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The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke

The Tragicall Historie of HAMLET Prince of Denmarke

Enter two Centinels.

1. Stand: who is that? 2. T'is I. 1. O you come most carefully vpon your watch, 2. And if you meet Marcellus and Horatio, The partners of my watch, bid them make haste. 1. I will: See who goes there. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And leegemen to the Dane, O farewell honest souldier, who hath releeued you? 1. Barnardo hath my place, giue you goodnight. Mar. Holla, Barnardo. 2. Say, is Horatio there? Hor. A peece of him. 2. Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus. Mar. What hath this thing appear'd againe to night. 2. I haue seene nothing. Mar. Horatio says tis but our fantasie, And wil not let beliefe take hold of him, Touching this dreaded sight twice seene by vs, Therefore I haue intreated him a long with vs [B1v] To watch the minutes of this night, That if againe this apparition come, He may approoue our eyes, and speake to it. Hor. Tut, t'will not appeare. 2. Sit downe I pray, and let vs once againe Assaile your eares that are so fortified, What we haue two nights seene. Hor. Wel, sit we downe, and let vs heare Bernardo speake of this. 2. Last night of al, when yonder starre that's west- ward from the pole, had made his course to Illumine that part of heauen. Where now it burnes, The bell then towling one.

Enter Ghost.

Mar. Breake off your talke, see where it comes againe. 2. In the same figure like the King that's dead, Mar. Thou art a scholler, speake to it H_oratio_. 2. Lookes it not like the king? Hor. Most like, it horrors mee with feare and wonder. 2. It would be spoke to. Mar. Question it H_oratio_. Hor. What art thou that thus vsurps the state, in Which the Maiestie of buried Denmarke did sometimes Walke? By heauen I charge thee speake. Mar. It is offended. exit Ghost. 2. See, it stalkes away. Hor. Stay, speake, speake, by heauen I charge thee speake. Mar. Tis gone and makes no answer. 2. How now H_oratio_, you tremble and looke pale, Is not this something more than fantasie? What thinke you on't? Hor. Afore my God, I might not this beleeue, without the sensible and true auouch of my owne eyes. Mar. Is it not like the King? [B2] Hor. 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 smot the sleaded pollax on the yce, Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and iump at this dead hower, With Marshall stalke he passed through our watch. Hor. In what particular to worke, I know not, But in the thought and scope of my opinion, This bodes some strange eruption to the state. Mar. Good, now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch, So nightly toyles the subiect of the land, And why such dayly cost of brazen Cannon And forraine marte, for implements of warre, Why such impresse of ship-writes, whose sore taske Does not diuide the sunday from the weeke: What might be toward that this sweaty march Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day, Who is't that can informe me? Hor. Mary that can I, at least the whisper goes so, Our late King, who as you know was by Forten- Brasse of Norway, Thereto prickt on by a most emulous cause, dared to The combate, in which our valiant H_amlet_, For so this side of our knowne world esteemed him, Did slay this Fortenbrasse, Who by a seale compact well ratified, by law And heraldrie, did forfeit with his life all those His lands which he stoode seazed of by the conqueror, Against the which a moity competent, Was gaged by our King: Now sir, yong Fortenbrasse, Of inapproued mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there, [B2v] Sharkt vp a sight of lawlesse Resolutes For food and diet to some enterprise, That hath a stomacke in't: and this (I take it) is the Chiefe head and ground of this our watch. Enter the Ghost. But loe, behold, see where it comes againe, Ile crosse it, though it blast me: stay illusion, If there be any good thing to be done, That may doe ease to thee, and grace to mee. Speake to mee. If thou art priuy to thy countries fate, Which happly foreknowing may preuent, O speake to me, Or if thou hast extorted in thy life, Or hoorded treasure in the wombe of earth, For which they say you Spirites oft walke in death, speake to me, stay and speake, speake, stoppe it Marcellus. 2. Tis heere. exit Ghost. H_or._ Tis heere. Marc. Tis gone, O we doe it wrong, being so maiesti- call, to offer it the shew of violence, For it is as the ayre invelmorable, And our vaine blowes malitious mockery. 2. It was about to speake when the Cocke crew. H_or._ And then it faded like a guilty thing, Vpon a fearefull summons: I haue heard The Cocke, that is the trumpet to the morning, Doth with his earely and shrill crowing throate, Awake the god of day, and at his sound, Whether in earth or ayre, in sea or fire, The strauagant and erring spirite hies To his confines, and of the trueth heereof This present obiect made probation. Marc. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke, Some say, that euer gainst that season comes, Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long, [B3] And then they say, no spirite dare walke abroade, The nights are wholesome, then no planet frikes, No Fairie takes, nor Witch hath powre to charme, So gratious, and so hallowed is that time. H_or._ So haue I heard, and doe in parte beleeue it: But see the Sunne in russet mantle clad, Walkes ore the deaw of yon hie mountaine top, Breake we our watch vp, and by my aduise, Let vs impart what wee haue seene to night Vnto yong H_amlet_: for vpon my life This Spirite dumbe to vs will speake to him: Do you consent, wee shall acquaint him with it, As needefull in our loue, fitting our duetie? Marc. Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning know, Where we shall finde him most conueniently.

