822.33 
 S7 
 1864 
 
 HAMLET. 
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
OF THE 
 
 U N I VERS ITY 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 82-2.33 
 S7 
 IS64 
 
Return this book on or before the 
 Latest Date stamped below. 
 
 University of Illinois Library 
 
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THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 HAMLET, 
 
 Prince of Denmarke. 
 
 By 
 
 MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: 
 
 The Text from the Folio of 1 62 3 ; 
 with Notices of the known Editions preuioujly ijjued. 
 
 Printed for L. Booth, 307 Regent Street, W. 
 
LON'DON: 
 
 Printed by J. Utrange-wayi and H. £. JValdcn^ 28 Caftle Street, 
 Leicefter Square. 
 
S7 
 
 ' THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 Hamlet, Prince of Denmark 
 
 The Editions defcrihed below are thofe, as far as known^ which preceded 
 
 the Folio of 1623. 
 
 ''T^HE Tragicall Hiftorie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke. By William Shake-fpeare. 
 ^ As it hath beene diuerfe times a£led by his Highnefle feruants in the Cittie of 
 
 London : as alfo in the two Vniuerfities of Cambridge and Oxford, and elfe-where. At 
 ^London printed for N. L. and lohn Trundell. 1603. 4to. 33 leaves. 
 ^ Title. Text from fig. B to fig. I 4. Only two copies known. 
 
 I ^HE Tragicall Hiftorie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakefpeare. 
 ^ Newly imprinted and enlarged to almoft as much againe as it was, according to the 
 
 .^true and perfe£t Coppie. At London. Printed by L R. for N. L., and are to be fold at 
 
 his ftioppe vnder Saint Dunftons Church in Fleetftreet. 1604. 4to. 51 leaves, 
 i; Title, fig. B to O 2, erroneoufly printed G 2. 3 copies only known. 
 
 S'^^J^HE Tragicall Hiftorie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakefpeare. 
 
 Newly imprinted and enlarged to almoft as much againe as it was, according to 
 "^the true and perfe6l Coppie. Printed by L R. for N. L., and are to be fold at his fhoppe 
 ;^ vnder Saint Dunftons Church in Fleetftreet. 1605. 4to. .51 leaves.* 
 Text fig. B to O 2. 
 
 * Mr. Halliwell fays this is identical with that of 1604, the date only being altered. 
 
( iv ) 
 
 'T^HE Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke. Newly Imprinted and inlarged, 
 
 -■^ according to the true and perfect Copy laftly Printed. By William Shakefpeare. 
 
 Lond. Printed by W. S. for lohn Smethwicke, and are to be fold at his Shop in Saint 
 Dunftans Church-yard in Fleet ftreet : Vnder the Diall. No date. 4to. 51 leaves. 
 The laft page is fig. N 3, verfo. No date. 
 
 A NOTHER edition, printed for lohn Smethwicke. 161 1. 4to. 51 leaves. 
 Sig. B to O 2, exclufive of title. 
 
 \* By the courteous permijfton of J. O. Halliwell, Efq. F.R.S. &c., and H. G. Bohn, 
 Efq.,^/'^ above details have been obtained from the " Skeleton Hand-liji of the Early ^arto 
 Editions of the Plays of Shakefpeare^"*' and from Bohns ^^Bibliographical Account of the Works 
 of Shakefpeare^' 1864. . 
 
I 
 
 THE TRACED IE 
 
 HAMLET, Prince of Denmarke. 
 
 ^Bus 'Primus, Sccena ^rima. 
 
 OF 
 
 Enter ^arnardo and Francijco two Centineh . 
 
 '^arnardo, 
 Ho's there ? 
 
 Fran. Nay anfwer me : Stand & vnfold 
 your felfe. 
 
 Bar. Long liue the King. 
 _ Fran. Barnardo ? 
 
 Bar, 
 
 Fran. You come moft carefully vpon your houre. 
 Bar. 'Tis now ftrook twelue, get thee to bed Francijco. 
 Fran. For this releefe much thankes : 'Tis bitter cold, 
 And I am ficke at heart. 
 , 'Barn. Haue you had quiet Guard ? 
 Fran. Not a Moufe ftirring. 
 
 ^arn. Well, goodnight. If you do meet Horatio and 
 MarcelliU^ the Riuals of my Watch, bid them make haft. 
 Enter Horatio and Marcellu6 . 
 Fran. I thinke I heare them. Stand : who's there ? 
 Hor. Friends to this ground. 
 Mar. And Leige-men to the Dane. 
 Fran. Giue you good night. 
 
 Mar. O farwel honeft Soldier, who hath relieu'd you? 
 Fra. 'barnardo ha's my place: giue you goodnight. 
 
 Exit Fran. 
 
 Mar. Holla 'Barnardo. 
 
 'Bar. Say, what is Horatio there ? 
 
 Hor. A peece of him. 
 
 'Bar. Welcome Horatio^ welcome good Marcelltis. 
 
 Mar. What, ha's this thing appear'd againe to night. 
 
 Bar. I haue feene nothing. 
 
 Mar. Horatio faies, 'tis but our Fantafie, 
 And will not let beleefe take hold of him 
 Touching this dreaded fight, twice feene of vs, 
 Therefore I haue intreated him along 
 With vs, to watch the minutes of this Night, 
 That if againe this Apparition come. 
 He may approue our eyes, and fpeake to it. 
 
 Hor. Tufh,tufti, 'twill not appeare. 
 
 Bar. Sit downe a-while. 
 And let vs once againe aflaile your eares, 
 That are fo fortified againft our Story, 
 What we two Nights haue feene. 
 
 Hor. Well, fit we downe. 
 And let vs heare 'Barnardo fpeake of this. 
 
 'Barn. Laft night of all. 
 When yond fame Starre that's Weftward from the Pole 
 Had made his courfe t'illume that part of Heauen 
 
 Where now it burnes, Marcellus and my felfe. 
 The Bell then beating one. 
 
 (tMar. Peace, breake thee off: Enter the Qhofi. 
 
 Looke where it comes againe. 
 
 Barn, In the fame figure, like the King that's dead. 
 
 Mar. Thou art a Schollerj fpeake to it Horatio. 
 
 Barn. Lookes it not like the King ? Marke it Horatio. 
 
 Hora. Moft like: It harrowes me with fear & wonder 
 
 'Barn. It would be fpoke too. 
 
 Mar. Queftion it Horatio. 
 
 Hor. What art thou that vfurp'ft this time of night. 
 Together with that Faire and Warlike forme 
 In which the Maiefty of buried Denmarke 
 Did fometimes march : By Heauen I charge thee fpeake. 
 
 Mar. It is offended. 
 
 Barn. See, it ftalkes away. 
 
 Hor. Stay: fpeake5 fpeake : I Charge thee,fpeake. 
 
 Exit the Ghoji. 
 
 Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not anfwer. 
 
 Barn. How now Horatio ? You tremble & look pale : 
 Is not this fomething more then Fantafie ? 
 What thinke you on't i 
 
 Hor. Before my God, I might not this beleeue 
 Without the fenfible and true auouch 
 Of mine owne eyes. 
 
 Mar. Is it not like the King ? 
 
 Hor. As thou art to thy felfe. 
 Such was the very Armour he had on, 
 When th' Ambitious Norwey combatted : 
 So frown'd he once, when in an angry parle 
 He fmot the fledded Pollax on the Ice. 
 'Tis ftrange. 
 
 M^r. Thus twice before, and iuft at this dead houre. 
 With Martiall ftalke, hath he gone by our Watch. 
 
 Hor.ln what particular thought to work, I know not : 
 But in the grofl"e and fcope of my Opinion, 
 This boades fome ftrange erruption to our State. 
 
 Mar. Good now fit downe, & tell me he that knowes 
 Why this fame Arid: and moft obferuant Watch, 
 So nightly toyles the fubiedl of the Land, 
 And why fuch dayly Caft of Brazon Cannon 
 And Forraigne Mart for Implements of warre : 
 Why fuch imprefi!e of Ship-wrights, whofe fore Taske 
 Do's not diuide the Sunday from the weeke, 
 What might be toward, that this fweaty haft 
 Doth make the Night ioynt-Labourer with the day : 
 Who is't that can informe me? 
 
 Hor, That can I, 
 
 A At 
 
2 
 
 T^he Tragedie of Hamlet, 
 
 At leaft the whifper goes fo : Our laft King, 
 Whofe Image euen but now appear'd to vs, 
 Was (as you know) by Fortinbras of Norway, 
 (Thereto prick'd on by a moft emulate Pride) 
 Dar'd to the Combate. In which, our Valiant Hamlet, 
 (For fo this fide of our knowne world efteem'd him) 
 Did flay this Fortinbras : who by a Seal'd Compadt, 
 
 I Well ratified by Law, and Heraldrie, 
 
 ' Did forfeite (with his life) all thofe his Lands 
 Which he flood feiz'd on, to the Conqueror : 
 Ag^inft the which, a Moity competent 
 Was gaged by our King : which had return'd 
 To the Inheritance of Fortinbras, 
 
 I Had he bin Vanquifher, as by the fame Cou'nant 
 
 I And carriage of the Article defigne. 
 His fell to Hamlet. Now fir, young Fortinbras, 
 Of vnimproued Mettle, hot and full, 
 
 . Hath in the skirts of Norway, heere and there, 
 
 i Shark'd vp a Lifl of Landleffe Refolutes, 
 
 j For Foode and Diet, to fome Enterprize 
 
 1 That hath a flomacke in't : which is no other 
 (And it doth well appeare vnto our State ) 
 But to recouer of vs by flrong hand 
 And termes Compulfatiue, thofe forefaid Lands 
 So by his Father lofl : and this (I take it) 
 Is the maine Motiue of our Preparations, 
 The Sourfe of this our Watch, and the cheefe head 
 Of this pofl-hafl, and Romage in the Land. 
 
 ■ Enter Ghoji againe. 
 
 But foft, behold: Loe, where it comes againe :l 
 He crofTe it, though it blafl me. Stay Illufion : 
 If thou hafl any found, or vfe of Voyce, 
 Speake to me. If there be any good thing to be done, 
 That may to thee do eafe, and grace to me ; fpeak to me. 
 If thou art priuy to thy Countries Fate 
 
 . (Which happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh fpeake. 
 Or, if thou hafi vp-hoorded in thy life 
 Extorted Treafure in the wombe of Earth, 
 (For which, they fay, you Spirits oft walke in death ) 
 Speake of it. Stay, and fpeake. Sto^ \t Marcellm . 
 Mar. Shall I ftrike at ir with my Partizan ? 
 Hor. Do,if it will not fland. 
 '\Barn. 'Tis heere. 
 Hor. 'Tis heere. 
 
 Mar, 'Tis gone. Exit GhoJl. 
 
 We do it wrong, being fo Maieflicall 
 To offer it the fhew of Violence, 
 For it is as the Ayre, invulnerable. 
 And our vaine blowes , malicious Mockery. 
 
 'Barn. It was about to fpeake, when the Cocke crew, 
 
 Hor. And then it flarted, like a guilty thing 
 Vpon a fearfull Summons, I haue heard. 
 The Cocke that is the Trumpet to the day, 
 Doth with' his lofty and fhrill-founding Throate 
 Awake the God of Day : and at his warning. 
 Whether in Sea, or Fire, in Earth, or Ayre, 
 Th'extrauagant, and erring Spirit, hyes 
 To his Confine. And of the truth heerein, 
 This prefent Obicdl made probation. 
 
 Mar. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke, 
 Some fayes, that euer 'gainfl that Seafon comes 
 Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated. 
 The Bird of Dawning fingcth all night long: 
 And then ^thcy fay) no Spirit can walke abroad, 
 The nights are wholfome, then no I'lanets ftrike. 
 No Faicry talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme : 
 
 So hallow'd, and fo gracious is the time. 
 
 Hor. So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it. 
 But looke, the Morne in Ruffet mantle clad, 
 Walkes o're the dew of yon high Eaflerne Hill, 
 Breake we our Watch vp, and by my aduice 
 Let vs impart what we haue feene to night 
 Vnto yong Hamlet. For vpon my life, 
 This Spirit dumbe to vs, will fpeake to him : 
 Do you confent we fhall acquaint him with it, 
 As needfull in our Loues, fitting our Duty ? 
 
 Mar. Let do't I pray, and I this morning know 
 Where we fhall finde him moft conueniently. Exeunt 
 
 « ■■ 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Claudius King of DenmarJ^, Qertrude the Queene , 
 Hamlet, Polonium, Laertes, and his Sijier 0- 
 phelia. Lords {Attendant .\ 
 
 ^/«^. Though yet of Hamlet our deere Brothers death 
 The memory be greene : and that it vs befitted 
 To beare our hearts in greefe, and our whole Kingdome 
 To be contracted in one brow of woe : 
 Yet fo farre hath Difcretion fought with Nature, 
 That we with wifeft forrow thinke on him. 
 Together with remembrance of our felues. 
 Therefore our fometimes Sifter, now our Queen, 
 Th'Imperiall loyntrefl^e of this warlike State, 
 Haue we, as 'twere, with a defeated ioy. 
 With one Aufpicious, and one Dropping eye, 
 With mirth in Funerall, and with Dirge in Marriage, 
 In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole 
 Taken to Wife ; nor haue we heerein barr'd 
 Your better Wifedomes, which haue freely gone 
 With this affaire along-, for all our Thankes. 
 Now foUowes, that you know young Fortinbras, 
 Holding a weake fuppofall of our worth ; 
 Or thinking by our late deere Brothers death. 
 Our State to be difioynt, and out of Frame, 
 Colleagued with the dreame of his Aduantage ; 
 He hath not fayl'd to pefter vs with MefTage, 
 Importing the Surrender of thofe Lands 
 Loft by his Father : with all Bonds of Law 
 To our moft valiant Brother. .So much for him. 
 
 Enter Voltemand and Cornelius. 
 Now for our felfe, and for this time of meeting 
 Thus much the bufinefTe is. We haue heere writ 
 To Norway, Vncle of young Fortinbras , 
 Who Impotent and Bedrid, fcarfely heares 
 Of this his Nephewes purpofe, to fuppreffe 
 His further gate heerein. In that the Leuies, 
 The Lifts, and full proportions are all made 
 Out of his fubiedl : and we heere difpatch 
 You good Cornelius, and you Voltemand, 
 For bearing of this greeting to old Norway, 
 Giuing to you no further perfonall power 
 To bufinefTe with the King, more then the fcope 
 Of thefe dilated Articles allow : 
 Farewell and let your haft commend your duty. 
 
 Volt. In that,and all things, will we fhew our duty. 
 
 King. We doubt it nothing, heartily farewell. 
 
 Exit Voltemand and Qornelius. 
 And now Laertesy what's the newes with you } 
 
 You 
 
T^he Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 3 
 
 You told vs of fome fuite. What is't Laertes ? 
 You cannot fpeake of Reafon to the Dane, 
 And loofe your voyce. What would'ft thou beg Laertes^ 
 j That fhall not be my Offer, not thy Asking ? 
 : The Head is not more Natiue to the Heart, 
 , The Hand more Inftrumentall to the Mouth, 
 j Then is the Throne of Denmarke to thy Father. 
 I What would'ft thou haue Laertes f 
 Laer. Dread my Lord, 
 Your leaue and fauour to returne to France, 
 j From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke 
 I To fhew my duty in your Coronation, 
 I Yet now I muft confeffe, that duty done, 
 I My thoughts and wilhes bend againe towards France, 
 And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon. 
 
 King. Haue you your Fathers leaue ? 
 What fayes Pollonius ? 
 
 Pol. He hath my Lord]: 
 I do befeecl^ you giue him leaue to go. 
 
 King. Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine. 
 And thy beft graces fpend it at thy will : 
 But now my Cofm Hamlet, a.nd my Sonne? 
 
 Ham. A little more then kin, and leffe then kinde. 
 King. How is it that the Clouds ftill hang on you ? 
 Ham. Not fo my Lord, I am too much i'th'Sun. 
 S^ueen. Good Hamlet caft thy nightly colour off, 
 And let thine eye looke like a Friend on Denmarke. 
 Do not for euer with thy veyled lids 
 Seeke for thy Noble Father in the duft ; 
 Thou know'ft 'tis common, all that liues muft dye. 
 Palling through Nature, to Eternity. 
 Ham. I Madam, it is common. 
 Queen. If it be ; 
 Why feemes it fo particular with thee. 
 
 jKaw.Seemes Madam? Nay, it is : I know not Seemes: 
 'Tis not alone my Inky Cloake (good Mother j 
 Nor Cuftomary fuites of folemne Blacke, 
 Nor windy fufpiration of forc'd breath, 
 No, nor the fruitfull Riuer in the Eye, 
 Nor the deieded hauiour of the Vifage, 
 Together with all Formes, Moods, fhewes of Griefe, 
 That can denote me truly. Thefe indeed Seeme, 
 For they are adtions that a man might play : 
 But I haue that Within, which paffeth fhow j 
 Thefe, but the Trappings, and the Suites of woe. 
 
 King. 'Tis fweet and commendable 
 In your Nature Hamlet, 
 
 To giue thefe mourning duties to your Father: 
 But you muft know, your Father loft a Father, 
 That Father loft, loft his , and the Suruiuer bound 
 In filiall Obligation, for fome terme 
 To do obfequious Sorrow. But to perfeuer 
 In obftinate Condolement, is a courfe 
 Of impious ftubbornneffe. 'Tis vnmanly greefe, 
 It fhewes a will moft incorreft to Heauen, 
 A Heart vnfortified, a Minde impatient. 
 An Vnderftanding fimple, and vnfchool'd : 
 For, what we know muft be, and is as common 
 As any the moft vulgar thing to fence. 
 Why ftiould we in our peeui/h Oppofition 
 Take it to heart ?Fye, 'tis a fault to Heauen, 
 A fault againft the Dead, a fault to Nature, 
 To Reafon moft abfurd, whofe common Theame 
 Is death of Fathers, and who ftill hath cried, 
 I From the firft Coarfe,tiIl he that dyed to day, 
 j This muft be fo. We pray you throw to earth 
 
 This vnpreuayling woe, and thinke of vs 
 
 As of a Father j For let the world take note. 
 
 You are the moft immediate to our Throne, 
 
 And with no leffe Nobility of Loue, 
 
 Then that which deereft Father beares his Sonne, 
 
 Do I impart towards you. For your intent 
 
 In going backe to Schoole in Wittenberg, 
 
 It is moft retrograde to our defire : 
 
 And we befeech you, bend you to remaine 
 
 Heere in the cheere and comfort of our eye. 
 
 Our cheefeft Courtier Cofin,and our Sonne. 
 
 S^u. Let not thy Mother lofe her Prayers Hamlet : 
 I prythee ftay with vs, go not to Wittenberg. 
 
 Ham. I fhall in all my beft 
 Obey you Madam. 
 
 King. Why 'tis a louing,and a faire Reply, 
 Be as our felfe in Denmarke. Madam come. 
 This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet 
 Sits fmiling to my heart ; in grace whereof. 
 No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day, 
 But the great Cannon to the Clowds ftiall tell. 
 And the Kings Rouce, the Heauens fliall bruite againe, 
 Refpeaking earthly Thunder. Come away. Exeunt 
 cM'anet Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Oh that this too too folid Flefh, would melt, 
 Thaw, and refolue it felfe into a Dew : 
 Or that the Euerlafting had not fixt 
 His Cannon 'gainft Selfe-flaughter. O God, O God ! 
 How weary, ftale, flat, and vnprofitable 
 Seemes to me all the vfes of this world ? 
 Fie on't ? Oh fie, fie, 'tis an vnweeded Garden 
 That growes to Seed : Things rank, and groffe in Nature 
 Poffeffe it meerely. That it fhould come to this : 
 But two months dead : Nay, not fo much ; not two. 
 So excellent a King, that was to this 
 Hiperion to a Satyre : fo louing to my Mother, 
 That he might not beteene the windes of heauen 
 Vifit her face too roughly. Heauen and Earth 
 Muft I remember : why fhe would hang on him, 
 As if encreafe of Appetite had growne 
 By what it fed on ; and yet within a month ? 
 Let me not thinke on't : Frailty, thy name is woman. 
 A little Month, or ere thofe fhooes were old. 
 With which Ihe followed my poore Fathers body 
 Like Niobe, all teares. Why fhe, euen fhe. 
 (O Heauen ! A beaft that wants difcourfe of Reafon 
 Would haue mourn'd longer) married with mine Vnkle, 
 My Fathers Brother : but no more like my Father, 
 Then I to Hercules^ Within a Moneth ? 
 Ere yet the fait of moft vnrighteous Teares 
 Had left the flulhing of her gauled eyes, 
 She married. O moft wicked fpeed, to poft 
 With fuch dexterity to Inceftuous ftieets : 
 It is not, nor it cannot come to good. 
 But breake my heart, for I muft hold my tongue. 
 
 Enter Horatio, '\Barnard, and Marcellm. 
 
 Hor. Haile to your Lordftiip. 
 
 Ham. I am glad to fee you well : 
 Horatio, or I do forget my felfe. 
 
 Hor. The fame my Lord, 
 And your poore Seruant euer. 
 
 Ham^ Sir my good friend. 
 He change that name with you : 
 And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio ? 
 
 A 2 Mar- 
 
4 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet, 
 
 Marcellus. 
 
 Mar. My good Lord. 
 
 Ham. I am very glad to fee you : good euen Sir. 
 But what in faith make you from Wittemberge ? 
 
 Hor. A truant difpofition, good my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I would not haue your Enemy fay fo; 
 Nor fhall you doe mine eare that violence, 
 To make it trufter of your owne report 
 Againft your felfe. I know you are no Truant : 
 But what is your affaire in Eljenour ? 
 Wee'l teach you to drinke deepe, ere you depart. 
 
 Hor. My Lord, I came to fee your Fathers Funerall. 
 
 Ham. I pray thee doe not mock me (fellow Student) 
 I thinke it was to fee my Mothers Wedding. 
 
 Hor. Indeed my Lord, it followed hard vpon. 
 
 Ham. Thrift,thrift Horatio: the Funerall Bakt-meats 
 Did coldly furnifh forth the Marriage Tables j 
 Would I had met my deareft foe in heauen, 
 Ere I had euer feene that day Horatio. 
 My father, me thinkes I fee my father. 
 
 Hor. Oh where my Lord? 
 
 Ham. In my minds [Horatio) 
 
 Hor, I faw him oncej he was a goodly King. 
 
 Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all : 
 I fhall not look vpon his like againe. 
 
 Hor. My Lord, I thinke I faw him yeflernight. 
 
 Ham. Saw? Who <? 
 
 Hor. My Lord, the King your Father. 
 
 Ham. The King my Father? 
 
 Hor. Seafon your admiration for a while 
 With an attent earej till I may deliuer 
 Vpon the witneffe of thefe Gentlemen, 
 This maruell to you. 
 
 Ham. For Heauens loue let me heare. 
 
 Hor. Two nights together, had thefe Gentlemen 
 [Marcellus and Barnardo) on their Watch 
 In the dead wafl and middle of the night 
 Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father, 
 Arm'd at all points exaftly. Cap a Pe, 
 Appeares before them, and with follemne march 
 Goes flow and flately : By them thrice he walkt, 
 By their opprefl and feare-furprized eyes, 
 Within his Truncheons length} whilfl they beflil'd 
 Almofl to lelly with the Adl of feare, 
 Stand dumbe and fpeake not to him. This to me 
 In dreadfull fecrecie impart they did, 
 And I with them the third Night kept the Watch, 
 Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time. 
 Forme of the thing; each word made true and good, 
 I The Apparition comes. I knew your Father : 
 Thefe hands are not more like. 
 
 Ham. But where was this? 
 
 Mar. My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watcht. 
 
 Ham. Did you not fpeake to it? 
 
 Hor. My Lord, I did; 
 But anfwere made it none : yet once me thought 
 It lifted vp it head, and did addreffe 
 It felfe to motion, like as it would fpeake : 
 But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd ; 
 I And at the found itfhrunke in haft away., 
 And vanifht from our fight. 
 
 Ham. Tis very ftrangc. 
 
 Hor. As I doc liuc my honourd Lord 'tis true ; 
 And wc did thinke it writ downe in our duty 
 To let you know of it. 
 
 Ham. Indeed, indeed Sirsj but this troubles me. 
 
 Hold you the watch to Night^ 
 
 '^oth. We doe my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Arm'd, fay you? 
 
 Both. Arm'd, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. From top to toe.? 
 
 '^oth. My Lord, from head to foote. 
 
 Ham. Then faw you not his face.? 
 
