafiion tinder Heaven

* That does afftid our Natures. I am forry r —

* What ! ’ have you given him any hard words of late f Opb. No, my good Lord,- but, as you did command,

J did repel his Letters, and deny’d Kis Accefs to me,

Pol. That hath made him mad :

“Jam forry, that, with better Heed and Judgment,

* I had not quoted him ; I fear’d He did but trifle,

4 And meant to wreck thee : but,belhrew my Jealoufy/

* It feems it is as proper to our Age “To call beyond cur felves in our Opinions,

4 As it is common for the younger fort

4 To lack Difcretion. ’ Come, go with me to the King: This mu ft be known,- which, being kept clofe, might move More grief to hide, than hate to utter Love.

Come. £Exejunt,~

SCENE II. The Palace.

Enter^JCirig^^ueen. ftrrfuiiri

cr__K.ing. We 1 c o megeeT Rofencrapizja.nd Guild enjlern l ifedes that ’vve^jaid long to fee you.

The need we hive- to ufe you, did provoke Our haily lending. Something you have heard Of Hamlet's Transformation, ‘ fo I call it,

* Si^not th£. exterior, nor the inward Man

* Refembles that it was;’ what it iho'uldbe,

More than’ his Father’s Death, ‘ that thus hath piit him 4 So much from the underftanding of himfelf,

I cannot dream of. Tin treat ‘you both,

* Tha^being of fo young' days bfougfit up with Jdm;

* And nth fo neighbour’d to his Youth and Honour, — That you vcuchfafe yoiir Reft here in otir Court

Some little time; ft), by your Companies^

To draw him on to Pleafures? and to * gather

* So much as, from Occafton you may * glean,

' ' Whether

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H A 'ix l e t, Prrnct of Denmark. yy

Whfth£j\ought,to us unknown^afflidls him thus, ThluliesAvithin our Remedy.

Queen. Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk’d of you t And, fare I am, two Men there are not living To whom he more adheres : if it will pleafe you To Ihewusf^mch Gentl^els and Good-will,

As to u&pisyy our Time with us awhile.

For the Supply and Profit of our Hope,

Your VifitatiOn fhall receive fuch Thanks As fits a king’s Remembrance.

Rof. Both your Majefties

Might, by the Sovereign Power you have of^ us.

Put your dread Pleafures more into command Than to intreaty.

' Guil. But we both obey,

And here give^fojir felves in the full bent To iay^i^^^s^reely at your feet,

^XingT^l n^xmsfRofencraali^Vi^ gentle Guildenftern.

Queen. ‘ Thanks Guildenjlern and gentle RoJencrairtz_ . And I befeech you infiantly to vifit My too-much-changed Son : @py fome of you.

And bring thefe Gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guil. Heaven make our Prefence and our Pra&ices Fleafant and helpful to him!

QueenM Amen! [Exeunt Rof. &

Enter Polonius.

4 Pol. Th&Ambaffadors froth Norway, my good Lord, Are joyfully return’d.

‘ King. T hem ilill hall: been the Father of good News.

4 Pol. Have f, my Lord,-^ aflure^my good Liege^

* I hold Du y, as 1 hold my

* Both to go my gracious King :

4 And’ I do think, (Gr el fe this Brain ol mine Hunts not the Trail of Policy fo lure

As it has ufed to doj that I have found The very Caaie of Hamlet' s Lunacy.

King. O foeak of that; that i do long to hear.

‘ Pol. Give fir fi: admittance tid eft e A mba¥la dors:

*■ My News (hall be the Fruit to that great FeatL

v

King.

34 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

4 King. Thy felfdo grace to them, and bring them in.

[Ex. Pol.

4 He tells me, my dear Gertrude , he hath found

* The Head and Source of all your Son’s Diftemper.

* ^ueen. I doubt it is no other but the main;

4 His Father’s Death, and our o’er-hafty Marriage.

4 Enter Polonius and Amlajfadors. [Friends : 4 King. Well, we (hall fift him? "Welcome, my good 4 Say, Voltimand , what from our Brother Norway ?

‘ Kol. Moll fair Return of Greetings and Defires :

4 Upon our firft he fent out to fupprefs 4 His Nephew’s Levies, which to him appear’d 4 To be a Preparation ’gainft the Pollack;

4 But,better look’d into, he truly found 4 It was againft your Highnefs : whereat griev’d —

* That, fo, his Sicknefs, Age, _and Impotence

4 Was falfly borne in Hand^ends out Arrefts 4 On Fortinbras; which he, in brie£ obeys;

4 Receives Rebuke from Norway; and, in fine,

4 Makes Vow before his Uncle, never more 4 To give thfcAflay of Arms againft your Majeflyr 4 Whereon old Norway, overcome with Joy,

4 Gives him threejfeate thoufand Crowns in annual Fee,

4 And his Commiflion to employ thofe Soldiers,

4 So levied as before againft the Polfack ,

4 With an Intreaty herein further fhown, {

4 That it might pleafe you to give quiet pafs 4 Thro’ your Dominions for this Enterprize;

4 On fuch Regards of Safety and Allowance,

4 As therein are fet down.

4 King. It likes us well?

* Andat our more confider’d time,we’ll read,

4 Anfwer, and think upon this BufmefsT- 4 Mean time, we thank you for your well-took Labour,

4 Go to your reft; at Night we’ll feaft together :

4 Moft welcome home.1 [£*. A7nba:Jf.

4 Pol. This Bufinefs is well ended.

My Liege and Madam, to expoftulate What Majefty fhould be, what Duty is,

Why Day is Day, Night Night, and Time is Timer

Were

H amlet, Prince of Denmark. 35-

Were nothing but to wafte Night, Day and Time;- TTherefore,fince Brevity is the Soul of Wit,

And Tedioufnefs the Limbs and outward Flouriihes,—

I will be brief ; your noble Son is mad;

Mad call I it; foi^ to define true Madnefs,

What is’t but to be nothing elfe but mad ?

But let that go.

Queen. More Matter with lefs Art.

Pol. Madam, I iwear I ufe no Art at all.

That he’s mad, ’tis true ; ’ds true, ’tis pity ;

And pity ’tis, ’tis true : a foolifh Figure;

But farewel it, for I will ufe no Art.

Mad let us grant him^then; and now remains That we find out the C’aufe of this Effedt;

Or, rather, fay, the Caufe of this Defedt;

For this Efifedl, defective, comes by Caufe :

Thus it remains, aijddie Remainder thus. Confider,

I have a Daughter; aS^fvhile ihe is mine;

Who, in her Duty and Obedience, mark,

Hath givenme. this : Noweathpr^nd furmife. [Reads.

To the CeZeftim and my&#tA^HSfojfflthe mofi beautified Ophelia r^That’s an ill Phrafe, a vile Phrafe; beautified

is a vile Phrafe: but you fhall hear- — tbussln her

excellent white Bofom , Phefe , Sec.

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol. Good Madam, fcay a while; I will be faithful. — Doubt \ thotLfihe Stars are Fire ;

Doubt, that the Sun doth move:

Doubt Pruth to be a Lyar;

But never doubt 1 love.

O dear Ophelia, 1 am ill at thefe Numbers ; I have not Art to reckon my Groans ; but that 1 love thee befi>

O mofi befiy believe it : Adieu^ Phine evermore , 7nofi dear Lady , vjbilfi this Machine is to him , Hamlet.

This^in Obedience, jia^h . my Daughter Ihewn me;

And more«w«t&rajjms Solicitings,

As they fell out by Time, by Means, and Place,

All given to mine Ear.

King. But how hath ihe receiv’d his Love?

Pol. What do you think of me ?

King'

$<5 Hamlet, Prmce of Denmark.

King. As of a Man faithful arid honourable.

Pol. I would fain prove for But What might you think,

* When I had feen this hot Love on the'wlrig ?

* As I perceiv’d it ( I mfuft tell ^ou that)

* Before my Daughter told me; what might you,

Or my dear Majefty, yOUr Queen here think.

If I had ‘ plyd the Desk, or Table-book,

* Or given my Heart a vv«rking, mute and dumb;

* Or look’d upon this Love With idle fight;

* What might you think I went round to Work,

And my young Miflrefs^^dmsd ;

Lord Hamlet is a Prin c^^^v^thy Sphere,

This muir^ot^eTand.then.I Precepts gave her,

ThaT fhc fhouldlock her-felf from his Refort,

Admit no MelTengers, receive no Tokens.

Which done, fhe took the Fruits of my Advice *

And he^ repoK5i,/a IhortTale to make,)

Fell into a SaGiiefs, then into a Fall;

* Thence to aWatchmg,- then into a Weaknefs;

Thence to a LTghtnefs; arid/by this Declension,

Into the Madntfs wherein he now rives,

And all we mourn for.

King. Do you think ’tis this ?

*)ueen. It may be very likely. > [that)

Pol , Hath there been fuch a time (I weak! fain know That I have pofitively faid Tjs fo.

When it p rov’d otherwife ?

King. Not that I know.

Pol. Take this from this ; if this be otherwife,

Jf Circamdances lead me, I will find Where T ruth is hid, *ho’ it -were hid* indeed Within tho Ccntcii

King. How may we try it farther ?

Polf^o met irnes he walks four hours together Here in the Lobby.

Queen. So he does, indeed.

Pol. At fuch jLtime I'll loofe my Daughter to him..

Behind the Arras then :

Mark the Encounter; if he love her not.

And

f /zr

i7

HAMLEt, Prince of Denmark.

And be not from his Reafon fallen thereon,

Let me be' no Afliflant for a State,

But keep a Farm and Carters.

King. We Will try it.

Enter Harriet reading.

Queen. But^look, where^fadly, the poor Wretch comes reading.

Pol. Away, I do b e feech you. both, away.

[Exeunt King and Queen,. I’ll board him prefently. ‘ O give me leave.

How does my good Lord Hamlet?

' Ham Well, God o’ ’Mercy.

‘ Pol. Do you know me, my Lord?

Ham. Excellent well, you are a Filhmonger,

Pol. Not I, my Lord.

Ham. Then I would you wefe fo honeft a, Man.

Pol. Honeft, my Lord?

Ham. Ay, Sir, to be honeft, as this World goes.

Is to be one Man pickefout of ten thoufand.

Pol. That is very true, my Lord.

Ham. For if the Sun breed Maggots in a d6ad Dog, being a goocf killing Carrion — Have you a Daughter ? Pol. 1 have, my Lord.

Ham. Let her not walk i’th’ Sun; Conraq-iiiirn. -h .-a look tok.

Pol. ‘ How fay you by that ?J^ Still harping On my Daughter ^et he knew f rffrthr] me not at fit ft; but faid I was a Fifhmonger; he is far gone: anti, truly, ih my Youth I fuffer’d much extremity f6r Love; very near this.

I’ll fpeak to him agafrvr^What do you read, my Lord?

Ham. Words, words, words/

Pol. What is the matter, my Lord? -

Ham. Between who ?

Pol. I mean the matter that you read, my Lord?

Ham Slanders, Sir ; for the Satyrical Rogue fays here, that old Men have grey Beards; that their Faces are wrink- led; their Eyes purging thick Amber, andPlumbtree Gum; and that they have a plentiful lack of Wit; .together

alfwhich,- Sir, tho* I molt po*>«^k^ poiesdy.

3 8 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

fo tently believe, yet T hold it not Honefty m have it thus

fet down ; for y&as)- ourrfelf, Sir, fhall _ aimiLlike a Crab, you could go backward. Pol. Tho’ this be Madnefs, ye

old/ as I

nantyns hits on ;

yet there }s Method ink : Will you walk out of the Air, my Lord ?

Ham^ Into my Graved

Pol . thatls out of the Air. iniegcb. Ifow preg-

eplies are ! a Happinefs that often Madnefs which Reafon and Sanity could not fo ha^- pHy be deliver’d of, 1 will leave him,and fuddenly con-

* trive the means of meeting, between Jiim and my ‘ Daughter.’ hl^^fTwilpafe ^IelVe of you.

Ham. You cannoipake from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal, ■except- my. Lifer Pol. Fare you well, my Lord.

Ham. Thefe tedious old Fools/

Enter' Guildenftern and Rofencrajitz.

Pol. You g^feek the Lord Hamlet , there he is. {Exit, Rof Save you, Sir.

Guil. My honoured Lord.

Rof. My moll dear Lord.

Ham. My excellent good Friends ! how doft thou Guil- > denjiern? Ah Rofencratcfc good Lads ! how do you both? ‘ Rof. As the indifferent Children of the Earth.

Guil. Happy in that we are not over happy r w

‘tunc1!) Cap we ’arc net the very Bottom —

Nor the Soles of her Shoe.

Guil. "Nfrkh^r, my Lord.

‘ Ham. Then >kJti* *4iye about her wafte, or in the

* middle of her Favour.

‘ Guil. Faith, in her Privates

* Ham. In the fefrot pa-rto of Norton e \ Dll nrofl true ?

Strumpet,' Well, what News ? .

Rof None.my Lord, but that the Worldjf grown honed. Ham. Then is Doomfday near;Trrre your News is not true.. 4 Let me queftion more in particular : What

* have you, my gqod^riends^dekrrv’d nnds=of

^•ajrtrmgi^^th u t -flic iTmfc ^ycvrt^Tri fen hither ?

4 Guil. Prifon, my Lord ?

{ 4 Ham. Denmark's a Prifon.

• Rof Then is theWTorld one.

4 Ham.

H am let, Prince of Denmark. }p

1 Ham. A goodly one, in which there are many Con- 4 fines. Wards and Dungeons ; Denmark being one d*th£- 4 worft. A

4 Rof. We think not fo, my Lord.

* Ham. Why, then/tis none to you; for there is no- 4 thing, either good,or bad, but thinking makes it fo:

4 To me it is a Frifon.

4 Rof. Why, then, your Ambition makes it one : ’Tis 4 too narrow for your Mind. ^

4 Ham . O I could be bound in a Nut-fhell,

4 and count my fe’lf a King of infinite fpace, were it not 4 that I have bad Dreams.

4 Guil. Which Dreams, indeed, are Ambition; for the 4 very Subftance of the Ambitious is meerly the Shadow 4 of a Dream.

Ham. A Dream it felf is but a Shadow.

4 Rof. Truly, and I hold Ambition of fo airy and light 4 a Quality, that it is but a Shadow’s Shadow.

4 Ham. Then are our Beggars7 Bodies, and our Mo- 4 narchs7and out-ftretch’d Heroes^the Beggars;Shabows.

4 Shall we to thj Court? for'liy^myw^ I cannot reafon.

4 Both. Well wait upon you.

Ham. 4 No fuch matter. I will not fort you with the 4 reft of my Servants; for, to fpeak to you like an hoaeft 4 Man, I am moft dreadfully attended.’ Butin the beaten way of Friendfhip, what makes you at Elfinoor?

Rof To vifit you, my Lord; no other OcCafion.

Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in Thanks/ but I thank ycm; 4 and fure, dear Friends, my Thanks 4 are too dear <*?a half- pen ny.^ere you not fent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it^afree Vifitation? Come, come, deal juftly with me;Ji^Tpeak7^

Guil What fhould we fay, my Lord ?

/Az/w^A’ny thing^but to the purpofel^ou were fent for^JtKere is a kind of Confeflion in your Looks, which your Modefties have not craft enough to colour; I know the good King and Queen have fent for you.

Rof To what end, my Lord ?

Ham. Nay, that you muft teach me: But let me con* jure you^ by the Rights of our Fellowihip, by the Con-

fonancy

5

40 Habile t, Prince of Denmark. ,

fonancy of our Youth, by the Obligation of ourALore, and by what more deary a better Propcfer could charge you withal, be even and direct with me, whether you were fent for, or nt>?

Rof !- What fay you? [ft

Bam. Nay, then I have an eye of you^if you love me, hold not off.

Guil. My Lord, we were fent for.

Ham. I will tell you why; fo lhall my Anticipation prevent your Difcovery,and your Secrecy to the King and ^ Queen moult no Featherr I have of late, /but, wherefore^

I know not^ loft all my Mirth, forgone all Cuftom of Exercife>: ‘ and,indeed,it goes fo heavily with my Difpo- ‘ fition,’ thattnis goodly Frame, the Earth, feems to me afteril Promontory: This moft excellent Canopy the Air,

this brave o’er-hang’d Firmament,’ this mgjeftical Roof fretted with golden Fire, ,\vhy it appears nofifing to me but a foul and pellilent Congregation of Vapours. What 7_ t a piece of Work is Man !] how noble in Reafon ! how in Faculties ijh'n Form and Moving how exprefs and admirable ! m A-etion how kkearr Angel ! dn-Apprc- ' | henfton h»w like a'Gi-JcH the Beauty of the World, the [ Paragon of Animals!) And, yet, to me^what is this Quin- fefitnee of Duff? Man delights not me,^nof Woman Jieitherj tho, by your fmiling you feehi to lay fo.

