ACT I

SCENE I ELSINORE．A PLATFORM BEFORE THE CASTLE．NIGHT.

FRANCISCO on his post．Enter to him BERNARDO （L.H.）

Ber. Who's there？

Fran. （R.） Nay，answer me： stand，and unfoldyourself.

Ber. Long live the king！

Fran. Bernardo？

Ber.He.

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour.

Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed，Francisco.

Fran. For this relief much thanks：

[Crosses to L.]

'Tis bitter cold，

And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard？

Fran. Not a mouse stirring.

Ber. Well，good night.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus，

The rivals of my watch， bid them make haste.

Fran. I think I hear them.—Stand，ho！Who's there？

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Mar. And liegemen to the Dane.

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS （L.H.）

Fran. Give you good night.

Mar. O，farewell，honest soldier：

Who hath reliev'd you？

Fran. Bernardo hath my place.

Give you good night.

[Exit FRANCISCO，L.H.]

Mar. Holloa！Bernardo！

Ber. Say，

What，is Horatio there？

Hor. （Crosses to C.） A piece of him.

Ber. （R.） Welcome，Horatio：welcome，good Marcellus.

Hor. What，has this thing appear'd again to-night？

Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. （L.） Horatio says，'tis but our fantasy，

And will not let belief take hold of him，

Touching this dreaded sight，twice seen of us：

Therefore I have entreated him，along

With us，to watch the minutes of this night;

That，if again this apparition come，

He may approve our eyes，and speak to it.

Hor. Tush！tush！'twill not appear.

Ber. Come，let us once again assail your ears，

That are so fortified against our story，

What we two nights have seen.

Hor. Well，let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

Ber. Last night of all，

When yon same star that's westward from the pole

Had made his course to illume that part of heaven

Where now it burns，Marcellus，and myself，

The bell then beating one—

Mar. Peace，break thee off; look，where it comes again！

Enter Ghost （L.H.）

Ber. In the same figure，like the king that's dead.

Hor. Most like：—it harrows me with fear and wonder.

Ber. It would be spoke to.

Mar. Speak to it，Horatio.

Hor. What art thou，that usurp'st this time of night，

Together with that fair and warlike form

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march？By heaven I charge thee，speak！

Mar. It is offended.

[Ghost crosses to R.]

Ber. See！it stalks away！

Hor. Stay！—speak！—speak，I charge thee，speak！

[Exit Ghost，R.H.]

Mar. 'Tis gone，and will not answer.

Ber. How now，Horatio！You tremble，and look pale：

Is not this something more than fantasy？

What think you of it？

Hor. Before heaven，I might not this believe，

Without the sensible and true avouch

Of mine own eyes.

Mar. Is it not like the king？

Hor. As thou art to thyself：

Such was the very armour he had on，

When he the ambitious Norway combated.

Mar. Thus，twice before，and jump at this dead hour，

With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

Hor. In what particular thought to work，I know not;

But in the gross and scopeof mine opinion，

This bodes some strange eruption to our state.

In the most high and palmy state of Rome，

A little ere the mightiest Julius fell，

The graves stood tenantless，and the sheeted dead

Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.

Re-enter Ghost （R.H.）

But，（L.C.） soft，behold！lo，where it comes again！

I'll cross it，though it blast me.

[HORATIO crosses in front of the Ghost to R.

Ghost crosses to L.]

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，happily，foreknowing may avoid，

O，speak！

O，if thou hast uphoarded in thy life

Extorted treasure in the womb of earth，

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

Speak of it：—stay，and speak！

[Exit Ghost，L.H.]

Mar. 'Tis gone！

We do it wrong，being so majestical，

To offer it the show of violence.

Ber. It was about to speak，when the cock crew.

Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing

Upon a fearful summons.I have heard，

The cock，that is the trumpet of the morn，

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，

The extravagant and erring spirithies

To his confine.

But，look，the morn，in russet 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 to-night

Unto young Hamlet; for，upon my life，

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

[Exeunt，L.H.]

SCENE II A ROOM OF STATE IN THE PALACE.