 Hor. O yes, my Lord, he wore his Beauer vp. 
 
 Ham. What, lookt he frowningly ? 
 
 Hor. A countenance more in forrow then in anger. 
 
 Ham. Pale, or red? 
 
 Hor. Nay very pale. 
 
 Ham. And fixt his eyes vpon you? 
 
 Hor. Mofl conftantly. 
 
 Ham. I would I had beene there. 
 
 Hor. It would haue much amaz'd you. 
 
 Ham. Very like, very like : ftaid it long? (dred. 
 
 Hor. While one with moderate haft might tell a hun- 
 
 eAll. Longer, longer. 
 
 Hor. Not when I faw't. 
 
 Ham. His Beard was grifly.? no. 
 
 Hor. It was, as I haue feene it in his life, 
 A Sable Siluer'd. (gaine. 
 
 Ham. He watch to Night ; perchance 'twill wake a- 
 
 Hor. I warrant you it will. 
 
 Ham. If it affume my noble Fathers perfon. 
 He fpeake to it, though Hell it felfe fhould gape 
 And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 
 If you haue hitherto conceald this fight; 
 Let it bee treble in your filence ftill : 
 And whatfoeuer els fhall hap to night, 
 Giue it an vnderftanding but no tongue; 
 I will requite your loues; fo, fare ye well : 
 Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue. 
 He vifit you. 
 
 ^11. Our duty to your Honour. Exeunt. 
 
 Ham. Your loue, as mine to you: farewell. 
 My Fathers Spirit in Armes .? AH is not well: 
 I doubt fome foule play : would the Night were come ; 
 Till then fit ftill my foule; foule deeds will rife, 
 Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies. £xif. 
 
 Scena Tertia, 
 
 Enter Laertes and Ophelia. 
 
 Laer. My neceffaries are imbark't; Farewell : 
 And Sifter, as the Winds giue Benefit, 
 And Conuoy is afTiftant; doe not fleepe. 
 But let me heare from you. 
 
 Ophel. Doe you doubt that? 
 
 Laer, For Hamlet, and the trifling of his fauours. 
 Hold it a faftiion and a toy in Bloud; 
 A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature ; 
 Froward,not permanent; fweet not lafting 
 The fuppliance of a minute? No more. 
 
 Ophel. No more but fo. 
 
 Laer. Thinke it no more : 
 For nature creffant does not grow alone, 
 In thewcs and Bulke : but as his Temple waxes. 
 The inward feruice of the Minde and Soule 
 Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now. 
 And now no foyle nor cautell dotii bcfmerch 
 The vertue of his feare : but you muft feare 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 5 
 
 His greatnefle weigh'd, his will is not his owne j 
 
 For hee himfelfe is fubieft to his Birth : 
 
 Hee may not, as vnuallued perfons doe, 
 
 Carue for himfelfe j for, on his choyce depends 
 
 The fanftity and health of the weole State. 
 
 And therefore muft his choyce be circumfcrib'd 
 
 Vnto the voyce and yeelding of that Body, 
 
 Whereof he is the Head. Then if he fayes he loues you, 
 
 It fits your wifedome fo farre to beleeue it ; 
 
 As he in his peculiar Sedt and force 
 
 May giue his faying deed: which is no further, 
 
 Then the maine voyce of Denmarl^ goes withall. 
 
 Then weigh what lofle your Honour may fuftaine, 
 
 If with too credent eare you lift his Songs ; 
 
 Or lofe your Heart j or your chaft Treafure open 
 
 To his vnmaftred importunity. 
 
 Feare it Ophelia, ita.rt it my deare Sifter, 
 
 And keepe within the reare of your Afied:ion} 
 
 Out of the fliot and danger of Defire. 
 
 The charieft Maid is Prodigall enough. 
 
 If flie vnmaske her beauty to the Moone : 
 
 Vertue it felfe fcapes not calumnious ftroakes, 
 
 The Canker Galls, the Infants of the Spring 
 I Too oft before the buttons be difclos'd, 
 I And in the Morne and liquid dew of Youth, 
 
 Contagious blaftments are moft imminent. 
 
 Be wary then, beft fafety lies in fearej 
 
 Youth to it felfe rebels, though none elfe neere. 
 Ophe. I fhall th'effedl of this good Leflbn keepe. 
 
 As watchmen to my heart : but good my Brother 
 
 Doe not as fome vngracious Paftors doe. 
 
 Shew me the fteepe and thorny way to Heauenj 
 
 Whilft like a puft and reckleffe Libertine 
 
 Himfelfe, the Primrofe path of dalliance treads. 
 
 And reaks not his owne reade. 
 Laer. Oh, feare me not. 
 j Enter Polon'm. 
 
 j I ftay too long; but here my Father comes : 
 
 A double blefllng is a double grace; 
 j Occafion fmiles vpon a fecond leaue. 
 
 Polon. Yet heere Laertes? Aboord, aboord for ftiame, 
 ] The winde fits in the ftioulder of your faile, 
 ! And you are ftaid for there : my blefling with you; 
 I And thefe few Precepts in thy memory, 
 j See thou Charadler. Giue thy thoughts no tongue, 
 [ Nor any vnproportion'd thought his Ad : 
 I Be thou familiar; but by no meanes vulgar: 
 j The friends thou haft, and their adoption tride, 
 i Grapple them to thy Soule, with hoopes of Steele : 
 
 But doe not dull thy palme, with entertainment 
 
 Of each vnhatch't, vnfledg'd Comrade. Beware 
 I Of entrance to a quarrell : but being in 
 I Bear't that th'oppofed may beware of thee. 
 ! Giue euery man thine eare;but few thy voyce : 
 
 Take each mans cenfure;but referue thy iudgement : 
 
 Coftly thy habit as thy purfe can buy ; 
 
 But not expreft in fancie; rich, not gawdie: 
 
 For the Apparell oft proclaimes the man. 
 
 And they in France of the beft ranck and ftation. 
 
 Are of a moft feleft and generous cheffin that. 
 
 Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; 
 
 For lone oft iofes both it felfe and friend: 
 
 And borrowing duls the edge of Husbandry. 
 
 This aboue all; to thine owne felfe be true: 
 
 And it mu ft follow, as the Night the Day, 
 
 Thou canft not then be falfe to any man. 
 
 Farewell: my Ble{ring feafon this in thee. 
 
 Laer. Moft humbly doe I take my leaue, my Lord. 
 
 Polon. The time inuites you, goe, your feruants tend, 
 j Laer, Farewell Ophelia, and remember well 
 I What I haue faid to you. 
 
 Ophe. Tis in my memory lockt, 
 I And you your felfe fhall keepe the key of it. 
 
 Laer. Farewell. Exit Laer. 
 
 Polon. What ift Ophelia he hath faid to you ? 
 
 Ophe. So pleafe you,fomthing touching the L. Hamlet. 
 
 Polon. Marry, well bethought : 
 Tis told me he hath very oft of late 
 Giuen priuate time to you; and you your felfe 
 Haue of your audience beene moft free and bounteous. | 
 If it be fo, as fo tis put on me; 
 And that in way of caution : I muft tell you. 
 You doe not vnderftand your felfe fo cleerely, 
 As it behoues my Daughter, and your Honour. 
 What is betweene you, giue me vp the truth? 
 
 Ophe. He hath my Lord of late, made many tenders 
 Of his affeftion to me. 
 
 Tolon. Affedion, puh. You fpeake like a greene Girle, 
 Vnfifted in fuch perillous Circumftance. 
 Doe you beleeue his tenders, as you call them? ] 
 
 Ophe. I do not know, my Lord, what I fhould thinke. | 
 
 Polon. Marry He teach you; thinke your felfe a Baby, I 
 That you haue tane his tenders for true pay, j 
 Which are not ftarling. Tender your felfe more dearly; 
 Or not to crack the winde of the poore Phrafe, 
 Roaming it thus, you'l tender me a foole. 
 
 Ophe. My Lord, he hath importun'd me with loue. 
 In honourable fafhion. 
 
 Polon. I, fafhion you may call it, go too, go too. 
 
 Ophe. And hath giuen countenance to his fpeech, 
 My Lord, with all the vowes of Heauen. 
 
 Polon. I, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I doe know 
 When the Bloud buriies, how Prodigall the Soule , 
 Giues the tongue vowes: thefe blazes, Daughter, j 
 Giuing more light then heate; extind in both, 
 Euen in their promife, as it is a making; 
 You muft not take for fire. For this time Daughter, 
 Be fomewhat fcanter of your Maiden prefence; 
 Set your entreatments at a higher rate. 
 Then a command to parley. For Lord Hamlety 
 Beleeue fo much in him, that he is young. 
 And with a larger tether may he waike, | 
 Then may be giuen you. In few, Ophelia, | 
 Doe not beleeue his vowes; for they are Broakers, 
 Not of the eye, which their Inueftments fhow : 
 But meere implorators of vnholy Sutes, 
 Breathing like fandifiied and pious bonds. 
 The better to beguile. This is for all : | 
 I would not, in plaine tearmes, from this time forth, 
 Haue you fo flander any moment leifure, 
 As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet'. 
 Looke too't, I charge you; come your wayes. 
 j Ophe. I fhall obey my Lord, Exeunt. 
 
 ! Enter Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus. 
 
 Ham. The Ayre bites fhrewdly : is it very cold? 
 
 Hor. It is a nipping and an eager ayre. 
 
 Ham. What hower now? 
 
 Hor. I thinke it lacks of twelue. 
 
 Mar. No, it is ftrooke. , (feafon, 
 
 i Hor. Indeed I heard it not ; then it drawes neere the 
 I Wherein the Spirit held his wont to walke. 
 I What 
 
6 
 
 T^he age die of Hamlet, 
 
 What does this meane my Lord ? (roufe, 
 
 Ham. The King doth wake to night, and takes his 
 Keepes waflels and the fwaggering vpfpring reeles, 
 And as he dreines his draughts of Renifh downe, 
 i The kettle Drum and Trumpet thus bray out 
 ' The triumph of his Pledge. 
 
 Horat . Is it a cuftome ? 
 
 Ham. I marry ift; 
 And to my mind, though I am natiue heere. 
 And to the manner borne: It is a Cuftome 
 More honour'd in the breach, then the obferuance. 
 Enter Ghojt. 
 
 Hor. Looke my Lord, it comes. 
 
 Ham. Angels and Minifters of Grace defend vs: 
 Be thou a Spirit of health, or Goblin damn'd. 
 Bring with thee ayres from Heauen,or blafts from Hell, 
 Be thy euents wicked or charitable. 
 Thou com'ft in fuch a queftionable fhape 
 That I will fpeake to thee. He call thee Hamlet, 
 King, Father, Royall Dane : Oh,oh,anfwer me, 
 Let me not burft in Ignorance ; but tell 
 Why thy Canoniz'd bones Hearfed in death, 
 Haue burft their cerments, why the Sepulcher 
 Wherein we faw thee quietly enurn'd. 
 Hath op'd his ponderous and Marble iawes. 
 To caft thee vp againe ? What may this meane ? 
 That thou dead Coarfe againe in compleat fteele, 
 I Reuilits thus the glimpfes of the Moone, 
 Making Night hidious? And we fooles of Nature, 
 So horridly to lhake our difpofition. 
 With thoughts beyond thee; reaches of our Soules, 
 Say, why is this.'' wherefore what Ihould we doe ? 
 
 Ghoji btckens Hamlet. 
 
 Hor. It beckons you to goe away with it, 
 As if it fome impartment did defire 
 To you alone. 
 
 Mar. Looke with what courteous aftion 
 It wafts you to a more remoued ground : 
 But doe not goe with it. 
 
 Hor. No, by no meanes. 
 
 Ham. It will not fpeake: then will I follow it. 
 
 Hor. Doe not my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Why, what fhould be the feare ^ 
 I doe not fet my life at a pins fee; 
 And for my Soule,what can it doe to that? 
 Being a thing immortallas it felfe : 
 It waues me forth againe; He follow it. 
 
 Hor. What if it tempt you toward the Floud my Lord? 
 Or to the dreadfull Sonnet of the Cliffe, 
 That beetles o're his bafe into the Sea, 
 And there afTumes fome other horrible forme. 
 Which might depriue your Soueraignty of Reafon, 
 And draw you into madnefle thinke of it? 
 
 Ham. It wafts me ftill : goe on. He follow thee. 
 
 Mar. You fliall not goe my Lord* 
 
 Ham. Hold off your hand. 
 
 Hor. Be rurd,you ftiall not goe. 
 
 Ham. My fate cries out. 
 And makes each petty Artire in this body, 
 As hardy as the Nemian Lions nerue : 
 Still am I cal'd ? Vnhand me Gentlemen : 
 By Heau'n,He make a Ghoft of him that lets me : 
 I fay a way, goe on. He follow thee. 
 
 Exeunt Qhofi & Hamlet. 
 
 Hot^. He waxes defperatc with imagination. 
 
 Mar. Let's fyllow;'tis not fit thus to obey him. 
 
 Hor. Haue after, to what iflue will this come? 
 
 Mar. Something is rotten in the State of Denmarke. 
 
 Hor. Heauen will diredl it. 
 
 Mar. Nay, let's follow him. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Ghoft and Hamlet. ( ther. 
 
 Ham'. Where wilt thou lead me.? fpeak; He go no fiir- 
 Gho. Marke me. 
 Ham. I will. 
 
 Gho. My hower is almoft come, 
 When I to fulphurous and tormenting Flames 
 Muft render vp my felfe. 
 
 Ham. Alas poore Ghoft. 
 
 Gho, Pitty me not, but lend thy ferious hearing 
 To what I ftiall vnfold. 
 
 Ham. Speake, I am bound to heare. 
 
 Gho. So art thou to reuenge, when thpu /halt heare. 
 
 Ham. What? 
 
 Gho. I am thy Fathers Spirit, 
 Doom'd for a certaine terme to walke the night; 
 And for the day confin'd to faft in Fiers, 
 Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature 
 Are burnt and purg'd away ? But that I am forbid 
 To tell the fecrets of my Prifon-Houfe; 
 I could a Tale vnfold, whofe lighteft word 
 Would harrow vp thy foule, freeze thy young blood. 
 Make thy two eyes like Starres, ftart from their Spheres, 
 Thy knotty and combined locks to part, 
 And each particular haire to ftand an end, 
 Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine : 
 But this eternall blafon muft not be 
 To eares of flefli and bloud; lift Hamlet, oh lift, 
 If thou didft euer thy deare Father loue. 
 Ham. Oh Heauen ! 
 
 Gho. Reuenge his foule and moft vnnaturall Murther, 
 Ham. Murther ? 
 
 Ghoji. Murther moft foule, as in the beft it is; 
 But this moft foule, ftrange, and vnnaturall. 
 
 Ham. Haft, haft me to know it. 
 That with wings as fwift 
 As meditation, or the thoughts of Loue, 
 May fweepe to my Reuenge. 
 
 Ghoft. I finde thee apt. 
 And duller fhould'ft thou be then the fat weede 
 That rots it felfe in eafe,on Lethe Wharfe, 
 Would'ft thou not ftirre in this. Now Hamlet heare : 
 It's giuen out, that fleepingin mine Orchard, 
 A Serpent ftung me : fo the whole eare of Denmarke, 
 Is by a forged proceffe of my death 
 Rankly abus'd : But know thou Noble youth, 
 The Serpent that did fting thy Fathers life, 
 Now weares his Crowne. 
 
 Ham. O my Propheticke foule : mine Vncle ? 
 
 Ghoft, I that inceftuous, that aduherate Beaft 
 WitK witchcraft of his wits, hath Traitorous guifts. 
 Oh wicked Wit,and Gifts, that haue the power 
 So to feduce ? Won to to this lhamefull Luft 
 The will of my moft feeming vertuous Queene: 
 Oh Hamlet, what a falling off was there. 
 From me, whofe loue was of that dignity. 
 That it went hand in hand, euen with the Vow 
 I made to her in Marriage; and to decline 
 Vpon a wretch, whofe Naturall gifts were poore 
 To thofe of mine. But Vertue,as it neuer wil be moued, 
 Though Lcwdneffc court it in a fhape of Heauen : 
 So Luft, though to a radiant Angell link'd. 
 Will fate it felfe in a Ccleftiallbcd,& prey on Garbage. 
 
'The T ragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 7 
 
 But foft,me thinkes I fent the Mornings Ayrej 
 Briefe let me be : Sleeping within mine Orchard, 
 My cuftome alwayes in the afternoone} 
 ^7'pon my fecure hower thy Vncle ftole 
 With iuyce of curfed Hebenon in a VioU, 
 I And in the Porches of mine eares did poure 
 The leaperous Diftilment; whofe effeft 
 Holds fuch an enmity with bloud of Man, ' 
 That fwift as Quick-filuer, it courfes through 
 The naturall Gates and Allies of the Body ; 
 And with a fodaine vigour it doth poflet 
 And curd, like Aygre droppings into Milke, 
 I The thin and wholfome blood : fo did it mine 5 
 And a moft inftant Tetter bak'd about, 
 Moft Lazar-like, with vile and loathfome cruft. 
 All my fmooth Body. 
 Thus was I, fleeping, by a Brothers hand, 
 Of Life, of Crowne, and Queene at once difpatcht; 
 Cut off euen in the Bloflbmes of my Sinne, 
 Vnhouzzled, difappointed, vnnaneld, 
 No reckoning made, but fent to my account 
 With all my imperfeftions on my head; 
 Oh horrible. Oh horrible, moft horrible: 
 If thou haft nature in thee beare it not; 
 Let not the Royall Bed of Denmarke be 
 A Couch for Luxury and damned Inceft. 
 But howfoeuer thou purfueft this A£t, 
 Taint not thy mind ; nor let thy Soule contriue 
 Againft thy Mother ought; leaue her to heauen , 
 And to thofe Thornes that in her bofome lodge, 
 To pricke and fting her. Fare thee well at once; 
 The Glow-worme fliowes the Matine to be neere, 
 And gins to pale his vneffedluall Fire: 
 Adue,adue, /^jWfr ; remember me. Exit. 
 
 Ham. Oh all you hoft of Heauen ! Oh Earth; what els? 
 And fhall I couple Hell / Oh fie : hold my heart; 
 And you my fmnewes,grow not inftant Old; 
 But beare me ftiffely vp: Remember thee? 
 I, thou poore Ghoft, while memory holds a feate 
 In this diftrafted Globe : Remember thee ? 
 Yea, from the Table of my Memory, 
 He wipe away all triuiall fond Records, 
 All fawes of Bookes,all formes, all prefures paft, 
 That youth and obferuation coppied there; 
 And thy Commandment all alone fhall liue 
 Within the Booke and Volume of my Braine, 
 Vnmixt with bafer matter; yes, yes, by Heauen : 
 Oh moft pernicious woman ! 
 Oh Villaine, Villaine, fmiling damned Villaine ' 
 MyTables,my Tables; meet it is I fet it downe, 
 j That one may fmile,and fmileand be a Villaine; 
 
 At leaft I'm fure it may be fo in Denmarke ; 
 I So Vnckle there you are : now to my word; 
 I It is; Adue,Adue, Remember me : I haue fworn't. 
 I Hor.& Mar.vptth'in. My Lord, my Lord. 
 
 Enter Horatio and Marcellus. 
 
 Mar. Lord Hdimlet. 
 
 Hor. Heauen fecure him. 
 
 Mar. So be it. 
 
 Hor. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy; come bird, come. 
 
 Mar. How ift't my Noble Lord ? 
 
 Hor. What newes, my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Oh wonderfull ! 
 
 Hor. Good my Lord tell it. 
 
 Ham. No you'l reuealeit. 
 
 Hor, Not I, my Lord, by Heauen. 
 Mar. Nor I, my Lord. (think it? 
 
 Ham. How fay you then, would heart of man once 
 But you'l be fecret? 
 
 '^oth. I, by Heau'n, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. There's nere a villaine dwelling in all Denmarke 
 But hee's an arrant knaue. 
 
 Hor. There needs no Ghoft my Lord, come from the 
 Graue, to tell vs this. 
 
 Ham. Why right, you are i'th' right; 
 And fo, without more circumftance at all, j 
 I hold it fit that we lhake hands, and part: I 
 You, as your bufines and defires fhall point you : ! 
 For euery man ha's bufinefTe and defire, ' 
 Such as it is : and for mine owne poore part, : 
 Looke you, He goe pray. 
 
 Hor. Thefe are but wild and hurling words, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I'm forry they offend you heartily : '■ 
 Yes faith, heartily. 
 
 Hor. There's no offence my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Yes, by Saint Patric\e,hut there is my Lord, 
 And much offence too, touching this Vifion heere : 
 It is an honeft Ghoft, that let me tell you : 1 
 For your defire to know what is betweene vs, I 
 O'remafter't as you may. And now good friends, { 
 As you are Friends, Schollers and Soldiers, | 
 Giue me one poore requeft. I 
 
 Hor. What is't my Lord? we will. 
 
 Ham. Neuer make known what you haue feen to night. ; 
 '^oth. My Lord, we will not. j 
 Ham. Nay, but fwear't. I 
 Hor. Infaith my Lord, not I. 
 Mar. Nor I my Lord : in faith. 
 Ham. Vpon my fword. 
 
 Marcell, We haue fworne my Lord already. I 
 
 Ham. Indeed, vpon my fword, Indeed. 
 
 Gho. Sweare. Ghoft cries -under the Stage. 
 
 Ham. Ah ha boy,fayeft thou fo. Art thou there true- \ 
 penny ? Come one you here this fellow in the felleredge 
 Confent to fweare. ; 
 
 Hor. Propofe the Oath my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Neuer to fpeake of this that you haue feene, 
 Sweare by my fword. 
 
 Gho. Sweare. 
 
 Ham. Hie & Dbique? Then wee'l fhifc for grownd, 
 Come hither Gentlemen, 
 And lay your hands againe vpon my fword, 
 Neuer to fpeake of this that you haue heard: 
 Sweare by my Sword. 
 
 Gho. Sweare. (faft? , 
 
 Ham. Well faid old Mole,can'ft worke i'th' ground fo ^ 
 A worthy Pioner, once more remoue good friends. | 
 Hor. Oh day and night:but this is wondrous ftrange. 1 
 Ham. And therefore as a ftranger glue it welcome. 
 There are more things in Heauen and Earth, Horatio^ \ 
 Then are dream't of in our Philofophy But come, j 
 Here as before, neuer fo helpe you mercy, ' , 
 
 How ftrange or odde fo ere 1 beare my felfe; I 
 (As I perchance heereafter fhall thinke meet 
 To put an Anticke difpofition on :) | 
 That you at fuch time feeing me, neuer fhall 
 With Armes encombred thus, or thus, head fhake; 
 Or by pronouncing of fome doubtfuU Phrafe; 
 As well, we know, or we could and if we would, 
 Or if we lift to fpeake ; or there be and if there might. 
 Or fuch ambiguous giuing out to note, 1 
 
 That I 
 
8 The Tragedie of Hamlet, 
 
 That you know ought of m^'y this not to doe : 
 So grace and mercy at yo^r moft neede helpe you : 
 Sweare. 
 I Ghoji. Sweare. 
 
 j Ham. Relt, reft perturbed Spirit : fo Gentlemen, 
 j With all my loue I doe commend me to you j 
 I And what lb poore a man as Hamlet is, 
 
 May doe t'expreffe his loue and friending to you, 
 I God willing fhall not lacke : let vs goe in together, 
 I And ftill your fingers on your lippes I pray, 
 I The time is out of ioynt: Oh curfed fpight, 
 I That euer I was borne to fet it right. 
 ! Nay, come let's goe together. Exeunt. 
 
 A5lus Secundus, 
 
 Enter Tolonius ,and S^eynoldo. 
 Tolon. Giue him his money, and thefe notes Rtynoldo. 
 Reynol. I will my Lord. 
 > Polon. You lhall doe maruels wifely: good Reynoldo, 
 Before you vifite him you make inquiry 
 Of his behauiour. 
 
 Reynol. My Lord, I did intend it. 
 Polon, Marry, well faid j 
 Very well faid. Looke you Sir, 
 ' Enquire me firft what Danskers are in Paris ; 
 And how, and whojwhat meanesjartd where they keepe: 
 What company, at what expence : and finding 
 By this encompaflement and drift of queftion, 
 That they doe know my fonne : Come you more neerer 
 Then your particular demands will touch it. 
 Take you as 'twere fome diftant knowledge of him. 
 And thus I know his father and his friends. 
 And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo? 
 Reynol. I, very well my Lord. 
 Polon. And in part him, but you may fay not well; 
 But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde; 
 Addidled fo and fo; and there put on him 
 What forgeries you pleafe : marry, none fo ranke, 
 As may difhonour him ; take heed of that : 
 I But Sir, fuch wanton, wild, and vfuall flips, 
 I As are Companions noted and moft knowne 
 1 To youth and liberty. 
 
