|
Enter
Hamlet and Horatio
Ham.
beleeue mee, it
greeues mee much Horatio,
That to Leartes I forgot my selfe:
For by my selfe me thinkes I feele his griefe,
Though there's a difference in each others wrong.
Enter a Bragart Gentleman.
5 Horatio,
but you marke yon water-flie,
The Court knowes him, but hee knowes not the Court.
Gen. Now
God saue thee, sweete prince
Hamlet.
Ham. And
you sir: soh,
how the muske-cod smels!
Gen. I
come with an
embassage from his maiesty to you
10
Ham. I
shall sir giue
you attention:
By my troth me thinkes t'is very colde.
Gent. It is indeede very
rawish colde.
Ham. T'is
hot me thinkes.
Gent.
Very swoltery hote:
15 The
King, sweete Prince, hath layd a wager on your side,
Six Barbary horse, against six french rapiers,
With all their acoutrements too, a the carriages:
In good faith they are curiously wrought.
Ham. The cariages sir, I
do not know what you meane.
20
Gent. The
girdles, and
hangers sir, and such like.
Ham. The
worde had beene
more cosin german to the
phrase, if he could haue carried the canon by his
side,
And howe's the wager? I vnderstand you now.
Gent. Mary sir, that
yong Leartes in twelue venies
25 At
Rapier and Dagger do not get three oddes of you,
And on your side the King hath laide,
And desires you to be in readinesse.
Ham. Very well, if the
King dare venture his wager,
I dare venture my skull: when must this be?
30
Gent. My
Lord,
presently, the king, and her maiesty,
With the rest of the best iudgement in the Court,
Are comming downe into the outward pallace.
Ham. Goe
tell his
maiestie, I will attend him.
Gent. I
shall deliuer
your most sweet
answer.
exit.
35
Ham. You
may sir, none better, for y'are spiced,
Else he had a bad nose could not smell a foole.
Hor. He will disclose
himself without inquirie.
Ham. Beleeue me
Horatio, my hart is on the sodaine
Very sore, all here about.
40
Hor. My
lord, forebeare the challenge then.
Ham. No Horatio, not I,
if danger be now,
Why then it is not to come, theres a predestinate
prouidence
in the fall of a sparrow: heere comes the
King.
Enter King, Queene, Leartes, Lordes.
King Now
sonne Hamlet, we
hane laid vpon your head,
45 And
make no question but to haue the best.
Ham. Your maiestie hath
laide a the weaker side.
King. We doubt it not,
deliuer them the foiles.
Ham.
First Leartes,
heere's my hand and loue,
Protesting that I neuer wrongd Leartes.
50 If
Hamlet in his madnesse did amisse,
That was not Hamlet, but his madnes did it,
And all the wrong I e're did to Leartes,
I here proclaime was madnes, therefore lets be at
peace,
And thinke I haue shot mine arrow o're the house,
55 And
hurt my brother.
Lear. Sir I am satisfied
in nature,
But in termes of honor I'le stand aloofe,
And will no reconcilement,
Till by some elder maisters of our time
60 I may
be satisfied.
King Giue them the foyles.
Ham. I'le be your
foyle Leartes, these foyles,
Haue all a laught, come on sir:
Heere
they
play:
a hit.
65 Lear. No
none.
Ham. Iudgement.
Gent. A hit, a most
palpable hit.
Lear. Well, come
againe.
They play againe.
Ham. Another. Iudgement.
70
Lear. I,
I grant, a
tuch, a tuch.
King Here Hamlet, the
king doth drinke a health to thee
Queene Here Hamlet, take my
napkin, wipe thy face.
King Giue him the wine.
Ham. Set
it by, I'le
haue another bowt first,
75 I'le
drinke anone.
Queene Here Hamlet,
thy mother drinkes to thee.
King Do not drinke
Gertred: O t'is the poysned cup!
Ham. Leartes come, you
dally with
me,
I pray you passe with your most cunningst play.
80
Lear. I!
say you so? haue at you,
Ile hit you now my Lord:
And yet it goes almost against my conscience.
Ham. Come on sir.
They catch one anothers Rapiers, and both are wounded,
Leartes falles downe, the
Queene falles downe and dies.
King Looke to the Queene.
85 Queene O the drinke, the
drinke, Hamlet, the drinke.
Ham. Treason, ho, keepe
the gates.
Lords How ist my Lord
Leartes?
Lear. Euen
as a
coxcombe should,
Foolishly slaine with my owne weapon:
90 Hamlet,
thou hast not in thee halfe an houre of life,
The fatall Instrument is in thy hand.
Vnbated and invenomed: thy mother's poysned
That drinke was made for thee.
Ham. The
poysned
Instrument within my hand?
95 Then
venome to thy venome, die damn'd villaine:
Come drinke, here lies thy vnion here.
The king dies.
Lear. O he is iustly
serued:
Hamlet, before I die, here take my hand,
And withall, my loue: I doe forgiue
thee.
100
Ham. And
I thee, O I am dead Horatio, fare thee well.
Hor.
No, I am more an
antike Roman,
Then a Dane, here is some poison left.
Ham. Vpon my loue I
charge thee let it goe,
O fie Horatio, and if thou shouldst die,
105 What a scandale
wouldst thou leaue behinde?
What tongue should tell the story of our deaths,
If not from thee? O my heart sinckes Horatio,
Mine eyes haue lost their sight, my tongue his vse:
Farewel Horatio, heauen receiue my soule.
