  Title: The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke The First ('Bad') Quarto Author: William Shakespeare Edition: 10 Language: English Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jonathan Ingram, Karl Hagen, Charles Franks, and The Distributed Proofreaders [Transcriber's note: * the original line breaks are preserved; * hyphenated words are not rejoined; * page breaks are noted (in the right margin); * printing errors are not corrected. Typographically, effort has been made to change the text as little as possible. The 'long s' has been converted, but none of the original spelling has been modified. Text which was centred has been indented eight spaces from the left margin. Right justified text is indifferently aligned in the original text; here all right justified text is aligned to the right-hand margin. The horizontal and vertical indentation of lines reflects the original text. Italics are indicated by underscores, and punctuation has not been included inside the italics except for periods which indicate an abbreviation, or when an entire sentence is italicised. There is a macron over an 'e' on the last line of E3v, which has been rendered as 'Ê' in this transcription.] THE [TP] 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. [Illustration] [B1] The Tragicall Historie of 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 re Enter the King and Lordes. King Now Gertred, what sayes our sonne, how doe you finde him? Queene Alas my lord, as raging as the sea: Whenas he came, I first bespake him faire, But then he throwes and tosses me about, As one forgetting that I was his mother: At last I call'd for help: and as I cried, Corambis Call'd, which Hamlet no sooner heard, but whips me Out his rapier, and cries, a Rat, a Rat, and in his rage The good olde man he killes. King Why this his madnesse will vndoe our state. Lordes goe to him, inquire the body out. Gil. We will my Lord. Exeunt Lordes. King Gertred, your sonne shall presently to England, His shipping is already furnished, And we have sent by Rossencraft and Gilderstone, Our letters to our deare brother of England, For Hamlets welfare and his happinesse: Happly the aire and climate of the Country May please him better than his natiue home: See where he comes. Enter Hamlet and the Lordes. Gil. My lord, we can by no meanes Know of him where the body is. King Now sonne Hamlet, where is this dead body? Ham. At supper, not where he is eating, but Where he is eaten, a certaine company of politicke wormes [G4] are euen now at him. Father, your fatte King, and your leane Beggar Are but variable seruices, two dishes to one messe: Looke you, a man may fish with that worme That hath eaten of a King, And a Beggar eate that fish, Which that worme hath caught. King What of this? Ham. Nothing father, but to tell you, how a King May go a progresse through the guttes of a Beggar. King But sonne Hamlet, where is this body? Ham. In heau'n, if you chance to misse him there, Father, you had best looke in the other partes below For him, aud if you cannot finde him there, You may chance to nose him as you go vp the lobby. King Make haste and finde him out. Ham. Nay doe you heare? do not make too much haste, I'le warrant you hee'le stay till you come. King Well sonne Hamlet, we in care of you: but specially in tender preseruation of your health, The which we price euen as our proper selfe, It is our minde you forthwith goe for England, The winde sits faire, you shall aboorde to night, Lord Rossencraft and Gilderstone shall goe along with you. Ham. O with all my heart: farewel mother. King Your louing father, Hamlet. Ham. My mother I say: you married my mother, My mother is your wife, man and wife is one flesh, And so (my mother) farewel: for England hoe. exeunt all but the king. king Gertred, leaue me, And take your leaue of Hamlet, To England is he gone, ne're to returne: Our Letters are vnto the King of England, That on the sight of them, on his allegeance, He presently without demaunding why, [G4v] That Hamlet loose his head, for he must die, There's more in him than shallow eyes can see: He once being dead, why then our state is free. exit. Enter Fortenbrasse, Drumme and Souldiers. Fort. Captaine, from vs goe greete enter King and Queene. King Hamlet is ship't for England, fare him well, I hope to heare good newes from thence ere long, If euery thing fall out to our content, As I doe make no doubt but so it shall. Queene God grant it may, heau'ns keep my Hamlet safe: But this mischance of olde Corambis death, Hath piersed so the yong Ofeliaes heart, That she, poore