The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

  King. I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.Exit Horatio    [To Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night'sspeech.    We'll put the matter to the present push. -    Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. -    This grave shall have a living monument.    An hour of quiet shortly shall we see;    Till then in patience our proceeding be.Exeunt

Scene II. Elsinore. A hall in the Castle

Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

  Ham. So much for this, sir; now shall you see the other.    You do remember all the circumstance?  Hor. Remember it, my lord!  Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting    That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay    Worse than the mutinies in the bilboes. Rashly-    And prais'd be rashness for it; let us know,    Our indiscretion sometime serves us well    When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn us    There's a divinity that shapes our ends,    Rough-hew them how we will-  Hor. That is most certain.  Ham. Up from my cabin,    My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark    Grop'd I to find out them; had my desire,    Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew    To mine own room again; making so bold    (My fears forgetting manners) to unseal    Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio    (O royal knavery!), an exact command,    Larded with many several sorts of reasons,    Importing Denmark's health, and England's too,    With, hoo! such bugs and goblins in my life-    That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,    No, not to stay the finding of the axe,    My head should be struck off.  Hor. Is't possible?  Ham. Here's the commission; read it at more leisure.    But wilt thou bear me how I did proceed?  Hor. I beseech you.  Ham. Being thus benetted round with villanies,    Or I could make a prologue to my brains,    They had begun the play. I sat me down;    Devis'd a new commission; wrote it fair.    I once did hold it, as our statists do,    A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much    How to forget that learning; but, sir, now    It did me yeoman's service. Wilt thou know    Th' effect of what I wrote?  Hor. Ay, good my lord.  Ham. An earnest conjuration from the King,    As England was his faithful tributary,    As love between them like the palm might flourish,    As peace should still her wheaten garland wear    And stand a comma 'tween their amities,    And many such-like as's of great charge,    That, on the view and knowing of these contents,    Without debatement further, more or less,    He should the bearers put to sudden death,    Not shriving time allow'd.  Hor. How was this seal'd?  Ham. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.    I had my father's signet in my purse,    which was the model of that Danish seal;    Folded the writ up in the form of th' other,    Subscrib'd it, gave't th' impression, plac'd it safely,    The changeling never known. Now, the next day    Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent    Thou know'st already.  Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.  Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this employment!    They are not near my conscience; their defeat    Does by their own insinuation grow.    'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes    Between the pass and fell incensed points    Of mighty opposites.  Hor. Why, what a king is this!  Ham. Does it not, thinks't thee, stand me now upon-    He that hath kill'd my king, and whor'd my mother;    Popp'd in between th' election and my hopes;    Thrown out his angle for my Proper life,    And with such coz'nage- is't not perfect conscience    To quit him with this arm? And is't not to be damn'd    To let this canker of our nature come    In further evil?  Hor. It must be shortly known to him from England    What is the issue of the business there.  Ham. It will be short; the interim is mine,    And a man's life is no more than to say 'one.'    But I am very sorry, good Horatio,    That to Laertes I forgot myself,    For by the image of my cause I see    The portraiture of his. I'll court his favours.    But sure the bravery of his grief did put me    Into a tow'ring passion.  Hor. Peace! Who comes here?

Enter young Osric, a courtier.