Rof. My Lord, there was no fuch. fluff in my Thoughts.

Ham. Why did you laugh, then, when I laid Man ce~ lights not me ?

Rof. To think, my Lord, if y6u delight not in Man, what Lenten Entertainment the Players lhall receive from you: -We them on the way, and hither are they coming to offer you Service.

Ham . He that plays the King (hall be welcome; his- Majefty fhall have Tribute of me; the adventrous Knight fftall uie his Foil and Target; the Lover fhall not iigh gratis ; the humorous Man fhall end his part in peace, and the Lady fhall fpeak her Mind freely, or the blank Verfe fhall halt for’t. Whac Players are they ?

Rof. Even thofe you were wont to take fuch delight: in, the T ragedians of the City,

Ham*

t

H amlet, Prince of Denmark. 41

Ham. How chances it they travel ? their Refidencc, beth in Reputation and Profit^was better both ways.

Rof I think their Inhibition comes by the means of the late Innovation.

Ham. Do they hold the fame Eftimation they did when I was in the City ? Are they fo follow’d ?

Rof. No, indeed, they are not ‘ Ham. How comes it ? do they grow rufty ?

‘ Rof Nay, their Endeavour keeps in the wonted pace;

‘ but there is, Sir, an Airy of Children, linJeEYafes, that ‘ cry out on the top of Queftion, and are moft tyran-

* nicallv clap’d for’t : thefe are now the Falhion;and fo

* be-rattle the common Stages (fo they call them) that

* many wearing Rapiers, are afraid of Gocft Quills, and ‘ dare fcarce come thither.

‘ Ham. What, are they Children ? Who if ai ntains fjem ?

* How are they efcoftted ? will they purfue the Quality no longer than they can fin^ ? Will they not fay afterwards ‘ if they ihould grow themfelves to common Players, j£t$

* it is moft like, if their means are no better,^ their Wnt- ‘ ers do them wrong to make them exclaim againft

* their own Succeffion ?

* Rof. EajrhfYhere has been much to do on both fides ;

* and the Nation holds it no Sin to tarre them on to ‘ Controverfy. There was, for a while no Money bid for ‘ Argument, unlefs the Poet and the Player went to Cuffs

* in the Queftion.

‘ Ham. Is’t poflible ?

\ Guilt Oh there has been much throwing about of ‘ Brains !

* Ham. Do the Boys cany it away?

* Rof Ay, that they do, my Lord, Hercules and his ‘ Load too.

Ham. It is not very ftrange; for my Uncle is King of Dentndk, and thofe that would make Mouths at him, while my Father lived, now give twenty, forty, fifty, nay a hundred Ducats apiece for his Pidlure in little: there is fomcthing in this more than natural, ifPhilofophy could find it out. f Flourijb^/fnc^.

Guil. There are the Players ^

Ham,

4 £ Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elfinoor ; y our hands : come, then; th’ Appurtenance of Welcome is Fafhion and Ceremony : ‘ let me comply with you in

* this Garb, left my Extent to the Players, which I tell. ‘ you muft ihew fairly outwardf, ftiould more appear like

* Entertainment than yoursr you are welcome : Ibut my Uncle-Father and Aunt-Mother are deceiv’d.

Guil. In what, my dear Lord ?

Ham. I am but mad North-North-Weft ; when the Wind is Southerly, I know a Hawk from a Hand-faw.

Enter Polonies.

Pol. Well be with you, Gentlemen, ^ .

Ham. Hark you, Guildenjlern.^nd RifewjLxti*:. that great Baby, drat you fee there is not yet out of his Ivvad- ling Clouts. • '

Rof H dpjy he is the fecond time come to them; for, they fa^ an old Man is twice a Child.

Ham. I prophefy that he comes to tell me of the Play- ers ; mark it : you fay right, Sir; s> Monday morning^ ’twas then, indeed.

Pol. My Lord, I have news to tell you.

Ham. My Lord, I have news to tell you ; when Rof cius was an Aftor in Rome

Pol. TheA&ors are come hither, my Lord.

Ham. Buz, buz.

Pol. Upon mine Honour.

Ham. Then came each Adtor on his Afs

Pol. The beft Actors in the World, cither for Tragedy, Comedy, Hiftory, Paftoral, Faftoral-Comical, Hiftorical- Paftoral Scene individable, or Poem unlimited : * Sene- ca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light £>r the Law of Wjit and the Liberty, Thefe are the only Men.

Ham. O Jeptba , Judge of lfraely what a Treafure hadft thouT ' ~

Pol. What a Treafure had he, my Lord ?

Ham. Why one fair Daughter, and no more, Ah e which he loved palling welt

Pol. Still on my Daughter. \_Afde.

‘ Iletmr-h m I nul iW -right, i ffi-Jtptbuf

X^j </tr-

~U-

f~irr~z*^X

H amlet, Prince of Denmark. 45

4 Pol. If you call me Jeptha, my Lord, I have a

* Daughter that I love palfing well.

Ham. Nay that follows not.

Pol. Nay, what follows, then, my Lord.

Ham. 4 Why as by lot wot, and, then. you knovyit

* came to pafs as moll like it was : ’ The firll Row ofthe/nF«o^

ftuback will Ihew you more, for7look,where my Abrigd-f^C^; ment$ comes. '

E 'ater Players.

Ham. r You are welcome, Mailers, welcome all. lam

* glad to fee thee well welcome,good Friends. Oh my old Friend ! why; thy Face is valanc’d fince I faw thee laft, corn’ll thou to beard me in Denmark? Whatjmy young Lady and Miflrefs ! m&Y+y your Ladylhip is grnwn nearer to Heaven than when I faw you lall by the Alti- tude of a Chopin^; t-wiih your Voice, like a piece of tHiGurrent Gold, be not track’d within- the Ring. Mailers, you are all welcome. We’ll e’en to’t like Tr)cn«^ Falco- ners, fly at any thing We fee, Wfe’ll have a Speech ilraight; come^ give us a Talle of your Quality,- come, a paflicnate Speech.

Players. What Speech, my goed Lord ?

Ham. I heard thee fpeak me a Speech once, but it was never adled}„oij if it was, not above once; for the Play I remember pleas’d not the Million, ’twas Caviare to the^s M atetccfe ; 4 but it was,^s I receiv’d it,and others, whofe 4 JudgmentsJn fuch matters, cried in the top of mine,^)

4 an excellent Play; well digelled in the Scenes, fet 4 down with as much Modell^as Cunning. I remember 4 one faid, there] were no Sal£m the Lines to make the 4 matter lavoury; nor no matter in the Phrafe that might 4 indite the Author of Affe&ion, but call’d it an honeft 4 Method, as wholfom as fweet, and by very much more 4 handfomethan fine. ’ One, Speech hv£ I chiefly loved;

’twas JEneas ’J tal^to Dido ; and thereabout of it efpe- dally, where he Ipeaks of Priam s Slaughter ; if it live in your Memory, begin at this Line, Jet me fee, let me fe%> ■ — * The rugged Pyrrhus like the Hyrcanian Beall : nofc it begins with Pyrrhus.

The rugged Pyrrhust Jie whofe fable Arms,

Black

44 Hamle t, Prince of Denrfinrk,

Black as his Purpofe did the Night r'efemble,

‘ When he Wi^uclied in th^omirious Hdrfe,

Hath now^isoSasaand black Complexion fmearM ‘ Wi;h Heraldry more difmal ; head to foot ‘ Now he is total Gules ; horribly trick’d With Blood of FatherSjMotfrers, Daughters, Sons, Bak’d and imparted ^ane P^ching ‘ That lend a tyrannous and a^Ea£3& Light ‘ To their Lord’s Murder; roafted in Wrath and Fire, And thus e’er-iSijfed with coagulate Gore,

‘ With Eyes like Carbuncles, the Pyrrhus

* Old Grandflre Priam feeks.

Pol. My Lord, well fpoken; with good Accent, and good Difcretion.

Ham. So proceed you.

Play. Anon he finds him.

Striking too fhort at Greeks , his antique Sword Rebellious to his Arm, lies where it falls.

Repugnant to command ; unequal match’d,

Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in Rage flrikes wider But with the whiff and wind of his fell Sword,

Th’ unnerv’d Father falls. * Then fenfelefs Ilium ,

* Seeming to feel this Blow, with flaming top

* Stoops to his Bafe? and, with a hideous Crafh,

‘ Takes Prifoner Pyrrhus' F.ar : For, lolhis Sword,

* Which was declining on the milky Head

* Of Reverend Priam, feem’d i’th’ Air to flick ;

* So, as a painted Tyr’an t^Pyrrhus flood,

‘ And^like a Neutral to his Will and Mattel

* Did nothing. •

But,as we often fee, againrt fome Storm,

A Silence in the Heavens, the Rack ftainds flill.

The bold Wiridsfpeechleis, and the OrB below As hufli as Death; anon th‘e dreadful Thunder Doth rend the Region : So,' after Pyrrhus' paufe,

A roufed Vengeance lets' him hew awork;

Am-d navcr dirrijiL-^yclop^-Hammero fall On Man liib ATlIimi^f^’Jfuf proof otem,

*A*\J>**' Wiili ku Remorfe man ‘PyrHnU bleeding Sword Now falls 6u Priam .

Out>

i

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 45*

Out, thou Strumpet Formnc ? * All yotrGud*-

* Jn-genoral SyiTOd-takc away her- bovver,

& Break-all the Spokes and -Kellies fr-am her-W-hcel, i- And-kowl the round Navo down the Hitt of I lea urn ‘ -Aj low as ter the" Fiends.

Pel. This is too long.

Ham. It (hall to the Barber’s with your Beard: pr’ythee fay on, he’s for a Jig, 01* a Tate uf D <nv d'l y> or he fleeps. Say on; come to Hecuba. /

Play. But who/ai»fjr^d feen the mobled Queen *_ Ham. The mobled Queen?

Pol. That’s good.

Play . Run bare foot up and down, threatning the Flamesvjwith biflon Rheumy A Clout upon that Head Where late the Diadem hood; and/or a Robe,

* About her lank, and all o’er-teemed Loins,

A Blanket, in th’ Alarm of Fear caught up. Who-thia-nad feon with -Tongue in' -Venom ftccp-’d-, ’Gainft FoHune’c State woHld-^reafon -havo pronou-ned ;

■ S' T

* Wlien Ihe faw Pyrrhus make malicious Sport,

* In mincing with his Sword her Husband’s Limbs,

4 The inftant Burft of Clamour that (he made,

* tTwInfi Thingn.mr>rrg1 mnw .tKf m Hnf nf~ ^

* Would Iwi'c made milch- tho burning" Eyos of Heav‘d

* And Fnflknm'ii Mil firiT

Pol. Look whet^ie has not turn’d his Coloar, and has Tears in^s Eyes — Pr’ythee no more.

Ham. ’Tis well. I’ll have thee fpeak out the reft ofthjs loon. Good my. Lord, will you fee the Players well ber ftowed ? do you hear? let them be well u fed,* for they are the Abftra&^and br.ief Chronicles, of the Time: After your Death, you. were better have a bad Epitaph, than their ill Report whjJe..you liye.

Pol. Mv Lord, I vvi^I u fe them accordingho theinDefert. Ham. Much bette^jjjjr/ every Man, Sir, his Defert, and who ft)$llTcape whipping ? Ufe them af- ter your own Honour and Dignity; the Iefs they deferve, the more Merit is in yw Bounty. Take then) in,

Pol. Come, Sirs, Ham .

[ Exeunt all but Hamlet.

46 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Haw. Follow him, Friends ; we’ll have a Play to mor- row. Dolt thou hear me, old Friend? Can you play the Murder of Gonzago?

Play. Ay, my Lord.

Ham. We’ll have it to morrp^might : you could for need itudy a Speech of fome Soze^Cm^s, which I would fet down, and infert in it; could you not?

Ham. VerywelhTol'low that Lord, and look you mock

him not. My good Friends, l’U leave you till Night;

you are welcome to Elfinoor.

' R0f. BatoeSg my Lord.

Ham. ‘ xr

O what a ^£&£*and peafant Slave am I!

Is it not monftrous that this Player here,

But in a Fiftion, in a Dream of Paffion,

Could force his Soul fo to his own Conceit,

That, from her working all his Vifage vvafmid,

Tears in his Eyes, Diftraftion ins Afpeft,

A broken Voice, and his whole Fundion fuiting With Forms to his Conceitfitnd all for nothings

For Hecuba f ,

What’s Hecuba to him, ©r he to Hecuba.

That he Ihould weep for her? Whatwould he do.

Had he the Motive, and that for Paffion

That I have ? He would ‘ drown the Stage with Tears,

‘ And cleave the general Ear with horrid Speech, Make mad the Guilty, and appalj the Free,

Confound the Ignorant? and amazeyndeed,

The very Faculties of Eyes and Ears : yet I,

6 A dull and muddy-mettled Rafcal, peak,

‘ Like John-a-dr earns, unpregnant of my Gauie,

‘ And can fay nothing; no^not for a King,

4 Upon whofe Property/ and molt dear^Lile,

« A damn’d Defeat was made: AmT Cowart

Pate a-crofs,

'■Plucks off my Beard, and blowsNtm my Face,

‘ Twekesmeby theNofe, gives me th* Lye 1 th Throat * As deep as to the Lungs. Who does s^e this .

‘ Ha! why Ihould I take it, for it cannot be.

But

H a ml e l. Prince of Denmark. 47

fra^^am Pigeon-liver’d and lack Gaul To mafcfesQppreffion bitter, or ere this 1 ftiould have^tted all the Region Kites With this Slave’s©^!. * Bloody, bawdy Villain !

4 Remorfelefs, treacherouSSs^herous, kindlefs Villain !

4 Why what an Afs am I ? brave,

4 That I, the Son. pf a dear Fathe^yjrder’d,

4 Prompted to my Revenge % "Heaven antih^ell,

4 Muft, like a Whore, unpack my Heart with NVes^s, 4*And4alliaicuiTmgliltea very-DratTra-SculHon ; fy upufFc!

4 About my Brains! humjabU have heard ffoh-f

That guilty Creatures, fitting at a Play,

Have^by the very Cunning of the Scene,

Been ftruck fo to the Soul, that,prefently^

They have proclaim’d their^Malefadlions :

For Murder, tho’ it have no Tongue, will fpeak 4 With molt miraculous Organ.’ I’ll have thefe Players] Play fomething like the Murder of my Father,

Before my Uncle j I’ll obferve his Looks,

I’ll tent him to the ayick : if he dnnle.-p.ilc,

I know my Courfe. thatT-have-fcerr

Mfty be a Devil, and tho Dwhnay^ave-power To-&fibmo a plcafing Shape-r^-yea and perhaps- 4 Qut-of my Wcakirefrand my Melancholy,

C-Ao'ke io very potent- with fuch -Spiritoy

me to damn- me.’ I’ll have Grounds- *Moro' relative than thrr, the Play’s the thing.

Wherein I’ll catch the Confcience of the King. [Exit.

SCENE DL.

Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rofencraniz: Guildenltern, Gentlemen, and Guards.

King. A N Dean you,by no Drift of Conference,

Get from him, why he puts on this Confufion, 4 Grating fo harfhly all his days of Quiet 4 With turbulent^nd dangerous Lunacy?

Rof.

4§ Hamlet) Prince of Denmark.

RoC. He does confefs he feels himfelf diiira&ed; ... BuLfrom what Caufe,he wiii by no means L - ‘ Guil Nor do we find him fouvard to ije ioundedf

* BuLwith a crafty Madnefs, keeps ^alobf,

* When we would bung hum on- rt) lonie Confefilon ‘ Of his true State.

Ref. Mult cicftiy.

G*/7yButwitiLmuch forcing of his Difpofition. "Rof. »%l$ppr.eafc queftioi} ; but>of our Demands^ Moft free in his Repj^.