Enter Voltemar and the Ambassadors from
England.
enter
Fortenbrasse with his traine.
110 Fort. Where is this
bloudy fight?
Hor. If aught of woe or
wonder you'ld behold,
Then looke vpon this tragicke spectacle.
Fort. O imperious
death! how many Princes
Hast thou at one draft bloudily shot to
death?
115
Ambass.
Our ambassie that we haue brought from England
Where be these Princes that should heare vs speake?
O most most vnlooked for time! vnhappy country.
Hor. Content your selues,
Ile shew to all, the ground,
The first beginning of this Tragedy:
120 Let there a
scaffold be rearde vp in the market place,
And let the State of the world be there:
Where you shall heare such a sad story tolde,
That neuer mortall man could more vnfolde.
Fort. I haue some rights of
memory to this kingdome,
125 Which now to
claime my leisure doth inuite mee:
Let foure of our chiefest Captaines
Beare Hamlet like a souldier to his graue:
For he was likely, had he liued,
To a prou'd most royall.
130 Take vp the bodie,
such a fight as this
Becomes the fieldes, but here doth much amisse.
Finis
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Enter Hamlet and Horatio.
Ham. So
much for this sir, now shall you see the other,
You doe
remember all the circumstance.
Hora. Remember it my Lord.
Ham. Sir in my hart there
was a kind of fighting
5
That would not let me
sleepe, my thought I lay
Worse then the
mutines in the bilbo, rashly,
And praysd be
rashnes for it: let vs knowe,
Our
indiscretion sometime serues vs well
When our deepe
plots doe fall, & that should learne vs
10
Ther's a diuinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them
how we will.
Hora. That is most
certaine.
Ham. Vp from my Cabin,
My sea-gowne
scarft about me in the darke
15
Gropt I to find out them, had my
desire,
Fingard their
packet, and in fine with-drew
To mine owne
roome againe, making so bold
My feares
forgetting manners to vnfold
Their graund
commission; where I found Horatio
20
A royall knauery, an exact command
Larded with
many seuerall sorts of reasons,
Importing
Denmarkes health, and Englands to,
With hoe such
bugges and goblines in my life,
That on the
superuise no leasure bated,
25
No not to stay the grinding of the Axe,
My head should
be strooke off.
Hora. I'st possible?
Ham. Heeres the
commission, read it at more leasure,
But wilt thou
heare now how I did proceed.
30 Hora.
I beseech you.
Ham. Being thus benetted
round with villaines,
Or I could
make a prologue to my braines,
They had
begunne the play, I sat me downe,
Deuisd a new
commission, wrote it faire,
35
I once did hold it as our statists doe,
A basenesse to
write faire, and labourd much
How to forget
that learning, but sir now
It did me
yemans seruice, wilt thou know
Th'effect of
what I wrote?
40
Hora. I good my Lord.
Ham. An earnest
coniuration from the King,
As England was
his faithfull tributary,
As loue
betweene them like the palme might florish,
As peace
should still her wheaten garland weare
45
And stand a Comma tweene their amities,
And many such
like, as sir of great charge,
That on the
view, and knowing of these contents,
Without
debatement further more or lesse,
He should
those bearers put to suddaine death,
50
Not shriuing time alow'd.
Hora. How was this seald?
Ham. Why euen in that was
heauen ordinant,
I had my
fathers signet in my purse
Which was the
modill of that Danish seale,
55
Folded the writ vp in the forme of
th'other,
Subcribe it,
gau't th'impression, plac'd it safely,
The changling
neuer knowne: now the next day
Was our Sea
fight, and what to this was sequent
Thou knowest
already.
60
Hora. So Guyldensterne and Rosencraus
goe too't.
Ham. They are not neere my
conscience, their defeat
Dooes by their
owne insinnuation growe,
Tis dangerous
when the baser nature comes
Betweene the
passe and fell incenced points
65
Of mighty opposits.
Hora. Why what a King is
this!
Ham. Dooes it not thinke
thee stand me now vppon?
He that hath
kild my King, and whor'd my mother,
Pop't in
betweene th'election and my hopes,
70
Throwne out his Angle for my
proper life,
And with such
cusnage, i'st not perfect conscience?
Enter a Courtier.
Cour. Your Lordship is
right welcome backe to Denmarke.
Ham. I humble thanke you
sir.
Doost know
this water fly?
75
Hora. No my good Lord.
Ham. Thy state is the more
gracious, for tis a vice to know him,
He hath much
land and fertill: let a beast be Lord of beasts, and his
crib shall
stand at the Kings messe, tis a chough, but as I say,
spaci-
ous in the
possession of durt.
80
Cour. Sweete Lord, if your Lordshippe
were at leasure, I should
impart a thing
to you from his Maiestie.
Ham. I will receaue it sir
withall dilligence of spirit, your bonnet
to his right
vse, tis for the head.
Cour. I thanke your
Lordship, it is very hot.
85
Ham. No belieue me, tis very cold, the
wind is Northerly.
Cour. It is indefferent
cold my Lord indeed.
Ham. But yet me thinkes it
is very sully and hot, or my complec-
tion.
Cour. Exceedingly my Lord,
it is very soultery, as t'were I can-
90
not tell how: my Lord his Maiestie bad
me signifie to you, that a
has layed a
great wager on your head, sir this is the matter.
Ham. I beseech you
remember.