maide, is quite bereft her wittes. King Alas deere heart! And on the other side, We vnderstand her brother's come from France, And he hath halfe the heart of all our Land, And hardly hee'le forget his fathers death, Vnlesse by some meanes he be pacified. Qu. O see where the yong Ofelia is! Enter Ofelia playing on a Lute, and her haire king How i'st with you sweete Ofelia? Ofelia Well God yeeld you, It grieues me to see how they laid him in the cold ground, I could not chuse but weepe: And will he not come againe? And will he not come againe? No, no, hee's gone, and we cast away mone, And he neuer will come againe. His beard as white as snowe: All flaxen was his pole, He is dead, he is gone, And we cast away moane: God a mercy on his soule. And of all christen soules I pray God. God be with you Ladies, God be with you. exit Ofelia. king A pretty wretch! this is a change indeede: O Time, how swiftly runnes our ioyes away! Content on earth was neuer certaine bred, To day we laugh and liue, tomorrow dead. How now, what noyse is that? A noyse within. enter Leartes. Lear. Stay there vntill I come, O thou vilde king, give me my father: Speake, say, where's my father? king Dead. Lear. Who hath murdred him? speake, i'le not Be juggled with, for he is murdred. Queene True, but not by him. Lear. By whome, by heau'n I'll be resolued. [H1v] king Let him goe Gertred, away, I feare him not, There's such diuinitie doth wall a king, That treason dares not looke on. Let him goe Gertred, that your father is murdred, T'is true, and we most sory for it, Being the chiefest piller of our state: Therefore will you like a most desperate gamster, Swoop-stake-like, draw at friend, and foe, and all? Lear. To his good friends thus wide I'le ope mine arms, And locke them in my hart, but to his foes, I will no reconcilement but by bloud. king Why now you speake like a most louing sonne: And that in soule we sorrow for for his death, Yourselfe ere long shall be a witnesse, Meane while be patient, and content your selfe. Enter Ofelia as before. Lear. Who's this, Ofelia? O my deere sister! I'st possible a yong maides life, Should be as mortall as an olde mans sawe? O heau'ns themselues! how now Ofelia? Ofel. Wel God a mercy, I a bin gathering of floures: Here, here is rew for you, You may call it hearb a grace a Sundayes, Heere's some for me too: you must weare your rew With a difference, there's a dazie. Here Loue, there's rosemary for you For remembrance: I pray Loue remember, And there's pansey for thoughts. Lear. A document in madnes, thoughts, remembrance: O God, O God! Ofelia There is fennell for you, I would a giu'n you Some violets, but they all withered, when My father died: alas, they say the owle was A Bakers daughter, we see what we are, But can not tell what we shall be. For bonny sweete Robin is all my ioy. [H2] Lear. Thoughts & afflictions, torments worse than hell. Ofel. Nay Loue, I pray you make no words of this now: I pray now, you shall sing a downe, And you a downe a, t'is a the Kings daughter And the false steward, and if any body Aske you of any thing, say you this. Tomorrow is saint Valentines day, All in the morning betime, And a maide at your window, To be your Valentine: The yong man rose, and dan'd his clothes, And dupt the chamber doore, Let in the maide, that out a maide Neuer departed more. Nay I pray marke now, By gisse, and by saint Charitie, Away, and fie for shame: Yong men will doo't when they come too't: By cocke they are too blame. Quoth she, before you tumbled me, You promised me to wed. So would I a done, by yonder Sunne, If thou hadst not come to my bed. So God be with you all, God bwy Ladies. God bwy you Loue. exit Ofelia. Lear. Griefe vpon griefe, my father murdered, My sister thus distracted: Cursed be his soule that wrought this wicked act. king Content you good Leartes for a time, Although I know your griefe is as a floud, Brimme full of sorrow, but forbeare a while, And thinke already the reuenge is done On him that makes you such a haplesse sonne. Lear. You haue preuail'd my Lord, a while I'le striue, To bury griefe within a tombe of wrath, Which once vnhearsed, then the world shall heare [H2v] Leartes had a father he held deere. king No more of that, ere many days be done, You shall heare that you do not dreame vpon. exeunt om. Enter Horatio and the Queene. Hor. Madame, your sonne is safe arriv'de in Denmarke, This letter I euen now receiv'd of him, Whereas he writes how he escap't the danger, And subtle treason that the king had plotted, Being crossed by the contention of the windes, He found the Packet sent to the king of