Trumpet March.

Enter the KING and QUEEN，preceded by POLONIUS，HAMLET，

LAERTES， Lords，Ladies，and Attendants.

King. （R.C.） Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death

The memory be green; and that it us befitted

To bear our hearts in grief，and our whole kingdom

To be contracted in one brow of woe;

Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature，

That we with wisest sorrow think on him，

Together with remembrance of ourselves.

Therefore our sometime sister，now our queen，

The imperial jointress of this warlike state，

Have we，as 'twere with a defeated joy，

Taken to wife：nor have we herein barr'd

Your better wisdoms，which have freely gone

With this affair along：—For all，our thanks.

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

You told us of some suit; What is't，Laertes？

Laer. （R.） My dread lord，

Your leave and favour 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 toward France，

And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.

King. Have you your father's leave？What says Polonious？

Pol. （R.） He hath，my lord，（wrung from me my slow leave

By laboursome petition; and，at last，

Upon his will I sealed my hard consent）：

I do beseech you，give him leave to go.

King. Take thy fair hour，Laertes; time be thine，

And thy best graces spend it at thy will！

But now，my cousin Hamlet，and my son，——

Ham. （L.） A little more than kin，and less than kind.

[Aside.]

King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you？

Ham. Not so，my lord; I am too much i'the sun.

Queen.（L.C.） Good Hamlet，cast thy nighted colour off，

And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.

Do not for ever with thy vailed lids

Seek for thy noble father in the dust：

Thou know'st 'tis common，all that live must die，

Passing through nature to eternity.

Ham. Ay，madam，it is common.

Queen. If it be，

Why seems it so particular with thee？

Ham. Seems，madam！nay，it is; I know not seems.

'Tis not alone my inky cloak，good mother，

Nor the dejected haviour of the visage，

No，nor the fruitful river in the eye，

Together with all forms，modes，shows of grief，

That can denote me truly：These，indeed，seem，

For they are actions that a man might play.

But I have that within which passeth show;

These but the trappingsand 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 persever

In obstinate condolement， is a course

Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief：

It shows a will most incorrect to Heaven.

We pray you，throw to earth

This unprevailing woe; and think of us

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

You are the most immediate to our throne;

Our chiefest courtier，cousin，and our son.

Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers，Hamlet：

I pray thee，stay with us; go not to Wittenberg.

Ham. 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 unforc'd accord of Hamlet

Sits smiling to my heart：in grace whereof，

No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day，

But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell;

Re-speaking earthly thunder.

[Trumpet March repeated．Exeunt KING and QUEEN，

preceded by POLONIUS，Lords，Ladies，LAERTES，and

Attendants，R.H.]

Ham. O，that this too，too solid flesh would melt，

Thaw，and resolve itself into a dew！

Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd

His canon 'gainst self-slaughter！O God！O God！

How weary，stale，flat，and unprofitable

Seem to me all the uses of this world！

Fye on't！O fye！'tis an unweeded garden，

That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature

Possess it merely.That it should come to this！

But two months dead！—nay，not so much，not two：

So excellent a king; that was，to this，

Hyperion to a satyr：so loving to my mother，

That he might not beteemthe 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 grown

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 ere those shoes were old

With which she follow'd my poor father's body，

Like Niobe，all tears;—she married with my uncle，

My father's brother; but no more like my father

Than I to Hercules.

It is not，nor it cannot come to，good：

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

Enter HORATIO，BERNARDO，and MARCELLUS （R.H.）

Hor. Hail to your lordship！

Ham. I am glad to see you well：

Horatio，—or I do forget myself.

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

Ham. Sir，my good friend; I'll change that name with you：

And what make you from Wittenberg，Horatio？—

Marcellus？

[Crosses to C.]

Mar. （R.） My good lord，

Ham. （C.） I am very glad to see you; good even，sir.

[To BERNARDO，R.]

But what，in faith， make you from Wittenberg？

Hor. （L.） A truant disposition，good my lord.

Ham. I would not hear 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，ere you depart.