Cour. Nay good my Lord for
my ease in good faith, sir here is newly
com to Court
Laertes, belieue me an absolute gentlemen, ful of most
95
excellent differences, of very soft
society, and great showing : in-
deede to
speake fellingly of him, hee is the card or kalender of gen-
try: for you
shall find in him the continent of what part a Gentle-
man would see.
Ham. Sir, his definement
suffers no perdition in you, though I
100 know
to deuide him inuentorially, would dazzie
th'arithmaticke of
memory, and
yet but raw neither, in respect of his quick saile, but
in the veritie
of extolment, I take him to be a soule of great article,
& his
infusion of such dearth and rarenesse, as to make true dixion
of him, his
semblable is his mirrour, & who els would trace him, his
105 vmbrage,
nothing more.
Cour. Your Lordship
speakes most infallibly of him.
Ham. The concernancy sir,
why doe we wrap the gentleman in
our more rawer
breath?
Cour. Sir.
110 Hora.
Ist not possible to vnderstand in another
tongue, you will
doo't sir
really.
Ham. What imports the
nomination of this gentleman.
Cour. Of Laertes.
Hora. His purse is empty
already, all's golden words are spent.
115 Ham.
Of him sir.
Cour. I know you are not
ignorant.
Ham. I would you did sir,
yet in faith if you did, it would not
much approoue
me, well sir.
Cour. You are not ignorant
of what excellence Laertes is.
120 Ham.
I dare not confesse that, least I should
compare with
him in
excellence, but to know a man wel, were to knowe himselfe.
Cour. I meane sir for this
weapon, but in the imputation laide on
him, by them
in his meed, hee's vnfellowed.
Ham. What's his weapon?
125 Cour.
Rapier and Dagger.
Ham. That's two of his
weapons, but well.
Cour. The King sir hath
wagerd with him six Barbary horses,
againgst the
which hee has impaund as I take it six French Rapiers
and Poynards,
with their assignes, as girdle, hanger and so. Three
130 of
the carriages in faith, are very deare to fancy,
very responsiue to
the hilts,
most
delicate carriages, and of very liberall conceit.
Ham. What call you the
carriages?
Hora. I knew you must be
edified by the margent ere you had
done.
135
Cour. The carriage sir are the hangers.
Ham. The phrase would bee
more Ierman to the matter if wee
could carry a
cannon by our sides, I would it be might hangers till
then, but on,
six Barbry horses against six French swords their as-
signes, and
three liberall conceited carriages, that's the French
140 bet
against the Danish, why is this all you call
it?
Cour. The King sir, hath
layd sir, that in a dozen passes betweene
your selfe and
him, hee shall not exceede you three hits, hee hath
layd on twelue
for nine, and it would come to immediate triall, if
your
Lordshippe would vouchsafe the answere.
145 Ham.
How if I answere no?
Cour. I meane my Lord the
opposition of your person in triall.
Ham. Sir I will walke
heere in the hall, if it please his Maiestie, it
is the
breathing time of day with me, let the foiles be brought, the
Gentleman
willing, and the King hold his purpose; I will winne
150 for
him and I can, if not, I will gaine nothing but
my shame, and
the odde hits.
Cour. Shall I deliuer you
so?
Ham. To this effect sir,
after what florish your nature will.
Cour. I commend my duty to
your Lordshippe.
155 Ham.
Yours doo's well to commend it himselfe, there
are no
tongues els
for's turne.
Hora. This Lapwing runnes
away with the shell on his head.
Ham. A did so sir with his
dugge before a suckt it, thus has he and
many more of
the same breede that I know the drossy age dotes on,
160 only
got the tune of the time, and out of an habit
of incounter, a
kind of histy
colection, which carries them through and through
the most
prophane and trennowed opinions, and doe but blowe
them to their
triall, the bubbles are out.
Enter a Lord.
Lord. My Lord, his
Maiestie commended him to you by young
165 Ostricke,
who brings backe 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 followe the Kings plea-
sure, if his
fitnes speakes, mine is ready: now or whensoeuer, pro-
170 uided
I be so able as now.
Lord. The King, and
Queene, and all are comming downe.
Ham. In happy time.
Lord. The Queene desires
you to vse some gentle entertainment
to Laertes,
before you fall to play.
175 Ham.
Shee well instructs me.
Hora. You will loose my
Lord.
Ham. I doe not thinke so,
since he went into France, I haue bene
in continuall
practise, I shall winne at the ods; thou would'st not
thinke how ill
all's heere about my hart, but it is no matter.
180 Hora.
Nay good my Lord.
Ham. It is but foolery,
but it is such a kinde of gamgiuing, as
would perhapes
trouble a woman.
Hora. If your minde
dislike any thing, obay it. I will forstal their
repaire
hether, and say you are not fit.
185 Ham.
Not a whit, we defie augury, there is speciall
prouidence,in
the fall of a
Sparrowe, if it be, tis not to come, if it be not to come,
it will be
now, if it be not now, yet it well come, the readines is all,
since no man
of ought he leaues, knowes what ist to leaue betimes,
let be.
A table prepard, Trumpets, Drums and officers with Cushions,
King, Queene, and
all the state, Foiles, daggers,
and Laertes.
190
King. Come Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.
Ham. Giue me your pardon
sir, I haue done you wrong,
But pardon't
as you are a gentleman, this presence knowes,
And you must
needs haue heard, how I am punnisht
With a sore
distraction, what I haue done
195 That
might your nature, honor, and exception
Roughly awake,
I heare proclame was madnesse,
Wast Hamlet
wronged Laertes? neuer Hamlet.
