PERSONS REPRESENTED. Claudius, king of Denmark.

Francisco, a soldier. Hamlet, son to the former, and nephew to the present | Reynaldo, servant to Polonius. king,

A Captain. Polonius, lord Chamberlain.

An Ambassador. Horatio, friend to Hamlet.

Ghost of Hamlet's

father. Laertes, son to Polonius.

Fortinbras, prince of Norway.
Voltimand,
Cornelius,
Rosenerantz,
courtiers.

Gertrude, queen of Denmark, and mother of Hamlet. Guildenstern,

Ophelia, daughter of Polonius.
Osrick, a courtier.
Another Courtier.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Grave-Dig A Priest.

gers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. Marcellus,

SCENE, Elsinore.

Bernardo,'; officers.

WHO'S there?

ACT L

Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. Horatio says, 'tis but onr fantasy ;
SCENE 1.-Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle. || And will not let belief take hold of him,
Francisco on his post. Enter to him, Bervardo. Touching this dreaded sight, 'twice seen of us :

Therefore I have entreated him along,
Bernarda.

With us to watch the minutes of this night;

That, if again this apparition come, Fran.

Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold He may approve our eyes, and speak to it. Yourself.

Hor. Tush! tush! 'twill not appear. Ber. Long live the king!

Ber.

Sit down awhiley! Fran.

Bernardo?

And let us once again assail your ears, Ber.

He.

That are so fortified against our story,
Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Wbat we two nights have seen.
Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve ; get thee to bed, Hor.

Well, sit we down,
Francisco.

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.
Fran. For this relief, much thanks ; 'tis bitter cold, Ber. Last night of all,
And I am sick at lieart.

When yon same star, that's westward from the pole, Ber.

Have you had quiet guard ? Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Fran. Not a mouse stirring.

Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself,

Well, good night. The bell then beating oneIf you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

Mar. Peace, break thee off ; look, where it comes The rivals of my walch, bid them make haste

again! Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Enter Ghost, fran. I think, I hear them.-Stand, ho! Who is Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. there?

Mar. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio. Hør. Friends to this ground.

Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio. Mar.

And liegemen to the Danc. Hor. Most like :-it harrows me with fear, aud Fran. Give you good night.

wonder. Nar.

O, furewell, honest soldier : Ber. It would be spoke to. Who hath reliev'd you?

Mar.

Speak to it, Horatio. Fran.

Bernarlo bath my place. Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night, Give you good night.

(Exu Francisco. Together with that fair aud warlike forın Mar. Holla! Beruardo!

In which the majesty of buried Denmark Ber.

Did sometimes march? by licaven I charge thee, speak. What, is Horatio there?

Mar. It is offended.
Hor.
A piece of him.

Ber.

See ! it stalks away. Ber. Welcome, Horatio ; welcome, good Marcellus. Hor. Stay ; speak : speak I charge thee, speak. Hor. What, has this thing appeard again to-nigtit?

[Exit Ghost.

Ber.

Say,

Mar. 'Tis gone,
and will not answer.

Disasters in the sun ; and the moist star,
Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble, and look pale; Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands,
Is not this something more than fantasy?

Was sick almost to dooms-day wità eclipsc.
What think you of it?

And even the like precurse of fieree events,
lor. Before my God, I might not this beliere, As harbingers preceding still the fates,
Without the sensible and true avouch

And prologue to the omen coming on
of mine own eyes.

Have heaven and earth together demonstrateni
Mar.
Is it not like the king?

Unto our climatures and countrynie.
Hor. As thou art to thyself:

Re-enter Ghost.
Such was the very armour he had on,

But, soft ; behold! lo, where it comes again!
When be the ambitious Norway combated ;

I'll cross is, though it blast me.Stay, illusion !
So frown'd he once, when; in an angry parle, If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,
He smote the sledded Polack on the ice.

Speak to me :
'Tis strange.