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

Ham. I pray thee，do not mock me，fellow-student;

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

Hor. Indeed，my lord，it followed hard upon.

Ham. Thrift，thrift，Horatio！the funeral bak'd meats

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

Would I had met my dearest foe in Heaven

Ere ever I had seen that day，Horatio！

My father，—Methinks，I see my father.

Hor. Where，

My lord？

Ham. In my mind's eye，Horatio.

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

Ham. He was a man，take him for all in all，

I shall not look upon his like again.

[Crosses to L.]

Hor. （C.） My lord，I think I saw him yesternight.

Ham. Saw who？

Hor. My lord，the king your father.

Ham. The king my father！

Hor. Season your admiration for a while

With an attent ear; till I may deliver，

Upon the witness of these gentlemen，

This marvel to you.

Ham. For Heaven's love，let me hear.

Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen，

Marcellus and Bernardo，on their watch，

In the dead waste and middle of the night，

Been thus encounter'd．A figure like your father，

Arm'd at all points exactly，cap-a-pe，

Appears before them，and，with solemn march

Goes slow and stately by them：thrice he walk'd

By their oppress'd and fear-surprisèd eyes，

Within his truncheon's length; whilst they，distill'd

Almost to jelly with the act of fear，

Stand dumb，and speak not to him．This to me

In dreadful secrecy impart they did;

And I with them the third night kept the watch：

Where，as they had deliver'd，both in time，

Form of the thing，each word made true and good，

The apparition comes.

Ham. But where was this？

[Crosses to MARCELLUS.]

Mar. （R.） My lord，upon the platform where we

watch'd.

Ham. （C.） Did you not speak to it？

Hor. （L.） My lord，I did;

But answer made it none：yet once methought

It lifted up its head，and did address

Itself to motion，like as it would speak：

But，even then，the morning cock crew loud，

And at the sound it shrunk in haste away;

And vanish'd from our sight.

Ham. 'Tis very strange.

Hor. As I do live，my honour'd lord，'tis true;

And we did think it writ downin our duty

To let you know of it.

Ham. Indeed，indeed，sirs，but this troubles me.

Hold you the watch to-night？

Mar. We do，my lord.

Ham. Arm'd，say you？

Mar. Arm'd，my lord.

Ham. From top to toe？

Mar. My lord，from head to foot.

Ham. Then saw you not

His face？

Hor. O，yes，my lord; he wore his beaver up.

Ham. What，looked he frowningly？

Hor. A countenance more

In sorrow than in anger.

Ham. Pale or red？

Hor. Nay，very pale.

Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you？

Hor. Most constantly.

Ham. I would I had been there.

Hor. It would have much amaz'd you.

Ham. Very like，

Very like．Stay'd it long？

Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.

Mar. Longer，Longer.

Ber. Longer，Longer.

Hor. Not when I saw it.

Ham. His beard was grizzl'd，No？

Hor. It was，as I have seen it in his life，

A sable silver'd.

Ham. I will watch to-night;

Perchance，'twill walk again.

Hor. （C.） I warrant it will.

Ham. If it assume my noble father's person，

I'll speak to it，though hell itself should gape，

And bid me hold my peace.

[Crosses to L.]

I pray you all，

If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight，

Let it be tenablein your silence still;

And whatsoever else shall hap to-night，

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.

Hor. （R.） Our duty to your honour.

Ham. Your loves，as mine to you：Farewell.

[Exeunt HORATIO，MARCELLUS，and BERNARDO，R.H.]

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.

[Exit，L.H.]

SCENE III A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.

Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA （R.H.）

Laer. （L.C.） My necessaries are embarked：farewell：

And，sister，as the winds give benefit，

Let me hear from you.

Oph. （R.C.） Do you doubt that？

Laer. For Hamlet，and the trifling of his favour，

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 minute.

Oph. No more but so？

Laer. He may not，as unvalued persons do，

Carve for himself; for on his choice depends

The safety and the health of the whole state.

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain，

If with too credent ear you list his songs.

