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[Transcriber's note:
This aims to be an accurate transcription of the original text.
To achieve this, we deviate from the standard Project Gutenberg
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Italics are indicated by underscores, and punctuation has not
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There is a macron over an 'e' on the last line of E3v, which has
been rendered as 'ê' in this transcription.]
THE [TP]
Tragicall Historie of
HAMLET
_Prince of Denmarke_
By William Shake-speare.
As it hath beene diuerse times acted by his Highnesse ser-
uants in the Cittie of London: as also in the two V-
niuersities of Cambridge and Oxford, and else-where
[Illustration]
At London printed for N.L. and Iohn Trundell.
1603.
[TPv]
[Illustration] [B1]
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?