England, Wherein he saw himselfe betray'd to death, As at his next conuersion with your grace, He will relate the circumstance at full. Queene Then I perceiue there's treason in his lookes That seem'd to sugar o're his villanie: But I will soothe and please him for a time, For murderous mindes are always jealous, But know not you Horatio where he is? Hor. Yes Madame, and he hath appoyntd me To meete him on the east side of the Cittie To morrow morning. Queene O faile not, good Horatio, and withall, com- A mothers care to him, bid him a while (mend me Be wary of his presence, lest that he Faile in that he goes about. Hor. Madam, neuer make doubt of that: I thinke by this the news be come to court: He is arriv'de, obserue the king, and you shall Quickely finde, Hamlet being here, Things fell not to his minde. Queene But what became of Gilderstone and Rossencraft? Hor. He being set ashore, they went for England, And in the Packet there writ down that doome To be perform'd on them poynted for him: And by great chance he had his fathers Seale, So all was done without discouerie. [H3] Queene Thankes be to heauen for blessing of the prince, Horatio once againe I take my leaue, With thowsand mothers blessings to my sonne. Horat. Madam adue. Enter King and Leartes. King. Hamlet from England! is it possible? What chance is this? they are gone, and he come home. Lear. O he is welcome, by my soule he is: At it my iocund heart doth leape for ioy, That I shall liue to tell him, thus he dies. king Leartes, content your selfe, be rulde by me, And you shall haue no let for your reuenge. Lear. My will, not all the world. King Nay but Leartes, marke the plot I haue layde, I haue heard him often with a greedy wish, Vpon some praise that he hath heard of you Touching your weapon, which with all his heart, He might be once tasked for to try your cunning. Lea. And how for this? King Mary Leartes thus: I'le lay a wager, Shalbe on Hamlets side, and you shall giue the oddes, The which will draw him with a more desire, To try the maistry, that in twelue venies You gaine not three of him: now this being granted, When you are hot in midst of all your play, Among the foyles shall a keene rapier lie, Steeped in a mixture of deadly poyson, That if it drawes but the least dramme of blood, In any part of him, he cannot liue: This being done will free you from suspition, And not the deerest friend that Hamlet lov'de Will euer haue Leartes in suspect. Lear. My lord, I like it well: But say lord Hamlet should refuse this match. King I'le warrant you, wee'le put on you Such a report of singularitie, [H3v] Will bring him on, although against his will. And lest that all should misse, I'le haue a potion that shall ready stand, In all his heate when that he calles for drinke, Shall be his period and our happinesse. Lear. T'is excellent, O would the time were come! Here comes the Queene. enter the Queene. king How now Gertred, why looke you heauily? Queene O my Lord, the yong Ofelia Hauing made a garland of sundry sortes of floures, Sitting vpon a willow by a brooke, The enuious sprig broke, into the brooke she fell, And for a while her clothes spread wide abroade, Bore the yong Lady vp: and there she sate smiling, Euen Mermaide-like, twixt heauen and earth, Chaunting olde sundry tunes vncapable As it were of her distresse, but long it could not be, Till that her clothes, being heauy with their drinke, Dragg'd the sweete wretch to death. Lear. So, she is drownde: Too much of water hast thou Ofelia, Therefore I will not drowne thee in my teares, Reuenge it is must yeeld this heart releese, For woe begets woe, and griefe hangs on griefe. exeunt. enter Clowne and an other Clowne I say no, she ought not to be buried In christian buriall. 2. Why sir? Clowne Mary because shee's drownd. 2. But she did not drowne her selfe. Clowne No, that's certaine, the water drown'd her. 2. Yea but it was against her will. Clowne No, I deny that, for looke you sir, I stand here, If the water come to me, I drowne not my selfe: But if I goe to the water, and am there drown'd, Ergo I am guiltie of my owne death: [H4] Y'are gone, goe y'are gone sir. 2. I but see, she hath christian buriall, Because she is a great woman. Clowne Mary more's the pitty, that great folke Should haue more authoritie to hang or drowne Themselues, more than other people: Goe fetch me a stope of drinke, but before thou Goest, tell me one thing, who buildes strongest, Of a Mason, a Shipwright, or a Carpenter? 