Hamlet Read online

  BARNARDO Sit down awhile,

  And let us once again assail36 your ears,

  That are so fortified against our story,

  What we two nights have seen.

  HORATIO Well, sit we down,

  And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.

  BARNARDO Last night of all41,

  When yond same star that's westward from the pole42

  Had made his course t'illume43 that part of heaven

  Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,

  The bell then beating one--

  MARCELLUS Peace, break thee off.

  Enter the Ghost

  Look where it comes again.

  BARNARDO In the same figure47 like the king that's dead.

  MARCELLUS Thou art a scholar48; speak to it, Horatio.

  BARNARDO Looks it not like the king? Mark it49, Horatio.

  HORATIO Most like: it harrows50 me with fear and wonder.

  BARNARDO It would51 be spoke to.

  MARCELLUS Question it, Horatio.

  HORATIO What art thou that usurp'st53 this time of night,

  Together with that fair and warlike form

  In which the majesty of buried Denmark55

  Did sometimes march? By heaven I charge56 thee speak!

  MARCELLUS It is offended.

  BARNARDO See, it stalks away.

  HORATIO Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee, speak!

  Exit the Ghost

  MARCELLUS 'Tis gone and will not answer.

  BARNARDO How now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale.

  Is not this something more than fantasy?

  What think you on't63?

  HORATIO Before my God, I might not this believe

  Without the sensible and true avouch65

  Of mine own eyes.

  MARCELLUS Is it not like the king?

  HORATIO As thou art to thyself.

  Such was the very armour he had on

  When he th'ambitious Norway70 combated:

  So frowned he once when, in an angry parle71,

  He smote the steeled pole-axe72 on the ice.

  'Tis strange.

  MARCELLUS Thus twice before, and just at this dead hour,

  With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

  HORATIO In what particular thought to work I know not76,

  But in the gross and scope77 of my opinion,

  This bodes some strange eruption78 to our state.

  MARCELLUS Good now79, sit down and tell me, he that knows,

  Why this same strict and most observant watch

  So nightly toils the subject81 of the land,

  And why such daily cast of brazen82 cannon

  And foreign mart83 for implements of war:

  Why such impress84 of shipwrights, whose sore task

  Does not divide the Sunday from the week85

  What might be toward86, that this sweaty haste

  Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day:

  Who is't that can inform me?

  HORATIO That can I,

  At least, the whisper90 goes so: our last king,

  Whose image even but now appeared to us,

  Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,

  Thereto pricked on by a most emulate93 pride,

  Dared to the combat, in which our valiant Hamlet --

  For so this side of our known world esteemed him --

  Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact96,

  Well ratified by law and heraldry,

  Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands

  Which he stood seized on99 to the conqueror:

  Against the which, a moiety competent100

  Was gaged by our king, which had returned101

  To the inheritance of Fortinbras,

  Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same cov'nant103,

  And carriage of the article designed104,

  His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,

  Of unimproved mettle106 hot and full,

  Hath in the skirts107 of Norway here and there

  Sharked up a list of landless resolutes108

  For food and diet to some enterprise109

  That hath a stomach110 in't, which is no other --

  And it doth well appear unto our state111 --

  But to recover of us, by strong hand

  And terms compulsative113, those foresaid lands

  So by his father lost: and this, I take it,

  Is the main motive of our preparations,

  The source of this our watch and the chief head116

  Of this post-haste and rummage117 in the land.

  Enter Ghost again

  But soft, behold! Lo118, where it comes again!

  I'll cross it, though it blast119 me. Stay, illusion!

  If thou hast any sound or use of voice,

  Speak to me:

  If there be any good thing to be done

  That may to thee do ease and grace to me,

  Speak to me:

  If thou art privy to thy country's fate --

  Which, haply126, foreknowing may avoid -- O, speak!

  Or if thou hast uphoarded127 in thy life

  Extorted128 treasure in the womb of earth --

  A cock crows

  For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death --

  Speak of it: stay and speak!-- Stop it, Marcellus.

  MARCELLUS Shall I strike at it with my partisan131?

  HORATIO Do, if it will not stand132.

  They attempt to strike it

  BARNARDO 'Tis here!

  HORATIO 'Tis here!

  MARCELLUS 'Tis gone!

  Exit Ghost

  We do it wrong, being so majestical,

  To offer it the show of violence,

  For it is as the air invulnerable,

  And our vain blows malicious mockery.

  BARNARDO It was about to speak when the cock crew.

  HORATIO And then it started like a guilty thing

  Upon a fearful summons. I have heard

  The cock, that is the trumpet to the day,

  Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat

  Awake the god of day, and at his warning,

  Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,

  Th'extravagant and erring spirit hies147

  To his confine148: and of the truth herein

  This present object made probation149.