Fear it，Ophelia，fear it，my dear sister;

And keep within 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：

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 not，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.

Laer. O，fear me not.

I stay too long;—but here my father comes.

Enter POLONIUS （L.H.）

Pol. Yet here，Laertes！aboard，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-hatch'd，unfledg'd comrade．Beware

Of entrance to a quarrel; 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 judgment.

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy，

But not express'd in fancy; rich，not gaudy：

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 nor 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.

[Crosses to L.]

Farewell，Ophelia; and remember well

What I have said to you.

Oph. （Crosses to LAERTES.） 'Tis in my memory lock'd，

And you yourself shall keep the key of it.

Laer. Farewell.

[Exit LAERTES，L.H.]

Pol. What is it，Ophelia，he hath said to you？

Oph. So please you，something touching the lord Hamlet.

Pol. Marry，well bethought：

'Tis told me，he hath 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！pooh！you speak like a green girl，

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．Tender yourself more dearly;

Or，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，my lord，

With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

Pol. Ay，springes to catch woodcocks. I do know，

When the blood burns，how prodigal the soul

Lends the tongue vows：This is for all，—

I would not，in plain terms，from this time forth，

Have you so slander any leisure moment，

As to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet.

Look to't，I charge you：come your ways.

Oph. I shall obey，my lord.

[Exeunt，R.H.]

SCENE IV THE PLATFORM．NIGHT.

Enter HAMLET，HORATIO，and MARCELLUS （L.H.U.E.）

Ham. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.

Hor. It is a nipping and an eager air.

Ham. What hour now？

Hor. I think it lacks of twelve.

Mar. No，it is struck.

Hor. （R.C.） Indeed？I heard it not：then it draws near the season，

Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

[A Flourish of Trumpets，and Ordnance shot off without.]

What does this mean，my lord？

Ham. （L.C.） The king doth wake to-night，and takes his rouse，

And，as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down，

The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out

The triumph of his pledge.

Hor. Is it a custom？

Ham. Ay，marry，is't：

[Crosses to HORATIO.]

But to my mind，—though I am native here，

And to the manner born，—it is a custom

More honour'd in the breach than the observance.

Enter Ghost （L.H.）

Hor. （R.H.） Look，my lord，it comes！

Ham. （C.） Angels and ministers of grace defend us！—

Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd，

Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell，

Be thy intents wicked or charitable，

Thou com'st in such a questionable shape，

That I will speak to thee：I'll call thee—Hamlet，

King，father：Royal Dane：O，answer me！

Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell

Why thy canoniz'd bones，hearsed in death，

Have burst their cerements;why the sepulchre，

Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urn'd，

Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws，

To cast thee up again！What may this mean，

That thou，dead corse，again，in complete steel，

Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon，

Making night hideous; and we fools of nature

So horridly to shake our disposition

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls？

Say，why is this？wherefore？what should we do？

[Ghost beckons.]

Hor. It beckons you to go away with it，

As if it some impartment did desire

To you alone.

[Ghost beckons again.]

Mar. Look，with what courteous action

It waves you to a more removed ground：

But do not go with it.

Hor. No，by no means.

Ham. It will not speak; then I will follow it.

Hor. Do not，my lord.

Ham. Why，what should be the fear？

I do not set my life at a pin's fee;

And for my soul，what can it do to that，

Being a thing immortal as itself？

[Ghost beckons.]

It waves me forth again;—I'll follow it.

Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood，my lord，

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff

That beetles o'er his base into the sea，

And there assume some other horrible form，

And draw you into madness？

[Ghost beckons.]

Ham. It waves me still.—

Go on; I'll follow thee.

Mar. You shall not go，my lord.

Ham. Hold off your hands.

Hor. Be rul'd; you shall not go.

Ham. My fate cries out，

And makes each petty artery in this body

As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.

[Ghost beckons]

Still am I call'd：—unhand me，gentlemen;

[Breaking from them.]

By heaven，I'll make a ghost of him that lets me：—

I say，away！—Go on; I'll follow thee.