2. Why a Mason, for he buildes all of stone, And will indure long. Clowne That's prety, too't agen, too't agen. 2. Why then a Carpenter, for he buildes the gallowes, And that brings many a one to his long home. Clowne Prety agen, the gallowes doth well, mary howe dooes it well? the gallowes dooes well to them that doe ill, goe get thee gone: And if any one aske thee hereafter, say, A Graue-maker, for the houses he buildes Last till Doomes-day. Fetch me a stope of beere, goe. Enter Hamlet and Horatio. Clowne A picke-axe and a spade, A spade for and a winding sheete, Most fit it is, for t'will be made, he throwes vp a shouel. For such a ghest most meete. Ham. Hath this fellow any feeling of himselfe, That is thus merry in making of a graue? See how the slaue joles their heads against the earth. Hor. My lord, Custome hath made it in him seeme no- Clowne A pick-axe and a spade, a spade, (thing. For and a winding sheete, Most fit it is for to be made, For such a ghest most meet. Ham. Looke you, there's another Horatio. Why mai't not be the soull of some Lawyer? [H4v] Me thinkes he should indite that fellow Of an action of Batterie, for knocking Him about the pate with's shouel: now where is your Quirkes and quillets now, your vouchers and Double vouchers, your leases and free-holde, And tenements? why that same boxe there will scarce Holde the conueiance of his land, and must The honor lie there? O pittifull transformance! I prethee tell me Horatio, Is parchment made of sheep-skinnes? Hor. I my Lorde, and of calues-skinnes too. Ham. Ifaith they prooue themselues sheepe and calues That deale with them, or put their trust in them. There's another, why may not that be such a ones Scull, that praised my Lord such a ones horse, When he meant to beg him? Horatio, I prethee Lets question yonder fellow. Now my friend, whose graue is this? Clowne Mine sir. Ham. But who must lie in it? (sir. Clowne If I should say, I should, I should lie in my throat Ham. What man must be buried here? Clowne No man sir. Ham. What woman? Clowne. No woman neither sir, but indeede One that was a woman. Ham. An excellent fellow by the Lord Horatio, This seauen yeares haue I noted it: the toe of the pesant, Comes so neere the heele of the courtier, That hee gawles his kibe, I prethee tell mee one thing, How long will a man lie in the ground before hee rots? Clowne I faith sir, if hee be not rotten before He be laide in, as we haue many pocky corses, He will last you, eight yeares, a tanner Will last you eight yeares full out, or nine. Ham. And why a tanner? [I1] Clowne Why his hide is so tanned with his trade, That it will holde out water, that's a parlous Deuourer of your dead body, a great soaker. Looke you, heres a scull hath bin here this dozen yeare, Let me see, I euer since our last king Hamlet Slew Fortenbrasse in combat, yong Hamlets father, Hee that's mad. Ham. I mary, how came he madde? Clowne Ifaith very strangely, by loosing of his wittes. Ham. Vpon what ground? Clowne A this ground, in Denmarke. Ham. Where is he now? Clowne Why now they sent him to England. Ham. To England! wherefore? Clowne Why they say he shall haue his wittes there, Or if he haue not, t'is no great matter there, It will not be seene there. Ham. Why not there? Clowne Why there they say the men are as mad as he. Ham. Whose scull was this? Clowne This, a plague on him, a madde rogues it was, He powred once a whole flagon of Rhenish of my head, Why do not you know him? this was one Yorickes scull. Ham. Was this? I prethee let me see it, alas poore Yoricke I knew him Horatio, A fellow of infinite mirth, he hath caried mee twenty times vpon his backe, here hung those lippes that I haue Kissed a hundred times, and to see, now they abhorre me: Wheres your iefts now Yoricke? your flashes of meriment: now go to my Ladies chamber, and bid her paint her selfe an inch thicke, to this she must come Yoricke. Horatio, I prethee tell me one thing, doost thou thinke that Alexander looked thus? Hor. Euen so my Lord. Ham. And smelt thus? Hor. I my lord, no otherwise. [I1v] Ham. No, why might not imagination worke, as thus of Alexander, Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander became earth, of earth we make clay, and Alexander being but clay, why might not time bring to passe, that he might stoppe the boung hole of a beere barrell? Imperious CÆsar dead and turnd to clay, Might stoppe a hole, to keepe the winde away. Enter King and Queene, Leartes, and other lordes, with a Priest after the coffin. Ham. What funerall's this that all the Court laments? It shews to be some noble parentage: Stand by a while. Lear. What ceremony else? say, what ceremony else? Priest My Lord, we haue done all that lies in vs, And more than