Queen. Did yonjmaS him to arhy Pafiime ? Rof. Madam, it fo fell out, that certain Player* We o’ertook on the way; of thefe we told him; And there did feem in him a kind of Joy To hear of it : theyje about the Court; And, as I think,they have already order

Night to play before him.

Pol. ’Tis moll true/

And he befeeched me to intreat your Majekies To hear and fee the matter.- King. With all my Heart;

And it doth much content me To hear him fo inclin’dr*

Goo further Edge,

Rof. We ihaiJ, my .Lord. \Exeunt Rof. & Giii£ King. Sweet Gertrude , leave us too;

For we have clofely fent for Hamlet hitker^

That hf» as Vu/pr? hv nrrinpnt mav mppt

*’ And gather by him,as he is behav d,

If it be the Affliction of^Love, or no,

* That thus he fuffers for.

Queen. I fhall obey you :

Ar.d^ for my part, Ophelia, I do wiki.

That your good Beauties be the happy Caufe Qf Hamlet' % Wildnefs ; f® lhajl \ hope your Virtues

Queen. Did he receive you well?

And

Will

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 4^

Will bring him -to his wonted way again.

To both your Honours. .££.*77 £h.4ett-.

T u/i(n if m a vr

1 King. O ’tis too true !

Unw fmsrt/ Lalh that Speech doth give my Conference!' The Harlot’s Cheek,beautified with ..plaitring Art,

Is not iroro ugly to the thing that helps it.

Than is my Deed to my molt painted Word •:

0 heavy Burden!

/V. I hear him coming, retire^my Lord.

Ham. To be,or not to be, that is the Queftion ; — - Whether ’tis nobler in the j^ind to fuller The Slings and Arrows ©^outrage^s, Femme,

Or to take Arms againfl: a Sea of Troubles,

Andy by oppofing^end them : To die-jo deep; — •

No more i^and^by a Sleep, to fay we end The Heart-ach, and the thoufand natural Shocks That Flelh is Heir to^-tis a Confummation

Devoutly to be wifh’d, 3b ciefto fleep? —

To deep, perchance, to dream ^ay7 there’s the Rub i For } in that Sleep of Death, what dreams may come, When we have fliuffled oft* this mortal Coil,

Muft give us paufe; there’s the Refpeft That makes Calamity of fo long Life :

For who would bear the Whips and Sccriis of Time*, Th’ Oppreffor’s Wrong, the proud Man’s Cortum-iy* The Pangs of defpis’d Love, the Law’s Delay,

The Infolence of Office, and the Spurns That patient Merit of th’ Unworthy takes.

When fee Mmfelf might his Quietus make

Knter Hamlet.

\JExeuni King and Pol,

jo Hamle t, Prince of Denmark.

With a bare Bodkin? Who would Fardels bear.

To groan and fweat under a weary Life5**

But that the Dread of fomething after Death,

The undifeover’d Country, from whofe Boum No Traveller returns, ^puzzles the Will;

And makes us rather bear thofe Ills we have,

T han fly to others that we know net off Thus,Ccmfciencedoe$ make Cowards of us all:

And,thus the ESSf-of Refolution

Is ficklied o’er with the pale Call of Thought;

And Enterprizes of great pith and moment;

With this regard^ their currents turn aw*y, ^

And lofe the Name of Afliom Soft you nowj *

The fair Ophelia f Nymph, in thy Or^ilons .Be all my Sins remembred.

ham. I humbly thank you, well,

Opb. My Lord, I have Remembrancei of yours.

That I have long’d to re- deliver;

Pray yotynow receive them.

Ham. No, not I; I never gave you aught.

Oph. My honour’d Lord, you know light well you did. And with them words of fo fweet Breath compos’d.

As made the% things more rich: Tlfi^ Perfume loft. Take thefe again; fo^ to the noble Mind,

;Rich Gifts wax poor, vvhenGivers prove unkind.

There, my Lord.

ham. Ha, ha, are you honeft ? tOph. My Lord.7 ham. Are you fair?

Oph. What means your Lordfhip?

Ham. That^if you be honeft and fair, you {hould ad- snit no Difcourfe to your Beauty.

Oph. Could Beauty, my Lord, have better Commerce lhan with Honefty ?

jHem. Ay truly, for the Power of Beauty will fooner Honefty from what it is, n:i a.Baml, than the

jForce of Honefty can tranflate Beauty to his Likenels : $his was fometime a Paradox, but now the time gives it jp&of. I did love you once.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, f i

Opb. Indeed, my Lord, you made me believe Iq.

Ham. You fhould not have believ’d me, for Virtue cannot fo inoculate our old flock, but we fhall relifh of it: I lov’d you not.

Opb. I was the more deceiv’d.

fft^Get thee to a Nunnery, why would!* theu be t Sinners? I am my felf indifferent honeft; but yet, I could accufe me of fuch things, ^hat it were better^ my Mother had not bore me. I am very proud, revenge- ful, ambitious? with more Offences at my beck than [ have Thoughts to put them in, Imagination to give them Ihape, or Time to ad them in : What fhould fuch Fel- lows as I do craving between Earth and Heaven? We are arrant Knaves, ^believe none of us ; go thy ways t® a Nunnery. ^Where’s your Father ?

Opb. At home, my Lord.

Ham. Let the Doors be fhut upon him,

That he may play the fool no- where but in’s own Koufe : FareWel. — ]

Opb. O help him, you fweet Heavens !

Ham. If thou doft marry, irlkgivr thrr this thy Dowry ; Be thou as chafle as Ice, as pure as Snow, thou (halt not^fcape Calumny; get thee to a Nunnery Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a Fool,* for wife Men know well enough what Mongers you make #f them .* To a Nunnery, go, and quickly too. Farewel.

Opb. Heavenly Powers, reflore him ? .

Ham. I have heard of your Paintings well enough : Nature hath given you one Face, and you make your felves another ; you jig, amble, and you lifp, you suck- name Heaaaak Creatures, and make your Wanton- nefs your Ignorance; go to, I’ll no more on’t, it hath made me mad : I fay we will have no more Marriages; thofe that are married already, all but one, fhall live, the reft fhall keep as they are. To a Nunnery go. [Exit

Opb. O what a noble Mind is here o’erthrown >

* 7J he GQurti^’s^oidier’s, Scholar’s Eye, Tongue, Sword, The Expeda\%mand Rofeof the fair State,

‘The Glafs of Fafhion, and the Mould of Form,

The obferv’d of all Obfervers^ quite, quite down/

And I^of Ladies moll dejed-.and w fetched,

^ 2 t That

yi Ha ml e t, Prince of Denmark.

* That fuck’d the Honey of his Mufick-Vews ;

Now fee that noble and moft fovereign Reafon,

Like fweet Bells jangled, out of tune and harfh,

■ That unmatch’d Form and Feature of blown Youth « Blafled with Extafy.’ O,woe is me !

Td>have feen what 1 have feen, feeiasg what I fee !

King. Love ! his AfFed ions dp not that way tend ; Hbr what he fpake, tho’ it lacl^Form a little.

Was not like Madnefs^* there’s fomething in his Soul, * O’er which his Melancholy fits on brood,

X And, I do doubt, the Hatch ancUhe Dilclofe, iger, whid/tcT prevent )etermination

For the Demand of our negleded Tribute. Ha ply, the Seas and Countries different. With variable Objeds, fhall expel This fomething-fettled Matter in his Heart; Whereon his Braiif? hill beating, =

- puts him thus)Trom Fafhion of himfelfc- ez = What think you on’t? ^

Tel. ft fhall .do well:

4 Butyet I do be lievetheOriginand Commencement efh, * Sprung from neglededLove.’ Flow now, Ophelia?

You need not tell. us what Lord Hamlet fold;

We heard it all.^My Lord, do as you pleafe.

But, if you hold it. fitter the Play,

Let his Queen-Mothe£aIdne intreat .him To fhew his Grief let her be round with him.

And I’ll 'be plac'd ( fo pleafe you) in the Ear Of all their Conference : if fhe find him not.

To England fend him; or confine him where Your Wifdom.beft fhall think.

King. It fhall be fo,

.Madnefs in .great ones muff, not unwatch d go. [ExeunU ■Enter Hamlet and three of the Flayers. t- tU Wrh T nra v vou.as I oronounc’d it

Enter King and Polonius.

He fhall with fpeed to England,

j&rfti ■P^Thrfe

Hamle t, Prince ef Denmark, f |

it, as many of our Players do, I had as lief the Town- Crier fpoke my Lines : nor do not favv the Air too much* with your hand thus,* but ufe all gently ; fo^ in the very^. torrent,Tempeft, and, fas I may fay^Whirlwindlo^TaL fton, you muft acquire and beget a Temperance tnat.inay give it Smoothnefs. Oh, it offends me to the^aottl, t<j hear a robuftious Periwig-pated Fellow tear a PalTian to ioJC+ru to very Rags, to fplit the Ears of the Groundlings; who, for the moft part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb Shews and Noifc ; I would have luch a Fellow whipp’d for o’er-doing Termagant ; it out -Herods Herod , pray youravoid it.

Play. 1 warrant your Honour.

Ham. Be not too tam^ neither; but let your own Dif- cretion be yourTutor^ fuic ths Action to the Word, the- Word to the ACtion; with this fpecial Obfervance, that you o’er-ltep not the Modeily &f Nature; for any thing * to o!£r-d«ne, is from the Purpofe of Playing, whole end, bctn aMxrlt^and now, was, and is, to hollas ’t were, the Mirror'up to Nature,* to fhew Virtue hcrJJFlikure, Scorn her own Image, and the very Age and Body of the Time his Form and PrefTure. Now, this, over done, or come tardy off, the* it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve : the Cenfure of which one.muft, in your Allowance o’erweigh a whole Theatre of others.

O there be Players that I have feen play, and heard Others praife, and that highly, fnot to fpeak it profanely t) thatneither having the Accent of Chriftianf,ncr the Gate of Chriliian, Pagan, nor Man, have fo llmtfced and bel- lowed, that I have thought fome of Nature’s Journeymen had made Men, and not made them well, they imitated ’ Humanity fo abominably.

Play. I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us.

Ham. (preform it altogether, >4nd let thole, that play your Clowns, fpeak no more than is fet down for them ; for there be of them, that will themfelves laugh, to fet o« fome quantity of barren Spectators to laugh too,* tho) ii* the mean time, fome neceflhry Queftion of the Play be: then to be confider’d : that’s villanous* and fhews a molt » pitiful Ambition in the Fool that ufes it. Go, make you J ready. ‘ How now, my Lord, will the King hear this * piece of work ? C 3 jjpxeunt Players.

n h amlet, Prime of Denmark.

Inter Polonius, Guildenftern and Rofencrapjfe".

* Pol. And the Queen, too, and that prefently.

Ham. Bid the Players make hafte. Will you two help i o h alien them ?

Mo/. Ay, my Lord. [ Exeunt theft thru*

Enter Horatio.

Ham. W hat,Jjo; Hgrat/'o f

Her. Here, maTEord, at your fervice.

Ham. Horatio, thou art e’ep as juft a Man As e’er my Con verfationiSe^ withal.

Hor. Oy my dear Lord !

Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter;

For what Advancement may I hope from thee.

That haft no Revenu^But'thy good Spirits, fter’d l To feed and clothe thee ? Why Ihouldthe Poor be fla \r

* No, let the candied Tongue lick abfurd Pomp,

* And crook the pregnant Hinges of the Knee,

' Where Thrift may follow Fawning^oft thou hear ? Since my dear Soul was Miftrefs of her Choice,

And could of Men diftinguifty her Election,

Hath feal’d thee for her felf : For thou haft been As one, ia fullering all, that fiiffers nothings *-rA Man that- Fuimno Buffets and Rewards- 4 Ha'ft-ta?cn with equal thaiikc : and-blefl are thole *• Wrhofe Blood -and Judgment -arc fo well comnrnTgfcd,

* That they-are-net a Pipe'foi Fortune’s Finger;

‘—To f o u nd-w h a t-S top-fee-pleafe. ’ Give me thdtMan That is not Paffion’s Slave, and I will wear him In my Heart’s Core, ay, in my Heart of Heart/,

As I do thee, ■ Something too much ofthisT*

There is a Play to night before the King;

One Scene of it comes near the Circumftance,

fhtre of my^Fither’sDeath i I prithee when thou feeft that A& ©a/oot,

E*en witn the very Comment of thySgub dbferve my hisIro^SGuilt

Do not it felf MwiDone Speech, — » j*-4s— a- damned -Ghoft -t-hat ■ we hav e~feen,

*.And my 4ft>aginatioiu» aic as fuai*

*-As -Fith'LMi Suihy" s ’ give him heedful note,.

n

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Bor I mine Eyes will rivet to his Face/

AncLaftei^we will both oar Judgments join In Cenfurepf his feeming.

Hot-, my Lord;

* If he fteal ought, the whilft the Play is playing,

‘ And ’fcape Detecting*, I will pay the Theft.

Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Gentlemen. Bam. They are coming to the Play; I mull be idle ; Get you a place.

King. How fares our Coufin Hamlet ?

Bam. Excellent Liairk,

Of the Cameleon’s Difli.-I eat, the Airr Promife cranm’d; you cannot feed Capons fo.

King. I have nothing with this Anfwer, Hamlet;

Thefe words are not mine.

Ham. No nor mine now, Kby Lord,-——-—

You play’d once in the Univerfity, you fay/7 [To Pol, Po^Thatl did, my Lord; and was accounted a very Ham7 What did you ena& ? [good Aflor.

/W.Idic! enadl Julius Ccefar\ I was kill’d i’th’ Capitol; Brutus kill’d me. [Calf there.

Ham. It was a Brute part ef him^to kill lo capital a Be the Players ready ?

Rof. Ay- my Lord; they wait upon your Patience. Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet , fit by me.

Bam. No, good Mother, here’s Metal more attra&ive, Pol. O hoi do you mark that ? [j£

*ftw»Hbady, ihall I lie in your -Lap ?

Oph.- No,- my Lord.

Httm. Do you think I mean Country matters?

* Oph. I -think-nothing, my-Loreh

* iJu/ar Tim tVa fair thought to lie betv

* ■Gfbx W-hat-iar-my- Lord-?

' Bam. Noshing.

Oph. You are merry, my Lord i

* Ham. Who, I ?

* Oph. Ay, my Lord.

Hamjfcour only Jig-maker r 'What ihould a Man do but be merry ? for? look you^how chearfully my Mother looks, and my Father died within thfsetwo hours.

C 4 Oph

ffi Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Oph. Nay, ’tis twice two Months, my Lord.

Ham. So long ! nav then,let the Devil wear black, for I’ll have a Suit of Sables: die two Months

ago, and not forgotten yet ! then there’s hope a great. Man’s Memory may outlive his Life half a year but he mult build Church^ then; ‘ or elfe (hall he fuffer not think- 4 ing on, with the Hobby-horfe; whofe Epitaph is, for O,

* JorOT jhe Hobby- horfe is forgot.

Oph . What means the Play, my Lord ?

Ham. It is nufesching Mallffo; it means Mifchief,

Oph. But what’s the Argument ?

Enter Prologue.

Hum. WTe (hall know by this Fellow : ..

The Players cannot keep'toret/they’ll all. Q^-^A-pe-tlrt-y-fo'-gocd ‘at^Hicw-tny LoiiH

at any-Shew that you will (hew -them ; -fee •ret yon-afoamHI nrfliew, and they ’ll not blulh to ull-yon whaHrmtanr.

Qfh-. naitght,you arena ugh tyFH m&rk-the Ffoy.

Prologue. For us , and for our Fragedyt Here fooping to your Clemency ,

We beg your hearing patiently.

Ham. Is this a Prologue, or the Pofy of a Ring?

Oph. ’Tis brief, my Lord. ham. As Woman’s Love.

Enter Player-King and Queen.

Pi. King. Full thirty times hstAPbcelus' Car gone round? Oceania •> iapuu sHs fait Waft), and orbed the Ground,

* And thirty dozen Moons with borrow’d fh^en

* About the World have t\§J^times thirtjffeeen.

Since Love our Hearts, and tfffnim did our Hands

, Unite,(^^SlLu^$S^» in^tacred Bands.

PI. Queen. So many Journeys may the Sun and Moon Make us again count o’er, ere Love be done!