[Exeunt Ghost and HAMLET，L.H.，followed at a distance by

HORATIO and MARCELLUS.]

SCENE V A MORE REMOTE PART OF THE PLATFORM．NIGHT.

Re-enter Ghost and HAMLET （L.H.U.E.）

Ham. （R.） Whither wilt thou lead me？Speak; I'll go no further.

Ghost. （L.） Mark me.

Ham. I will.

Ghost. My hour is almost come，

When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames

Must render up myself.

Ham. Alas，poor ghost！

Ghost. Pity me not，but lend thy serious hearing

To what I shall unfold.

Ham. Speak; I am bound to hear.

Ghost. So art thou to revenge，when thou shalt hear.

Ham. What？

Ghost. I am thy father's spirit;

Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night，

And for the day confin'd to fast in fires，

Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature

Are burnt and purg'd away．But that I am forbid

To tell the secrets of my prison-house，

I could a tale unfold，whose lightest word

Would harrow up thy soul;freeze thy young blood;

Make thy two eyes，like stars，start from their spheres;

Thy knotted and combinèd locks to part，

And each particular hair to stand on end，

Like quills upon the fretful porcupine：

But this eternal blazon must not be

To ears of flesh and blood.—List，list，O，list！—

If thou didst ever thy dear father love，——

Ham. O Heaven！

Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

Ham. Murder！

Ghost. Murder most foul，as in the best it is;

But this most foul，strange，and unnatural.

Ham. Haste me to know it，that I，with wings as swift

As meditation or the thoughts of love，

May sweep to my revenge.

Ghost. I find thee apt;

And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed

That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf，

Wouldst thou not stir in this．Now，Hamlet，hear：

'Tis given out that，sleeping in mine orchard，

A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark

Is by a forged processof my death

Rankly abus'd：but know，thou noble youth，

The serpent that did sting thy father's life

Now wears his crown.

Ham. O，my prophetic soul！my uncle！

Ghost. Ay，that incestuous，that adulterate beast，

With witchcraft of his wit，with traitorous gifts，

Won to his shameful lust

The will of my most seeming virtuous queen：

O，Hamlet，what a falling-off was there！

From me，whose love was of that dignity，

That it went hand in hand even with the vow

I made to her in marriage; and to decline

Upon a wretch， whose natural gifts were poor

To those of mine！

But，soft！methinks I scent the morning air;

Brief let me be.—Sleeping within mine orchard，

My custom always in the afternoon，

Upon my securehour thy uncle stole，

With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial，

And in the porches of mine ears did pour

The leperous distilment; whose effect

Holds such an enmity with blood of man，

That，swift as quicksilver，it courses through

The natural gates and alleys of the body;

So did it mine;

Thus was I，sleeping，by a brother's hand

Of life，of crown，of queen，at once despatch'd：

Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin，

Unhousel'd，disappointed，unanel'd;

No reckoning made，but sent to my account

With all my imperfections on my head.

Ham. O，horrible！O，horrible！most horrible！

Ghost. If thou hast nature in thee，bear it not;

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be

A couch for luxuryand damnèd incest.

But，howsoever thou pursu'st this act，

Taint not thy mind，nor let thy soul contrive

Against thy mother aught：leave her to Heaven，

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge，

To prick and sting her．Fare thee well at once！

The glow-worm shows the matin to be near，

And 'gins to pale his ineffectual fire：

Adieu，adieu，adieu！remember me.

[Exit，L.H.]

Ham. Hold，hold，my heart;

And you，my sinews，grow not instant old，

But bear me stiffly up.—Remember thee！

Ay，thou poor ghost，while memory holds a seat

In this distracted globe.Remember thee！

Yea，from the table of my memory

I'll wipe away all forms，all pressures past，

And thy commandment all alone shall live

Within the book and volume of my brain，

Unmix'd with baser matter：yes，by heaven，

I have sworn't.

Hor. （Without.） My lord，my lord，——

Mar. （Without.） Lord Hamlet，——

Hor. （Without.） Heaven secure him！

Ham. So be it！

Mar. （Without.） Illo，ho，ho，my lord！

Ham. Hillo，ho，ho，boy！come，bird，come.

