Hamlet

And much offence too. Touching this vision here,

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you. 885

For your desire to know what is between us,

O'ermaster't as you may. And now, good friends,

As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Horatio. What is't, my lord? We will. 890

Hamlet. Never make known what you have seen to-night.

Marcellus. [with Horatio] My lord, we will not.

Hamlet. Nay, but swear't.

Horatio. In faith,

My lord, not I. 895

Marcellus. Nor I, my lord- in faith.

Hamlet. Upon my sword.

Marcellus. We have sworn, my lord, already.

Hamlet. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.

Ghost cries under the stage.

Father's Ghost. Swear.

Hamlet. Aha boy, say'st thou so? Art thou there, truepenny?

Come on! You hear this fellow in the cellarage.

Consent to swear.

Horatio. Propose the oath, my lord. 905

Hamlet. Never to speak of this that you have seen.

Swear by my sword.

Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear.

Hamlet. Hic et ubique? Then we'll shift our ground.

Come hither, gentlemen, 910

And lay your hands again upon my sword.

Never to speak of this that you have heard:

Swear by my sword.

Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear by his sword.

Hamlet. Well said, old mole! Canst work i' th' earth so fast? 915

A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends."

Horatio. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

Hamlet. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. 920

But come!

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,

How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself

(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on), 925

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,

With arms encumb'red thus, or this head-shake,

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,'

Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,' 930

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note

That you know aught of me- this is not to do,

So grace and mercy at your most need help you,

Swear.

Father's Ghost. [beneath] Swear. 935

[They swear.]

Hamlet. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So, gentlemen,

With all my love I do commend me to you;

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is

May do t' express his love and friending to you, 940

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together;

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.

The time is out of joint. O cursed spite

That ever I was born to set it right!

Nay, come, let's go together. 945

Exeunt.

Act II, Scene 1.

Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.

Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.

Polonius. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

Reynaldo. I will, my lord.

Polonius. You shall do marvell's wisely, good Reynaldo, 950

Before You visit him, to make inquire

Of his behaviour.

Reynaldo. My lord, I did intend it.

Polonius. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,

Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris; 955

And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,

What company, at what expense; and finding

By this encompassment and drift of question

That they do know my son, come you more nearer

Than your particular demands will touch it. 960

Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him;

As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,

And in part him.' Do you mark this, Reynaldo?

Reynaldo. Ay, very well, my lord.

Polonius. 'And in part him, but,' you may say, 'not well. 965

But if't be he I mean, he's very wild

Addicted so and so'; and there put on him

What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank

As may dishonour him- take heed of that;

But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips 970

As are companions noted and most known

To youth and liberty.

Reynaldo. As gaming, my lord.

Polonius. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,

Drabbing. You may go so far. 975

Reynaldo. My lord, that would dishonour him.

Polonius. Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.

You must not put another scandal on him,

That he is open to incontinency.

That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly 980

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimed blood,

Of general assault.

Reynaldo. But, my good lord- 985

Polonius. Wherefore should you do this?

Reynaldo. Ay, my lord,

I would know that.

Polonius. Marry, sir, here's my drift,

And I believe it is a fetch of warrant. 990

You laying these slight sullies on my son

As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' th' working,

Mark you,

Your party in converse, him you would sound,

Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes 995

The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd

He closes with you in this consequence:

'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman'-

According to the phrase or the addition

Of man and country- 1000

Reynaldo. Very good, my lord.

Polonius. And then, sir, does 'a this- 'a does- What was I about to say?

By the mass, I was about to say something! Where did I leave?

Reynaldo. At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,' and

gentleman.' 1005

Polonius. At 'closes in the consequence'– Ay, marry!

He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman.

I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,

Or then, or then, with such or such; and, as you say,

There was 'a gaming; there o'ertook in's rouse; 1010

There falling out at tennis'; or perchance,

'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'

Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.

See you now-

Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; 1015

And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,

With windlasses and with assays of bias,

By indirections find directions out.

So, by my former lecture and advice,

Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? 1020

Reynaldo. My lord, I have.

Polonius. God b' wi' ye, fare ye well!

Reynaldo. Good my lord! [Going.]

Polonius. Observe his inclination in yourself.

Reynaldo. I shall, my lord. 1025

Polonius. And let him ply his music.

Reynaldo. Well, my lord.

Polonius. Farewell!