If Hamlet from
himselfe be tane away,
And when hee's
not himselfe, dooes wrong Laertes,
200 Then
Hamlet dooes it not, Hamlet denies it,
Who dooes it
then? his madnesse. Ift be so,
Hamlet is of
the faction that is wronged,
His madnesse
is poore Hamlets enimie,
Let my
disclaiming from a purpos'd euill,
205 Free
me so farre in your most generous thoughts
That I haue
shot my arrowe ore the house
And hurt my
brother.
Laer. I am satisfied in
nature,
Whose motiue
in this case should stirre me most
210 To
my reuendge, but in my tearmes of honor
I stand a
loofe, and will no reconcilement,
Till by some
elder Maisters of knowne honor
I haue a voyce
and president of peace
To my name
vngord: but all that time
215 I
doe receaue your offerd loue, like loue,
And will not
wrong it.
Ham. I embrace it freely,
and will this brothers wager
franckly play.
Giue vs the
foiles.
220 Laer.
Come, one for me.
Ham. Ile be your foile
Laertes, in mine ignorance
Your skill
shall like a starre i'th darkest night
Stick fiery of
indeed.
Laer. You mocke me sir.
225 Ham.
No by this hand.
King. Giue them the foiles
young Ostricke, cosin Hamlet,
You knowe the
wager.
Ham. Very well my Lord.
Your grace has
layed the ods a'th weeker side.
230 King.
I doe not feare it, I haue seene you both,
But since he
is better, we haue therefore ods.
Laer. This is to heauy:
let me see another.
Ham. This likes me well,
these foiles haue all a length.
Ostr. I my good Lord.
235 King.
Set me the stoopes of wine vpon that table,
If Hamlet giue
the first or second hit,
Or quit in
answere of the third exchange,
Let all the
battlements their ordnance fire.
The King shall
drinke to Hamlets better breath,
240 And
in the cup an Onixe shall he throwe,
Richer then
that which foure successiue Kings
In Denmarkes
Crowne haue worne: giue me the cups,
And let the
kettle to the trumpet speake,
The trumpet to
the Cannoneere without,
245 The
Cannons to the heauens, the heauen to earth,
Now the King
drinkes to Hamlet, come beginne.
Trumpets the while.
And you the
Iudges beare a wary eye.
Ham. Come on sir.
Laer. Come my Lord.
250 Ham.
One.
Laer. No.
Ham. Iudgement.
Ostrick. A hit, a very
palpable hit.
Drum, trumpets and shot.
Laer. Well, againe.
Florish, a peece goes off.
255 King.
Stay, giue me drinke, Hamlet this pearle is
thine.
Heeres to thy
health: giue him the cup.
Ham. Ile play this bout
first, set it by a while
Come, another
hit.
What say you?
260 Laer.
I doe confest.
King. Our sonne shall
winne.
Quee. Hee's fat and scant
of breath.
Heere Hamlet
take my napkin rub thy browes,
The Queene
carowses to thy fortune Hamlet.
265 Ham.
Good Madam.
King. Gertrard doe not
drinke.
Quee. I will my Lord, I
pray you pardon me.
King. It is the poysned
cup, it is too late.
Ham. I dare not drinke yet
Madam, by and by.
270 Quee.
Come, let me wipe thy face.
Laer. My Lord, Ile hit him
now.
King. I doe not think't.
Laer. And yet it is almost
against my conscience.
Ham. Come for the third
Laertes, you doe but dally.
275 I
pray you passe with your best violence
I am sure you
make a wanton of me.
Laer. Say you so, come on.
Ostr. Nothing neither way.
Laer. Haue at you now.
280 King.
Part them, they are incenst.
Ham. Nay come againe.
Ostr. Looke to the Queene
there howe.
Hora. They bleed on both
sides, how is it my Lord?
Ostr. How ist Laertes?
285 Laer.
Why as a woodcock to mine owne sprindge
Ostrick,
I am iustly
kild with mine owne treachery.
Ham. How dooes the Queene?
King. Shee sounds to see
them bleed.
Quee. No, no, the drinke,
the drinke, o my deare Hamlet,
290 The
drinke the drinke, I am poysned.
Ham. O villanie, how let
the doore be lock't,
Treachery,
seeke it out.
Laer. It is heere Hamlet,
thou art slaine,
No medcin in
the world can doe thee good,
295 In
thee there is not halfe an houres life,
The
treacherous instrument is in my hand
Vnbated and
enuenom'd, the foule practise
Hath turn'd it
selfe on me, loe heere I lie
Neuer to rise
againe, thy mother's poysned,
300 I
can no more, the King, the Kings too blame.
Ham. The point inuenom'd
to, then venome to thy worke.
All. Treason, treason.
King. O yet defend me
friends, I am but hurt.
Ham. Heare thou incestious
damned Dane,
305 Drinke
of this potion, is the Onixe heere?
Follow my
mother.
Laer. He is iustly serued,
it is a poyson temperd by himselfe,
Exchange
forgiuenesse with me noble Hamlet,
Mine and my
fathers death come not vppon thee,
310 Nor
thine on me.
Ham. Heauen make thee free
of it, I follow thee;
I am dead
Horatio, wretched Queene adiew.