But. woe is me, you are fo fick of late, yo far drffis^frf from^urfotmer' State,

That I diftruft you T^et, tlio’ I diftruft,

Difccmfort you, my Lord, it nothing muftf *•

Fgr Women fear too much, even as they: love.

‘ Now

m. tr^

-T- A

~&£e <^c^i

I

I

H a m l e T, Prince vf Denmark. f 7

Womei^ Tear and Love hold Quantity, A-'^tseithenteiic,’ or in Extremity./ ^

Now what my Love ProoTmahje/ you know ; •

And'as my Love is great^my Fear is fo :

Where Love is great, therafeHeft Doubts are Fear ;

Where little Fear grow/ great, great Love grows there.

leave thee, Love, and fhortly toe, My^^33aag Powers their Functions leave to .do ;

But thou (halt live in this fair World behind.

Honour’d, belov’dj and, haply; one as kind/

For Husband fh^Lthou —

PI. Queen. the reft 1

Such Love muft needs be Treafon in my Breaftr In fecond Husband let me be accurft/

None wed the fecond/but who kill’d the firft.

Ham. That’s Wormwood.’

* PI. Queen. The inftances^that fecond Marriage move,- 4 Are bafe Refpefts of Thrift, but none of Love ;

* A fecond time I kill my. Husband dead,

4 When fecond Husbands±S» mt'fflBed.

PL King. I do believe,you think what now you fpeakj. - But,what we do determine, oft we break v 4 Purpofe is but the Slaveifof Memory,

* Of violent Birth, but poor Validity/

4 Which nov^like Fruit/ unripe,fticks on the Tree*

4 But fall^unftiaken^when they mellow be.

* Moll neceflary ’tis,that we forget

* To pay our felves what to our l'elves is Debt •

4 What to our felves in Paflion we propofe,

* The Paftion ending,doth the Purpcfe lofe ;

4 The Violence of either Grief or joy

4 Their own Ehacftures with themfelves deftroy;

4 Where Jcy mod revels, Grief doth meft lament^

* For’tis aQueftion left us yet to prove,

• Whether Love lead/ Fortune, or elfe Fortune Love.

4 The great Man down, you mark his Favourite flies ; 4 The Poor advanc’d, makes Friends of Enemies.

4 And

j 8 Ham l e t, Prince of Denmark*

*• And hitherto doth Love on Fortune tend;

4 For who not needs ftiall never lack a Friend;.

* And who,in want, a hollow Friend doth try, r Di redly feafons him his Enemy.

*• But, orderly to end. where I begun, —

* Our Wills and Fates do To contrary run,

* That our Devices ftill are overthrown ^

* Our Thoughts are ours, their Ends none of our own. Think Arif thou wilt no fecond Husband wed;

But jhy Thoughts da when thy firft Lord is dead.

Pi. Queen. Nor Earth to give me Food, nor Heaven Sport and Repofe lock from me day and night] [Light*

4 To Defperation turn my Truft and Hope]

4 An Anchors cheer in Prifon be my Scope/

* Each oppofite, that blanks the Face of Joy,

‘ Meet what I would have well, and it dellrojy Both her^and hence, purfue me lafting Strife,

J^once* Widow, h4^dThefea Wife/

Ham. Iffhe ihould break it now^ — - [whiled

pi. King. Tis deeply, fworn -r Jweet, leave me here a£ My Spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile f

The tedious Day with Sleep.

PI. Queen. Sleep rock thy Brain*,

And never come mifchance between us twain. [ExeifoK Ham. Madam , how like you the Play ?

Queen. The Lady doth proteft too mucl^methinks.

Ham. Q,but fhe’il keep her ward. [fence in’t ?'

King. Have you heard the Argument? Is there no of- Ham. No, no, they dobutjeftj poifon in jeft, no offence* King. What do d^^call the Play ? " ~

Ham. The Moufe trapyteaay How? tropically, ThiV Play is the Image of a Murder done in Vienna. Gonzago is the Duke’s Namefhis Wife BaptiJia;yoM (hall fee anoa ’tis a knavifh piece of work; but. what of that ? Your Majefty,and we that have free Souls, it touches us not; let the galled Jade wincS, our Withers are unwrung.^Thi*. is one Lucianus, Nephew t© the King.

Enter Lucianus.

©^..Yon^are as good as a Chorus, my Lord;

Han?.

I

loL

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, fp

^g^-j-cQuMJnt^^ you-and-your Love,

-ifT^eoukl- fee the Puppits dallying.

* -Qpb. You-are keen, my Lord-, yatrarc kecnr

* Ihxm. It’WowJH coftyon a Groaning to take-off mine-

< Ofkr- StiH-worfe and worfe. [Edg«.

Mr-^6 o you mifta-ke your IIusBamh.’ BegTnrMur-

dcrer, leave thy -damnable P^ces and~begiin---eeffler-t-he- qroalring Paiven doth bellow foi Revenge. [agreeing/ .

Luc. Thoughts bla^k, Hands apt, Drugs fit, and Time Confederate Seafonj wad no Creature feeing;

Thou mjxtpre rank, of Midnight Weeds collected, With‘lSs*bfcfi.Ban£, thrice blaited, thrice infe&ed*

Thy natural Magick and dire Property,

On wholfom Life ufurps immediately.

Ham. He poifons him i’th’ Garden for his Eftatet His Name’s Gonzago i the Story is extant, and written in very choice Italian ; you (hall fee, a non, how the Mur- derer gets the Love of Gonzago % Wife.

Oph. The King rifes.

‘ Ham . What/ frighted with falfe Fire ? *

J Queen. How fares my Lord ?

Pol. Give o’er the Play.

King. Give me fome Ligfet^ t^Away ?

Pol. Lights, Lights, Lights. [Ex. all but Ham. and Hor, Ham. Why let the ftrucken Deer go weep,

The Hart ungall’d go play;

For fome muil watch, whilft fome mull fleep;

Thus runs the World away. ‘ Would not this, Sir, and

* a Foreft of Feathers, 4£_the reft of my -Fortuned turn

* Puri with mr, witfij>rbvincial Rofes on my razrcl Shots,. , ‘ get me a Fellowlhip in a G*y of Players?

‘ Hor. Half a Share.

* Ham. A whole one, I.

♦■’-For than doll know, Q "Bamon dear,

* This ReaIrn--difmantlod wao

♦■"Of .ffVrr himfclf, -and now reigns here *—A very very Peacock.

‘ -Hor Von might have rhy.mld. ;

O good Horatio , 141 uke-frhe Ghdi’& word for ■* th^uQmdTuuii'i, Didfi perceive?

^ 2

/

Hor .

6o H a m l e t, Prime of Denmark

Hor. Very well, my Lord.

Ham. Upon the Talk of the poifoning.

Hor. I did very well note him.

Ham. Ah, ahj come, fome Mufick; conj^the Recorder* tv 4 Fo^the Kingkkes not the Comedy,

* YVhu thempeffil^s he likes it not,pe*4^»**^4.

‘ Come, fome Mufick. ^ ^

Enter Rofencra*djpz;/*/ Guildenftem.

Guil. Goc d my Lord, vouchfafe me a Wprd with you.

Ham. Sir, a whole Hiftory.

Guil. The King, Sir,

Harp- Ay, Sir, what of him?

Guil. Is. in his Retirement, marvellous diftemper’d.

Ham. With Drink, Sir? '

Guil., No, my Lord, with Choler.

Ham. Your Wifdom would fhew itfelf richer, to figr nify this to theDo&or; foy'mc to put him to his Pur- gation, would, perhaps^plunge him into more Choler.

Guil. Good my Lord, put your Difceurfe into fome .And ftart nct.fo wildly from my [Frame,

Ham. I am tame, Sir; pronounce.

Guil.The Queen,your Mother, in moft great Afflidion f of Spirit, hath fept me. to you.

Ham. You are welcome.

Guil Nay, good my Lord, this Courtefy is not of the right breed-rTf it fhall pleafe you to make me a whole fom^Anfvvcr, I will do your Mother’s Commandment; . if not, your Pardon and my Return, fhall be the end of

Bufinefs.

Ham. Sir, I cannot.

Rof. What, my Lord ? - ^

Ham. Make you a whclfom Anfwerj my Wit’s difea- fed. : but, Sir, fuch Anfwer as lean make, you fhall com- mand; or, rather^as .you fay, my Mother; therefore r.Q mare, but to the matter : my Mother, you fay^, :

Rpf. Then thus fhe fay?, Your Behaviour -©Plater hath Ifyuck her into Amazement and Admiration.

Ham. O wonderful Son, that can aftonifh a Mo- ther !NBut js there no Sequel at the Heels of this Mo- . 'tier’s Admiration ? Impart,

Rif:

,V»V^C ivrv^s^-fYYt^^: ,r^ /^«-«/ )*-r-ts£^j

-^-f-^ C A:~<? tr£ *^*-^s£z- *< >^-*/'

i/' C C- } — - ^ t- ^T^—<7

Hamlet, Prim vf Denmark. 6 s

Rof. She delires to fpeak with you in her Clofet, ere you go to bed.

Ham. We jhall obey, were Hie ten times our Motherr* Have you any farther Trade with us ?

Rof. My Lord, you, once,did love me.

Ham. And do flinders.

Rof. Good my Lord.what is the Caufe of your Dif- temper? You do fureljySr the Door upon your own Liberty, if you aeny. your Griefs to ypur Friend.

Ham. Sir, I lack Advancement.

Rof. How can that be, when you have the Voice of the King himfelf for your Succeffion in Denmark f Enter Horatio with Recorders.

Ham. Ay, Sir, but 'While the Grafs grows.jhe Pro- verb is fomething^uuy-r.Oh the RecordersjJet me fee one.To withdraw with you;^wny da you go about to re- cover the Wind of ;ne, as if you would drive me into a. -Toil?

Guil. O, my Lord, if my Duty be too bold, my Love, is too unmannerly.

Ham,. I do not well underft and that, "Will you play upon .this Pipe ?

Guil. My Lord,: I cannot*

Ham. I pray you.

Guil. Believe me, I cannot.

Ham. I befeech you.

Guil. 1 know no touch of it, my Lord.

Ham. It is as eafy.as Lying; govern thefe Ventages with your Fingers and Thumb ; give it: breath withr your Mouth, and it will difeourfe mofl eloquent Mufickr l^ok you, thefe are the. Stops.

Guil. /But thefe cannot 1 command t© any Utterance of Harmony; I have not the Skill.

Ham. Why look y^now, how unworthy a thing y© it make of mel you would play upon. me; you would feem to know my Stop st you would pluck out the heart of my Myftery*, you vwould found me from my Jowefl Note to the top of my Compafs ; and there is much Mufick, ex- cellent Voice, in this little Organ; y«jt cannot yon make it fpfak. you think..! am caher to be pl^fd

6 1 HAmlet, Prince of Denmark.

on than a Pipe? Call me what Inftrument you will, thol you can fret me, you cannot play upon me.

Enter Polonius.

Pol. My Lord, th« Queen would fpeak with you, and prefently .

Ham, Do you fee yonder Cloud that’s almoft in fhape of a Camel ?

Pol. ’Tis like a Camel, indeed.

Ham. Methinks ’tis like a W^el.

Pol. It is bfack^like a W^el.^

Ham. Or, like a Whale? '

Pol. Very like a Whale.

Then twill come to my Mother by and byr^ [by.' They fool me to the top of my bent. ‘I will come by and

* Pol. I will fay fo. ^ [Exit,

Ham. By and by is eafily faid.^Leave me, Friends.

[Extant .

’■T-i* now the very witching-time of Night, Whett-Ghuxcliiyards )^aun, and- Hell kfetf breathes out Contagion to the Wor-ld-t-Now cQUld I diink hot iyloud, Atrthdo foeh -Deeds at Day itfetf Would quake to look -on-. Soft ! now to my Mother ;

0 Heart, lofe not thy Nature ! let not ever The Soul of Nero enter this firm Bofom !

Let me be cruel, not unnatural :

1 will fpeak Daggers to her, but ufe none.

4 My Tongue and Soul, in this, be Hypocrites j *■ How in my Words foever ihe be ihent,

4 To give them Seals, never, my Soul, confent. [Exit, Enter King , Rofencranfc and Guildenftem.

King. I like him not, nor Hands it fafe with us To let his Madneft range; therefore prepare you.;

* I your Commiffion will forthwith difpatch,

*■ And he, to England, fhall along with you ;

*’ The Terms of our EHaite may not endure 4 Hazards fo near us, as doth hourly grow 4 Out of his Lunflfcfes.

• Gail. We will our felves provide;

4 Moll Holy and Religious Fear ii is.

Hamlet* Prince of Denmark. 6%

4 To keep thofe many Bodies fafe,

*' That live, and feed, upon your Majeffy.

‘ Rof The Tingle and peculiar Life is bound ‘ With all the Strength and Armour of the mind,

‘To keep icfelf from'Noyance; but, much more,

‘ That Spirit, upon whofe Weal depend/ and reft£

* The lives of many-r The ’Ceafe of Majeffy c Dies not alone? but, like a Gulf) doth draw

*• What’s near it, with it i ^ it is a nfafly Wheel,.

* Fix’d on the Summit of the higheft Mount,

*- To whofe huge Spokes ten thouTand lefler things 4 Are mort$i*’d and adjoin’d? which, when it falls,

4 Each fmall Annexment, petty Confequence,

4 Attends the boifterous Ruinr tfever alone 4 Did the King Fi^h, but with a general Groan.

King. Arm£wii§fJI pray you;tothis fpeedy Voyage; For we will Fetters put about this Fear,

Which now goes too free-footed.

Rof. We will make hafle * . \Exeunt Rof. & GuiL Enter Polonius.

Po/.'laxr, he’s going to his Mother’s Glofet/

Eehind the Arras I’ll convey my felf,

To hear the Procefs ; I’ll warrant,fhe’ll tax him home* And^as you faid, and wifely was it faid,

’Tis meet, that Tome more Audience, than a Mother, Since Nature m^ke^them partial, ihould o’er- hear Thefc Spe«^r3re 'you well, my Liegej*

I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed.

And tell you what I hear. . [Exit ;

King. Thanks, dear my Lord.

0,my Offence is rank, it fmells to Heaven ;

It hath^tTie^j^faeil Curfe upon’f,

A Brother’s Murder ! j^ra jTl eaanot*

Tho’ Inclination be as fharp as Will;

My ftronger Guilt defeats my ftrong Intent?

And, like a Man to double Buftnefs bound,

I ftand in paufe where I (hall hrft begin,

And both negleft.. What, if this curfed Hand Ware thicken than ifcfelf with Brother’s Bloods h there netHs the fweet Heavens

Ts-

$4 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

To wafti it white as Snow? Whereto ferves Mercy,

But to confront the Yifage of Offence ?

*• And what’s in Prayer, but this twofold Force,

* To be foreflalled,erewe come to fall,

* Or pardon’d being down ?’ Then I’ll look up :

My „ Fault is pall 7 J3u t,oh ! what Form of Prayer Canferve my turn ?. Forgive me my foul Murder! — That cannot be, fince I am Hill poffefs’d

Of thofe Effects for which I did the Murder,

My Crown, mine own Ambition, and my Queen*

May one be pardon’d, and retain th^Offeace ?

In the corrupted Currents of this World, #

Offence’s gilded Hand may fhovo-by Juflice ;

And oft ’tisfeen the wickedPrize.it felf Buys out the Law: but ’tis not fo above;

These is no fhuffling: there the A&ion lies lit watrue Nature, and we our felves compeU’d,

Even to the Teeth and Forehead of our Faults,

To give in evidence. What then? what refls?

Try what Repentance can; what can it not?

Yet what can it^when one cannot repent? -

0 wretched State! O Bofoin, black as Death!.

O. limed Soul! thaLfirugding. to be free,

Art more engaged! make

Bow; flubbom Knees/ and Heart?with Strings of Steely

Be foft as Sinew's of the new-born Babe*

All may be well. [The King kneels. ^

Enter Hamlet.

Bam. Where is this Murderer? he kneels and prays, Jlgdr-Bow Pll uul, aird’fu Jie-gocs to Ileavca,

AndSbl am reveng’d : that would belcann’d — — » He kilftSqw Father, and for that

1 his foie Sorrfeml him to Heaven.

