Scene 1
Enter Gravedigger and Another.
line 3400GRAVEDIGGERIs she to be buried in Christian burial,
line 3401when she willfully seeks her own salvation?
line 3402OTHERI tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave
line 3403straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it
5line 3404Christian burial.
line 3405GRAVEDIGGERHow can that be, unless she drowned
line 3406herself in her own defense?
line 3407OTHERWhy, ’tis found so.
line 3408GRAVEDIGGERIt must be se offendendo; it cannot be
10line 3409else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself
line 3410wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath three
line 3411branches—it is to act, to do, to perform. Argal, she
line 3412drowned herself wittingly.
line 3413OTHERNay, but hear you, goodman delver—
15line 3414GRAVEDIGGERGive me leave. Here lies the water;
line 3415good. Here stands the man; good. If the man go to
line 3416this water and drown himself, it is (will he, nill he)
line 3417he goes; mark you that. But if the water come to him
line 3418and drown him, he drowns not himself. Argal, he
20line 3419that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his
line 3420own life.
line 3421OTHERBut is this law?
line 3422GRAVEDIGGERAy, marry, is ’t—crowner’s ’quest law.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 241
line 3423OTHERWill you ha’ the truth on ’t? If this had not been
25line 3424a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o’
line 3425Christian burial.
line 3426GRAVEDIGGERWhy, there thou sayst. And the more
line 3427pity that great folk should have count’nance in this
line 3428world to drown or hang themselves more than
30line 3429their even-Christian. Come, my spade. There is no
line 3430ancient gentlemen but gard’ners, ditchers, and
line 3431grave-makers. They hold up Adam’s profession.
line 3432OTHERWas he a gentleman?
line 3433GRAVEDIGGERHe was the first that ever bore arms.
35line 3434OTHERWhy, he had none.
line 3435GRAVEDIGGERWhat, art a heathen? How dost thou
line 3436understand the scripture? The scripture says Adam
line 3437digged. Could he dig without arms? I’ll put another
line 3438question to thee. If thou answerest me not to the
40line 3439purpose, confess thyself—
line 3440OTHERGo to!
line 3441GRAVEDIGGERWhat is he that builds stronger than
line 3442either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?
line 3443OTHERThe gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a
45line 3444thousand tenants.
line 3445GRAVEDIGGERI like thy wit well, in good faith. The
line 3446gallows does well. But how does it well? It does
line 3447well to those that do ill. Now, thou dost ill to say the
line 3448gallows is built stronger than the church. Argal, the
50line 3449gallows may do well to thee. To ’t again, come.
line 3450OTHER“Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright,
line 3451or a carpenter?”
line 3452GRAVEDIGGERAy, tell me that, and unyoke.
line 3453OTHERMarry, now I can tell.
55line 3454GRAVEDIGGERTo ’t.
line 3455OTHERMass, I cannot tell.
Enter Hamlet and Horatio afar off.
line 3456GRAVEDIGGERCudgel thy brains no more about it,
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 243
line 3457for your dull ass will not mend his pace with
line 3458beating. And, when you are asked this question
60line 3459next, say “a grave-maker.” The houses he makes
line 3460lasts till doomsday. Go, get thee in, and fetch me a
line 3461stoup of liquor.
The Other Man exits and the Gravedigger digs and sings.
line 3462In youth when I did love, did love,
line 3463Methought it was very sweet
65line 3464To contract—O—the time for—a—my behove,
line 3465O, methought there—a—was nothing—a—meet.
line 3466HAMLETHas this fellow no feeling of his business? He
line 3467sings in grave-making.
line 3468HORATIOCustom hath made it in him a property of
70line 3469easiness.
line 3470HAMLET’Tis e’en so. The hand of little employment
line 3471hath the daintier sense.
GRAVEDIGGERsings
line 3472But age with his stealing steps
line 3473Hath clawed me in his clutch,
75line 3474And hath shipped me into the land,
line 3475As if I had never been such.
He digs up a skull.
line 3476HAMLETThat skull had a tongue in it and could sing
line 3477once. How the knave jowls it to the ground as if
line 3478’twere Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder!
