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ACT II.
Scene I. A room in Polonius's house.
Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.[560]
Rey. I will, my lord.
Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,[562][563]
Before you visit him, to make inquire[564]
Of his behaviour.
Before you visit him, to make inquire[564]
Of his behaviour.
Rey. My lord, I did intend it. 5
Pol. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,[565]
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,[566]
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expense, and finding[567]
By this encompassment and drift of question 10
That they do know my son, come you more nearer[568]
Than your particular demands will touch it:[568]
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him,
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,[569]
And in part him:' do you mark this, Reynaldo?[562] 15
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,[566]
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expense, and finding[567]
By this encompassment and drift of question 10
That they do know my son, come you more nearer[568]
Than your particular demands will touch it:[568]
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him,
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,[569]
And in part him:' do you mark this, Reynaldo?[562] 15
Rey. Ay, very well, my lord.
Pol. 'And in part him; but,' you may say, 'not well:
But if't be he I mean, he's very wild,[570]
Addicted so and so;' and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank 20
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
But if't be he I mean, he's very wild,[570]
Addicted so and so;' and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank 20
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
Rey. As gaming, my lord.
Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,[571][572] 25
Drabbing: you may go so far.[571]
Drabbing: you may go so far.[571]
Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him.
Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge.[573]
You must not put another scandal on him,[574]
That he is open to incontinency;[575] 30
That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,[576][577]
Of general assault.[576]
You must not put another scandal on him,[574]
That he is open to incontinency;[575] 30
That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,[576][577]
Of general assault.[576]
Rey. But, my good lord,—[578] 35
Pol. Wherefore should you do this?
Pol. Marry, sir, here's my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant:[581]
You laying these slight sullies on my son,[582]
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working,[583] 40
Mark you,[584][585]
Your party in converse, him you would sound,[584][586]
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes[587]
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured[588]
He closes with you in this consequence;[589] 45
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman,'[590]
According to the phrase or the addition[591]
Of man and country.
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant:[581]
You laying these slight sullies on my son,[582]
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working,[583] 40
Mark you,[584][585]
Your party in converse, him you would sound,[584][586]
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes[587]
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured[588]
He closes with you in this consequence;[589] 45
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman,'[590]
According to the phrase or the addition[591]
Of man and country.
Rey. Very good, my lord.
Pol. And then, sir, does he this—he does—what was I[592][593]
about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something:[592][594] 50
where did I leave?[592]
about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something:[592][594] 50
where did I leave?[592]
Pol. At 'closes in the consequence,' ay, marry;[596]
He closes with you thus: 'I know the gentleman;[597] 55
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,[598]
Or then, or then, with such, or such, and, as you say,[599]
There was a' gaming, there o'ertook in's rouse,[600]
There falling out at tennis:' or perchance,[601]
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'[602] 60
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.[603]
See you now;[603]
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:[604]
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,[605] 65
By indirections find directions out:[606]
So, by my former lecture and advice,[607]
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?
He closes with you thus: 'I know the gentleman;[597] 55
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,[598]
Or then, or then, with such, or such, and, as you say,[599]
There was a' gaming, there o'ertook in's rouse,[600]
There falling out at tennis:' or perchance,[601]
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'[602] 60
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.[603]
See you now;[603]
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:[604]
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,[605] 65
By indirections find directions out:[606]
So, by my former lecture and advice,[607]
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?
Rey. My lord, I have.
Pol. God be wi' ye; fare ye well.[608]
Rey. Good my lord![609] 70
Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself.[610]
Rey. I shall, my lord.
Pol. And let him ply his music.
Rey. Well, my lord.
Pol. Farewell! [Exit Reynaldo.
Enter Ophelia.[611]
Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted![612] 75
Pol. With what, i' the name of God?[613]
Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,[614]
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,[615]
No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,[616]
Ungarter'd and down-gyved to his ancle;[617] 80
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosed out of hell
To speak of horrors, he comes before me.[618]
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,[615]
No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,[616]
Ungarter'd and down-gyved to his ancle;[617] 80
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosed out of hell
To speak of horrors, he comes before me.[618]
Pol. Mad for thy love?