Enter King, Queene, H_amlet, Leartes, Corambis, and the two Ambassadors, with Attendants._

King Lordes, we here haue writ to Fortenbrasse, Nephew to olde Norway, who impudent And bed-rid, scarely heares of this his Nephews purpose: and Wee heere dispatch Yong good Cornelia, and you Voltemar For bearers of these greetings to olde Norway, giuing to you no further personall power To businesse with the King, Then those related articles do shew: Farewell, and let your haste commend your dutie. Gent. In this and all things will wee shew our dutie. King. Wee doubt nothing, hartily farewel: And now Leartes; what's the news with you? You said you had a sute what i'st Leartes? Lea. My gratious Lord, your fauorable licence, Now that the funerall rites are all performed, I may haue leaue to go againe to France, [B3v] For though the fauour of your grace might stay mee, Yet something is there whispers in my hart, Which makes my minde and spirits bend all for France. King Haue you your fathers leaue, Leartes? Cor. He hath, my lord, wrung from me a forced graunt, And I beseech you grant your Highnesse leaue. King With all our heart, Leartes fare thee well. Lear. I in all loue and dutie take my leaue. King. And now princely Sonne Hamlet, Exit. What meanes these sad and melancholy moodes? For your intent going to Wittenberg, Wee hold it most vnmeet and vnconuenient, Being the Ioy and halfe heart of your mother. Therefore let mee intreat you stay in Court, All Denmarkes hope our coosin and dearest Sonne. Ham. My lord, ti's not the sable sute I weare: No nor the teares that still stand in my eyes, Nor the distracted hauiour in the visage, Nor all together mixt with outward semblance, Is equall to the sorrow of my heart, Him haue I lost I must of force forgoe, These but the ornaments and sutes of woe. King This shewes a louing care in you, Sonne Hamlet, But you must thinke your father lost a father, That father dead, lost his, and so shalbe vntill the Generall ending. Therefore cease laments, It is a fault gainst heauen, fault gainst the dead, A fault gainst nature, and in reasons Common course most certaine, None liues on earth, but hee is borne to die. Que. Let not thy mother loose her praiers H_amlet_, Stay here with vs, go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obay you madam. King Spoke like a kinde and a most louing Sonne, And there's no health the King shall drinke to day, But the great Canon to the clowdes shall tell [B4] The rowse the King shall drinke vnto Prince H_amlet_ Exeunt all but H_amlet._ Ham. O that this too much grieu'd and sallied flesh Would melt to nothing, or that the vniuersall Globe of heauen would turne al to a Chaos! O God, within two months; no not two: married, Mine vncle: O let me not thinke of it, My fathers brother: but no more like My father, then I to Hercules. Within two months, ere yet the salt of most Vnrighteous teares had left their flushing In her galled eyes: she married, O God, a beast Deuoyd of reason would not haue made Such speede: Frailtie, thy name is Woman, Why she would hang on him, as if increase Of appetite had growne by what it looked on. O wicked wicked speede, to make such Dexteritie to incestuous sheetes, Ere yet the shooes were olde, The which she followed my dead fathers corse Like Nyobe, all teares: married, well it is not, Nor it cannot come to good: But breake my heart, for I must holde my tongue. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Hor. Health to your Lordship. Ham. I am very glad to see you, (Horatio) or I much forget my selfe. Hor. The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer. Ham. O my good friend, I change that name with you: but what make you from Wittenberg H_oratio_? Marcellus. Marc. My good Lord. Ham. I am very glad to see you, good euen sirs; But what is your affaire in Elsenoure? Weele teach you to drinke deepe ere you depart. Hor. A trowant disposition, my good Lord. [B4v] Ham. Nor shall you make mee truster Of your owne report against your selfe: Sir, I know you are no trowant: But what is your affaire in Elsenoure? Hor. My good Lord, I came to see your fathers funerall. Ham. O I pre thee do not mocke mee fellow studient, I thinke it was to see my mothers wedding. Hor. Indeede my Lord, it followed hard vpon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, H_oratio_, the funerall bak't meates Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables, Would I had met my deerest foe in heauen Ere euer I had seene that day Horatio; O my father, my father, me thinks I see my father. Hor. Where my Lord? Ham. Why, in my mindes eye H_oratio_. Hor. I saw him once, he was a gallant King. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not looke vpon his like againe. Hor. My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight, Ham. Saw, who? Hor. My Lord, the King your father. Ham. Ha, ha, the King my father ke you. Hor. Ceasen your admiration for a while With an attentiue eare, till I may deliuer, Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen This wonder to you. Ham. For Gods loue let me heare it. Hor. Two nights together had these Gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch In the dead vast and middle of the night. Beene thus incountered by a figure like your father, Armed to poynt, exactly Capapea Appeeres before them thrise, he walkes Before their weake and feare oppressed eies Within his tronchions length, While they distilled almost to gelly. [C1] With the act of feare stands dumbe, And speake not to him: this to mee In dreadfull secresie impart they did. And I with them the third night kept the watch, Where as they had delivered forme of the thing. Each part made true and good, The Apparition comes: I knew your father, These handes are not more like. Ham. Tis very strange. Hor. As I do liue, my honord lord, tis true, And wee did thinke it right done, In our dutie to let you know it. Ham. Where was this? Mar. My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watched. Ham. Did you not speake to it? Hor. My Lord we did, but answere made it none, Yet once me thought it was about to speake, And lifted vp his head to motion, Like as he would speake, but euen then The morning cocke crew lowd, and in all haste, It shruncke in haste away, and vanished Our sight. Ham. Indeed, indeed sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to night? All We do my Lord. Ham. Armed say ye? All Armed my good Lord. Ham. From top to toe? All. My good Lord, from head to foote. Ham. Why then saw you not his face? Hor. O yes my Lord, he wore his beuer vp. Ham. How look't he, frowningly? Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale, or red? Hor. Nay, verie pal Ham. And fixt his eies vpon you. [C1v] Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had beene there. Hor. It would a much amazed you. Ham. Yea very like, very like, staid it long? Hor. While one with moderate pace Might tell a hundred. Mar. O longer, longer. Ham. His beard was grisleld, no. Hor. It was as I haue seene it in his life, A sable siluer. Ham. I wil watch to night, perchance t'wil walke againe. Hor. I warrant it will. Ham. If it assume my noble fathers person, Ile speake to it, if hell it selfe should gape, And bid me hold my peace, Gentlemen, If you haue hither consealed this sight, Let it be tenible in your silence still, And whatsoeuer else shall chance to night, Giue it an vnderstanding, but no tongue, I will requit your loues, so fare you well, Vpon the platforme, twixt eleuen and twelue, Ile visit you. All. Our duties to your honor. exeunt. Ham. O your loues, your loues, as mine to you. Farewell, my fathers spirit in Armes, Well, all's not well. I doubt some foule play, Would the night were come, Till then, sit still my soule, foule deeds will rise Though all the world orewhelme them to mens eies. Exit. Enter Leartes and Ofelia. Leart. My necessaries are inbarkt, I must aboord, But ere I part, marke what I say to thee: I see Prince Hamlet makes a shew of loue Beware Ofelia, do not trust his vowes, Perhaps he loues you now, and now his tongue, Speakes from his heart, but yet take heed my sister, [C2] The Chariest maide is prodigall enough, If she vnmaske hir beautie to the Moone. Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious thoughts, Belieu't Ofelia, therefore keepe a loofe Lest that he trip thy honor and thy fame. Ofel. Brother, to this I haue lent attentiue care, And doubt not but to keepe my honour firme, But my deere brother, do not you Like to a cunning Sophister, Teach me the path and ready way to heauen, While you forgetting what is said to me, Your selfe, like to a carelesse libertine Doth giue his heart, his appetite at ful, And little recks how that his honour dies. Lear. No, feare it not my deere Ofelia, Here comes my father, occasion smiles vpon a second leaue. Enter Corambis. Cor. Yet here Leartes? aboord, aboord, for shame, The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile, And you are staid for, there my blessing with thee And these few precepts in thy memory. "Be thou familiar, but by no meanes vulgare; "Those friends thou hast, and their adoptions tried, "Graple them to thee with a hoope of steele, "But do not dull the palme with entertaine, "Of euery new vnfleg'd courage, "Beware of entrance into a quarrell; but being in, "Beare it that the opposed may beware of thee, "Costly thy apparrell, as thy purse can buy. "But not exprest in fashion, "For the apparell oft proclaimes the man. And they of France of the chiefe rancke and station Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that: "This aboue all, to thy owne selfe be true, And it must follow as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any one, [C2v] Farewel, my blessing with thee. Lear. I humbly take my leaue, farewell Ofelia, And remember well what I haue said to you. exit. Ofel. It is already lock't within my hart, And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it. Cor. What i'st Ofelia he hath saide to you? Ofel. Somthing touching the prince Hamlet. Cor. Mary wel thought on, t'is giuen me to vnderstand, That you haue bin too prodigall of your maiden presence Vnto Prince Hamlet, if it be so, As so tis giuen to mee, and that in waie of caution I must tell you; you do not vnderstand your selfe So well as befits my honor, and your credite. Ofel. My lord, he hath made many tenders of his loue to me. Cor. Tenders, I, I, tenders you may call them. Ofel. And withall, such earnest vowes. Cor. Springes to catch woodcocks, What, do not I know when the blood doth burne, How prodigall the tongue lends the heart vowes, In briefe, be more scanter of your maiden presence, Or tendring thus you'l tender mee a foole. Ofel. I shall obay my lord in all I may. Cor. Ofelia, receiue none of his letters, "For louers lines are snares to intrap the heart; "Refuse his tokens, both of them are keyes To vnlocke Chastitie vnto Desire; Come in Ofelia, such men often proue, "Great in their wordes, but little in their loue. Ofel. I will my lord. exeunt. Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. Ham. The ayre bites shrewd; it is an eager and An nipping winde, what houre i'st? Hor. I think it lacks of twelue, Sound Trumpets. Mar. No, t'is strucke. Hor. Indeed I heard it not, what doth this mean my lord? [C3] Ham. O the king doth wake to night, & takes his rowse, Keepe wassel, and the swaggering vp-spring reeles, And as he dreames, big draughts of renish downe, The kettle, drumme, and trumpet, thus bray out, The triumphes of his pledge. Hor. Is it a custome here? Ham. I mary i'st and though I am Natiue here, and to the maner borne, It is a custome, more honourd in the breach, Then in the obseruance. Enter the Ghost. Hor. Looke my Lord, it comes. Ham. Angels and Ministers of grace defend vs, Be thou a spirite of health, or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee ayres from heanen, or blasts from hell: Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou commest in such questionable shape, That I will speake to thee, Ile call thee Hamlet, King, Father, Royall Dane, O answere mee, let mee not burst in ignorance, But say why thy canonizd bones hearsed in death Haue burst their ceremonies: why thy Sepulcher, In which wee saw thee quietly interr'd, Hath burst his ponderous and marble Iawes, To cast thee vp againe: what may this meane, That thou, dead corse, againe in compleate steele, Reuissets thus the glimses of the Moone, Making night hideous, and we fooles of nature, So horridely to shake our disposition, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our soules? Say, speake, wherefore, what may this meane? Hor. It beckons you, as though it had something To impart to you alone. Mar. Looke with what courteous action It waues you to a more remoued ground, But do not go with it. [C3v] Hor. No, by no meanes my Lord. Ham. It will not speake, then will I follow it. Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood my Lord. That beckles ore his bace, into the sea, And there assume some other horrible shape, Which might depriue your soueraigntie of reason, And driue you into madnesse: thinke of it. Ham. Still am I called, go on, ile follow thee. Hor. My Lord, you shall not go. Ham. Why what should be the feare? I do not set my life at a pinnes fee, And for my soule, what can it do to that? Being a thing immortall, like it selfe, Go on, ile follow thee. Mar. My Lord be rulde, you shall not goe. Ham. My fate cries out, and makes each pety Artiue As hardy as the Nemeon Lyons nerue, Still am I cald, vnhand me gentlemen; By heauen ile make a ghost of him that lets me, Away I say, go on, ile follow thee. Hor. He waxeth desperate with imagination. Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmarke. Hor. Haue after; to what issue will this sort? Mar. Lets follow, tis not fit thus to obey him. exit. Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Ham. Ile go no farther, whither wilt thou leade me? Ghost Marke me. Ham. I will. Ghost I am thy fathers spirit, doomd for a time To walke the night, and all the day Confinde in flaming fire, Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature Are purged and burnt away. Ham. Alas poore Ghost. Ghost Nay pitty me not, but to my vnfolding Lend thy listning eare, but that I am forbid [C4] To tell the secrets of my prison house I would a tale vnfold, whose lightest word Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy yong blood, Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular haire to stand on end Like quils vpon the fretfull Porpentine, But this same blazon must not be, to eares of flesh and blood Hamlet, if euer thou didst thy deere father loue. Ham. O God. Gho. Reuenge his foule, and most vnnaturall murder: Ham. Murder. Ghost Yea, murder in the highest degree, As in the least tis bad, But mine most foule, beastly, and vnnaturall. Ham. Haste me to knowe it, that with wings as swift as meditation, or the thought of it, may sweepe to my reuenge. Ghost O I finde thee apt, and duller shouldst thou be Then the fat weede which rootes it selfe in ease On Lethe wharffe: briefe let me be. Tis giuen out, that sleeping in my orchard, A Serpent stung me; so the whole eare of Denmarke Is with a forged Prosses of my death rankely abusde: But know thou noble Youth: he that did sting Thy fathers heart, now weares his Crowne. Ham. O my prophetike soule, my vncle! my vncle! Ghost Yea he, that incestuous wretch, wonne to his will O wicked will, and gifts! that haue the power (with gifts, So to seduce my most seeming vertuous Queene, But vertne, as it neuer will be moued, Though Lewdnesse court it in a shape of heauen, So Lust, though to a radiant angle linckt, Would fate it selfe from a celestiall bedde, And prey on garbage: but soft, me thinkes I sent the mornings ayre, briefe let me be, Sleeping within my Orchard, my custome alwayes [C4v] In the after noone, vpon my secure houre Thy vncle came, with iuyce of Hebona In a viall, and through the porches of my eares Did powre the leaprous distilment, whose effect Hold such an enmitie with blood of man, That swift as quickesilner, it posteth through The naturall gates and allies of the body, And turnes the thinne and wholesome blood Like eager dropings into milke. And all my smoothe body, barked, and tetterd ouer. Thus was I sleeping by a brothers hand Of Crowne, of Queene, of life, of dignitie At once depriued, no reckoning made of, But sent vnto my graue, With all my accompts and sinnes vpon my head, O horrible, most horrible! Ham. O God! ghost If thou hast nature in thee, beare it not, But howsoeuer, let not thy heart Conspire against thy mother aught, Leaue her to heauen, And to the burthen that her conscience beares. I must be gone, the Glo-worme shewes the Martin To be neere, and gin's to pale his vneffectuall fire: Hamlet adue, adue, adue: remember me. Exit Ham. O all you hoste of heauen! O earth, what else? And shall I couple hell; remember thee? Yes thou poore Ghost; from the tables Of my memorie, ile wipe away all sawes of Bookes, All triuiall fond conceites That euer youth, or else obseruance noted, And thy remembrance, all alone shall sit. Yes, yes, by heauen, a damnd pernitious villaine, Murderons, bawdy, smiling damned villaine, (My tables) meet it is I set it downe, That one may smile, and smile, and be a villayne; [D1] At least I am sure, it may be so in Denmarke. So vncle, there you are, there you are. Now to the words; it is adue adue: remember me, Soe t'is enough I haue sworne. Hor. My lord, my lord. Enter. Horatio, Mar. Lord Hamlet. and Marcellus. Hor. Ill, lo, lo, ho, ho. Mar. Ill, lo, lo, so, ho, so, come boy, come. Hor. Heauens secure him. Mar. How i'st my noble lord? Hor. What news my lord? Ham. O wonderfull, wonderful. Hor. Good my lord tel it. Ham. No not I, you'l reueale it. Hor. Not I my Lord by heauen. Mar. Nor I my Lord. Ham. How say you then? would hart of man Once thinke it? but you'l be secret. Both. I by heauen, my lord. Ham. There's neuer a villaine dwelling in all Denmarke, But hee's an arrant knaue. Hor. There need no Ghost come from the graue to tell you this. Ham. Right, you