The works of William Shakspeare, life, glossary &c. repr. from the early eds. and compared with recent commentators

932

Laer.

sorrow

Ham. [Advancing.] What is he, whose grief
Bears such an emphasis? whose phrase of
[stand,
Conjures the wandering stars, and makes them
Like wonder-wounded hearers? this is I,
Hamlet the Dane. [Leaping into the grave.
The devil take thy soul !
[Grappling with him.
Ham. Thou pray'st not well.
I pr'ythee, take thy fingers from my throat;
For though I am not splenetive and rash,
Yet have I in me something dangerous,
Which let thy wisdom fear: hold off thy hand.
King. Pluck them asunder.
Queen.

All. Gentlemen,-
Hor.

Hamlet, Hamlet!

Good my lord, be quiet. [The Attendants part them, and they come out of the grave.

Ham. Why, I will fight with him upon this
theme,

Until my eyelids will no longer wag.
Queen. O my son, what theme?

Ham. I lov'd Ophelia: forty thousand
brothers

Could not, with all their quantity of love,
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?
King. O, he is mad, Laertes.

Queen. For love of God, forbear him.
Ham. 'Swounds, show me what thou'lt do:
Woo't weep? woo't fight? woo't fast? woo't
tear thyself?

Woo't drink up Esil? eat a crocodile?

I'll do't. Dost thou come here to whine?
To outface me with leaping in her grave?
Be buried quick with her, and so will I :
And, if thou prate of mountains, let them throw
Millions of acres on us; till our ground,
Singeing his pate against the burning zone,
Nay, an thou'lt
Make Ossa like a wart !
[mouth,
I'll rant as well as thou.
This is mere madness.
Queen.
And thus a while the fit will work on him;
Anon, as patient as the female dove,
When that her golden couplets are disclos'd,
His silence will sit drooping.

Hear you, sir;
Ham.
What is the reason that you use me thus?
I lov'd you ever: but it is no matter;
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.
[Exit.
King. I pray you, good Horatio, wait upon
[Exit Horatio.
him.
[To Laertes.] Strengthen your patience in our
last night's speech;

We'll put the matter to the present push.
Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.
This grave shall have a living monument :
An hour of quiet shortly shall we see ;
Till then, in patience our proceeding be.

SCENE II.-A Hall in the Castle.
Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

Ham. So much for this, sir: now shall you
see the other:

You do remember all the circumstance?
Hor. Remember it, my lord!

Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of
fighting,

That would not let me sleep: methought I lay
Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly,
And prais'd be rashness for it: let us know,
Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well,
When our deep plots do pall: and that should
teach us,

There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will.
Hor.

That is most certain.

Ham. Up from my cabin,

My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark
Grop'd I to find out them: had my desire;
Finger'd their packet; and, in fine, withdrew
To mine own room again: making so bold,
My fears forgetting manners, to unseal
Their grand commission; where I found,
Horatio,-

O royal knavery!-an exact command,
Larded with many several sorts of reasons,
Importing Denmark's health, and England's

too,

With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,
No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
My head should be struck off.
Is't possible?
Hor.
Ham. Here's the commission: read it at
more leisure.

But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?
[villainies,-
Hor. I beseech you.

Ham. Being thus benetted round with
Ere I could make a prologue to my brains,
They had begun the play. I sat me down;
Devis'd a new commission; wrote it fair :
I once did hold it, as our statists do,
A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much
How to forget that learning; but, sir, now
It did me yeoman's service: wilt thou know
The effect of what I wrote ?

Ay, good my lord.
Hor.
Ham. An earnest conjuration from the king,
As England was his faithful tributary;
As love between them like the palm might
[wear,
flourish;
As peace should still her wheaten garland
And stand a comma 'tween their amities;
And many such like ases of great charge,-
That, on the view and know of these contents,
Without debatement further, more or less,
He should the bearers put to sudden death,
Not shriving-time allow'd.
How was this seal'd?
that was heaven

Hor.

Ham. Why, even in [Exeunt.

ordinant.

I had my father's signet in my purse,

Which was the model of that Danish seal ; Folded the writ up in form of the other; Subscrib'd it; gave't th' impression; plac'd it safely,

[day]

he has laid a great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter,

Ham. I beseech you, remember—

[Hamlet moves him to put on his hat. The changeling never known. Now, the next Osr. Nay, in good faith; for mine ease, in Was our sea-fight; and what to this was good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court, Thou know'st already. [sequent Laertes; believe me, an absolute gentleman, Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go full of most excellent differences, of very soft to't. [this employment; society, and great showing: indeed, to speak Ham. Why, man, they did make love to feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of They are not near my conscience; their defeat gentry; for you shall find in him the continent Does by their own insinuation grow: of what part a gentleman would see. 'Tis dangerous, when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell incensed points Of mighty opposites.