 '^ynol. As gaming my Lord. 
 'Polon. I, or drinking, fencing, fwearing, 
 Quarelling, drabbiug. You may goe fo farre. 
 Reynol. My Lord that would diftionour him. 
 Tolon. Faith no, as you may feafon it in the charge; 
 You muft not put another fcandall on him, 
 ■ That hee is open to Incontinencie; 
 
 ' That's not my meaning: but breath his faults fo quaintly, 
 ! That they may feeme the taints of liberty; 
 The flafli and out-breake of a fiery minde, 
 A fuuagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall affault. 
 
 Reynol. But my good Lord. 
 
 Polon. Wherefore fhould you doe this ? 
 
 Reynol. I my Lord, I would know that. 
 
 Polon. Marry Sir, heere's my drift, 
 And I belicue it is a fetch of warrant: 
 You laying thcfc flight fulleyes on my Sonne, 
 As 'twere a thing a little foil'd i'th' working : (found, 
 Marke you your party in conucrfc ; him you would 
 Hauing cuer fccne. In the prenominate crimes. 
 
 The youth you breath of guilty, be afTur'd 
 He clofes with you in this confequence: 
 Good fir, or fo,or friend, or Gentleman. 
 According to the Phrafe and the Addition, 
 Of man and Country. 
 
 Reynol. Very good my Lord. 
 
 Polon. And then Sir does he this ? 
 He does : what was I about to fay? 
 I was about to fay fomthing : where did I leaue 
 
 Reynol. At clofes in the confequence : 
 At friend, or fo,and Gentleman. 
 
 Polon. At clofes in the confequence, I marry. 
 He clofes with you thus. I know the Gentleman, 
 I faw him yefterday,or tother day; 
 Or then or then, with fuch and fuch;and as you fay, 
 There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Roufe, 
 There falling out at Tennis ; or perchance, 
 I faw him enter fuch a houfe of faile; 
 Videlicet, 3l Brothell, or fo forth. See you now; 
 Your bait of falfhood, takes this Cape of truth ; 
 And thus doe we of wifedome and of reach 
 With windlefl[es,and with afi"aies of Bias, 
 By indirections finde diredtions out: 
 So by my former Lefture and aduice 
 Shall you my Sonne; you haue me,haue you not r 
 
 %eynol. My Lord I haue. 
 
 Polon. God buy you; fare you well. 
 
 Reynol. Good my Lord. 
 
 'Polon. Obferue his inclination in yourfelfe. 
 
 Reynol. I fhall my Lord. 
 
 Polon. And let him plye his Muficke . 
 
 Reynol. Well, my Lord. Exit. 
 
 Enter Ophelia. 
 
 Polon. Farewell : 
 How now Ophelia, what's the matter ? 
 
 Ophe. Alas my Lord, I haue beene fo affrighted. 
 
 Polon. With what, in the name of Heauen.!* 
 
 Ophe. My Lord, as I was fowing in my Chamber, 
 Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd. 
 No hat vpon his head, his ftockings foul'd, 
 Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle, 
 Pale as his fhirt,his knees knocking each other. 
 And with a looke fo pitious in purport, 
 As if he had been loofed out of hell. 
 To fpeake of horrors : he comes before me. 
 
 Tolon. Mad for thy Loue ? 
 
 Ophe. My Lord, I doe not know : but truly I do feare it. 
 Polon. What faid he? 
 
 Ophe. He tooke me by the wrift,and held me hard ; 
 Then goes he to the length of all his arme; 
 And with his other hand thus o're his brow. 
 He fals to fuch perufall of my face. 
 As he would draw it. Long ftaid he fo. 
 At laft,a little fhaking of mine Arme : 
 And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe; 
 He rais'd a figh,fo pittious and profound. 
 That it did feeme to fhattcr all his bulke, 
 And end his being. That done, he lets me goe, 
 And with his head oucr his fhoulders turn'd. 
 He feem'd to finde his way without his eyes, 
 For out adores he went without their helpe; 
 And to the laft, bended their light on me. 
 
 Polon. Goe with mc, I will goe feeke the King, 
 This is the very cxtafic of Loue, 
 Whole violent property forcdoes it felfc, 
 
 And 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 9 
 
 And leads the will to defperate Vndertakings, 
 As oft as any paffion vnder Heauen, 
 That does afflidl our Natures. I am forrie, 
 What haue you giuen him any hard words of late? 
 
 Ophe. No my good Lord : but as you did command, 
 I did repell his Letters, and deny'de 
 His acceffe to me. 
 
 Fol. That hath made him mad. 
 I am forrie that with better fpeed and iudgement 
 I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle, 
 And meant to wracke thee : but befhrew my iealoufie : 
 It feemes it is as proper to our Age, 
 To caft beyond our felues in our Opinions, 
 As it is common for the yonger fort 
 To lacke difcretion. Come,go we to the King, 
 This muft be knowne, w being kept clofe might moue 
 More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Snter King, QueenCy Rofmcrave , and Guilden- 
 Jierne Cuma/ys, 
 
 King, Welcome deere ^ojincrance and Guildenjierne. 
 Moreouer, that we much did long to fee you. 
 The neede we haue to vfe you, did prouoke 
 Our haftie fending. Something haue you heard 
 Of Hamlets transformation : fo I call it. 
 Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man 
 Refembles that it was. What it ftiould bee 
 More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him 
 So much from th'vnderftanding of himfelfe, 
 I cannot deeme of. I intreat you both. 
 That being of fo young dayes brought vp with him : 
 And fince fo Neighbour'd to his youth, and humour, 
 That you vouchfafe your reft heere in our Court 
 Some little time : fo by your Companies 
 To draw him on to pleafures,and to gather 
 So much as from Occafions you may gleane. 
 That open'd lies within our remedie. 
 
 Qu. Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you. 
 And fure I am, two men there are not liuing, 
 To whom he more adheres. If it will pleafe you 
 To fhew vs fo much Gentrie, and good will, 
 As to expend your time with vs a-while. 
 For the fupply and profit of our Hope, 
 Your Vifitation fhall receiue fuch thankes 
 As fits a Kings remembrance. 
 
 Rojin. Both your Maiefties 
 Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs. 
 Put your dread pleafures, more into Command 
 Then to Entreatie. 
 
 Guil. We both obey. 
 And here giue vp our felues, in the full bent, 
 To lay our Seruices freely at your feete. 
 To be commanded. 
 
 King. Thankes Rojincrance, and gentle Guildenjierne. 
 
 S^u. Thankes Guildenjierne and gentle Rojincrance. 
 And I befeech you inftantly to vifit 
 My too much changed Sonne. 
 Go fome of ye, 
 
 And bring the Gentlemen where Hamlet is. 
 
 Guil. Heauens make our prefence and our praftifes 
 Pleafant and helpfull to him. Exit, 
 
 Queene. Amen. 
 
 Enter Polonitu. 
 
 Pol. Th'AmbafTgdors from Norwey, my good Lord, 
 Are ioy fully return'd. 
 
 King. Thou ftill haft bin the Father of good Newes. 
 
 Pol. Haue I, my Lord ? Aflure you, my good Liege, 
 I hold my dutie, as I hold my Soule, 
 Both to my God, one to my gracious King : 
 And I do thinke, or elfe this braine of mine 
 Hunts not the traile of Policie,fo fure 
 As I haue vs'd to do : that I haue found 
 The very caufe of Hamlets Lunacie. 
 
 King. Oh fpeake of that, that I do long to heare. 
 
 Tol. Giue firft admittance to th'AmbalTadors, 
 My Newes ftiall be the Newes to that great Feaft. 
 
 King. Thy felfe do grace to them, and bring them in. 
 He tels me my fweet Queene, that he hath found 
 The head and fourfe of all your Sonnes diftemper. 
 
 I doubt it is no other, but the maine. 
 His Fathers death, and our o're-hafty Marriage. 
 Enter Tolonius yVoltumand, and Cornelius. 
 
 King. Well, we ftiall fift him. Welcome good Frends: 
 Say Voltumand, what from our Brother Norwey ^ 
 
 Volt. Moft faire returne of Greetings, and Defires. 
 Vpon our firft, he fent out to fupprelTe 
 His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd 
 To be a preparation 'gainft the Poleak : 
 But better look'd into, he truly found 
 It was againft your HighneflTe, whereat greeued,] 
 That fo his Sicknefle, Age,and Impotence 
 Was falfely borne in hand, fends out Arrefts 
 On FortinlrM, which he (in breefe) obeyes, 
 Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine. 
 Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more 
 To giue th'aflay of Armes againft your Maieftie. 
 Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy, 
 Giues him three thoufand Crownes in Annuall Fee, 
 And his Commiflion to imploy thofe Soldiers 
 So leuied as before, againft the Poleak : 
 With an intreaty heerein further fhewne. 
 That it might pleafe you to giue quiet pafle 
 Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize, 
 On fuch regards of fafety and allowance. 
 As therein are fet downe. 
 
 King. It likes vs well : 
 And at our more confider'd time wee'l read, 
 Anfwer,and thinke vpon this Bufinefle. 
 Meane time we thanke you, for your well-tooke Labour. 
 Go to your reft, at night wee'l Feaft together. 
 Moft welcome home. Sxtt Ambajf. 
 
 Pol. This bufinefle is very well ended. 
 My Liege, and Madam, to expoftulate 
 What Maieftie fliould be, what Dutie is. 
 Why day is day ; night, night ; and time is time. 
 Were nothing but to wafte Night, Day, and Time. 
 Therefore, fince Breuitie is the Soule of Wit, 
 And tedioufneflfe, the limbes and outward flourifhes, 
 I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad : 
 Mad call I it j for to define true Madnefl"e, 
 What is't, but to be nothing elfe but mad. 
 But let that go. 
 
 Qu^. More matter, with lefle Art. 
 
 Pol. Madam, I fweare I vfe no Art at all: 
 That he is mad, 'tis true : 'Tis true 'tis pittie, 
 And pittie it is true : A foolifli figure, 
 But farewell it : for I will vfe no Art. 
 
 B Mad 
 
lO 
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Mad let vs grant him then : and now remaines 
 That we finde out the caufe of this efFeft, 
 Or rather fay, the caufe of this defedt; 
 For this effedl defedliue, comes by caufe, 
 Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend, 
 I haue a daughter : haue, whil'ft fhe is mine. 
 Who in her Dutie and Obedience, marke. 
 Hath giuen me this : now gather, and furmife. 
 The Letter. 
 
 To the QeleJiiaU,and my Souks Idolly the moft beautified 0- 
 phelia . 
 
 That's an ill Phrafe, a vilde Phrafe, beautified is a vilde 
 Phrafe : but you fliall heare thefe in her excellent white 
 bofome, thefe. 
 
 Came this from Hamlet to her. 
 Pol. Good Madam ftav awhile, I will be faithfull. 
 Doubt thou, the Starres are fire^ 
 Doubty that the Sunne doth moue : 
 Doubt Truth to be a Lier^ 
 But neuer Doubt , / loue. 
 
 0 deere Ophelia y I am ill at thefe Numbers: 1 haue not Art to 
 reckon my grones ; but that I loue thee beji, oh moji "^Befi be- 
 leeue it. tAdieu. 
 
 Thine euermore moft deere Lady, tvhilft this 
 cM'achine is to him, Hamlet. 
 This in Obedience hath my daughter fhew'd me : 
 And more aboue hath his foliciting, 
 As they fell out by Time, by Meanes,and Place, 
 All giuen to mine eare. 
 
 King. But how hath fhe receiu'd his Loue? 
 
 Pol. What do you thinke of me ? 
 
 King. As of a man, faithfull and Honourable. 
 
 Pol,l wold faine proue fo.But what might you think ? 
 When I had feene this hot loue on the wing. 
 As I perceiued it, I muft tell you that 
 Before my Daughter told me,what might you 
 Or my deere Maieftie your Queene heere, think. 
 If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke, 
 Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe, 
 Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle fight. 
 What might you thinke ? No, I went round to worke, 
 And (my yong Miftris)thus I did befpeake 
 Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre, 
 This muft not be : and then, I Precepts gaue her, 
 That fhe fliould locke her felfe from his Refort, 
 Admit no Meflengers, receiue no Tokens : 
 Which done, fhe tooke the Fruites of my Aduice, 
 And he repulfed. A fhort Tale to make, 
 Fell into a Sadnefle, then into a Faft, 
 Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknefle, 
 Thence to a Lightnefle,and by this declenfion 
 Int/) the Madnefle whereon now he raues, 
 And all we waile for. 
 
 King. Do you thinke 'tis this ? 
 
 Qu^. It may be very likely. 
 
 Po/.Hath there bene fuch a time, I'de fain know that. 
 That I haue pofiltiuely faid, 'tis fo. 
 When it prou'd otherwife? 
 
 King. Not that I know. 
 
 Pol. Take this from this; if this be otherwife, 
 If Circumftances leade me, I will finde 
 Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede 
 Within the Center. 
 
 King. How may we try it further ? 
 
 Pol. You know fometimes 
 He walkes foure houres together, hecre 
 
 In the Lobby. 
 
 Qji. So he ha's Indeed. 
 
 Pol. At fuch a time He loofe my Daughter to him, 
 Be you and I behinde an Arras then, 
 Marke the encounter : If he loue her not. 
 And be not from his reafon falne thereon ; 
 Let me be no Affiftant for a State, 
 And keepe a Farme and Carters. 
 
 King. We will try it. 
 
 Enter Hamlet reading on a Boo^e. 
 
 S^u. But looke where fadly the poore wretch 
 Comes reading. 
 
 Tol. Away I do befeech you, both away, 
 He boord him prefently. Exit King & ^een. 
 
 Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet f 
 
 Ham. Well, God-a-mercy. 
 
 Pol. Do you know me, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Excellent, excellent well : y'are a Fiftimonger, 
 
 Pol. Not I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Then I would you were fo honeft a man. 
 Tol. Honeft, my Lord? 
 
 Ham. I fir, to be honeft as this world goes. Is to bee 
 one man pick'd out of two thoufand. 
 Tol. That's very true, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge, 
 
 being a good kifi"mg Carrion 
 
 Haue you a daughter ? 
 
 Pol. I haue my Lord. 
 
 Ham, Let her not walke i'th'Sunne : Conception is a 
 blefsing, but not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend 
 looke too't. 
 
 Po/.How fay you by thatPStill harping on my daugh- 
 ter: yet he knew me not at firftj he faid 1 was a Fifhmon- 
 ! ger : he is farre gone, farre gone : and truly in my youth, 
 I I fuffred much extreamity for loue : very neere this. He 
 j fpeake to him againe. What do you read my Lord? 
 i Ham. Words, words, words. 
 
 Pol. What is the matter, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Betweene who ? 
 
 Pol. I meane the matter you meane,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Slanders Sir : for the Satyricall fiaue faies here, 
 that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrin- 
 kled : their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum-Tree 
 Gumme : and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit, 
 together with weake Hammes. All which Sir, though 1 
 moft powerfully, and potently beleeue ; yet I holde it 
 not Honeftie to haue it thus fet downe : For you your 
 felfe Sir, fiiould be old as I am, if like a Crab you could 
 go backward. 
 
 Pol, Though this be madnefle. 
 Yet there is Method in't •. will you walke 
 Out of the ayre my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Into my Graue? 
 
 Pol. Indeed that is out o'th'Ayre : 
 How pregnant ( fometimes) his Replies are? 
 A happinefTe, 
 
 That often MadnefTe hits on, 
 Which Reafon and Sanitie could not 
 So profperoufly be deliuer'd of. 
 I will leaue him. 
 
 And fodainely contriue the meanes of meeting 
 Betweene him, and my daughter. 
 My Honourable Lord, I will moft humbly 
 Take my leaue of you. 
 
 Ham 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. You cannot Sir take from me any thing, that I 
 will more willingly part withall , except my life, my 
 life. 
 
 Tohn, Fare you well my Lord. 
 Ham. Thefe tedious old fooles. 
 
 ?o/(3«. You goe to feeke my Lord Hamlet ; there 
 hee is. 
 
 Enter Rojincran and GuUdenJierne. 
 Rofin. God faue you Sir. 
 Guild. Mine honoured Lord ? 
 Rojin. My moft deare Lord? 
 
 Ham. My excellent good friends ? How do'ft thou 
 Guilder Jierne} Oh, Rofincrane j good Lads: How doe ye 
 both ? 
 
 Rcjin. As the indifferent Children of the earth. 
 Guild. Happy, in that we are not ouer-happy : on For^ 
 tunes Cap, we are not the very Button. 
 Ham. Nor the Soales of her Shoo ? 
 RoJin. Neither my Lord* 
 
 Ham. Then you Hue about her wafte, or in the mid- 
 dle of her fauour ? 
 
 Quil. Faith, her priuates, we. 
 
 Ham. In the fecret parts of Fortune ? Oh, moft true : 
 fhe is a Strumpet. What's the newes ? 
 
 !Z^o/?«. None my Lord} but that the World's growne 
 honelt. 
 
 Ham. Then is Doomefday neere : But your newes is 
 not true. Let me queftion'more in particular : what haue 
 you my good friends, deferued at the hands of Fortune, 
 that ihe lends you to Prlfon hither? 
 
 Guil. Prifon,my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Denmark's a Prlfon. 
 
 RoJin. Then is the World one. 
 
 Ham. A goodly one,in which there are many Con- 
 fines, Wards, and Dungeons; DenmarJ^e being one o'th' 
 worft. 
 
 Rojtn. We thinke not fo my Lord, 
 
 Ham. Why then 'tis none to you;for there is nothing 
 either good or bad, but thinking makes it fo : to me it is 
 a prifon. 
 
 RoJin. Why then your Ambition makes it one : 'tis 
 too narrow for your minde. 
 
 Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nutfhell, and 
 count my felfe a King of infinite fpace ; were it not that 
 I haue bad dreames. 
 
 Guil. Which dreames indeed are Ambition : for the 
 very fubftance of the Ambitious, is meerely the fhadow 
 of a Dreame. 
 
 Ham. A dreame it felfe is but a (hadow. 
 
 Rofin. Truely , and I hold Ambition of fo ayry and 
 light a quality, that it is but a fhadowes fhadow. 
 
 Ham. Then are our Beggers bodies ; and our Mo- 
 narchs and out-ftretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes: 
 I fliall wee to th' Court : for, by my fey I cannot rea- 
 ! fon ? 
 
 "Both. Wee'l wait vpon you. 
 
 Ham. No fuch matter. I will not fort you with the 
 reft of my feruants : for to fpeake to you like an honeft 
 man : I am moft dreadfully attended; but in the beaten 
 way of friend/hip. What make you at Eljonower? 
 
 I{o(in. To vifit you my Lord, no other occafion. 
 
 Ham. Begger that I am, I am euen poore in thankes; 
 but I thanke you : and fure deare friends my thanks 
 are too deare a halfepeny ; were you not fent for ? Is it 
 your owne inclining ? Is it a free vifitation ? Come, 
 
 deale iuftly with me : come, come; nay fpeake. 
 
 Guil. What ftiould we fay my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Why any thing. But to the purpofe; you were 
 fent for; and there is a kinde confeflion in your lookes; 
 which your modefties haue not craft enough to co- 
 lor, I know the good King & Queene haue fent for you. 
 
 RoJin. To what end my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. That you muft teach me : but let mee coniure 
 you by the rights of our fellowftiip, by the confonancy of 
 our youth, by the Obligation of our euer-preferued loue, 
 and by what more deare, a better propofer could charge 
 you withall ; be euen and diredl with me, whether you 
 were fent for or no. 
 
 RoJin, What fay you ? 
 
 Ham. Nay then I haue an eye of you: if you loue me 
 hold not off. 
 
 ^uil. My Lord, we were fent for. 
 
 Ham. I will tell you why ; fo fhall my anticipation 
 preuent your difcouery of your fecricie to the King and 
 Queene:moult no feather, I haue of late, but wherefore 
 I know not, loft all my mirth, forgone all cuftome of ex- 
 ercife; and indeed, it goes fo heauenly with my difpofiti- 
 on;that this goodly frame the Earth, feemes to me a fter- 
 rill Promontory; this moft excellent Canopy the Ayre, 
 look you, this braue ore-hanging, this Maiefticall Roofe, 
 fretted with golden fire : why, it appeares no other thing 
 to mee, then a foule and peftilent congregation of va- 
 pours. What a piece of worke is a man ! how Noble in 
 Reafon ? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing 
 how expreffe and admirable ? in Adlion, how like an An- 
 gel ? in apprehenfion, how like a God? the beauty of the 
 world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is 
 this Quinteffence of Duft ? Man delights not me ; no, 
 nor Woman neither; though by your fmiling you feeme 
 to fay fo. 
 
 RoJin, My Lord , there was no fuch ftuffe in my 
 thoughts. 
 
 Ham. Why did you laugh, when I faid, Man delights 
 not me ? 
 
 RoJin. To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man, 
 what Lenton entertainment the Players ihall receiue 
 from you : wee coated them on the way, and hither are 
 they comming to offer you Seruice. 
 
 Ham. He that playes the King fhall be welcome; his 
 Maiefty fhall haue Tribute of mee : the aduenrurous 
 Knight fhal vfe his Foyle and Target : the Louer fhall 
 not figh gratis, the humorous man fhall end his part in 
 peace : the Clowne fhall make thofe laugh whofe lungs 
 are tickled a'th' fere : and the Lady fhall fay her minde 
 freely; or the blanke Verfe fhall halt for't : what Players 
 are they ? 
 
 RoJin. Euen thofe you were wont to take delight in 
 the Tragedians of the City. 
 
 Ham. How chances it they trauaile ? their refi- 
 dence both in reputation and profit was better both 
 wayes. 
 
 Rofin. I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes 
 of the late Innouation f 
 
 Ham. Doe they hold the fame eftimation they did 
 when I was in the City ? Are they fo foUow'd? 
 
 Rofn. No indeed, they are not. 
 
 Ham. How comes it ? doe they grow rufty ? 
 
 Rofin. Nay , their indeauour keepes in the wonted 
 pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children, little 
 Yafes, that crye out on the top of queftion ; and 
 are moft tyrannically clap't for't : thefe are now the 
 B 2 fafhi- 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSmr OF IU1N0I8 
 
12 
 
 T!he T rage die of Hamlet, 
 
 fafhion, and fo be-ratled the common Stages (fo they 
 call them) that many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of 
 Goofe-quils,and dare fcarfe come thither. 
 
 Ham. What are they Children? Who maintains 'em? 
 How are they efcoted ? Will they purfue the Quality no 
 longer then they can ling? Will they not fay afterwards 
 if they fhould grow themfelues to common Players (as 
 it is like moft if their meanes are noi better) their Wri- 
 ters do them wrong, to make them exclaim againft their 
 owne Succeflion. 
 
 jRoy?«.Faith there ha's bene much to do on both fides: 
 and the Nation holds it no finne, to tarre them to Con- 
 trouerfie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argu- 
 ment, vnlefle the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in 
 the Queftion. 
 
 Ham. Is't poflible ? 
 
 Guild. Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of 
 Braines. 
 
 Ham^ Do the Boyes carry it away ? 
 
 Roftn.l that they do my hoY^, Hercules 8c his load too. 
 
 Ham. It is not ftrange : for mine Vnckle is King of 
 Denmarke, and thofe that would make mowes at him 
 while my Father liued j giue twenty, forty, an hundred 
 Ducates a peece, for his pifture in Little. There is fome- 
 thing in this more then Naturall, if Philofophie could 
 finde it out. 
 
 Flour i/b for the Players. 
 
 Guil. There are the Players. 
 
 Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcom to Slfonower: your 
 hands, come : The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fafliion 
 and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe, 
 left my extent to the Players( which I tell you muft Ihew 
 fairely outward)fhould more appeare like entertainment 
 then yours. You are welcome : but my Vnckle Father, 
 and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd. 
 
 Guil. In what my deere Lord ? 
 
 Ham. I am but mad North, North -Weft : when the 
 Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handfaw. 
 Enter Polonius. 
 
 Pol. Well be with you Gentlemen. 
 
 Ham. Hearke you Guildenjierne^ and you too : at each 
 eare a hearer : that great Baby you fee there, is not yet 
 out of his fwathing clouts. 
 
 i?o/zn. Happily he's the fecond time come to them: for 
 they fay, an old man is twice a childe. 
 
