The tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke: an electronic edition. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. National Endowment for the Humanities. Joint Information Systems Committee. Manuscript annotations encoded and checked by Folger Shakespeare Library
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 Transcription of the printed text and annotations created from digital images of the Bodleian Library copy of the 1625 quarto. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Hamlet The tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke S111101 006182587 1009068 Bodleian Arch. G d.41 Bodleian Library This hand wrote extensive notes throughout. This hand wrote numerals in the bottom margin of the title page.

Gilt ornamental border on front cover and back cover.

Gilt borders and ornament, and title tooled in gilt on spine which reads: “SHAKESPEARE. OLD QUARTOS III LUCRECE. 1598 SONNETS. 1609 HAMLET. NO DATE LOVE. L. LOST. 1598 PERICLES. 1609 YORKSH. TR. 1608”

 Proofed and reviewed by ODL. Checked by ODL. Consistency checked by ODL. Final checks by ODL. LCCN changes made by ODL. Headers checked and facsimile added by ODL. Folger annotation queries checked by ODL. Image 001 Image 002 Image 003 Image 004 Image 005 Image 006 Image 007 Image 008 Image 009 Image 010 Image 011 Image 012 Image 013 Image 014 Image 015 Image 016 Image 017 Image 018 Image 019 Image 020 Image 021 Image 022 Image 023 Image 024 Image 025 Image 026 Image 027 Image 028 Image 029 Image 030 Image 031 Image 032 Image 033 Image 034 Image 035 Image 036 Image 037 Image 038 Image 039 Image 040 Image 041 Image 042 Image 043 Image 044 Image 045 Image 046 Image 047 Image 048 Image 049 Image 050 Image 051 Image 052 Image 053 Image 054 Image 055

This edition of Hamlet was printed, I believe, in 1607, as was also, I imagine, the undated edition of Romeo & Juliet, for these two plays were entered on the Stationers' books by John Smethwicke, Nov 19, 1607.

E. M.

In the edition of 1604 the words following the title are – “Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much againe as it was, accord⸗ ing to the true and perfect coppie.”

This undated copy I have collated with the quarto of 1604, and have placed the variations at the bottom of the page.

EM.

In the Edition of 1604 the play is entitled The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet &c

 THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLETPrince of Denmarke. Newly Imprinted and inlarged, according to the true and perfect Copy lastly Printed. BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
Printer's mark depicting a bird and the motto “NON ALTVM PETO IS”.
LONDON, Printed by W. S. for Iohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his Shop in Saint Dunstans Church‐yard in Fleetftreet:6. wVnder the Diall.7

The title of the edition of 1604 is as follows.

line.
The Tragicall Historie of HAMLET Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakespeare. Newly imprinted and enlarged to
cross.
cross.
These words which I have underscored shew that there was an earlier edition than that of 1604, though it has hitherto been undis­ covered. It was probably printed in 1602. See the Entries on the Stationers Books.almost as much againe as it was, ac⸗ cording to the true and perfect coppie.
Drawing of printer's mark.
At London Printed by I. R for N. L and are to be sold at his shoppe under Saint Dunstons Church in Fleetstreet, 1604.