Hor. Why, what a king is this! Ham. Does it not, think'st thee, stand me now upon[mother; He that hath kill'd my king, and whor'd my Popp'd in between the election and my hopes; Thrown out his angle for my proper life, And with such cozenage-is't not perfect conscience, [damn'd, To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be To let this canker of our nature come In further evil?

[England,

Hor. It must be shortly known to him from What is the issue of the business there.

Ham. It will be short: the interim is mine; And a man's life's no more than to say, one. But I am very sorry, good Horatio, That to Laertes I forgot myself; For, by the image of my cause, I see The portraiture of his : I'll count his favours: But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me Into a towering passion. Hor.

Peace! who comes here? Enter Osrick.

Or. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.

Ham. I humbly thank you, sir.-Dost know this water-fly?

Hor. No, my good lord.

Ham. Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess: 'tis a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt.

Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Your bonnet to its right use; 'tis for the head.

Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly.

Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks, it is very sultry, and hot; or my complexion-

Ham. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you :-though, I know, to divide him inventorially, would dizzy the arithmetic of memory; and yet but raw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article ; and his infusion of such dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror; and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more.

Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of

him.

Ham. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? Osr. Sir?

Ham. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, sir, really. Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentleman? Osr. Of Laertes? Hor. His purse is empty already; all his golden words are spent. Ham. Of him, sir. Osr. I know you are not ignorantHam. I would you did, sir; in faith, if you did, it would not much approve me. Well, sir. Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is

Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence; but, to know a man well, were to know himself.

Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed. Ham. What's his weapon? Osr. Rapier and dagger.

Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well. Osr. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary horses: against the which he has imponed, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit.

Ham. What call you the carriages? Hor. I knew you must be edified by the margent, ere you had done.

Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we could carry cannon by our sides: I would it might be hangers till then. Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, But, on six Barbary horses against six French --as 'twere,-I cannot tell how.-But, my swords, their assigns, and three liberal-conlord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that ceited carriages; that's the French bet against

the Danish. Why is this imponed, as you If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to call it ?

Osr. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits: he hath laid, on twelve for nine; and it would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. Ham. How, if I answer, no? Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.

come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all : since no man, of aught he leaves, knows what is't to leave betimes? Let be.

Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords, Osrick, and Attendants, with foils, &c. King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from nie.

[The King puts the hand of Laertes into that of Hamlet.

Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I've done you wrong;

pardon't, as you are a gentleman.

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall if it please his majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me; let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold his pur- But pose, I will win for him, if I can; if not, IThis presence knows, and you must needs will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd Osr. Shall I deliver you so? [hits. Ham. To this effect, sir: after what flourish your nature will.

Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship. Ham. Yours, yours. [Exit Osrick.] He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn.

Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.

Ham. He did comply with his dug, before he sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same breed, that, I know, the drossy age dotes on) only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter; a kind of yesty collection, which carries them through and through the most fond and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out.

Enter a Lord.

Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osrick, who brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall: he sends to know, if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time.

Ham. I am constant to my purposes; they follow the king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now, or whensoever, provided I be so able as now.

Lord. The king, and queen, and all are coming down. Ham. In happy time.

Lord. The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play.

Ham. She well instructs me. [Exit Lord. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord. Ham. I do not think so; since he went into France, I have been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, how ill all's here about my heart: but it is no matter. Hor. Nay, good my lord.Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving, as would perhaps trouble a

woman.

Hor. If your mind dislike anything, obey it: I will forestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit.

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury: there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.

have heard,

How I am punish'd with a sore distraction.
What I have done,

[tion, That might your nature, honour, and excepRoughly awake, I here proclaim was madness. Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Hamlet:

If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
And, when he's not himself, does wrong
Laertes,

Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.
Who does it, then? His madness: if't be so,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Sir, in this audience,

Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil
Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,
That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house,
And hurt my brother.

Laer.
I am satisfied in nature,
Whose motive, in this case, should stir me

most

To my revenge: but in my terms of honour,
I stand aloof; and will no reconcilement,
Till by some elder masters, of known honour,
I have a voice and precedent of peace,
To keep my name ungor'd. But till that time,
I do receive your offer'd love like love,
And will not wrong it.
Ham.
I embrace it freely;
And will this brother's wager frankly play.
Give us the foils. Come on.
Laer.

Come, one for me. Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance

Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed.

Laer. You mock me, sir. Ham. No, by this hand. King. Give them the foils, young Osrick.You know the wager?

[Cousin Hamlet, Ham. Very well, my lord; Your grace hath laid the odds o' the weaker side.

King. I do not fear it; I have seen you both: But since he 's better'd, we have therefore odds. Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another. Ham. This likes me well. These foils have all a length?

Osr. Ay, my good lord.