are in the right, and therefore I holde it meet without more circumstance at all, Wee shake hands and part; you as your busines And desiers shall leade you: for looke you, Euery man hath busines, and desires, such As it is; and for my owne poore parte, ile go pray. Hor. These are but wild and wherling words, my Lord. Ham.. I am sory they offend you; hartely, yes faith hartily. Hor. Ther's no offence my Lord. Ham. Yes by Saint Patrike but there is H_oratio_, And much offence too, touching this vision, It is an honest ghost, that let mee tell you, For your desires to know what is betweene vs, [D1v] Or emaister it as you may: And now kind frends, as yon are frends, Schollers and gentlmen, Grant mee one poore request. Both. What i'st my Lord? Ham. Neuer make known what you haue seene to night. Both. My lord, we will not. Ham. Nay but sweare. Hor. In faith my Lord not I. Mar. Nor I my Lord in faith. Ham. Nay vpon my sword, indeed vpon my sword. Gho. Sweare. The Gost under the stage. Ham. Ha, ha, come you here, this fellow in the sellerige, Here consent to sweare. Hor. Propose the oth my Lord. Ham. Neuer to speake what you haue seene to night, Sweare by my sword. Gost. Sweare. Ham. Hic & vbique; nay then weele shift our ground: Come hither Gentlemen, and lay your handes Againe vpon this sword, neuer to speake Of that which you haue seene, sweare by my sword. Ghost Sweare. Ham. Well said old Mole, can'st worke in the earth? so fast, a worthy Pioner, once more remoue. Hor. 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 philosophie, But come here, as before you neuer shall How strange or odde soere I beare my selfe, As I perchance hereafter shall thinke meet, To put an Anticke disposition on, That you at such times seeing me, neuer shall With Armes; incombred thus, or this head shake, [D2] Or by pronouncing some vndoubtfull phrase, As well well, wee know, or wee could and if we would, Or there be, and if they might, or such ambiguous. Giuing out to note, that you know aught of mee, This not to doe, so grace, and mercie At your most need helpe you, sweare. Ghost. sweare. Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit: so gentlemen, In all my loue I do commend mee to you, And what so poore a man as Hamlet may, To pleasure you, God willing shall not want, Nay come lett's go together, But stil your fingers on your lippes I pray, The time is out of ioynt, O cursed spite, That euer I was borne to set it right, Nay come lett's go together. Exeunt. Enter Corambis, and Montano. Cor. Montano, here, these letters to my sonne, And this same mony with my blessing to him, And bid him ply his learning good Montano. Mon. I will my lord. Cor. You shall do very well Montano, to say thus, I knew the gentleman, or know his father, To inquire the manner of his life, As thus; being amongst his acquaintance, You may say, you saw him at such a time, marke you mee, At game, or drincking, swearing, or drabbing, You may go so farre. Mon. My lord, that will impeach his reputation. Cor. I faith not a whit, no not a whit, Now happely hee closeth with you in the consequence, As you may bridle it not disparage him a iote. What was I a bout to say, Mon. He closeth with him in the consequence. Cor. I, you say right, he closeth with him thus, This will hee say, let mee see what hee will say, [D2v] Mary this, I saw him yesterday, or tother day, Or then, or at such a time, a dicing, Or at Tennis, I or drincking drunke, or entring Of a howse of lightnes viz. brothell, Thus sir do wee that know the world, being men of reach, By indirections, finde directions forth, And so shall you my sonne; you ha me, ha you not? Mon. I haue my lord. Cor. Wel, fare you well, commend mee to him. Mon. I will my lord, Cor. And bid him ply his musicke Mon. My lord I wil. exit. Enter, Ofelia. Cor. Farewel, how now Ofelia, what's the news with you? Ofe. O my deare father, such a change in nature, So great an alteration in a Prince, So pitifull to him, fearefull to mee, A maidens eye ne're looked on. Cor. Why what's the matter my Ofelia? Of. O yong Prince Hamlet, the only floure of Denmark, Hee is bereft of all the wealth he had, The Iewell that ador'nd his feature most Is filcht and stolne away, his wit's bereft him, Hee found mee walking in the gallery all alone, There comes hee to mee, with a distracted looke, His garters lagging downe, his shooes vntide, And fixt his eyes so stedfast on my face, As if they had vow'd, this is their latest obiect. Small while he stoode, but gripes me by the wrist, And there he holdes my pulse till with a sigh He doth vnclaspe his holde, and parts away Silent, as is the mid time of the night: And as he went, his eie was still on mee, For thus his head ouer his shoulder looked, He seemed to finde the way without his eies: For out of doores he went without their helpe, [D3] And so did leaue me. Cor. Madde for thy loue, What haue you giuen him any crosse wordes of late? Ofelia I did repell his letters, deny his gifts, As you did charge me. Cor. Why that hath made him madde: By heau'n t'is as proper for our age to cast Beyond ourselues, as t'is for the yonger sort To leaue their wantonnesse. Well, I am sory That I was so rash: but what remedy? Lets to the King, this madnesse may prooue, Though wilde a while, yet more true to thy loue. exeunt. Enter King and Queene, Rossencraft, and Gilderstone. King Right noble friends, that our deere cosin Hamlet Hath lost the very heart of all his sence, It is most right, and we most sory for him: Therefore we doe desire, euen as you tender Our care to him, and our great loue to you, That you will labour but to wring from him The cause and ground of his distemperancie. Doe this, the king of Denmarke shal be thankefull. Ros. My Lord, whatsoeuer lies within our power Your maiestie may more commaund in wordes Then vse perswasions to your liege men, bound By loue, by duetie, and obedience. Guil. What we may doe for both your Maiesties To know the griefe troubles the Prince your sonne, We will indeuour all the best we may, So in all