[Exit Reynaldo.]

[Enter Ophelia.] 1030

How now, Ophelia? What's the matter?

Ophelia. O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

Polonius. With what, i' th' name of God?

Ophelia. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd, 1035

No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,

Ungart'red, and down-gyved to his ankle;

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

And with a look so piteous in purport

As if he had been loosed out of hell 1040

To speak of horrors- he comes before me.

Polonius. Mad for thy love?

Ophelia. My lord, I do not know,

But truly I do fear it.

Polonius. What said he? 1045

Ophelia. He took me by the wrist 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 such perusal of my face

As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so. 1050

At last, a little shaking of mine arm,

And thrice his head thus waving up and down,

He rais'd a sigh so piteous and profound

As it did seem to shatter all his bulk

And end his being. That done, he lets me go, 1055

And with his head over his shoulder turn'd

He seem'd to find his way without his eyes,

For out o' doors he went without their help

And to the last bended their light on me.

Polonius. Come, go with me. I will go seek the King. 1060

This is the very ecstasy of love,

Whose violent property fordoes itself

And leads the will to desperate undertakings

As oft as any passion under heaven

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry. 1065

What, have you given him any hard words of late?

Ophelia. No, my good lord; but, as you did command,

I did repel his letters and denied

His access to me.

Polonius. That hath made him mad. 1070

I am sorry that with better heed and judgment

I had not quoted him. I fear'd he did but trifle

And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousy!

By heaven, it is as proper to our age

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 1075

As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.

This must be known; which, being kept close, might move

More grief to hide than hate to utter love.

Come. 1080

Exeunt.

Act II, Scene 2.

Elsinore. A room in the Castle.

Flourish. [Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,

cum aliis.

Claudius. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Moreover that we much did long to see you, 1085

The need we have to use you did provoke

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard

Of Hamlet's transformation. So I call it,

Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man

Resembles that it was. What it should be, 1090

More than his father's death, that thus hath put him

So much from th' understanding of himself,

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both

That, being of so young days brought up with him,

And since so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour, 1095

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

Some little time; so by your companies

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather

So much as from occasion you may glean,

Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus 1100

That, open'd, lies within our remedy.

Gertrude. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,

And sure I am two men there are not living

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

To show us so much gentry and good will 1105

As to expend your time with us awhile

For the supply and profit of our hope,

Your visitation shall receive such thanks

As fits a king's remembrance.

Rosencrantz. Both your Majesties 1110

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,

Put your dread pleasures more into command

Than to entreaty.

Guildenstern. But we both obey,

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, 1115

To lay our service freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

Claudius. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

Gertrude. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.

And I beseech you instantly to visit 1120

My too much changed son. – Go, some of you,

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guildenstern. Heavens make our presence and our practices

Pleasant and helpful to him!

Gertrude. Ay, amen! 1125

Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, [with some Attendants].

Enter Polonius.

Polonius. Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,

Are joyfully return'd.

Claudius. Thou still hast been the father of good news. 1130

Polonius. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,

I hold my duty as I hold my soul,

Both to my God and to my gracious king;

And I do think- or else this brain of mine

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure 1135

As it hath us'd to do- that I have found

The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

Claudius. O, speak of that! That do I long to hear.

Polonius. Give first admittance to th' ambassadors.

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. 1140

Claudius. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

[Exit Polonius.]

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found

The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Gertrude. I doubt it is no other but the main, 1145

His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.

Claudius. Well, we shall sift him.

[Enter Polonius, Voltemand, and Cornelius.]

Welcome, my good friends.

Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway? 1150

Voltemand. Most fair return of greetings and desires.

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress

His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd

To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,

But better look'd into, he truly found 1155

It was against your Highness; whereat griev'd,

That so his sickness, age, and impotence

Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests

On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,

Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine, 1160

Makes vow before his uncle never more

To give th' assay of arms against your Majesty.

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,

Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee

And his commission to employ those soldiers, 1165

So levied as before, against the Polack;

With an entreaty, herein further shown,

[Gives a paper.]

That it might please you to give quiet pass

Through your dominions for this enterprise, 1170

On such regards of safety and allowance

As therein are set down.

Claudius. It likes us well;

And at our more consider'd time we'll read,

Answer, and think upon this business. 1175

Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.

Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together.

Most welcome home! Exeunt Ambassadors.

Polonius. This business is well ended.

