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Hor. What are they that would speak with me?[1816]
Enter Sailors.[1820]
Hor. Let him bless thee too.
First Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a[1821][1823]
letter for you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was[1824]
bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am let 10
to know it is.
letter for you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was[1824]
bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am let 10
to know it is.
Hor. [Reads] 'Horatio, when thou shalt have over-looked[1825]
this, give these fellows some means to the king:
they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at
sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase. 15
Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled
valour: and in the grapple I boarded them: on the instant[1826]
they got clear of our ship; so I alone became their prisoner.
They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy:
but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn[1827] 20
for them. Let the king have the letters I have sent; and
repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest[1828]
fly death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make[1829]
thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of[1830]
the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I[1830] 25
am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for
England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.[1831]
'He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet.'[1832]
this, give these fellows some means to the king:
they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at
sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase. 15
Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled
valour: and in the grapple I boarded them: on the instant[1826]
they got clear of our ship; so I alone became their prisoner.
They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy:
but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn[1827] 20
for them. Let the king have the letters I have sent; and
repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest[1828]
fly death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make[1829]
thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of[1830]
the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I[1830] 25
am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for
England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.[1831]
'He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet.'[1832]
Scene VII. Another room in the castle.[1835]
Enter King and Laertes.
King. Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,
And you must put me in your heart for friend,
Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,
That he which hath your noble father slain[1836]
Pursued my life.
And you must put me in your heart for friend,
Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,
That he which hath your noble father slain[1836]
Pursued my life.
Laer. It well appears: but tell me 5
Why you proceeded not against these feats,[1837]
So crimeful and so capital in nature,[1838]
As by your safety, wisdom, all things else,[1839]
You mainly were stirr'd up.
Why you proceeded not against these feats,[1837]
So crimeful and so capital in nature,[1838]
As by your safety, wisdom, all things else,[1839]
You mainly were stirr'd up.
King. O, for two special reasons,[1840]
Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinew'd,[1841] 10
But yet to me they're strong. The queen his mother[1842]
Lives almost by his looks; and for myself—
My virtue or my plague, be it either which—[1843]
She's so conjunctive to my life and soul,[1844]
That, as the star moves not but in his sphere, 15
I could not but by her. The other motive,
Why to a public count I might not go,
Is the great love the general gender bear him;
Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,[1845] 20
Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows,[1846]
Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind,[1847]
Would have reverted to my bow again[1848]
And not where I had aim'd them.[1849]
Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinew'd,[1841] 10
But yet to me they're strong. The queen his mother[1842]
Lives almost by his looks; and for myself—
My virtue or my plague, be it either which—[1843]
She's so conjunctive to my life and soul,[1844]
That, as the star moves not but in his sphere, 15
I could not but by her. The other motive,
Why to a public count I might not go,
Is the great love the general gender bear him;
Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,[1845] 20
Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows,[1846]
Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind,[1847]
Would have reverted to my bow again[1848]
And not where I had aim'd them.[1849]
Laer. And so have I a noble father lost;[1850] 25
A sister driven into desperate terms,
Whose worth, if praises may go back again,[1851]
Stood challenger on mount of all the age[1852]
For her perfections: but my revenge will come.[1853]
A sister driven into desperate terms,
Whose worth, if praises may go back again,[1851]
Stood challenger on mount of all the age[1852]
For her perfections: but my revenge will come.[1853]
King. Break not your sleeps for that: you must not think[1854] 30
That we are made of stuff so flat and dull
That we can let our beard be shook with danger[1855]
And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more:[1856]
I loved your father, and we love ourself;[1857]
And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine—[1858] 35
That we are made of stuff so flat and dull
That we can let our beard be shook with danger[1855]
And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more:[1856]
I loved your father, and we love ourself;[1857]
And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine—[1858] 35
Enter a Messenger, with letters.
How now! what news?[1859]
Mess. Letters, my lord, from Hamlet:
This to your majesty; this to the queen.[1860]
This to your majesty; this to the queen.[1860]
King. From Hamlet! who brought them?[1861]
Mess. Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not:
They were given me by Claudio; he received them 40
Of him that brought them.
They were given me by Claudio; he received them 40
Of him that brought them.
[Reads] 'High and mighty, You shall know I am set[1864]
naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave[1865]
to see your kingly eyes: when I shall, first asking your[1866][1867] 45
pardon thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and[1866][1868][1869]
more strange return.[1869]
'Hamlet.'[1870]
naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave[1865]
to see your kingly eyes: when I shall, first asking your[1866][1867] 45
pardon thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and[1866][1868][1869]
more strange return.[1869]
'Hamlet.'[1870]
What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?[1871] 50
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?[1871] 50
Laer. Know you the hand?