80line 3479This might be the pate of a politician which this ass
line 3480now o’erreaches, one that would circumvent God,
line 3481might it not?
line 3482HORATIOIt might, my lord.
line 3483HAMLETOr of a courtier, which could say “Good
85line 3484morrow, sweet lord! How dost thou, sweet lord?”
line 3485This might be my Lord Such-a-one that praised my
line 3486Lord Such-a-one’s horse when he went to beg it,
line 3487might it not?
line 3488HORATIOAy, my lord.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 245
90line 3489HAMLETWhy, e’en so. And now my Lady Worm’s,
line 3490chapless and knocked about the mazard with a
line 3491sexton’s spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had
line 3492the trick to see ’t. Did these bones cost no more the
line 3493breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine
95line 3494ache to think on ’t.
GRAVEDIGGERsings
line 3495A pickax and a spade, a spade,
line 3496For and a shrouding sheet,
line 3497O, a pit of clay for to be made
line 3498For such a guest is meet.
He digs up more skulls.
100line 3499HAMLETThere’s another. Why may not that be the
line 3500skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his
line 3501quillities, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Why
line 3502does he suffer this mad knave now to knock him
line 3503about the sconce with a dirty shovel and will not tell
105line 3504him of his action of battery? Hum, this fellow might
line 3505be in ’s time a great buyer of land, with his statutes,
line 3506his recognizances, his fines, his double vouchers,
line 3507his recoveries. Is this the fine of his fines and the
line 3508recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine pate full
110line 3509of fine dirt? Will his vouchers vouch him no more
line 3510of his purchases, and double ones too, than the
line 3511length and breadth of a pair of indentures? The very
line 3512conveyances of his lands will scarcely lie in this box,
line 3513and must th’ inheritor himself have no more, ha?
115line 3514HORATIONot a jot more, my lord.
line 3515HAMLETIs not parchment made of sheepskins?
line 3516HORATIOAy, my lord, and of calves’ skins too.
line 3517HAMLETThey are sheep and calves which seek out
line 3518assurance in that. I will speak to this fellow.—
120line 3519Whose grave’s this, sirrah?
line 3520GRAVEDIGGERMine, sir.
line 3521Sings. O, a pit of clay for to be made
line 3522For such a guest is meet.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 247
line 3523HAMLETI think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in ’t.
125line 3524GRAVEDIGGERYou lie out on ’t, sir, and therefore ’tis
line 3525not yours. For my part, I do not lie in ’t, yet it is
line 3526mine.
line 3527HAMLETThou dost lie in ’t, to be in ’t and say it is thine.
line 3528’Tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou
130line 3529liest.
line 3530GRAVEDIGGER’Tis a quick lie, sir; ’twill away again
line 3531from me to you.
line 3532HAMLETWhat man dost thou dig it for?
line 3533GRAVEDIGGERFor no man, sir.
135line 3534HAMLETWhat woman then?
line 3535GRAVEDIGGERFor none, neither.
line 3536HAMLETWho is to be buried in ’t?
line 3537GRAVEDIGGEROne that was a woman, sir, but, rest
line 3538her soul, she’s dead.
140line 3539HAMLETHow absolute the knave is! We must speak by
line 3540the card, or equivocation will undo us. By the
line 3541Lord, Horatio, this three years I have took note of
line 3542it: the age is grown so picked that the toe of the
line 3543peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he
145line 3544galls his kibe.—How long hast thou been
line 3545grave-maker?
line 3546GRAVEDIGGEROf all the days i’ th’ year, I came to ’t
line 3547that day that our last King Hamlet overcame
line 3548Fortinbras.
150line 3549HAMLETHow long is that since?
line 3550GRAVEDIGGERCannot you tell that? Every fool can
line 3551tell that. It was that very day that young Hamlet
line 3552was born—he that is mad, and sent into England.
line 3553HAMLETAy, marry, why was he sent into England?
155line 3554GRAVEDIGGERWhy, because he was mad. He shall
line 3555recover his wits there. Or if he do not, ’tis no great
line 3556matter there.
line 3557HAMLETWhy?
line 3558GRAVEDIGGER’Twill not be seen in him there. There
160line 3559the men are as mad as he.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 249
line 3560HAMLETHow came he mad?
line 3561GRAVEDIGGERVery strangely, they say.
line 3562HAMLETHow “strangely”?
line 3563GRAVEDIGGERFaith, e’en with losing his wits.