  Osr. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.  Ham. I humbly thank you, sir. [Aside to Horatio] Dost know this    waterfly?  Hor. [aside to Hamlet] No, my good lord.  Ham. [aside to Horatio] Thy state is the more gracious; for'tis a    vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile. Let a beastbe    lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess.'Tis    a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt.  Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I shouldimpart    a thing to you from his Majesty.  Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Putyour    bonnet to his right use. 'Tis for the head.  Osr. I thank your lordship, it is very hot.  Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly.  Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.  Ham. But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for mycomplexion.  Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as 'twere- Icannot    tell how. But, my lord, his Majesty bade me signify to youthat    he has laid a great wager on your head. Sir, this is thematter-  Ham. I beseech you remember.                           [Hamlet moves him to put on his hat.]  Osr. Nay, good my lord; for mine ease, in good faith. Sir, hereis    newly come to court Laertes; believe me, an absolutegentleman,    full of most excellent differences, of very soft society and    great showing. Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is thecard    or calendar of gentry; for you shall find in him thecontinent of    what part a gentleman would see.  Ham. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you; though, I    know, to divide him inventorially would dozy th' arithmeticof    memory, and yet but yaw neither in respect of his quick sail.    But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul ofgreat    article, and his infusion of such dearth and rareness as, tomake    true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror, and whoelse    would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more.  Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.  Ham. The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the gentleman in ourmore    rawer breath  Osr. Sir?  Hor [aside to Hamlet] Is't not possible to understand inanother    tongue? You will do't, sir, really.  Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentleman  Osr. Of Laertes?  Hor. [aside] His purse is empty already. All's golden words are    spent.  Ham. Of him, sir.  Osr. I know you are not ignorant-  Ham. I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did, it wouldnot    much approve me. Well, sir?  Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is-  Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in    excellence; but to know a man well were to know himself.  Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid onhim    by them, in his meed he's unfellowed.  Ham. What's his weapon?  Osr. Rapier and dagger.  Ham. That's two of his weapons- but well.  Osr. The King, sir, hath wager'd with him six Barbary horses;    against the which he has impon'd, as I take it, six French    rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers,and    so. Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy,    very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of    very liberal conceit.  Ham. What call you the carriages?  Hor. [aside to Hamlet] I knew you must be edified by themargent    ere you had done.  Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers.  Ham. The phrase would be more germane to the matter if we could    carry cannon by our sides. I would it might be hangers tillthen.    But on! Six Barbary horses against six French swords, their    assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages: that's theFrench    bet against the Danish. Why is this all impon'd, as you callit?  Osr. The King, sir, hath laid that, in a dozen passes between    yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits; he hath    laid on twelve for nine, and it would come to immediate trial    if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer.  Ham. How if I answer no?  Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.  Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall. If it please hisMajesty,    it is the breathing time of day with me. Let the foils be    brought, the gentleman willing, and the King hold hispurpose,    I will win for him if I can; if not, I will gain nothing butmy    shame and the odd hits.  Osr. Shall I redeliver you e'en so?  Ham. To this effect, sir, after what flourish your nature will.  Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship.  Ham. Yours, yours. [Exit Osric.] He does well to commend it    himself; there are no tongues else for's turn.  Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.  Ham. He did comply with his dug before he suck'd it. Thus hashe,    and many more of the same bevy that I know the drossy agedotes    on, only got the tune of the time and outward habit ofencounter-    a kind of yesty collection, which carries them through and    through the most fann'd and winnowed opinions; and do butblow    them to their trial-the bubbles are out,

Enter a Lord.