King. Tis Hamlet's character. 'Naked!'[1872][1873]
And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.'[1872][1873]
Can you advise me?[1872][1874]
And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.'[1872][1873]
Can you advise me?[1872][1874]
Laer. I'm lost in it, my lord. But let him come;[1875] 55
It warms the very sickness in my heart,
That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,[1876]
'Thus didest thou.'[1877]
It warms the very sickness in my heart,
That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,[1876]
'Thus didest thou.'[1877]
King. If it be so, Laertes,—[1878]
As how should it be so? how otherwise?—[1878][1879]
Will you be ruled by me?[1878]
As how should it be so? how otherwise?—[1878][1879]
Will you be ruled by me?[1878]
King. To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,[1882]
As checking at his voyage, and that he means[1883]
No more to undertake it, I will work him
To an exploit now ripe in my device,[1884] 65
Under the which he shall not choose but fall:
And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe;
But even his mother shall uncharge the practice,
And call it accident.[1885]
As checking at his voyage, and that he means[1883]
No more to undertake it, I will work him
To an exploit now ripe in my device,[1884] 65
Under the which he shall not choose but fall:
And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe;
But even his mother shall uncharge the practice,
And call it accident.[1885]
Laer. My lord, I will be ruled;[1886][1887]
The rather, if you could devise it so[1886] 70
That I might be the organ.[1886][1888]
The rather, if you could devise it so[1886] 70
That I might be the organ.[1886][1888]
King. It falls right.[1886]
You have been talk'd of since your travel much,[1886]
And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality[1886]
Wherein, they say, you shine: your sum of parts[1886]
Did not together pluck such envy from him,[1886] 75
As did that one, and that in my regard[1886]
Of the unworthiest siege.[1886]
You have been talk'd of since your travel much,[1886]
And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality[1886]
Wherein, they say, you shine: your sum of parts[1886]
Did not together pluck such envy from him,[1886] 75
As did that one, and that in my regard[1886]
Of the unworthiest siege.[1886]
Laer. What part is that, my lord?[1886]
King. A very riband in the cap of youth,[1886][1889]
Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes[1886]
The light and careless livery that it wears[1886] 80
Than settled age his sables and his weeds,[1886]
Importing health and graveness. Two months since,[1886][1890]
Here was a gentleman of Normandy:—[1891]
I've seen myself, and served against, the French,[1892]
And they can well on horseback: but this gallant[1893] 85
Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto his seat,[1894]
And to such wondrous doing brought his horse
As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured[1895]
With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought[1896]
That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, 90
Come short of what he did.[1897]
Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes[1886]
The light and careless livery that it wears[1886] 80
Than settled age his sables and his weeds,[1886]
Importing health and graveness. Two months since,[1886][1890]
Here was a gentleman of Normandy:—[1891]
I've seen myself, and served against, the French,[1892]
And they can well on horseback: but this gallant[1893] 85
Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto his seat,[1894]
And to such wondrous doing brought his horse
As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured[1895]
With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought[1896]
That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, 90
Come short of what he did.[1897]
Laer. A Norman was't?
King. A Norman.
Laer. Upon my life, Lamond.
King. The very same.[1898]
Laer. I know him well: he is the brooch indeed
And gem of all the nation.[1899] 95
And gem of all the nation.[1899] 95
King. He made confession of you,[1900]
And gave you such a masterly report,
For art and exercise in your defence,
And for your rapier most especial,[1901]
That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed[1902] 100
If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation.[1903][1904]
He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye,[1903]
If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his[1903]
Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy[1905]
That he could nothing do but wish and beg 105
Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him.[1906]
Now, out of this—
And gave you such a masterly report,
For art and exercise in your defence,
And for your rapier most especial,[1901]
That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed[1902] 100
If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation.[1903][1904]
He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye,[1903]
If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his[1903]
Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy[1905]
That he could nothing do but wish and beg 105
Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him.[1906]
Now, out of this—
Laer. What out of this, my lord?
King. Laertes, was your father dear to you?[1907]
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
A face without a heart?
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
A face without a heart?
Laer. Why ask you this? 110
King. Not that I think you did not love your father,
But that I know love is begun by time,[1908]
And that I see, in passages of proof,
Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.