 Ham. I will Prophefie. Hee comes to tell me of the 
 Players. Mark it, you fay right Sir : for a Monday mor- 
 ning 'twas fo indeed. 
 
 Tel. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. 
 
 Ham. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. 
 When R0JJ1U6 an Adlor in Rome 
 
 Pol. The A£lors are come hither my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Buzze, buzze. 
 
 Pol. Vpon mine Honor. 
 
 Ham. Then can each Adlor on his AfTe 
 
 Polon. The beft Adlors in the world, either for Trage- 
 die, Comedie, Hiftorie, Paftorall : Paftoricall-Comicall- 
 Hiftoricall-Paftorall : Tragicall- Hiftoricall : Tragicall- 
 Comicall-Hiftoricall-Paftorall : Scene indiuible, or Po- 
 em vnlimitcd. Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plautus 
 too light, for the law of Writ,and the Liberty. Thefe are 
 the onely men. 
 
 Ham. O lephta ludge of Ifrael, what a Treafure had'ft 
 thou ? 
 
 Pol. What a Treafure had he, my Lord ? 
 Ham. Why one fairc Daughtcr,and no more, 
 
 The which he loued pafling well. 
 
 Pol. Still on my Daughter. 
 
 Ham. Am I not i'th'right old lephta ? 
 
 Polon. If you call me lephta my Lord, I haue a daugh- 
 ter that I loue pafling well. 
 
 Ham. Nay that followes not. 
 
 Polon. What followes then, my Lord ? 
 
 ii/tf.Why, As by lot, God wot : and then you know. It 
 came to pafle, as moft like it was : The firft rowe of the 
 Pons Chanjon will Ihew you more. For looke where my 
 Abridgements come. 
 
 Enter foure or Jiue Players. 
 Y'are welcome Mafters, welcome all. I am glad to fee 
 thee well : Welcome good Friends. O my olde Friend ? 
 Thy face is valiant fince I faw thee laft : Com'ft thou to 
 beard me in Denmarke ? What, my yong Lady and Mi- 
 ftris?Byrlady your Ladiftiip is neerer Heauen then when 
 I faw you laft, by the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God 
 your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd 
 within the ring. Mafters, you are all welcome:wee'l e'ne 
 to*t like French Faulconers, flie at any thing we fee: wee'l 
 haue a Speech ftraight. Come giue vs a taft of your qua- 
 lity : come, a paflionate fpeech. 
 l.Play. What fpeech, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. I heard thee fpeak me a fpeech once, but it was 
 neuer Afted : or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I 
 remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cau'iarie to the 
 Generall : but it was (as I receiu'd it, and others, whofe 
 iudgement in fuch matters, cried in the top of mine) an 
 excellent Play ; well digefted in the Scoenes, fet downe 
 with as much modeftie,as cunning. I remember one faid, 
 there was no Sallets in the lines, to make the matter fa- 
 uoury; nor no matter in the phrafe, that might indite the 
 Author of affe6lation,but cal'd it an honeft method. One 
 cheefe Speech in it, I cheefely lou'd, 'twas c^Eneas Tale 
 to Didoy and thereabout of it efpecially, where he fpeaks 
 of Priams flaughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at 
 this Line, let me fee, let me fee : The rugged Pyrrhus like 
 tWHyrcanian Beaft. It is not fo : it begins with Pyrrhus 
 The rugged Tyrrhus^ he whofe Sable Armes 
 Blacke as his purpofe, did the night refemble 
 When he lay couched in the Ominous Horfe, 
 Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion fmear'd 
 With Heraldry more difmall: Head to foote 
 Now is he to take GeuUes, horridly Trick'd 
 With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes, 
 Bak'd and impafted with the parching ftreets, 
 That lend a tyrannous, and damned light 
 To their vilde Murthers, roafted in wrath and fire. 
 And thus o're-fized with coagulate gore. 
 With eyes like Carbuncles, the hellilh Pyrrhus 
 Old Grand fire Priam feekes. 
 
 Pol. Fore God, my Lord, well fpoken, with good ac- 
 cent, and good difcretion. 
 
 ^. Player. Anon he findes him, 
 Striking too ftiort at Greekes. His anticke Sword, 
 Rebellious to his Arme, lyes where it falles 
 Repugnant to command : vnequall match, 
 Pyrrhus at Priam driues, in Rage ftrikes wide : 
 But with the whifte and winde of his fell Sword, 
 Th'vnnerued Father fals. Then fenfelefle Illium, 
 Seeming to feele his blow, with flaming top 
 Stoopes to his Bace, and with a hideous cralh 
 Takes prifoner Tyrrhus eare. For loe, his Sword 
 Which was declining on the Milkie head 
 Of Reuerend Trww, feem'd i'th'Ayre to ftieke : 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 13 
 
 So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrhus flood, 
 
 And like a Newtrall to his will and matter, did nothing. 
 
 But as we often fee againft fome ftorme, 
 
 A filence in the Heauens, the Racke ftand ftill, 
 
 The bold windes fpeechlefle, and the Orbe below 
 
 As hufh as death : Anon the dreadfull Thunder 
 
 Doth rend the Region. So after Tyrrhm paufe, 
 
 A ro wfed Vengeance fets him new a-worke,l 
 
 And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall 
 
 On Mars his Armours, forg'd for proofe Eterne, 
 
 With lefle remorfethen Pyrrbus bleeding fword 
 
 Now falles on Priam. 
 
 Out, out, thou Strumpet-Fortune, all you Gods, 
 In generall Synod take away her power : 
 Breake all the Spokes and Tallies from her wheele. 
 And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen, 
 As low as to the Fiends. 
 Pol. This is too long. 
 
 Ham. It fhall to'th Barbars, with your beard. Pry- 
 thee fay on : He's for a ligge, or a tale of Baudry , or hee 
 fleepes. Say on j come to Hecuba. 
 
 I. Play. But who, O who, had feen the inobled Queen. 
 
 Ham. The inobled Queene ? 
 
 Pol. That's good : Inobled Queene is good. 
 
 l.Tlay. Run bare-foot vp and downe, 
 Threatning the flame 
 
 With Biflbn Rheume : A clout about that head. 
 
 Where late the Diadem ftood, and for a Robe 
 
 About her lanke and all ore-teamed Loines, 
 
 A blanket in th'Alarum offeare caught vp. 
 
 Who this had feene, with tongue in Venome fteep'd, 
 
 'Gainft Fortunes State, would Treafon haue pronounc'd? 
 
 But if the Gods themfelues did fee her then. 
 
 When flie faw Pyrrhus make malicious fport 
 
 In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes. 
 
 The inftant Burft of Clamour that flie made 
 
 (Vnlefle things mortall moue them not at all) 
 
 Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen, 
 
 And paflion in the Gods. 
 
 Pol. Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colour , and 
 ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more. 
 
 Ham. 'Tis well. He haue thee fpeake out the reft, 
 foone. Good my Lord, will you fee the Players wel be- 
 ftow'd. Do ye heare, let them be well vs'd : for they are 
 the Abftradls and breefe Chronicles of the time. After 
 your death, you were better haue a bad Epitaph, then 
 their ill report while you liued. 
 
 Pol. My Lord, I will vfe them according to their de- 
 fart. 
 
 Ham. Gods bodykins man, better. Vfe euerie man 
 after his defart, and who fliould fcape whipping : vfe 
 them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lefle they 
 deferue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them 
 in. 
 
 Pol. Come firs. Exit Tolon. 
 
 Ham. Follow him Friends:wee'l heare a play to mor- 
 row. Doft thou heare me old Friend, can you play the 
 murther of Qonzago ? 
 
 Play. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a 
 need ftudy a fpeech of fome dofen or fixteene lines, which 
 I would fet downe,and infert in'tf Could ye not? 
 
 Play. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you 
 mock him not. My good Friends, He leaue you til night 
 you are welcome to Eljonoiver ? 
 
 RoJln. Good my Lord. Exeunt, 
 cM'aaet Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. I fo, God buy'ye : Now I am alone. 
 Oh what a Rogue and Pefant flaue am I ? 
 Is it not monftrous that this Player heere, 
 But in a Fixion,in a dreame of Paflion, 
 Could force his foule fo to his whole conceit. 
 That from her working, all his vifage warm'd j 
 Teares in his eyes, diftradion in's Afpedl, 
 A broken voyce,and his whole Fundiion fuiting 
 With Formes, to his Conceit ? And all for nothing ? 
 For Hecuba ? 
 
 What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba^ 
 
 That he fhould weepe for her ? What would he doe. 
 
 Had he the Motiue and the Cue for paflTion 
 
 That I haue ? He would drowne the Stage with teares, 
 
 And cleaue the generall eare with horrid fpeech : 
 
 Make mad the guilty, and apale the free. 
 
 Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed, 
 
 The very faculty of Eyes and Eares. Yet I, 
 
 A dull and muddy-metled Rafcall,peake 
 
 Like lohn a-dreames, vnpregnant of my caufe, 
 
 And can fay nothing : No, not for a King, 
 
 Vpon whofe property, and moft deere life, 
 
 A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward ? 
 
 Who calles me Villaine ? breakes my pate a-crofl!e ? 
 
 Pluckes off my Beard, and blowes it in my face^ 
 
 Tweakes me by'th'Nofe/ giues me the Lye i'th'Throate, 
 
 As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this? 
 
 Ha? Why I fhould take it : for it cannot be. 
 
 But I am Pigeon-Liuer'd,and lacke Gall 
 
 To make Oppreflion bitter, or ere this, 
 
 I fhould haue fatted all the Region Kites 
 
 With this Slaues Offall, bloudy : a Bawdy villaine, 
 
 Remorfeleffe, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine j 
 
 Oh Vengeance ! 
 
 Who? What an Afle am I ? I fure, this is moft braue. 
 
 That I, the Sonne of the Deere murthered, 
 
 Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauen, and Hell, 
 
 Muft ( like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words, 
 
 And fall a Curfing like a very Drab, 
 
 A Scullion? Fye vpon't : Foh. About my Braine. 
 
 I haue heard, that guilty Creatures fitting at a Play, 
 
 Haue by the very cunning of the Scoene, 
 
 Bene ftrooke fo to the foule, that prefently 
 
 They haue proclaim'd their Malefadlions. 
 
 For Murther, though it haue no tongue, will fpeake 
 
 With moft myraculous Organ. He haue thefe Players, 
 
 Play fomething like the murder of my Father, 
 
 Before mine Vnkle. He obferue his lookes, 
 
 He tent him to the quicke : If he but blench 
 
 I know my courfe. The Spirit that I haue feene 
 
 May be the Diuell, and the Diuel hath power 
 
 T'aflume a pleafing (hape, yea and perhaps 
 
 Out of my Weaknefle, and my Melancholly, 
 
 As he is very potent with fuch Spirits, 
 
 Abufes me to damne me. He haue grounds 
 
 More Relatiue then this : The Play's the thing, 
 
 Wherein He catch the Confcience of the King. Exit 
 
 Enter King^ Queene ^ Poloniuiy Ophelia y 
 Jincrance, Guildenjlern ^ and Lords, 
 
 King. And can you by no drift of circumftance 
 Get from him why he puts on this Confufion : 
 Grating fo harftily all his dayes of quiet 
 
 With 
 
'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy. 
 
 Rofin. He does confeffe he feeles himfelfe diftradted, 
 But from what caufe he will by no meanes fpeake. 
 
 Gull. Nor do we finde him forward to be founded, 
 But with a crafty Madnefle keepes aloofe : 
 When we would bring him on to fome Confeflion 
 Of his true ftate. 
 
 Qu^. Did he receiue you well? 
 
 Rofin. Moft like a Gentleman. 
 
 Guild. But with much forcing of his difpofition. 
 
 Rofm. Niggard of queftion, but of our demands 
 Moft free in his reply. 
 
 S^u. Did you aflay him to any paftime ? 
 
 Rofin. Madam, it fo fell out, that certaine Players 
 We ore-wrought on the way : of thefe we told him, 
 And there did feeme in him a kindeof ioy 
 To heare of it: They are about the Court, 
 And (as I thinke) they haue already order 
 This night to play before him. 
 
 Fol. 'Tis moft true : 
 I And he befeech'd me to intreate your Maiefties 
 I To heare, and fee the matter. 
 
 I AT/w^.With all my heart, and it doth much content me 
 
 To heare him fo inclin'd. Good Gentlemen, 
 I Giue him a further edge, and driue his purpofe on 
 To thefe delights. 
 
 Rojin. We fhall my Lord. Exeunt, 
 
 King. Sweet Qertiude leaue vs too, 
 For we haue clofely fent for Hamlet hither, 
 That he, as 'twere by accident, may there 
 Affront Ophelia. Ker Father, and my felfe(lawful efpials) 
 Will fo beftow our felues, that feeing vnfeene 
 We may of their encounter frankely iudge, 
 And gather by him, as he is behaued, 
 irt be th'afflidtion of his loue,or no. 
 That thus he fuffers for.! 
 
 Qu^. I fhall obey you. 
 And for your part Ophelia^ I do wifh 
 That your good Beauties be the happy caufe 
 Of Hamlets wildenefTe : fo ftiall I hope your Vertues 
 Will bring him to his wonted way againe. 
 To both your Honors. 
 
 Ophe. Madam, I wifh it may. 
 
 Pol. Ophelia^ walke you heere. Gracious fo pleafe ye 
 We will beftow our felues : Reade on this booke, 
 That fhew of fuch an exercife may colour 
 Your lonelinefle. We are oft too blame in this, 
 *Tis too much prou'd, that with Deuotions vifage. 
 And pious Adion, we do furge o're 
 The diuell himfelfe. 
 
 King. Oh 'tis true : 
 How (mart a lafh that fpeech doth giue my Confcience ? 
 The Harlots Cheeke beautied with plaift'ring Art 
 Is not more vgly to the thing that helpes it, 
 Then is my deede, to my moft painted word. 
 Oh heauie burthen ! 
 
 Pol. I heare him comming, let's withdraw my Lord. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 Ham. To be, or not to be, that is the Queftion : 
 Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to fuffer 
 The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune, 
 Or to take Armes againft a Sea of troubles. 
 And by oppofing end them : to dye, to flcepe 
 No more j and by a flecpe, to fay we end 
 The Heart-akc, and the thoufand Naturall fhockcs 
 
 That Flefli is heyre too? 'Tis a confummation 
 
 Deuoutly to be wifh'd. To dye to fleepe. 
 
 To fleepe, perchance to Dreame 5 I, there's the rub. 
 
 For in that fleepe of death, what dreames may come, 
 
 When we haue ftiufflel'd off this mortall coile, 
 
 Muft giue vs pawfe. There's the refpedl 
 
 That makes Calamity of fo long life : 
 
 For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time. 
 
 The Oppreffors wrong, the poore mans Contumely, 
 
 The pangs of difpriz'd Loue, the Lawes delay. 
 
 The infolence of Office, and the Spurnes 
 
 That patient merit of the vn worthy takes. 
 
 When he himfelfe might his ^ietus make 
 
 With a bare Bodkin ? Who would thefe Fardles beare 
 
 To grunt and fweat vnder a weary life. 
 
 But that the dread of fomething after death, 
 
 The vndifcouered Countrey, from whofe Borne 
 
 No Traueiler returnes, Puzels the will. 
 
 And makes vs rather beare thofe illes we haue, 
 
 Then flye to others that we know not of. 
 
 Thus Confcience does make Cowards of vs all, 
 
 And thus the Natiue hew of Refolution 
 
 Is ficklied o're, with the pale caft of Thought, 
 
 And enterprizes of great pith and moment. 
 
 With this regard their Currants turne away. 
 
 And loofe the name of Adlion. Soft you now. 
 
 The faire Ophelia? Nimph, in thy Orizons 
 
 Be all my finnes remembred. 
 
 Ophe. Good my Lord, 
 How does your Honor for this many a day? 
 
 Ham. I humbly thanke you : well, well, well. 
 
 Ophe. My Lord, I haue Remembrances of yours. 
 That I haue longed long to re-deliuer. 
 I pray you now, receiue them. 
 
 Ham. No, no, I neuer gaue you ought. 
 
 Ophe. My honor'd Lord, I know right well you did. 
 And with them words of fo fweet breath compos'd, 
 As made the things more rich, then perfume left : 
 Take thefe againe, for to the Noble minde 
 Rich gifts wax poore, when giuers proue vnkinde. 
 There my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Ha, ha : Are you honeftj? 
 ' Ophe. My Lord. 
 
 Ham. Are you faire ? 
 
 Ophe. What meanes your Lordfhip ? 
 
 Ham. That if you be honeft and faire, your Honefty 
 Ihould admit no difcourfe to your Beautie. 
 
 Ophe. Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce 
 then your Honeftie ? 
 
 Ham. I trulie : for the power of Beautie, will fooner 
 transforme Honeftie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the 
 force of Honeftie can tranflate Beautie into his likeneffe. 
 This was fometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it 
 proofe. I did loue you once. 
 
 Ophe. Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue fo. 
 
 Ham. You fhould not haue beleeued me. For vertue 
 cannot fo innocculate our old ftocke, but we fhall rellifh 
 of it. I loued you not. 
 
 Ophe. I was the more deceiued. 
 
 Ham. Get thee to a Nunnerie. Why would'ft thou 
 be a breeder of Sinners ? I am my felfe indifferent honeft, 
 but yet I could accufe me of iuch things, that it were bet- 
 ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re- 
 uengefull. Ambitious, with more offences at my beckc, 
 then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue 
 them fhape, or time to aile them in. What fhould luch 
 
 Fel- 
 
T^he Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 15 
 
 Fellowes as I do, crawling betweene Heauen and Earth. 
 We are arrant Knaues all, beleeue none of vs. Goe thy 
 wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father ? 
 Opbe. At home, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Let the doores be fhut vpon him, that he may 
 play the Foole no way, but in's owne houfe. Farewell. 
 
 Ophe. O helpe him, you fweet Heauens. 
 
 Ham. If thou doeft Marry, lie giue thee this Plague 
 for thy Dowrie.Be thou as chaft as Ice, as pure as Snow, 
 thou flialt not efcape Calumny. Get thee to a Nunnery. 
 Go, Farewell. Or if thou wilt needs Marry, marry a fool : 
 for Wife men know well enough, what monfters you 
 make of them. To a Nunnery go, and quickly too. Far- 
 well. 
 
 Opbe. O heauenly Powers, reftore him. 
 
 Ham. I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough. 
 God has giuen you one pace, and you make your felfe an- 
 Other:you gidge,you amble, and you lifpe, and nickname 
 Gods creatures, and make your Wantonnefle, your Ig- 
 norance, Go too. He no more on't, it hath made me mad. 
 I fay, we will haue no more Marriages. TJiofe that are 
 married already, all but one fhall liue, the reft fhall keep 
 as they are. To a Nunnery, go. Exit Hamlet . 
 
 Opbe. O what a Noble minde is heere o're-throwne ? 
 The Courtiers, Soldiers, Schollers : Eye, tongue, fword, 
 Th'expedlanfie and Rofe of the faire State, 
 The glafle of Fafhion, and the mould of Forme, 
 Th'obferu'd of all Obferuers, quite, quite downe. 
 Haue I of Ladies moft deiedl and wretched, 
 That fuck'd the Honie of his Muficke Vowes : 
 Now fee that Noble, and moft Soueraigne Reafon, 
 Like fweet Bels iangled out of tune,and harlh. 
 That vnmatch'd Forme and Feature of blowne youth, 
 Blafted with extafie. Oh woe is me, 
 T'haue feene what I haue feene : fee what I fee. 
 
 Enter King, and Polonius. 
 
 King. Loue ? His afFeftions do not that way tend, 
 Nor what he fpake, though it lack'd Forme a little. 
 Was not like Madnefle. There's fomething in his foule ? 
 O're which his MelanchoUy fits on brood. 
 And I do doubt the hatch, and the difclofe 
 Will be fome danger, which to preuent 
 I haue in quicke determination 
 Thus fet it downe. He fhall with fpeed to England 
 For the demand of our negleded Tribute : 
 Haply the Seas and Countries different 
 With variable Obieds, /hall expell 
 This fomething fetled matter in his heart : 
 Whereon his Braines ftill beating, puts him thus 
 From fafhion of himfelfe. Whatthinke you on't? 
 
 Tol. It fhall do well. But yet do I beleeue 
 The Origin and Commencement of this greefe 
 Sprung from neglefted loue. How now Ophelia ? 
 You neede not tell vs, what Lord Hamlet faide, 
 We heard it all. My Lord, do as you pleafe. 
 But if you hold it fit after the Play, 
 Let his Queene Mother all alone intreat him 
 To fhew his Greefes : let her be round with him, 
 And He be plac'd fb, pleafe you in the eare 
 Of all their Conference. If fhe finde him not. 
 To England fend him : Or confine him where 
 Your wifedome beft fhall thinke. 
 
 King. It fhall be fo : 
 MadnefTe in great Ones, muft not vnwatch'd go. 
 
 Exeunt, 
 
 Enter Hamlet ^and two or three of the Players. 
 
 Ham» Speake the Speech I pray you, as I pronounc'd 
 it to you trippingly on the Tongue : But if you mouth it, 
 as many of your Players do, I had as liue the Town-Cryer 
 had fpoke my Lines : Nor do not faw the Ayre too much 
 your hand thus, but vfe all gently j for in the verie Tor- 
 rent, Tempeft, and (as I may fay) the Whirle-winde of 
 Paflion, you muft acquire and beget a Temperance that 
 may giue it Smoothneffe. O it offends mee to the Soule, 
 to fee a robuftious Pery-wig-pated Fellow, teare a Pafli- 
 on to tatters, to verie ragges, to fplit the eares of the 
 Groundlings : who (for the moft part) are capeable of 
 nothing, but inexplicable dumbe fhewes,& noife:I could 
 haue fuch a Fellow whipt for o're-doing Termagant : it 
 out-Herod''s Herod. Pray you auoid it. 
 
 Player. I warrant your Honor. 
 
 Ham. Be not too tame neyther : but let your owne 
 Difcretion be your Tutor. Sute the Aftion to the Word, 
 the Word to the Adtion, with this fpeciall obferuance : 
 That you ore-ftop not the modeftie of Nature ; for any 
 thing fo ouer-done, is frS the purpofe of Playing, whofe 
 end both at the firft and now, was and is, to hold as 'twer 
 the Mirrour vp to Nature ; to fhew Vertue her owne 
 Feature, Scorne her owne Image, and the verie Age and 
 Bodie of the Time, his forme and preffure. Now, this 
 ouer-done, or come tardie off", though it make the vnskil- 
 full laugh, cannot but make the ludicious greeue 5 The 
 cenfure of the which One, muft in your allowance o're- 
 way a whole Theater of Others. Oh, there bee Players 
 that I haue feene Play, and heard others praife, and that 
 highly (not to fpeake it prophanely) that neyther hauing 
 the accent of Chriftians, nor the gate of Chriftian, Pagan, 
 or Norman, haue fo ftrutted and bellowed, that I haue 
 thought fome of Natures louerney-men had made men, 
 and not made them well, they imitated Humanity fo ab- 
 hominably. 
 
 Tlay. I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with 
 vs, Sir. 
 
 Ham. O reforme it altogether. And let thofe that 
 play your Clownes, fpeake no more then is fet downe for 
 them. For there be of them, that will themfelues laugh, 
 to fet on fome quantitie of barren Spedlators to laugh 
 too, though in the meane time, fome neceffary Qu^eftion 
 of the Play be then to be confidered : that's Villanous, 2c 
 fhewes a moft pittifuU Ambition in the Foole that vfes 
 it. Go make you readie. Exit Players. 
 
 Enter PolonitUy %oJincrance ^and Guildenjierne. 
 
 How now my Lord, 
 
 Will the King heare this peece of Worke? 
 
 Pol. And the Queene too, and that prefently. 
 
 Ham. Bid the Players make haft. Exit Polonius. 
 
 Will you two helpe to haften them ? 
 
 '\Both. We will my Lord. Exeunt. 
 Enter Horatio. 
 
 Ham. What hoa, Horatio ? 
 
 Hora. Heere fweet Lord, at your Seruice. 
 
 Ham. Horatio, thou art eene as iuft a man 
 As ere my Conuerfation coap'd withall. 
 
 Hora. O my deere Lord. 
 
 Ham. Nay, do not thinke I flatter : 
 For what aduancement may I hope from thee. 
 That no Reuennew haft, but thy good fpirits 
 
 To 
 
i6 
 
 'The Tr age die of Hamlet, 
 
 To feed & cloath thee. Why fhold the poor be flatter'd ? 
 