You that looke
pale, and tremble at this chance,
That are but
mutes, or audience to this act,
315 Had
I but time, as this fell sergeant Death
Is strict in
his arrest, o I could tell you,
But let it be;
Horatio I am dead,
Thou liuest,
report me and my cause a right
To the
vnsatisfied.
320 Hora.
Neuer belieue it;
I am more an
anticke Romaine then a Dane,
Heere's yet
some liquer left.
Ham. As th'art a man
Giue me the
cup, let goe, by heauen Ile hate,
325 O
god Horatio, what a wounded name
Things
standing thus vnknowne, shall I leaue behind me?
If thou did'st
euer hold me in thy hart,
Absent thee
from felicity a while,
And in this
harsh world drawe thy breath in paine
A march a farre off.
330 To
tell my story: what warlike noise is this?
Enter Osrick.
Osr. Young Fortenbrasse
with conquest come from Poland,
To
th'embassadors of England giues this warlike volly.
Ham. O I die Horatio,
The potent
poyson quite ore-crowes my spirit,
335 I
cannot liue to heare the newes from England,
But I doe
prophecie th'ellection lights
On
Fortinbrasse, he has my dying voyce,
So tell him,
with th'occurrants more and lesse
Which haue
solicited, the rest is silence.
340 Hora.
Now cracks a noble hart, good night sweete
Prince,
And flights of
Angels sing thee to thy rest.
Why dooes the
drum come hether?
Enter Fortenbrasse, with the Embassadors.
For. Where is this sight?
Hora. What is it you would
see?
345 If
ought of woe, or wonder, cease your search.
For. This quarry cries on
hauock, o prou'd death
What feast is
toward in thine eternall cell,
That thou so
many Princes at a shot
So bloudily
hast strook?
350 Embas.
The sight is dismall
And our
affaires from England come too late,
The eares are
sencelesse that should giue vs hearing,
To tell him
his commandment is fulfild,
That
Rosencraus and Guyldensterne are dead,
355 Where
should we haue our thankes?
Hora. Not from his mouth
Had it
th'ability of life to thanke you;
He neuer gaue
commandement for their death;
But since so
iump vpon this bloody question
360 You
from the Pollack warres, and you from England
Are heere
arriued, giue order that these bodies
High on a
stage be placed to the view,
And let me
speake, to yet vnknowing world
How these
things came about; so shall you heare
365 Of
carnall, bloody and vnnaturall acts,
Of accidentall
iudgements, casuall slaughters,
Of deaths put
on by cunning, and for no cause
And in this
vpshot, purposes mistooke,
Falne on
th'inuenters heads all this can I
370 Truly
deliuer.
For. Let vs hast to heare
it,
And call the
noblest to the audience,
For me, with
sorrowe I embrace my fortune,
I haue some
rights, of memory in this kingdome,
375 Which
now to clame my vantage doth inuite me.
Hora. Of that I shall haue
also cause to speake,
And from his
mouth, whose voyce will drawe no more,
But let this
same be presently perform'd
Euen while
mens mindes are wilde, least more mischance
380 On
plots and errores happen.
For. Let foure Captaines
Beare Hamlet
like a souldier to the stage,
For he was
likely, had he beene put on,
To haue
prooued most royall; and for his passage,
385 The
souldiers musicke and the right of warre
Speake loudly
for him:
Take vp the
bodies, such a sight as this,
Becomes the
field, but heere showes much amisse.
Goe bid the
souldiers shoote.
Exeunt.
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Enter
Hamlet and Horatio.
Ham. So much for this Sir; now let
me see the other,
You doe
remember all the Circumstance.
Hor.
Remember it my Lord?
Ham.
Sir, in my heart there
was a kinde of fighting,
5 That
would not let me sleepe; me thought I lay
Worse then the
mutines in
the Bilboes,
rashly,
(And praise be
rashnesse for it) let vs know,
Our
indiscretion
sometimes serues vs well,
When our deare
plots do paule,
and that should teach vs,
10 There's
a Diuinity that
shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them
how we
will.
Hor. That
is most certaine.
Ham. Vp
from my Cabin
My sea-gowne
scarft about me
in the darke,
15 Grop'd
I to finde out
them; had my desire,
Finger'd their
Packet, and
in fine, withdrew
To mine owne
roome againe, making so bold,
(My feares
forgetting manners) to vnseale
Their grand
Commission,
where I found Horatio,
20 Oh
royall knauery: An
exact command,
Larded with
many seuerall sorts of reason;
Importing
Denmarks
health, and Englands too,
With hoo, such Bugges
and Goblins in my life,
That on the
superuize no leasure bated,
25 No
not to stay the grinding of the Axe,
My head shoud
be struck off.
Hor.
Ist possible?
Ham.
Here's the Commission,
read it at more leysure:
But wilt thou
heare me how I did proceed?
30 Hor. I beseech you.
Ham.
Being thus benetted
round with Villaines,
Ere I could
make a
Prologue to my braines,
They had begun
the Play. I
sate me downe,
Deuis'd a new
Commission, wrote it faire,
35 I
once did hold it as our Statists
doe,
A basenesse to
write faire;
and laboured much
How to forget
that learning: but Sir now,
It did me
Yeomans seruice:
wilt thou know
The effects of
what I wrote?
40 Hor. I, good my
Lord.
Ham.