My liege, and madam, to expostulate 1180

What majesty should be, what duty is,

Why day is day, night is night, and time is time.

Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, 1185

I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.

Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,

What is't but to be nothing else but mad?

But let that go.

Gertrude. More matter, with less art. 1190

Polonius. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.

That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;

And pity 'tis 'tis true. A foolish figure!

But farewell it, for I will use no art.

Mad let us grant him then. And now remains 1195

That we find out the cause of this effect-

Or rather say, the cause of this defect,

For this effect defective comes by cause.

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.

Perpend. 1200

I have a daughter (have while she is mine),

Who in her duty and obedience, mark,

Hath given me this. Now gather, and surmise.

[Reads] the letter.]

'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'– 1205

That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile phrase.

But you shall hear. Thus:

[Reads.]

'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.'

Gertrude. Came this from Hamlet to her? 1210

Polonius. Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful. [Reads.]

'Doubt thou the stars are fire;

Doubt that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;

But never doubt I love. 1215

'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to

reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe

it. Adieu.

'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to

him, HAMLET.' 1220

This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me;

And more above, hath his solicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place,

All given to mine ear.

Claudius. But how hath she 1225

Receiv'd his love?

Polonius. What do you think of me?

Claudius. As of a man faithful and honourable.

Polonius. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,

When I had seen this hot love on the wing 1230

(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,

Before my daughter told me), what might you,

Or my dear Majesty your queen here, think,

If I had play'd the desk or table book,

Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb, 1235

Or look'd upon this love with idle sight?

What might you think? No, I went round to work

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:

'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star.

This must not be.' And then I prescripts gave her, 1240

That she should lock herself from his resort,

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,

And he, repulsed, a short tale to make,

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, 1245

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,

Into the madness wherein now he raves,

And all we mourn for.

Claudius. Do you think 'tis this? 1250

Gertrude. it may be, very like.

Polonius. Hath there been such a time- I would fain know that-

That I have Positively said 'Tis so,'

When it prov'd otherwise.?

Claudius. Not that I know. 1255

Polonius. [points to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise.

If circumstances lead me, I will find

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

Within the centre.

Claudius. How may we try it further? 1260

Polonius. You know sometimes he walks for hours together

Here in the lobby.

Gertrude. So he does indeed.

Polonius. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him.

Be you and I behind an arras then. 1265

Mark the encounter. If he love her not,

And he not from his reason fall'n thereon

Let me be no assistant for a state,

But keep a farm and carters.

Claudius. We will try it. 1270

Enter Hamlet, reading on a book.

Gertrude. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.

Polonius. Away, I do beseech you, both away

I'll board him presently. O, give me leave.

[Exeunt King and Queen, [with Attendants].] 1275

How does my good Lord Hamlet?

Hamlet. Well, God-a-mercy.

Polonius. Do you know me, my lord?

Hamlet. Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.

Polonius. Not I, my lord. 1280

Hamlet. Then I would you were so honest a man.

Polonius. Honest, my lord?

Hamlet. Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man

pick'd out of ten thousand.

Polonius. That's very true, my lord. 1285

Hamlet. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god

kissing carrion- Have you a daughter?

Polonius. I have, my lord.

Hamlet. Let her not walk i' th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but not

as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to't. 1290

Polonius. [aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet

he knew me not at first. He said I was a fishmonger. He is far

gone, far gone! And truly in my youth I suff'red much extremity

for love- very near this. I'll speak to him again. – What do you

read, my lord? 1295

Hamlet. Words, words, words.

Polonius. What is the matter, my lord?

Hamlet. Between who?

Polonius. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.

Hamlet. Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men 1300

have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes

purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a

plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams. All which,

sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it

not honesty to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, 1305

should be old as I am if, like a crab, you could go backward.

Polonius. [aside] Though this be madness, yet there is a method in't. —

Will You walk out of the air, my lord?

Hamlet. Into my grave?

Polonius. Indeed, that is out o' th' air. [Aside] How pregnant sometimes 1310

his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which

reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I

will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between

him and my daughter. – My honourable lord, I will most humbly take

my leave of you. 1315

Hamlet. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more

willingly part withal- except my life, except my life, except my

life,

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Polonius. Fare you well, my lord. 1320

Hamlet. These tedious old fools!

Polonius. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.

Rosencrantz. [to Polonius] God save you, sir!