 No, let the Candied tongue, like abfurd pompe, 
 
 And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee, 
 
 Where thrift may follow fainlng? Doft thou heare. 
 
 Since my deere Soule was Miftris of my choyfe, 
 
 And could of men diftinguifh, her election 
 
 Hath feal'd thee for her felfe. For thou haft bene 
 
 As one in fuffering all, that fuffers nothing, 
 
 A man that Fortunes buffets, and Rewards 
 
 Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And bleft are thofe, 
 
 Whofe Blood and Judgement are fo well co-mingled, 
 
 That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes finger, 
 
 To found what ftop flie pleafe. Giue me that man. 
 
 That is not PafTions Slaue, and I will weare him 
 
 In my hearts Core: I, in my Heart of heart, 
 
 As I do thee. Something too much of this. 
 
 There is a Play to night before the King, 
 
 One Scoene of it comes neere the Circumftance 
 
 Which I haue told thee, of my Fathers death. 
 
 I prythee, when thou fee'ft that Afte a-foot, 
 
 Euen with the verie Comment of my Soule 
 
 Obferue mine Vnkle : If his occulted guilt, 
 
 Do not it felfe vnkennell in one fpeech, 
 
 It is a damned Ghoft that we haue feene : 
 
 And my Imaginations are as foule 
 
 As Vulcans Sty the. Giue him need full note, 
 
 For I mine eyes will riuet to his Face : 
 
 And after we will both our iudgements ioyne, 
 
 To cenfure of his feeming. 
 
 Hora. Well my Lord. 
 If he fteale ought the whil'ft this Play is Playing, 
 And fcape detedmg, I will pay the Theft. 
 
 Enter King, Queene, PoIoniuSy Ophelia, Rojincrance , 
 Quildenjierne , and other Lords attendant ,mth 
 hid Guard carrying Torches. Danijh 
 March. Sound a flourijh. 
 
 ham. They are comming to the Play : I muft be idle. 
 Get you a place. 
 
 King. How fares our Cofin Hamlet ? 
 
 Ham. Excellent Ifalth, of the Camelions di/h : I eate 
 the Ayre promife-cramm'd, you cannot feed Capons fo. 
 
 King. I haue nothing with this anfwer Hamlet, thefe 
 words are not mine. 
 
 Ham. No, nor mine. Now my Lord, you plaid once 
 i'th'Vniuerfity , you fay ? 
 
 Po/off. That I did my Lord, and was accounted a good 
 Aftor. 
 
 Ham. And what did you enadt ? 
 
 Pol. I did enaa lulm Qajar, I was kill'd i'th'Capitol : 
 Brutus kill'd me. 
 
 Ham. It was a bruite part of him, to kill fo Capitall a 
 Calfe there. Be the Players ready ? 
 
 Rofm. I my Lord, they ftay vpon your patience. 
 
 Siu. Come hither my good Hamlet, fit by me. 
 
 Ha. No good Mother, here's Mettle more attradliue. 
 
 Pol. Oh ho, do you marke that / 
 
 Ham, Ladie, fliall I lye in your Lap ? 
 
 Ophe. No my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I meane,my Head vpon your Lap? 
 Ophe. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Do you thinke I meant Country matters ? 
 Ophe. I thinke nothing, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. That's a faire thought to ly between Maids legs 
 Ophe. What is my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Nothing. 
 
 Ophe. You are merrie, my Lord } 
 Ham. Who I.? 
 Ophe, I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Oh God, your onely ligge-maker: what fliould 
 a man do, but be merrie. For looke you how cheereful- 
 ly my Mother lookes, and my Father dyed within's two 
 Houres. 
 
 Ophe. Nay, 'tis twice two moneths,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare blacke, 
 for He haue a fuite of Sables. Oh Heauens! dye two mo- 
 neths ago, and not forgotten yet ? Then there's hope, a 
 great mans Memorie, may out-liue his life halfe a yeare : 
 But byrlady he muft builde Churches then : or elfe fhall 
 he fuffer not thinking on, with the Hoby-horfle, whofe 
 Epitaph is. For o. For o, the Hoby-horfe is forgot. 
 
 Hoboyes play. The dumbe Jhevp enters . 
 Enter a King and Slueene , "very louingly ; the S^eene embra- 
 cing him. She l^neeles ,and maizes Jhew of Protejiation -vnto 
 him. He tal^es her vp , and declines his head -vpon her neci^. 
 Layes him downe vpon a Ban^e of Flowers. She feeing him 
 a-Jleepe, leaues him. Anon comes in a Fellow, tal^es off his 
 Crowne, kjffes it ^and powres poyfon in the Kings eares, and 
 Exits. The ^eene returnes, findes the King dead, and 
 maizes pajjionate ABion. The Poyfoner, with fome two or 
 three chutes comes in againe, feeming to lament with her. 
 The dead body is carried away : The Poyfoner Wooes the 
 Slueene with Gifts, Jhe feemes loath and unwilling awhile, 
 but in the end, accepts his hue . Exeunt 
 
 Ophe. What meanes this, my Lord ? 
 Ham. Marry this is Miching e^alicbo, that meanes 
 Mifcheefe. 
 
 Ophe. Belike this fliew imports the Argument of the 
 Play ? 
 
 Ham. We fhall know by thefe Fellowes : the Players 
 cannot keepe counfell, they'l tell all. 
 
 Ophe. Will they tell vs what this fhew meant? 
 
 Ham. I, or any fhew that you'l fhew him. Bee not 
 you afham'd to fhew, hee'l not fhame to tell you what it 
 meanes. 
 
 Ophe. You are naught, you are naught, He marke the 
 Play. 
 
 Enter Prologue. 
 For vs, and for our Tragedicy 
 Heere flooping to your Clemencie : 
 We begge your hearing Patient lie. 
 
 Ham. Is this a Prologue, or the Poefie of a Ring ? 
 
 Ophe. *Tis briefe my Lord. 
 
 Ham. As Womans loue. 
 
 Enter King and his Queene. 
 
 King.YvW thirtie times hath Phoebus Cart gon round, 
 Neptunes fait Wafh, and Tcllus Orbed ground : 
 And thirtie dozen Moones with borrowed fheenc. 
 About the World haue times twelue thirties beene, 
 Since loue our hearts, and Hymen did our hands 
 Vnite comutuall,in moft facred Bands. 
 
 'Bap, So many iournies may the Sunne and Moone 
 Make vs againe count o're, ere loue be done. 
 But woe is me, you are fo ficke of late. 
 So farre from cheere,and from your forme ftate. 
 That I diftruft you : yet though I diftruft, 
 Difcomfort you (my Lord) it nothing muft : 
 For womens Feare and Loue, holds quantitic. 
 
 In 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet, 
 
 In neither ought, or in extremity : 
 
 Now what my loue is, proofe hath made you know, 
 
 And as my Loue is liz'd, my Feare is fo. 
 
 King, Faith I muft leaue thee Loue, and fhortly too : 
 My operant Powers my Fundions leaue to do : 
 And thou ihalt liue in this faire world behinde, 
 Honoured, belou'd, and haply, one as kinde. 
 For Husband flialt thou 
 
 Bap. Oh confound the reft : 
 Such Loue, muft needs be Treafon in my breft : 
 In fecond Husband, let me be accurft, 
 None wed the fecond, but who kill'd the firft.' 
 
 Ham. Wormwood, Wormwood. 
 
 'Bapt. The inftances that fecond Marriage moue, 
 Are bafe refpedls of Thrift, but none of Loue. 
 A fecond time, I kill my Husband dead, 
 When fecond Husband kiffes me in Bed. 
 
 King. I do beleeue you. Think what now you fpeak : 
 But what we do determine, oft we breake : 
 Purpofe is but the flaue to Memorie, 
 Of violent Birth, but poore validitie: 
 Which now like Fruite vnripe ftickes on the Tree, 
 But fall vnfhaken, when they mellow bee. 
 Moft neceflary 'tis, that we forget 
 To pay our felues, what to our felues is debt ; 
 What to our felues in paflion we propofe, 
 The paflion ending, doth the purpofe lofe. 
 The violence of other Greefe or Joy, 
 Their owne ennadlors with themfelues deftroy : 
 Where loy moft Reuels, Greefe doth moft lament j 
 Greefe ioyes, loy greeues on llender acc'ident. 
 This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not ftrange 
 That euen our Loues fhould with our Fortunes change. 
 For 'tis a queftion left vs yet to proue. 
 Whether Loue lead Fortune, or elfe Fortune Loue. 
 The great man downe, you marke his fauourites Hies, 
 The poore aduanc'd, makes Friends of Enemies : 
 And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend. 
 For who not needs, fhall neuer lacke a Frend : 
 And who in want a hollow Friend doth try, 
 Direftly feafons him his Enemie. 
 But orderly to end, where I begun. 
 Our Willes and Fates do fo contrary run, 
 That our Deuices ftill are ouerthrowne. 
 Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our owne. 
 So thinke thou wilt no fecond Husband wed. 
 But die thy thoughts, when thy firft Lord is dead. 
 
 'Bap. Nor Earth to giue me food, nor Heauen light. 
 Sport and repofe locke from me day and night : 
 Each oppofite that blankes the face of ioy. 
 Meet what I would haue well, and it deftroy • 
 Both heere, and hence, purfue me lafting ftrife, 
 If once a Widdow, euer I be Wife. 
 
 Ham, If /he fhould breake it now. 
 
 King. 'Tis deepely fworne : 
 Sweet, leaue me heere a while. 
 My fpirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile 
 The tedious day with fleepe. 
 
 Qu. Sieepe rocke thy Braine, Sleepes 
 And neuer come mifchance betweene vs twaine. Exit 
 
 Ham. Madam, how like you this Play ? 
 
 j^. The Lady protefts to much me thinkes. 
 
 Ham. Oh but fhee'l keepe her word. 
 
 King. Haue you heard the Argument, is there no Of- 
 fence in't ? 
 
 Ham. No, no, they do but ieft, poyfon in ieft, no Of- 
 
 17 
 
 fence i'th'world. 
 
 King. What do you call the Play ? 
 
 Ham. The Moufe-trap : Marry how? Tropically : 
 This Play is the Image of a murder done in Vienna: Qon- 
 zago is the Dukes name, his wife 'Baptijia : you fhall fee 
 anon : 'tis a knauifh peece of worke : But what o'that ? 
 Your Maieftie, and wee that haue free foules, it touches 
 vs not : let the gall d iade winch: our withers are vnrung. 
 
 Enter Lucianus . 
 This is one Lucianus nephew to the King. 
 
 Ophe. You are a good Chorus, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I could interpret betweene you and your loue : 
 if I could fee the Puppets dallying. 
 
 Ophe. You are keene my Lord, you are keene. 
 
 Ham. It would coft you a groaning, to take off my 
 edge. 
 
 Ophe. Still better and worfe. 
 
 Ham. So you miftake Husbands. 
 Begin Murderer. Pox, leaue thy damnable Faces, and 
 begin. Come, the croaking Rauen doth bellow for Re- 
 uenge. 
 
 Lucian. Thoughts blacke, hands apt, 
 Drugges fit, and Time agreeing : 
 Confederate feafon, elfe, no Creature feeing : 
 Thou mixture ranke, of Midnight Weeds coUe£led, 
 With Hecats Ban, thrice blafted, thrice infedted, 
 Thy naturall Magicke,and dire propertie, 
 On wholfome life, vfurpe immediately. 
 
 Povcres the poyfon in his eares . 
 
 Ham. He poyfons him i'th'Garden for's eftate : His 
 name's Gon-zago : the Story is extant and writ in choyce 
 Italian. You fhall fee anon how the Murtherer gets the 
 loue of Gonzago's wife. 
 
 Ophe. The King rifes. 
 
 Ham. What, frighted with falfe fire. 
 
 Qu. How fares my Lord ? 
 
 Pol. Giue o're the Play. 
 
 King. Giue me fome Light. Away. 
 
 y^//. Lights, Lights, Lights. Exeunt 
 Manet Hamlet & Horatio. 
 
 Ham. Why let the ftrucken Deere go weepe, 
 The Hart vngalled play : 
 
 For fome muft watch, while fome muft fleepe j 
 So runnes the world away. 
 
 Would not this Sir, and a Forreft of Feathers, if the reft of 
 my Fortunes turne Turke with me; with two Prouinciall 
 Rofes on my rac'd Shooes, get me a Fellowfhip in a crie 
 of Players fir. 
 
 Hor. Halfe a fhare. 
 
 Ham. A whole one I, 
 For thou doft know : Oh Damon deere, 
 This Realme difmantled was of loue himfelfe, 
 And now reignes heere. 
 A verie verie Paiocke. 
 
 Hora. You might haue Rim'd. 
 
 Ham. Oh good Horatio, He take the Ghofts word for 
 a thoufand pound. Did'ft perceiue ? 
 
 Hora. Verie well my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Vpon the talke of the poyfoning? 
 
 Hora. I did verie well note him. 
 
 Enter Rojincrance and Guildenfierne. 
 
 Ham. Ohyhai Come fome Mufick. Come y Recorders: 
 For if the King like not the Comedie, 
 Why then belike he likes it not perdie. 
 Come fome Muficke. 
 
 Guild. Good my Lord, vouchfafe me a word with you. 
 
 C Ham. 
 
1 8 'Hhe rage die of Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Sir, a whole Hiftory. 
 guild. The King, fir. 
 Ham. I fir, what of him ? 
 
 Guild. Is in his retyrement, maruellous diftemperM. 
 
 Ham. With drinke Sir ? 
 
 Quild. No my Lord, rather with choUer. 
 
 Ham. Your wifedome fhould fhew it felfe more ri- 
 cher, to fignifie this to his Dodlor: for for me to put him 
 to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre 
 more Choller. 
 
 Guild. Good my Lord put your difcourfe into fome 
 frame, and ftart not fo wildely from my affayre. 
 
 Ham. I am tame Sir, pronounce. 
 
 Guild. The Queene your Mother, in moft great affli- 
 ction of fpirit, hath fent me to you. 
 Ham. You are welcome. 
 
 Guild. Nay, good my Lord, this courtefie is not of 
 the right breed. If it fhall pleafe you to make me a whol- 
 fome anfwer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment : 
 if not, your pardon, and my returne fhall bee the end of 
 my BufinefTe. 
 
 Ham. Sir, I cannot. 
 
 Gnild. What, my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Make you a wholfome anfwere : my wits dif- 
 eas'd. But fir, fuch anfwers as I can make, you fhal com- 
 mand : or rather you fay, my Mother : therfore no more 
 but to the matter. My Mother you fay. 
 
 Rojin. Then thus fhe fayes : your behauior liath ftroke 
 her into amazement, and admiration. 
 
 Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can fo aftonifli a 
 Mother. But is there no fequell at the heeles of this Mo- 
 thers admiration ? 
 
 Rofm. She defires to fpeake with you In her Cloflet, 
 ere you go to bed. 
 
 Ham. We fhall obey, were fhe ten times our Mother. 
 Haue you any further Trade with vs? 
 
 Rofm. My Lord, you once did loue me. 
 
 Ham. So I do flill, by thefe pickers and ftealers. 
 
 Rojin, Good my Lord, what is your caufe of dif^em- 
 per?You do freely barre the doore of your owne Liber- 
 tie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend. 
 
 Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement, 
 
 Rofin. How can that be, when you haue the voyce of 
 the King himfelfe, for your Succefiion in Denmarke ? 
 
 Ham. I, but while the grafTe growes, the Prouerbe is 
 fomething mufty. 
 
 Enter one xvith a Recorder. 
 O the Recorder. Let me fee, to withdraw with you, why 
 do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you 
 would driue me into a toyle ? 
 
 Guilds O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue 
 is too vnmannerly. 
 
 Ham. I do not well vnderfland that. Will you play 
 vpon this Pipe ? 
 
 Guild. My Lord, I cannot. 
 
 Ham. I pray you. 
 
 Guild. Beleeue me, I cannot. 
 
 Ham. I do bcfecch you. 
 
 (juild. I know no touch of it,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. 'Tis as eafie as lying : gouerne thefe Ventiges 
 with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your 
 mouth, and it will difcourfe mofl excellent Muficke. 
 Looke you, thefe are the floppes. 
 
 Guild. But thefe cannot I command to any vtterance . 
 of hcrmony, I haue not the skill. 
 
 Ham. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing 
 
 you make of me : you would play vpon mee j you would 
 feeme to know my flops : you would pluck out the heart 
 of my Myflerie ; you would found mee from my lowefl 
 Note, to the top of my Compafi^e: and there is much Mu- 
 ficke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot 
 you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am eafier to bee 
 plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Inflrument you will, 
 though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me. God 
 blefTe you Sir. 
 
 Enter Polonius. 
 
 Polon, My Lordjthe Queene would fpeak with you, 
 and prefently. 
 
 Ham. Do you fee that Clowd? that's almoft in fhape 
 like a Camell. 
 
 Polony By'th'MifTe, and it's like a Camell indeed. 
 
 Ham. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell. 
 
 Polon, It is back'd like a Weazell. 
 
 Ham, Or like a Whale ? 
 
 Polon. Verie like a Whale. 
 
 Ham. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by : 
 They foole me to the top of my bent. 
 I will come by and by. 
 
 Polon. I will fay fo. Exit. 
 
 Ham. By and by, is eafily faid. Leaue me Friends: 
 'Tis now the verie witching time of night, 
 When Churchyards yawne,and Hell it felfe breaths out 
 Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood. 
 And do fuch bitter bufineflfe as the day 
 Would quake to looke on. Soft now, to my Mother : 
 Oh Heart, loofe not thy Nature ; let not euer 
 The Soule of Nero^ enter this firme bofome : 
 Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall, 
 I will fpeake Daggers to her, but vfe none : 
 My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites. 
 How in my words fomeuer fhe be fhent. 
 To giue them Scales, neuer my Soule confent. 
 
 Enter King ^Rojinerance y and Guildenjierne. 
 
 fCing. I like him not, nor flands it fafe with vs, 
 To let his madnefTe range. Therefore prepare you, 
 I your CommifTion will forthwith difpatch, 
 And he to England fhall along with you : 
 The termes of our eflate, may not endure 
 Hazard fo dangerous as doth hourely grow 
 Out of his Lunacies. 
 
 Guild. We will our felues prouide : 
 Moft holie and Religious feare it is 
 To keepe thofe many many bodies fafe 
 That liue and feede vpon your Maieftie. 
 
 Rofin. The fingle 
 And peculiar life is bound 
 
 With all the ftrength and Armour of the minde. 
 To keepe it felfe from noyance : but much more, 
 That Spirit, vpon whofe fpirit depends and refts 
 The liues of many, the ceafe of Maieflie 
 Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw 
 What's neere it, with it. It is a maffie wheele 
 Fixt on the Somnct of the highefl Mount, 
 To whofe huge Spoakes, ten thoufand lefTer things 
 Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd : which when it falles, 
 Each fmall annexment, pettie confequence 
 Attends the boyftrous Ruine. Neuer alone 
 Did the King fighe, but with a generall grone. 
 
 King. Arme you, I pray you to this fpeedie Voyage; 
 For we will Fetters put vpon this feare, 
 
 Which 
 
The Tragedte of Hamlet. 
 
 19 
 
 Which now goes too free-footed. 
 
 Both. We will hafte vs. Exeunt Gent. 
 
 Enter Polonius . 
 
 Pol. My Lord, he's going to his Mothers Cloflet : 
 Behinde the Arras He conuey my felfe 
 To heare the Procefle. He warrant fhee'l tax him home, 
 And as you faid, and wifely was it faid, 
 'Tis meete that fome more audience then a Mother, 
 Since Nature makes them partiall, fhould o're-heare 
 The fpeech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege, 
 He call vpon you ere you go to bed, 
 And tell you what I know. 
 
 King. Thankes deere my Lord. 
 Oh my offence is ranke, it fmels to heauen. 
 It hath the primall eldeft curfe vpon't, 
 A Brothers murther. Pray can I not, 
 Though inclination be as lharpe as will: 
 My ftronger guilt, defeats my ftrong intent, 
 And like a man to double bufinelTe bound, 
 I ftand in paufe where I lhall firft begin, 
 And both negledl ; what if this curfed hand 
 Were thicker then it felfe with Brothers blood, 
 Is there not Raine enough in the fweet Heaaens 
 To wafh it white as Snow ? Whereto ferues mercy, 
 But to confront the vifage of Offence ? 
 And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force, 
 To be fore-llalled ere we come to fall, 
 Or pardon'd being downe ? Then He looke vp, 
 My fault is pafl. But oh, what forme of Prayer 
 Can ferue my turne ? Forgiue me my foule Murther : 
 That cannot be, fmce I am ftill pofTefl 
 Of thofe effefts for which I did the Murther. 
 My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene : 
 May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence ? 
 In the corrupted currants of this world. 
 Offences gilded hand may fhoue by luflice, 
 And oft 'tis feene, the wicked prize it felfe 
 Euyes out the Law; but 'tis not fo aboue, 
 There is no fhuffling, there the Adtion lyes 
 In his true Nature, and we our felues compell'd 
 Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults, 
 To giue in euidence. What then F What refts? 
 Try what Repentance can. What can itnot^ 
 Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? 
 Oh wretched flate ! Oh bofome, blacke as death ! 
 Oh limed foule, that ftrugling to be free. 
 Art more ingag'd : Helpe Angels, make alTay : 
 Bow flubborne knees,and heart with firings of Steele, 
 Be foft as finewesof the new-borne Babe, 
 All may be well. 
 
 Enter Hamlet, 
 
 Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, 
 And now He doo't, and fo he goes to Heauen, 
 And fo am I reueng'd : that would be fcann'd, 
 A Villaine kilies my Father, and for that 
 I his foule Sonne, do this fame Villaine fend 
 To heauen. Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge. 
 He tooke my Father groffely, full of bread. 
 With all his Crimes broad blowne,as frefh as May, 
 And how his Audit Hands, who knowes,faue Heauen : 
 But in our circumflance and courfe of thought 
 *Tis heauie with him : and am I then reueng'd, 
 To take him in the purging of his Soule, 
 When he is fit and feafon'd for his pafTage ? No. 
 Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent 
 
 When he is drunke afleepe : or in his Rage, 
 
 Or in th'incefluous pleafure of his bed. 
 
 At gaming, fwearing,or about fome adte 
 
 That ha's no rellifh of Saluation in't, 
 
 Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen, 
 
 And that his Soule may be as damn'd aud blacke 
 
 As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother flayes. 
 
 This Phyficke but prolongs thy fickly dayes. Exit. 
 
 King. My words flye vp,my thoughts remain below. 
 Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go» Exit. 
 
 Enter ^^ueene and Polomu6. 
 Pol. He will come ftraight : 
 Looke you lay home to him. 
 
 Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with, 
 And that your Grace hath fcree'nd,and ftoode betweene 
 Much heate,and him. He filence me e'ene heere : y 
 Pray you be round with him. 
 
 Ham.within. Mother, mother, mother. 
 
 Qjj. He warrant you,feare me not. 
 Withdraw, I heare him comming. 
 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Now Mother, what's the matter? 
 
 Qu. Hamlet, thou haft thy Father much offended. 
 
 Ham. Mother, you haue my Father much offended. 
 
 S^u. Come, come, you anfwer with an idle tongue. 
 
 Ham, Go, go, you queftion with an idle tongue. 
 Why how now Hamlet ? 
 
 Ham. Whats the matter now? 
 
 Q^. Haue you forgot me? 
 
 Ham. No by the Rood, not fo : 
 You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife, 
 But would you were not fo. You are my Mother. 
 
 Q_u. Nay, then He fet thofe to you that can fpeake. 
 
 Ham. Come, come, and lit you downe, you fhall not 
 boudge : 
 
 You go not till I fet you vp a glaffe, 
 Where you may fee the inmoft part of you ? 
 
 Q_u. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me ? 
 Helpe, helpe, hoa. 
 
 Pol. What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe. 
 
 Ham. How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate,dead. 
 
 Pol, Oh I am flaine. Killei Polon im, 
 
 Qu. Oh me, what haft thou done ? 
 
 Ham. Nay I know not, is it the King ? 
 
 Qu^. Oh what a rafh,and bloody deed is this ? 
 
 Ham. A bloody deed,almoft as bad good Mother, 
 As kill a King, and marrie with his Brother. 
 
 Qu. As kill a King ? 
 