If there be any good thing to be done,
Mar. Thus, twice before, and jump at this dead hour, || That may to thee do ease, and grace to me,
With martial stalk, hath he gone by our watch. Speak to me:
Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
not ;

Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid,
But, in the gross and seope of mine opinion,

0, speak!
This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Or, if thou hast ophoarded in thy life

Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, || Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,
Why this same strict and most observant watch For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,
So mighty toils the subject of the land ?

[Ceck trek And why such daily cast of brazen cannon,

Speak of it :-stay, and speak.–Stop it, Marcellus.
And foreign mart for implements of war;

Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partizan?
Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Hor. Do, if it will not stand.
Does not divide the Sunday from the week :

Ber.

'Tis here! What might be toward, that this sweaty haste

Hor.

"Ti kart Doth make the night joint-labourcr with the day ; Nar. 'Tis gone!

[Est Gia Who is't, that can inform me?

We do it wrong, being so majestical,
Hor.
That can I ;

To offer it the slow of violence ;
At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, For it is, as the air, invulnerable,
Whose imare even but now appeard to us,

And our vain blows malicions mockery.
Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Purway,

Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock ere*.
Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride,

Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing
Dard to the combat ; in which our valiant llumlet Upon the feartul simmons. I have baril,
(For so this side of our knowa worlu esteem' linu The cock, that is the trumpet in the murn,
Did slay this Fortinbras ; who, hy a seal'd compact, Doth will his lofis and shrill-sounding throat
WeN ratified by law, and heraldry,

Awake the god of day; and, at his warning,
Did forfeit, will his life, all those his lands,

Whethier in sea or fire, in earth or air,
Which he stau seiz'd of, to the conqueror :

The extravagant and erring spirit luies
Against the wisich, a moiety competent

To his continc: and of the truth herein
Was guged by our king; which had return'd This present object made probation.
To the inheritance of Fortinbras,

Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock.
Had he deen vanquisber; as, by the same co-nart, Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes
And carriage of the article design'd,

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, His fell to Hamlet : Now, sir, young Fortinbras, This bird of dawning singeth all night long Of unimproved metile hot and full,

And then, they say. no spirit dares stir abroad; Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there,

The nights are wholesome; then no planets strik Shark'd up a list of landless resolutes,

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
For food and diet to some enterprize

So hallowd and so gracious is the tirae.
That lath a stomach in't ; which is no other

Hor. So have I heard, and do in part
(As it doch well appear unto our state,)

But, look, the morn, in russct mantle elad,
But to recover of us, by strong hand,

Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern liil) :
And terms compalsatory, those 'foresaid laudis, Break we our watch up ; and, by my advice,
So by his father lost: And this, I lake it,

Let us impart what we have seen to-night
Is the main motive of our preparations ;

Unto young Hamlet : for, upon my life,
The source of this our watch ; and the chic head

This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him:
of this post-haste and romage in the land.

Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,
Ber. I think, it be no other, but even so :

As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
Well may it sort, that this portentous figure

Mar. Let's do't, I pray ; an! I this morning knat
Comes armed through our watch; so like the king

Where we shall find him most convenical [Ercan,
That was, and is, the question of these wars.
Hor. A mote it is, to trouble the mind's eye.

SCENE II.-The stine.

A Reom of state in the In the most high and palmy state of Rome,

same. Enter the King, Queen, Hamlet, Poloniera A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,

Laertes, Poltimand, Cornelius, Lords, and sens The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted douta?

ants. Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.

King. Though yetoilIamlet our dear brother odeath

The memory be green ; and that it us be tied
As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, To bear our hearts ja grief, and our whole kingiem

believe it.

To be contracted in one brow of woe ;

Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. That we with wisest sortow think on him,

Do not, for ever, with thy vailed lids, Together with remembrance of ourselves.

Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Therefore our sometime sister, now our qucen, Thou know's, 'tis common; all, that live, must die The imperial jointress of this warlike state,

Passing through nature to eternity. Have we, as 'twere, with a defeated joy,

Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. With one auspicious, and one dropping eye ;

Queen.