An earnest Coniuration
from the King,
As England was
his faithfull Tributary,
As
loue betweene
them, as the Palme
should
flourish,
As Peace
should
still her wheaten
Garland
weare,
45 And
stand a
Comma 'tweene their
amities,
And many such
like Assis of great charge,
That on the
view
and know of these Contents,
Without
debatement further, more or lesse,
He should the
bearers put to sodaine death,
50 Not
shriuing
time allowed.
Hor.
How was this seal'd?
Ham.
Why,
euen in that was Heauen ordinate;
I had my
fathers
Signet in my Purse,
Which was the
Modell of that Danish Seale:
55 Folded
the Writ
vp in forme of the other,
Subscrib'd it,
gau't th' impression,
plac't it safely,
The changeling
neuer knowne: Now, the next day
Was our Sea
Fight, and what to this was sement,
Thou know'st
already.
60 Hor. So Guildensterne and
Rosincrance, go too't.
Ham.
Why
man, they did make loue to this imployment
They are not
neere my Conscience; their debate
Doth by their
owne insinuation grow:
'Tis dangerous,
when the baser nature comes
65 Betweene
the
passe, and fell incensed
points
Of
mighty opposites.
Hor.
Why,
what a King is this?
Ham. Does
it not, thinkst thee, stand
me now vpon
He that bath
kil'd my King, and whor'd my Mother,
70 Popt
in betweene
th'election and my hopes,
Throwne out
his
Angle for my proper life,
And with such
coozenage; is't not perfect conscience,
To quit him
with
this arme? And is't not to be damn'd
To let this
Canker of our nature come
75 In
further
euill.
Hor. It
must be shortly knowne to him from England
What is the
issue of the businesse there.
Ham. It
will be short,
The interim's
mine, and a mans life's no more
80 Then
to say one:
but I am very sorry good Horatio,
That to
Laertes
I forgot my selfe;
For by the
image
of my Cause, I see
The
Portraiture
of his; Ile count
his fauours:
But sure the
brauery of his griefe did put
me
85 Into
a Towring
passion.
Hor.
Peace, who comes heere?
Enter young Osricke.
Osr.
Your Lordship is
right
welcome back to Denmarke.
Ham. I
humbly thank you Sir, dost know this waterflie?
Hor. No
my good Lord.
90 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 Kings
Messe;
'tis a
Chowgh; but as I saw spacious
in the pos-
session of
dirt.
95 Osr. Sweet Lord, if your
friendship were at leysure,
I should
impart
a thing to you from his Maiesty.
Ham. I
will receiue it with all diligence of spirit; put
your Bonet to
his right vse, 'tis for the head.
Osr.
I thanke your
Lordship,
'tis very hot.
100 Ham. No,
beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is
Northerly.
Osr. It
is indifferent cold my
Lord indeed.
Ham.
Mee thinkes it is
very soultry, and hot for my
Complexion.
105 Osr.
Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very soultry, as
'twere
I cannot tell
how: but my Lord, his Maiesty bad me sig-
nifie to you,
that he ha's laid a great wager on your head:
Sir, this is
the
matter.
Ham. I beseech you
remember.
110 Osr. Nay, in good
faith,
for
mine ease in good faith:
Sir, you are
not
ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at
his weapon.
Ham.
What's his weapon?
Osr.
Rapier and dagger.
115 Ham.
That's two of his weapons; but well.
Osr. The sir King ha's
wag'd
with him six Barbary Hor-
ses,
against the
which he impon'd as I take
it, sixe French
Rapiers and
Poniards, with their assignes,
as Girdle,
Hangers or so:
three of the Carriages
infaith are very
120 deare
to fancy,
very responsiue to the hilts, most delicate
carriages, and
of very liberall conceit.
Ham. What call you the Carriages?
Osr.
The Carriages Sir, are the hangers.
Ham.
The phrase would bee more Germaine to the
125 matter:
If we could carry Cannon by our sides; I would
it might be
Hangers till then; but on sixe Barbary Hor-
ses against
sixe French Swords: their Assignes, and three
liberall
conceited Carriages, that's the French but a-
gainst the Danish; why
is
this impon'd as you call it?
130 Osr. The King Sir, hath laid
that in a dozen passes
be-
tweene you and
him, hee shall not exceed you three hits;
He hath one
twelue for mine, and that would come to
imediate
tryall,
if your
Lordship would vouchsafe
the
Answere.
135 Ham. How if I answere
no?
Osr. I
meane my Lord, the opposition of your person
in tryall.
Ham.
Sir, I will walke heere
in the Hall; if it please
his Maiestie,
'tis the breathing
time of day with me; let
140 the
Foyles bee brought, the
Gentleman willing, and the
King hold his
purpose; I will win for him if I can: if
not, Ile gaine
nothing but my shame, and the odde hits.
Osr. Shall I
redeliuer you ee'n so?
Ham. To
this effect Sir, after what flourish your na-
145 ture
will.
Osr. I
commend my duty to your Lordship.
Ham.
Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it
himselfe, there
are no tongues else for's tongue.
Hor. This
Lapwing runs away with the shell on his
150 head.
Ham.
He did Complie with
his
Dugge before hee
suck't it:
thus
had he and mine more of the same Beauy
that I know
the
drossie age dotes on;
only got the tune of
the time, and
outward habite of encounter, a kinde of
155 yesty
collection, which carries them through & through
the most fond
and winnowed opinions; and
doe but blow
them to their
tryalls: the Bubbles are out.
Hor.
You
will lose this wager, my Lord.