 Ham. I Lady, 'twas my word. 
 Thou wretched, rafh, intruding foole farewell, 
 J tooke thee for thy Betters, take thy Fortune, 
 Thou find'ft to be too bufie, is fome danger. 
 Leaue wringing of your hands, peace, fit you downe, 
 And let me wring your heart, for fo I fhall 
 If it be made of penetrable ftuffe; 
 If damned Cuftome haue not braz'd it fo, 
 That it is proofe and bulwarke againft Senfe. 
 
 ^.What haue I done, that thou dar'ft wag thy tong. 
 In noife fo rude againft me ? 
 
 Ham. Such an Adl 
 That blurres the grace and blufh of Modeftie, 
 Cals Vertue Hypocrite, takes off the Rofe 
 From the faire forehead of an innocent loue. 
 And makes a blifter there. Makes marriage vowes 
 As falfe as Dicers Oathes. Oh fuch a deed, 
 
 C% As 
 
20 
 
 T!he 'Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 As from the body of Contraftion pluckes 
 The very foule, and fweete Religion makes 
 A rapfidie of words. Heauens face doth glow, 
 Yea this folidity and compound mafle, 
 With triftfuU vifage as againft the doome, 
 Is thought-ficke at the aft. 
 
 Qji. Aye me ; what aft, that roares fo lowd, & thun- 
 ders in the Index. 
 
 Ham. Looke heere vpon this Pifture, and on this, 
 The counterfet prefentment of two Brothers : 
 See what a grace was feated on his Brow, 
 Hyperions curies, the front of loue himfelfe. 
 An eye like Mars, to threaten or command 
 A Station, like the Herald Mercuric 
 New lighted on a heauen-kifling hill : 
 A Combination, and a forme indeed. 
 Where euery God did feeme to fet his Scale, 
 To giue the world affurance of a man. 
 Tliis was your Husband. Looke you now what followes. 
 Heere is your Husband, like a Mildew'd care 
 Blafting his wholfom breath. Haue you eyes? 
 Could you on this faire Mountaine leaue to feed. 
 And batten on this Moore ? Ha ? Haue you eyes ? 
 You cannot call it Loue : For at your age. 
 The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, 
 And waites vpon the ludgement : and what ludgcment 
 Would ftep from this, to this ? What diuell was't, 
 That thus hath coufend you at hoodman-blinde ? 
 O Shame \ where is thy Blufh ? Rebellious Hell, 
 If thou canft mutine in a Matrons bones, 
 To flaming youth, Jet Vertue be as waxe, 
 And melt in her owne fire. Proclaime no fhame, 
 When the compulfiue Ardure giues the charge, 
 Since Froft it felfe, as aftiucly doth burne, 
 As Reafon panders Will. 
 
 O Hamlet^ fpeake no more. 
 Thou turn'ft mine eyes into my very foule, 
 And there I fee fuch blacke and grained fpots, 
 As will not leaue their Tinft. 
 
 Ham. Nay, but to Hue 
 In the ranke fweat of an enfeamed bed, 
 Stew'd in Corruption ; honying and making loue 
 Ouer the nafty Stye. 
 
 Siu. Oh fpeake to mc, no more, 
 Thele words like Daggers enter in mine cares. 
 No more fweet Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. A Murderer, and a Villaine : 
 A Slaue, that is not twentieth patt the tythe 
 Of your precedent Lord. A vice of Kings, 
 A Cutpurfe of the Empire and the Rule. 
 That from a flieife,the precious Diadem ftole. 
 And put it in his Pocket. 
 S^u. No more. 
 
 Snter Ghojt. 
 
 Ham. A King of fhreds and patches. 
 Saue me ; and houer o're me with your wings 
 Vou heaucnly Guards. What would you gracious figure? 
 
 S^u. Alas he's mad. 
 
 Ham. Do you net come your tardy Sonne to chide, 
 That iaps't in Time and Paflion, lets go by 
 Th'important afting of your dread command ? Oh fay. 
 
 (jbojl. Do not forget: this Vifitation 
 Is but to whet thy almoft blunted purpofe. 
 But looke, Amazement on thy Mother fits ; 
 O ftcp betwccne her, and her fighting Soule, 
 Conceit in wcakeft bodies, ilrongeft workes. 
 
 Speake to her Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. How is it with you Lady ? 
 
 S^, Alas, how is't with you ? 
 That you bend your eye on vacancie, 
 And with their corporall ayre do hold difcourfe. 
 Forth at your eyes, your fpirits wildely peepe. 
 And as the lleeping Soldiours in th'Alarme, 
 Your bedded haire, like life in excrements. 
 Start vp, and ftand an end. Oh gentle Sonne, 
 Vpon the heate and flame of thy diftemper 
 Sprinkle coole patience. Whereon do you looke ? 
 
 Ham. On him, on him : look you how pale he glares. 
 His forme and caufe conioyn'd, preaching to ftones. 
 Would make them capeable. Do not looke vpon me, 
 Leaft with this pitteous aftion you conuert| 
 My fterne effefts : then what I haue to do, 
 Will want true colour ; teares perchance for blood. 
 
 Qu. To who do you fpeake this? 
 
 Ham. Do you fee nothing there? 
 
 Qu. Nothing at all, yet all that is I fee. 
 
 Ham. Nor did you nothing heare ? 
 
 jQk. No, nothing but our felues. 
 
 Ham. Why look you there: looke how It fteals away: 
 My Father in his habite, as he liued, 
 
 Looke where he goes euen now out at the Portall. Exit. 
 
 Qu. This is the very coynage of your Braine, 
 This bodilefle Creation extafie is very cunning in. 
 
 Ham. Extafie.? 
 My Pulfe as yours doth temperately keepe time. 
 And makes as healthfull Muficke. It is not madnefle 
 That I haue vttered ; bring me to the Teft 
 And I the matter will re-word : which madnefl"e 
 Would gam boll from. Mother, for loue of Grace, 
 Lay not a flattering Vnftion to your foule, 
 That not your trefpafie, but my madnefle fpeakes: 
 It will but skin and filme the Vlcerous place, 
 Whil'fl: ranke Corruption mining all within, 
 Infefts vnfeene. Confefle your felfe to Heauen, 
 Repent what's paft, auoyd what is to come, 
 And do not fpred the Compofl: or the Weedes, 
 To make them ranke. Forgiue me this my Vertue, 
 For in the fatnefle of this purfie times, 
 Vertue it felfe, of Vice muft pardon begge. 
 Yea courb,and woe, for leaue to do him good. 
 
 ^K. Oh Hamlet, 
 Thou hafl: cleft my heart in twaine. 
 
 Ham. O throw away the worfer part of it, 
 And liue the purer with the other haife. 
 Good night, but go not to mine Vnkles bed, 
 Aflume a Vertue, if you haue it not, refraine to night, 
 And that fhall lend a kinde of eafinefle 
 To the next abftinence. Once more goodnight. 
 And when you are defirous to be bleft,i 
 He blefling begge of you. For this fame Lord, 
 I do repent : but heauen hath pleas'd it fo. 
 To punifli me with this, and this with me, 
 That I muft be their Scourge and Minifter. 
 I will beftow him, and will anfwer well 
 The death I gaue him : fo againe, good night. 
 I muft be cruell, oncly to be kinde ; 
 Thus bad begins, and worfe remaines behinde. 
 
 Qu. What fliall I do ? 
 
 Ham. Not this by no meanes that I bid you do : 
 Let the blunt King tempt you againe to bed, 
 Pinch Wanton on your cheeke, call you his Moufe, 
 And let him for a pairc of reechie kiflTes, 
 
 Or 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet, 
 
 21 
 
 Or padling in your necke with his damn'd Fingers, 
 
 Make you to rauell all this matter out, 
 
 That I eflentially am not in madneflfe. 
 
 But made in craft. 'Twere good you let him know, 
 
 For who that's but a Queene, faire, fober, wife. 
 
 Would from a Paddocke, from a Bat, a Gibbe, 
 
 Such deere concernings hide, Who would do fo, 
 
 No in defpight of Senfe and Secrecie, 
 
 Vnpegge the Basket on the houfes top : 
 
 Let the Birds flye, and like the famous Ape 
 
 To try Conclufions in the Basket, creepe 
 
 And breake your owne necke downe. 
 
 S^u. Be thou afTur'd, if words be made of breath, 
 And breath of life : I haue no life to breath 
 What thou haft faide to me. 
 
 Ham. I muft to England, you know that ? 
 
 Qu^. Alacke I had forgot : 'Tis fo concluded on. 
 
 Ham. This man (hall fet me packing : 
 He lugge the Guts into the Neighbor roome, 
 jMother goodnight. Indeede this Counfellor 
 Is now moft ftill, moft fecret, and moft graue, 
 Who was in life, a foolifh prating Knaue. 
 Come fir, to draw toward an end with you. 
 Good night Mother. 
 
 Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius. 
 Enter King. 
 
 King. There's matters in thefe fighes. 
 Thefe profound heaues 
 
 You muft tranflate ; Tis fit we vnderftand them. ' 
 Where is your Sonne ? 
 
 S^u. Ah my good Lord, what haue I feene to night ? 
 
 King. What Gertrude} How do's Hamlet} 
 
 Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend 
 Which is the Mightier, in his lawlefle fit 
 Behinde the Arras, hearing fomething ftirre. 
 He whips his Rapier out, and cries a Rat, a Rat, 
 And in his brainifti apprehenfion killes 
 The vnfeene good old man. 
 
 King. Oh heauy deed : 
 It had bin fo with vs had we beene there : 
 His Liberty is full of threats to all, 
 To you your felfe, to vs, to euery one. 
 Alas, how /hall this bloody deede be anfwered ? 
 It will be laide to vs, whofe prouidence 
 Should haue kept ftiort, reftrain'd, and out of haunt, 
 This mad yong man. But fo much was our loue. 
 We would not vnderftand what was moft fit, 
 But like the Owner of a foule difeafe. 
 To keepe it from divulging, let's it feede 
 Euen on the pith of life. Where is he gone ? 
 
 Qu. To draw apart the body he hath kiid, 
 O're whom his wtry madnefTe like fome Oare 
 Among a Minerall of Mettels bafe 
 Shewes it felfe pure. He weepes for what is done. 
 
 King. Oh Gertrude, come away : 
 The Sun no fooner ftiall the Mountaines touch, 
 But we will fhip him hence, and this vilde deed, 
 We muft with all our Maiefty and Skill 
 Both countenance, and excufe. Enter Rof. & Guild. 
 
 Ho Guildenjlern : 
 
 Friends both go ioyne you with fome further ayde : 
 
 Hamlet in madnefle hath Polonim flaine. 
 
 And from his Mother CloflTets hath he drag'd him. 
 
 Go feeke him out, fpeake faire, and bring the body 
 
 Into the Chappell. I pray you haft in this. Exit Qent. 
 
 Come Gertrude^ wee'l call vp our wifeft friends. 
 
 To let them know both what we meane to do, 
 And what's vntimely done. Oh come away. 
 My foule is full of difcord and difmay. Exeunt. 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Safely flowed. 
 
 Gentlemeii within. Hamlet, Lord Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. What noife? Who cals on Hamlet ? 
 Oh heere they come. Enter Rof.and Guildenjierne. 
 
 Ro. What haue you done my Lord with the dead body? 
 
 Ham. Compounded it with duft, whereto 'tis Kinne. 
 
 Rofin. Tell vs where 'tis, that we may take it thence, 
 And beare it to the Chappell. 
 
 Ham. Do not beleeue it. 
 
 Rojin. Beleeue what ? 
 
 Ham. That I can keepe your counfell, and not mine 
 owne. Befides, to be demanded of a Spundge, what re- 
 plication fliould be made by the Sonne of a King. 
 
 RoJin. Take you me for a Spundge, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. I fir, that fokes vp the Kings Countenance, his 
 Rewards, his Authorities (but fuch Officers do the King 
 beft feruice in the end. He keepes them like an Ape in 
 the corner of his iaw, firft mouth'd to be laft fwallowed, 
 when he needes what you haue glean'd', it is but fquee- 
 zing you, and Spundge you fhall be dry againe. 
 
 Rofin. I vnderftand you not my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I am glad of it : a knauifh fpeech fleepes in a 
 foolifh eare. 
 
 Rofm. My Lord, you muft tell vs where the body is, 
 and go with vs to the King. 
 
 Ham. The body is with the King, but the King is not 
 with the body. The King, is a thing 
 
 Quild. A thing my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Of nothing : bring me to him, hide Fox, and all 
 after. Exeunt 
 Enter King. 
 
 King. I haue fent to feeke him, and to find the bodie : 
 How dangerous is it that this man goes loofe : 
 Yet muft not we put the ftrong Law on him : 
 Hee's loued of the diftradted multitude. 
 Who like not in their iudgement, but their eyes : 
 And where 'tis fo, th'Offenders fcourge is weigh'd 
 But neerer the offence : to beare all fmooth,and euen, 
 This fodaine fending him away, muft feeme 
 Deliberate paufe, difeafes defperate growne, 
 By defperate appliance are releeued. 
 Or not at all. Enter Rojincrane. 
 
 How now? What hath befalne ? 
 
 Rofin. Where the dead body is b'eftow'd my Lord, 
 We cannot get from him. 
 
 King. But where is he ? 
 
 RoJin. Without my Lord, guarded to know your 
 pleafure. 
 
 King. Bring him before vs. 
 
 RoJin. Hoa, Guildenjierne? Bring in my Lord. 
 
 Enter Hamlet and Guildenjierne. 
 King. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius f 
 Ham. At Supper. 
 King. At Supper? Where ? 
 
 Ham.Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a cer- 
 talne conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm 
 is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures elfe 
 to fat vs,and we fat our felfe for Magots. Your fat King, 
 and your leane Begger is but variable feruice to difhes, 
 but to one Table that's the end. 
 
 King. What doft thou meane by this ? 
 
 Ham. 
 
22 
 
 The Tr age die of Hamlet, 
 
 Ham, Nothing but to fhew you how a King may go 
 a Progrefle through the guts of a Begger. 
 King. Where is Polomtis. 
 
 Ham. In heauen, fend thither to fee. If your Meflen- 
 ger finde him not there, feeke him i'th other place your 
 felfe : but indeed, if you finde him not this moneth, you 
 fhall no{e him as you go vp the ftaires into the Lobby. 
 
 King. Go feeke him there. 
 
 Ham. He will ftay till ye come. 
 
 K. Hamlet^ this deed of thine, for thine efpecial fafety 
 Which we do tender, as we deerely greeue 
 For that which thou haft done, muft fend thee hence 
 Wich fierie Quicknefle. Therefore prepare thy felfe, 
 The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe, 
 Th'Aflbciates tend, and euery thing at bent 
 For England. 
 
 Ham. For England ? 
 
 King. I Hamlet. 
 
 Ham, Good. 
 
 King. So is it, if thou knew'ft our purpofes. 
 
 Ham. I fee a Cherube that fee's him : but come, for 
 England. Farewell deere Mother. 
 
 King. Thy louing Father Hamlet. 
 
 Hamlet. My Mother : Father and Mother is man and 
 wife : man & wife is one flefh, and fo my mother.Come, 
 for England. Exit 
 
 King. Follow him at foote. 
 Tempt him with fpeed aboord : 
 Delay it not, He haue him hence to night. 
 Away, for euery thing is Seal'd and done 
 That elfe leanes on th'AfFaire,pray you make haft. 
 And England, if my loue thou holdft at ought. 
 As my great power thereof may giue thee fenfe, 
 Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red 
 After the Danifh Sword, and thy free awe 
 Payes homage to vs j thou maift not coldly fet 
 Our Soueraigne Procefle, which imports at full 
 By Letters coniuring to that efFe£l 
 The prefent death of Hamlet. Do it England, 
 For like the Hedticke in my blood he rages. 
 And thou muft cure me: Till I know 'tis done. 
 How ere my happes, my ioyes were ne're begun. Exit 
 
 Enter Fortinbras with an Armie. 
 
 For. Go Captaine, from me greet the Danifh King, 
 Tell him that by his licenfe, Fortinbras 
 Claimes the conueyance of a promis'd March 
 Ouer his Kingdome. You know the Rendeuous : 
 If that his Maiefty would ought with vs, 
 We ftiall exprefTe our dutie in his eye, 
 And let him know fo. 
 
 Cap. I will doo't, my Lord. 
 
 For. Go fafely on. Exit. 
 
 Enter Queene and Horatio. 
 Qu. I will not fpeake with her. 
 
 Hor. She is importunate, indeed diftrail, her moode 
 will needs be pittied. 
 
 What would flie haue? 
 
 Hor. She fpeakes much of her Father; faies flie heares 
 There's trickes i'lh'world, and hems, and beats her heart, 
 Spumes enuioufly at Strawes, fpeakes things in doubt, 
 That carry but halfe fenfe : Her fpeech is nothing, 
 Yet the vnfhaped vfe of it doth moue 
 The hearers to Collcdion ; they ayme at it, 
 And botch the words vp fit to their owne thoughts,! 
 Which as her winkcs,and nods, and geftures yceld them, 
 
 Indeed would make one thinke there would be thought, 
 Though nothing fure, yet much vnhappily. 
 
 Qu. 'Twere good /he were fpoken with, 
 For fhe may ftrew dangerous coniedtures 
 In ill breeding minds. Let her come in. 
 To my ficke foule(as finnes true Nature is) 
 Each toy feemes Prologue, to fome great amifle, 
 So full of Artleffe iealoufie is guilt. 
 It fpill's it felfe, in fearing to be fpilt. 
 
 Enter Ophelia dijlra&ed. 
 Ophe, Where is the beauteous Maiefty of Denmark. 
 
 How now Ophelia? 
 Ophe. Horv Jhonld I your true loue J^notv from another one} 
 By his CocJ(le hat and Jlafe,and his Sandal Jhoone. 
 
 Alas fweet Lady: what imports this Song ? 
 Ophe. Say you? Nay pray you marke. 
 He is dead and gone Lady, he is dead and gone^ 
 At bis head a graffe-greene Turfe^ at his heeles a Jlone. 
 Enter King. 
 Qu Nay but Ophelia. 
 Ophe. Pray you marke. 
 
 White his Shrow^d as the (t^Tountaine Snotp. 
 Qu. Alas,looke heere my Lord. 
 Ophe. Larded with fweet jlowers : 
 
 JVhich bewept to the graue did not go , 
 JVith true -loue Jhowres. 
 King. How do ye, pretty Lady ? 
 
 Ophe. Well, God dil'd you. They fay the Owle was 
 a Bakers daughter. Lord, wee know what we are, but 
 know not what we may be. God be at your Table. 
 
 King. Conceit vpon her Father. 
 
 Ophe. Pray you let's haue no words of this: but when 
 they aske you what it meanes,fay you this : 
 To morrow is S. Valentines day. all in the morning betime^ 
 And I a c^aid at your Window , to he your Valentine. 
 Then 'Vp he rofe, & dond his clothes. & dupt the chamber dore, 
 Let in the Maid, that out a c^aidy neuer departed more. 
 
 King. Pretty Ophelia. 
 
 Ophe.lnAecA la? without an oath He make an end ont. 
 
 "By gis yand by S. Qharity^ 
 
 Alac^e, and jie for Jhame : 
 
 Tong men wil doo't , if they come too't^ 
 
 By Cocl^e they are too blame. 
 
 ^ioth fhe before you tumbled me , 
 
 Tou promis'd me to Wed : 
 
 So would I ha done by yonder Sunne , 
 
 And thou hadfi not come to my bed. 
 King. How long hath ftie bin this? 
 Ophe. I hope all will be well. We muft bee patient, 
 but I cannot choofe but weepe, to thinke they ftiould 
 lay him i'th'cold ground : My brother fhall knowe of it, 
 and fo I thanke you for your good counfell. Come, my 
 Coach : Goodnight Ladies : Goodnight fweet Ladies : 
 Goodnight, goodnight. £*•//, 
 
 King. Follow her clofe, 
 Giue her good watch I pray you : 
 Oh this is the poyfon of deepe greefe, it fprings 
 All from her Fathers death. Oh Qertrude, Gertrude^ 
 When forrowes comes, they come not fingle fpies. 
 But in Battaliaes. Firft,her Father flaine, 
 Next your Sonne gone, and he moft violent Author 
 Of his owne iuft remoue : the people muddied, 
 Thicke and vnwholfome in their thoughts,and whifpers 
 For good Polonius death ; and we haue done but greenly 
 In hugger mugger to interre him. Poorc Ophelia 
 Diuidcd from her felfe, and her fairc ludgement. 
 
 Without 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 23 
 
 Without the which we are Pidtures,or meere Beafts. 
 
 Laft, and as much containing as all thefe, 
 
 Her Brother is in fecret come from France, 
 
 Keepes on his wonder, keepes himfelfe in clouds, 
 
 And wants not Buzzers to infedl his eare 
 
 With peftilent Speeches of his Fathers death, 
 
 Where in neceflitie of matter Beggard, 
 
 Will nothing fticke our perfons to Arraigne 
 
 In eare and eare. O my deere Gertrude, this. 
 
 Like to a murdering Peece in many places, 
 
 Giues me fuperfluous death. A Noife within. 
 
 Enter a Mejfenger. 
 
 Siu, Alacke, what noyfe is this? 
 
 King. Where are my ^w/rzfrj? 
 Let them guard the doore. What is the matter ? 
 
 MeJ. Saue your felfe, my Lord. 
 The Ocean (ouer-peering of his Lift) 
 Eates not the Flats with more impittious hafte 
 Then young Laertes y in a Riotous head, 
 Ore-beares your Officers, the rabble call him Lord, 
 And as the world were now but to begin, 
 Antiquity forgot, Cuftome not knowne. 
 The Ratifiers and props o( euery word, 
 They cry choofe we ? Laertes Hiall be King, 
 Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds, 
 Laertes fhall be King, Laertes King. 
 
 Siu. How cheerefuUy on the falfe Traile they cry, 
 Oh this is Counter you falfe Danifli Dogges. 
 Noije -within . Enter Laertes . 
 
 King, The doores are broke. 
 
 Laer. Where is the King, firs ? Stand you all without. 
 
 Ali. No, let's come in. 
 
 Laer. I pray you giue me leaue. 
 
 ey4/. We will, we will. 
 
 Laer. I thanke you : Keepe the doore. 
 Oh thou vilde King, giue me my Father. 
 
 Qu. Calmely good Laertes. 
 
 Laer. That drop of blood, that calmes 
 Proclaimes me Baftard : 
 
 Cries Cuckold to my Father, brands the Harlot 
 Euen heere betweene the chafte vnfmirched brow 
 Of my true Mother. 
 
 King. What is the caufe Laertes, 
 That thy Rebellion lookes fo Gyant-like? 
 Let him go Gertrude : Do not feare our perfon : 
 There's fuch Diuinity doth hedge a King, 
 That Treafon can but peepe to what it would, 
 Adls little of his will. Tell me Laertes, 
 Why thou art thus Incenft ? Let him go Gertrude. 
 Spcake man. 
 
 Laer. Where's my Father ? 
 
 King. Dead. 
 
 S^u. But not by him. 
 
 King. Let him demand his fill. 
 
 Laer. How came he dead ? lie not be luggel'd with. 
 To hell Allegeance : Vowes, to the blackeft diuell. 
 Confcience and Grace, to the profoundeft Pit. 
 I dare Damnation : to this point I ftand, 
 That both the worlds I giue to negligence. 
 Let come what comes : onely He be reueng'd 
 Moft throughly for my Father. 
 
 King. Who rtiall ftay you ? 
 Laer. My Will, not all the world. 
 And for mymeanes, He husband them fo well, 
 They fliall go farre with little. 
 
 King. Good Laertes : 
 If you defire to know the certaintie 
 Of your deere Fathers death, if writ in your reuenge, 
 That Soop-ftake you will draw both Friend and Foe, 
 Winner and Loofer. 
 
 Laer. None but his Enemies. 
 
 King. Will you know them then. 
 La. To his good Friends, thus wide He ope my Armes : 
 And like the kinde Life-rend'ring Politician, 
 Repaft them with my blood. 
 
 King. Why now you fpeake 
 Like a good Childe, and a true Gentleman. 
 That I am guiltleffe of your Fathers death,! 
 And am moft fenfible in greefe for it. 
 It ftiall as leuell to your Judgement pierce 
 As day do's to your eye. 
 
 ji noife within. Let her come in. 
 Enter Ophelia. 
 
 Laer. How now? what noife is that ? 
 Oh heate drie vp my Braines, teares feuen times fait, 
 Burne out the Sence and Vertue of mine eye. 
 By Heauen,thy madnefle ftiall be payed by waight. 
 Till our Scale turnes the beame. Oh Rofe of May, 
 Deere Maid, kinde Sifter, fweet Ophelia : 
 Oh Heauens, is't poflible, a yong Maids wits. 
 Should be as mortall as an old mans life? 
 Nature is fine in Loue,and where 'tis fine, 
 It fends fome precious inftance of it felfe 
 After the thing it loues. 
 