Oph. My lord, I do not know,[619] 85
But truly I do fear it.[619]
But truly I do fear it.[619]
Pol. What said he?
Oph. He took me by the wrist and held me hard;[620]
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face 90
As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;[621]
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,[622]
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound[623]
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk[624] 95
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:[625]
And with his head over his shoulder turn'd,[626]
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' doors he went without their helps,[627]
And to the last bended their light on me. 100
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face 90
As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;[621]
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,[622]
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound[623]
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk[624] 95
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:[625]
And with his head over his shoulder turn'd,[626]
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' doors he went without their helps,[627]
And to the last bended their light on me. 100
Pol. Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.[628]
This is the very ecstasy of love;
Whose violent property fordoes itself[629]
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven[630] 105
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?
This is the very ecstasy of love;
Whose violent property fordoes itself[629]
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven[630] 105
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?
Oph. No, my good lord, but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.
Pol. That hath made him mad. 110
I am sorry that with better heed and judgement[631]
I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle[632]
And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy![633]
By heaven, it is as proper to our age[634]
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 115
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:[635]
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move[636]
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.[637]
Come. [Exeunt.[638] 120
I am sorry that with better heed and judgement[631]
I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle[632]
And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy![633]
By heaven, it is as proper to our age[634]
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 115
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:[635]
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move[636]
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.[637]
Come. [Exeunt.[638] 120
Scene II. A room in the castle.
Flourish. Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Attendants.[639]
King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern![640][641]
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard[642]
Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,[643] 5
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man[644]
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,[645] 10
That, being of so young days brought up with him
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,[646]
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather 15
So much as from occasion you may glean,[647]
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,[648]
That open'd lies within our remedy.[649]
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard[642]
Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,[643] 5
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man[644]
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,[645] 10
That, being of so young days brought up with him
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,[646]
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather 15
So much as from occasion you may glean,[647]
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,[648]
That open'd lies within our remedy.[649]
Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,
And sure I am two men there are not living[650] 20
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will[651]
As to expend your time with us awhile[652]
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks[653] 25
As fits a king's remembrance.
And sure I am two men there are not living[650] 20
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will[651]
As to expend your time with us awhile[652]
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks[653] 25
As fits a king's remembrance.
Ros. Both your majesties
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,[654]
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,[654]
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
Guil. But we both obey,[655]
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 30
To lay our service freely at your feet,[656]
To be commanded.[657]
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 30
To lay our service freely at your feet,[656]
To be commanded.[657]
Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:[640][641]
And I beseech you instantly to visit 35
My too much changed son. Go, some of you,[658]
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.[659]
And I beseech you instantly to visit 35
My too much changed son. Go, some of you,[658]
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.[659]
Guil. Heavens make our presence and our practices
Pleasant and helpful to him!
Pleasant and helpful to him!
Queen. Ay, amen!
[Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and some Attendants.[660]
Enter Polonius.
Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, 40
Are joyfully return'd.
Are joyfully return'd.
King. Thou still hast been the father of good news.
Pol. Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,[661]
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king:[662] 45
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure[663]
As it hath used to do, that I have found[664]
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king:[662] 45
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure[663]
As it hath used to do, that I have found[664]
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.[665] 50
Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors;
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.[666]
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.[666]
King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
[Exit Polonius.[667]
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found[668]
The head and source of all your son's distemper. 55
The head and source of all your son's distemper. 55
Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main;
His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.[669]
His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.[669]
King. Well, we shall sift him.
Re-enter Polonius, with Voltimand and Cornelius.
Volt. Most fair return of greetings and desires. 60
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd[672]
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,[673]
But better look'd into, he truly found
It was against your highness: whereat grieved, 65
That so his sickness, age and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine
Makes vow before his uncle never more 70
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee[674]
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:[673] 75
With an entreaty, herein further shown, [Giving a paper.[675]
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,[676]
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.[677]
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd[672]
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,[673]
But better look'd into, he truly found
It was against your highness: whereat grieved, 65
That so his sickness, age and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine
Makes vow before his uncle never more 70
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee[674]
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:[673] 75
With an entreaty, herein further shown, [Giving a paper.[675]
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,[676]
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.[677]
King. It likes us well, 80
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,[678]
Answer, and think upon this business.[679]
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:[680]
Most welcome home! [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,[678]
Answer, and think upon this business.[679]
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:[680]
Most welcome home! [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.