165line 3564HAMLETUpon what ground?
line 3565GRAVEDIGGERWhy, here in Denmark. I have been
line 3566sexton here, man and boy, thirty years.
line 3567HAMLETHow long will a man lie i’ th’ earth ere he rot?
line 3568GRAVEDIGGERFaith, if he be not rotten before he die
170line 3569(as we have many pocky corses nowadays that will
line 3570scarce hold the laying in), he will last you some
line 3571eight year or nine year. A tanner will last you nine
line 3572year.
line 3573HAMLETWhy he more than another?
175line 3574GRAVEDIGGERWhy, sir, his hide is so tanned with his
line 3575trade that he will keep out water a great while; and
line 3576your water is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead
line 3577body. Here’s a skull now hath lien you i’ th’ earth
line 3578three-and-twenty years.
180line 3579HAMLETWhose was it?
line 3580GRAVEDIGGERA whoreson mad fellow’s it was.
line 3581Whose do you think it was?
line 3582HAMLETNay, I know not.
line 3583GRAVEDIGGERA pestilence on him for a mad rogue!
185line 3584He poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once.
line 3585This same skull, sir, was, sir, Yorick’s skull, the
line 3586King’s jester.
line 3587HAMLETThis?
line 3588GRAVEDIGGERE’en that.
190line 3589HAMLETtaking the skull Let me see. Alas, poor
line 3590Yorick! I knew him, Horatio—a fellow of infinite
line 3591jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his
line 3592back a thousand times, and now how abhorred in
line 3593my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung
195line 3594those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft.
line 3595Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 251
line 3596songs? your flashes of merriment that were wont to
line 3597set the table on a roar? Not one now to mock your
line 3598own grinning? Quite chapfallen? Now get you to my
200line 3599lady’s chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch
line 3600thick, to this favor she must come. Make her laugh
line 3601at that.—Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.
line 3602HORATIOWhat’s that, my lord?
line 3603HAMLETDost thou think Alexander looked o’ this
205line 3604fashion i’ th’ earth?
line 3605HORATIOE’en so.
line 3606HAMLETAnd smelt so? Pah!He puts the skull down.
line 3607HORATIOE’en so, my lord.
line 3608HAMLETTo what base uses we may return, Horatio!
210line 3609Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of
line 3610Alexander till he find it stopping a bunghole?
line 3611HORATIO’Twere to consider too curiously to consider
line 3612so.
line 3613HAMLETNo, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither,
215line 3614with modesty enough and likelihood to lead it, as
line 3615thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander
line 3616returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth
line 3617we make loam; and why of that loam whereto he
line 3618was converted might they not stop a beer barrel?
220line 3619Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
line 3620Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.
line 3621O, that that earth which kept the world in awe
line 3622Should patch a wall t’ expel the winter’s flaw!
Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords attendant, and the corpse of Ophelia, with a Doctor of Divinity.
line 3623But soft, but soft awhile! Here comes the King,
225line 3624The Queen, the courtiers. Who is this they follow?
line 3625And with such maimèd rites? This doth betoken
line 3626The corse they follow did with desp’rate hand
line 3627Fordo its own life. ’Twas of some estate.
line 3628Couch we awhile and mark.They step aside.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 253
230line 3629LAERTESWhat ceremony else?
line 3630HAMLETThat is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark.
line 3631LAERTESWhat ceremony else?
DOCTOR
line 3632Her obsequies have been as far enlarged
line 3633As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful,
235line 3634And, but that great command o’ersways the order,
line 3635She should in ground unsanctified been lodged
line 3636Till the last trumpet. For charitable prayers
line 3637Shards, flints, and pebbles should be thrown on
line 3638her.
240line 3639Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants,
line 3640Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home
line 3641Of bell and burial.
LAERTES
line 3642Must there no more be done?
line 3643DOCTORNo more be done.
245line 3644We should profane the service of the dead
line 3645To sing a requiem and such rest to her
line 3646As to peace-parted souls.
line 3647LAERTESLay her i’ th’ earth,
line 3648And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
250line 3649May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
line 3650A minist’ring angel shall my sister be
line 3651When thou liest howling.
line 3652HAMLETto Horatio What, the fair Ophelia?
line 3653QUEENSweets to the sweet, farewell!