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS （L.H.U.E.）

Mar. （R.） How is't，my noble lord？

Hor. （L.） What news，my lord？

Ham. （C.） O，wonderful！

Hor. Good my lord，tell it.

Ham.

No;

You will reveal it.

Hor. Not I，my lord，by heaven.

Mar. Nor I，my lord.

Ham. How say you，then; would heart of man once think it？

But you'll be secret？—

Hor.}

} Ay，by heaven，my lord.

Mar.}

Ham. There's ne'er a villain，dwelling in all Denmark—

But he's an arrant knave.

Hor. There needs no ghost，my lord，come from the grave

To tell us this.

Ham. Why，right; you are in the right;

And so，without more circumstance at all，

I hold it fit that we shake hands，and part：

You as your business and desire shall point you，

For every man hath business and desire，

Such as it is;—and，for my own poor part，

Look you，I will go pray.

Hor. These are but wild and whirling words，my lord.

Ham. I am sorry they offend you，heartily.

Hor. There's no offence，my lord.

Ham. Yes，by Saint Patrick， but there is，Horatio，

And much offence，too．Touching this vision here，

It is an honest ghost，that let me tell you：

For your desire to know what is between us，

O'er-master itas you may．And now，good friends，

As you are friends，scholars，and soldiers，

Give me one poor request.

Hor. What is't，my lord？

We will.

Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night.

Hor. My lord，we will not.

Mar. My lord，we will not.

Ham. Nay，but swear't.

Hor. Propose the oath，my lord.

Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen.

Swear by my sword.

[HORATIO and MARCELLUS place each their right

hand on HAMLET'S sword.]

Ghost. （Beneath.） Swear.

Hor. O day and night，but this is wondrous strange！

Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth，Horatio，

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

But come;—

Here，as before，never，so help you mercy，

How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself，

As I，perchance，hereafter shall think meet

To put an antick disposition on，—

That you，at such times seeing me，never shall，

With arms encumber'd thus， or this head-shake，

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase，

As，Well，we know; or，We could，an if we would; or，If

we list to speak;—or，There be，an if they might;—

Or such ambiguous giving out，to note

That you know aught of me：—This do you swear，

So grace and mercy at your most need help you！

[HORATIO and MARCELLUS again place their hands on HAMLET'S

sword.]

Ghost. （Beneath.） Swear.

Ham. Rest，rest，perturbed spirit！So gentlemen，

With all my love I do commend me to you：

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is

May do，to express his love and friending to you，

Heaven willing，shall not lack. Let us go in together;

[Crosses to L.]

And still your fingers on your lips，I pray.

The time is out of joint;—O cursèd spite，

That ever I was born to set it right！

Nay，come，let's go together.

[Exeunt L.H.]

END OF ACT FIRST.