duetie doe we take our leaue. King Thankes Guilderstone, and gentle Rossencraft. Que. Thankes Rossencraft, and gentle Gilderstone. Enter Corambis and Ofelia. Cor. My Lord, the Ambassadors are ioyfully Return'd from Norway. King Thou still hast beene the father of good news. Cor. Haue I my Lord? I assure your grace, [D3v] I holde my duetie as I holde my life, Both to my God, and to my soueraigne King: And I beleeue, or else this braine of mine Hunts not the traine of policie so well As it had wont to doe, but I haue found The very depth of Hamlets lunacie. Queene God graunt he hath. Enter the Ambassadors. King Now Voltemar, what from our brother Norway? Volt. Most faire returnes of greetings and desires, Vpon our first he sent forth to suppresse His nephews leuies, which to him appear'd To be a preparation gainst the Polacke: But better look't into, he truely found It was against your Highnesse, whereat grieued, That so his sickenesse, age, and impotence, Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortenbrasse, which he in briefe obays, Receiues rebuke from Norway: and in fine, Makes vow before his vncle, neuer more To giue the assay of Armes against your Maiestie, Whereon olde Norway ouercome with ioy, Giues him three thousand crownes in annuall fee, And his Commission to employ those souldiers, So leuied as before, against the Polacke, With an intreaty heerein further shewne, That it would please you to giue quiet passe Through your dominions, for that enterprise On such regardes of safety and allowances As therein are set downe. King It likes vs well, and at fit time and leasure Weele reade and answere these his Articles, Meane time we thanke you for your well Tooke labour: go to your rest, at night weele feast togither: Right welcome home. exeunt Ambassadors. Cor. This busines is very well dispatched. [D4] Now my Lord, touching the yong Prince Hamlet, Certaine it is that hee is madde: mad let vs grant him then: Now to know the cause of this effect, Or else to say the cause of this defect, For this effect defectiue comes by cause. Queene Good my Lord be briefe. Cor. Madam I will: my Lord, I haue a daughter, Haue while shee's mine: for that we thinke Is surest, we often loose: now to the Prince. My Lord, but note this letter, The which my daughter in obedience Deliuer'd to my handes. King Reade it my Lord. Cor. Marke my Lord. Doubt that in earth is fire, Doubt that the starres doe moue, Doubt trueth to be a liar, But doe not doubt I loue. To the beautifull Ofelia: Thine euer the most vnhappy Prince Hamlet. My Lord, what doe you thinke of me? I, or what might you thinke when I sawe this? King As of a true friend and a most louing subiect. Cor. I would be glad to prooue so. Now when I saw this letter, thus I bespake my maiden: Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of your starre, And one that is vnequall for your loue: Therefore I did commaund her refuse his letters, Deny his tokens, and to absent her selfe. Shee as my childe obediently obey'd me. Now since which time, seeing his loue thus cross'd, Which I tooke to be idle, and but sport, He straitway grew into a melancholy, From that vnto a fast, then vnto distraction, Then into a sadnesse, from that vnto a madnesse, And so by continuance, and weakenesse of the braine [D4v] Into this frensie, which now possesseth him: And if this be not true, take this from this. King Thinke you t'is so? Cor. How? so my Lord, I would very faine know That thing that I haue saide t'is so, positiuely, And it hath fallen out otherwise. Nay, if circumstances leade me on, Ile finde it out, if it were hid As deepe as the centre of the earth. King. how should wee trie this same? Cor. Mary my good lord thus, The Princes walke is here in the galery, There let Ofelia, walke vntill hee comes: Your selfe and I will stand close in the study, There shall you heare the effect of all his hart, And if it proue any otherwise then loue, Then let my censure faile an other time. King. See where hee comes poring vppon a booke. Enter Hamlet. Cor. Madame, will it please your grace To leaue vs here? Que. With all my hart. exit. Cor. And here Ofelia, reade you on this booke, And walke aloofe, the King shal be vnseene. Ham. To be, or not to be, I there's the point, To Die, to sleepe, is that all? I all: No, to sleepe, to dreame, I mary there it goes, For in that dreame of death, when wee awake, And borne before an euerlasting Iudge, From whence no passenger euer retur'nd, The vndiscouered country, at whose sight The happy smile, and the accursed damn'd. But for this, the ioyfull hope of this, Whol'd beare the scornes and flattery of the world, Scorned by the right rich, the rich curssed of the poore? The widow being oppressd, the orphan wrong'd; [E1] The taste of hunger, or a tirants raigne, And thousand more calamities besides, To grunt and sweate vnder this weary life, When that he may his full Quietus make, With a bare bodkin, who would this indure, But for a hope of something after death? Which pusles the braine, and doth confound the sence, Which makes vs rather beare those euilles we haue, Than flie to others that we know not of. I that, O this conscience makes cowardes of vs all, Lady in thy orizons, be all my sinnes remembred. Ofel. My Lord, I haue sought opportunitie, which now I haue, to redeliuer to your worthy handes, a small remem- brance, such tokens which I haue receiued of you. Ham. Are you faire? Ofel. My Lord. Ham. Are you honest? Ofel. What meanes my Lord? Ham. That if you be faire and honest, Your beauty should admit no discourse to your honesty. Ofel. My Lord, can beauty haue better priuiledge than with honesty? Ham. Yea mary may it; for Beauty may transforme Honesty, from what she was into a bawd: Then Honesty can transforme Beauty: This was sometimes a Paradox, But now the time giues it scope. I neuer gaue you nothing. Ofel. My Lord, you know right well you did, And with them such earnest vowes of loue, As would haue moou'd the stoniest breast aliue, But now too true I finde, Rich giftes waxe