[They prepare to play.
King. Set me the stoops of wine upon that
If Hamlet give the first or second hit, [table:
Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better
breath;

And in the cup an union shall he throw,
Richer than that which four successive kings
In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the
cups;

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to mine own
springe, Osrick;

I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.
Ham How does the queen?

King

She swoons to see them bleed. Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink,-O my dear Hamlet !—

The drink, the drink ;-I am poison'd. [Dies.
Ham. O villainy !-Ho! let the door be
lock'd:
[Laertes falls.

Treachery! seek it out.

Laer. It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain ;

And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
No medicine in the world can do thee good;
The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to In thee there is not half an hour of life;
earth,
[begin - The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
"Now the king drinks to Hamlet !"-Come, Unbated, and envenom'd: the foul practice
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie,
Ham. Come on, sir.
Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd:
Come, my lord. [ [They play. I can no more—the king, the king's to blame.
One.
Ham. The point, envenom'd too!-
No. Then, venom, do thy work. [Stabs the King.
Judgment. All. Treason! treason!
[hurt.
Well ;-again.
King. Stay; give me drink. Hamlet, this
pearl is thine;

Laer.

Ham.

Laer.

Ham.

Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.
Laer.

Here's to thy health. Give him the cup.
[Trumpets sound; and cannon shot off
within.

while.

Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by a
[you?
Come [They play] Another hit; what say
Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess.
King. Our son shall win.
Queen.
He's fat, and scant of breath.
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows:
The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.
Ham. Good madam!
King.
Gertrude, do not drink.
Queen. I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon
[too late.
King. [Aside. It is the poison'd cup; it is
Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by
and by.

me.

Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face. Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now. King. I do not think it. Laer. [Aside.] And yet it is almost against my conscience. [dally; Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes: you but I pray you, pass with your best violence; I am afear'd you make a wanton of me. Laer. Say you so? come on. Osr. Nothing, neither way. Laer. Have at you now. [Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling, they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.

[They play.

King.
Part them; they are incens'd.
Ham. Nay, come, again. [The Queen falls.
Osr. Look to the queen there, ho!
Hor. They bleed on both sides. How is it,
Osr. How is it, Laertes?
[my lord?

King. O, yet defend me, friends; I am but
Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murderous,
damned Dane,

Drink off this potion :-is thy union here?
Follow my mother.
[King dies.
Laer.
He is justly serv'd ;
It is a poison temper'd by himself. [let:
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Ham-
Mine and my father's death come not upon
thee;
Nor thine on me!

[Dies.

The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:
I cannot live to hear the news from England;
But I do prophesy the election 'lights
On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice:
So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,
Which have solicited.-The rest is silence.

[Dies.

Hor. Now cracks a noble heart :-good night, sweet prince;

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
March within.
Why does the drum come hither?
Enter Fortinbras, the English Ambassadors,
and others.

Fort. Where is this sight?
Hor.
What is it ye would see?
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
Fort. This quarry cries on havoc. O proud
death,
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
That thou so many princes at a shot
So bloodily hast struck?

I Amb.
The sight is dismal;
And our affairs from England come too late :
The ears are senseless that should give us
hearing,

To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd,
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:
Where should we have our thanks?
Hor.
Not from his mouth,
Had it the ability of life to thank you :
He never gave commandment for their death.
But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
You from the Polack wars, and you from

England,

Are here arriv'd, give order that these bodies

Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;
For he was likely, had he been put on,
To have prov'd most royally and, for his
passage,

The soldiers' music, and the rites of war,
Speak loudly for him.

Take up the bodies such a sight as this
Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
Go, bid the soldiers shoot.

[A dead march. Exeunt, bearing away the dead bodies: after which, a peal of ordnance is shot off.

Escalus, Prince of Verona.

ROMEO AND JULIET.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

[Prince. Sampson, Servants to Capulet.

Paris, a young Nobleman, Kinsman to the Gregory, S'

Montague,Heads of two Houses at variance Peter, another Servant to Capulet.

Capulet, S with each other.

An Old Man, Kinsman to Capulet.

Romeo, Son to Montague.

Mercutio, Kinsman to the Prince, and Friend

to Romeo.

Abram, Servant to Montague.

An Apothecary. Three Musicians. Chorus. Page to Mercutio; Page to Paris ; an Officer.

Lady Montague, Wife to Montague.

Benvolio, Nephew to Montague, and Friend Lady Capulet, Wife to Capulet.

to Romeo.

Tybalt, Nephew to Lady Capulet. Friar Laurence, a Franciscan. Friar John, of the same order.

Balthasar, Servant to Romeo.

Juliet, Daughter to Capulet.
Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona; male and female Rela-
tions to both Houses; Maskers, Guards,
Watchmen, and Attendants.

SCENE.-Verona: Once, (in the Fifth Act) at Mantua.

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The works of William Shakspeare, life, glossary &c. repr. from the ..., Part 73