1. i.e.，me who am already on the watch，and have a right to demand the watch-word.
2. Announce，make known.
3. The watch-word.
4. Rivals，for partners or associates.
5. i.e.，owing allegiance to Denmark.
6. Probably a cant expression.
7. To watch the minutes of this night; This seems to have been an expression common in Shakespeare's time.
8. To approve，in Shakespeare's age，signified to make good or establish.
9. We must here supply "with，" or "by relating" before "what we have seen."
10. i.e.，it confounds and overwhelms me.
11. i.e.，abuses，uses against right，and the order of things.
12. I could not：it had not been permitted me，&c.，without the full and perfect evidence，&c.
13. Jump and just were synonymous in Shakespeare's time.
14. In what particular course to set my thoughts at work：in what particular train to direct the mind and exercise it in conjecture.
15. Upon the whole，and in a general view.
16. Bodes some strange eruption to our state，i.e.，some political distemper，which will break out in dangerous consequences.
17. Outspread，flourishing．Palm branches were the emblem of victory.
18. Articulation.
19. Uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth，So in Decker's Knight's Conjuring，&c．"If any of them had bound the spirit of gold by any charmes in cares，or in iron fetters，under the ground，they should，for their own soule's quiet （which，questionless，else would whine up and down，） not for the good of their children，release it."
20. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons.] Apparitions were supposed to fly from the crowing of the cock，because it indicated the approach of day.
21. High and loud.
22. Extravagant is，got out of his bounds．Erring is here used in the sense of wandering.
23. Laertes is unknown in the original story，being an introduction of Shakespeare's.
24. Fresh.
25. Sober grief，passion discreetly reined.
26. i.e.，with joy baffled; with joy interrupted by grief.
27. Excluded—acted without the concurrence of.
28. The favour of your leave granted，the kind permission．Two substantives with a copulative being here，as is the frequent practice of our author，used for an adjective and substantive：an adjective sense is given to a substantive.
29. At or upon his earnest and importunate suit，I gave my full and final，though hardly obtained and reluctant，consent.
30. Take thy fair hour！time be thine; And thy best graces spend it at thy will！Catch the auspicious moment！be time thine own！and may the exercise of thy fairest virtue fill up those hours，that are wholly at your command！
31. Dr．Johnson says that kind is the Teutonic word for child．Hamlet，therefore，answers to the titles of cousin and son，which the king had given him，that he was somewhat more than cousin，and less than son．Steevens remarks，that it seems to have been another proverbial phrase："The nearer we are in blood，the further we must be from love; the greater the kindred is，the less the kindness must be." Kin is still used in the Midland Counties for cousin，and kind signifies nature．Hamlet may，therefore，mean that the relationship between them had become unnatural.
32. Meaning，probably，his being sent for from his studies to be exposed at his uncle's marriage as his chiefest courtier，and being thereby placed too much in the radiance of the king's presence; or，perhaps，an allusion to the proverb，"Out of Heaven's blessing，into the warm sun：" but it is not unlikely that a quibble is meant between son and sun.
33. Nighted color Black—night-like.
34. Cast down.
35. i.e.，"external manners of lament."
36. Trappings are "furnishings."
37. "That lost father （of your father，i.e.，your grandfather），or father so lost，lost his."
38. Follow with becoming and ceremonious observance the memory of the deceased.
39. This word was anciently accented on the second syllable.
40. Ceaseless and unremitted expression of grief.
41. Contumacious towards Heaven.
42. Fruitless，unprofitable.
43. To is at：gladdens my heart.
44. i.e.，respectful regard or honour of which.
45. Dr．Johnson remarks，that the king's intemperance is very strongly impressed; everything that happens to him gives him occasion to drink．The Danes were supposed to be hard drinkers.
46. To resolve is an old word signifying to dissolve.
47. i.e.，his rule or law.
48. i.e.，the habitudes and usages of life.
49. Wholly—entirely.
50. An allusion to the exquisite beauty of Apollo，compared with the deformity of a satyr; that satyr，perhaps，being Pan，the brother of Apollo.]
51. i.e.，might not allow，permit.
52. i.e.，do not call yourself my servant，you are my friend; so I shall call you，and so I would have you call me.
53. Faithfully，in pure and simple verity.
54. What is your object？What are you doing？
55. In Shakespeare's time there was a university at Wittenberg; but as it was not founded till 1502，it consequently did not exist in the time to which this play refers.
56. i.e.，my direst or most important foe．This epithet was commonly used to denote the strongest and liveliest interest in any thing or person，for or against.
57. i.e.，a good king.]
