This bodiless creation ecstasy1 My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, Ham. O, throw away the worser part of it, That monster, custoin, who all sense doth eat To the next abstinence; the next more easy: [Pointing to Polonius. The death I gave him. So, again, good night!- Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.- Queen. Queen. Be thou assur'd, if words be made of breath, And breath of life, I have no life to breathe Ham. I must to England; you know that? (1) Frenzy. (2) Manure. Alack, (3) Bend. (4) A term of endearment. (5) Steaming with heat. (7) Cat. (8) Experiments. (6) Toad. VOL. II. I had forgot; 'tis so concluded on. Whom I will trust, as I will adders fang'd,'— I'll lug the guts into the neighbour room :- [Exeunt severally; Hamlet dragging in ACT IV. Enter King, Queen, SCENE 1.-The same. King. There's matter in these sighs; these profound heaves; You must translate: 'tis fit we understand them Queen. Bestow this place on us a little while.[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who go out. Ah, my good lord, what have I seen to-night! King. What, Gertrude? how does Hamlet? Queen. Mad as the sea, and wind, when both contend Which is the mightier: In his lawless fit, King. O heavy deed! But, like the owner of a foul disease, Queen. To draw apart the body he hath kill'd: Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this. Ham. -Safely stowed,- -[Ros. &c. within. Hamlet! lord Hamlet!] But soft!-what noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come. Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin. Ros. Tell us where 'tis; that we may take it thence, And bear it to the chapel. Ham. Do not believe it. Ros. Believe what? Ham. That I can keep your counsel, and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge ! -what replication should be made by the son of a king? King. Bring him before us. King Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? King. At supper? Where? Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all crcatures else, to fat us; and we fat ourselves for maggots: Your fat king, and your lean beggar, is but variable service; two dishes, but to one table; that's the end. King. Alas, alas! Ham. A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king; and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm. King. What dost thou mean by this? Ham. Nothing, but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar. King. Where is Polonius? Ham. In heaven; send thither to see if your messenger find him not there, seek him i'the other place yourself. But, indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. King. Go seek him there. [To some Attendants. Ham. He will stay till you come. [Exeunt Attendants. King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety, hence Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord? Ham. Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's counte- Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve nance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers For that which thou hast done,-must send thee do the king best service in the end: He keeps them: like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. Ros. I understand you not, my lord. Ham. I am glad of it: A knavish speech sleeps in a fooolish ear. Ros. My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with us to the king. Ham. The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing-Guil. A thing, my lord? Ham. Of nothing bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.2 [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Another room in the same. Enter King, attended. King. I have sent to seek him, and to find the body. How dangerous is it, that this man goes loose! Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes; With fiery quickness: Therefore, prepare thyself; Ham. King. Ham. Good. Ay, Hamlet. King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes. Ham. I see a cherub, that sees them.-But, come, for England!-Farewell, dear mother. King. Thy loving father, Hamlet. Ham. My mother: Father and mother is mar and wife; man and wife is one flesh; and so, my mother. Come, for England. [Exit. King. Follow him at foot; tempt him with speec aboard; Delay it not, I'll have him hence to-night: The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England; 6 And thou must cure me: Till I know 'tis done, Howe'er my haps, my joys will ne'er begin. [Ex. SCENE IV-A plain in Denmark. Enter Fortinbras, and Forces, marching. For. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish king; Tell him, that, by his license, Fortinbras Commands them, sir? Who Cap. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. Ham. Goes it against the main of Poland, sir, Or for some frontier? Cap. Truly to speak, sir, and with no addition, We go to gain a little patch of ground, That hath in it no profit but the name. To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it; Nor will it yield to Norway, or the Pole, A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee. Ham. Why, then the Polack' never will defend it. Cap. Yes, is already garrison'd. Ham. Two thousand souls, and twenty thousand ducats, Will not debate the question of this straw: To fust in us unus'd. Now, whether it be A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom, And, ever, three parts coward,-I do not know means, To do't. Examples, gross as earth, exhort me: Whose spirit, with divine ambition puff'd, To all that fortune, death, and danger, dare, (2) Forces. (3) Polander. (1) Presence. (4) Profit. (6) Grow mouldy. Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Queen. I will not speak with her. Her mood will needs be pitied. Queen. What would she have? Hor. She speaks much of her father; says, she hears, There's tricks i'the world; and hems, and beats her heart; Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt, The hearers to collection; they aim at it, Indeed would make one think, there might be thought, Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily. Let her come in. Each toy10 seems prologue to some great amiss: Re-enter Horatio, with Ophelia. Oph. Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark? Queen. How now, Ophelia? Oph. How should I your true-love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon. [Singing. Queen. Alas, look here, my lord. Oph. Larded all with sweet flowers; King. How do you, pretty lady? Oph. Well, God 'ield' you! They say, the owl was a baker's daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table! King. Conceit upon her father. Oph. Pray, let us have no words of this; but when they ask you, what it means, say you this: (9) Guess. (10) Trifle. (12) Garnished. (11) Shoe. (13) Reward. So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, King. How long hath she been thus? Oph. I hope, all will be well. We must be patient: but I cannot choose but weep, to think, they should lay him i'the cold ground: My brother shall know of it, and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my couch! Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies: good night, good night. [Ex. King. Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you. [Exit Horatio. O! this is the poison of deep grief; it springs All from her father's death: And now behold, O Gertrude, Gertrude, When sorrows come, they come not single spies, For good Polonius' death; and we have done but greenly,+ In hugger-muggers to inter him: Poor Ophelia King. Attend. Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door What is the matter? Gent. Save yourself, my lord; O'erbears your officers! The rabble call him, lord: (1) Do on, i. e. put on. (2) Do up. I me bastard; Cries, cuckold, to my father; brands the harlot Laer. Where is my father? Dead. But not by him. King. Let him demand his fill. with: To hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil! Laer. My will, not all the world's: King. If you desire to know the certainty Laer. None but his enemies. arms; And, like the kind life-rend'ring pelican, : Repast them with my blood. King. Why, now you speab Like a good child, and a true gentleman. Danes. [Within.] Let her come in. Laer. How now! what noise is that? Enter Ophelia, fantastically dressed with straws O heat, dry up my brains! tears seven times salt, O heavens is't possible, a young maid's wits Oph. They bore him barefac'd on the bier ; Laer. Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge, It could not move thus. Oph. You must sing, Down-a-down, an you call him a-down-a. O, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward, that stole his master's daughter. Laer. This nothing's more than matter. Oph. There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray you, love, remember; and there is pansies, that's for thoughts. Laer. A document in madness; thoughts and remembrance fitted. That I must call't in question. So you shall; [Exeunt. En And where the offence is, let the great axe fall: I SCENE VI.-Another room in the same. Hor. What are they, that would speak with me? They say they have letters for you. Let them come in.- 1 Sail. God bless you, sir. 1 Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter for you, sir: it comes from the ambassador that was bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am led to know it is. Hor. [Reads.] Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the king; they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment, gave us chace: Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled vulour; and Oph. There's fennel for you, and columbines: in the grapple I boarded them on the instant they -there's rue for you; and here's some for me:- got clear of our ship; so I alone became their we may call it, herb of grace o'Sundays:-you prisoner. may wear your rue with a difference.-There's a daisy:-I would give you some violets; but they withered all, when my father died:-They say, he made a good end,— - They have dealt with me, like thieves of mercy; but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn for them. Let the king have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me with as I have much haste as thou would'st fly death. words to speak in thine ear, will make thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of the For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy,- [Sings. Laer. Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself, matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell. She turns to favour, and to prettiness. Oph. And will he not come again? And will he not come again? No, no, he is dead, Go to thy death-bed, He never will come again. His beard was as white as snow, All flaxen was his poll: He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan; God 'a mercy on his soul! [Sings. And of all Christian souls! I pray God. God be They find us touch'd, we will our kingdom give, Be you content to lend your patience to us, Laer. Let this be so; He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet. En Lives almost by his looks; and for myself, (4) Melancholy. |