 Ophe. They bore him bare fac'd on the Beer, 
 Hey non nony , nony , hey nony : 
 u4nd on his graue raines many a teare, 
 Fare you vpell my Doue. 
 
 Laer. Had'ft thou thy wits, and did'ft perfwade Re- 
 uenge, it could not moue thus. 
 
 Ophe. You muft fing downe a-downe, and you call 
 him a-downe-a. Oh, how the wheele becomes it ? It is 
 the falfe Steward that ftole his mafters daughter. 
 
 Laer. This nothings more then matter. 
 
 Ophe. There's Rofemary, that's for Remenibraunce. 
 Pray loue remember : and there is Paconcies , that's for 
 Thoughts. 
 
 Laer. A document in madnelTe, thoughts & remem- 
 brance fitted. 
 
 O/^f. There's Fennell for you, and Columbines: ther's 
 Rew for you, and heere's fome for me. Wee may call it 
 Herbe-Grace a Sundaies : Oh you muft weare your Rew 
 with a difl^erence. There's a Day fie, I would giue you 
 fome Violets, but they wither'd all when myi Father dy- 
 ed : They fay, he made a good end j 
 
 For bonny fweet Robin is all my ioy. 
 Laer. Thought, and Affllidtion, Paffion, Hell it felfe : 
 She turnes to Fauour, and to prettinefle. 
 
 Ophe. And will he not come againe, 
 tAnd will he not come againe : 
 No, no, he is dead, go to thy Death-bed, 
 He neuer wil come againe. 
 His 'Beard as white as SnoWf 
 All Flaxen was his Pole : 
 He is gone, he is gone, and we cafi away mone, 
 Gramercy on his Soule. 
 And of all Chriftian Soules, I pray God. 
 God buy ye. Exeunt Ophelia 
 
 Laer. Do you fee this, you Gods ? 
 King. Laertes, I muft common with your greefe. 
 Or you deny me right: go but apart, 
 
 [Make 
 
24 
 
 The Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 Make choice of whom your wifeft Friends you will, 
 
 ■And they fhall heare and iudge'twixt you and me ; 
 
 \i by diredl or by Colaterall hand 
 
 They finde vs couch'd, we will our Kingdome giue, 
 
 Our Crowne, our Life, and all that we call Ours 
 
 To you in fatisfaflion. But if not, 
 
 Be you content to lend your patience to vs. 
 
 And we fhall ioyntly labour with your foule 
 
 To giue it due content. 
 
 Laer. Let this be fo : 
 His meanes of death, his obfcure buriall j 
 No Trophee, Sword, nor Hatchment o're his bones, 
 No Noble rite, nor formall oftentation. 
 Cry to be heard, as 'twere from Heauen to Earth, 
 That I muft call in queftion. 
 
 King. So you fhall : 
 And where th'offence is, let the great Axe fall. 
 I pray you go with me. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Horatio , roith an Attendant. 
 
 Hora. What are they that would fpeake with me ? 
 
 Ser. Saylors fir, they fay they haue Letters for you. 
 
 Hor. Let them come in, 
 I do not know from what part of the world 
 I fhould be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. 
 Enter Saylor, 
 
 Say. God bleffe you Sir. 
 
 Hor. Let him blefTe thee too. 
 
 Say. Hee fhall Sir, and't pleafe him. There's a Letter 
 for you Sir : It comes from th'AmbafTadours that was 
 bound for England, if your name be Horatio, as I am let 
 to know it is. 
 
 Reads the Letter. 
 
 HOratio, When thou Jhalt haue ouerlcoJ^d this, glue theje 
 Felloroes Jome meaner to the King : They haue Letters 
 for him. Ere rve were two dayes old at Sea, a Pyrate of very 
 Warlicke appointment gaue -vs Chace. Finding our Jelues too 
 Jlorv of Saile, we put on a compelled Valour. In the Qr apple , / 
 boorded them : On the injiant they got clear e of our Shippe, Jo 
 I alor.e became their Prifoner. They haue dealt with mee, like 
 Theeues of <^Mercy , but they J^ew what they did. I am to doe 
 a good turne for them^. Let the King haue the Letters I haue 
 j'ent, and repaire thou to me with a6 much haji as thou wouldeji 
 fye death. I haue words to Jpeahein your eare, will mal^ thee 
 dnmbe, yet are they much too light for the bore of the Matter. 
 TheJe good Fellowes will bring thee where I am. Rofincrance 
 and Guildenflerne, hold their courje for England. Of them 
 I haue much to tell thee , Farewell. 
 
 He that thou l^noweji thine, 
 Hamlet. 
 
 Come, I will giue you way for thefe your Letters, 
 
 And do't the fpeedier, that you may diredt me 
 
 To him from whom you brought them. Exit. 
 
 Enter King and Laertes. 
 
 AT/w^.Now muft your confcience my acquittance feal. 
 And you muft put me in your heart for Friend, 
 Sith you haue heard, and with a knowing eare. 
 That he which hath your Noble Father flaine, 
 Purfued my life. 
 
 Eaer. It well appeares. But tell me, 
 Why you proceeded not againft thefe feates, 
 So crimcfull, and fo Capitall in Nature, 
 A« by your Safety, Wifedomc,all things elfe, 
 
 You mainly were ftirr'd vp? 
 
 King. O for two fpeciall Reafons, 
 Which may to you (perhaps) feeme much vnfinnowed, 
 And yet to me they are ftrong. The Queen his Mother, 
 Liues almoft by his lookes : and for my felfe. 
 My Vertue or my Plague, be it either which, 
 She's fo coniundtiue to my life and foule; 
 That as the Starre moues not but in his Sphere, 
 I could not but by her. The other Motiue, 
 Why to a publike count I might not go,| 
 Is the great loue the generall gender beare him, 
 Who dipping all his Faults in their affedion. 
 Would like the Spring that turneth Wood to Stone, 
 Conuert his Gyues to Graces. So that my Arrowes 
 Too flightly timbred for fo loud a Winde, 
 Would haue reuerted to my Bow againe. 
 And not where I had arm'd them. 
 
 Laer. And fo haue I a Noble Father loft, 
 A Sifter driuen into defperate tearmes. 
 Who was( if praifes may go backe againe) 
 Stood Challenger on mount of all the Age 
 For her perfections. But my reuenge will come. 
 
 King. Breake not your fleepes for that. 
 You muft not thinke 
 
 That we are made of ftuffe, fo flat, and dull. 
 That we can let our Beard be fhooke with danger. 
 And thinke it paftime. You fhortly fhall heare more, 
 I lou'd your Father, and we loue our Selfe, 
 And that I hope will teach you to imagine' 
 
 Enter a c^effenger. 
 How now? What Newes? 
 
 Mef. Letters my Lord from Hamlet. This to your 
 Maiefty : this to the Queene. 
 
 King. From Hamlet ? Who brought them ? 
 
 <LMeJ. Saylors my Lord they fay, I faw them not : 
 They were giuen me by Claudia, he receiu'd them. 
 
 King. Laertes you fhall heare them : 
 Leaue vs. Exit MeJJenger 
 
 High and Mighty, you Jkall kjww I am Jet na\ed on your 
 Kingdome. To morrow fyall I begge leaue to fee your Kingly 
 Eyes. When I Jhall {frB asJ^ingyour Pardon thereunto) re- 
 count tyOccaftons of my Jodaine,and more Jirange returne. 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 What fhould this meane? Are all the reft come backe ? 
 Or is it fome abufe? Or no fuch thing ? 
 Laer. Know you the hand ? 
 
 Kin. ^ThiHamlets CharaCle/ , naked and in a Poft- 
 fcript here he fayes alone : Can you aduife me ? 
 
 Laer. I'm loft in it my Lord; but let him come. 
 It warmes the very ficknefTe in my heart, 
 That I fhall liue and tell him to his teeth; 
 Thus diddeft thou. 
 
 Kin, If it be fo Laertes, as how fhould it be fo : 
 How otherwife will you be rul'd by me? 
 
 Laer. If fo you'l not o'rerule me to a peace. 
 
 Kin. To thine owne peace : if he be now return'd, 
 As checking at his Voyage,and that he meanes 
 No more to vndertake it; I will worke him 
 To an exployt now. ripe in my Deuice, 
 Vnder the which he fhall not choofe but fall; 
 And for his death no winde of blame fhall breath, 
 But euen his Mother fhall vncharge the pradlice. 
 And call it accident: Some two Monthes hence 
 Here was a Gentleman of Normandy, 
 I'ue feene my felfe, and feru'd againft thciFrcnch, 
 And they ran well on Horfebackc; but this Gallant 
 
 Had 
 
the Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 25 
 
 Had witchcraft in't; he grew into his Seat, 
 And to fuch wondrous doing brought his Horfe, 
 As had he beene encorps't and demy-Natur'd 
 With the braue Beaft,fo farre he paft my thought, 
 That I in forgery of Ihapes and trickes. 
 Come fhort of what he did. 
 
 Laer. A Norman was't ? 
 
 Kin, A Norman. 
 
 Laer. Vpon my life Lamound. 
 Kin, The very fame. 
 
 Laer. I know him well, he is the Brooch indeed, 
 And lemme of all our Nation. 
 
 Kin. Hee mad confeflion of you, 
 And gaue you fuch a Mafterly report, 
 For Art and exercife in your defence j 
 And for your Rapier moft efpecially, 
 That he cryed out, t'would be a light indeed, 
 If one could match you Sir. This report of his 
 Did Hamlet fo envenom with his Enuy, 
 That he could nothing doe but wilh and begge, 
 Your fodaine commingore to play with himj 
 Now out of this. 
 
 Laer. Why out of this, my Lord ? 
 
 Kin. Laertes was your Father deare to you? 
 Or are you like the painting of a forrow, 
 A face without a heart? 
 
 Laer» Why aske you this ? 
 
 Kin. Not that I thinke you did not loue your Father, 
 But that I know Loue is begun by Time : 
 And that I fee in pafTages of proofe. 
 Time qualifies the fparke and fire of it : 
 Hamlet comes backe : ivhat would you vndertake. 
 To Ihow your felfe your Fathers fonne indeed, 
 More then in words? 
 
 Laer. To cut his throat i'th' Church. 
 
 Kin. No place indeed /hould murder Sanfturizej 
 Reuenge fhould haue no bounds : but good Laertes 
 Will you doe this, keepe clofe within your Chamber, 
 Hamlet return'd, lhall know you are come home : 
 Wee'l put on thofe fhall praife your excellence, 
 And fet a double varnifh on the fame 
 The Frenchman gaue you, bring you in fine together, 
 And wager on your heads,he being remifle, 
 Moft generous, and free from all contriuing, 
 Will not perufe the Foiles ? So that with eafe, 
 Or with a little fhuffling, you may choofe 
 A Sword vnbaited, and in a paflTe of praftice, 
 Requit him for your Father. 
 
 Laer. I will doo't. 
 And for that purpofe He annoint my Sword : 
 I bought an Vnftion of a Mountebanke 
 So mortall, I but dipt a knife in it. 
 Where it drawes blood, no Cataplafme fo rare, 
 Colleded from all Simples that haue Vertue 
 Vnder the Moone, can faue the thing from death, 
 That is but fcratcht withall : He touch my point, 
 With this contagion, that if I gall him (lightly, 
 I tmay be death. 
 
 Kin Let's further thinke of this. 
 Weigh what conuenience both of time and meanes 
 May fit vs to our fliape, if this Ihould faile; 
 And that our drift looke through our bad performance, 
 'Twere better not aflaid; therefore this Proieft 
 Should haue a backe or fecond,that might hold. 
 If this fhould blaft in proofe : Soft, let me fee 
 Wee'l make a folemne wager on your commings, 
 
 I ha't : when in your motion you are hot and dry. 
 As make your bowts more violent to the end , 
 And that he cals for drinkej He haue prepar'd him 
 A Challice for the noncej whereon but fipping. 
 If he by chance efcape your venom'd ftuck. 
 Our purpofe may hold there ; how fweet Queene. 
 
 Enter ^eene. 
 Queen. One woe doth tread vpon anothers heele. 
 So faft they'l follow: your Sifter's drown'd Laertes. 
 Laer. Drown'd ! O where ? 
 
 Queen. There is a Willow growes aflant a Brooke, 
 That Ihewes his hore leaues in the glaflie ftreame : 
 There with fantafticke Garlands did ftie come. 
 Of Crow-flowers, Nettles, Dayfies, and long Purples, 
 That liberall Shepheards giue a grofler namej 
 But our cold Maids doe Dead Mens Fingers call them : 
 There on the pendant boughes, her Coronet weeds 
 Clambring to hang; an enuious fliuer broke, j 
 When downe the weedy Trophies, and her felfe, j 
 Fell in the weeping Brooke, her cloathes fpred wide. 
 And Mermaid-like, a while they bore her vp, 
 Which time fhe chaunted fnatches of old tunes, 
 As one incapable of her owne diftrefle, 
 Or like a creature Natiue, and indued 
 Vnto that Element : but long it could not be, 
 Till that her garments, heauy with her drinke, 
 Pul'd the poore wretch from her melodious buy, 
 To muddy death. 
 
 Laer. Alas then, is fhe drown'd? 
 
 Queen. Drown'd, drown'd. 
 
 Laer. Too much of water haft thou poore Ophelia^ \ 
 And therefore I forbid my teares : but yet \ 
 It is our tricke. Nature her cuftome holds, I 
 Let fhame fay what it will; when thefe are gone | 
 The woman will be out: Adue my Lord, j 
 I haue a fpeech of fire, that faine would blaze. 
 But that this folly doubts it. Exit. 
 
 Km. Let's follow, Gertrude: 
 How much I had to doe to calme his rage f 
 Now feare I this will giue it ftart againe ; 
 Therefore let's follow. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter two Clcvpnes. 
 CloTpn. Is fhe to bee buried in Chriftian buriall, that 
 wilfully feekes her owne faluation ? j 
 
 Other. I tell thee fhe is, and therefore make her Graue 
 ftraight, the Crowner hath fate on her, and finds it Chri- 1 
 ftian buriall. j 
 C/o. How can that be, vnlefTe fhe drowned her felfe in I 
 her owne defence/* 
 
 Other. Why 'tis found fo. 
 
 Clo. It muft bt Se offendendo^ it cannot bee elfe : for 
 heere lies the point; If I drowne my felfe wittingly, it ar- 
 gues an AOi : and an A£t hath three branches. It is an 
 Ad: to doe and to performe; argall fhe drown'd her felfe 
 wittingly. 
 
 Other. Nay but heare you Goodman Deluer. 
 
 Clown. Giue me leaue ; heere lies the water; good : 
 heere ftands the man; good : If the man goe to this wa- 
 ter and drowne himfele ; it is will he nil! he, he goes; 
 marke you that? But if the water come to him & drowne 
 him; hee drownes not himfelfe. Argall, hee that is not 
 guilty of his owne death, fhortens not his owne life. 
 
 Other. But is this law ? 
 
 Clo. I marry is't, Crowners Queft Law. 
 
 D Other. 
 
26 
 
 Hhe Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Other. Will you ha the truth on't : if this had not 
 beene a Gentlewoman, fhee fhould haue beene buried 
 out of Chriftlan Buriall. 
 
 Clo. Why there thou fay'ft. And the more pitty that 
 great folke fhould haue countenance in this world to 
 drovvne or hang themfelues, more then their euen Chrifti- 
 an. Come, my Spade; there is no ancient Gentlemen, 
 but Gardiners, Ditchers and Graue-makersj they hold vp 
 Adams Profefllon. 
 Other, Was he a Gentleman ? 
 
 Clo. He was the firft that euer bore Armes. 
 
 Other. Why he had none. 
 
 Clo. What, ar't a Heathen ? how doft thou vnder- 
 ftand the Scripture? the Scripture fayes Adam dig'd ; 
 could hee digge without Armes ? He put another que- 
 ftion to thee; if thou anfwereft me not to the purpofe, con- 
 felTe thy felfe 
 
 Other. Go too. 
 
 Clo. What is he that builds ftronger then either the 
 Mafon, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter ? 
 
 Other. The Gallowes maker; for that Frame outliues a 
 thoufand Tenants. 
 
 Clo. I like thy wit well in good faith, the Gallowes 
 does well; but how does it well? it does well to thofe 
 that doe ill : now, thou doft ill to fay the Gallowes is 
 built ftronger then the Church : Argall, the Gallowes 
 may doe well to thee. Too't againe, Come. 
 
 Other. Who builds ftronger then a Mafon, a Ship- 
 wright, or a Carpenter ? 
 
 Clo. I, tell me that, and vnyoake. 
 
 Other. Marry, now I can tell. 
 
 Clo. Too't. 
 
 Other. Mafle, I cannot tell. 
 
 Enter Hamlet and Horatio a Jarre off. 
 Clo. Cudgell thy braines no more about it ; for your 
 dull AfTe will not mend his pace with beating ; and when 
 you are ask't this queftion next, fay a Graue-maker : the 
 I Houfes that he makes, lafts till Doomefday : go, get thee 
 to Yaughan ^i^X.z\i me a ftoupe of Liquor. 
 
 Sings. 
 
 In youth -when I did loue , did hue , 
 me thought it vooi very fweete : 
 To contraB 0 the time for a my behoue^ 
 0 me thought there was nothing meete. 
 Ham. Ha's this fellow no feeling of his bufinefle, that 
 he (ings at Graue-making ? 
 
 Hor. Cuftome hath made it in him a property of ea- 
 finefle. 
 
 Ham. 'Tis ee'n fo; the hand of little Imployment hath 
 the daintier fenfe. 
 
 Clo-cvne Jings. 
 '\But Age with his Jiealing fieps 
 hath caught me in his clutch : 
 tAnd hath /hipped me intill the Land, 
 06 if I had neuer beene fuch. 
 Ham. That Scull had a tongue in it, and could fing 
 once : how the knaue iowles it to th' grownd, as if it 
 were Caines law-bone, that did the firft murther : It 
 might be the Pate of a Polititian which tiiis Affe o're Of- 
 ficcs:onc that could circumuent God, might it not? 
 Hor. It might, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Or of a Courtier, which could fay, Good Mor- 
 row fweet Lord : how doft thou, good Lord ? this 
 might be my Lord fuch a one, that prais'd my Lord fuch 
 a ones Horfe, when he meant to begge it; might it not ? 
 
 Hor. I, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Why ee'n fo : and now my Lady Wormes, 
 Chaplefle, and knockt about the Mazard with a Sextons 
 Spade ; heere's fine Reuolution, if wee had the tricke to 
 fee't. Did thefe bones coft no more the breeding, but 
 to play at Loggets with 'em ? mine ake to thinke 
 on't. 
 
 Clowns Jings. 
 A Pic\haxe and a Spade , a Spade. 
 
 Jor and a Jhrowding-Sheete : 
 0 a Pit oj Clay Jor to be made, 
 Jor fuch a Gueji is meete. 
 
 Ham. There's another : why might not that bee the 
 Scull of of a Lawyer? where be his Quiddits now ? his 
 Quillets? his Cafes? his Tenures, and his Tricks ? why 
 doe's he fuffer this rude knaue now to knocke him about 
 the Sconce with a dirty Shouell, and will not tell him of 
 his Adtion of Battery? hum. This fellow might be in's 
 time a great buyer of Land, with his Statutes, his Recog- 
 nizances, his Fines, his double Vouchers, his Recoueries: 
 Is this the fine of his Fines, and the recouery of his Reco- 
 ueries, to haue his fine Pate full of fine Dirt ? will his 
 Vouchers vouch him no more of his Purchafes, and dou- 
 ble ones too , then the length and breadth of a paire of 
 Indentures ? the very Conueyances of his Lands will 
 hardly lye in this Boxe ; and muft the Inheritor himfelfe 
 haue no more ? ha ? 
 
 Hor. Not a lot more, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Is not Parchment made of Sheep-skinnea ? 
 
 Hor. I my Lord, and of Calue-skinnes too. 
 
 Ham. They are Sheepe and Calues that feek out afl"u- 
 rance in that. I will fpeake to this fellow: whofe Graue's 
 this Sir ? 
 
 Clo. Mine Sir : 
 0 a Tit oJ Clay Jor to be made , 
 Jor fuch a GueJi is meete. 
 
 Ham. I thinke it be thine indeed:for thou lieft in*t. 
 
 Clo. You lye out on't Sir, and therefore it is not yours: 
 for my part, I doe not lye in't ; and yet it is mine. 
 
 Ham. Thou doft lye in't, to be in't and fay 'tis thine : 
 'tis for the dead, not for the quicke, therefore thou 
 lyeft. 
 
 Clo. 'Tis a quicke lye Sir, 'twill away againe from me 
 to you. 
 
 Ham, What man doft thou digge it for ? 
 Clo. For no man Sir. 
 Ham. What woman then ? 
 Clo. For none neither. 
 Ham. Who is to be buried in't ? 
 Clo. One that was a woman Sir ; but reft her Soule, 
 ftiee's dead. 
 
 Ham. How abfolute the knaue is ? wee muft fpeake 
 by the Carde, or equiuocation will vndoe vs : by the 
 Lord Horatio, thefe three yeares I haue taken note of it, 
 the Age is growne fo picked, that the toe of the Pefant 
 comes fo neere the heeles of our Courtier, hee galls his 
 Kibe. How long haft thou been a Graue-maker ? 
 
 Clo. Of all the dayes i'th'yeare, I came too't that day 
 that our laft King Hamlet o'recame Fortinbras. 
 
 Ham. How long is that fince ? ^ 
 
 Clo. Cannot you tell that? euery foole can tell that: 
 It was the very day, that young Hamlet was borne, hee 
 that was mad, and lent into England. 
 
 Ham. I marry, why was he fent into England ? 
 
 Clu, Why, becdufe he was mad; hee fliall recouer his 
 wits there; or if he do not, it's no great matter there. 
 
 Ham. 
 
The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 27 
 
 Ham. Why? 
 
 Qlo. 'Twill not be feene in him, there the men are as 
 ! mad as he. 
 
 Ham. How came he mad ? 
 ; Clo. Very ftrangely they fay. 
 
 Ham. How ftrangely ? 
 
 Clo. Faith e'ene with loofing his wits. 
 
 Ham. Vpon what ground ? 
 
 (^lo. Why heere in Denmarke : I haue bin fixeteene 
 heere, man and Boy thirty yeares. 
 
 Ham. How long will a man lie 'ith' earth ere he rot? 
 
 Clo. Ifaith, if he be not rotten before he die(as we haue 
 many pocky Coarfes now adaies, that will fcarce hold 
 the laying in) he will laft you fome eight yeare, or nine 
 yeare. A Tanner will laft you nine year e. 
 
 Ham. Why he, more then another ?' 
 
 Clo. Why fir, his hide is fo tan'd with his Trade, that 
 he will keepe out water a great while. And your water, 
 is a fore Decayer of your horfon dead body.Heres a Scull 
 now: this Soul, has laine in the earth three & twenty years. 
 
 Ham. Whofe was it ? 
 
 Clo. A whorefon mad Fellowes it was; 
 Whofe doe you thinke it was? 
 
 Ham. Nay, 1 know not. 
 
 Clo. A peftlence on him for a mad Rogue, a pou'rd a 
 Flaggon of Renifh on my head once. This fame Scull 
 Sir.fhis fame Scull fir, was Torkl^s Scull, the Kings lefter. 
 
 Ham. This ? 
 
 Clo: E'ene that. 
 
 Ham. Let me fee. Alas poore Toricl^,! knew him Ho- 
 ratio^ a fellow of infinite left; of moft excellent fancy, he 
 hath borne me on his backe a thoufand times ; And how 
 abhorred my Imagination is, my gorge rifes at it. Heere 
 hung thofe lipps, that I haue kift I know not how ott. 
 Where be your libes now ? Your Gambals ? Your 
 Songs ? Your flafties of Merriment that were wont to 
 fet the Table on a Rore? No one now to mock your own 
 leering ? Q^ite chopfalne ? Now get you to my Ladies 
 Chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thicke, to this 
 fauour ihe muft come. Make her laugh at that; pry- 
 thee Horatio teW me one thing. 
 
 Hor. What's that my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Doft thou thinke yilexander lookt o'this fa- 
 fhion i'th' earth i 
 Hor. E'ene fo. 
 Ham. And fmelt fo ? Puh. 
 Hor, E'ene fo, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. To what bafe vfes we may returne Horatio. 
 Why may not Imagination trace the Noble duft of yf- 
 lexander, till he find it flopping a bunghole. 
 