  Lord. My lord, his Majesty commended him to you by young Osric,who    brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall. He sendsto    know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that youwill    take longer time.  Ham. I am constant to my purposes; they follow the King'spleasure.    If his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now or whensoever,provided    I be so able as now.  Lord. The King and Queen and all are coming down.  Ham. In happy time.  Lord. The Queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to    Laertes before you fall to play.  Ham. She well instructs me.[Exit Lord.]  Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord.  Ham. I do not think so. Since he went into France I have beenin    continual practice. I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldstnot    think how ill all's here about my heart. But it is no matter.  Hor. Nay, good my lord -  Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gaingiving as    would perhaps trouble a woman.  Hor. If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestalltheir    repair hither and say you are not fit.  Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there's a special providencein    the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come', if itbe    not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it willcome:    the readiness is all. Since no man knows aught of what heleaves,    what is't to leave betimes? Let be.Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Osric, and Lords, with other Attendants with foils and gauntletsA table and flagons of wine on it  King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.                    [The King puts Laertes' hand into Hamlet's.]  Ham. Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong;    But pardon't, as you are a gentleman.    This presence knows,    And you must needs have heard, how I am punish'd    With sore distraction. What I have done    That might your nature, honour, and exception    Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.    Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Hamlet.    If Hamlet from himself be taken away,    And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,    Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.    Who does it, then? His madness. If't be so,    Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;    His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.    Sir, in this audience,    Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil    Free me so far in your most generous thoughts    That I have shot my arrow o'er the house    And hurt my brother.  Laer. I am satisfied in nature,    Whose motive in this case should stir me most    To my revenge. But in my terms of honour    I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement    Till by some elder masters of known honour    I have a voice and precedent of peace    To keep my name ungor'd. But till that time    I do receive your offer'd love like love,    And will not wrong it.  Ham. I embrace it freely,    And will this brother's wager frankly play.    Give us the foils. Come on.  Laer. Come, one for me.  Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance    Your skill shall, like a star i' th' darkest night,    Stick fiery off indeed.  Laer. You mock me, sir.  Ham. No, by this bad.  King. Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,    You know the wager?  Ham. Very well, my lord.    Your Grace has laid the odds o' th' weaker side.  King. I do not fear it, I have seen you both;    But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds.  Laer. This is too heavy; let me see another.  Ham. This likes me well. These foils have all a length?                                                Prepare to play.  Osr. Ay, my good lord.  King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.    If Hamlet give the first or second hit,    Or quit in answer of the third exchange,    Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;    The King shall drink to Hamlet's better breath,    And in the cup an union shall he throw    Richer than that which four successive kings    In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups;    And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,    The trumpet to the cannoneer without,    The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,    'Now the King drinks to Hamlet.' Come, begin.    And you the judges, bear a wary eye.  Ham. Come on, sir.  Laer. Come, my lord. They play.  Ham. One.  Laer. No.  Ham. Judgment!  Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.  Laer. Well, again!  King. Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;    Here's to thy health.               [Drum; trumpets sound; a piece goes off [within].    Give him the cup.  Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile.    Come. (They play.) Another hit. What say you?  Laer. A touch, a touch; I do confess't.  King. Our son shall win.  Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.    Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.    The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.  Ham. Good madam!  King. Gertrude, do not drink.  Queen. I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me. Drinks.  King. [aside] It is the poison'd cup; it is too late.  Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by-and-by.  Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face.  Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now.  King. I do not think't.  Laer. [aside] And yet it is almost against my conscience.  Ham. Come for the third, Laertes! You but dally.    pray You Pass with your best violence;    I am afeard You make a wanton of me.  Laer. Say you so? Come on. Play.  Osr. Nothing neither way.  Laer. Have at you now!                [Laertes wounds Hamlet; then] in scuffling, they                    change rapiers, [and Hamlet wounds Laertes].  King. Part them! They are incens'd.  Ham. Nay come! again! The Queen falls.  Osr. Look to the Queen there, ho!  Hor. They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?  Osr. How is't, Laertes?  Laer. Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric.    I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.  Ham. How does the Queen?  King. She sounds to see them bleed.  Queen. No, no! the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet!    The drink, the drink! I am poison'd. [Dies.]  Ham. O villany! Ho! let the door be lock'd.    Treachery! Seek it out.                                                [Laertes falls.]  Laer. It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain;    No medicine in the world can do thee good.    In thee there is not half an hour of life.    The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,    Unbated and envenom'd. The foul practice    Hath turn'd itself on me. Lo, here I lie,    Never to rise again. Thy mother's poison'd.    I can no more. The King, the King's to blame.  Ham. The point envenom'd too?    Then, venom, to thy work. Hurts the King.  All. Treason! treason!  King. O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt.  Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned Dane,    Drink off this potion! Is thy union here?    Follow my mother. King dies.  Laer. He is justly serv'd.    It is a poison temper'd by himself.    Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.    Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,    Nor thine on me! Dies.  Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.    I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu!    You that look pale and tremble at this chance,    That are but mutes or audience to this act,    Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death,    Is strict in his arrest) O, I could tell you-    But let it be. Horatio, I am dead;    Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright    To the unsatisfied.  Hor. Never believe it.    I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.    Here's yet some liquor left.  Ham. As th'art a man,    Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I'll ha't.    O good Horatio, what a wounded name    (Things standing thus unknown) shall live behind me!    If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,    Absent thee from felicity awhile,    And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,    To tell my story. [March afar off, and shot within.]    What warlike noise is this?  Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,    To the ambassadors of England gives    This warlike volley.  Ham. O, I die, Horatio!    The potent poison quite o'ercrows my spirit.    I cannot live to hear the news from England,    But I do prophesy th' election lights    On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.    So tell him, with th' occurrents, more and less,    Which have solicited- the rest is silence. Dies.  Hor. Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,    And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!                                                 [March within.]    Why does the drum come hither?Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassadors, with Drum, Colours, and Attendants  Fort. Where is this sight?  Hor. What is it you will see?    If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.  Fort. This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,    What feast is toward in thine eternal cell    That thou so many princes at a shot    So bloodily hast struck.  Ambassador. The sight is dismal;    And our affairs from England come too late.    The ears are senseless that should give us bearing    To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd    That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.    Where should We have our thanks?  Hor. Not from his mouth,    Had it th' ability of life to thank you.    He never gave commandment for their death.    But since, so jump upon this bloody question,    You from the Polack wars, and you from England,    Are here arriv'd, give order that these bodies    High on a stage be placed to the view;    And let me speak to the yet unknowing world    How these things came about. So shall You hear    Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts;    Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters;    Of deaths put on by cunning and forc'd cause;    And, in this upshot, purposes mistook    Fall'n on th' inventors' heads. All this can I    Truly deliver.  Fort. Let us haste to hear it,    And call the noblest to the audience.    For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.    I have some rights of memory in this kingdom    Which now, to claim my vantage doth invite me.  Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak,    And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more.    But let this same be presently perform'd,    Even while men's minds are wild, lest more mischance    On plots and errors happen.  Fort. Let four captains    Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage;    For he was likely, had he been put on,    To have prov'd most royally; and for his passage    The soldiers' music and the rites of war    Speak loudly for him.    Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this    Becomes the field but here shows much amiss.    Go, bid the soldiers shoot.Exeunt marching; after the which a peal of ordnance are shot off

THE END