Why this is Rew^sff not Revenge :

He took my Father^fly, ‘ full, of Bread,

With all his Crimes bma>d blown asflufh asiVfiay;

And how his -Audit Hands, \dio knows fave Heaven ? . But in cur Circum fiances and CNjrfe of Thought,

?Tis heavy with him ; and am I tnfcfc^veng’d,

'To take him in the purging of his Soules

Whea

-2^*. <?l jL<.~i~— *£&

*hr *^v 4^c-c-

^K. C&Lj C- .

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, 4f

he is fit and feafon’d for his PafTage ? No.

Up Swbst^and know thou a more horrid time.

When he isd?tHik. afleep, or in a rage,

Or in th’inceftuou^Flsafures of his Bed;

* At Gaming, SwearingT^ej^aboutfome A£l That has no Relifh of Salvation Then trip him, that his Heels may kick ar+iea^en,

* And that his Soul mayfce as damn’d a ^■As Ilell wker^jt-goesl ’ My Mother flays.

This Phyfic\«3prolongJ thy fickly Days. [Exit,

King. My Words fly up, my Thoughts remain below. Words without Thoughts never to Heaven go. [Exit.. /S Enter Queen tfW'Polonius.

Pol. He will come liraight, Igok you lay home to him; Tell him, his Pranks h^ve beentoo bro^d to bear with; And that your Grace hatnJoodTet ween . y

Much Heat and him. I’ll here con ccq 1 ""my Pray you,be round with him,

* Ham. ygithin. Mother, Mother, Mother*

Queen, ^warrant you,* fear me not._

Withdraw, I hear him coming.

Enter Hamleti

Ham. Now, Mother,* what’s the matter ?

Queen. Hamlet , thou hafl thy Father much offended^ Ham. Mother, you have my Father much offended. Queen Come, come, you anfwer with an idle Tongue,1 Ham. Go, go, you quell ion with a wicked Tongue, Queen » Why, how now, Hamlet ?

Ham. What’s the matter now ?- Queen. Have you forgot me-?- Ham. No, * fay ilirfewA» not fo.

You are the Queen, your Husband’s Brother’s Wife* Am^wbuld it were not foj^ou are my Mother,

Queen. Nay; then. I’ll fet thofe to you that can fpeak. Ham. Come, come, and fit you down, you fhall not You go nottill I fet you up a, Glafs, Lbudge,

Where you may fee the inmoft- part of you.

Queen. What wilt thou do*? thou wilt not murder me t Help,

Pol. Wnat,ho^heIpi [Behind the Arras ,

Ham.

iS

€ 6 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.'

Ham. How now/ a Rat? Uead^or a Ducktt, dead/

[Kills Pol.

Pol. Qlamflain.

Queen. O me, what haft thou done ?

Ham. Nay, I know not. Is it the King ?

Queen. O what a rafti and bloody Deed is this f Ham. A bloody Deed/Almoft a* bad, good Mother,

A$‘ kill a King, and marry with his Brother.

Queen. As kill a King/

Ham. Ay, Lady, twas my word ^

Thou wretched, raftvintruding Fool, farewel j I took thee for thy better; take thy Fortune ;

Thou findft, to be too bufy, is fome danger. — - Leave wringing of your Hands; peace; fit you down. And let me wring your Heart; for fo I ftiall.

If it be made of penetrable fluff,

* If damned Cuftom have not braz’d it fo,

* That it be Proof and Bulwark againft Senfe.

Queen. What have I done, that thou dar’fl wag thy

In Noife fo rude againft me? [Tongue

Ham. Suchian Ad,

That blurs the Grace and Blufh' of Modefty;

Calls Virtu^Hypocrite; takes off the Rofe From the fair Forehead of an innocent Love,

And fets a Blifter there; makes Marriage-Vows Asfalfe as Dicers Oaths: Ohifucha Deed !

As from the Body of Contradion plucks The very Soul; and fweet Religion makes A Rhapfody of Words: ‘ Heaven’s Face does glow.;

* Yea, £hisJ>olidity and compound Mafs,

* WithSeStexl Vifage,as againft the Doom,

* Is thought Tick at the Ad,

Queen Ah me, what Ad!

Ham] ‘ That roars fo loud, and thunders in the Index* Look hereupon this Pidure, and on this;

The counterfeit Prefentment of two Brothers?- See what a Grace was feated on this Brow, jj^feCufls, the Front of jguESmfelf,

A )^£y to threaten and cojjimand,

* A

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 6y

Station liferthe Herald Mtreuty,

.^Ntiarfrrghtcd on a Heaven Rifling H4ti »

r>d a Form^indeed,

2td feem to fetrlii^rSeak^^ ‘ ^

A Co

Where

To give the World A (Tu ranee of a Man :

This was your Husband. Look you,now, what follows/ Hcrejs your Husband,* like ^j^mildew’d Ear,

Blafting his wholfonjBrother?Have you Eyes?

Could you on this fair Mountain leave to feed,

/^nd batten.cn this Moor ? Ha/ ha^e you Eyes ?

You cannot call it, Love/ for; at your Age,

The heyday of the Blood is tame, it’s humble.

And waits upon the Judgment; and what Judgment Would Hep from this to this ? Senfe, fure, you have,*

Elfe could you not have Motion; but, fure, that Senfe Is apoplex’d : for Madnefs would not err;

Nor Senfe to Extafy was nefer yet fo thrall'd.

But it referved fome quantity of Choice

To ferve in fuch a difference. * What Devil was?fr

* jThftt thoo-hafch-TQEcn’d you at hogdman-blind-i1 ‘ p^Bt EecUag FoeUag-wrtnottt r‘;gVlfJ

‘ Ears without - Hands or Eyes, Smelling fans all,

* Or but th-fH&fy part of one true Senfe?

* -Gculd-not-fe mopeJ Oh Shame, where is thy Blufht Rebellious Hell,

If thou canft mutiny in a Matron’s Bones,

To flaming Youth let Virtue be as Wax,

And melt in her own Fire? 4 proclaim no Shame,

W hen the compulfive Ardor gives the Charge ;

Since Froft it felf as a&ively doth bum,

A^Reafon panders Will.

Queen. O Hamlet , fpeak no more ;

Thou turn’ll my very Eyes into my Soul.

4 And there 1 fee fuch black and grained Spots*

4 As will not leave their tin&. jbut to live

In themnfc Sweat of an incelluous Bed,

few'd interruption denying, and malting Love **•6 »li the iully Sty,

Queen. O fpeak to me no more.

8 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Thefe Words,like Daggers, enter in mine Ears.

No more, fweet Hamlet .

Ham . A Murderer, and a Villain!

A Slave, thars not twentieth part the Tiifce Of your precedent Lord;^a Vice of Kings;

A Cut-purfe of the Empire and the Rule;

T hat from a Shelf, the precious Diadem ftole;

And put it in his Pocket:

A King of Shreds and Patches.

Enw-QUfi.

me, and hover o’er me with your Wings,

YoV heavenly Guards; what would your gracious Figure? Q^en. Alas I he’s mad.

HamSpo you not come your tardy Son to chide. That lapsed in Time and Paffion, let’s go by Th impomnt afting of your dread Command ? O fay !

Ghoj}. D©\qot forget ; this Vifitation Is but to whetahy aimoft blunted Purpofe.

But look, Amazlmient on thy Mother fits ;.

O ftep between h&rand her fighting Soul!.

Conceit in weakefHBodies ftroage ft works : f*

Speak to her, HamleK Ham. How is it witir^Ott, Madam ?

Queen. Alas! how is’tVith you ?

That you do bend your Eyfe on Vacancy,

And with th’ incorporeal AirW» hold Difcourfe?

Forth at your Eyes your SpiritsWildly peep;

And, as the Beeping Soldiers in\h’ Alarm,

Vour Hair ftarts up and Bands onSend: O gentle Sonf Upon the Heat and Flame of thy TDfilcmper Sprinkle cool Patience: whereon doWou look ? * .r

Ham. On him, on him — look you hpw pale he glares, His Form and Caufe conjoin’d, preaching to Stones Would make them capable: do not look\upon me.

Left with this piteous Aflion you convert '

My ftern Effe&s ; then what I have to do, \

Will want true Colour, Tears perchance for\BloocL Qjteen. To whom do you fpeak this l \

" Ham. Do you fee nothing there ? \

Queen. Nothing a* all, yet all thapshere I fee.\

Ham »

¥^f, :,jK

A

Hamlet, Prince af Denmark, (if

Nor did you nothing hear ?

3J»**«NNo, nothing but our felves.

Ham. WhyJook you there ; look how it ftalks away, My Father in hl^abit as he liv’d ;

Look where he goeS^e^en now out at the Portal.

[Exit Ghojtv

Queen. This is the very CSk^gte of your Brain,

This bodilefs Creation Extafy is cunning in.

Ham. My Pulfe, as yours, doth temperately keep time;; And makes as healthful Mufick: it is not MStdAgfs That I have uttered, bring me to the Teft,

And I thlamatter will re word-r-vriirch Madne&. itone^ J Mother, for *he Love of Grace,

Lay not that flattering Unttion to your Soul,

That not your Trefpafs, but my Madnefs fpeaks ;

It will but skin and film the ulcerous place;

Whilft rank Corruption, mining all within,

Infefts unfeenr-Confefs yourfelf to Heaven;

Repent what’s paft; avoid what is to come ;

And do not fpread the Compoft on the Weeds,

* To make them ranker. Forgive me this my Virtue*

‘ Fortin the Fatnefs ©f thefe purfy Times,

* Virtue it £ elf of Vice muft pardon beg.

s Vea^curb and woo for leave to do him good.

Queen. O Hamlet / thou haft cleft my Heart in twain* Ham. O^Ehext throw away the worfer part of it.

And live the purer with the other half.

Good-night; J>ut go not to my Uncle’s Bed ;

Afliime a Virtue, if you have it not.

* That Monfter,Cuftom, who all Senfe doth ea^

‘ Of Habiti Devil, is Angel yet in this,

* That to the Ufe of Actions fair and good,

* He likewife gives a Frock, or Livery, t f

' That aptly is put on.refrain to night;

4 And that lhall lend a kind of Eafinefs 4 To the next Abllinence* the next moreeary;

' For Ufealmoft<an change the Stamp of Nature,

* Devil, or throw him ont

* With wondrous Potency. Once more, good night/

* -Aad when y0U are deflrou$ & be Ueft,

« I’ll

A

73 Ham iet, Prince of Denmark.

* rU Biefling beg ofyourJL for this fame Lord, .

I do repent; farffcwen-^th ,lee,M * M

with mu, '

IT™.1. ! ™llft thldl "S^rge and I will bellow him, and will anfwer well

soodnight-

^hw bad^gkarand worfe remaiiig^i’hfad:

One word more, Z*>4,

Queen. What mall Id of

y M%p-r‘ ™ that I Lid you do,

J-ey ne «b4 Jung tempt you to bed again. *■ ^Pmdr^>anton on-yaurtkuik. call ^-AmUet tartar a paliTFfreedirRiflb?

you ravel all this matter out.

That I eflentially am not in Madneft, ut mad in Craft ; * T*1*** g^>od you let him know Avho4hftt-3 but a-Queen, fair, fober, wife, J

TT a Paddock, from a Bat, a Gib,

€ dear 0>*sm-nings hide ? who would do fo ?

* No, m defpite oFSenfe and Secrecy

* Unpeg the Basket onUe Houfe’s top.

Let the Birds fly, and lik^the famous Ape,

* T°*7 ^onclufions in the Basket creep.

>* Ami break yuur'own Neck duvms

Queen. Be thou aflur’d, if Words be made of Breath, And Breath of Life, I have no Life to breathe What thou haft faid to me.

Ham. I muft to England j you know that.

Queen. Alack, I had forgot;

’Tis fo concluded on. ffritawr.

Ham. y^ereV-fcetteis feaPd, and my twp^Sthool- 6 -WhimrTTvflhruft as I will Adders fang’d.

They bear the Mahd^te > they muft fweep my way,

4 And marftial me to Oakery : let it work,

* For ’ds the Sport to havetfeeEngineer

* Hoift with his own Petard, an8vkfhall go hard But I will delve one Yard below mbit Mines,

4 Ar.d

1^4- — v-0-v.-V

&—<r e

Hamlet Prim of Denmark. y\

i A-nd-blowthcm at the Moon i Q *tls moft fweet;

* Wlicyjin jLUnrfciTit cwu Crafts dheiflly meet;

- •*

rH-kg the Guts into thV«eighbou ring Roonr.

Mother, good, night r-this CounfeHor is nowmoft-ftill, moft fccrctj and moft-graYC& .

Who. ■wao ink life a-foolifti prating Knave,

€onrg7 OiiT'to draw toward- an end with you*

[Exit Hamlet, -dragging in Polomtiei Good night, Mother. ^

A € T~4V. SCENE IK

= A Royal Apartment . .

Enter King and Queen, with Rofencran^f Guildenftern,

thefe profound Heaves;

Where is your Son ?

Queen. Bellow this place on us a little while.

[ Exeunt Rof. & Guil, Ah, my^Lord, what have Ifeen to night )

King. What, Gertrude ? how does Hamlet ?

Queen. Mad as the Sea and Wind, when both contend Which is the mightier ; in his lawlefs Fit,

Behind the Arras hearing fomething ftir.

Whips out his Rapier, cries a Rat? a Rat/

And>in his brainilh Apprehenfion, kills The unfeen good old Man.

King. O heavy Deed !

It had been fb with us, had we been there :

* His Liberty is full of threats to all,

* To you your felf, to us, to every one.

* Alas/how (hall this bloody Deed be anfwer’d ?

* -It will hekidta us, whofe Providence

* Should HsTve^rcUrai n’d^ cr^t

* This mad young Man: but,fo much was our Love, l We would not underhand what was moft fit,

s lut

72 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

' B«tylike the owner of a foul Difeafe,

To keep it from divulging, let it feed

* °*&

f Among a Mineral of Metals bafe ‘ Shews it (elf pure ; he weeps for what is done.

King.Ofiertru.de, come away ;

The Sun noTooner (hall the Mountains touch,

But we will (hip him hence ; and this vile Deed We muft, with all our Majefty and Skill,

.. w. Enter Rof. and Guil.

Both countenance and excufe. * Ho, Guildenftern »

Friends both, go join with you fome further Aid^

Hajp&ij in Madnefs, hath Polonium (lain,

And from his Mother’s Clofet hath he dxagghi him:

Go, feek him out? fpeak fair, and bring the Body Into the Chapel; I pray you haftein this.^-Zt. K^’’ Come, Gertrude , we’ll call up our wifeft Friends,

And let them know, both what we mean to do.

And what’s untimely done?: For, hap’ly, Slander, —

* Whofe Whifper o’er the World’s Diameter,

‘As level as the Cannon to his Blank,

‘ Tranfports St poifon’d Shot, may mifs our Name,

‘ And hit the woundlefs Air.^p come away,

‘ My Soul is full ofDifcord and Difmay. [Exeunt, Enter Hamlet.

fu? . ^ j Uaat. Sa&ly ftovrd. [Within * Hamlet ! Lord Hamlet !

^ 'Ham. What Noife? who calls ffamlet?

0,herejthey cOme.

Rof. What have you done, myLord, with the dead Body?

H<rrt CflmprrH 1 ] '' ,ir"1' rinri’-fcit.. frin (Lifl. Ikf. Tell us where ’tis, that we may take it thence, f And bear it to the Chapel.

Ham. Do not believe it.

Rof. Believe what ?

Ham. T hat I can keep your Counfel, and not my own : hefides, to be demanded of a Sponge/ what Replication should be made by the Son of a King?

Rof Take you metfor a Sponge, My Lord?

Ham,

V7.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 7)

Ham. Ay, Sir, that (oaks up the King’s Countenance, his Rewards, his Authorities-: But fuch Officers do the King bell fervice in the end; -he keeps them- like on Ap- pl»»in-the corner nf his Jaw, iirfi month’ d to be laffi-fwal- iow-’d"? when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but fqueezingyou, and^fponge, you lhall be dry again.

Rof 1 underhand you not, my Lord.

Ham. I am glad of it : a knaviffi Speech fleeps in a foolilh Ear.

Rof. My Lord, you muft tell us where the Body is, and go with us to the King.

‘ llunrr Thu Dudy is with the King, but the King h * with the Body i-thc King io-a-thing.

4 Guilr A thing, my Lord-?

Ham. ‘‘“Of irorhiug f bring me to him. £ Exeunt .

Enter King and Gentlemen.