If it be,
With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in inarriage, Why seems it so particular with thee?
In equal scale weighing delight and dole,

Ham. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know sot secies, Taken to wife: nor have we herein barrd

'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone

Nor customary suits of solemn black, With this affair along :-For all, our thanks.

Nor windy suspiration of fore'd breath, Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Holding a weak supposal of our worth;

Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, Or thinking, by our late dear brother's death,

Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief,
Our state to be disjoint and ont of frame,

That can denote me truly: These, indeed, seem,
Colleagued with this dream of his advantage, For they are actions that a man might play:
He hath not fail'd to pester us with message, But I have that within, which passeth show;
Importing the surrender of those lands

These, but the trappings and the suits of woe.
Lost by his father, with all bands of law,

King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, To our most valiant brother.-So much for him.

Hamlet,
Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting. To give these mourning duties to your father:
Thas much the business is: We have here writ But, you must know, your father lost a father ;
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras-

That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound
Who, impotent and bed-rid. scarcely hears

In filial obligation, for some term of this his nephew's purpose, -to suppress

To do obsequious sorrow : But to persever His further gait herein ; in that the levies,

In obstinate condolement, is a course The lists, and full proportions, are all made

of impious stubbornness ; 'tis unmaniy grief: Aut of his subject :-and we here despatch

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven; You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand,

A heart unfortified, or mind impatient; For bearers of this greeting to old Norway;

An understanding simple and unschool'd: Giving to you no further personal power

For what, we know, must be, and is as common To business with the king, more than the scope As any the most vulgar thing to sense, of these dilated articles allow.

Why should we, in our peevish opposition, Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. Take it to heart? Fye! 'tis a fault to heaven, Cor. Vol. In that, and all things, will we show our A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, duty.

'To reason most absurd ; whose common theme King. We doubt it nothing; heartily farewell. Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,

[E.reunt Voltimand and Cornelius. From the first corse, till he chat died today,
And now, Laertes, what's the news with you? This must be 30. We pray yon, throw to earth
You told us of some suit; What is't, Laertes: This unprevailing woe; and think of us
You cannot speak of reason to the Dane,

As of a father: for let the world take note.
And lose your voice: What would'st thou beg, Laertes You are the most immediate to our throne;
That shall not be my offer, not thy asking ?

And, with no less nobility of love The head is not more native to the heart,

Than that which dearest father bears his son, The hand more instrumental to the mouth,

Do I inupart toward you. For your intent Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. In going back to school in Wittenberg, What wouldst thou have, Laertes ?

It is most retrograde to onr desire: Laer.

My dread lord, And, we beseech you, bend you to remain Your leave and favour to return to France;

Here, in the cheer and comfort of our eye, From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. To show my duty in your coronation;

Queen. Let not thy mother lose her praycrs, HauYet now, I must confess, that duty done, Dly thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, I pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, madam. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Po King. Why, 'uis a loving and a fair reply; lonius?

Be as ourself in Denmark.–Madam, come; Pol. He bath, my lord, wrung from me my slow This gentie and unforc'd accord of Hamlet leave,

Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof, By laboursome petition: and, at last,

No jocund health, that Denmark drinks to-lay, Upon his will I seald my hard consent:

But the great annnon to the clouds shall tell;
I do beseech you, give him leave to go.

And the king's rouse the heaven shall bruit again,
King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes ; time be thine, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come awaj.
And thy best graces: spend it at thy wiil.

[Excunt King, Queen, Lords, 6e. Poloniue But now, iny cousin Hamlet, and my son,

and Laertes. Fam. A little more than lun, and less than kind. Ham. O, that this too too solid fesh wonki neti,

[Aside. | Tlaw, and resolve itself into a dew! King. flow is it that the clouds seill bang on you? Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd Uam. Vue su, my lord, I am 100 niuch iche sun. His canou 'guinst self slaghter! O God! Cinch

let;

with yoti.