THE TRAGEDIE OF HAMLETPRINCE OF DENMARKE. EnterBARNARDO, andFRANCISCO, two Sentinels. Bar. WHose there? Fran. Nay answer me. Stand and vnfold your selfe. Bar. Long liue the King. Fran. Barnardo. Bar. Hee. A2 Fran. The Tragedie of Hamlet Fran. You come most carefully vpon your houre. Bar. 'Tis now strooke twelue,twelfe.get thee to bed Francisco. Fran. For this reliefe much thanks, tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart.hart. Bar. Haue you had quiet guard? Fran. Not a Mouse stirring. Bar. Well, good night: If you doe meet Horatio and Marcellus. The riualls of my watch, bid them make hast. Enter Horatio and Mar­ cellus. Francisco. I thinke I heare them, stand ho, who is there?
Brace.
there? Hora. Friends to this ground. Mar. And LeegemenLeedgemen. to the Dane. Fran. Giue you good night. Marcellus. O, farewellfarwell. honest Souldiers, who hath re­ lieu'd you? Fran. Bernardo hath my place; giue you good night.Exit Fran. Mar. Holla, Barnardo. Bar. Say what, isSay, what is &cHoratio there? Hora. A peece of him. Bar. Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus. Hora. What ha's this thing appear'd againe to night? Bar. I haue seene nothing. Mar. Horatio sayes 'tis but a fantasie,our fantasie. And wll not let beliefe take hold of him, Touching this dreaded sight twice seene of vs, Therefore I haue intreated him along, With vs to watch the minutesminuts. of this night, That if againe this apparitionapparision come, He may approueapproove our eyes and speake to it. Hora. Tush, Tush, 'twill not appeare. Bar. Sit downe a while, And let vs once againe assaile your eares, That Prince of Denmarke. That are so fortified against our story, What we haue two nights seene. Hora. Well, sit we downe, And let vs heare Barnardo speake of this.
Dash.
Bar. Last night of all, When yond same star thats Westwardweastwardfrom the Pole; Had made his course t'illumint'illume that part of heauen Where now it burnes, Marcellus and my selfe The Bell then beating one.
Dash.
Enter Ghost. Mar. Peace breake thee off looke where it comes againe, Bar. In the same figure like the King thats dead. Mar. Speake to it Horatio Hora. What art thou that vsurpst this time of night, Together with that faire and warlike forme, In which the Maiesty of buried Denmarke Did somtimes march: by heauen I charge thee speak. Mar. It is offended. Bar. See it staukes away. Hora. Stay, speake, speake I charge thee speake. Exit Ghost. Mar. Tis gone and will not answere. Bar. How now Horatio, you tremble & look pale, Is not this something more then phantasie? What thinke you of itthink you on't? Hora. Before my God I might not this beleeue, Without the sensiblesencibleand true auouch Of mine owne eies. A3 Mar. The Tragedie of Hamlet Mar. Is it not like the King? Hora. As thou art to thy selfe: Such was the very Armor he had on, When he the ambitious Norway combated, So frownd he once when in an angry parle He smotesmot — the sleaded Pollax on the ice. Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before and iumpejump. at this dead houre, With Martiall stauke hath he gone by our watch. Hora. In what particularperticular thought, to worke Iknow not, But in the grosse and scope of mine opinion. This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Mar. Good now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes. Why this same strictstrikt and most obseruant watch So nightly toiles the subiect of the Land, And with such daily cost of brazen Cannon
Stroke.
 And forraine Mart for Implements of warre, Why such impresse of ship‐wrightsshipwrites, whose sore taske Does not diuide the Sunday from the weeke, What might be toward, that this sweatie haste Doth make the night ioint labourlabourer. with the day, Who ist that can informe me? Hora. That can I. At least the whisper goes so, our last King, Whose Image euen but now appear'd to vs, Was as you know by Fortinbrasse of Norway, Thereto prickt on by a most emulate pride. Dar'd to the combate; in which our valiant Hamlet, (For so this side of our knowne world esteem'd him) Did slay this Fortinbrasse, who by a seald compact Well ratified by Law and Heraldrieheraldy Did forfait (with his life) all these his lands Which he stood seaz'd of, to the conquerour. Against the which a moity competent Was gaged by our King, which had returne To the inheritance of Fortinbrasse, Had Prince of Denmarke. Had he bin vanquisher; as by the same comart, And carriage of the Articles designearticle desseigne, His fell to Hamlet; now Sir, yong Fortinbrasse Of vnimprooued mettle, hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Sharkt vp a lift of lawlesse resolutes For food and diet to some enterprize That hath a stomake in't, which no otherwhich is no other As it doth well appeare vnto our state But to recouer of vs by ftrong hand And tearmes compulsatory, those foresaid lands So by his father lost; and this I take it, Is the maine motiue of our preparations The source of this our watch, and the chiefe head Of this post‐hafte and romeageromadge. in the land. Bar. I thinke it be no other but euen so;but enso. Well may it sort that this portentous figure Comes armed through our watch so like the King That was and is the question of these warres. Hora. A moteA moth —it is to trouble the minds eie: In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Iulius fell The graues tood tennantlessetenatlesse, and the sheeted dead Did squeake and gibber in the Roman streets As starres with traines of fire, and dewes of bloud Disasters in the Sun; and the moist starre, Vpon whose influence Ntunes Empire ftands, VVas sick almost to Doomesday with eclipse And euen the like precurse of fierce euents,of feare events As Harbingers precedingpreceadingstill the fates And Prologue to the Omen comming on Haue Heauen and Earth together demonstrated Vnto our Climatures and Countrimen. Enter Ghost. But soft, behold, lo where it comes againe Ile The Tragedie of Hamlet Ile crosse it though it blast me: stay illusion,It spreads his armes. If thou hast any sound or vse of voice, Speake to me, if there be any good thing to be done That may to thee doe ease and grace to me, Speake to me. If thou art priuie to thy Countries fate VVhich happily foreknowing may auoid, O speake: Or if thou hast vphoorded in thy life Extorted treasure in the wombe of earth, For which they say your spirits oft walke in death.The Cocke crowes. Speake of it, stay and speake, ftop it Marcellus. Mar. Shall I strike it with my partizan? Hor. Doe if it will not stand. Bar. Tis heere. Hor. Tis heere. Mar. Tis gone, VVe doe it wrong being so Maiesticall To offer it the show of violence, For it is as the aire, invulnerable, And our vaine blowes, malicious mockery. Bar. It was about to speak when the cock crew. Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing, Vpon a fearfull summons; I haue heard, The Cock that is the Trumpet to the morne, Doth with his loftie and shrill sounding throat Awake the God of day, and at his warning VVhether in Sea or Fire, in Earth or Aire, Th' extrauagant and erring spirit hies To his confine, and of the truth heerein This present obiect made probation. Mar. It faded on the crowing of the Cock, Some say that euer gainst that season comes, VVherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated This bird of dawning singeth all night long, And then they say no spirit dare stirre abroadsturre abrode The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike, No Fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charme So Prince of Denmarke. So hallowed and so gracious is that time. Hor. So haue I heard and doe in part beleeue it, But looke the morne in russet mantle clad Walkes ore the dew of yon high Eastward hill: Breake we our watch vp and by my aduise, Let vs impart what we haue seene to night Vnto young Hamlet, for vpon my life This spirit dumbe to vs, will speake to him: Doe you consent we shall acquaint him with it As needfull in our loues fitring our dutie. Mar. Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning know Where we shall find him most conuenient.Exeunt. Flourish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmarke, GertradGrtra the Queene, Counsaile: as Polonius, and his Sonne Laer­ tes, Hamlet, cum alijs. Claud. Though yet of Hamlet our deare brothers death The memory be greene, and that it vs befitted To beare our heartsharts in griefe & our whole kingdom, To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, That we with wisest sorrow thinke on him Together with remembrance of our selues: Therefore our sometime Sister, now our Queene Th' Imperiall ioyntresse to this warlike State Haue we as twere with a defeated ioy With an auspitious, and a dropping eye, With mirth in funerall, and with dirge in mariage, In equall scale weighingwaighing. delight and dole Taken to wife: nor haue we herein bard Your better wisdomes, which haue freely gone With this affaire along (for all our thankes) Now followes that you know young Fortinbrasse, Holding a weake supposall of our worth Or thinking by our late deare brothers death Our state to be disioynt, and out of frame Collegued with this dreame of his aduantage He hath not faild to pester pesturvs with message B Im­ The Tragedie of Hamlet Importing the surrender of those Lands Lost by his father, with all bands of Law To our most valiant brother, so much for him: Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting, Thus much the businesse is, we haue here writ To Norway Vncle of young Fortenbrasse Who impotent and bedred scarcely heares Of this his Nephewes purpose; to suppresse His further gate herein, in that the leuies, The lists, and full proportions are all made Out of his subiect, and we here dispatch You good Cornelius, and you Valtemand, For bearers of this greeting to old Norway, Giuing to you no further personall power To businesse with the King, more then the scope Of these delated Articles allow: Farewell, and let your hast commend your dutie. Cor. Vo. In that, and all things will we shew our duty. King. We doubt it nothing, hartily farewell.hartely farwell. And now Laertes whats the newes with you? You told vs of some sute, what ist Laertes? You cannot speake of reason to the Dane And lose your voice; what would'st thou beg Laertes? That shall not be my offer, not thy asking, The head is not more natiue to the hearthart The hand more instrumentall to the mouth Then is the throne of Denmarke to thy father, What would'st thou haue Laertes? Lar. My dread Lord. Your leaue and fauour to returne to FranceFraunce, From whence though willingly I came to Denmarke, To shew my dutie in your Coronation; Yet now I must confesse, that dutie done My thoughts and wishes bend againe toward FranceFraunce, And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon. King. Haue you your fathers leaue, what saies Polonius? Polo. He hath my Lord wrungHath, my lord, wroung —from me my slow leaue By laboursome petition, and at last Vpon his will I seald my hard consent, I Prince of Denmarke. I doe beseech you giue him leaue to goe. King. Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine, And thy best graces spend it at thy will: But now my CousincosinHamlet, and my sonne. Ham. A little more then kin, and lesse then kind. King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you. Ham. Not so much my Lord, I am too much in the sonne. Queene. Good Hamlet cast thy nighted colour off And let thine eie looke like a friend on Denmarke, Doe not for euer with thy vailed lids, Seeke for thy noble father in the dust, Thou know'st tis common all that liues must die, Passing through nature to eternitie. Ham. I Madam, it is common. Quee. If it be, Why seemes it so perticuler with thee. Ham. Seemes Madam, nay it is, I knownot seemes, Tis not alone my inkie cloke could smother,coold mother, Nor customarie Sutes of solemnesolembe blacke, Nor windie suspiration of forst breath, No, nor the fruitfull Riuer in the eie, Nor the deiected hauiour of the visage, Together with all formes, moods, shapes ofchapes of—griefe That can deuoutedeuoteme truly, these indeed seeme, For they are actions that a man might play, But I haue that within which passes shew, These but the trappings and the suites of woe. King. Tis sweet and commendable in your nature Hamlet, To giue these mourning duties to your father, But you must know your father lost a father. That father lost, lost his, and the suruiuer bound In filliall obligation for some tearme To doe obsequious sorrowessorrowe., but to perseuer In obstinate condolement, is a course Of impious stubbornnessestubbornnes, tis vnmanly griefe, It shewes a will moft incorrect to Heauen, A hearthart vnfortified, or minde impatient, An vnderstanding simple and vnschoold, For what we know must be, and is as common B2 As The Tragedie of Hamlet As any the most vulgar thing to sence, Why should we in our peeuish opposition Take it to hearthart, fie, tis a fault to heauen, A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, To reason most absurd, whose common theame Is death of fathers, and who still hath cryed From the first course, till he that died to day This must be so: we pray you throw to earth This vnpreuailing woe, and thinke of vs As of a father, for let the World take note You are the most immediate to our throne, And with no lesse nobilitie of loue Then that which dearest father beares his sonne, Doe I impart toward you for your intent, In going backe to schoole to Wittenberg, schoole in Wittenberg It is most retrogradretrogard to our desire, And we beseech you bend you to remaine Heere in the cheare and comfort of our eie, Our chiefest Courtier, Cousincosin, and our sonne. Qu. Let not thy mother loose her praiers Hamlet, I pray thee stay with vs, goe not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obay you Madame. King. Why, tis a louing and a faire reply, Be as our selfe in Denmarke, Madame come, This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my hearthart, in grace whereof, No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day, But the great Canon to the cloudes shall tell. And the Kings rowse the Heauen shal brute againe, Respeaking earthly thunder; come away.Flourish. Exeunt all.but Hamlet. Ham. O that this too too sallied flesh would melt, Thaw and resolue it selfe into a dew, Or that the euerlasting had not fixt His Cannon gainst seale slaughter, O God, God, How wary, stale, flat, and vnprofitable Seeme to me all the vses of this World? Fie on't, ah fie, tis an vnweeded Garden, That growes to seed, things ranke & grosse rancke & grose in nature, Possesse it meerely that it should come thus Prince of Denmarke. But two moneths dead, nay not so much, not two, So excellent a King, that was to this HyperionHiperionHyperion to a Satyre, so louing to my mother, That he might not beteeme the winds of Heauen VisitvisiteVisit her face too roughly: heauen and earth Must I remember, why she should hang on him As if increase of appetite had growne By what it fed on, and yet within a monethmonth, Let me not thinke on't; frailtie thy name is woman A little month. Or ere those shooes were old With which she followed my poore fathers bodie Like Niobe all teares, why sheesheshee O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason Would haue mourn'd longer, maried with my Vncle, My fathers brother, but no more like my father Then I to Hercules, within a monethmonth, Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous teares Had left the flushing in her gauled eies She married Oh! most wicked speed; to post With such dexteritie to incestious sheets, It is not, nor it cannot come to good, But breake my hearthart for I must hold my tongue. Enter Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo. Hora. Haile to your Lordship. Ham. I am glad to see you well; Horatio, or I doe forget my (selfe. Hora. The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer. Ham. Sir my good friend, Ile change that name with you, And what make you from Wittenberg,Horatio? Marcellus. Mar. My good Lord. Ham. I am very glad to see you (good euen sir) But what in faith make you from Wittenberg? Hora. A truant disposition good my Lord. Ham. I would not heare your enemie say so, Nor shall you doe my eare that violence To make it truster of your owne report Against your selfe, I know you are no truant, But what is your affaire in Elsonoure? Weele teach you for to drinke ere you depart. B3 Horat. The Tragedie of Hamlet Hora. My Lord, I came to see your fathers funeral. Ham. I prethee doe not mock me fellow student, I thinke it was to my mothers wedding. Hora. Indeed my Lord it followed hard vpon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funeral bak't meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables, Would I had met my dearest foe in Heauen Or euer I had seene that day Horatio, My father me thinkes I see my father. Hora. Where my Lord? Ham. In my minds eie Horatio. Hora. I saw him once, a was a goodly King. Ham. A was a man take him for all in all I shall not looke vpon his like againe. Hora. My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight. Ham. Saw, who? Hora. My Lord the King your father. Ham. The King my father? Hora. Season your admiration for a while With an attentiueattent eare till I may deliuer Vpon the witnessewitnes of these Gentlemen This maruailemaruile to you. Ham. For Gods loue let me heare? Hora. Two nights together had these Gentlemen, Marcellus, and Barnardo, on their watch, In the dead vastwast and middle of the night Beene thus incountred, a figure like your father Armed at point, exactly Cap apea Appeares before them, and with solemne march, Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walkt By their opprest and feare surprized eies, Within this trunchionshis tronchions length, whil'st they distill'd Almost to gelly, with the act of feare Stand dumbe and speake not to him; this to me, In dreadfull secrecie impart they did, And I with them the third night kept the watch, Whereas they had deliuered both in time, Forme of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparitionapparision comes: I knew your father, These Prince of Denmarke. These hands are not more like. Ham. But where was this? Mar. My Lord vpon the platforme where we watcht, Ham. Did you not speake to it? Hora. My Lord, I did, But answer m ade it none, yet once me thought It lifted vp its head and did addresse It selfe to motion, like as it would speake: But euen then the morning Cock crew loud, And at the sound it shrunke in hast a way And vanisht from our sight. Ham. Tis verie strange. Hora. As I doe liue my honor'd Lord tis true And we did thinke it writ downe in our dutie To let you know of it. Ham. Indeed sirs but this troubles me, Hold you the watch to night? All. We doe my Lord. Ham. Arm'd say you? All. Arm'd my Lord. Ham. From top to toe? All. My Lord from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not his face? Hora. O yes my Lord, he wore his beauer vp. Ham. What look't he frowningly? Hora. A countenance more in sorrow then in anger. Ham. Pale or red? Hora. Nay verie pale. Ham. And fixt his eies vpon you? Hora. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had beene there. Hora. It would haue much amaz'd you. Ham. Verie like: staid it long? Hora. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundreth, Both. Longer, longer. Hora. Not when I saw't. Ham. His beard was grisseldgrissl't, no. Hora. It was as I haue seene it in his life A sable siluer'd. Ham. The Tragedie of Hamlet Ham. I will watch to nightnigh PerchancePerchaunce twill walke againe. Hora. I warn't it will. Ham. If it assume my noble fathers person, Ilespeake to it though hell it selfe should gape And bid me hold my peace; I pray you all If you haue hithertohetherto conceald this sight Let it be tenable in your silence still, And whatsoeuerwhatsomeuer else shall hap to night, Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue, I will requite your loues, so fare youfarre you well: Vpon the platforme twixt eleuen and tweluetwelfe Ile vifit you. All Our dutie to your honour.Exeunt. Ham. Your loues as mine to you, farewellfarwell. My fathers spirit (in armes) all is not well, I doubt some foule play, would the night were come Till then sit still my soule, foulefonde deeds will rise Though all the earth ore‐whelme them to mens eies.Exit. Enter Laertes and Ophelia his Sister. Laer. My necessaries are imbarkt, farewellfarwell, And sister as the winds giue benefit And conuay, in assistant, doe not sleepe But let me heare from you. Ophe, Doe you doubt that? Laer. For Hamlet and the trifling of his fauour, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in bloud, A violet in the youth of primieprimyprimie nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perfume and suppliance of a minute No more. Ophe. No more but so. Laer. Thinke it no more. For nature cressant does nor grow alone, In thewes and bulkes, but as this Temple waxes The inward seruice of the mind and soule Growes wide withall, perhaps he loues you now, And now no soilesoylesoile nor cautell doth besmerch The vertue of his will, but you must feare, Prince of Denmarke. His greatnesse waidwaydwaid, his will is not his owne. He may not as vnualuedvnualewed persons doe, CraueCarue for himselfe, for on his choice depends The safetiesafty and health of this whole state, And therefore must his choise be circumscrib'd, Vnto the voice and yeelding of that bodie, Whereof he is the head, then if he saies he loues you, It fits your wisdome so farre to beleeue it As he in his particular act and place May giue his saying deed, which is no further, Then the maine voice of Denmarke goes withall. Then weigh what losse your honour may sustaine, If with too credent eare you list his songs Or loose your hearthart, or your chast treasure open, To his vnmastred importunitie. Feare it Ophelia, feare it my deare sister, And keepe you in the reare of your affection Out of the shot and danger of desire, “The chariest maide is prodigall enoughinough If she vnmaske her beautiebutie to the Moone “Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious strokes “The Canker gaules the infantinfants of the Spring Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd, And in the morne and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most iminent, Be warie then, best safetie lies in feare, Youth to it selfe rebels, though none else neere. Ophe. I shall the effect of this good lesson keepe, As watchmenwatchman to my heart hart: but good my brother Doe not as some vngracious Pastors doe. Shew me the steepestep and thornie way to heauen Whiles a puft, and reckles libertine, Himselfe the primrose path of daliance treads. And reakes not his owne Reed.Enter Polonius. Laer. O feare me not, I ftay too long, but heere my father comes A double blessing, is a double grace, Occasion smiles vpon a second leaue. Pol. Yet here Laertes? aboordabord, aboord for shame, C The The Tragedie of Hamlet The wind sits in the shoulder of your saile, And you are staied for, there my blessing with thee, And these few precepts in thy memorie Looke thou character, giue thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any vnproportion'd thought his act, Be thou familiarfamilier, but by no meanes vulgar, Those friends thou haft and their adoption tried, Grapple them vnto thy soule with hoopes of steele, But doe not dull thy palme with entertainment Of each new hatcht vnfledgd courage; beware Of entrance to a quarrell, but being in, Bear't that th' opposer may beware of thee. Giue euerie man thy eare, but few thy voice, Take each mans censure, but reserue thy iudgement, Coftly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not exprest in fancie; rich not gaudie, For the apparell oft proclaimes the man: And they in Frauce of the best ranke and ftation, Are of a most select and generous, chiefe in that: Neither a borrower nor a lender boy, For loue oft looses both it selfe and friend, And borrowingdulleth the edgedulleth edge of husbandry: This aboue all, to thine owne selfe be true And it must follow as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man: Farewell my blessing season this in thee. Laer. Most humbly doe I take my leaue my Lord. Pol. The time inuests you, go, your seruants tend, Laer. FarewellfarwellOphelia, and remember well What I haue said to you. Ophe. Tis in my memorie lockt And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it. Laer. Farewellfarwell.Exit, Laertes. Pol. What ist Ophelia he hath said to you? Ophe. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. Pol. Marrie well bethought Tis toldde me he hath very oft of late Giuen priuate time to you, and you your selfe Haue of your audience beene most free and bounteous, o. Prince of Denmarke. If it be so, as so tis put on me, And that in way of caution I must tell you, You doe not vnderstand your selfe so cleerely As it behooues my daughter and your honour, What is betweene you giue me vp the truth. Ophe. He hath my Lord of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. Pol. Affection, puh, you speake like a greene girle, Vnsifted in such perillous circumstance, Doe you beleeue his tenders, as you call them? Ophe. I doe not know my Lord what I should thinke. Pol. Marrie I will teach you, thinke your selfe a babie, That you haue tane these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling: tender your selfe more dearely Or (not to cracke the wind of the poore phrase) Wrong it thus, youle tender me a foole. Ophe. My Lord he hath importun'd me with loue In honorable fashion. Pol. I, fashion you may call it, goe to, goe to. Ophe. And hath giuen countenance to his speech My Lord, with almost all the holy vowes of heauen. Pol. I, springessprings to catch Wood‐cocks, I do know When the bloud burnes, how prodigall the soule Lends the tongue vowes, these blazes daughter Giuing more light then heate, extinct in both Euen in their promise, as it is a making You must not tak'ttake for fire: from this time Be some thing scanter of your maiden presence Set your intreatments at a higher rate Then a commandcommaund to parle; for Lord Hamlet, Beleeue so much in him, that he is young, And with a larger tedertider may he walke Then may be giuen you: in few Ophelia, Doe not beleeue his vowes, for they are Brokers Not of that die which their inuestments shew But meere imploratorsimploratotors of vnholy suites, Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds The better to beguile: this is for all, I would not in plaine termes from this time forth C2 Haue The Tragedie of Hamlet Haue you so slanderslaunder any momentsmoment leisure As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet, Looke too't I charge you, come your waies. Ophe. I shall obey my Lord.Exeunt. Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. Ham. The aire bites shroudly, it is very cold. Hora. It is nipping, and an eager aire. Ham. What houre now? Hora. I thinke it lackes of tweluetwelfe. Mar. No, it is strooke Hora. Indeed; I heard it not, it then drawes neere the season. Wherein the spirit held his wont to walkewakeA flourish of Trum­ pets, and two Peeces goes off. What does this meane my Lord? Ham. The King doth walke to night and takes his rowse, Keeps wassell and the swaggering vp‐spring reeles: And as he draines his drafts of Rhenish downe, The Kettle Drumme and Trumpet, thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Hora. Is it a custome? Ham. I marrie ist, But to my mind, though I am natiue heere And to the manner borne, it is a custome More honourd in the breach, then the obseruance. This heauie‐headed reuellreueale East and West Makes vs traduc'dtradust and taxed of other Nations, They clip vs Drunkards and with swinish phrase Soile our addition, and indeed it takes From our atchieuements, though perform'd at height The pith and marow of our attribute, So oft it chanceschaunces in particularparticuler men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them As in their birth wherein they are not guiltie, (Since nature cannot choose his origenorigin) By their ore‐grow'th of some complexion Oft breaking downe the Pales and Forts of Reason, Or by some habit that too much ore‐leauens The forme of plausiue manners, that these men Carrying I say the stampe of one defect Bein Prince of Denmarke. Being Natures liuery, or Fortunes starre, His Vertues els be they as pure as grace. As infinite as man may vndergoe, Shall in the generall censure take corruption From that particularparticuler fault: the dram of easeeale Doth all the noble substance of a doubt To his owne scandallscandle. Enter Ghost. Hora. Looke my Lord it comes. Ham. Angels and Ministers of grace defend vs! Be thou a spirit of health, or Goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airesayresfrom heauen, or blasts from helhell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, That I will speake to thee, Ile call thee Hamlet, King, Father, Royall Dane, O answere me, Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell Why thy canoniz'd bones hearsed in death Haue burft their cerements? why the Sepulchre, Wherein we saw thee quietly interr!d Hath op't his ponderous and marble iawes, To cast thee vp againe? what may this meane That thou dead coarse, againe in compleat steele Reuisites thus the glimpses of the Moone, Making night hideous, and we fooles of Nature So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our soules, Say why is this, wherefore, what should we doe?Beckons. Hora. It beckonsbeckins you to goe away with it As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Mar. Looke with what courteouscurteous action It waues you to a more remooued ground, But doe not goe with it. Hora. No, by no meanes. Ham. It will not speake, then I will follow it. Hora. Doe not my Lord. Ham. Why? what should be the feare, I doe not set my life at a pinnes fee, C3 And The Tragedie of Hamlet And for my soule, what can it doe to that Being a thing immortall as it selfe; It waues me forth againe, Ile follow i. Hora. What if it tempt you towards the floud mytoward the flood my Lord, Or to the dreadfull somnet of the cleefe That bettels ore his base into the Sea, And there assume some other horriblehorrable forme Which might depriue your Soueraigntie of reason, And draw you into madnesse, thinke of it, The verie place puts toyes of desperation Without more motiue, into euery braine That lookes so many fadomes to the Sea And heares it rore beneath. Ham. It waues me still, Goe on, Ile follow thee. Mar. You shall not goe my Lord. Ham. Hold off your hands. Hora. Be rul'd, you shall not goe. Ham. My fate cries out And makes each pettie attirearture in this bodie As hardie as the Nemean Lions nerue; Still am I cald, vnhand me Gentlemen By heauen Ile make a Ghost of him that lets me, I say away, goe one, Ile follow thee.Exit Ghost and Hamlet. Hora. He waxes desperate with imagination. Mar. Lets follow, tis not fit thus to obey him. Hora. Haue after, to what issue will this come? Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmarke. Hora. Heauen will direct it. Mar. Nay lets follow him.Exeunt. Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Ham. Whether wilt thou leade me, speake, Ile go no further. Ghost. Marke me. Ham. I will. Ghost. My houre is almost come When I to sulphrous and tormenting flames Must render vp my selfe. Ham. Alas poore Ghost. Prince of Denmarke. Ghost. Pittie mee not but lend my serious hearing to what I shall vnfold. Ham. Speake I am bound to heare. Ghost. So art thou to reuenge, when thou shalt heare. Ham. What? Ghost. I am thy fathers spirit, Doom'd for a certaine tearme to walke the night, And for the day confin'd to fast in fires, Till the foule crimes done in my daies of nature Are burnt and purg'd away: but that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison‐house, I could a tale vnfold whose lightest word Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy young bloud, Make thy two eies like starres start from their Spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particularparticuler haire to stand an end, Like quils vpon the fearefull Porpentine: But this eternall blazon must not be To eares of flesh and bloud, list, list, O listô list, If thou did'st euer thy deare father loue. Ham. O God. Ghost. Reuenge his soule, and most vnnatural murther. Ham. Murther. Ghost. Murther most foule, as in the beft it is, But this most foule, strange and vnnaturall. Ham. Hastehast me to know't, that I with wings as swift, As meditation, or the thoughts of loue May sweepe to my reuenge. Ghost. I find thee apt, And duller shouldest thou be then the fat weed That roots it selfe in ease on Lethe wharffe, Would'st thou not stirre in this; now Hamlet heare, Tis giuen out, that sleeping in my Orchard, A Serpent stung me, so the whole eare of Denmarke Is by a forged processe of my death Rankely abusedRanckly abusde: but know thou noble Youth, The Serpent that did sting thy fathers life Now weares his Crowne. Ham. O my Prophetike soule my Vncle. Ghost. The Tragedie of Hamlet Ghost. I that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wits, with trayterous gifts, O wicked wit, and gifts that haue the power So to seduce; wonne to his shamefull lust The will of my most seeming vertuous Queene; O Hamlet, what falling off was there From me whose loue was of that dignitie That it went hand in hand, euen with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline Vpon a wretch whose naturall gifts were poore, To those of mine; but vertue as it neuer will be mooued, Though lewdnesse court it in a shape of Heauen So but though to a radiant Angle linckt. Will sort it selfe in a celestiall bed And prey on garbage. But soft, me thinkes I scentsent the morning aire, Briefe let me be; sleeping within my Orchard, My custome alwaies of the afternoone, Vpon my secure houre, thy Vncle stole With iuice of cursed Hebona in a Viall, And in the porches of my eares did poure, The leprous distilment, whose effect Holds such an enmitie with bloud of man, That swift as Quick‐siluer it courses through The naturall gates and allies of the bodie, And with a sodaine vigour it doth posssse And curde like eager droppings into milke, The thinne and wholsome bloud; so did it mine, And a most instant Tetter barkt about Most Lazerlike with vile and lothsome crust All my smooth bodie. Thus was I sleeping by a brothers hand, Of life, of Crowne, of Queene at once dispatcht, Cut off euen in the blossomes of my sinne, Vnnuzled, disappointed, vn‐anueldunhurled, No reckning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head, O horrible, O horrible, most horrible. If thou hast nature in thee beare it not, Prince of Denmarke. Let not the Royall bed of Denmarke be A Couch for Luxurie and damned Inceft. But howsomeuer thou pursues this act, Taint not thy mind, nor ler thy soule contriue Against thy mother ought, leaue her to heauen, And to those thornes that in her bosome lodge To prick and sting her: fare thee well at once, The Gloworme shewes the matine to be neere And ginsgines to pale his vneffectuall fire, Adiew, adiew, adiew, remember me. Ham. O all you host of heauen! O earth! what else, And shall I couple hell, O fie! hold my heart,hold, hold my hart, And you my sinewessinnowes; grow not instant old, But beare me swiftly vp; remember thee, I thou poore Ghost whiles memorie holds a seat In this distracted Globe, remember thee, Yea, from the table of my memorie Ile wipe away all triuiall fond records, All sawsawes of Bookes, all formes, all pressures paft That youth and obseruation coppied there, And thy commandement all alone shall liue, Within the Booke and volume of my braine Vnmixt with baser matter, yes by heauen. O most pernicious woman. O villaine, villaine, smiling damned villaine, My tables, meet it is I set it downe That one may smile, and smile, and be a villaine, At least I am sure it may be so in Denmarke. So Vncle, there you are, now to my word. It is adiew, adiew,adew, adew remember me. I haue sworne't. Enter Horatio, and Marcellus. Hora. My Lord, my Lord. Mar. Lord Hamlet. Hora. Heauens secure him. Ham. So be it. Mar. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord. Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy come, and come. D Mar. The Tragedie of Hamlet Mar. How ist my noble Lord? 3Hor. What newes, my Lord? Ham. O wonderfull! Hora. O wonderfull! Hor. Good my Lord tell it. Ham. No, you will reueale it. Hora. Not I my Lord by Heauen. Mar. Nor I my Lord. Ham. How say you then, would hearthart of man once thinke it, But you'le be secret. Both. I by heauen. Ham. There's neuer a villaine, Dwelling in all Denmake But he's an arrant Knaue. Hora. There needs no Ghost my Lord, come from the graue To tell vs this. Ham. Why right, you are in the right, And so without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part, You, as your businesse and desire shall point you, For euery man hath businesse and desire Such as it is, and for my owne poore part I will goe pray. Hora. These are but wild and whurling words my Lord. Ham. I am sorrie they offend you heartilyhartily, Yes faith heartilyhartily. Hora. There's no offence my Lord. Ham. Yes by Saint Patrick but there is Horatio, And much offence to, touching this vision heere, It is an honest Ghost, that let me tell you, For your desire to know what is betweene vs, Ore‐master'tOremastre't as you may, and now good friends, As you are friends, Schollers, and Souldiers, Giue me one poore request. Hora. What ift my Lord, we will. Ham. Neuer make knowne what you haue seene to night. Both. My Lord we will not. Ham. Nay but sweare't. Hora. In faith my Lord not I. Mar. Nor I my Lord in faith. Ham. Vpon my Sword. Mar. Prince of Denmarke. Mar. We haue sworne my Lord alreadie. Ham. Indeed vpon my Sword, indeed. Ghoft cries vnder the Stage. Ghost. Sweare. Ham. Ha, ha, boy, say'st thou so, art thou there true penny? Come on, you heare this fellow in the Sellerige, Consent to sweare. Hora. Propose the oath my Lord. Ham. Neuer to speake of this that you haue seene, Sweare by my Sword. Ghost. Sweare. Ham. Hie, & vbi, then weele shift our ground: Come hether Gentlemen, And lay your hands againe vpon my Sword, Sweare by my Sword Neuer to speake of this that you haue heard. Ghost. Sweare by his Sword. Ham. Well said old Mole, canft worke it'h earth so fast, A worthy Pioner once more remooue good friends. Hora. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange. Ham. And therefore as a stranger giue it welcome, There are more things in heauen and earth Horatio, Then are dream't of in your Philosophy: but come Heere as before, neuer so helpe you mercy, (How strange or odde so mere I beare my selfe, As I perchance hereafter shall thinke meet, To put an AntikeAnticke disposition on That you at such times seeing me, neuer shall With armes incombred thus, or this head shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtfull phrase, As, wel, well we know, or we could and if we would, Or if we list to speake, or there be and if they might, Or such ambiguous giuing out, to note) That you know ought of me, this do sweare, So grace and mercy at your most need helpe you. Ghost. Sweare. Ham. Rest, rest perturbed spirit: so Gentlemen, With all my loue I doe commend me to you, D2 And The Tragedie of Hamlet And what so poore a man as Hamlet is, May doe t'expresse his loue and friending to you God willing shall not lacke: let vs goe in together, And still your fingers on your lips I pray, The time is out of ioynt, O cursed spight! That euer I was borne to set it right, Nay come, lets goe together.Exeunt. Enter old Polonius, with his man or two. Pol. Giue him this mony, and these two notesthese notesReynaldo, Rey. I will my Lord. Pol. You shal do maruellousmeruiles wisely good Reynaldo. Before you visit him, to make inquire, Of his behauiour. Rey. My Lord, I did intend it. Pol. MarrieMary well said, very well said; looke you ir, Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris. And how, & who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expence, and sinding, By this encompasment and drift of question That they do know my sonne, come you more neerer Then your particular demands will tuch it, Take you as 'twere some distant knowledge of him, As thus, I know his father, and his friends, And in part him, doe you marke this Reynaldo? Rey. I, very well my Lord. Pol. And in part him, but you may say, not well, But y'ft be he I meane, he's verie wilde, Addicted so and so, and there put on him What forgeries you please, marrie none so ranke As may dishonour him, take heed of that, But sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall sps, As are companions noted and most knowne To youth and libertie. Rey. As gaming my Lord. Pol. I, or drinking, fencing, swearing, Quarrelling, drabbing, you may goe so farre. Rey. My Lord, that would dishonour him. Pol. Faith as you may season it in the charge. You Prince of Denmarke. You must not put another scand all on him, That he is open to incontinencie, That's not my meaning, but breath his fauls so quently That they may seeme the taints of libertie, The flash and out‐breake of a fierie mind, A sauagenessesauagenes in vnreclaimed bloud, Of generall afsault. Rey. But my good Lord. Pol. Wherefore should you doe this? Rey. I my Lord, I would know that. Pol. Marrie sir, heere's my drift, And I beleeue it is a fetch of wit, You laying these slight sulliessallies on my sonne As t'were a thing a little soilde with working, Marke you, your partie in conuerse, him you would sound Hauing euer seene in the prenominate crimes The youth you breath of guiltie, be assur'd He closes with you in this consequence, Good sir (or so) or friend, or gentleman, According to the phrase, or the additionaddistion Of man and Countrie. Rey. Verie good my Lord. Pol. And then sir doos a this, a doos: what was I about to say? By the masse I was about to say some thing, Where did I leaue? Rey. At closes in the consequence. Pol. At closes in the consequence, I marrie, He closes thus, I know the Gentleman I saw him yesterday, or th' other day. Or then, or then, with such or such, and as you say: There was a gaming there, or tooke in's rowse, There falling out at Tennis, or perchance I saw him enter such or such a house of sale,enter such a house of sale, Videlicet,Videlizet a Brothell or so forth, see you now, Your bait of falshood: take this carpe of truth, And thus doe we of wisdome, and of reach, With windlesses: and with assayes of bias, By indirectsindirections find directions out, So by my former lecture and aduise D3 Shall The Tragedie of Hamlet Shall you my sonne; you haue me, haue you not? Rey. My Lord, I haue. Pol. God buy yee, far yee well. Rey. Good my Lord. Pol. Obserue his inclination in your selfe. Rey. I shall my Lord. Pol. And let him ply his Musickmusique. Rey. Well my Lord.Exit Rey. Enter Ophelia. Polo. Farwel. How now Ophelia, whats the matter? Ophe. O my Lord, my Lord, I haue binbeene so affrighted Polo. With what i'th name of God? Ophe. My Lord, as I was sowing in my Closset, Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd, No hat vpon his head his stockins fouled, Vngartred, and downe gyredgyued to his ankle, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a looke so pittious in purport As if he had beene loosed out of hell To speake of horrors, he comes before me. Pol. Mad for thy loue? Ophe. My Lord I doe not know, But truly I doe feare it. Polo. What said he? Ophe. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard, Then goes he to the length of all his arme, And with his other hand thus ore his brow, He fals to such perusall of my face As a would draw it; long staid he so, At last, a little shaking of mine arme, And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe, He raised a sigh so pittious and profound, As it did seeme to shatter all his bulke, And end his being; that done, he lets me goe, And with his head ouer his shouldersshoulder turn'd He seem'd to find his way without his eyes, For out of doores he went without their helpes, And to the last bended their light on me. Prince of Denmarke. Polo. Come, goe with me, I will go seeke the King, This is the very extasieextacie of loue, Whose violent propertie forgoesfordoos it selfe, And leads the will to desperatedesperat vndertakings As oft as any passions vndr heauen That doesdoos afflict our natures: I am sorrie, What, haue you giuen him any hard words of late? Ophe. No my good Lord, but as you did commandcommaund I did repell his Letters: and denied His accesse to me. Pol. That hath made him mad, I am sorrie, that with better heed and iudgement I had not coted him, I fear'd he did but trifle And meant to wracke thee, but beshrow my IealousieIelousy: By heauen it is as proper to our age To cast beyond our selues in our opinions, As it is common for the younger sort To lacke discretion; come, goe we to the King, This must be knowne, which being kept close, might moue More griefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue, Come.Exeunt. Florish. Enter King and Queene, Rosencraus and Guyldensterne. King. Welcome deere Rosencraus and Guyldensterne, Moreouer, that we much did long to see you, The need we haue to vse you did prouoke Our hastie sending, something haue you heard Of Hamlets transformation so call it, Sith nor th' exterior, nor the inward man Resembles that it was, what it should be, More then his fathers death, that thus hath put him, So much from the vnderstanding of himselfe I cannot dreame of: I intreat you both, That being of so young dayes brought vp with him, And sith so neighbourednebored to his youth and hauour, That you vouchsafevoutsafe your rest heere in our Court Some little time, so by your companies. To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So The Tragedie of Hamlet So much as from occasion you may gleane, Whether ought to vs vnknowne afflicts him thus, That opend lies within our remedie. Quee. Good gentlemen, he hath much talkt of you, And sure I am, two men there are notthere is not liuing, To whom he more adheres, if it will please you To shew vs so much gentry and good will, As to extendexpend your time with vs a while, For the supply and profit of our hope, Your vifitation shall receiue such thankes As fits a Kings remembrance. Ros. Both your Maiesties Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs, Put your dread pleasures more into commandcommaund Then to intreatie. Guyl. But we both obey, And here giue vp our selues in the full bent, To lay our seruice freely at your feet.To be commaunded. King. Thanks Rosencraus, and gentle Guyldensterne, Quee. Thanks Guyldensterne, and gentle Roscencraus. And beseechAnd I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed sonne: goe some of you And bring these Gentlemen where Hamlet is. Guyl. Heauens make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpfull to him. Quee. I Amen.Exeunt Ros. and Guyl. Enter Polonius. Pol. Th'embassadors from Norway my good Lord, Are ioyfully return'd. King. Thou ftill hast bin the father of good newes. Pol. Haue I my Lord? I assure my good Liege, I hold my dutie as I hold my soule. Both to my God, and to my gracious King; And I doe thinke, or else this braine of mine Hunts not the trayle of policie so sure As it hath vs'd to doe, that I haue found The very cause of Hamlets lunacie. King. O speake of that, that doe I long to heare. Pol Prince of Denmarke. Polo. Giue first admittance to the Embassdors, My newes shall be the fruit to that great feast. King. Thy selfe doe grace to them, and bring them in. He tels me my decree: Gertrudmy deere Gertrard he hath found The head and source of all your sonnes diftemper. Quee. I doubt it is no other but the maine, His fathers death, and our hastie marriage. Enter Embassadors. King. Well, we shall sift him, welcome my good friends, Say Voltemand, what from our brother Norway? Volte. Most faire returne of greetings and desires; Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse His Nephewes leuies, which to him appear'd To be a preparation gainst the Pollacke, But better lookt into, he truly found It was against your HighnesseHighnes, whereat grieu'd That so his sicknesse, age, and impotence Was falsly borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortenbrasse, which he in briefe obeyes, Receiues rebuke from Norway, and in fine, Makes vow before his Vncle neuer more To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie: Whereon old Norway ouercome wih ioy, Giues him threescore thousand crownes in anual fee, And his commission to imploy those Souldiers, So leuied (as before) against the Pollacke, With an entreaty herein further shone, That it might please you to giue quiet passe Through your Dominions for this enterprize On such regards of safetie and allowance As therein are set downe. King. It likes vs well, And at our more considered time, wee'le read, Answer, and thinke vpon this businesse: Meane time, we thank you for your wel took labour, Go to your rest, at night weele feast together, Most welcome home.Exeunt Embassadors. Pol. This businesse is well ended, E My The Tragedie of Hamlet My Liege and Madam, to expostulate What maiestie should be, what dutie is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time, Therefore breuitie is the soule of wit, And tediousnesse the limmes and outward florishes: I will be briefe your noble sonne is mad: Mad call I it, for to define true madnesse, What ist but to be nothing else but mad? But let that goe. Quee. More matter with lesse art. Pol. Madam, I sweare Ivse no art at all, That he's mad tis true, tis true, tis pittie, And pittie tis, tis true, a foolish figure, But farewell it, for I will vse no art, Mad let vs grantgraunt him then, and now remaines That we find out the cause of this effect, Or rather say the cause of this defect For this effect defectiue comes by cause: Thus it remaines and the remainder thus Perpend, I haue a daughter, haue while she is mine, Who in her dutie and obedience, marke, Hath giuen me this, now gather and surmise,

