1 Priest. Her obsequies have been as far enlarg'd As we have warranty: her death was doubtful; And, but that great command o'ersways the order; She should in ground unsanctified have lodg'd, Till the last trumpet; for charitable prayers, Shards, flints, and pebbles, should be thrown on Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants, her: Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Of bell and burial. Laer. Must there no more be done? We should profane the service of the dead, Luer. Lay her i'the earth ; And from her fair and unpolluted flesh, Ham. What, the fair Ophelia! Laer. O, treble woe Fall ten times treble on that cursed head, Ham. [advancing] What is he, whose grief Bears such an emphasis? whose phrase of sorrow Conjures the wand'ring stars, and makes them stand Like wonder-wounded hearers? this is I, 2 Hamlet the Dane. [leaps into the grave. Laer. The devil take thy soul! [grappling with Ham. Thou pray'st not well. [him. I pr'ythee, take thy fingers from my throat: Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand. む King. Pluck them asunder. Queen. Hamlet, Hamlet! All. Gentlemen,— Hor. Good, my lord, be quiet. [grave. [the attendants part them, and they come out of the Ham. Why, Iwill fight with him upon this Until my eyelids will no longer wag. [theme, Queen. O, my son! what theme? Ham. I lov'd Ophelia; forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her? King. O, he is mad, Laertes. Queen. For love of God, forbear him. Ham. 'Zounds, show me what thou'lt do :Woul't weep? woul't fight? woul't fast? woul't tear thyself? Woul't drink up Esil? eat a crocodile? Queen. This is mere madness: And thus a while the fit will work on him; Ham. Hear you, sir; What is the reason that you use me thus?. The cat will mew, and dog will have his day. [eric. SCENE II.A HALL IN THE CASTLE. eiratsion Enter Hamlet and Horatio. Ham. So much for this, sir: now shall you see the other; You do remember all the circumstance? [fighting, Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of That would not let me sleep; methought, I lay Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly, And prais'd be rashness for it, let us know Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, When our deep plots do pall: and that should teach There's a divinity that shapes our ends [us, 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, A royal knavery; an exact command,Larded with many several sorts of reasons, Importing Denmark's health, and England's too With ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,That, on the supervise, no leisure bated, No, not to stay the grinding of the axe, My head should be struck off. [leisure. Hor. Is't possible? Ham. Here's the commission; read it at more But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed? Hor. Ay, '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, of spirit. A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much Ham. An earnest conjuration from the king,As England was his faithful tributary; As love between them, like the palm, might flourish; Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence Your bonnet to his right use: 'tis for the head. Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis 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; or my complexion OST. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,as 'twere,-I cannot tell how. My lord, his ma That, on the view and knowing of these contents,jesty bade me signify to you, that he has laid a Without debatement further, more or less, He should the bearers put to sudden death, 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 form of the other; Subscrib'dit; gave't the 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 Hor. Why, what a king is this! [upon? Ham. Does it not, think thee, stand me now He that hath kill'd my king, and whor'd my mother; Popp'd in between the election and my hopes; Thrown out his angle for my proper life, [science, And with such cozenage; is't not perfect conTo quit him with this arm? and is't not to be To let this canker of our nature come [damn'd, In further evil? Hor. It must be shortly known to him from What is the issue of the business there. Ham. It will be short: the interim is mine; The portraiture of his: I'll count his favours: Hor. Peace; who comes here? Osr. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Ham. I humbly thank you, sir.-Dost know this water-fly? Hor. No, my good lord. Ham. Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to know him: he hath much land, and fertile; let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess. 'Tis a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt. Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty great wager on your head.-Sir, this is the mat ter Ham. I beseech you, remember. [Hamlet moves him to put on his hat. Osr. Nay, good, my lord; for my ease, in good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court, Laertes: believe me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent differences, of very soft society, and great showing: indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the continent of what part gentleman would see. Ham. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you;-though, I know, to divide him inventorially, would dizzy the arithmetic of memory; and yet but raw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article; and his infusion of such dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror; and, who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more. Osr. You lordship speaks most infallibly of him. Ham. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? Osr. Sir? Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will dot, sir, really Ham. What imports the nomination of this Osr. Of Laertes? [gentleman? Hor. His purse is empty already; all his 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 would not 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 on him by them, in his meed, he is unfellowed. Ham. What's his weapon? Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well. Osr. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary horses: against thewhich he has impawned, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so: three of the carriages, in falth, 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. I knew, you must be edified by the marent, ere you had done. Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we could carry a cannon by our sides; I would it might be hangers till then. But, on: six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns, and three liberal conceited carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish: why is this impawned, as you call it? 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? [person in trial. OST. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me: let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold his purpose, I will win for him, if I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. Osr. Shall I deliver you so? Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will. Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship. [exit. Ham. Yours, yours. 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 sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same breed, that, I know, the drossy age dotes on), only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter; a kind of yesty collection, which carries them through and through the most fond and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out. Enter a Lord. Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that you attend m in the hall: he sends to know, if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time. Ham. I am constant to my purposes, they follow the king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now, or whensoever, provided I be so able as now. Lord. The king, and queen, and all are coming Ham. In happy time. [down. 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 been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, how ill all's here about my heart: but it is no If it Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come : the readiness is all: since no man, of aught he leaves, knows, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords, Osric, and Attendants, with foils, &c. King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me. [the King puts thehand of Laertes into that of Hamlet. Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I have done you Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Laer. I am satisfied in nature, Ham. I embrace it freely; Laer. Come, one for me. [ance Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes: in more ignor、 Your skill shall, like a star i'the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed. [Hamlet, Laer. You mock me, sir. Ham. No, by this hand. King. Give them the foils, young Osric.--Cousin You know the wager? Ham. Very well, my lord; Your grace hath laid the odds o'the weaker side. King. I do not fear it: I have seen you both: But since he's 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? [they prepare to play. Osr. Ay, my good lord. [table:King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that 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 [cups; In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the Laer. No. Ham. Judgement Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit. Laer. Well, again. Laer. He is justly serv'd; It is a poison temper'd by himself.Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. [they play. Mine and my father's death come not upon thee [is thine; King, Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl Here's to thy health. Give him the cup. [trumpets sound; and cannon shot off within, Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile. Come. Another hit; what say you? [they play. Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. King. Our son shall win. Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.- King. Gertrude, do not drink. Laer. And yet it is almost against my conscience. [they play. [aside. Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes. You do but I pray you, pass with your best violence; [dally; I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Laer. Say you so? Come on. 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 Osr. How is it, Laertes? [lord? Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery. [Osric; Ham. How does the queen? King. She swoons, to see them bleed. [Hamlet! Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink.--Ō my dear The drink, the drink;-I am poison'd! [dies. Ham. O villainy!-Ho! let the door be lock'd: Treachery! seek it out. [Laertes falls. Laer. It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art No medicine in the world can do thee good, [slain; In thee there is not half an hour's 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. [stabs the King. Osr. and Lords. Treason! treason! King. O, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt. 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 thou'rt a man,— [it Give me the cup; let go; by heaven, I'll have Ham. O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit; sweet prince And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! Fort. Where is this sight? Hor. What is it, you would see? Fort. This quarry cries on havoc !-O proud 1 Amb. The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late. The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing To tell him, his commandment is fulfill'd, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead Where should we have our thanks? Hor. Not from his mouth, Had it the ability of life to thank you; He never gave commandment for their death. How these things came about: so shall you hear Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I Fort. Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune; |