58. Season your admiration for a while with an attent ear;] i.e.，suppress your astonishment for a short time，that you may be the better able to give your attention to what we will relate.
59. i.e.，in the dark and desolate vast，or vacant space and middle of the night．It was supposed that spirits had permission to range the earth by night alone.
60. i.e.，by the influence or power of fear.
61. i.e.，make ready.]
62. Prescribed by our own duty.
63. That part of the helmet which may be lifted up，to take breath the more freely.
64. i.e.，strictly maintained.
65. Favourable means.
66. Gay and thoughtless intimation.
67. i.e.，an amusement to fill up a vacant moment，and render it agreeable.
68. Front not the peril; withdraw or check every warm emotion：advance not so far as your affection would lead you.
69. Chary is cautious.
70. Bloated and swollen，the effect of excess; and heedless and indifferent to consequences.
71. i.e.，heeds not his own lessons or counsel.
72. A common sea phrase.
73. i.e.，a word often used by Shakespeare to signify to write，strongly infix; the accent is on the second syllable.
74. Irregular，disorderly thought.
75. Sentiment，opinion.
76. i.e.，chiefly in that.
77. i.e.，thrift，economical prudence.
78. i.e.，infix it in such a manner as that it may never wear out.
79. Thence it shall not be dismissed，till you think it needless to retain it.
80. Spent his time in private visits to you.
81. Suggested to，impressed on me.
82. i.e.，what has passed—what intercourse had.
83. i.e.，inexperienced girl．Unsifted means one who has not nicely canvassed and examined the peril of her situation.
84. [Witless things.]
85. i.e.，I would not have you so disgrace your most idle moments，as not to find better employment for them than lord Hamlet's conversation.
86. Eager here means sharp，from aigre，French.
87. i.e.，holds a late revel.
88. Rouse means drinking bout，carousal.
89. To question，in our author's time，signified to converse．Questionable，therefore，means capable of being conversed with.
90. Deposited with the accustomed funeral rites.
91. Those precautions usually adopted in preparing dead bodies for sepulture.
92. i.e.，making sport for nature.
93. Frame of mind and body.
94. Removed for remote.
95. i.e.，the value of a pin.
96. What if it tempt you toward the flood，&c．Malignant spirits were supposed to entice their victims into places of gloom and peril，and exciting in them the deepest terror.
97. i.e.，projects darkly over the sea.
98. Shakespeare，and nearly all the poets of his time，disregarded the quantity of Latin names．The poet has here placed the accent on the first syllable，instead of the second.
99. To let，in the sense in which it is here used，means to hinder—to obstruct—to oppose．The word is derived from the Saxon.
100. Chaucer has a similar passage with regard to eternal punishment "And moreover the misery of Hell shall be in default of meat and drink."
101. Agitate and convulse.
102. A common image of that day.
103. This animal being considered irascible and timid.
104. i.e.，publication or divulgation of things eternal.
105. i.e.，in indolence and sluggishness，by its torpid habits contributes to that morbid state of its juices which may figuratively be denominated rottenness.
106. Garden.
107. i.e.，false report of proceedings.
108. Stoop with degradation to.
109. Unguarded.
110. Hebenon is described by Nares in his Glossary，as the juice of ebony，supposed to be a deadly poison.
111. Despoiled—bereft.
112. To housel is to minister the sacrament to one lying on his death bed．Disappointed is the same as unappointed，which here means unprepared．Unanel'd is without extreme unction.
113. Lasciviousness.
114. i.e.，not seen by the light of day; or it may mean，shining without heat.
115. i.e.，his head distracted with thought.
116. Impressions heretofore made.
117. This is the call which falconers used to their hawk in the air when they would have him come down to them.
118. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark— But he's an arrant knave．Hamlet probably begins these words in the ardour of confidence and sincerity; but suddenly alarmed at the magnitude of the disclosure he was going to make，and considering that，not his friend Horatio only，but another person was present，he breaks off suddenly：—"There's ne'er a villain in all Denmark that can match （perhaps he would have said） my uncle in villainy; but recollecting the danger of such a declaration，he pauses for a moment，and then abruptly concludes：—"but he's an arrant knave."
119. Random words thrown out with no specific aim.
120. At this time all the whole northern world had their learning from Ireland; to which place it had retired，and there flourished under the auspices of this Saint.
121. Get the better of it.
122. Receive it courteously，as you would a stranger when introduced.
123. i.e.，strange，foreign to my nature，a disposition which Hamlet assumes as a protection against the danger which he apprehends from his uncle，and as a cloak for the concealment of his own meditated designs.
124. i.e.，folded.
125. Disposition to serve you shall not be wanting.