She scatters flowers.
255line 3654I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife;
line 3655I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid,
line 3656And not have strewed thy grave.
line 3657LAERTESO, treble woe
line 3658Fall ten times treble on that cursèd head
260line 3659Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
line 3660Deprived thee of!—Hold off the earth awhile,
line 3661Till I have caught her once more in mine arms.
Leaps in the grave.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 255
line 3662Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead,
line 3663Till of this flat a mountain you have made
265line 3664T’ o’ertop old Pelion or the skyish head
line 3665Of blue Olympus.
HAMLETadvancing
line 3666What is he whose grief
line 3667Bears such an emphasis, whose phrase of sorrow
line 3668Conjures the wand’ring stars and makes them stand
270line 3669Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,
line 3670Hamlet the Dane.
LAERTEScoming out of the grave
line 3671The devil take thy soul!
line 3672HAMLETThou pray’st not well.They grapple.
line 3673I prithee take thy fingers from my throat,
275line 3674For though I am not splenitive and rash,
line 3675Yet have I in me something dangerous,
line 3676Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand.
line 3677KINGPluck them asunder.
line 3678QUEENHamlet! Hamlet!
280line 3679ALLGentlemen!
line 3680HORATIOGood my lord, be quiet.
Hamlet and Laertes are separated.
HAMLET
line 3681Why, I will fight with him upon this theme
line 3682Until my eyelids will no longer wag!
line 3683QUEENO my son, what theme?
HAMLET
285line 3684I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
line 3685Could not with all their quantity of love
line 3686Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?
line 3687KINGO, he is mad, Laertes!
line 3688QUEENFor love of God, forbear him.
290line 3689HAMLET’Swounds, show me what thou ’t do.
line 3690Woo’t weep, woo’t fight, woo’t fast, woo’t tear
line 3691thyself,
line 3692Woo’t drink up eisel, eat a crocodile?
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 257
line 3693I’ll do ’t. Dost thou come here to whine?
295line 3694To outface me with leaping in her grave?
line 3695Be buried quick with her, and so will I.
line 3696And if thou prate of mountains, let them throw
line 3697Millions of acres on us, till our ground,
line 3698Singeing his pate against the burning zone,
300line 3699Make Ossa like a wart. Nay, an thou ’lt mouth,
line 3700I’ll rant as well as thou.
line 3701QUEENThis is mere madness;
line 3702And thus awhile the fit will work on him.
line 3703Anon, as patient as the female dove
305line 3704When that her golden couplets are disclosed,
line 3705His silence will sit drooping.
line 3706HAMLETHear you, sir,
line 3707What is the reason that you use me thus?
line 3708I loved you ever. But it is no matter.
310line 3709Let Hercules himself do what he may,
line 3710The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.
Hamlet exits.
KING
line 3711I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.
Horatio exits.
line 3712To Laertes. Strengthen your patience in our last
line 3713night’s speech.
315line 3714We’ll put the matter to the present push.—
line 3715Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.—
line 3716This grave shall have a living monument.
line 3717An hour of quiet thereby shall we see.
line 3718Till then in patience our proceeding be.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Hamlet and Horatio.
HAMLET
line 3719So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.
line 3720You do remember all the circumstance?
line 3721HORATIORemember it, my lord!
HAMLET
line 3722Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
5line 3723That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay
line 3724Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly—
line 3725And praised be rashness for it; let us know,
line 3726Our indiscretion sometime serves us well
line 3727When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn
10line 3728us
line 3729There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
line 3730Rough-hew them how we will—
line 3731HORATIOThat is most
line 3732certain.
15line 3733HAMLETUp from my cabin,
line 3734My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark
line 3735Groped I to find out them; had my desire,
line 3736Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew
line 3737To mine own room again, making so bold
20line 3738(My fears forgetting manners) to unfold
line 3739Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,
line 3740A royal knavery—an exact command,
line 3741Larded with many several sorts of reasons
line 3742Importing Denmark’s health and England’s too,
25line 3743With—ho!—such bugs and goblins in my life,
line 3744That on the supervise, no leisure bated,
line 3745No, not to stay the grinding of the ax,
line 3746My head should be struck off.
line 3747HORATIOIs ’t possible?