  MARCELLUS It faded on the crowing of the cock.

  Some say that ever gainst151 that season comes

  Wherein our Saviour's152 birth is celebrated,

  The bird of dawning153 singeth all night long,

  And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad:

  The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike155,

  No fairy talks, nor witch hath power to charm156,

  So hallowed and so gracious157 is the time.

  HORATIO So have I heard and do in part believe it.

  But, look, the morn in russet159 mantle clad,

  Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill.

  Break we our watch up, and by my advice,

  Let us impart what we have seen tonight

  Unto young Hamlet, for upon my life,

  This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.

  Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,

  As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?

  MARCELLUS Let's do't, I pray, and I this morning know

  Where we shall find him most conveniently.

  Exeunt

  Act 1 Scene 2

  running scene 2

  Enter Claudius King of Denmark, Gertrude the Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and his sister Ophelia, Lords Attendant

  KING Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death

  The memory be green2, and that it us befitted

  To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom

  To be contracted4 in one brow of woe,

  Yet so far hath discretion5 foug
ht with nature

  That we with wisest sorrow think on him

  Together with remembrance of ourselves.

  Therefore our sometime8 sister, now our queen,

  Th'imperial jointress9 of this warlike state,

  Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,

  With one auspicious and one dropping eye11,

  With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,

  In equal scale weighing delight and dole13,

  Taken to wife; nor have we herein barred14

  Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone

  With this affair along. For all, our thanks.

  Now follows that you know17 young Fortinbras,

  Holding a weak supposal18 of our worth,

  Or thinking by our late dear brother's death

  Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,

  Colleagued with the dream of his advantage21,

  He hath not failed to pester us with message

  Importing23 the surrender of those lands

  Lost by his father, with all bonds of law,

  To our most valiant brother. So much for him.

  Enter Voltemand and Cornelius

  Now for ourself and for this time of meeting,

  Thus much the business is: we have here writ

  To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras --

  Who, impotent and bedrid29, scarcely hears

  Of this his nephew's purpose -- to suppress

  His further gait herein, in that the levies31,

  The lists and full proportions, are all made

  Out of his subject. And we here dispatch

  You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,

  For bearing of this greeting to old Norway,

  Giving to you no further personal power

  To37 business with the king, more than the scope

  Of these dilated articles38 allow.

  Gives a paper

  Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty39.

  VOLTEMAND In that, and all things, will we show our duty.

  KING We doubt it nothing41: heartily farewell.--

  Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius

  And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?

  You told us of some suit43: what is't, Laertes?

  You cannot speak of reason to the Dane44

  And lose your voice45: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes,

  That shall not be my offer, not thy asking46?

  The head is not more native47 to the heart,

  The hand more instrumental48 to the mouth,

  Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.

  What wouldst thou have, Laertes?

  LAERTES Dread my lord51,

  Your leave and favour52 to return to France,

  From whence though willingly I came to Denmark

  To show my duty in your coronation,

  Yet now I must confess, that duty done,

  My thoughts and wishes bend again towards France

  And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon57.

  KING Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?

  POLONIUS He hath, my lord:

  I do beseech you, give him leave to go.

  KING Take thy fair hour, Laertes: time be thine,

  And thy best graces62 spend it at thy will.--

  But now, my cousin63 Hamlet, and my son--

  HAMLET A little more than kin and less than kind64.

  KING How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

  Aside?

  HAMLET Not so, my lord:-- I am too much i'th'sun.

  GERTRUDE Good Hamlet, cast thy nightly colour67 off,

  And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.

  Do not forever with thy veiled lids69

  Seek for thy noble father in the dust:

  Thou know'st 'tis common71, all that lives must die,

  Passing through nature to eternity.

  HAMLET Ay, madam, it is common.

  GERTRUDE If it be,

  Why seems it so particular75 with thee?

  HAMLET 'Seems', madam? Nay it is: I know not 'seems'.

  'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,

  Nor customary78 suits of solemn black,

  Nor windy suspiration79 of forced breath,

  No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,

  Nor the dejected 'haviour of the visage81,

  Together with all forms, moods82, shows of grief,

  That can denote83 me truly: these indeed seem,

  For they are actions that a man might play,

  But I have that within which passeth85 show;

  These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

  KING 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,

  To give these mourning duties to your father:

  But you must know your father lost a father,

  That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound

  In filial obligation for some term

  To do obsequious sorrow. But to persever92

  In obstinate condolement93 is a course

  Of impious stubbornness: 'tis unmanly grief:

  It shows a will most incorrect95 to heaven,

  A heart unfortified, a mind impatient96,

  An understanding simple and unschooled.