well the church can tolerate, She hath had a Dirge sung for her maiden soule: And but for fauour of the king, and you, She had beene buried in the open fieldes, Where now she is allowed christian buriall. Lear. So, I tell thee churlish Priest, a ministring Angell shall my sister be, when thou liest howling. Ham. The faire Ofelia dead! Queene Sweetes to the sweete, farewell: I had thought to adorne thy bridale bed, faire maide, And not to follow thee vnto thy graue. Lear. Forbeare the earth a while: sister farewell: L_eartes leapes into the graue._ Now powre your earth on, Olympus hie, And make a hill to o're top olde Pellon: Hamlet leapes Whats he that coniures so? _in after _L_eartes_ Ham. Beholde tis I, Hamlet the Dane. Lear. The diuell take thy soule. Ham. O thou praiest not well, I prethee take thy hand from off my throate, For there is something in me dangerous, Which let thy wisedome feare, holde off thy hand: [I2] I lou'de Ofelia as deere as twenty brothers could: Shew me what thou wilt doe for her: Wilt fight, wilt fast, wilt pray, Wilt drinke vp vessels, eate a crocadile? Ile doot: Com'st thou here to whine? And where thou talk'st of burying thee a liue, Here let vs stand: and let them throw on vs, Whole hills of earth, till with the heighth therof, Make Oosell as a Wart. King. Forbeare Leartes, now is hee mad, as is the sea, Anone as milde and gentle as a Doue: Therfore a while giue his wilde humour scope. Ham. What is the reason sir that you wrong mee thus? I neuer gaue you cause: but stand away, A Cat will meaw, a Dog will haue a day. Exit Hamlet and Horatio. Queene. Alas, it is his madnes makes him thus, And not his heart, Leartes. King. My lord, t'is so: but wee'le no longer trifle, This very day shall Hamlet drinke his last, For presently we meane to send to him, Therfore Leartes be in readynes. Lear. My lord, till then my soule will not bee quiet. King. Come Gertred, wee'l haue Leartes, and our sonne, Made friends and Louers, as befittes them both, Even as they tender vs, and loue their countrie. Queene God grant they may. exeunt omnes. 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. Horatio, but marke yon water-flie, The Court knowes him, but hee knowes not the Court. Gent. Now God saue thee, sweete prince Hamlet. [I2v] Ham. And you sir: soh, how the muske-cod smels! Gen. I come with an embassage from his maiesty to you 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: 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. 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 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? 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. 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. 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. [I3] Enter King, Queene, Leartes, Lordes. King Now sonne Hamlet, we hane laid vpon your head, 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. 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, 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 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: a hit. Lear. No none. Heere they play: Ham. Iudgement. Gent. A hit, a most palpable hit. Lear. Well, come againe. They play againe. Ham. Another. Iudgement. 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, I'le drinke anone. Queene Here Hamlet, thy mother drinkes to thee. Shee drinkes. King Do not drinke Gertred: O t'is the poysned cup! Ham. Leartes come, you dally with me, [I3v] I pray you passe with your most cunningst play. 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. Queene O the drinke, the drinke, H_amlet_, 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: 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? 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. Leartes dies. 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, 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. Ham. dies. Enter Voltemar and the Ambassadors from England. [I4] enter Fortenbrasse with his traine. 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? (land, Ambass. Our ambassie that we haue brought from Eng- 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: 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, 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. Take vp the bodie, such a fight as this Becomes the fieldes, but here doth much amisse. Finis Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jonathan Ingram, Karl Hagen, Charles Franks, and The Distributed Proofreaders We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. 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