To the Celestiall and my soules Idoll the most beautifiedOphelia, that's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, beauti­ fied is a vile phrase, but you shall heare: thus in her excellent white bosome, these &c.

 Quee. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good Madam stay awile, I will be faithfull, Doubt thou the stars are fiee, Letter. Doubt that the Sunne doth moue, Doubt truth to be a lyer, But neuer doubt I loue.

O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers, I haue not art to reckon my groanesrecken my grones, but that I loue thee best, oh most best be­ leeue it! adiew. Thine euermore most deare Ladie, whilest this machine is to himto him.Hamlet.. (Hamlet.

 Pol. This in obedience hath my daughter shown meAnd more about hath his solicitings Prince of Denmarke. AsAnd they fell out by time, by means, and place, All giuen to mine eare. King. But how hath she receiu'd his loue? Pol. What doe you thinke of me? King. As of a man faithfull and honourable. Pol. I would faine proue so, but what might you think When I had seene this hothote loue on the wing? As I perceiu'd it (I must tell you that) Before my daughter told me, what might you, Or my deare Maiestie your Queene heere thinke, If I had plaid the Deske, or Table‐booke, Or giuen my hearthart a working mute and dumbe, Or lookt vpon this loue with idle sight, What might you thinke? no, I went round to worke, And my young Mistresse thismistris thus I did bespeake, Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy starrestar, This must not be: and then I prescripts gaue her That she should locke her selfe from hisher resort, Admit no messengers, receiue no tokens. Which done she tooke the fruits of my aduise, And he repel'd, a short tale to make, Fell into a sadnesse, then into a fast, Thence to a watchwath thence into aweaknesseweaknes, Thence to lightnesse, and by this declension, Into the madnessemadnes wherein now he raues, And all we mourne for. King. Doe you thinke this? Quee. It may be very like. Pol. Hath there beene such a time, I would faine know that, That I haue positiuely said, tis so, When it prou'd otherwise? King. Not that I know. Pol. Take this, from this, if this be otherwise; If circumstances leade me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the Centre. King. How may we trie it further? Pol. You know sometimes he walkes foure houres together Heere in the Lobbie. E2 Quee. The Tragedie of Hamlet Quee. So he does indeed. Pol. At such a time; ile loose my daughter to him, Be you and I behind an Arras then, Marke the encounter, if he loue her not, And be not from his reason falne thereon Let me be no assistant for a State But keepe a Farme and Carters. King. We will trie it. Enter Hamlet. Quee. But looke where sadly the poore wretch comes reading. Pol. Away, I do beseech you both away.Exit King and Queene. Ile boordbord him presently, oh giue me leaue, How doesdooes my good Lord Hamlet? Ham. Well, God a mercy. Pol. Doe you know me my Lord? Ham. Excellent well, you are a Fishmonger. Pol. Not I my Lord. Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. Pol. Honest my Lord. Ham. I sir to be honest as this world goes, Is to be one man pickt out of tentenne thousand, Pol. That's very true my Lord. Ham. For if the Sun breed maggots in a dead dogge, being a good kissing carrion. Haue you a daughter? Pol. I haue my Lord. Ham. Let her not walke i'th Sun, conception is a blessing, But as your daughter may conceiue, friend looke to't. Pol.

How say you by that, st ll harping on my daughter, yet he knew me not at first, a said I was a Fishmonger, a is farre gone, and truly in my youth, I suffered much extremity for loue, very neere this. Ile speake to him againe. What doe you reade my Lord.

 Ham. Words, words, words. Pol. What is the matter my Lord. Ham. Betweene who. Pol. I meane the matter that you read my Lord. Ham.

Slanders sir; for the Satericall Rogue saies here, that old men haue grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eies purging thick Amber, and Plum‐tree Gum, and that they haue a Prince of Denmarke. plentifull lacke of wit, together with most weake hams, all which fir though I most powerfully and potently beleeue, yet I hold it not honestie to haue it thus set down, for your selfe sir shall grow old as I am; if like a Crab you could goe backeward.

 Pol. Though this be madnesse, yet there is method in't, wil you walke out of the aire my Lord? Ham. Into my graue. Polo.

Indeed that's out of the aire; how pregnant sometimes his replies are, a happines that often madnes hits on, which reason and sanctitie could not so prosperously be deliuered of. I wil leaue him and my daughter. My Lord, I will take my leaue of you.

 Ham.

You cannot take from me any thing that I will not more willingly part withall: except my life, except my life, except my life.Enter Guildersterne, and Rosoncraus.

 Polo. Fare you well my Lord. Ham. These tedious old fooles. Polo. You goe to seeke the Lord Hamlet, there he is. Ros. God saue you sir. Guyl. My honor'd Lord. Ros. My most deere Lord. Ham. My excellent goodMy extent good friends, How dostHow doost thou Guildensterne? A Rosencraus, good lads how doe you both? Ros. As the indifferent children of the earth. Guyl. Happy, in that we are not euer happy on Fortunes lap, We are not the very button. Ham. Nor the soles of her shooe. Ros. Neither my Lord. Ham. Then you liue about her wast, or in the middle of her fa­ (uors. Guyl. Faith her priuates we. Ha. In the secret parts of fortune, oh most true, she is a strumpet What newes? Ros. None my Lord, but the worlds growne honest. Ham. Then is Doomes day neere, but your newes is not (true; But in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsonoure? Ros. To visit you my Lord, no other occasion. Ham.

Begger that I am, I am euer poore in thankes, but I thank you, and sure deare friends, my thanks are too deare a halfpeny: were you not sent for? is it your owne inclining? is it a free visita tion? come, come, deale iuftly with me, come, come, nay speake.

 Guyl. VVhat should we say my Lord? Ham. The Tragedie of Hamlet Ham.

Any thing but to'th purpose; you were sent for, and there is a kind of confession in your lookes, which your modesties haue not craft enough to cullour, I know the good King and Queene haue sent for you.

 Ros. To what end my Lord? Ham.

That you must teach me: but let me coniure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancie of our youth, by the obligation of our euer preserued loue; and by what more deare a better proposer can change you withal, be euen and direct with mee whether you were sent for or no.

 Ros. What say you? Ham. Nay then I haue an eie of you, if you loue me hold not off. Guyl. My Lord we were sent for. Ham.

I will tell you why

Comma.
so shall my anticipation preuent your discouerie & your secrecie to the King and Queen moult no fea­ ther, I haue of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgon all custome of exercises, and indeede it goes soe heauily with my disposition, that this goodly frame the earth, seems to me a sterill promontorie, this most excellent Canopie the aire, looke you, this braue ore‐hangedorehanging firmament, this maiesticall roofe fret­ ted with golden fire, why it appearth nothing to mee but a foule and pestilent congregation of vapours. What peece of worke is a man, how noble in reason, how infinit in faculties, in forme and moouing, how expresse and admirable in action, how like an An­ gell in apprehension, how like a God: the beautie of the world; the parragon of Annimales, & yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not mee nor womanwomen neither, though by your smiling you seeme to say so.

 Ros. My Lord there was no such stuffe in my thoughts. Ham. Why did yee laugh then, when I said man delights not me. Ros.

To thinke my Lord if you delight not in man, what Lenton entertainment the plaiers shall receiue from you, wee coted them on the way, and hether are the coming to offer you seruice.

 Ham.

He that plaies the King shall be welcome, his Maieste shall haue tribute on mee, the aduenterous Knight shall vse his foyle and target, the louer shall not singsigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in peace and the Ladie shall say her mind freely: or the blankeblacke verse shall hault for't. What players are they?

 Ros.

Euen those you were wont to take such delight in, the Tra­ gedians of the Citie.Citie.Citry.

 Prince of Denmarke. Ham. How chances it thethey trauaile? their residence both in re­ putation and profit was better both waies. Ros. I thinke their inhibition, comes by the meanes of the late innouation. Ham. Do thethey hold the same eftimation they did when I was in the Citie? are they so followed? Ros. No indeede are they not. Ham.

It is not very strange, for my Vncle is King of Denmarke, & those that would make mouths at him while my father liued, giue twentie, fortie, fiftie, a hundred duckets a peece, for his Pic­ ture in little: s'bloud there is something in this more then natu­ rall, if Philosophy could fin d it out.A flourish.

 Guyl. There are plaiers.are the players. Ham.

Gentlemen you are welcome to Elsonoure, your hands, come then th'apportenanceappurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremo­ nie; let mee comply with you in this garb: lest my extentlet my extent to the Plaiers, which I tell you must showe fairely outwards, fhould more appeare like entertainment then yours? you are welcome: but my Vncle‐father, and Aunt‐mother, are deceaued.

 Guyl. In what my deare Lord. Ham. I am but mad North North‐west; when the wind is Sou­ therly, I know a Hawke, from a Hand‐saw. Enter Polonius. Pol. Well be with you Gentlemen. Ham. Hark you Guyldensterne, and you to, are eachto,ateach eare a hearer, that great babie as you see isbabie you see there, is not yet out of his swadling clouts. Ros. Happily he is the second time come to them, for they say an old man is twice a child. Ham. I will prophecie that he comesI will prophecie he comes to tell me of the Plaiers; marke it, you say right sir a Monday morning t'was then indeed. Pol. My Lord I haue newes to tell you. Ham. My Lord I haue newes to tell you: when Rossius was an Actor in Rome. Pol. The Actors are come hether my Lord. Ham. Buz, buz, Pol. Vpon my honour. Ham. Then came each Actor on his Asse. Pol.

The best actors in the world, either for Tragedie, Comedie, Historie, Pastorall, Pastoral‐Comicall, Historical‐Pastorall, seeme sceneindeuidable.The Tragedie of Hamlet indeuidable, or Poem vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauie, nor Plautus too light for the law of writ, and the libertie: these are the onely men.

 Ham. O Ieptha Iudge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou? Pol. What a treasure had he my Lord? Ham. Why one faire daughter and no more, the which he lo­ ued passing well. Pol. Still on my daughter. Ham. Am I not i'th right old Ieptha
Double Triangle.
 Pol.

If you call me Ieptha, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well.

 Ham.

Nay, that followes not.

 Pol.

What followes then my Lord?

 Ham.

Why as by lot God wot, and then you know it came to passe, as most like it was; the first rowe of the pious chanson will show you more, for looke where my abridgement comes.

 Enter the Players. Ham.

You are welcome maisters, welcome all, I am glad to see thee well, welcome good friends, oh old friend, why thy face is valanc'dvalanctsince I saw thee last, com'st thou to beard mee in Den­ marke? what my young Ladie and Mistris, my LadieMistris by Ladie your Ladi­ ship is neerernerer to Heauen, then when I saw you last by the altitude of a chopine, pray God your voice like a peece of vncurrant gold, be not crackt within the ring: maisters you are all welcome, weele ento't like friendly FauknersFankners, flie at any thing we see, weele haue a speech strait, come giue vs a taste of your qualitie, come a passionate speech.

 Player. What speech my good Lord? Ham.