There lives within the very flame of love[1909] 115
A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it;[1909][1910]
And nothing is at a like goodness still,[1909]
For goodness, growing to a plurisy,[1909][1911]
Dies in his own too much: that we would do[1909][1912]
We should do when we would; for this 'would' changes[1909][1913] 120
And hath abatements and delays as many[1909]
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents,[1909][1914]
And then this 'should' is like a spendthrift sigh,[1909][1913][1915]
That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the ulcer:[1909]
Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake,[1916] 125
To show yourself your father's son in deed[1917]
More than in words?
But that I know love is begun by time,[1908]
And that I see, in passages of proof,
Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.
There lives within the very flame of love[1909] 115
A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it;[1909][1910]
And nothing is at a like goodness still,[1909]
For goodness, growing to a plurisy,[1909][1911]
Dies in his own too much: that we would do[1909][1912]
We should do when we would; for this 'would' changes[1909][1913] 120
And hath abatements and delays as many[1909]
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents,[1909][1914]
And then this 'should' is like a spendthrift sigh,[1909][1913][1915]
That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the ulcer:[1909]
Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake,[1916] 125
To show yourself your father's son in deed[1917]
More than in words?
Laer. To cut his throat i' the church.
King. No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;[1918]
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
Will you do this, keep close within your chamber.[1919] 130
Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home:
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence
And set a double varnish on the fame[1920]
The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together[1921]
And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,[1922] 135
Most generous and free from all contriving,
Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,[1923]
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice[1924]
Requite him for your father.
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
Will you do this, keep close within your chamber.[1919] 130
Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home:
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence
And set a double varnish on the fame[1920]
The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together[1921]
And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,[1922] 135
Most generous and free from all contriving,
Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,[1923]
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice[1924]
Requite him for your father.
Laer. I will do't 140
And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword.[1925]
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that but dip a knife in it,[1926]
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue 145
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point
With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,[1927][1928]
It may be death.[1927]
And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword.[1925]
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that but dip a knife in it,[1926]
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue 145
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point
With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,[1927][1928]
It may be death.[1927]
King. Let's further think of this;
Weigh what convenience both of time and means[1929] 150
May fit us to our shape: if this should fail,[1930]
And that our drift look through our bad performance,[1931]
'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project
Should have a back or second, that might hold
If this did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:[1932] 155
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings:[1933]
I ha't:[1934][1935]
When in your motion you are hot and dry—[1935][1936]
As make your bouts more violent to that end—[1937]
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared him[1938] 160
A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,[1939]
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,[1940]
Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?
Weigh what convenience both of time and means[1929] 150
May fit us to our shape: if this should fail,[1930]
And that our drift look through our bad performance,[1931]
'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project
Should have a back or second, that might hold
If this did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:[1932] 155
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings:[1933]
I ha't:[1934][1935]
When in your motion you are hot and dry—[1935][1936]
As make your bouts more violent to that end—[1937]
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared him[1938] 160
A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,[1939]
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,[1940]
Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?
Enter Queen.[1941]
How now, sweet queen![1942]
Queen. One woe doth tread upon another's heel,[1943] 165
So fast they follow: your sister's drown'd, Laertes.[1944]
So fast they follow: your sister's drown'd, Laertes.[1944]
Laer. Drown'd! O, where?
Queen. There is a willow grows aslant a brook,[1945]
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;[1946]
There with fantastic garlands did she come[1947] 170
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,[1948]
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:[1949]
There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds[1950]
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;[1951] 175
When down her weedy trophies and herself[1952]
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up:[1953]
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,[1954]
As one incapable of her own distress, 180
Or like a creature native and indued[1955]
Unto that element: but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,[1956]
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay[1957]
To muddy death.
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;[1946]
There with fantastic garlands did she come[1947] 170
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,[1948]
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:[1949]
There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds[1950]
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;[1951] 175
When down her weedy trophies and herself[1952]
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up:[1953]
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,[1954]
As one incapable of her own distress, 180
Or like a creature native and indued[1955]
Unto that element: but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,[1956]
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay[1957]
To muddy death.
Laer. Alas, then she is drown'd![1958] 185
Queen. Drown'd, drown'd.
Laer. Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet
It is our trick; nature her custom holds,
Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, 190
The woman will be out. Adieu, my lord:
I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze,[1959]
But that this folly douts it. [Exit.[1960]
And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet
It is our trick; nature her custom holds,
Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, 190
The woman will be out. Adieu, my lord:
I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze,[1959]
But that this folly douts it. [Exit.[1960]
King. Let's follow, Gertrude:
How much I had to do to calm his rage![1961]
Now fear I this will give it start again; 195
Therefore let's follow. [Exeunt.
How much I had to do to calm his rage![1961]
Now fear I this will give it start again; 195
Therefore let's follow. [Exeunt.