HAMLET
30line 3748Here’s the commission. Read it at more leisure.
Handing him a paper.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 261
line 3749But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?
line 3750HORATIOI beseech you.
HAMLET
line 3751Being thus benetted round with villainies,
line 3752Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
35line 3753They had begun the play. I sat me down,
line 3754Devised a new commission, wrote it fair—
line 3755I once did hold it, as our statists do,
line 3756A baseness to write fair, and labored much
line 3757How to forget that learning; but, sir, now
40line 3758It did me yeoman’s service. Wilt thou know
line 3759Th’ effect of what I wrote?
line 3760HORATIOAy, good my lord.
HAMLET
line 3761An earnest conjuration from the King,
line 3762As England was his faithful tributary,
45line 3763As love between them like the palm might flourish,
line 3764As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
line 3765And stand a comma ’tween their amities,
line 3766And many suchlike ases of great charge,
line 3767That, on the view and knowing of these contents,
50line 3768Without debatement further, more or less,
line 3769He should those bearers put to sudden death,
line 3770Not shriving time allowed.
line 3771HORATIOHow was this sealed?
HAMLET
line 3772Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
55line 3773I had my father’s signet in my purse,
line 3774Which was the model of that Danish seal;
line 3775Folded the writ up in the form of th’ other,
line 3776Subscribed it, gave ’t th’ impression, placed it
line 3777safely,
60line 3778The changeling never known. Now, the next day
line 3779Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
line 3780Thou knowest already.
HORATIO
line 3781So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to ’t.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 263
HAMLET
line 3782Why, man, they did make love to this employment.
65line 3783They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
line 3784Does by their own insinuation grow.
line 3785’Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
line 3786Between the pass and fell incensèd points
line 3787Of mighty opposites.
70line 3788HORATIOWhy, what a king is this!
HAMLET
line 3789Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon—
line 3790He that hath killed my king and whored my mother,
line 3791Popped in between th’ election and my hopes,
line 3792Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
75line 3793And with such cozenage—is ’t not perfect
line 3794conscience
line 3795To quit him with this arm? And is ’t not to be
line 3796damned
line 3797To let this canker of our nature come
80line 3798In further evil?
HORATIO
line 3799It must be shortly known to him from England
line 3800What is the issue of the business there.
HAMLET
line 3801It will be short. The interim’s mine,
line 3802And a man’s life’s no more than to say “one.”
85line 3803But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
line 3804That to Laertes I forgot myself,
line 3805For by the image of my cause I see
line 3806The portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors.
line 3807But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
90line 3808Into a tow’ring passion.
line 3809HORATIOPeace, who comes here?
Enter Osric, a courtier.
line 3810OSRICYour Lordship is right welcome back to
line 3811Denmark.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 265
line 3812HAMLETI humbly thank you, sir. Aside to Horatio.
95line 3813Dost know this waterfly?
line 3814HORATIOaside to Hamlet No, my good lord.
line 3815HAMLETaside to Horatio Thy state is the more gracious,
line 3816for ’tis a vice to know him. He hath much
line 3817land, and fertile. Let a beast be lord of beasts and his
100line 3818crib shall stand at the king’s mess. ’Tis a chough,
line 3819but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt.
line 3820OSRICSweet lord, if your Lordship were at leisure, I
line 3821should impart a thing to you from his Majesty.
line 3822HAMLETI will receive it, sir, with all diligence of
105line 3823spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use: ’tis for the
line 3824head.
line 3825OSRICI thank your Lordship; it is very hot.
line 3826HAMLETNo, believe me, ’tis very cold; the wind is
line 3827northerly.
110line 3828OSRICIt is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
line 3829HAMLETBut yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for
line 3830my complexion.
line 3831OSRICExceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as
line 3832’twere—I cannot tell how. My lord, his Majesty
115line 3833bade me signify to you that he has laid a great wager
line 3834on your head. Sir, this is the matter—
line 3835HAMLETI beseech you, remember. He motions to Osric to put on his hat.
line 3836OSRICNay, good my lord, for my ease, in good faith.
line 3837Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes—believe
120line 3838me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent
line 3839differences, of very soft society and great showing.
line 3840Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or
line 3841calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the
line 3842continent of what part a gentleman would see.