 Hor. 'Twere to confider : to curioufly to confider fo. 
 
 Ham. No faith, not a iot. But to follow him thether 
 with modeftie enough, & likeliehood to lead it; as thus. 
 Alexander died : Alexander was buried : Alexander re- 
 turneth into duft; the duft is earth; of earth we make 
 Lome, and why of that Lome (whereto he was conuer- 
 ted ) might they not ftopp a Beere-barrell ? 
 Imperiall C^?/ar, dead and turn'd to clay. 
 Might ftop a hole to keepe the winde away. 
 Oh, that that earth, which kept the world in awe, 
 Should patch a Wall, t'expell the winters flaw. 
 But foft, but foft, afide; heere comes the King. 
 
 Enter King, Queene, Laertes , and a Coffin, 
 nith Lordi attendant . 
 The Queene,the Courtiers. Who is that they follow, 
 
 And with fuch maimed rites ? This doth betoken 
 The Coarfe they follow, did with difperate hand , 
 Fore do it owne life; 'twas fome Eftate. 
 Couch we a while, and mark. 
 Laer. What Cerimony elfe ? 
 
 Ham. That is Laertes, a very Noble youth : Marke. 
 
 Laer. What Cerimony elfe ? 
 
 Prieji. Her Obfequies haue bin as farre inlarg'd. 
 As we haue warrantis,her death was doubtfull. 
 And but that great Command, o're-fwaies the order, 
 She fliould in ground vnfandtified haue lodg'd. 
 Till the laft Trumpet. For charitable praier, 
 Shardes, Flints, and Peebles, fliould be thro wne on her : 
 Yet heere flie is allowed her Virgin Rites, 
 Her Maiden ftrewments,and the bringing home 
 Of Bell and Buriall. 
 
 Laer. Muft there no more be done ? 
 
 Prieji . No more be done : 
 We fliould prophane the feruice of the dead. 
 To fing fage "^quiem, and fuch reft to her 
 As to peace-parted Soules. 
 
 Laer. Lay her i'th' earth. 
 And from her faire and vnpolluted flefli. 
 May Violets fpring. I tell thee(churlifli Prieft) 
 A Miniftring Angell fliall my Sifter be, 
 When thou lieft howling ? 
 
 Ham. What, the faire Ophelia ? 
 
 ^ueene. Sweets, to the fweet farewell. 
 1 hop'd thou fliould'ft haue bin my Hamlets wife : 
 I thought thy Bride- bed to haue deckt( fweet Maid) 
 And not t'haue ftrew'd thy Graue. 
 
 Laer. Oh terrible woer. 
 Fall ten times trebble, on thatcurfed head 
 Whofe wicked deed, thy moft Ingenious fence 
 Depriu'd thee of. Hold off the earth a while, 
 Till I haue caught her once more in mine armes : 
 
 Leaps in the graue . 
 Now pile your duft, vpon the quicke,and dead, 
 Till of this flat a Mountaine you haue made. 
 To o're top old Pelion, or the skyifli head 
 Of blew OlymptM. 
 
 Ham. What is he, whofe griefes 
 Beares fuch an Emphafis ? whofe phrafe of Sorrow 
 Coniure the wandring Starres, and makes them ftand 
 Like wonder- wounded hearers f This is I, 
 Hamlet the Dane. 
 
 Laer, The deuill take thy foule. 
 
 Ham, Thou prai'ft not well) 
 I prythee take thy fingers from my throat; 
 Sir though I am not Spleenatiue,and rafli. 
 Yet haue I fomething in me dangerous. 
 Which let thy wifenefiTe feare. Away thy hand. 
 
 King. Pluck them afunder. 
 
 Qij. Hamlet , Hamlet. 
 
 Gen. Good my Lord be quiet. 
 
 Ham. Why I will fight with him vppon this Theme, 
 Vntill my eielids will no longer wag. 
 
 Qu. Oh my Sonne, what Theame i 
 
 Ham. I lou'd Ophelia-^ fortie thoufand Brothers 
 Could not ('with all there quantitie of Loue) 
 Make vp my fumme. What wilt thou do for her ? 
 
 King. Oh he is mad Laertes, 
 
 Qu. For loue of God forbeare him. 
 
 Ham. Come fliow me what thou'lt doe. 
 Woo't weepe i Woo't fight ? Woo't teare thy felfe ? 
 Woo't drinke vp £/z/^,eate a Crocodile? 
 
 D 2 He 
 
He doo't, Doft thou come heere to whine ; 
 To outface me with leaping in her Graue ? 
 Be buried quicke with her, and fo will I. 
 And if thou prate of Mountaines ; let them throw 
 Millions of Akers on vs j till our ground 
 Sindging his pate againft the burning Zone, 
 Make OJfa like a wart. Nay, and thoul't mouth, 
 He rant as well as thou. 
 
 Kin, This is meere Madneffe : 
 And thus awhile the fit will worke on him : 
 Anon as patient as the female Doue, 
 When that her golden Cuplet are difclos'd j 
 His filence will lit drooping. 
 
 Ham. Heare you Sir : 
 What is the reafon that you vfe me thus? 
 I loud' you euerjbut it is no matter : 
 Let Hercules himfelfe doe what he may. 
 The Cat will Mew, and Dogge will haue his day. Exit. 
 
 Kin. I pray you good Horatio wait vpon him, 
 Strengthen you patience in our laft nights fpeech, 
 Wee'l put the matter to the prefent pufh : 
 Good Gertrude fet fome watch ouer your Sonne, 
 This Graue fhall haue a liuing Monument : 
 An houre of quiet fhortly lhall we fee; 
 Till then, in patience our proceeding be. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hamlet and Horatio. 
 Ham. So much for this Sir; now let me fee the other, 
 You doe remember all the Circumftance. 
 Hor. Remember it my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kinde of fighting. 
 That would not let me fleepe; me thought I lay 
 Worfe then the mutines in the Bilboes, raflily, 
 (And praife be rafhneffe for it) let vs know. 
 Our indifcretion fometimes ferues vs well. 
 When our deare plots do paule,and that fhould teach vs, 
 There's a Diuinity that fliapes our ends, 
 Rough-hew them how we will. 
 
 Hor. That is moft certaine. 
 
 Ham. Vp from my Cabin 
 My fea-gowne fcarft about me in the darke, 
 Grop'd I to finde out them ; had my defire, 
 Finger'd their Packet, and in fine, withdrew 
 To mine owne roome againe, making fo bold, 
 (My feares forgetting manners) to vnfeale 
 Their grand CommilTion, where I found Horatio, 
 Oh royall knauery : An exadl command, 
 Larded with many feuerall forts of reafonj 
 Importing Denmarks health, and Englands too, 
 With hoo, fuch Bugges and Goblins in my life; 
 That on the fuperuize no leafure bated. 
 No not to ftay the grinding of the Axe, 
 My head fhoud be ftruck off, 
 
 Hor. Ift poffible? 
 
 Ham. Here's the Commiflion, read it at more leyfure : 
 But wilt thou heare me how I did proceed ? 
 Hor. I befeech you. 
 
 Ham. Being thus benetted round with Villaines, 
 Ere 1 could make a Prologue to my braines. 
 They had begun the Play. I fate me downe, 
 Deuis'd a new Commifiion, wrote it faire, 
 I once did hold it as our Statifts doe, 
 A bafencflc to write faire; and laboured much 
 How to forget that learning : but Sir now. 
 It did me Yeomans fcruice : wilt thou know 
 The effcdls of what I wrote? 
 
 Hor. I, good my Lord. 
 
 Ham. An earneft Coniuration from the King, 
 As England was his faithfuU Tributary, 
 As loue betweene them,as the Palme Ihould flourifh, 
 As Peace Ihould ftill her wheaten Garland weare. 
 And ftand a Comma 'tweene their amities, 
 And many fuch like Aflis of great charge, 
 That on the view and know of thefe Contents, 
 Without debatement further, more or leffe. 
 He fliould the bearers put to fodaine death, 
 Not Ihriuing time allowed. 
 
 Hor. How was this feal'd ? 
 
 Ham. Why,euen in that was Heauen ordinate; 
 I had my fathers Signet in my Purfe, 
 Which was the Modell of that Danilh Scale : 
 Folded the Writ vp in forme of the other, 
 Subfcrib'd it, gau't th' imprefTion, plac't it fafely, 
 The changeling neuer knowne : Now, the next day 
 Was our Sea Fight, and what to this v/as fement, 
 Thou know'ft already. 
 
 Hor. So Guildenfterne and Rojincrance^ go too't. 
 Ham.Why man, they did make loue to this imployment 
 They are not neere my Confcience; their debate 
 Doth by their owne infinuation grow : 
 'Tis dangerous, when the bafer nature comes 
 Betweene the paffe,and fell incenfed points 
 Of mighty oppofites. 
 
 i/or. Why, what a King is this ? 
 
 Ham. Does it not, thinkft thee, ftand me now vpon 
 He that hath kil'd my King, and whor'd my Mother, 
 Popt in betweene th'eleftion and my hopes, 
 Throwne out his Angle for my proper life. 
 And with fuch coozenage; is't not perfeft confcience, 
 To quit him with this arme ? And is't not to be damn'd 
 To let this Canker of our nature come 
 In further euill. 
 
 Hor. It muft be Ihortly knowne to him from England 
 What is the iffue of the bufinefle there. 
 
 Ham. It will be fliort. 
 The interim''s mine, and a mans life's no more 
 Then to fay one : but I am very forry good Horatio, 
 That to Laertes I forgot my felfe ; 
 For by the image of my Caufe, I fee 
 The Portraiture of his ; He count his fauours : 
 But fure the brauery of his griefe did put me 
 Into a Towring paflion. 
 
 Hor. Peace, who comes heere ? 
 
 Enter young Ofrtc^e. (marke. 
 
 Ofr. Your Lordlhip is right welcome back to Den- 
 Ham. I humbly thank you Sir, doft know this waterflie? 
 Hor. No my good Lord. 
 
 Ham. Thy ftate is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to 
 know him : he hath much Land, and fertile ; let a Beaft 
 be Lord of Beafts, and his Crib fhall ftand at the Kings 
 Mefle; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I faw fpacious in the pof- 
 feflfion of dirt. 
 
 Ofr. Sweet Lord, if your friendfliip were at leyfure, 
 I ftiould impart a thing to you from his Maiefty. 
 
 Ham. I will receiue it with all diligence of fpirit;put 
 your Bonet to his right vfe, 'tis for the head. 
 
 Ofr. I thanke your Lordfliip, 'tis very hot. 
 
 Ham, No, beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is 
 Northerly. 
 
 Ofr. It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed. 
 Ham. Mee thinkes it is very foultry, and hot for my 
 Complexion. 
 
 Ofricl^e. 
 
'fhe Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 29 
 
 Ofr. Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very foultry,as 'twere 
 J cannot tell how : but my Lord, his Maiefty bad me fig- 
 nifie to you, that he ha's laid a great wager on your head: 
 Sir, this is the matter. 
 
 Ham. I befeech you remember. 
 
 Ofr. Nay, in good faith, for mine eale in good faith : 
 Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at 
 his weapon. 
 
 Ham. What's his weapon ? 
 
 Ofr. Rapier and dagger. 
 
 Ham. That's two of his weapons; but well. 
 Ofr. The fir King ha's wag'd with him fix Barbary Hor- 
 fes, againft the which heimpon'd as I take it, fixe French 
 Rapiers and Poniards, with their aflignes, as Girdle, 
 Hangers or fo : three of the Carriages infaith are very 
 deare to fancy, very refpOnfiue to the hilts, moft delicate 
 carriages, and of very liberall conceit. 
 
 Ham. What call you the Carriages ? 
 
 Ofr. The Carriages Sir, are the hangers. 
 
 Ham. The phrafe would bee more Germaine to the 
 matter : If we could carry Cannon by our fides; I would 
 it might be Hangers till then; but on fixe Barbary Hor- 
 fes againft fixe French Swords : their Aflignes, and three 
 liberall conceited Carriages , that's the French but a- 
 gdinft the Danifh ; why is this impon'd as you call it ? 
 
 Ofr. The King Sir, hath laid that in a dozen pafles be- 
 tweene you and him, hee fhall not exceed you three hits ; 
 He hath one twelue for mine, and that would come to 
 imediate tryall, if your Lordfiiip would vouchlafe the 
 Anfwere. 
 
 Ham. How if I anfwere no ? 
 
 Ofr. I meane my Lord, the oppofition of your perfon 
 in tryall. 
 
 Ham. Sir, I will wallce heere in the Hall; if it pleafe 
 his Maieftie, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let 
 the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the 
 King hold his purpofe ; I will win for him if I can : if 
 not. He gaine nothing but my fhame, and the odde hits. 
 
 Ofr. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n fo? 
 
 Ham. To this effedl Sir, after what flourifh your na- 
 ture will. 
 
 Ofr. I commend my duty to your Lordfhip, 
 
 Ham. Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it 
 
 himfelfe, there are no tongues elfe for's tongue. 
 
 Hor. This Lapwing runs away with the fliell on his 
 
 head. 
 
 Ham. He did Compile with his Dugge before hee 
 fuclc't it : thus had he and mine more of the fame Beauy 
 that I know the droflie age dotes on; only got the tune of 
 the time , and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of 
 yefty collection, which carries them through & through 
 the moft fond and winnowed opinions;and doe but blow 
 them to their tryalls : the Bubbles are out. 
 
 Hor. You will lofe this wager, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I doe not thinke fo, fince he went into France, 
 I haue beene in continuall pradlice ; I fhall winne at the 
 oddes : but thou wouldeft 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 luch a kinde of 
 gain-giuing as would perhaps trouble a woman. 
 
 Hor. If your minde diflike any thing,obey.I will fore- 
 ftall their repaire hither, and fay you arc not fit. 
 
 Ham. Not a whit, we defie Augury; there's a fpeciall 
 Prouidence in the fall of a fparrow. If it be now, 'tis not 
 to come : if it bee not to come, it will bee now : if it 
 
 be not now; yet it will come; the readinefl*e is all, fince no 
 man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue be- 
 times ? 
 
 Enter King, ^eene, Laertes and Lords , with other Atten- 
 dants vnith Foyles J and Gauntlets , a Table and 
 Flagons of Wine on it. 
 
 Kin. Come i/ijw/er, come, and take this hand from me. 
 
 Ham.G'wuQ me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong, 
 But pardon't as you are a Gentleman. 
 This prefence knowes. 
 
 And you muft needs haue heard how I am punifht 
 
 With fore diftradlion ? What I haue done 
 
 That might your nature honour, and exception 
 
 Roughly awake, I heere proclaime was madnefl^e : 
 
 Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes ? Neuer Hamlet. 
 
 If Hamlet from himfelfe be tane away : 
 
 And when he's not himfelfe, do's wrong Laertes^ 
 
 Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it : 
 
 Who does it then? His Madnefle ? If't be fo, 
 
 Hamlet is of the Faction that is wrong'd. 
 
 His madnefle is poore Hamlets Enemy. 
 
 Sir, in this Audience, 
 
 Let my difclaiming from a purpos'd euill, 
 
 Free me fo farre in your moft generous thoughts, 
 
 That I haue fhot mine Arrow o're the houfe, 
 
 And hurt my Mother. 
 
 Laer. I am fatisfied in Nature, 
 Whofe motiue in this cafe fhould ftirre me moft 
 To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor 
 I ftand aloofe, and will no reconcilement. 
 Till by fome elder Mafters of knowne Honor, 
 I haue a voyce, and prefident of peace 
 To keepe my name vngorg'd. But till that time, 
 I do receiue your ofter'd loue like loue. 
 And wil not wrong it. 
 
 Ham. I do embrace it freely. 
 And will this Brothers wager frankely play. 
 Giue vs the Foyles : Come on. 
 
 Laer. Come one for me. 
 
 Ham. He be your foile Laertes,\x\ mine ignorance. 
 Your Skill Ihall like a Starre i'th'darkeft night, 
 Sticke fiery oft'indeede. 
 
 Laer^ You mocke me Sir. 
 
 Ham. No by this hand. 
 
 King. Giue them the Foyles yong Ofricke, 
 Coufen Hamlety you know the wager. 
 
 Ham. Verie well my Lord, 
 Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th' weaker fide. 
 
 King. 1 do not feare it, 
 I haue feene you both : 
 
 But fince he is better'd,we haue therefore oddes. 
 
 Laer. This is too heauy. 
 Let me fee another. 
 
 Ham. This likes me well, 
 Thefe Foyles haue all a length. Prepare to play. 
 
 OfricJ^e. I my good Lord. 
 
 King. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table : 
 If Hamlet giue the firft, or fecond hit, 
 Or quit in anfwer of the third exchange, 
 Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire, 
 The King ftial drinke to Hamlets better breath, 
 And in the Cup an vnion flial he throw 
 Richer then that, which foure fuccefliue Kings 
 In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne. 
 
 Giue 
 
30 
 
 The "Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 Giue me the Cups, 
 
 And let the Kettle to the Trumpets fpeake, 
 The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without, 
 The Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth, 
 Now the King drinkes to Hamlet. Come, begin, 
 And you the Judges beare a wary eye. 
 Ham. Come on fir. 
 
 Laer, Come on fir. They play. 
 
 Ham. One. 
 
 Laer. No. 
 
 Ham. Judgement. 
 
 OJr. A hit, a very palpable hit. 
 
 Laer. Well : againe. 
 
 King. Stay, glue me drinke. 
 Hamlet, this Pearle is thine. 
 Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup. 
 
 Trumpets Jomdy and Jhot goes off. 
 I Ham. He play this bout firft, let by a-while. 
 Come: Another hit 5 what fay you ? 
 
 Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confefle. 
 
 King. Our Sonne fiiall win. 
 
 He's fat, and fcant of breath. 
 Heere's a Napkin, rub thy browes, 
 The Queene Carowfes to thy fortune, Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Good Madam. 
 
 King. Gertrude, do not drinke. 
 
 Qu. I will my Lord ; 
 I pray you pardon me. 
 
 King. It is the poyfon'd Cup, it is too late. 
 
 Ham. 1 dare not drinke yet Madam, 
 By and by. 
 
 Slu. Come, let me wipe thy face. 
 
 Laer. My Lord, He hit him now. 
 
 King. I do not thinke't, 
 
 Laer. And yet 'tis almoft 'gainft my confcience. 
 I Ham. Come for the third, 
 j Laertes, you but dally, 
 j I pray you pafle with your beft violence, 
 I I am affear'd you make a wanton of me. 
 
 Laer. Say you fo ? Come on. Play, 
 Ofr. Nothing neither way. 
 Laer. Haue at you now. 
 
 /n f cuff ling they change Rapiers. 
 I King. Part them, they are incens'd. 
 Ham. Nay come, againe. 
 Ofr. Looke to the Queene there hoa. 
 Hor. They bleed on both fides. How is't my Lord ? 
 OJr. How is't Laertes ? 
 Laer. Why as a Woodcocke 
 To mine Sprindge, OJric^e, 
 I am iuftly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie. 
 Ham. How does the Queene? 
 King. She founds to fee them bleede. 
 ^K. No, no, the drinke, the drinke. 
 Oh my deere Hamlet, the drinke, the drinke, 
 1 am poyfon'd. 
 
 Ham. Oh Villany ! How ? Let the doore be lock'd. 
 Treacherie, feekc it out. 
 
 Laer. It is hecre Hamlet . 
 Hamlet, thou art fiaine. 
 
 No Medicine in the world can do thee good. 
 In thee, there is not halfe an houre of life ; 
 The Treacherous Inftrumcnt is in thy hand, 
 Vnbated and cnvc-nom'd : the foule pradtifei 
 Hath turn'd it (elfe on me. Loc, hecre I lye, 
 Neucr to rife againe : Thy Mothers poyfon'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. Treafon, Treafon. 
 
 King. O yet defend me Friends, I am but hurt. 
 Ham. Heere thou inceftuous, murdrous. 
 Damned Dane, 
 
 Drinke off this Potion : Is thy Vnion heere ? 
 
 Follow my Mother. King Dyes . 
 
 Laer. He is iuftly feru'd. 
 It is a poyfon temp'red by himfelfe j 
 Exchange forgiuenelTe with me. Noble Hamlet j 
 Mine and my Fathers death come not vpon thee, 
 Nor thine on me. Dyes. 
 
 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 ade : 
 Had I but time fas this fell Sergeant death 
 Is ftrick'd in his Arreft) oh I could tell you. 
 But let it be : Horatio, I am dead. 
 Thou liu'ft, report me and my caufes right 
 To the vnfatisfied. 
 
 Hor. Neuer beleeue it. 
 I am more an Antike Roman then a Dane: 
 Heere's yet fome Liquor left. 
 
 Ham. As th'art a man, giue me the Cup. 
 Let go, by Heauen He haue't. 
 Oh good Horatio, what a wounded name, 
 (Things ftanding thus vnknowne) fhall liue behind me. 
 If thou did'ft euer hold me in thy heart, 
 Abfent thee from felicitie awhile. 
 And in this harfh world draw thy breath in paine. 
 To tell my Storie. 
 
 March afarre off, and pout "within. 
 What warlike noyfe is this ? 
 
 Snter OJric^e. 
 
 OJr. Yong Fortinhra6, with conqueft come fro Poland 
 To th'Ambaflfadors of England giues rhis warlike volly. 
 
 Ham. O I dye Horatio : 
 The potent poyfon quite ore-crowes my fpirit, 
 I cannot liue to heare the Newes from England, 1 
 But I do prophefie th'eledion lights 
 On Fortinbras, he ha's my dying voyce. 
 So tell him with the occurrents more and lefile, 
 Which haue folicited. The reft is filence. 0, 0,0,0. Dyes 
 
 Hora. Now cracke a Noble heart : 
 Goodnight fweet Prince, 
 And flights of Angels fing thee to thy reft, 
 Why do's the Drumme come hither? 
 
 Enter Fortinbras and Englijh Ambaffador ,with T>rumme, 
 Colours , and Attendants . 
 
 Fortifi. Where is this fight ? 
 
 Hor. What is it ye would fee ; 
 If ought of woe, or wonder, ceafe your fearch. 
 
 For. His quarry ciies on hauocke. Oh proud death, 
 What feaft is toward in thine eternall Cell. 
 That thou lo many Princes, at a fiioote, 
 So bloodily haft ftrooke. 
 
 Anib. The fight is difmall. 
 And our affaires from Engl.md come too late, 
 The cares are lenli leffc that ftiould giue vs hearing, 
 To tell him his comma nd'ment is fulfiU'd, 
 
 That 
 
The Tragedte of Hamlet, 
 
 That 'K^Jincrance and Guildenflerne are dead : 
 
 Where fliould we haue our thankes ? 
 Hor. Not from his mouth, 
 j Had it th'abilitie of life to thanke you : 
 
 He neuer gaue command'ment for their death. 
 
 But fince fo iumpe vpon this bloodie queftion. 
 
 You from the Polake warres, and you from England 
 I Are heere arriued. Giue order that thefe bodies 
 j High on a ftage be placed to the view, 
 
 And let me fpeake to th'yet vnknowing world, 
 j How thefe things came about. So fhall you heare 
 1 Of carnall, bloudie, and vnnaturall adls, 
 I Of accidentall iudgements, cafuall flaughters 
 [ Of death's put on by cunning, and forc'd caufe, 
 ' And in this vpfhot, purpofes miftooke, 
 
 Falne on the Inuentors heads. All this can I 
 
 Truly deliuer. 
 
 For. Let vs haft to heare it, 
 
 And call the Nobleft to the Audience. 
 
 For me, with forrow, I embrace my Fortune, 
 
 I haue fome Rites of memory in this Kingdome, 
 
 Which are ro claime, my vantage doth 
 Inuite me, 
 
 Hor. Of that I fhall haue alwayes caufe to fpeake, 
 And from his mouth 
 Whofe voyce will draw on more : 
 But let this fame be prefently perform'd, 
 Euen whiles mens mindes are wilde, 
 Left more mifchance 
 On plots, and errors happen. 
 
 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 moft royally t 
 And for his paflage. 
 
 The Souldiours Muficke, and the rites of Warre 
 Speake lowdly for him. 
 Take vp the body j Such a fight as this 
 Becomes the Field, but heere fhewes much amis. 
 Go, bid the Souldiers fhoote. 
 
 Exeunt (^Marching : after the tvhich, a Peale of 
 ^ Ordenance are fhot off. 
 
 FINIS.