SCENE II. A hall in the castle.

Enter HAMLET and Players HAMLET Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the whirlwind of passion, you must ac uire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. !, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but ine"plicable dumbshows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o#erdoing $ermagant; it out-herods %erod: pray you, avoid it. First Player I warrant your honour. HAMLET &e not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special o#erstep not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as #twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the 'udicious grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance o#erweigh a whole theatre of others. !, there be players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of (hristians nor the gait of (hristian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature#s 'ourneymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably. First Player I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us, sir. HAMLET

!, reform it altogether. )nd let those that play your clowns speak no more than is set down for them; for there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some uantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary uestion of the play be then to be considered: that#s villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. *o, make you ready. Exeunt Players Enter POLONIUS, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN %ow now, my lord+ I will the king hear this piece of work, LORD POLONIUS )nd the ueen too, and that presently. HAMLET &id the players make haste. Exit POLONIUS -ill you two help to hasten them, ROSENCRANTZ GUILDENSTERN -e will, my lord. Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN HAMLET -hat ho+ %oratio+ Enter HORATIO HORATIO %ere, sweet lord, at your service. HAMLET %oratio, thou art e#en as 'ust a man )s e#er my conversation coped withal. HORATIO !, my dear lord,-HAMLET Nay, do not think I flatter; .or what advancement may I hope from thee $hat no revenue hast but thy good spirits, $o feed and clothe thee, -hy should the poor be flatter#d, No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, )nd crook the pregnant hinges of the knee

-here thrift may follow fawning. /ost thou hear, Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice )nd could of men distinguish, her election %ath seal#d thee for herself; for thou hast been )s one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing, ) man that fortune#s buffets and rewards %ast ta#en with e ual thanks: and blest are those -hose blood and 'udgment are so well commingled, $hat they are not a pipe for fortune#s finger $o sound what stop she please. *ive me that man $hat is not passion#s slave, and I will wear him In my heart#s core, ay, in my heart of heart, )s I do thee.--Something too much of this.-$here is a play to-night before the king; !ne scene of it comes near the circumstance -hich I have told thee of my father#s death: I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, 0ven with the very comment of thy soul !bserve mine uncle: if his occulted guilt /o not itself unkennel in one speech, It is a damned ghost that we have seen, )nd my imaginations are as foul )s 1ulcan#s stithy. *ive him heedful note; .or I mine eyes will rivet to his face, )nd after we will both our 'udgments 'oin In censure of his seeming. HORATIO -ell, my lord: If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, )nd #scape detecting, I will pay the theft. HAMLET $hey are coming to the play; I must be idle: *et you a place. Danis !ar" # A $l%uris # Enter &ING CLAUDIUS, 'UEEN GERTRUDE, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and %t ers ING CLAUDIUS %ow fares our cousin %amlet, HAMLET 0"cellent, i# faith; of the chameleon#s dish: I eat the air, promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so. ING CLAUDIUS I have nothing with this answer, %amlet; these words are not mine. HAMLET

No, nor mine now. T% POLONIUS 2y lord, you played once i# the university, you say, LORD POLONIUS $hat did I, my lord; and was accounted a good actor. HAMLET -hat did you enact, LORD POLONIUS I did enact 3ulius (aesar: I was killed i# the (apitol; &rutus killed me. HAMLET It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there. &e the players ready, ROSENCRANTZ )y, my lord; they stay upon your patience. !UEEN GERTRUDE (ome hither, my dear %amlet, sit by me. HAMLET No, good mother, here#s metal more attractive. LORD POLONIUS 4$o 5IN* (6)7/I7S8 !, ho+ do you mark that, HAMLET 6ady, shall I lie in your lap, Lyin( d%)n at OPHELIA*s $eet OPHELIA No, my lord. HAMLET I mean, my head upon your lap, OPHELIA )y, my lord. HAMLET /o you think I meant country matters, OPHELIA I think nothing, my lord. HAMLET $hat#s a fair thought to lie between maids# legs. OPHELIA -hat is, my lord, HAMLET Nothing. OPHELIA 9ou are merry, my lord.