How weary, stale, fat, and unprofitable

This marvel to you. Seem to me all the uses of this world!

Hom.

For God's love, let me bean Pye on't! O iye! 'tis an unweeded garden,

Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, That grows to seed; things rank, and grass in nature, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, Possess it merely. That it should come to this! In the dead waist and middle of the night, But two months dead !-nay, not so much, not two; Been thus eucounter d. A figure like your father, So excellent a king; that was, to this,

Armed at point, exactly, cap-a-pe. Hyperion to a satyr: so loving to my mother,

Appears before them, and, with solemn march, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Goes slow and stately by then: thrice he walkid, Visit her face too ronghly. Heaven and earth! By their oppress'd and fear-surprized eges. Must I remember? why, she would hang on him, Within his truncheon's length ; whilst they, distilla As if increase of appetite had grown

Almost to jelly with the act of fear, By what it fed on: And yet, within a month, Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me Let me not think on't ;-Frailty, thy name is woman! In dreadtul secrecy impart they did; A little month; or ere those shoes were old,

And I with them, the third night kept the watch: With which she follow'd my poor father's body, Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time, Like Niobe, all tears :-why she, even she

Form of the thing, each word made true and good, O heaven! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, The apparition comes: I knew your father ; Would have mourn'd longer,-married with my uncle ; | These hands are not more like. My father's brother; but no more like my father, Ham.

But where was this? Than I to Hereules: Within a month;

Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watchil Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears

Ham. Did you not speak to it? Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,

Hor.

My lord, I did; She married ;-0 most wicked speed, to post

But answer made it none: yet once, methought, With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!

It lifted up its head, and did adilers
It is not, nor it cannot come to, good :

Itself to motion, like as it would speak:
But break, my heart; for I inust hold my tongue! But, even then, the morning cock crew louds
Enter Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus.

And at the sound it shrunk in baste away,

And vanish'd from our sight. Hor. Hail to your lordship!

Hom,

'Tis very strange Ham.

I am glad to see you well : Hor. As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; Horatio,mor I do forget myself.

And we did think it writ down in our duty, Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. To let you know of it. Ham. Sir, my good friend ; I'll change that name Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles toe.

Hold you the watch to-night And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio :

All.

We do, my lord. Marcellus?

Ham. Armd, say you? Mar. My good lord

Armu, my lond. Ham. I am very glad to see you ;- good even, sir. Ham.

From top to toe? Bis what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg? ANI, My lord, from head to foot. Ilor. A truant disposition, goal my lord.

Ham.

Then saw you not Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so;

His face? Nor shall you do mine ear that violence,

Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver op To make it truster of your own report

Ham. What, look'd he frowningly? Against yourself: I know, you are no trnant.

Hor.

A countenance more But what is your affair in Elsinore?

In sorrow than in anger. We'll teach you to drink deep, ere yon depart.

Ham.

Pale, or red?
Hor. My lord, 1 came to see your father's fueral. Hor. Nay, very pale.
Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, follow-student; Ham.

And fix'd his eyes upon you? I think, it was to see my motber's wedding.

Her Most constantiy. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon.

Hani.

I would, I had been there. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio ! the funeral bak d Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. meats

Ilam.

Very like, Did coldly furnish forth the mairiage-tables.

Very like: Staid it long? 'Would I had znet my dearest foe in heaven

Hor. While one with moderate baste might cell a Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio !

hundred. My father,-Methinks, I see my father.

Mar. Ber. Longer. Ionger. Hor.

Where,

Hor. Not when I saw it.
Нат. ,

His beard was grizzl'd? no! Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio.

Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life,
Mor. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. A sable silverd.
Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all,

Ilam. I will watch to-night;
I shall not look upon his like again.

Perchance, 'twill walk again. Hor. My Joril, I think I saw him yesternight.