  For what we know must be and is as common

  As any the most vulgar thing to sense99,

  Why should we in our peevish100 opposition

  Take it to heart? Fie101, 'tis a fault to heaven,

  A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,

  To reason most absurd, whose common theme

  Is death of fathers, and who still104 hath cried,

  From the first corpse till he that died today,

  'This must be so.' We pray you throw to earth

  This unprevailing107 woe, and think of us

  As of a father; for let the world take note,

  You are the most immediate109 to our throne,

  And with no less nobility of love

  Than that which dearest father bears his son,

  Do I impart towards you. For112 your intent

  In going back to school in Wittenberg113,

  It is most retrograde114 to our desire,

  And we beseech you bend you115 to remain

  Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,

  Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.

  GERTRUDE Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet:

  I prithee stay with us, go not to Wittenberg.

  HAMLET I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

  KING Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply.

  Be as ourself in Denmark.-- Madam, come:

  This gentle and unforced accord123 of Hamlet

  Sits smiling to my heart, in grace whereof124,

  No jocund health that Denmark125 drinks today

  But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell126,

  And the king's rouse the heavens shall bruit127 again,

  Re-speaking128 earthly thunder. Come away.

  Exeunt. Hamlet remains

  HAMLET O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,

  Thaw and resolve130 itself into a dew!

  Or that the Everlasting131 had not fixed

  His canon132 gainst self-slaughter! O God, O God!

  How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable

  Seem to me all the uses134 of this world!

  Fie on't! O, fie, fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden

  That grows to seed: things rank and gross136 in nature

  Possess it merely137. That it should come to this!

  But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two.

  So excellent a king, that was to139 this

  Hyperion to a satyr140, so loving to my mother

  That he might not beteem141 the winds of heaven

  Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth,

  Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him

  As if increase of appetite had gr
own

  By what it fed on, and yet within a month --

  Let me not think on't: frailty, thy name is woman! --

  A little month, or ere147 those shoes were old

  With which she followed my poor father's body,

  Like Niobe149, all tears: why she, even she --

  O, heaven! A beast that wants discourse of reason150

  Would have mourned longer -- married with mine uncle,

  My father's brother but no more like my father

  Than I to Hercules153. Within a month?

  Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous154 tears

  Had left the flushing of her galled155 eyes,

  She married. O, most wicked speed, to post156

  With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!

  It is not nor it cannot come to good:

  But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

  Enter Horatio, Barnardo and Marcellus

  HORATIO Hail to your lordship!

  HAMLET I am glad to see you well:

  Recognizes him

  Horatio -- or I do forget myself.

  HORATIO The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.

  HAMLET Sir, my good friend, I'll change that name with you164.

  And what make you from165 Wittenberg, Horatio?-- Marcellus.

  MARCELLUS My good lord.

  To Barnardo

  HAMLET I am very glad to see you.-- Good even167, sir.--

  To Horatio

  But what in faith make you from Wittenberg?

  HORATIO A truant169 disposition, good my lord.

  HAMLET I would not have your enemy say so,

  Nor shall you do mine ear that violence,

  To make it truster of your own report

  Against yourself: I know you are no truant.

  But what is your affair in Elsinore?

  We'll teach you to drink deep ere175 you depart.

  HORATIO My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

  HAMLET I pray thee do not mock me, fellow student:

  I think it was to see my mother's wedding.

  HORATIO Indeed, my lord, it followed hard179 upon.

  HAMLET Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral baked meats180

  Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

  Would I had met my dearest182 foe in heaven

  Ere I had ever seen that day, Horatio.

  My father, methinks I see my father.

  HORATIO O, where, my lord?

  HAMLET In my mind's eye, Horatio.

  HORATIO I saw him once; he was a goodly king.

  HAMLET He was a man, take him for all in all:

  I shall not look upon his like again.

  HORATIO My lord, I think I saw him yesternight190.

  HAMLET Saw who?

  HORATIO My lord, the king your father.

  HAMLET The king my father?

  HORATIO Season your admiration194 for a while

  With an attent ear till I may deliver195,

  Upon the witness of these gentlemen,

  This marvel to you.

  HAMLET For heaven's love, let me hear.

  HORATIO Two nights together had these gentlemen,

  Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch,

  In the dead waste201 and middle of the night,

  Been thus encountered. A figure like your father,

  Armed at all points exactly, cap-a-pie203,

  Appears before them, and with solemn march

  Goes205 slow and stately: by them thrice he walked,