HAMLET -ho, I, OPHELIA )y, my lord. HAMLET ! *od, your only 'ig-maker. -hat should a man do but be merry, for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within these two hours. OPHELIA Nay, #tis twice two months, my lord. HAMLET So long, Nay then, let the devil wear black, for I#ll have a suit of sables. ! heavens+ die two months ago, and not forgotten yet, $hen there#s hope a great man#s memory may outlive his life half a year: but, by#r lady, he must build churches, then; or else shall he suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is #.or, !, for, !, the hobby-horse is forgot.# Haut+%ys ,lay# T e du!+-s %) enters Enter a &in( and a 'ueen .ery l%.in(ly/ t e 'ueen e!+ra"in( i!, and e er# S e 0neels, and !a0es s %) %$ ,r%testati%n unt% i!# He ta0es er u,, and de"lines is ead u,%n er ne"01 lays i! d%)n u,%n a +an0 %$ $l%)ers1 s e, seein( i! aslee,, lea.es i!# An%n "%!es in a $ell%), ta0es %$$ is "r%)n, 0isses it, and ,%urs ,%is%n in t e &in(*s ears, and exit# T e 'ueen returns/ $inds t e &in( dead, and !a0es ,assi%nate a"ti%n# T e P%is%ner, )it s%!e t)% %r t ree Mutes, "%!es in a(ain, see!in( t% la!ent )it er# T e dead +%dy is "arried a)ay# T e P%is%ner )%%es t e 'ueen )it (i$ts1 s e see!s l%at and un)illin( a) ile, +ut in t e end a""e,ts is l%.e Exeunt OPHELIA -hat means this, my lord, HAMLET 2arry, this is miching mallecho; it means mischief. OPHELIA &elike this show imports the argument of the play. Enter Pr%l%(ue HAMLET -e shall know by this fellow: the players cannot keep counsel; they#ll tell all. OPHELIA

-ill he tell us what this show meant, HAMLET )y, or any show that you#ll show him: be not you ashamed to show, he#ll not shame to tell you what it means. OPHELIA 9ou are naught, you are naught: I#ll mark the play. Pr"l"#$e .or us, and for our tragedy, %ere stooping to your clemency, -e beg your hearing patiently. Exit HAMLET Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring, OPHELIA #$is brief, my lord. HAMLET )s woman#s love. Enter t)% Players, &in( and 'ueen Player in# .ull thirty times hath :hoebus# cart gone round Neptune#s salt wash and $ellus# orbed ground, )nd thirty do;en moons with borrow#d sheen )bout the world have times twelve thirties been, Since love our hearts and %ymen did our hands 7nite commutual in most sacred bands. Player !$een So many 'ourneys may the sun and moon 2ake us again count o#er ere love be done+ &ut, woe is me, you are so sick of late, So far from cheer and from your former state, $hat I distrust you. 9et, though I distrust, /iscomfort you, my lord, it nothing must: .or women#s fear and love holds uantity; In neither aught, or in e"tremity. Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know; )nd as my love is si;ed, my fear is so: -here love is great, the littlest doubts are fear; -here little fears grow great, great love grows there. Player in# #.aith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too; 2y operant powers their functions leave to do: )nd thou shalt live in this fair world behind,