poore, when giuers grow vnkinde. Ham. I neuer loued you. Ofel. You made me beleeue you did. Ham. O thou shouldst not a beleeued me! [E1v] Go to a Nunnery goe, why shouldst thou Be a breeder of sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest, But I could accuse my selfe of such crimes It had beene better my mother had ne're borne me, O I am very prowde, ambitious, disdainefull, With more sinnes at my becke, then I haue thoughts To put them in, what should such fellowes as I Do, crawling between heauen and earth? To a Nunnery goe, we are arrant knaues all, Beleeue none of vs, to a Nunnery goe. Ofel. O heauens secure him! Ham. Wher's thy father? Ofel. At home my lord. Ham. For Gods sake let the doores be shut on him, He may play the foole no where but in his Owne house: to a Nunnery goe. Ofel. Help him good God. Ham. If thou dost marry, Ile giue thee This plague to thy dowry: Be thou as chaste as yce, as pure as snowe, Thou shalt not scape calumny, to a Nunnery goe. Ofel. Alas, what change is this? Ham. But if thou wilt needes marry, marry a foole, For wisemen know well enough, What monsters you make of them, to a Nunnery goe. Ofel. Pray God restore him. Ham. Nay, I haue heard of your paintings too, God hath giuen you one face, And you make your selues another, You fig, and you amble, and you nickname Gods creatures, Making your wantonnesse, your ignorance, A pox, t'is scuruy, Ile no more of it, It hath made me madde: Ile no more marriages, All that are married but one, shall liue, The rest shall keepe as they are, to a Nunnery goe, To a Nunnery goe. exit.[E2] Ofe. Great God of heauen, what a quicke change is this? The Courtier, Scholler, Souldier, all in him, All dasht and splinterd thence, O woe is me, To a seene what I haue seene, see what I see. exit. King Loue? No, no, that's not the cause, Enter King and Some deeper thing it is that troubles him. Corambis. Cor. Wel, something it is: my Lord, content you a while, I will my selfe goe feele him; let me worke, Ile try him euery way: see where he comes, Send you those Gentlemen, let me alone To finde the depth of this, away, be gone. exit King. Now my good Lord, do you know me? Enter Hamlet. Ham. Yea very well, y'are a fishmonger. Cor. Not I my Lord. Ham. Then sir, I would you were so honest a man, For to be honest, as this age goes, Is one man to be pickt out of tenne thousand. Cor. What doe you reade my Lord? Ham. Wordes, wordes. Cor. What's the matter my Lord? Ham. Betweene who? Car. I meane the matter you reade my Lord. Ham. Mary most vile heresie: For here the Satyricall Satyre writes, That olde men haue hollow eyes, weake backes, Grey beardes, pittifull weake hammes, gowty legges, All which sir, I most potently beleeue not: For sir, your selfe shalbe olde as I am, If like a Crabbe, you could goe backeward. Cor. How pregnant his replies are, and full of wit: Yet at first he tooke me for a fishmonger: All this comes by loue, the vemencie of loue, And when I was yong, I was very idle, And suffered much extasie in loue, very neere this: Will you walke out of the aire my Lord? Ham. Into my graue. [E2v] Cor. By the masse that's out of the aire indeed, Very shrewd answers, My lord I will take my leaue of you. Enter Gilderstone, and Rossencraft. Ham. You can take nothing from me sir, I will more willingly part with all, Olde doating foole. Cor, You seeke Prince Hamlet, see, there he is. exit. Gil. Health to your Lordship. Ham. What, Gilderstone, and Rossencraft, Welcome kinde Schoole-fellowes to Elsanoure. Gil. We thanke your Grace, and would be very glad You were as when we were at Wittenberg. Ham. I thanke you, but is this visitation free of Your selues, or were you not sent for? Tell me true, come, I know the good King and Queene Sent for you, there is a kinde of confession in your eye: Come, I know you were sent for. Gil. What say you? Ham. Nay then I see how the winde sits, Come, you were sent for. Ross. My lord, we were, and willingly if we might, Know the cause and ground of your discontent. Ham. Why I want preferment. Ross. I thinke not so my lord. Ham. Yes faith, this great world you see contents me not, No nor the spangled heauens, nor earth, nor sea, No nor Man that is so glorious a creature, Contents not me, no nor woman too, though you laugh. Gil. My lord, we laugh not at that. Ham. Why did you laugh then, When I said, Man did not content mee? Gil. My Lord, we laughed when you said, Man did not content you. What entertainment the Players shall haue, We boorded them a the way: they are comming to you. [E3] Ham. Players, what Players be they? Ross. My Lord, the Tragedians of the Citty, Those that you tooke delight to see so often. (stie? Ham. How comes it that they trauell? Do they grow re- Gil. No my Lord, their reputation holds as it was wont. Ham. How then? Gil. Yfaith my Lord, noueltie carries it away, For the principall publike audience that Came to them, are turned to priuate playes, And to the humour of children. Ham. I doe not greatly wonder of it, For those that would make mops and moes At my vncle, when my father liued, Now giue a hundred, two hundred pounds For his picture: but they shall be welcome, He that playes the King shall haue tribute of me, The ventrous Knight shall vse his foyle and target, The louer shall sigh gratis, The clowne shall make them laugh (for't, That are tickled in the lungs, or the blanke verse shall halt And the Lady shall haue leaue to speake her minde freely. The Trumpets sound, Enter Corambis. Do you see yonder great baby? He is not yet out of his swadling clowts. Gil. That may be, for they say an olde man Is twice a childe. (Players, Ham. Ile prophecie to you, hee comes to tell mee a the You say true, a monday last, t'was so indeede. Cor. My lord, I haue news to tell you. Ham. My Lord, I haue news to tell you: When Rossios was an Actor in Rome. Cor. The Actors are come hither, my lord. Ham. Buz, buz. Cor. The best Actors in Christendome, Either for Comedy, Tragedy, Historie, Pastorall, Pastorall, Historicall, Historicall, Comicall, [E3v] Comicall