Pol. This business is well ended.[681] 85
My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit[682] 90
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,[683]
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,[684]
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?[685]
But let that go.
My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit[682] 90
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,[683]
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,[684]
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?[685]
But let that go.
Queen. More matter, with less art. 95
Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity,[686]
And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;[687]
But farewell it, for I will use no art.[688]
Mad let us grant him then: and now remains 100
That we find out the cause of this effect,[689]
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
Thus it remains and the remainder thus.[690][691]
Perpend.[690][692] 105
I have a daughter,—have while she is mine,—[693]
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this: now gather and surmise. [Reads.[694]
'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'—[695]
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile[696] 110
phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: [Reads.[697][698]
'In her excellent white bosom, these,' &c.[697][699]
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity,[686]
And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;[687]
But farewell it, for I will use no art.[688]
Mad let us grant him then: and now remains 100
That we find out the cause of this effect,[689]
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
Thus it remains and the remainder thus.[690][691]
Perpend.[690][692] 105
I have a daughter,—have while she is mine,—[693]
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this: now gather and surmise. [Reads.[694]
'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'—[695]
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile[696] 110
phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: [Reads.[697][698]
'In her excellent white bosom, these,' &c.[697][699]
Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?
Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. [Reads.[700]
'Doubt thou the stars are fire; 115
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not
art to reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most 120
best, believe it. Adieu.
'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this
machine is to him, Hamlet.'[701]
This in obedience hath my daughter shown me;[702]
And more above, hath his solicitings,[703] 125
As they fell out by time, by means and place,
All given to mine ear.
'Doubt thou the stars are fire; 115
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not
art to reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most 120
best, believe it. Adieu.
'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this
machine is to him, Hamlet.'[701]
This in obedience hath my daughter shown me;[702]
And more above, hath his solicitings,[703] 125
As they fell out by time, by means and place,
All given to mine ear.
Pol. What do you think of me?
King. As of a man faithful and honourable.
Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,[705] 130
When I had seen this hot love on the wing,—[706]
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me,—what might you,
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,[707]
If I had play'd the desk or table-book,[708] 135
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,[709]
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:[710]
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;[711] 140
This must not be:' and then I prescripts gave her,[712]
That she should lock herself from his resort,[713]
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;[714]
And he repulsed, a short tale to make,[714][715] 145
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,[716]
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,[717][718]
Thence to a lightness, and by this declension[718][719]
Into the madness wherein now he raves[720]
And all we mourn for.[721] 150
When I had seen this hot love on the wing,—[706]
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me,—what might you,
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,[707]
If I had play'd the desk or table-book,[708] 135
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,[709]
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:[710]
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;[711] 140
This must not be:' and then I prescripts gave her,[712]
That she should lock herself from his resort,[713]
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;[714]
And he repulsed, a short tale to make,[714][715] 145
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,[716]
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,[717][718]
Thence to a lightness, and by this declension[718][719]
Into the madness wherein now he raves[720]
And all we mourn for.[721] 150
King. Do you think this?
Queen. It may be, very like.[722]
Pol. Hath there been such a time, I'ld fain know that,[723]
That I have positively said ''tis so,'
When it proved otherwise?
That I have positively said ''tis so,'
When it proved otherwise?
Pol. [Pointing to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise:[724]155
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
King. How may we try it further?[725]
Queen. So he does, indeed.[728] 160
Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:
Be you and I behind an arras then;[729][730]
Mark the encounter: if he love her not,[729]
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state, 165
But keep a farm and carters.[731]
Be you and I behind an arras then;[729][730]
Mark the encounter: if he love her not,[729]
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state, 165
But keep a farm and carters.[731]
King. We will try it.
Queen. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.[732]
Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away:[733]
I'll board him presently.
I'll board him presently.
[Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants.
Enter Hamlet, reading.[734]