%onour#d, beloved; and haply one as kind .or husband shalt thou-Player !$een !, confound the rest+ Such love must needs be treason in my breast: In second husband let me be accurst+ None wed the second but who kill#d the first. HAMLET 4)side8 -ormwood, wormwood. Player !$een $he instances that second marriage move )re base respects of thrift, but none of love: ) second time I kill my husband dead, -hen second husband kisses me in bed. Player in# I do believe you think what now you speak; &ut what we do determine oft we break. :urpose is but the slave to memory, !f violent birth, but poor validity; -hich now, like fruit unripe, sticks on the tree; &ut fall, unshaken, when they mellow be. 2ost necessary #tis that we forget $o pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt: -hat to ourselves in passion we propose, $he passion ending, doth the purpose lose. $he violence of either grief or 'oy $heir own enactures with themselves destroy: -here 'oy most revels, grief doth most lament; *rief 'oys, 'oy grieves, on slender accident. $his world is not for aye, nor #tis not strange $hat even our loves should with our fortunes change; .or #tis a uestion left us yet to prove, -hether love lead fortune, or else fortune love. $he great man down, you mark his favourite flies; $he poor advanced makes friends of enemies. )nd hitherto doth love on fortune tend; .or who not needs shall never lack a friend, )nd who in want a hollow friend doth try, /irectly seasons him his enemy. &ut, orderly to end where I begun, !ur wills and fates do so contrary run $hat our devices still are overthrown; !ur thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own: So think thou wilt no second husband wed; &ut die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead. Player !$een

Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light+ Sport and repose lock from me day and night+ $o desperation turn my trust and hope+ )n anchor#s cheer in prison be my scope+ 0ach opposite that blanks the face of 'oy 2eet what I would have well and it destroy+ &oth here and hence pursue me lasting strife, If, once a widow, ever I be wife+ HAMLET If she should break it now+ Player in# #$is deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile; 2y spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile $he tedious day with sleep. Slee,s Player !$een Sleep rock thy brain, )nd never come mischance between us twain+ Exit HAMLET 2adam, how like you this play, !UEEN GERTRUDE $he lady protests too much, methinks. HAMLET !, but she#ll keep her word. ING CLAUDIUS %ave you heard the argument, Is there no offence in #t, HAMLET No, no, they do but 'est, poison in 'est; no offence i# the world. ING CLAUDIUS -hat do you call the play, HAMLET $he 2ouse-trap. 2arry, how, $ropically. $his play is the image of a murder done in 1ienna: *on;ago is the duke#s name; his wife, &aptista: you shall see anon; #tis a knavish piece of work: but what o# that, your ma'esty and we that have free souls, it touches us not: let the galled 'ade wince, our withers are unwrung. Enter LUCIANUS

$his is one 6ucianus, nephew to the king. OPHELIA 9ou are as good as a chorus, my lord. HAMLET I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see the puppets dallying. OPHELIA 9ou are keen, my lord, you are keen. HAMLET It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge. OPHELIA Still better, and worse. HAMLET So you must take your husbands. &egin, murderer; po", leave thy damnable faces, and begin. (ome: #the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge.# LUCIANUS $houghts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing; (onfederate season, else no creature seeing; $hou mi"ture rank, of midnight weeds collected, -ith %ecate#s ban thrice blasted, thrice infected, $hy natural magic and dire property, !n wholesome life usurp immediately. P%urs t e ,%is%n int% t e slee,er*s ears HAMLET %e poisons him i# the garden for#s estate. %is name#s *on;ago: the story is e"tant, and writ in choice Italian: you shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of *on;ago#s wife. OPHELIA $he king rises. HAMLET -hat, frighted with false fire+ !UEEN GERTRUDE %ow fares my lord, LORD POLONIUS *ive o#er the play. ING CLAUDIUS *ive me some light: away+ All 6ights, lights, lights+ Exeunt all +ut HAMLET and HORATIO

