HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. Act II Ham. Then you live about her waist, or in the forgone all custom of exercises. and, indeed, it middle of her favours? Guil 'Faith, her privates we. Ham. In the secret parts of fortune? O, most goes so heavily with my disposition, that this goodly this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this frame, the earth, seems to me a steril promontory; fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof of vapours. What a piece of work is man! How thing to me, than a foul and pestilent congregation noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form, and moving, how express and admirable! in action, Ham. Then is doomsday near: But your news is not true. Let me question more in particular: What have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune, that she sends you to prison hither.how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! Guil. Prison, my lord! Ham. Denmark's a prison. Ros. Then is the world one. Ham. A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons; Denmark being one of the worst. Ros. We think not so, my lord. Ham. Why, then 'tis none to you: for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison. Ros. Why, then your ambition makes it one; 'tis too narrow for your mind. Ham. O God! I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. Guil. Which dreams, indeed, are ambition; for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. Ham. A dream itself is but a shadow. Ros. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality, that it is but a shadow's shadow. Ham. Then are our beggars, bodies; and our monarchs, and outstretch'd heroes, the beggars' shadows: Shall we to the court? for, by my fay, cannot reason. Ros. Guil. We'll wait upon you. Ham. No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore ? Ros. To visit you, my lord; no other occasion. Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you; and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear, a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come; deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak. Guil. What should we say, my lord? Ham. Any thing--but to the purpose. You were sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to colour : know, the good king and queen have sent for you. Ros. To what end, my lord? the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! Ros. My lord, there is no such stuff in my thoughts. Man delights not me? Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in receive from you: we coted? them on the way; and man, what lenten entertainment the players shall hither are they coming, to offer you service. . his majesty shall have tribute of me: the adven- light in, the tragedians of the city. Idence, both in reputation and profit, was better Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no? Ros. What say you? Ham. Nay, then I have an eye of you; [Aside.]|| [To Guildenstern. -if you love me, hold not off. Guil. My lord, we were sent for. Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no eather. I have of late (but, wherefore, I know not,) lost all my mirth, (1) Spare. (3) Become strollers. (2) Overtook. (5) Dialogue. (6) Paid. (4) Young nestlings. of the late innovation. did when I was in the city? Are they so followed? Ham. How comes it? Do they grow rusty? pace: But there is, sir, an aiery of children, little Ros. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted cyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped for't: these are now the fashion; and so berattle the common stages (so they call them,) that many, wearing rapiers, are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither. them? how are they escoted? Will they pursue sides; and the nation holds it no sin, to tarre them Ham. Is it possible? of brains. Ham. Do the boys carry it away? his load too. king of Denmark, and those, that would make (8) Provoke. (7) Profession. forty, fifty, a hundred ducats a-piece, for his pic-straight: Come, give us a taste of your quality; tare in little. 'Sblood, there is something in this come, a passionate speech. more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. [Flourish of trumpets within. 1 Play. What speech, my lord? Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once,-but it was never acted; or, if it was, not above once: for the play, I remember, pleased not the million; 'twas caviare to the general:10 but it was (as I received it, and others, whose judgments, in such matters, cried in the top of mine,) an excellent play; well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember, make the matter savoury; nor no matter in the Guil. In what, my dear lord? phrase, that might indite12 the author of affection:13 Ham. I am but mad north-north-west: when the but called it, an honest method, as wholesome as wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a hand-saw.sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. Guil. There are the players. Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands. Come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony: let me comply2 with you in this garb; lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show fairly outward, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my uncle-father, and aunt-one said, there were no sallads in the lines, to mother, are deceived. Enter Polonius. Pol. Well be with you, gentlemen! Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern ;--and you too; -at each ear a hearer: that great baby, you see there, is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts. Ros. Happily, he's the second time come to them; for, they say, an old man is twice a child. Ham. I will prophesy, he comes to tell me of the players; mark it.-You say right, sir: o'Monday morning: 'twas then, indeed. Pol. My lord, I have news to tell you. Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord. Pol. Upon my honour, One speech in it I chiefly loved: 'twas Æneas' tale The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,-- Ham. Then came each actor on his ass,Pol. The best actors in the world, either for And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore, tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comi- With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus cal, historical-pastoral [tragical-historical, tragical-Old grandsire Priam seeks ;—So proceed you. comical-historical-pastoral,] scene individable, or poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ,3 and the liberty, these are the only men. Ham. O Jephthah, judge of Israel,-what a treasure hadst thou! Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord? Pol. 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken; with good accent, and good discretion. 1 Play. Anon he finds him Ham. Why-One fair daughter and no more,|| Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage, strikes wide, The which he loved passing well. [Aside. Pol. Still on my daughter. Pol. What follows then, my lord? Enter four or five Players. But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword But, as we often see, against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack1⁄46 stand still, The bold winds speechless, and the orb below You are welcome, masters; Welcome, all :-I am As hush as death; anon the dreadful thunder glad to see thee well :-welcome, good friends.- Doth rend the region: So, after Pyrrhus' pause, O, old friend! Why, thy face is valenced since IA roused vengeance sets him new a-work; saw thee last; Com'st thou to beard me in Den-And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall mark?-What! my young lady and mistress! By'r- On Mars's armour, forg'd for proof eterne," lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven, than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked with the ring.-Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see: We'll have a speech (1) Miniature. (2) Compliment. (3) Writing. With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods, (10) Multitude. (11) Above. (12) Convict. (13) Affectation. (14) Red. (15) Blazoned. (16) Light clouds. (17) Eternal. Pol. This is too long. Ham. It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Had he the motive and the cue for passion, That I have? He would drown the stage with tears, Pr'ythee, say on:-He's for a jig, or a tale of baw-And cleave the general ear with horrid speech; dry, or he sleeps:-say on: come to Hecuba. 1 Play. But who, ah wo! had seen the mobled' queen And passion in the gods. Pol. Look, whether he has not turn'd his colour, and has tears in's eyes.-Pr'ythee, no more. Ham. 'Tis well; I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon.-Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used; for they are the abstract, and brief chronicles, of the time; After your death you were better have a bad epitaph, than their ill report while you live. Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. Ham. Odd's bodikin, man, much better: Use every man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: The less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in. Pol. Come, sirs. [Exit Polonius, with some of the Players. Ham. Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play tomorrow.-Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the murder of Gonzago? 1 Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. We'll have it to-morrow night. You could, for a need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down, and insert in't? could you not? 1 Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. Very well.-Follow that lord; and look you mock him not. [Erit Player.] My good friends, [To Ros. and Guil.] I'll leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore. Ros. Good my lord! [Exeunt Ros. and Guil. What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, Make mad the guilty, and appal the free, The very faculties of eyes and ears. Confound the ignorant; and amaze, indeed, Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Why, I should take it: for it cannot be, lain! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave; Fie upon't! foh! About my brains! Humph! I have heard, That guilty creatures, sitting at a play, ACT HII.. [Exit. SCENE 1-A room in the castle. Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. King. And can you by no drift of conference Get from him, why he puts on this confusion; Grating so harshly all his days of quiet With turbulent and dangerous lunacy? Ros. He does confess, he feels himself distracted; But from what cause, he will by no means speak. Guil. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded, But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Queen. Did he receive you well? Ros. Most like a gentleman. Guil. But with much forcing of his disposition. Ros. Niggard of question; but, of our demands (6) Search his wounds. (7) Shrink or start. HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. Did you assay him Ros. Madam, it so fell out, that certain players 'Tis most true : King. With all my heart; and it doth much content me To hear him so inclin'd. Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, Her father, and myself (lawful espials,3) Will so bestow ourselves, that seeing, unseen, may If't be the affliction of his love, or no, Queen. I shall obey you: Madam, I wish it may. Oph. We will bestows ourselves :-Read on this book; That show of such an exercise may colour King. O, 'tis too true! how smart Ham. To be, or not to be, that is the question:- That makes calamity of so long life: Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought; Good my lord, Oph. My lord, I have remembrances of yours I pray you, now receive them. I never gave you aught. No, not I; Oph. My honour'd lord, you know right well, you did; And, with them, words of so sweet breath compos'd Ham. Ha, ha! are you honest? Ham. Are you fair? Oph. What means your lordship? Ham. That if you be honest, and fair, you should admit no discourse to your beauty. Oph. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than with honesty? Ham. Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd, than the force of honesty can translate beauty inte his likeness; this was some time a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once. Oph. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. Ham. You should not have believed me: for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock, but we shall relish of it: I loved you not. Oph. I was the more deceived. Ham. Get thee to a nunnery; Why would'st thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were better, my mother had not borne me: And, by opposing, end them?-To die,-to sleep,-I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more No more ;--and, by a sleep, to say we end For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, (1) Overtook. (2) Meet. (3) Spies. offences at my beck,15 than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in: What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us: Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where's your father? Oph. At home, my lord. Ham. Let the doors be shut upon him; that he may play the fool no where but in's own house. Farewell. (11) The ancient term for a small dagger. Oph. O, help him, you sweet heavens! Ham. If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry; Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery; farewell: Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough, what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go; and quickly too. Farewell. Oph. Heavenly powers, restore him! The expectancy and rose of the fair state, To have seen what I have seen, see what I see! Re-enter King and Polonius. King. Love! his affections do not that way tend; O'er which his melancholy sits on brood; Thus set it down; He shall with speed to England, Ham. Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as (1) The model by whom all endeavoured to form themselves. (2) Alienation of mind. (3) Reprimand him with freedom. lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus; but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul, to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings;4 who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb show, and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'er-doing Termagant; it out-herods Herod: Pray you, avoid it. 1 Play. I warrant your honour. Ham. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at first, and now, was, and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time, his form and pressure.6 Now this, overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve: the censure of which one, must, in your allowance,' o'er-weigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players, that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly,not to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of christians, nor the gait of christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted, and bellowed, that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably. 1 Play. I hope, we have reformed that indifferently with us. Ham. O, reform it altogether. And let those, that play your clowns, speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them, that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary questions of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous; and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.[Exeunt Players. Enter Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. How now, my lord? will the king hear this piece of work? Pol. And the queen too, and that presently. Both. Ay, my lord. [Exeunt Ros, and Guil. Enter Horatio. Hor. Here, sweet lord, at your service. Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp; (4) The meaner people then seem to have sat in the pit. (5) Herod's character was always violent. |