Ham. I
doe not thinke so, since he went into France,
160 I
haue beene in
continuall practice; I shall winne at the
oddes: but
thou
wouldest not thinke how all heere a-
bout my heart:
but it is no matter.
Hor. Nay, good my Lord.
Ham. It
is but foolery; but it is such a kinde of
165 gain-giuing
as would
perhaps trouble a woman.
Hor. If
your minde dislike any thing, obey. I will fore-
stall
their repaire hither, and say you are not fit.
Ham.
Not a whit, we defie Augury;
there's a speciall
Prouidence
in the fall of a
sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not
170 to
come: if it bee not
to come, it
will bee now: if it
be not now;
yet it will come; the readinesse
is all, since no
man ha's ought
of what he leaues. What is't to leaue be-
times?
Enter King, Queene, Laertes and Lords,
with other Atten-
dants with
Foyles, and Gauntlets, a Table
and
Flagons of
Wine on it.
Kin. Come Hamlet, come,
and take
this hand from me.
175 Ham. Giue
me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong,
But pardon't
as
you are a Gentleman.
This presence
knowes,
And you must
needs haue heard how I am punisht
With sore
distraction? What I haue done
180 That
might your
nature honour, and exception
Roughly
awake, I
heere proclaime was madnesse:
Was't Hamlet
wrong'd Laertes? Neuer Hamlet.
If Hamlet from
himselfe be tane away:
And when he's
not himselfe, do's wrong Laertes,
185 Then
Hamlet does
it not, Hamlet denies it:
Who does it
then? His Madnesse? If't be so,
Hamlet is of
the
Faction that is wrong'd,
His madnesse
is
poore Hamlets Enemy.
Sir,
in this
Audience,
190 Let
my
disclaiming from a purpos'd euill,
Free me so
farre
in your most generous thoughts,
That I haue shot
mine Arrow o're the house,
And hurt my
Mother.
Laer. I
am satisfied in Nature,
195 Whose
motiue in
this case should stirre me most
To my Reuenge.
But in my termes of Honor
I stand
aloofe,
and will no reconcilement,
Till by some
elder Masters of knowne Honor,
I haue a
voyce,
and president of peace
200 To
keepe my name
vngorg'd. But till that
time,
I do receiue
your offer'd loue like loue,
And wil not
wrong it.
Ham. I
do
embrace it freely,
And will this
Brothers wager frankely play.
205 Giue
vs the
Foyles: Come on.
Laer.
Come one for me.
Ham.
Ile be your foile
Laertes, in mine ignorance,
Your Skill
shall like a Starre i'th'darkest night,
Sticke fiery
off indeede.
210 Laer. You mocke me Sir.
Ham. No
by this hand.
King. Giue them the Foyles yong
Osricke,
Cousen
Hamlet, you know the wager.
Ham.
Verie well my Lord,
215 Your
Grace hath laide the oddes a'th'weaker side.
King. I
do not feare it,
I haue seene
you both:
But since he
is better'd, we haue therefore oddes.
Laer.
This is too heauy,
220 Let
me see another.
Ham.
This likes me well,
These Foyles
haue all
a length.
Osricke. I my good Lord.
King.
Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table:
225 If
Hamlet giue the first, or second hit,
Or quit in
answer
of the third exchange,
Let all the
Battlements their Ordinance
fire,
The King shal
drinke to Hamlets better breath,
And in the Cup
an vnion
shal
he throw
230 Richer
then that, which foure successiue Kings
In Denmarkes
Crowne haue worne.
Giue me the Cups,
And let the Kettle to
the Trumpets speake,
The Trumpet to
the Cannoneer without,
235 The
Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth,
Now the King
drinkes to Hamlet. Come, begin,
you the
Iudges beare a wary eye.
Ham.
Come on sir.
Laer.
Come on sir.
They
play.
240 Ham.
One.
Laer. No.
Ham.
Iudgement.
Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.
Laer.
Well: againe.
245 King. Stay, giue me drinke.
Hamlet, this
Pearle is thine,
Here's to thy
health. Giue him the cup,
Trumpets sound, and shot goes off.
Ham. Ile play this bout
first, set
by a-while.
Come: Another
hit; what say you?
250 Laer. A
touch, a touch, I do confesse.
King. Our
Sonne shall win.
Qu.
He's
fat, and scant of breath.
Heere's a
Napkin, rub thy browes,
The Queene
Carowses to thy fortune,
Hamlet.
255 Ham. Good
Madam.
King.
Gertrude, do not drinke.
Qu. I
will my Lord;
I pray you
pardon me.
King. It is the poyson'd Cup, it is
too late.
260 Ham. I dare not drinke yet Madam,
By and by.
Qu.
Come, let me wipe thy face.
Laer.
My Lord, Ile hit him
now.
King. I
do not thinke't.
265 Laer. And yet 'tis almost 'gainst
my conscience.
Ham.
Come for the third.
Laertes, you
but dally,
I pray you
passe with your best
violence,
I am affear'd
you make a wanton
of me.
270 Laer. Say you so? Come on.
Play.
Osr.
Nothing neither way.
Laer.
Haue at you now.
In
scuffling they change Rapiers
King. Part them, they are
incens'd.
Ham.
Nay come, againe.
275 Osr. Looke to the Queene there hoa.
Hor.
They bleed on both sides. How is't my Lord?
Osr.
How is't Laertes?