HAMLET -hy, let the stricken deer go weep, $he hart ungalled play; .or some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away. -ould not this, sir, and a forest of feathers-- if the rest of my fortunes turn $urk with me--with two :rovincial roses on my ra;ed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players, sir, HORATIO %alf a share. HAMLET ) whole one, I. .or thou dost know, ! /amon dear, $his realm dismantled was !f 3ove himself; and now reigns here ) very, very--pa'ock. HORATIO 9ou might have rhymed. HAMLET ! good %oratio, I#ll take the ghost#s word for a thousand pound. /idst perceive, HORATIO 1ery well, my lord. HAMLET 7pon the talk of the poisoning, HORATIO I did very well note him. HAMLET )h, ha+ (ome, some music+ come, the recorders+ .or if the king like not the comedy, -hy then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. (ome, some music+ Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN GUILDENSTERN *ood my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you. HAMLET Sir, a whole history. GUILDENSTERN $he king, sir,-HAMLET )y, sir, what of him, GUILDENSTERN Is in his retirement marvellous distempered.

HAMLET -ith drink, sir, GUILDENSTERN No, my lord, rather with choler. HAMLET 9our wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to his doctor; for, for me to put him to his purgation would perhaps plunge him into far more choler. GUILDENSTERN *ood my lord, put your discourse into some frame and start not so wildly from my affair. HAMLET I am tame, sir: pronounce. GUILDENSTERN $he ueen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you. HAMLET 9ou are welcome. GUILDENSTERN Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do your mother#s commandment: if not, your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business. HAMLET Sir, I cannot. GUILDENSTERN -hat, my lord, HAMLET 2ake you a wholesome answer; my wit#s diseased: but, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command; or, rather, as you say, my mother: therefore no more, but to the matter: my mother, you say,-ROSENCRANTZ $hen thus she says; your behavior hath struck her into ama;ement and admiration. HAMLET ! wonderful son, that can so astonish a mother+ &ut is there no se uel at the heels of this mother#s admiration, Impart. ROSENCRANTZ She desires to speak with you in her closet, ere you go to bed. HAMLET

-e shall obey, were she ten times our mother. %ave you any further trade with us, ROSENCRANTZ 2y lord, you once did love me. HAMLET So I do still, by these pickers and stealers. ROSENCRANTZ *ood my lord, what is your cause of distemper, you do, surely, bar the door upon your own liberty, if you deny your griefs to your friend. HAMLET Sir, I lack advancement. ROSENCRANTZ %ow can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in /enmark, HAMLET )y, but sir, #-hile the grass grows,#--the proverb is something musty. Re-enter Players )it re"%rders !, the recorders+ let me see one. $o withdraw with you:--why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me into a toil, GUILDENSTERN !, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. HAMLET I do not well understand that. -ill you play upon this pipe, GUILDENSTERN 2y lord, I cannot. HAMLET I pray you. GUILDENSTERN &elieve me, I cannot. HAMLET I do beseech you. GUILDENSTERN I know no touch of it, my lord. HAMLET #$is as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most elo uent music. 6ook you, these are the stops. GUILDENSTERN

&ut these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill. HAMLET -hy, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me+ 9ou would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass: and there is much music, e"cellent voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you make it speak. #Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe, (all me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me. Enter POLONIUS *od bless you, sir+ LORD POLONIUS 2y lord, the ueen would speak with you, and presently. HAMLET /o you see yonder cloud that#s almost in shape of a camel, LORD POLONIUS &y the mass, and #tis like a camel, indeed. HAMLET 2ethinks it is like a weasel. LORD POLONIUS It is backed like a weasel. HAMLET !r like a whale, LORD POLONIUS 1ery like a whale. HAMLET $hen I will come to my mother by and by. $hey fool me to the top of my bent. I will come by and by. LORD POLONIUS I will say so. HAMLET &y and by is easily said. Exit POLONIUS 6eave me, friends. Exeunt all +ut HAMLET

$is now the very witching time of night, -hen churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out (ontagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood, )nd do such bitter business as the day -ould uake to look on. Soft+ now to my mother. ! heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever $he soul of Nero enter this firm bosom: 6et me be cruel, not unnatural: I will speak daggers to her, but use none; 2y tongue and soul in this be hypocrites; %ow in my words soever she be shent, $o give them seals never, my soul, consent+