King. I have fent to feek him, and to find the Body^- How dangerous is it^that this Man goes loofe?

Yet mull vh ifot put the ftrong Law ctgon him ;

, He’s lov’d of the diftradted Multitude,

Who like not in their Judgment, but their Eyes; And,where ’tis fo, th’ Offender’s Scourge is weigh'd.

But never the Offence. To bear all fmooth and even,

This fudden fending him away mull feem Deliberate Paufe : Difeafes,defperate grown.

By defperate Appliance are reliev’d.

Or not at all.

Enter Rofencran^zW Guildenftern.

* King. How now ? what hath befallen ?

Rof. Where the dead Body is bellow’d, my Lord,

W e cannot get from him.

King. But where is he ? [fare.

Rof Without, my Lord, guarded to know^pl^

King. Bpng,hin^efore us.

Rof Hd, brmgm^JLord .

Enter Hamlet and Guards.

King . Now Hamlet , where’s Pslonius ? ihiM'—Al Gup-pCJ .

/L'/'^r'ArGuppcr ? where f-

D

Ham,

74 Ha m let. Prince of Denmark.

En; a

him; Ve fat for is but that’s

th eat rorm.

ay go

eflen-

your

tmth,

. you Ihaii^nS*^ him as yim ga npr-Stairg in^the Lobby.

King. Go feek him there. ihm. He wiii flaytHlyott come.

Krng, Hamlet , this Deed, for thine efpecial Safety,

4 Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve

2L2$ch ^OU hail done^muil fend thee hence) ' ^nerefore^prepare thy lelf;

The Bark is ready, and the Wind aH

• Th’ Alibciates tend, and every thing is bent For England.

Ham. For England ?

King. A)?j hamlet.

Ham. Good.

King. So k is, if thou knew’ft our Purpofes.

Ham. I ^5s^Ck«pS#Tnat fees them : but^come, for Farewel, dear Mother. [England.

King. Thy loving Father, Hamlet.

Ham. My Mother; Father and Mother is Man andWife,- Man and Wife is one Fiefh; and^fojiny Mother. Farewel Come, for England / — [Exit. [Mother,

King. Follow h i m Tempt him with fpeed aboard;

4 De!,ay it not;’ I’ll haye him hence tonight :

Away

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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 7f

Away,* for every thing is feal’d and done, p

‘ That elfe leans on the Affair ; pray you make hade. lJf And England, if my Love thou hold’ll at sught, K

my great Power therehwe-may give thee Senfe;

' Sinceryet,thy Cicatrice looks raw and red

* After the Danijh Sword, and thy free Awe

* Pays homage to usJ)thou may’ll not coldly fet

* Our Sovereign Procefs; which imports at full ^

* By Letters conjuring to that effedl^

The prefent Death of Hamlet , 4 Bo it, England,

* For,iike the He&ick in my Biood^he rages,

4 And thou mud cure me ; till 1 knowjgs done,

4 How e’er my hap?, my Joys, wS beguftL [Exit,

4 Enter Fortinbras with his Ar7ny o ver the Stage.

4 For. Go^Captain, from me greet the Danijh King.

4 Tell himthat^by his Licence, Fortinbras 4 Claims the Conveyance of a promis’d March Over his Kingdom-r^oa know the Rendezvous :

' If that his Majefty would ought with us,

* We fhall exprefs our Duty in his Eye ;

And let him know fo.

4 Capt. I will do’t, my Lord,

4 For. Go foftly on. f£r?V- Esr.f

Enter Hamlet, Rofenarajjfcz^r. ,

Ham. Good Sir, whofe Powers are thefe ?

* Capt. They are of Norway, Sir.

Ham. How purpos’d, Sir, I pray you ?

4 Capt. Again!! fome part of Poland.

4 Ham. Who commands them, Sir ?

* Capt. The Nephew of old Norway , Fortinbras .

4 Flam. Goes it againll the Main of Poland, Sir, Or agam&foine Frontier? .

4 Capt. Truly to fpeak inland vvith no Addition, We go to gain a little Pafch of Ground,

That hath in it no Profit but the Namer To pay five Ducats, five, I would not farm it ;

Nor will it yield to Norwaypax the Pole ?

A ranker Rate, fhould it be fold in fee.

4 Ham. Whw then.the Pollack never will defend it. 4 Capt. Nay it is already garrilon’d.

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76 Ha m let, Prince of Denmark.

4 TJcitti . Two thoufand Souls, and 2gcco Ducats ‘ Will not debate the Quekicn of this flraw;

4 This is th’tlmpokhume of much Wealth and Peace/

4 That inward breaks, and kiews no caufe without 4 Why the Man die3. _^I humbly thank you, Sir.

4 Capt. God be w’yo^Sir.

4 £$/. Will’t pleafe you go, my J^ord ?

4 Ffo;w. Til be with you ftraight; go a little before.

[£.*■*»«*.

4 How ail Occafionyio inforyn againk me,

4 And fpur m y tSSsfcylirt get- What is a Man,

4 Jf his chief Goodyand Market of his time,

4 Be but to keep and feed ? a Beall, no more.

4 Sure,he,that made us with fuch large Difcourfe,

4 Looking before, and aftex, gave us not 4 That Capability and God like Reafcn 4 To full in us unus’d t Ifow whether it be 4 Beitial Oblivion, or fome craven Scruple 4 Of thinking too preeifely on th’ Event,

♦ A ThoughLwhich^quarter’d, hath butene partWifdom, 4 And, even three parts Coward tJ do not know

4 Wiiy yet I live to fay ffiis thing’s to do.

4 Sith I have Caufe, and Will, and Strength, and Means 4 To do’t. Examples, grofs as Earth, exhort me;

4 Witnefs this Army of fuch Mafs and Charge,

4 Led by a delicate anL tender Prince,

4 Whofe Spirit with ‘Ambition puft,

4 Makes mouths at the invifible Event;

4 Expofmg what is mortal and unfure 4 To all tnat Mrof Death and, Danger dare,

4 Even for an Egg lhell. ’Trs^sot' to be great,

• Noiw- to itir without great Argument;

‘ ^ut -greatly te4H*d^Quarrel in a iliaw*

4 W h l 11 I ii jno u id at the -fefee* How ftand I, then,1 4 That have a Father kill’d, a Mother ftain’d,

4 Excitements of my Reafon and my Blood,

_L And let all keep? while,- -to my kiamo^I fee 4 The imminent Death of twenty thoufand Men,

4 That, for a Phantafy and Trick of Famey 4 Go to their Graves like Beds; fight for a Plot 4 Whereon the Numbers cannot try the Caufe,

4 Which

.V2

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nz:.

is^-e., **

Haml et, Prince of Danmark. 77

Which is not Tomb enough, and Continent, | To hide the SlainOQJrom this time forth. My Thoughts br^S^^or^ae. nothing worth !

Enter Queen^jjdoratio, Queen. I will not fpeak with She is importunate; Indeed, diftradfid,*‘

her.

pit£e^ .

~<ls> .j>^r

Queen. What would fhe have ?

Mrtgxzt. She fpeaks much of her Father; fay9,fhe hears There’sT ricks i’th’ World; and hems, and beats her Heart; Spurns envioufly at Straws; fpeaks things in doubt,

That carry but half Senfe; her Speech is nothing;

Yet the unfhaped Ufe of it doth move The Hearers to Colledion; * they aim at it,

* And botch the Words up fit to their own Thoughts; Which, asherWinks, and Nodi, and Gefturesyield them,

* Indeed would make one think there might be Thought, Tho1 nothing fure, yet much unhappily.

Max^ ’Twere good fhe were fpoken with, for fhe may ftrew

Dangerous Conjedures in ill-breeding Minds. _ t^ LetJier come in.

* Queen . To my fick Soul, as Sin’s true Nature is, c Each Toy feems Prologue to fome great amifs;

* So full of artiefs Jealoufy is Guilt, ^

* It fpills itfelf in fearing to be fpilt.

Oph. Where is the beauteous Majefly o? Denmark? Queen. How now, Ophelia ? [She Jings.

Oph. How fhould I your true Love know from ano- ther one? '

By his cockle Hat and Staff, '^nd % his Sandal Shoon.

* Queen. Alas, fweet Lady, what imports this Song? Oph . Say you? nay, pray you^mark :

He is dead and gene , Lady^He is dead and gone ; [Sings. Jit his Head a Grafs-green TurfS jft his Heels a Stone, Oy hot ‘

Queen. Nay, but, Ophelia >

Oph. Pray you, mark.

D 3

White

7 8 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Queen.

White his Shroud as the Mountain Snow,

Larded all with fweet Flowers;

Which, beweptj to the Ground did go,

With true~Love- Showers.

Enter King.

Alas, look here, my Lord.

King. How .do y°i> Lady ?

Oph. Well/good W)'ou, they- -fey the --Owl wac a BftkerV-Baughtcr t we know what we are, but know^. not what we may be.

King. Conceit upon her Father.

Oph. Pray letj^ have no words of this,- but, when they ycu what it means, fay you this:

a;k

KTtrt

[Sings^

r&r

fFnfbe V alentine. - King. Pretty Ophelial

Oph. Indeed without an Oath, Pll make an end on-t. ^

rr up hrr loft, — ami djnil l is CloThi’S , Aildr-TfedArk Chamber- Door ;

that out a Maid never departed more . 1

* By Gis dnThdySaint Charily , f Alack and fyJbKjkame,

* Young Men will do tdf^tkeycome to

‘ By cock they are to blamef [wed.

Quoth Jhe , Before you tumbled me. you prdmidd me to ( He anfwers ) So Jhould I have done , byyonde:

-And- thou had Jh -not- come, to- -my Bed.

King. How long hath fhe been thus ?

Oph. I hope all will be well#‘U€ muft be patient : but I cannot chufe but weep, to think they would lay him ikh’ cold Ground ; my Brother fnall know of it; and,fo,

I thank you for your good Counfel

Come, my Coach, good night, Ladies; good-night.

Sweet Ladies; good night, good-night. [TLv/h

King. Follow her clofe, give her good watch, I pray you i O, this is the Poifon of deep Gjjgf) Jtjpnngy hK**.

All from her Father’s Deat h.J O Gertrude? Gertrude,

6 When Sorrows come, they come not fingle Spies,

But

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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 79

* But in Battalions! TTrft, her Father ilain;

* Next, your Son gone; and he mod violent Author'

* Of his own jud Remove; the People muddied,

4 Thickand unwholfom in their Thoughts and Whifpers

* For good Polonius' Death; and we have done bu: greenly, • 4 Obfcurely to inter him ; poor Ophelia

* Divided from her felf and her fair Judgment;

* Without which we are but Pi&ufes, or mere Beads.

* Lad, and as much containing as all there,

* Her Brother is, in fecret,come from France;

4 Feeds on Jhis Wonder, keeps himfelf in Clouds,

‘ And wants no: to infect his Ear

* With pehilent Speeches of his Father’s Death ;

‘ Wherein neceffity, of matter beggar’d.

Will nothing dick our Perfons to arraign ‘ In ear and ear. Q; my dear Gertrude , this,

4 Like to a murdering piece, in many places 4 Gives me fuperfluous Death/ [4 Noife within:

Enter^G entlernan.

^^^Alack, what Noife is this? [door.

Kingyfv/hkre are rny Swiften ? let them guard the What is the matter ?

G nt. 4 Save your felf, my Lord.

4 The Ocean over-peering of his Lid,

* Eats not the Flats with moue impetuous hade

* Than’ young Laertes^ in a riotous head,

O’er-bears your Officers j The Rabble call him Lord:

* And^as the World were now but to begin, 3

* Antiquity forgot, Cuflom not known,

4 The Ratifiers and Props of every ward,

* They cry, fhufc we Laertes for our Kin a/

Caps, Hands, and Tongues applaud it to the Clouds, • Laertes jhall be King, Laertes King/ ^rr«rnDovvThSrfu!ly on the falfe Trail they cry]

[4 Noife within.

O^this is counter, you falfe Danijb Dogs !

4 King. The Doors are broke.

■ Laer. within. Where is thesKing? Sirs, flandyoual!

without. 7

All. No, let’s come in.

Laeft

So Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Laer. I pray yomgive me leave. j4H. We will, we will.

Laer. I thank you;^keep the Door.

Enter Laertes.

O, thou vile King, give me my Father.

Queen. Calmly, good Laertes .

betti\ Thttrdrop~'of Blood

Gcire PnckaId--to-my Father,

That a cainr,- pr ■oc -brand-s the Bailor.

lannrmt

Esm-kcrr-bctwccn the chaflc. unfmitched Brows v true Mother,.

King. What is the Caufe, Laertes ,

That thy Rebellion looks fo Giant- like? .

Let hiip go, Gertrude j do not fear our Perfon ;

There*! fuch hedge a King,

That Treafon at what it would,

* Adis little of his Will.^Tell me, Laertes ,

* Why thou art thus incens’d?’ let him go, Gertrude- Speak, Man.

Laer. Where is my Father?

King. Dead.

Queen. But not by him.

King. Let him demand his fill.

?*s-44ewTUinL he duRd-fT'irTiol be juggled-wkh-; To^fc Vows to the blackeft Devil,

* Cor ace to the profoundeft Pit,

‘ I di ’To this point I Hand,

That ds I give to Negligence,

Let c< NQnly I’ll be reveng’d

Moll throughly for

King. Who fhall flay you1 Laer. My Will, not all the And for my Means, 1 11 husband them Thry-ftiaH 'gtrfar with littleT

Will you in revenge of your

Dear Father’s Death, dellroy both Friend and Foe ? Laer. None but his Enemies.

King. Will you know thenv,then ?

Laer. Tohis good Friends thus wide^Pll ope my Arms;* And^like the kind Life-rendering Pelican,

RefeaSfcthem. with my Blood.

King

Hamlet^ Prince of ’ Denmark. $ t

King. Why, now you fpeak Like a good Child, and a true Gentleman.

That I am guiltlefs of your Father’s Death,

And am molt fenfibly in Grief for it,

It fhall as level to your Judgment^s^

As Day does to your eye.

Within. O poor Ophelia .

Laer. Let her comein.

Enter Ophelia.

HEfow hmw? what Noifo io-dra-t-*

np my Rrninr j Tp'irs-fwen-timm ftdfcj

HBura-out the S-enfc and Virtue of mine eye.

thy-jvfedneio fhsjll ht paid with weight, ^Pritrrui Suilo-tuni thcHjCuiiil. O Rofe of May !

Dear Maid ! kind Sifter, fweet Ophelia !

O Heavens ! is’t poftible avpung Maid’s Wits Should be as mortal as T MMan’s Life l

Oph. They bore him harefac d on the Bier ; [Sings%

And in his Grave rain d ?nany a Tear;

Fare you vs ell. mv D&rvel

Laer. Hadftthou thy Wits, and didft pe'rfuade Revenge, It could not move thus.

Oph. You muft fing frjown. a- down.

AnSt you call him a-down-a. O.hovv the Wheel becomes it ! It is the falfeSteward,that ftolehis Mafter’s Daughter. Laer. This nothingfs mack more than matter.

Oph. There’s Rofemary, that’s for Remembrance ; pray you, Love, remember : and there's Pansies, that’s for Thoughts. ^

Laer. A Document in Maanefs; Thoughts and Re- membrance fitted.

Oph. There’s Fennel for you, and Columbines ;diere’s Rue for you; and here’s fome for me^we may 'call it Herb of Grace o’ Sundays; O you may wear your Rue with a difference. -^There’s a Daily : would give you

fome Violets, *but they wither’d all when my Father died: they fay he made a good end, — *

For honny fives t Robin is all my Joy. *(**4%\Sings. Laer. Thought^ and Affliction^, Pafflon, HdLit fei t'3 She turns to Favour and to Prettinefs» A

£> 5 Oph.

Soujs. .

\£itn

#2 Hamlet,, Prince of Denmark.

Oph. And iviH he not came again ? [Sings.

And will he not come again ?

No , no , he is deadafo to thy Death-Bed,

He never will comeagkin.

His Beard was as white as Snow ;

All flaxen was his Polf ;

He is gone , he is gone,\And we cafl away moan:

And peace be with bis Soul} And with all bvv.

King . Laertes, I muil: -iliai trill your Grief,

Or you deny my Right r'gp but apart.

Make choice of whon^your wifeft Friends, you will.