Laer. Why as a Woodcocke
To mine
Sprindge, Osricke,
280 I
am iustly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie.
Ham.
How does the Queene?
King.
She sounds to
see them bleede.
Qu. No,
no, the drinke, the drinke.
Oh my deere
Hamlet, the drinke, the drinke,
285 I
am poyson'd.
Ham. Oh
Villany! How? Let the doore be lock'd.
Treacherie,
seeke it out.
Laer.
It is heere Hamlet.
Hamlet, thou
art slaine,
290 No
Medicine in the world can do thee good.
In
thee, there is not
halfe an houre of life;
The
Treacherous Instrument is in thy hand,
Vnbated and
envenom'd: the foule practise
Hath turn'd it
selfe on me. Loe, heere I lye,
295 Neuer
to rise againe: Thy Mothers poyson'd:
I can no more,
the King, the King's too blame.
Ham. The point envenom'd too,
Then venome to
thy worke.
Hurts the King.
All. Treason, Treason.
300 King. O yet defend me Friends, I am
but hurt.
Ham.
Heere thou incestuous, murdrous,
Damned Dane,
Drinke off
this Potion: Is thy Vnion heere?
Follow my
Mother.
305 Laer. He is iustly
seru'd.
It is a poyson
temp'red by himselfe:
Exchange
forgiuenesse with me, Noble Hamlet;
Mine
and my Fathers
death come not vpon thee,
Nor thine
on me.
Dyes.
310 Ham. Heauen make thee
free of
it, I follow thee.
I am dead
Horatio, wretched Queene adiew,
You that looke
pale, and tremble at this chance,
That are but
Mutes or audience to this acte:
Had I but time
(as this fell
Sergeant death
315 Is
strick'd in
his Arrest) oh I could tell you.
But
let it be:
Horatio, I am dead,
Thou liu'st,
report me and my causes right
To the
vnsatisfied.
Hor.
Neuer beleeue it.
320 I
am more an
Antike Roman then a
Dane:
Heere's yet
some
Liquor left.
Ham. As
th'art a man, giue me the Cup.
Let go, by
Heauen Ile haue't.
Oh good
Horatio,
what a wounded name,
325 (Things
standing
thus vnknowne) shall liue behind me.
If thou did'st
euer hold me in thy heart,
Absent thee
from
felicitie awhile,
And in this
harsh world draw thy breath in paine,
To tell my
Storie.
March afarre off, and
shout within.
330 What
warlike noyse is
this?
Enter Osricke.
Osr. Yong Fortinbras, with
conquest come fr~o Poland
To th'
Ambassadors of England giues rhis warlike volly.
Ham.
O I dye Horatio:
The potent
poyson quite ore-crowes
my spirit,
335 I
cannot liue to heare the Newes from England,
But I do
prophesie th'election
lights
On Fortinbras,
he ha's my dying voyce,
So tell him
with the occurrents more
and lesse,
Which haue
solicited. The rest is silence. O, o, o,
o.
Dyes
340 Hora. Now cracke a Noble
heart:
Goodnight
sweet Prince,
And
flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest,
Why do's
the Drumme come hither?
Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassador,
with Drumme,
Colours,
and Attendants.
Fortin. Where is this
sight?
345 Hor. What is it ye would
see;
If
ought of woe, or
wonder, cease your search.
For. His quarry cries
on hauocke.
Oh proud death,
What
feast is toward in
thine eternall Cell.
That
thou so many
Princes, at a shoote,
350 So
bloodily hast
strooke.
Amb. The sight is dismall,
And
our affaires from
England come too late,
The
eares are
senselesse that should giue vs hearing,
To
tell him his
command'ment is fulfill'd,
355 That
Rosincrance and
Guildensterne are dead:
Where
should we haue
our thankes?
Hor. Not from his
mouth,
Had it
th'abilitie of life to thanke you:
He neuer gaue
command'ment for their death.
360 But
since so iumpe vpon this
bloodie question,
You from the
Polake warres, and you from England
Are heere
arriued. Giue order that these bodies
High on a
stage be placed to the view,
And let me
speake to th'yet vnknowing world,
365 How
these things came about. So shall you heare
Of carnall,
bloudie, and vnnaturall acts,
Of accidentall
iudgements, casuall slaughters
Of
death's put on by
cunning, and forc'd cause,
And
in this vpshot,
purposes mistooke,
370 Falne
on the
Inuentors heads. All this can I
Truly deliuer.
For. Let
vs hast to heare it,
And call the
Noblest to the Audience.
For me, with
sorrow, I embrace my Fortune,
375 I
haue some
Rites of
memory in
this Kingdome,
Which are ro
claime, my vantage
doth
Inuite me,
Hor. Of
that I shall haue alwayes cause to speake,
And from his
mouth
380 Whose
voyce will
draw on more:
But let this
same be presently perform'd,
Euen whiles
mens
mindes are wilde,
Lest more
mischance
On plots, and
errors happen.
385 For. Let
foure Captaines
Beare Hamlet
like a Soldier to the Stage,
For he was
likely, had he beene put on
To haue prou'd
most royally:
And for his
passage,
The Souldiours
Musicke, and the rites
of Warre
390 Speake
lowdly
for him.
Take vp the
body; Such a sight as this
Becomes
the Field,
but
heere shewes much amis.
Go, bid the
Souldiers shoote.
Exeunt
Marching: after the which, a Peale
of
Ordenance
are shot off.
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