I heard thee speake me a speech once, but it was neuer ac­ ted, or if it was, not aboue once, for the play I remember pleasd not the million, t'was cauiary to the general, but it was as I recei­ ued it and others, whose iudgements in such matters cried in the top of mine, an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set downe with as much modesty as cunning. I remember one said there were no sallets in the lines, to make the matter sauory, nor no matter in the phrase that might indite the author of affection, but cald it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very much, more handsome then fine: one speech in't I chiefly loued, t'was Æneas talke to Dido, and there about of it especially when he speakes of Priams slaughter, if it liue in your memory begin at this line, let me see, let me see, the rugged Pyrhus like Th'ircanian Beast

Double Triangle.
Prince of Denmarke. Beast, tis not itnot so, it begins with Pyrrhus. The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable armes,

Blacke as his purpose did the night resemble, When he lay couched in th'ominous horse, Hath now this dread and black complection smeard, With Heraldy more dismall head to foot, Now is he totall Gules, horridly trickt With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes, Bak'd and embastedempasted with the parching streets Than lend a tirranousThat lend a tirranus and a damned light To their Lords murther, rosted in wrath and fire, And thus ore‐cised with coagulate gore, VVith eyes like Carbunckles, the hellish Pyrrhus Old gransire Priam seekes; so proceed you. Pol. Foregod my Lord well spoken, with good accent and (good discretion. Play. Anon he finds him Striking too short at Greekes, his anticke sword Rebellious to his arme, lies where i falls, Repugnant to command; vnequall matcht, Pirrhus at Priam driues, in rage strikes wide, But with the whiffe and wind of his fell sword, Th'vnnerued father falls: Seeming to feele this blow, with flaming top Stoopes to his base; and with a hiddious crash Takes prisoner Pirrhus eare, for lo his sword Which was declining on the milkie head Of reuerent Priam, seem'd i'th ayre to stick, So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood Like a newtrall to his will and matter, Did nothing: But as we often see against some storme, A silence in the heauens, the racke stand still, The bould winds speechlesse, and the orbe below As hush as death, anon the dreadfull thunder Doth rend the region, so after Pirrhus pause, A rowsed vengeance sets him new a worke, And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall, On Marses Armor forg'd for proofe eterne, VVith lesse remorse then Pirrhus bleeding sword Now falls on Priam. F Out The Tragedie of Hamlet Out, out, thou strumper Fortune! all you gods, In general sy nod take away her power, Breake all the spokes, and fellowesfollies from her wheele, And boule the round naue downe the hill of heauen As lowe as to the fiends. Polo. This is too long. Ha. It shal to the barbers with your beard; prethee say on, he's for a Iig, or a tale of bawdry, or he sleepes, say on, come to Hecuba Play. But who, a woe, had seene the mobled Queene. Ham. The mobled Queene. Polo. That's good. Play. Runne barefoot vp and downe, threatning the flames. With Bisonrhumerehume, a clout vpon that head Where late the Diadem stood, and for a robe, About her lanck and all ore‐teamed loynes, A blancket in the alarme of feare caught vp. Who this had seene, with tongue in venom steept, Gainst fortunes state would treason haue pronounc'd; But if the gods themselues did see her then, When she saw Pirhus make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her husbandshusband limmes, The instant burst of clamor that she made, Vnlesse things mortall mooue them not at all, Would haue made milch the burning eyes of heauen And passion in the gods. Pol. Looke where he has not turned his collourcullour, and has teares in's eyes prethee no more. Ham.

Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest of this soone, good my Lord will you see the Players well bestowed; doe you heare, let them be well vsed, for they are the abstract and breefe Chronicles of the time; after your death you were better haue a bad Epitaph then their ill report while you liue.

 Pol. My Lord, I will vse them according to their desert. Ham.

Gods bodkin man, much better, vse euery man after his desert, and who shall scape whipping, vse them after your ownhonour and dignitie, the lesse they deserue the more merrit is in your bouny. Take them in.

 Pol. Come sirs. Ha. Follow him friends, weele here heare a play to morrow; dost thou herePrince of Denmarke. heare me old friend, can you play the murther of Gonzago? Play. I my Lord. Ham.

Weele hau'thate to morrow night, you could for need study a speech of some dosen lines, or sixteene lines, which I would set downe and insert in't: could you not?

 Play. I my Lord. Ham.

Very well, follow that Lord, and looke you mocke him not. My good friends, Ile leaue you tilltell night, you are welcome to Elsonoure.Exeunt Pol. and Players.

 Ros. Good my Lord.Exit. Ham. I so, God buy to you, now I am alone, O what a rogue and pesant slaue am I! Is it not monstrous that this Player here But in a fixion, in a dreame of passion Could force his soule so to his owne conceit That from her working all the visage wand, Teares in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, A broken voice, and hisan his whole function suting VVith formes to his conceit; and all for nothing, For Hecuba. VVhat's Hecuba to him, or he to her, That he should wepe for her? what would he doe Had he the motiue, and that for passion That I haue? he would drowne the stage with teares, And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty, and appealeappale the free, Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed, The very faculties of eyes and eares; yet I, A dull and muddy mettled raskall peake, Like Iohn‐a‐dreames, vnpregnant of my cause, And can say nothing; no not for a King, Vpon whose property and most deare life, A damn'd defeate was made: am I a coward, VVho calls me villain, breaks my pate a crosse, Plucks off my beard, and blowes it in my face, Twekes me by the nose, giues me the ly i'th throatthraote As deepe as to the lunges: who does me this, Hah! s'wounds I should take it: for it cannot be But I am pidgion liuerd, and lacke gall F2 To The Tragedie of Hamlet To make oppression bitter, or ere this I fhould haue fatted all the region kytes VVith this slaues offall, bloody, baudy villaine, Remorslesse, treacherous, letcherous, kindlesse villain. VVhy what an Asse am I? this is moft braue, That I the sonne of a deere father murthereddeere murthered, Prompted to my reuenge by heauen and hell, Must like a whore vnpack my hearthart with words, And fal a cursing like a very drabbe; stalliona stallyon, fie vppont, foh. About my braines, hum, I haue heard, That guiltie creatures sitting at a play, Haue by the very cunning of the Scene, Beene strooke so to the soule, that presently They haue proclaim'd their malfactions: For murther though it haue no tongue will speake With most miraclous organ. Ile haue these Players Play somthing like the murther of my father Before mine Vncle, Ile obserue his lookes, Ile tent him to the quick, if a do blench I know my course. The spirit that I haue seene May be a diuell, and the diuella deale, and the dealea diuell, and the diuell hath power T'assume a pleasing shape; yea and perhaps, Out of my weakenesse and my melancholly, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damne me; Ile haue grounds More relatiue then this, the play's the thing VVherein Ile catch the conscience of the King.Exit. Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencraus, Guyl­ densterne, Lords King. And can you by no drift of conference Get from him why he puts on this confusion, Grating so harshly all his daies of quiet VVith turbulent and dangerous lunacie? Ros. He dooes confesse he feeles himselfe distracted, But from what cause a will by no meanes speake. Guyl. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded, But with a crafty madnesse keepes aloofe VVhen we would bring him on to some confession Of Prince of Denmarke. Of his true state. Quee. Did he receiue you well? Ros. Most like a Gentleman. Guyl. But with much forcing of his disposition. Ros. Niggard of question, but of our demandsdemaunds Most free in his reply. Quee. Did you afsay him to any pastime? Ros. Madam, it fo fell out that certaine Players We ore‐raught on the way, of these we told him, And there did seeme in him a kind of ioy To heare of it: they are heere about the Court, And as I thinke, they haue alreadie order This night to play before him. Pol. Tis most true. And he beseecht me to intreat your Maiesties To heare and see the matter. King. With all my hearthart, And it doth much content me To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen giue him a further edge, And driue his purpose into these delights. Ros. We shall my Lord.Exeunt Ros. & Guyl. King. Sweet Gertrard, leaue vs two, For we haue closely sent for Hamlet hether, That he as t'were by accedent, may heere Affront Ophelia; her father and my selfe, VVee'le so bestow our selues, that seeing vnseene, VVe may of their encounter frankly iudge, And gather by him as he is behau'd, Ift be th'affliction of his loue or no That thus he suffers for. Quee. I shall obey you. And for my partfor your partOphelia I doe wish That your good beauties be the happy cause Of Hamlets wildnesse, so shall I hope your vertues Will bring him to his wonted way againe, To both your honours. Ophe. Madam, I wish it may. Pol. Ophelia walk you here: gracious so please you, F3 We The Tragedie of Hamlet We will bestow our selues; read on this Booke, That show of such an exercise may colour Your lowinesselowines; we are oft too blame in this, Tis too much prou'd, that with deuotions visage And pious action, we doe sugar ore The Deuill himselfe. King. O tis too true, How smart a lash that speech doth giue my conscience? The harlots cheeke beautied with plastring art, Is not more vglyongly to the thing that helps it, Then is my deed to my most painted word: O heauy burthen: Enter Hamlet. Pol. I heare him comming, withdraw my Lord. Ham. To be, or not to be, that is the question, Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrowes of outragious Fortune, Or to take armes against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing end them: To die to sleepe No more: and by a sleepe, to say we end The hart‐ake, and the thousand naturall shocks That flesh is heire to; tis a consummation Deuoutly to be wisht to die to sleep, To sleep, perchance to dreame, I there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreames may come? When we haue shuffled off this mortall coyle Must giue vs pause, there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life: For who would beare the whips and scornes of time, Th' oppressors wrong, the proud mans contumely, The pangs of office and the Lawes delay, The pangs of dispiz'd love the lawes delay, The insolence of office, and the spurnes That patient merit of th'vnworthy takes, When himselfeWhen he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin; who would fardels beare, To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life? But that the dread of something after death, The vndiscouer'd Countrie, from whose borne No Prince of Denmarke. Notrauellertrauiller returnes, puzzels the will, And makes vs rather beare those ils we haue, Then flie to others that we know not of. Thus conscience dooes make cowards, And thus the natiue hiew of resolution Is sickled ore with the pale cast of thought. And Enterprizes of great pitch and moment, VVith this regard their currents turne awry, And loose the name of action. Soft you now, The faire Ophelia, Nimph in thy Orizons Be all my sins remembred. Ophe. Good my Lord, How dooes your honour for this many a day? Ham. I humbly thanke you; well. Ophe. My Lord I haue remembrances of yours That I haue longed long to re‐deliuer, I pray you now receiue them. Ham. No, not I, I neuer gaue you ought. Ophe. My honor'd Lord, you know right well you did, And with them words of so sweet breath composd As made these things more rich: their perfume lost, Take these againe, for to the noble mind Rich gifts wax poore when giuers proue vnkind, There my Lord. Ham. Ha, ha, are you honest. Ophe. My Lord. Ham. Are you faire? Ophe. VVhat meanes your Lordship? Ham. That if you be honest and faire, you should admit no discourse to your beautie. Ophe. Could beautie my Lord haue better commercecomersecommerce Then with honesty? Ham.

I truly, for the power of beautie will sooner transforme honestie from what it is to a Baud, then the force of honesty can translate beautie in hisinto his likenesse, this was sometime a Paradoxe, but now the time giues it proofe, I did loue you once.

 Ophe. Indeed my Lord you made me beleeue so. Ham. You should not haue beleeu'd me, for vertue cannot so euacuate enocutat our old stock, but we shall rellish of it: I loued you not. Ophe. The Tragedie of Hamlet Ophe. I was the more deceiued. Ham.

Get thee a Nunry: why would'st thou be a breeder of sinners? I am my self indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of suh things, that it were better my Mother had not borne mee: I am very proud, reuengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my beck, then I haue thoghts to put them in imagination to giue thēthemshape, or time to act them in: what should such fellowes as I do crauling betweene Earth and Heauen? we are arrant Knaues, be­ lieue none of vs. Go thy waies to a Nunry, VVher's your father?>

 Ophe. At home my Lord. Ham. Let the doersdooersdoersdoores be shut vpon him, That he may play the foole no where but in's owne house, Farewell. Ophe. O helpe him you sweet Heauens. Ham.