And they (hall hear and judge ’twixtyou and me ; ifjby direct or by collateral Hand,

They find us touch’d, we will our Kingdom give,

‘ Our Crown, our Life, and all that we call ours,

T o you in Satisfadlion : but,if not,

Be you content to lend your Patience to us.

And we fhaiL jointly labour with your Soul,

To give it due content.

Lser. Let this be fo.

His Means of Death, his obfcure Funeral, — - No Trophy, Sword, or Hatchment o’er his Bones,

No noble Rite, nor formal Oftentation, - —

Cry to be heard as \ were from Earth to Heaven,

That I mull calLm queftion.

King. So you mall ;

And where th’ Offence is, let the great Ax fall-r*

I pray you go with me. [Exeunt,

Enter Horatio and Gentlemen.

Hor . they, that would fpeak with me ? _

Gen. Sir; they fay they have Letters

for you.

v Hor; Let them come in i .

I do not know from what part of the World I jhould be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet .

Enter two Sailors .

Sail. Saye.ymi,

Si

2 Sail..

TL .

3S3L .

H aml e t, Prince- of Denmark. £3

2. Sail. Tfereia^ Letter^ for you, * Sir? cornea

* fromtheAmbaffadoiythat for England; if your *

Name be Horatio , as*»ee am

Hor.( [reads the Letter.")

Horatio, when thou Jhalt have over -looked this , give thefe Fellows fome means to the King , they have Letters for him. Ere we were two days old at Sea, a Pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chafe. Finding our /elves too flow of Jail, we put on comp ell' d Valour; and,

in the Grapple y 1 boarded them : on the inf an t^ they got clear of our Ship ; mtd fo 1 alone became their Prifoner. They have dealt with me like Thieves of Mercy; but they knew what they did ; I am to do a good turn for them. Let the King have the LeJJersA have fent, and repair thou to me with as much fp±d as thou wouldf fy Death. I have w: rds to /peak in thine ear will make thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the matter. Thefe good Fellows will bring thee where I am. Rofen- era ptLantf Guildenftern hold their them I have much to tell thee. Farewel.y^

Come, I wil]*fi®tyou way for thefe your Letters;

And do’t the fpeedier, that you may direft me Tohimfrpm whom you brought them. [Exeunt. ‘

Enter King and Laertes.

King. Now muft your Confidence my Acquittance leal* - And you mull put me in your Heart for Friend,

Si^&'you have heard, and with a knowing Ear,

That he, who hath your noble Father flain,

Purfu’d my Life.

Laer. It well appears : but tell me,

Whjryou proceeded jiot again!! thefe Crimos So^capi^rin^mture,

* As,by your Safety, Greatnefs, Wifdom, all things elfe, ‘You mainly were flirr’d up.

KingOjF or two fpeciql Reafons,

Which may perhaps, to’you, feem weak,

But yet to me they’re ftrong ; the Queen,his Mother,

Lives almoftby his Looks ; and for my .felf,

(My Virtue,or my Plague, be it either^Ct^ ^J Shi is fo ptaeiotis to my Life and Soul, »

ThaS^

84 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark >

That as^tf Star moves not but in his Sphere,

I could not but by her. The other Motive;

Why to a publick Count I might not go,

Js,the great Love him,

Who,dipping all his ^Faults in their Affe&ion,

Wotrclike the Spring that turneth Wood to Stone,

* Convert his Gyves to GracejTo that my Arrows 4 Too fllghtly timbefcl for fo loud a Wind,

4 Would have reverted to my Bow again,

4 And not where I had aim’d them.

Laer. And,fo,i have a noble Father loft ;

A Sifter driven into defperate Terms;

Whofe Worth, if Praifes may go back again.

Stood Challenger on the Mount of all the Age For her Perfections : but my Revenge will come.

King. Break not your Sleejffer that, you mull not think , That we. are made of Stuff fo flat and dull,

That we can let our Beard be fhook with Danger,

And think it paftime : you fhortly fhall hear more.

I lov’d your Father, and we love our felf;

4 And that,! hope, will teach you to imagine,' ■

Enter a MeJJcnger 4 Flow now! what News?

Meff. Letters, my Lord, from Hamlet. ‘ Th«f$ to

* your Majefty: This to the Queen.

King. From Hamlet 7 who brought them $

Meff. Sailors, my Lord, they fay; I faw them not; They were given me by Claudio , he received them Of him that brought them.

King. Laertes , you fhall hear them; \eave\it.[Ex.Mef. High and Mighty , you J hall know I am fet naked on your Kingdoms 15 morrow Jhall I heg leave to fee your kingly Eyes : when I fhall^frft , asking your pardon , thereunto recount the Occafon of my fudden * and mc^ef range' Re- turn. " Hamlet.

What fhould this mean? are all the reft come back?

Or is it fome Abufe^jarf no fuch thing ?

Laer. Know you the Hand ?

King. ’Tis Hamlet’ s Charadler. Naked 1

And in a Poft^pript here he fays, alone ;

y Cafl

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Can you advife me ?

Laer. I’m loft in it, my Lord ; but let him come.

It warms the very Sickneft ■ ■ H~art,

That I fhall live, and teii him to his teeth.

Thus didiT thou.

King. *lf it be fo, Laertes ,

As how fhculd it befo f— how otherwife ? - —

Will you be rul’d by me ?

Laer. Ay, my Lord, fo you will not o’er- rule me to & Peace.

KLng. To thine own Peace-rTf he be now return’d, — Asffing his Voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it>vI will work him To an Exploit, now ripe in my Device,

Ur.der the which he fhall not choofe but fall/

And for his Death no Wind of Blame fhall breathe/

But even his Mother fhall uncharge the Practice,

And call it Accident.

Laer. My Lord, I will be rul’d,*

The rather if you would devife it fo.

That I might be the feftrament.

King. It fails right :

You have been talk’d of,fince your travel. much.

And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a Quality Wherein, they fay,you fliine ; your Sum of Parts

* Did not together pluck fuch Envy from him,

‘ As did that one, and that, in my regard,

‘ Of the unworthieft Siege.

Laer. What par^sthat, my Lord ?

King. A veryl^StSer* in the Cap of Youth,

Yet needful too,* * for Youth no lefs becomes ‘ The light and carelefs Livery that it wears,

* Than fettled Age his Sables, and his Weeds,

* Importing Health and Gravenefs.LTwo months fince

Here was a Gentleman of Normandy ,

J,ve feen my felf, and ferv’d againft,the French,

And they can well on Horfeback: but this Gallant Had Witchcraft in’t; he grew unto his Seat;

And . to fuch wondrous doing brought his Horfe,

As he had been incorps’d and demi-natur’d

$6 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

With the brave Bead: To far he topt my Thought*

That I*in Forgery of Shapes and Tricks,

Camelhort of what he did.

Laer. A Norman^^t ?

King. A Norman.

Laer. Hpon my life, Lamound.

King. The very fame.

Laer. I know him well; he is indeed, J The Gem of all the Nation. ^

King. He made confeffion of you;

And gave you fuch a maderly Report For Art and Exercife in your Defence,

And for your Rapier mod efpecially,

That he cry’dout, ’twould be^a fight indeed,

If one could match you : their Natio»

He l^rae had neither Motion, Guard, nor Eye,

If you oppos’d them. Sir, this Report of his Did Hamlet fo envenom with his Envy,

That he could nothing do, but wifh and beg Your fudden coming o’er, to play with him.

Now, out of this,- — —

Laer. What out of this, my Lord ?

King. Laertes , was your Father dear to you ?

Or are you like the Painting of a Sorrow, j A Face without a Heart?

Laer. Why ask you this ?

King. Not that I think you did not love your Father,

‘ But that I knov^Love is begun by Time,

‘ And that I fee/in Pafiages of Proof, e Time qualifies the Spark and Fire of it;r ‘ There lives within the very Flame of Love 1 . * A kind of Wick, or Snuf£ that will abate it;

‘ And nothing is at a like Goodnefs dill ;

‘ For Good nefs^ growing to a Pleurify,

‘ Dies in his own tco-much : what we would do,

‘We diould do when we would; for this would changes, ‘ And hath Abatements and Delays as many.

* As there are Tongues, are Hands, are Accidents }

• Andythen,this Jbould is like a fpend-thrift Sigh,

‘ That hurts by eafing. ’ But to the bufincfs.

Hamlet.

-

i

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark . 87

Hamlet comes back ; what would you undertake To fiiew your felf indeed your Father’s Son More than in words ?

Laer . To cut his Throat i’thJChurch.

King. No place, indeed, ihould prnteih=a Murder^ Revenge ihould have no bounds: but, .good Laertes,

Keep clofe within your Chamber ;

K*/;*/^return’d,lhall know you are come home.

We’ll put on thofe (hall praife your Excellence,

And fet a double Varnifh on the Fame T Frenchman gave you; bring you, in fine, together*. And wager ofrryour Heads : he, being remifs,

Mok generous, and free from all contriving,

Will not perufe the Foils ; So that, with eafe.

Or with a little kiuffling, you may choofe A Sword unbated, and, ‘ in a pafs of practice )

Requite him for your Father)* Death,

Laer. I will do’t;

And/or the purpofc., I’ll anoint my Sword:

I bought an Undtion of a Mountebank,

So mortal, that,but dip a Knife in it.

Where it draws Blood, no Cataplafm fo rare,

Colle&ed from all Simples that have Virtue Under the Moon, can fave the thing from Death >

That is but fcratch’d withal : I’ll touch my Point With this Contagion; that, if I gall him kightly.

It may be Death.

King. Let’s further think of this;

* Weigh, what Convenience, both of Time and Means, a May fit us to our Shape. If this Ihould fail,

* And that our Drift look thro’ our bad Performance, ,

* ’Twere better not elfay’d. Therefore this projeft

* Should have a Back or Second that might hold

4 If this Ihould blak in proofttfoft; — let me fee:— - 4 We’ll make a folemn Wager on your Cunnings/—

I have’t; whemin your Motion., you are hot and dry,

(As make your Bouts more violent to that end,/

And that he calls for Drink, I’ll have prejjJerfd him A Chalice for the^p5g§^e; whereon but taking,

<>if;

f

88 H a m l e t, Prince of Denmark.

If he by chance efcape your i^venom’d Sword, LtzfeadiisTtesrh. But. flay, what noife ?

&JL4~C~ * '

nM " Enter Queen.

*>%-*->**,

Queen. One Woe doth tread upon another’s heel.

So faft they follow i^cur Sifler’s drown’d, Laertes . Laer. Drown’d! O where? ^ M

Queen, There is a Willow grow’ftjgao^er ^ Brook, That ftiews his hoar\ Leaves Pthfeglafly Stream;

fantaftick Garlands fhe did make Of Crow-flowers, Nettles, Dailies, and long Purples, ^■That liberal Shcphcrdo give a groflhi Name1,

*— Pin nnr rnM M.i-dwiln lIhmtI Tri-enn Fin goes ralL^m/ jfasL These on the pendent Boughs her Coronet- weeds ^ Clambering to hang, an envious Stiver broke; When,down^ her weedy Trophies and her felf Fell in the weeping Brook : ‘ her Clothes\fpread wide;

* And,Mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up,

* Which time,lhe chanted Remnants cf old "

‘As one incapable of her own Diflrefs,

‘ Or like a Creature native and endued

* Unto that Element; but, long it could not be,

‘ Till that her Garmjng, heavy with their Drink,

‘ Pull’d the "gent ffTMsM from lier melodious Lay ‘To muddy Death. ^ /

Laer. Alas, then ! is {he drown’d f Queen. Drown’d, drown’d.

Laer. Too much of Water haft thou, poor OpheUa; And, therefore^! forbid my Tears : but,yet,

‘ It is our trick,*’ Nature her Cuftom holds,

Let Shame fay what it will; ‘ when thefe are gone. The Woman will be out. Adieu, my Lord,'

I havef a^Flfe.that fain would blaze,

But that this Folly drowns it. \Exitl

King. Let’s follow, Gertrudei How iquch had I to do to calm his Rage!

Now I fear, this will give it ftart again;

Therefore let’s follow.

ACf

y

2^

V ~<S C-c. LV >v^it y^^pv^-r

Ha mlit, Prince of Denmark. 8 c

ACT V. SCENE I.+^-

Enter two Grave-diggers.

I Gray. \S fhe- to-be-buried in Ch rift km Burial, whe«? wilfully feeks her own Salvation ?

2 Gray. I\ell thee Ihe is, therefore make her Grave ftraiaht ; the C^wner hath fet on her, and finds it Chrif- tian Burial.

1 Gray. How W that be, unlefs Ihe drown’d herfelf . in her own Defence'

2 Gray. Why ’tis^found fo.

1 Gray. It mull Be V? offendendo , it cannot be elfe : for here lies the point, iKl drown my felf wittingly, it argues an Aft ; and an Ackhath three Branches, it is to aft, to do, and to perform r^rgal, Ihe drown’d herfelf wittingly.

2 Gray. Nay, but hear, you )^podman Delver.

1 Gray. Give me leave ; here the Water, good .

here hands the Man, good ; if the Man go to this Wa- ter, and drown himfelf, it is will he, mil he; he goes, mark you that : but if the Water com*, to him and

drown him, he drowns not himfelf ; argal, nkthat iS not guilty of his own Death, fhortens not his owiNfdfe.

2 Gray. But is this Law ?

1 Gray. Ay marry is’t, Crowner’s Queft-Law.

2 Gray. Will you have the truth on’t? if not been a Gentlewoman, fhe fhould have been bi without Chriftian Burial.

1 Gray. Why there thou fay’d ; and the more pi that great Folk fhould have countenance intthisWorld

rlrrem tariff thpmOlv^ mnrp -fW> I Come, my

Spade, there is noantient Gentlemen butGardeners,Ditch- ers, and Grave -daggers ; they hold up +4 dam sProkffion.

2 Gray. Was he a Gentleman ?

1 Gray. He was the firft that ever bore Arms.

2 Gray. Why, he had none.

/ i Gray .

\S i -s 1

i j 1

^ f 1

* * ,

9° Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

1 Gray. What, art a Heathen ? how doft'thou under-

(land the Scripture? the Scripture fays Adam digg’d, could he dig without Arms? I’ll put another Queftion to thee, if thou anfvvereft me not to the purpofe, confefs thyfelf

2 Gray. Go to.

1 Grav. What is he that builds Wronger than either the Mafon, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter ?

2 Gray. The Gallows- maker, for that frame out-lives a thoufand Tenants.

I Gray. I like thy Wit well ; the Gallows does well; but how does it well ? It does well to thofe that do ill; now thou doll ill to fay the Gallows is built Wronger than the Church : argal, the Gallows may do well to thee. To’t again? W& /-

2 Gray. Wh^ builds ftroager than^ Mafon, ^Ship- wright, orX&tCarpenter ?

1 Gray. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.

2 Gray. Maay, Mow I can tell.

1 Gray. T ffc.

2 Gray. cannot tell.

i Gray. Cudgel thy Brains no more about it; for your dull Afs wiil not mend his pace with beating ; anc^ when thou art ask'd, this Queftion next fay a Grave-

<£^er; the Houiespie makes laft till Dcomfday.

Go get theejjs* and^fetch me a Stoop of Liquor.

* [Exit 2 Gray.

In Youth, when 1 did love, did loye, [Sing3.

Me thought it was y*ry fweet,

To contra^ Q, the time^for, afmy be hoys,

O methought there was nothing meet.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

Ham. Has this Fellow no feeling in his Bunnefs, that he lings r* Grave-making ?

Hor. Cuftom hath made it in him a Property of Eafinels. Ham. ’Tis e en fo; the Hand of little Employment hath the daintier Senfe.

Gray. But Age}with dealing [Sings.

Hath clawed me in his Clutch ,

And hath Jhipped me into the Land \

As if I neytr had been fuch.

Ham.

H a m l e t, Prince of Denmark, 9*

Ham. That Scull had a Tongue in it, and could ling once; how the Knave jowls it to the Ground, as if ’twere Cains Jaw-bone, that did the liift Murder! this might be the Pate of a Politician, ‘ which this Afs now o^er-

* reaches; one that would circumvent Meases/ might it not ?

Bor. It might, my Lord.

‘ Ham. Or of a Courtier, which could fay, (good-mor- ‘ row, my Lord, how doll thou, fweet Lord ? This might

* be my Lord fucbh a- one, thafprahed my~ Lord fuch-a- ‘ one’s Horfe.when he went to bevJam; might it not?