I warrant, it will Hanı, Saw! who?

Ham, If it assume my nohle father's person, Kor.

My lord, the king your father. I'll speak to it, thougla hell itsele should gape, Ham. The king my father!

And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, Hor. Season your admiration for a while

If you have hitherto conceal tiis sight, With an attent ear: tiil I may deliver,

Let it bar tenable in your silence still; l'pon the witness of tuese gentlemen,

And whatsoever else shall hap tonight,

My lord?

Hor.

Give it an understanding, but no tongue;
I will requite your loves : So, fare you well :
Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,
I'll visit you.

AU. Our duty to your honour.
Ham. Your loves, as mine to you : farewell.

[Ea cunt Hor. Mar. and Ber.
My father's spirit in arms! all is not well ;
I doubt some foul play: 'would, the night were come!
Till then sit still, my soul : Foul deeds will rise,
Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.

[Erit. SCENE III.-A Room in Polonius's House. Enter

Laertes and Ophelia.
Laer. My necessaries are embark'd; farewell :
And, sister, as the winds give benefit,
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.
Oph,

Do you doubt that?
Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favqur,
Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood ;
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance of a minutes
No more.

Oph. No more but so?
Laer.

Think it no more:
For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
In thews, and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,
The inwand service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps, he loves you now;
And now no soil, nor cautel, doth besmirch
The virtue of his will : but, you must fear,
His greatness weigh’d, his will is not his own :
For he himself is subject to his birth :
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself ; for on his choice depends
The safety and the health of the whole state;
And therefore must his choice be circumscribd
Unto the voice and yielding of that body,
Whereof be is the head: Then if he says he loves you
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it,
As he in his particular act and place
May give bis saying deed; which is no further,
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your bonour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs;
Or lose your heart ; Or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster'd importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister;
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough,
If she unmask her beauty to the moon :
Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes :
The canker galls the infants of the spring,
Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd;
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then : best safety lies in fear;
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart: But, good my brother,
Do riot, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Whilst, like a puff d and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
And recks not his own read.
Lacr.

O fear me diót.

I stay too long ;-But here my father comen

Enter Polonius.
A double blessing is a double grace:
Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

Pol. Yet here, Laertes! abuard, aboard, for shame;
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are staid for : There--my blessing with you ;

(Laying his hand on Laertes' head.
And these few precepts in thy memory
Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue
Nor any unproportion'd thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
of each new-hatchd. unfledg'd comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quartel: but, being in,
Bear it that the opposer may beware of thee.
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice :
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not expressid in fancy ; rich, not gawdy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man;
And they in France, of the best rank and station,
Are most select and generous, chief in that.
Neither a borrower, por a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
'This above all, - To thine ownself be true;
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell; my blessing season this in thee!

Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord,
Pol. The time invites you ; go, your servants tends

Laer. Farewell, Ophelia ; and remember well
What I have said to you.
Oph.

''Tis in my memory lock'd,
And you yourself shall keep the key of it.
Lner. Farewell.

(Exit.
Pol. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you?
Oph. So please you, something touching the lord

Hamlet.
Pol. Marry, well bethoughts
'Tis told me, he bath very oft of late
Given private time to you : and you yourself
Have of your audience been most free and bounteous.
If it be so, (as so 'tis put on me,
And that in way of caution.) I must tell you,
You do not understand yourself so clearly,
As it behoves my daughter, and your honour:
What is between you give me up the truth.

Oph. He hath, my lord, of late, made many tenders of his affection to me.

Pol. Affection ? puh! you spenk like a green gir),
Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.
Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?

Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think,

Pol. Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby ;
That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,
Which are not sterling, l'ender yourself more dearly;
Or, (not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,
Wronging it thus, you'll tender me a fool.

Oph. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love,
In honourable fashion.

Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it: go to, go to.

Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

Pol. Ay, springes to eatch woodcocki. I do know,

my Jord,