historicall, Pastorall, Tragedy historicall: Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plato too light: For the law hath writ those are the onely men. Ha. O Iepha Iudge of Israel! what a treasure hadst thou? Cor. Why what a treasure had he my lord? Ham. Why one faire daughter, and no more, The which he loued passing well. Cor. A, stil harping a my daughter! well my Lord, If you call me Iepha, I hane a daughter that I loue passing well. Ham. Nay that followes not. Cor. What followes then my Lord? Ham. Why by lot, or God wot, or as it came to passe, And so it was, the first verse of the godly Ballet Wil tel you all: for look you where my abridgement comes: Welcome maisters, welcome all, Enter players. What my olde friend, thy face is vallanced Since I saw thee last, com'st thou to beard me in Denmarke? My yong lady and mistris, burlady but your (you were: Ladiship is growne by the altitude of a chopine higher than Pray God sir your voyce, like a peece of vncurrant Golde, be not crack't in the ring: come on maisters, Weele euen too't, like French Falconers, Flie at any thing we see, come, a taste of your Quallitie, a speech, a passionate speech. Players What speech my good lord? Ham. I heard thee speake a speech once, But it was neuer acted: or if it were, Neuer aboue twice, for as I remember, It pleased not the vulgar, it was cauiary To the million: but to me And others, that receiued it in the like kinde, Cried in the toppe of their iudgements, an excellent play, Set downe with as great modestie as cunning: One said there was no sallets in the lines to make thê sauory, But called it an honest methode, as wholesome as sweete. [E4] Come, a speech in it I chiefly remember Was Æneas tale to Dido, And then especially where he talkes of Princes slaughter, If it liue in thy memory beginne at this line, Let me see. The rugged Pyrrus, like th'arganian beast: No t'is not so, it begins with Pirrus: O I haue it. The rugged Pirrus, he whose sable armes, Blacke as his purpose did the night resemble, When he lay couched in the ominous horse, Hath now his blacke and grimme complexion smeered With Heraldry more dismall, head to foote, Now is he totall guise, horridely tricked With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes, Back't and imparched in calagulate gore, Rifted in earth and fire, olde grandsire Pryam seekes: So goe on. (accent. Cor. Afore God, my Lord, well spoke, and with good Play. Anone he finds him striking too short at Greeks, His antike sword rebellious to this Arme, Lies where it falles, vnable to resist. Pyrrus at Pryam driues, but all in rage, Strikes wide, but with the whiffe and winde Of his fell sword, th' unnerued father falles. Cor. Enough my friend, t'is too long. Ham. It shall to the Barbers with your beard: A pox, hee's for a Iigge, or a tale of bawdry, Or else he sleepes, come on to Hecuba, come. Play. But who O who had seene the mobled Queene? Cor. Mobled Queene is good, faith very good. Play. All in the alarum and feare of death rose vp, And o're her weake and all ore-teeming loynes, a blancket And a kercher on that head, where late the diademe stoode, Who this had seene with tongue inuenom'd speech, Would treason haue pronounced, [E4v] For if the gods themselues had seene her then, When she saw Pirrus with malitious strokes, Mincing her husbandes limbs, It would haue made milch the burning eyes of heauen, And passion in the gods. Cor. Looke my lord if he hath not changde his colour, And hath teares in his eyes: no more good heart, no more. Ham. T'is well, t'is very well, I pray my lord, Will you see the Players well bestowed, I tell you they are the Chronicles And briefe abstracts of the time, After your death I can tell you, You were better haue a bad Epiteeth, Then their ill report while you liue. Cor. My lord, I will vse them according to their deserts. Ham. O farre better man, vse euery man after his deserts, Then who should scape whipping? Vse them after your owne honor and dignitie, The lesse they deserue, the greater credit's yours. Cor. Welcome my good fellowes. exit. Ham. Come hither maisters, can you not play the mur- der of Gonsago? players Yes my Lord. Ham. And could'st not thou for a neede study me Some dozen or sixteene lines, Which I would set downe and insert? players Yes very easily my good Lord. Ham. T'is well, I thanke you: follow that lord: And doe you heare sirs? take heede you mocke him not. Gentlemen, for your kindnes I thanke you, And for a time I would desire you leaue me. Gil. Our loue and duetie is at your commaund. Exeunt all but Hamlet. Ham. Why what a dunghill idiote slaue am I? Why these Players here draw water from eyes: For Hecuba, why what is Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba? [F1] What would he do and if he had my losse? His father murdred, and a Crowne bereft him, He would turne all his teares to droppes of blood, Amaze the standers by with his laments, Strike more then wonder in the iudiciall eares, Confound the ignorant, and make mute the wise, Indeede his passion would be generall. Yet I like to an asse and Iohn a Dreames, Hauing my father murdred by a villaine, Stand still, and let it passe, why sure I am a coward: Who pluckes me by the beard, or twites my nose, Giue's me the lie i'th throate downe to the lungs, Sure I should take it, or else I haue no gall, Or by this I should a fatted all the region kites With this slaues offell, this damned villaine, Treachcrous, bawdy, murderous villaine: Why this is braue, that I the sonne of my deare father, Should like a scalion, like a very drabbe Thus raile in wordes. About my braine, I haue heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play, Hath, by the very cunning of the scene, confest a murder Committed long before. This spirit that I haue seene may be the Diuell, And out of my weakenesse and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such men, Doth seeke to damne me, I will haue sounder proofes, The play's the thing, Wherein I'le catch the conscience of the King. exit.