If thou doost mary, Ile giue thee this plague for thy dow­ ry, be thou as chast as Iceyee, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny, get thee to a Nunry, farwell. Or if thou wilt needs mar­ ry, marrie a foole, for wisemen know well enough what monsters you make of them: to a Nunry go, and quickly to, farwell.

 Ophe. Heauenly powers restore him. Ham.

I haue heard of your paintings well enough, God hath giuen you one face, and you make your seluesyour selfes another, you gig & amble, and you list you nickname Gods creatures, and make your wantonnessewantonnes ignorance; go to, Ile no more on't, it hath made me mad, I say we will haue no mo marriage, those that are married already, all but one shall liue, the rest shall keepe as they are: to a Nunrie goe.Exit.

 Ophe. O what a noble mind is here othrowne! The Courtiers, Soldiers, Scholers, eie, tongue, sword, Th'expectation, and Rose of the faire state, The glasse of fashion, and the mould of forme, Th'obseru'd of all obseruers, quite, quite downe, And I of Ladies most deiect and wretched, That suckt the hony of his Musickhonny of his Musickt vowes; Now see what noble and most souereigne reason Like sweet bels iangled out of time, and harsh, That vnmarchtunmatcht forme, and stature of blowne youth Blasted with extasie. O wo is me T' haue seene what I haue seene, see what I see.Exit. Enter Prince of Denmarke. Enter King and Polonius King. Loue: his affections do not that way tend, Nor what he spake, though it lackt forme a little, Was not like madnes; there's something in his soule Ore which his melancholy sits on brood, And I doe doubt, the hatch and the discolse Will be some danger; which for to preuent, I haue in quick determination Thus set downe:Thus set it downe: he shall with speed to England, For the demanddemaund of our neglected Tribute, Haply the Seas, and Countries different, With variable obiects shall expell This something setled matter in his hearthart , Whereon his braines still beating Puts him thus from fashion of himselfe. What thinke you on't? Pol. It shall doe well. But yet do I belieue the origen & comencement of itoregin and commencement of his greefe it Sprung from neglected loue: how now Ophelia? You need not tell vs what Lord Hamlet said, We heard it all: my Lord, doe as you please, But if you hold it fit, after the play. Let his Queen‐mother all alone intreat him To show his griefe, let her be round with him, And Ile be plac'd (so please you) in the eare Of all their conference: if she find him not, To England send him: or consine him where Your wisdome best shall thinke. King. It shall be so, Madnes in great ones must not vnmatcht go.Exeunt. Enter Hamlet, and three of the Players. Ham.

Speake the speech I pray you as I pronounc'dpronoun'd it to you, trippingly on the tongue, but if you mouth it as many of our Players do, I had as liue the Town‐crier spoke my lines, nor doe not saw the aire too much with your hand thus, but vse alallal gently, for in the very torrent tempest, & as I may say, whirlwind of your passion you must acquire and beget a tempernce, that may giue it smoothnesse, O it offends me to to the soule, to heare a robusti­ GousThe Tragedie of Hamlet ous Perwig‐pated fellow tere a passion to totters, to verie rags, to spleet the eares of the ground‐lings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but in explicable dumbe shewes, and noisenoyse : I would haue such a fellow whipt for ore‐doing Termagant, it out Herods, Herod, pray you auoid it.

 Play. I warrant your honour. Ham.

Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor, sute the action to the word, the word to the action, with this speciall obseruance, that you ore‐step not the modestie of Nature: For any thing so ore‐done, is from the purpose of playing, whose end both at firstat the first, and now, was and is, to hold as twere the Mirrour vp to Nature, to shew vertue her feature; scorn her own Image, and the very age and bodie of the time his forme and pressure: Now this ouer‐done, or come tardie off though it makes the vnskilfull laugh, cannot but make the iudicious grieue, the censure of which one muft in your allowance ore‐weigh a whole Theater of others. O there be Players that I haue seen play, and heard others praisd, and that highly, not to speake it profane­ ly, that neither hauing th' accent of Christians, nor the gate of Christian, Pagan, nor man, haue so strutted & bellowed, that I haue thought some of Natures Iournymenjornimen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanitie so abominablyabhominably.

 Play. I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with vs. Ham.

O reforme it altogether, and let those that play your Clownes speake no more then is set downe for them, for there be of them that will themselues laugh, to set on some quantitie of barraine Spectators to laugh to, though in the meane time, some necessarie question of the play be then to be considered: that's vil­ lanous, and shewes a most pittifull ambition in the Foole that v­ ses it: go make you readie. How now my Lord, will the King heare this piece of worke?

 Enter Polonius, Guyldensterne, and Rosencraus. Pol. And the Queene to, and that presently, Ham. Bid the Players make haste. Will you two help to haten (them. Ros. I my Lord.Exeunt those two. Ham. What howhowe, Horatio.Enter Horatio. Hora. Heere sweet Lord, at your seruice. Ham. Horatio, thou art een as iust a man As ere my conuersation copt withall. Hora. Prince of Denmarke. Hora. O my deare Lord. Ham. Nay, do not thinke I flatter. For what aduancement may I hope from thee That no reuenue haft but thy good spirits To feed and cloath thee, why should the poore be flattred? No let the candied tongue lick obsurdabsurd pompe, And crooke the pregnant hingeshindges of the knee Where thrift may follow fawningfauning, dost thou heare, Since my deare soule was Mistris of her choice, And could of men distinguish her election ShathS'hath seald thee for her selfe, for thou hast bin As one in suffering all that suffers nothing, A man that Fortunes buffets and rewards Hast tane with equall thanks; and bleft are those Whose bloud and iudgement are so well comedled, That they are not a pipe for Forunes finger To sound what ftop she please: giue me that man That is not passions slaue, and I will weare him In my heartsharts core, I in my heart hartof heart As I do thee. Something too much of this, There is a play to night before the King, One Scene of it comes neere the circumstance Which I haue told thee of my fathers death, I prethee when thou seest that Act a foot, Euen with the very comment of thy soule Obserue my Vncle, if his occulted guilt Doe not it selfe vnkennill in one speech, It is a damned Ghost that we haue seene, And my imaginations are as foule As Vulcans stithy; giue him heedfull note For I mine eies will riuet to his face, And after we will both our iudgements ioyne In censure of his seeming. Hora. Well my Lord, If a steale ought the whilst this Play is playing And scape detected, I will pay the theft. Enter Trumpets and Kettle Drummes, King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia. Ham. They are comming to the Play. I must be idle, G2 Get The Tragedie of Hamlet gap reason="absent" agent="unclear" extent="1" unit="chars" resp="#fol"/>Get you a place. King. How fares our CousincosinHamlet? Ham. Excellent Ifaith. Of the Camelions dish, I eat the aire, Promis‐cram'd, you cannot feed Capons so. King. I haue nothing with this answeraunswerHamlet These words are not mine. Ham. No nor mine now my Lord. You playd once i'th the Vniuersitie you say, Pol. That did I my Lord, and was accounted a good Actor, Ham. What did you enact? Pol. I did enact Iulius Cæsar, I was kild i'th Capitall, Brutus kild me. Ham. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calfe there. Be the Players readie? Ros. I my Lord, they stay vpon your patience. Ger. Come hither my deare Hamlet, sit by me. Ham. No good mother here's mettle more attractiue. Pol. O, oh, doe you marke that. Ham. Ladie shall lieshall I lie in your lap? Ophe. No my Lord. Ham. Doe you thinke I meant Countrie matters? Ophe. I thinke nothing my Lord. Ham. That's a faire thought to lie between maids legs. Ophe. What is my Lord? Ham. Nothing. Ophe. You are merrie my Lord. Ham. Who I? Ophe. I my Lord. Ham.

O God! your onely Iigge‐maker, what should a man do but be merrie, for looke you how cherefully my mother lookes, and my father died within's two houres.

 Ophe. Nay, tis twice two moneths my Lord. Ham.

So long, nay then let the Deuilldeule weare black, for Ile haue a Sute of Sables; O heauens, die two moneths ago, and not for­ gotten yet, then there's hope a great mans memorie may out‐liue his life halfe a yeare, but ber Ladie a must build Churches then, or else shall a suffer not thinking on, with the Hobby‐horse, whose Epitaph is, for O, for O, the Hobby‐horse is forgot.

 Enter Prince of Denmarke. The Trumpets sound. Dumbe show followes. Enter a King and a Queene, the Queene embracing him, and he her, he takes her vp, and declines his head vpon her necke, he lies him downe vpon a banke of flowers, shee seeing him asleepe, leaues him: anon comes in another man, take.s off his Crown, kisses it, pours poyson in the sleepers eares, and leaues him: the Queene returnes, finds the King dead, makes passionate action, the poysoner with some three or foure comescome in againe, seem to condole with her, the dead body is carried away, the poisoner woes the Queen with gifts, she seems harsh awhile, but in the end accepsaccepts loue. Oph. VVhat meanes this my Lord? Ham. Marry it is munchingMarry this munching Mallico, it meanes mischeife. Oph. Belike this show imports the argument of the Play. Ham. We shall know by this fellow,Enter prologue. The Players cannot keepe they'le tell all. Ophe. Will a tell vs what this show meant? Ha. I, or any show that you will show him, be not you asham'd to show, heele not shame to tell you what it meanes. Oph. You are naught, you are naught, Ile marke the Play. Prologue. For vs and for our Tregedy, Heere stooping to your clemencie, We begge your hearing patiently. Ham. Is this a Prologue or the posie of a Ring? Ophe. Tis briefe my Lord. Ham. As womans loue. Enter King and Queene. King. Full thirty times hath Phœbus Cart gone round Neptunes salt wash, and Tellus orb'd the ground, And thirty dosen Moones with borrowed sheene About the world haue times twelue thirties beene Since Loue our hearts, and Hymen did our hands Vnite comutuall in most sacred bands. Quee. So many iourneyes may the Sun and Moon Make vs againe count ore ere loue bd donebe done, But woe is me you are so sicke of late, So farre from cheere, and from your formerour former state, That I diftrust you, yet though I distrust, Discomfort you my Lord it nothing must. G3 For The Tragedie of Hamlet For women feare too much, euen as they loue, And womens feare and loue hold quantity, Either none, in neither ought, or in extremity, Now what my Lord is proofe hath made you know, And as my loue is ciz'stciz't, my feare is so, Where loue is great, the litlest doubts are feare, Where little fears grow great, great loue grows there King. Faith I must leaue thee loue, and shortly to, My operant powers their functions leaue to doe, And thou shalt liue in this faire world behind, Honord, belou'd, and haply one as kind, For husband shalt thou. Quee. O confound the reft. Such loue must needs be treason in my brest, In second husband let me be accurst, None wed the second, but who kild the first. Ham. That's wormwood. The instances that second marriage moue Are base respects of thrift, but none of loue, A second time I kill my husband dead, When second husband kisses me in bed. King. I do beleeue you think what now you speak, But what we doe determine, oft we breake, Purpose is but the slaue to memory, Of violent birth, but poore validity, Which now the fruit vnripe sticks on the tree, But fall vnshaken when they mellow be. Most necessary tis that we forget To pay our selues what to our selues is debt, What to our selues in passion we propose, The passion ending, doth the purpose lose, The violence of either griefe or ioy, Their owne ennactures with themselues deftroy, Where ioy most reuels, griefe doth most lament, Griefe ioy, ioy griefes, on slender accedent, This world is not for aye, nor tis not strange, That euen our loues should with our fortuns change, For tis a question left vs yet to proue, Whether loue lead fortune, or else fortune loue. The great man downe, you marke his fauourite flies, The Prince of Denmarke. The poore aduanced makes friends of enemies, And hethertoo doth loue on fortune tend, For who not needs, shll neuer lack a friend, And who in want a hollow friend doth try, Directly seasons him his enemy. But orderly to end where I begun, Our wills and fates do so contrary run, That our deuices still are ouerthrowne, Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our owne, So thinke thou wilt no second husband wed, But dydie thy thoughts when thy first Lord is dead. Quee. Nor earth to me giue food, nor heauen light, Sport and repose lock from me day and night, To desperation turne my trust and hope, And Anchors cheere in prison be my scope, Each opposite that blanks the face of ioy, Meet what I would haue well, and it destroy, Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, Ham. If she should break it now. If once I be a widdow, euer I be wifebe a wife. King. Tis deeply sworne, sweet leaue me heare a while, My spirits grow dull and faine I would beguile The tedious day with sleep, Quee. Sleep rock thy brain, And neuer come mischance betwixtbetween vs twainExeunt. Ham. Maddam, how like you this Play? Quee. The Lady doth protest too much me thinks. Ham. O but shee'le keep her word. King. Haue you heard the argument? is there no offence in't? Ham. No, no, they do but iest, poison in iest, no offence i'th (world. King. What do you call the Play? Ham.