* y Lord.

* Ham? Why, e’en fo-, and, now, ^ myLgdy Worm's; e chaplefs,and knock’d about the MazzarS^t? a Sexton’s

* Spade; ’ here’s a line Revolution, ani( ‘ we had the \ trick to fee’tr’ Jffid thefe Bones coil no more the breed' ing/but to play at Loggats with them ? mine ake to think on’t.

Qrav. A Pickax , and a Spade, a Spade ,

Forman a a Jhr&miding Sheet;

O ! a Pit of Clay for to he made For fuch a Gutji is meet.

Ham. There’s another; why may not that be the Scull of a Lawyer ? Where be his Quiddities now ? his Quilli- t»s, his Cafes^ jus 1 Tenures, and his Tricks? Why does he fuller this Knave now to knock him about the Sconce with a dirty Shovel, and will not tell him of his A £1 ion f of Battery? Humpfthis Fellow might be in’s time a great Buyer of Land, with his Statutes, his Re- cognizances, his Fines, his double Vouchers, his Reco- veries : ‘ Is this the Fine of his Fines, and the Reco-

* very of his Recoveries, to have his line Pate full of c fine Dirt ? ’ Will his Vouchers voueh him no more of his Purchafes(and DoubfeJ) than the Length and Breadth of a pair of Indentures ? T he very Conveyances of his Land will fcarcely lie in this Box; and muft the Inheri- tor himfelf have no more ? ha !

Her. Not a jot more, my Lord.

‘ Ham. Is not Parchment made of Sheep-skins ?

6 Her. Ay, my Lord, and of Calvs|&kms too.

Ham.

p2, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Ham. * They are Sheep, and Calves^ whip ieek out Af-

* furance in that.’ 1 will fpeak to this Fellow: Whofe Grave’s this. Sirrah?

Grav. Mine, Sir — Ob ! a.Pit of Clay for to be made /

~ ■**"*>. \Siugt.

Ham. I think itT thine indeed, far thou ly’ft in’t.

Grav. You lie out on’t, Sir; and., therefore, ’tis not yours: for my part, I do not lie in’t, yet i£s mine.

Ham. Thou doft lye in’t, to be in’t, and fay it is thine; ’tis for the Dead, not for the Quick* therefore, thou t ly’ft.

Grav, ’Tis a quick Lye, Sir ; ’twill^again/rom me to you.

Ham. What Man doft thou dig it for ?

Grav. For no Man, Sir.

Ham. What Woman, then ?

Grav. For none^ neither.

Ham. Who is’t to be buried in’t?.

Grav. One that was a Woman, Sir ; but, reft her Soul, file’s dead.

Ham. How abfolute the Knave is ? we muft fpeak by the Card, or Equivocation will undo us. Horatio , thjsethree Years I have tafk^notfte of it; * the Age is

* grown fo picked,’ that the toe of the Peafant comes fo near the heel of the Courtier, he galls his Kibe. — How long haft thou been a Grave- maker?

Grav. Of all the Days i’th’ Year, I came to’t that Day our laft King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.

Ham. How long^ Js that fince ?

Grav. Cannot you tell that?. Every Fool can tell that; it was that very day that young Hamlet was born, he that is mad, and fent into England. .

Ham. Ay. why was he fent into England ?

Grav. Why ! becaufe he was mad; he {hall recover his Wits there; or, if he do not, ’tis no great matter there.

Ham. Why ?

Grav. ’Twill not be feen in him there; thers the Men are as mad as he.

Ham. How came he mad ?

Grav. Very ftrangely, they fay.

Ham.

Hamlet, ‘Prince of Denmark.

Ham. I± ftrangely ?

Gran:, tSm e'en with lofing his Wits.

Ham. Upon what ground?

Grav. Why; here in Denmark ; where I have been Sextory'Man and Boy, thirty Years.

l^ng W’ll a M-anl^V^7 T7.-irf^ 1 " p-'1 |» ■■'V* *

Gr^^h|aith if he be not rotten before he die, as we have ny.ny a^rckyCorfethatwill fcarce hold the laying in, he will laft yon forfrs^ight Years, or nine Years: a Tanner will laft you nine xetti^.

Ham. Why he more than anoUK?t,'£Vt^

Grav. Why, Sir, his Hide is fo tann’ot^tfjjiis T rade, that he will keep out Water a great while T^hd^our Wfltor is a forc-Decayor of your wharefon dead-Bo^t Here’s a Skull tow hath lien y-eu- i’th’ Earth three and twenty Years.

Ham. Whofewasit?

Grav. A whorefoa mad Fellow it was ; whofe do you think it was ?

Ham. Nay 1 know not. Jit.

Grav. A qaoftiienco on him -for-c. mad Rogue^ He pour’d a Flaggon of Rhenifn on my head once: This fame Skull, Sir, was Sir Torick's Skull, the King’s Jefter.

Hamt This?

Grav. Even that.

Ham. Alas) poor Torick ! I knew him, Horatio ; a Fel- low of infinite Jeft, of mod excellent Fancy ; he hath born me on his back a thoufancj times; * and, now, how

* abhorr’d in my Imagination is it ? my Gorge rifes at it.’ Here hung thofe Lips,that I havekifs’d I know not how cfu“Where be your Jibes nowf your Jeftsf your Songs,7 your Flafhes of Merriment, that were wont to fet the Table on*roar? Not one, now, to mock your ©wn grin- ning ? quite chopfaln ? Now get you to my Lady’s Table, and tell her, let her paint an Inch thick, to this Complex- ion fhemuft come; make her laugh at that.

Pr’ythee, Horatio , tell me one thing.

Hor. What’s that, my Lord ?

Ham. Doft thou think Alexander look’d on this fafhion i’th' Eai th ?

Hor*

ter^.e

S>4 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Hor. E’en fo.

Ham. And fmelt To ? pah/ [ Smelling to the Skull. Hor. E’en fo, my Lord.

Ham. To what bafe Ufes we may return, Horatio ? Why may not Imagination trace the noble Dull of Alex- ander, tiil Jze' find it Hopping a Bung-hole?

Hor. ’Twere toconfider too curioufly, to confider fo. Ham. No fhrth, not a jot; but to follow him thither with Modefty ensugh, and likelihood to lead it/ As thus, Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander return- eth to Dull; the Duft is Earth, of Earth we make Lo1h£ and, why of that Lcimjj whereto he was converted, might they not Hop a Beer- barrel ?

JmperiSX'^/2?^ dead, and turn’d to Clay,

Might ft op a hole to keep the Wind away:

O that th« Earth, which kept the World in awe, Should patch a Wall t’expelthe Winter’s Flaw. fkateA&iivtTMtid diftmwz the King, Queen , Laertes and Priejf , with a Corfe.

But Toft, but foft awhile, here comes the King,

And ^^fuch^mamtd PJujK Th^ doth bTiwken0^ The-Corfc they follow did with defpefate-hand ^Billiuy its -own Life-; ‘^Twere of fome EHate : a while, and mark.

Laer. Whst Ceremony eife?

Ham. That is Laertes , a very noble Youth: a.*-

Wiiat Ceremony -

Her Obfequies have been as far enlarg’d As vve^tiHye Warranty; her Death was doubtful,

And but tn^great Command o’er-fways the Order-,

She fhould in C^ound unfan<ftify’d be lodg’d ;

For charitable I

Flints and Pebbles fhdtsld be thrown upon her :

Yet here fhe is allow’d r^j- Virgin Rites,

Her Maiden Strewments Of Bell and Burial.

Laer. Mull there no more beMene?

Priejl. No more:

We fnould profane the Service of the

the bringing home

Ta

t

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, pf

Trfoya Terrir-Rufl, to ter

4a V' pr'™ pT--pri

Laer. Lay her i’th’ Earth,

And from her fair and unpolluted Flelh . ,

May Violets fpring : f-te& thce-ehsrlifh Pried,

I A-miniic. ing AngtH fnaH~rny Si'def bf, » .

> Wifgn* 1 * * 4 thou Herb- howling-.

Ham . What! the fair Ophelia!

Queen. Sweets to the Sweet; farewel/

[Throws in a Garland of Flowers.

' I hop’d thou fiiouldft have been my Hamlet's Wife;

I thought thy Bride-bed to have deck’d, fweet Maid,

And not have flrew’d thy Grave.

Laer. O treble Woe !

Fall* ten times double on tnatrc'irigd Hnd,

Whuferwickcd Deed's depnTari''ihtg t l ! Thy moft ingcni^i^^-errhs: hold off the Earth awhile,

! Tiif I have caught hef-onee

i r *n the-Graaie,

Nmv pile yonr Lhifp-upon the-QnjJr and Dead^

Titi 'of thin. Flat u Mountain yz\ have mado TVrrtop nlil Pc/' , orth--1;'0! TT— t Qf hlnn O1 m/ri r -

Ham. What is he, whofe Grief Bears fuch an Emphaiis7 whofe Phrafe of Sorrow «a»diiuii"Suis and-

Hamlet the Dane.

L-aer. Perdition catch thee ! [Grappling with him. Ham. Thou pray’d not well;

I pr’ythee take thy Fingers from my Throat,

Fo^ tho’ I am not fplenative and rafh,

Yet have I in me fomething dangerous,

Which let thy Wifdojn fear— Hold ©ff thy Hand.

King. Pluck them afunder.

4 Queen. Hamlet , Hamlet.

* All. Gentlemen.

Her. Good my Lord, be quiet.

Ham Why I wilHtght with him upon this Theme? Until iny-Eydid^-wiiHi'J lungerwag*

mgfara them . -flat kF ,

\-b~ate-ipT the Gr-qz+A.

Queen ,

Hamle t, Prince of Denmark.

Qumt. 0- my Son ! what -Theme-?

Ham. I lov’d Ophelia ; forty thoufand Brothers • Could not^ with all their quantity of Love,

Make up my SumrJYhat wilt thou do for her?

King . O he is mad, Laertes.

£>ueen. Forbear him.

ep, wilt fight, wilt faft, wilt tear thy felf.

Wilt dhfikup Efd, eat a Crocodile ?

I’ll do’t. Doikthou come here to whine ?

To out-face me wrfhJeaping in her Grave?

Be buried quick with nh^and fo will I.

And if you prate of Mount^sOet them throw Millions of Acres on us, till our"

Singeing his Pate againft the burning^ne,

Make OJJa like a Wart : n3y, and thoinNmouth.'

3*11 rant n: wcfrag’ lliutrr^'* 1" ' — '

lOZtte&u This is mere Madnefsj And^thus,awhil^the Fit will work on him ;

Anon, as patient as dw-female Dove,

When firft her golden Couplets are difclos’d.

His Silence will fit drooping.

Ham. Hear you, Sir*

What is the reafon that you ufe me thus ?

I lov’d you ever : but it is no matter,

Let Hercules hinrfcUHlj uluL-frc, may.- Tho Cat wirt-mtiw; T Dog wltHr trnHri!r£Uy.

[Ex. Hara. and Hor.

King. I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him. Strengthen your Patience in our laft night’s Speech.

_ [To Laertes.

We’ll put the matter to the prefent pulh ;

Good Gertrude , fet fome watch over your Son.

This Grave fhall havealiving Monument :

‘ An hour of Quiet fhall we fee,

* Till then, in Patience our Proceedings be. [Exeunt. Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

Ham. So much for this, Sir, y^u fluill now fee the other You do remember all the Circumftance?

Hor . Remember it, my Lord ?

Ham

d '

• -• . - -

" 4\ > ..

3S-. . ^ ^ -

4>v^r . - . -i.-?:r' tA S/7 - <• >v

... *V / - ^ ? r.

\

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 97

Ham. Sir, in my Heart there was a kind of fighting That would not let me deep. ‘ Methought I lay

• Worfe than the Mutineffs in the Bilboes.Raftmef^/y.,

* ( And prais’d be Ralhnefs for i;)_J$t$ us know, ^

• Our Indifcretion fometimes ferves U9 well,

* When our deep Plots do|aiI: and that fhould us. There’s a Divinity that fhapes our Ends,

Rough hew them how we will.

Her. That is moft certain.

Ham. Up fromipy Cabin,

Qo4.Q-mum Hfrirrf ci Kru i f tno in fli.

. . l¥

To mine own Room again; making fo bold,

( My Fears forgetting Manner^) to unfold TJieir gpnd^ommiliion ; where I found, Herat is 7 An l^acl Command^ —

‘ Larded with many feveral forts of Reafons,

* Importing Denmark's Health, and England's too,

‘ With,hof fuch Bugs and Goblins in my Lifejz__

* That on the fupervife, no leifure bated,

0 No not to flay the grinding of an Axj&

That,foon as I to England came.

My Head fhould be ftruck off.

Hor. Is’t poffible?

Ham. Here’s the Commiflion; read it at more leifure. But wilt thou hear,, now, how I did proceed ?

Hor. I^beieech you.

Ham. Being thus be-netted round with Villain \£Sj Ere I could make a Prologue to my Brains,

They had begun the Play^J fat me down.

Devis’d a new CommiiTion,* wrote it fair.*

‘ I once did hold it, as our Statifls do,

‘ A Bafenefs to write fair, and labour’d much

* How to forget that Learning ; but, Sir, now

‘ It did me Yeoman’s Service.’ Wilt thou know ThfcEffettof what I wrote ?

Hor. Av, good my Lord.

Ham. An earneft Conjuration from the King, — _

As England was his faithful Tributary;

E

As

ft «/

A-

9 8 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

As Love between them like the Palm might flourilh.

As Peace Ihould Hill her wheaten Garland wear,

* And Hand a Commas ’tween their Amities;

* And many fuc^^Vof great Charge,—

TJ at,on the ViewA«FtKeuPContents,

Without debatement further, more,or lefs,

He ihould thefe Bearers put t« ludden Death,

<■ Not -Shriving time

Bor. How was this feai’d ?

Bam. ‘ Why even in that was Heaven ordinant :

I had my Father’s Signet in my Eeekefc./^^-rsre^

Which was the Model of that Danijh Seal;

I folded the Writ up in the Form of thjother, Subfcrib’d it,* gav’t th’ Impreffion; plac’d it fafely,

4 The Changeling never known : ’ Now; the next day Was our Sea-fight; and what to this was fequenc Thou know’ll already.

Bor. So Guildenjlcrti and Rofencrantg&zxA to’t.

Bam. 4 Why Man, they did make Love to this Em- ployment.

They are not near my Confcience; their Defeat Does by their own Infinuation^ grow ;

* ’Tis dangerous, when the bafer Nature comesj 4 Between the Pafs and fell incenfed Point

l Of mighty Oppofites.

Bor. Why, what a King is this f

Bam. Does it not, think you, (land me now upon ?

He that hath kill’d my King, aaSS^fery my Mother, Stept in between th’ Eleftion and my Hopes,

Thrown out his Angle for my proper Life,

And with fuch Cozenage, is’t not perfe& Confcience /

To let this Canker of our Nature come In further Evil ?

Htr. It mull be fhortly known to him from England, What is the ilTue of the Bufmefs there.

Bam. It will be Ihort.

The Interim £s mine; and a Man’s life’s no more Than to fay, one. ^

T But I am ver/y forry, good Horatio,

That

XL*,

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. 99

That to Laertes I forgot my felf ;

Fo^by the Image of my Caufe I fee The Portraiture of his; I’ll count his Favours r But,fure7the Bravery of his Grief did put me Into a towring Pallion.

Hor. Peace, who comes here ?

Enter Oftrick.

Oft. Your Lordfnip is right welcome back to Denmark! Ham. I humbly thank you, Sir.

Doll know this Water-Fly ?

Hor. No, my good Lord.

Ham. Thy Hate is the more gracious; for ’tis a Vice to know him; he hath much Land and fertile; let a Beafl be Lord of Bealls, and his Crib lhall Hand at the King's Mefs ; ’tis a Chough : but, as I laid, fpacious in the pof- feflion of Dirt.

Oft. Sweet Lord, if your Lordlhip were at leifure, I (hould impart a thing to you from his Majefty.

Ham. I will receive it. Sir, with all diligence of Spi- rit : your Bonnet to his right ufe; ’tis for the Head.

Oft. T thank your Lordlhip, ’tis very hot.

Ham. No, believe me, it is very cold; the Wind is Northerly.

Oft. It is indifferent cold, my Lord, indeed.

Ham. But, yet, methinks, it is very fultry and hot;

/or