The Mousetrap, mary how tropically, this Play is the Image of a murther donedoone in Vienna, Gonzago is the Dukes name, his wife Baptista, you shall see anon, tis a knauish piece of work, but what of that? your Maiesty and we shall haue we that haue free soules, it touches vs not, let the gauled Iade winch, our withers are vn­ wrungwrong. This is one Lucianus, Nephew to the King.

 Enter Lucianus. Oph. You are as good as a Chorus my Lord. Ham. I could interpret betweene you and your loue If The Tragedie of Hamlet If I could see the puppits dallying. Ophe. You are keene my Lord, you are keene. Ham. It would cost you a groning to take off mine edge. Oph. Still better and worse. Ham.

So you mistake your husbands. Begin murtherer, leaue thy 'damnable faces and begin, come, the croking Rauen doth bellow for reuenge.

 Luc. Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit and time agreeing, Considerate season, els no creature seeing, Thou mixture ranke, of midnight weeds collected, With Hecats ban thrice blasted, thrice infectedinuected, Thy naturall magicke, and dire propertie, On wholesome life vsurps immediately. Ham.

A poisons him i'th Garden for his eftate, his names Gonza­ go, the story is extant and written in very choice Italian, you shall see anon how the murtherer gets the loue of Gonzagoes wife.

 Oph. The King rises. Quee. How fares my Lord? Pol. Giue ore the Play. King. giue me some light, away. Pol. Lights, lights, lights.Exeunt, all but Ham. and Horacio. Ham. Why let the strokenstrooken Deere goe weepe, The Hart vngauled play, For some must watch whilst some must sleepe,

Thus runs the world away. Would not this sir & a forrest of fea­ thers, if the rest of my fortuns turne Turk with me, with prouincial Roses, on my raz'd shooes, get me a fellowship in a city of Player?

 Hora. Halfe a share. Ham. A whole one I. For thou dost know oh Damon deere This Realme dimantled was Of Ioue himselfe, and now raignes here A very very paiock. Hora. You might haue rim'd. Ham. O good Horatio, Ile take the Ghosts word for a thousand pound. Didst perceaue? Hora. Very well my Lord. Ha. Vpon the talke of the poisoning. Hora. I did very well note him. Ham. Prince of Denmarke. Ham. Ah ha, come some musique, come the Recorders, For if the King like not the Comodie, Why then belike he likes it not perdie. Come, some musique. Enter Rosencraus, Guyldensterne. Gu. Good my Lord, voutsafe me a word with yo Ham. Sir a whole historie. Guyl. The King sir. Ham. I sir, what of him? Guyl. Is in his retirement meruailousmeruilous distempred. Ham. With drinke sir? Guyl. No my Lord, with choller. Ham.

Your wisedome should shew it selfe more richer to sig­ nifie this to the Doctor, for, for me to put him to his purgation, would perhaps plunge him into more choller.

 Guyl. Good my Lord put your discourse into some frame. And stare not so wildly from my affaire. Ham. I am tame sir, pronounce. Guyl. The Queene your mother in most great affliction of spi­ rit, hath sent me to you. Ham. You are welcome. Guy.

Nay good my Lord, this curtesie is not of the right breed, if it shall please you to make me a wholsome answeraunswere, I will do your mothers commandementcommaundement, if not, your pardon and my re­ turne, shall be the end of businesse.

 Ham. Sir I cannot. Ros. What my Lord. Ha.

Make you a wholsome answer, my wits diseasd, but sir, such answer as I can make, you shal command, or rather as you say, my mother, therefore no more, but to the matter, my mother you say.

 Ros.

Then thus she saies, your behauiour hath strooke her into amazement and admiration.

 Ham. O wonderfull sonne that can so stonifh a mother! but is there no sequell at the heeles of this mothers admiration? impart. Ros. She desires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed. Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our mother, haue you any further trade with vs? Ros. My Lord you once did loue me. Ham. And doe still by these pickers and stealers. H Ros. The Tragedie of Hamlet Ros.

Good my Lord, what is your cause of distemper, you'do surely bar the doore vpon your owne liberty, if you deny your griefes to your friend.

 Ham. Sir I lack aduancement. Ros. How can that be when you haue the voyce of the King himselfe for your succession in Denmarke. Enter the Players with Recorders. Ham.

I sir, but wilewhile the grasse grows, the prouerb is somthing musty, oh the Recorders, let me see one, to withdraw with you, why do you go about to recouer the wind of me, as if you would driue me into a toyle?

 Gu. O my lord if my duty be too bold, my loue is too vnmanerly Ham. I do not well vnderstand that, will you play vpon this pipe? Guyl. My Lord I cannot. Ham. I pray you. Guyl. Beleeue me I cannot. Ham. I beseechI doe beseech you. Guyl. I know no touch of it my Lord. Ham.

It is as easie as lying: gouern these ventages with your fin­ gers, & the thumb& the vmber giue it breath with your mouth, and it wil dis­ course most eloquent musique, look you, these are the stops.

 Guyl. But these cannot I commandcommaund to any vtrance of harmony, I haue not the skill. Ham.

Why look you now how vnworthyunwoorthy a thing you make of me, you would play vpon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the hearthart of my mysterie, you would sound me from my lowest note to my compafse, and there is much mu­ sique, excellent voice in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak, s'blood do you think I am easier to be plaid on then a pipe, call me what Instrument you will, though you fret me not, you cannot play vpon me. God blesse you sir.

 Enter Polonius. Pol. My Lord, the Queen would speak with you, and presently. Ha. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a Camel? Pol. By'th masse and tis like a Camell indeed. Ham. Me thinks it is like a Wezell. Pol. It is black backt like a Wezell. Ham. Or like a Whale. Pol. Very like a Whale. Ham. Then Prince of Denmarke. Ham. Then I will come to my mother by and by, They fool me to the top of my bent, I wil come by & by, Leaue me friends. I will, say so. By and by is easily said, Tis now the very witching time of night, When Church‐yards yawne, and hell it selfe breaks out Contagion to this world: now could I drink hothote blood, And do such businessebusines as the bitter day Would quake to looke on: soft, now to my mother, O hearthart loose not thy nature! let not euer, The soule of Nero enter this firme bosome! Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall, I will speak dagger to her, but vse none, My tongue and soule in this be hypocrites, How in my words someuer she be shent, To giue them seales neuer my soule consent.consent. Exit.Exeunt.. Enter King, Rosencraus, and Guyldensterne. King. I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs To let his madnesse range, therefore prepare you, I your commission will forthwith dispatch, And he to England fhall along with you, The termes of our estate may not endure Hazardhazerd so neer's as doth hourely grow, Out of his browes. Guyl. We will our selues prouide, Most holy and religious feare it is To keep those many many bodies safe That liue and feed vpon your Maiesty. Ros. The single and peculier life is bound, With all the strength and armour of the mind To keep it selfe from noyance, but much more That spirit, vpon whose weale depends and rests The liues of many, the cesse of Maiesty Dies not alone; but like a gulfe doth draw What's neere it, with it, or it is a massie wheele Fixt on the somnet of the highest mount, To whose huge spokes, ten hough spokes tenne thousand lesser things Are morteist and adioynd, which when it falls, H2 Each The Tragedie of Hamlet Each small annexment,petiepetty consequence Attends the boistrous raine, neuer alone Did the King sigh, but a generall grownegrone. King. Arme you I pray you to this speedie voiageviage, For we will fetters put about this feare Which now goes totoo free‐footed. Ros. VVe will hast vs.Exeunt. Gent. Enter Polonius. Pol. My Lord, he's going to his mothers closet, Behind the Arras I'le conuay my selfe To here the prossesseheare the processe, I'le warrant shee'le tax him home, And as you said, and wisely was it said, Tis meet that some more audience then a mother, Since nature makes them partiallparciall, should ore‐heare The speech of vantage; farefarre you well my Leige, I'le call vpon you ere you goe to bed. And tell you what I know.Exit. King. Thanks deere my Lord. O my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen, It hath the primall eldest curse vppont; A brothers murther, pray can I not, Though inclination be as sharp as will, My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, And like a man to double businesse bound, I stand in pause where I shall first beginbeginne, And both neglect: what if this cursed hand Were thicker then it selfe wih brothers blood, Is there not raine enough in the sweet Heauens To wash it white as snow? whereto serues mercie But to confront the visage of offence? And what's in praier but this two‐fold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall, Or pardon being downe, then I'le looke vp. My faultsfault is past, but oh! what forme of praier Can serue my turne? forgiue me my foule murther: That cannot be since I am stil possest Of those affectseffects for which I did the murther; My Crowne, mine owne ambition, and my Queene; Prince of Denmarke. May one be pardonedpardond and retaine th'offence? In the corrupted currents of this world, Offences guidedguilded hand may show by iustice, And oft tis seene the wicked prize it selfe Buyes out the Law, but tis not so aboue, There is no shuffling, there the action lies In his true nature, and we our selues compeld Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults To giue in euidence: what then, what rests? Try what repentance can, what can it not, Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? O wretched state, O bosome blacke as death, O limed soule, that ftrugling to be free, Art more ingaged! helpe AnglesAngels make assay, Bow stubborne knees and hearthart with strings of steele Be soft as sinnewes of the new borne babe, All may be well. Enter Hamlet. Ham. Now might I do it, but now a is a praying, And now Ile doo't, and so a goes to heauen, And so am I reuengedreuendge, that would be scand A villaine kils my father, and for that, I his sole sonne, do this same villaine send To heauen. Why, this is base and silly. — not reuendge, A tooke my father grosly, full of bread, Withall his crimes broadbraod blowne, as flush as May, And how his Audit stands who knowes saue heauen, But in our circumstance and course of thought, Tis heauie with him: and am I then reuendged To take m in the purging of his soule, When he is fit and seasonedseasond for his passage? No. Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent, When he is drunke, a sleepe, or in his rage, Or in th' incestious pleasure of his bed, At game, a swearing, or about some act That has no rellish of saluation in't. H3 Then The Tragedie of Hamlet Then trip him that his heeleheels mas kick at heauen, And that his soule may be as damnd and blacke As hell whereto it goes; my mother stayes, This Physick but prolongs thy sickly dayes.Exit. King. My words flie vp, my thoughts remaine below Words without thoughts neuer to heauen go.Exit. Enter Gertrard and Polonius. Polo. A will come strait, look you lay home to him, Tell him his pranks haue bin too broadbraod to beare with, And that your grace hath screen'd and stood betweene Much heat and him, Ile silence me euen heere, Pray you be round. Enter Hamlet. Ger. Ile waite you, feare me not, Withdraw, I heare him comming. Ham. Now mother, what's the matter? Ger. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Ham. Mother you haue my father much offended. Ger. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Ham. Go go, you question with a wicked tongue. Ger. Why how now Hamlet? Ham. What's the matter now? Ger. Haue you forgot me? Ham. No by Roodby the Rood not so,