125line 3843HAMLETSir, his definement suffers no perdition in
line 3844you, though I know to divide him inventorially
line 3845would dozy th’ arithmetic of memory, and yet but
line 3846yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 267
line 3847verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great
130line 3848article, and his infusion of such dearth and rareness
line 3849as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his
line 3850mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage,
line 3851nothing more.
line 3852OSRICYour Lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
135line 3853HAMLETThe concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the
line 3854gentleman in our more rawer breath?
line 3855OSRICSir?
line 3856HORATIOIs ’t not possible to understand in another
line 3857tongue? You will to ’t, sir, really.
140line 3858HAMLETto Osric What imports the nomination of
line 3859this gentleman?
line 3860OSRICOf Laertes?
line 3861HORATIOHis purse is empty already; all ’s golden words
line 3862are spent.
145line 3863HAMLETOf him, sir.
line 3864OSRICI know you are not ignorant—
line 3865HAMLETI would you did, sir. Yet, in faith, if you did, it
line 3866would not much approve me. Well, sir?
line 3867OSRICYou are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes
150line 3868is—
line 3869HAMLETI dare not confess that, lest I should compare
line 3870with him in excellence. But to know a man well
line 3871were to know himself.
line 3872OSRICI mean, sir, for his weapon. But in the imputation
155line 3873laid on him by them, in his meed he’s
line 3874unfellowed.
line 3875HAMLETWhat’s his weapon?
line 3876OSRICRapier and dagger.
line 3877HAMLETThat’s two of his weapons. But, well—
160line 3878OSRICThe King, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary
line 3879horses, against the which he has impawned, as I
line 3880take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their
line 3881assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so. Three of the
line 3882carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 269
165line 3883responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and
line 3884of very liberal conceit.
line 3885HAMLETWhat call you the “carriages”?
line 3886HORATIOI knew you must be edified by the margent
line 3887ere you had done.
170line 3888OSRICThe carriages, sir, are the hangers.
line 3889HAMLETThe phrase would be more germane to the
line 3890matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides. I
line 3891would it might be “hangers” till then. But on. Six
line 3892Barbary horses against six French swords, their
175line 3893assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages—
line 3894that’s the French bet against the Danish. Why is this
line 3895all “impawned,” as you call it?
line 3896OSRICThe King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen
line 3897passes between yourself and him, he shall not
180line 3898exceed you three hits. He hath laid on twelve for
line 3899nine, and it would come to immediate trial if your
line 3900Lordship would vouchsafe the answer.
line 3901HAMLETHow if I answer no?
line 3902OSRICI mean, my lord, the opposition of your person
185line 3903in trial.
line 3904HAMLETSir, I will walk here in the hall. If it please his
line 3905Majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me. Let
line 3906the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the
line 3907King hold his purpose, I will win for him, an I can.
190line 3908If not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd
line 3909hits.
line 3910OSRICShall I deliver you e’en so?
line 3911HAMLETTo this effect, sir, after what flourish your
line 3912nature will.
195line 3913OSRICI commend my duty to your Lordship.
line 3914HAMLETYours. Osric exits. He does well to commend
line 3915it himself. There are no tongues else for ’s
line 3916turn.
line 3917HORATIOThis lapwing runs away with the shell on his
200line 3918head.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 271
line 3919HAMLETHe did comply, sir, with his dug before he
line 3920sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same
line 3921breed that I know the drossy age dotes on) only got
line 3922the tune of the time, and, out of an habit of
205line 3923encounter, a kind of yeasty collection, which carries
line 3924them through and through the most fanned
line 3925and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to
line 3926their trial, the bubbles are out.
Enter a Lord.
line 3927LORDMy lord, his Majesty commended him to you by
210line 3928young Osric, who brings back to him that you
line 3929attend him in the hall. He sends to know if your
line 3930pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will
line 3931take longer time.
line 3932HAMLETI am constant to my purposes. They follow
215line 3933the King’s pleasure. If his fitness speaks, mine is
line 3934ready now or whensoever, provided I be so able as
line 3935now.
line 3936LORDThe King and Queen and all are coming down.
line 3937HAMLETIn happy time.
220line 3938LORDThe Queen desires you to use some gentle
line 3939entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
line 3940HAMLETShe well instructs me.Lord exits.
line 3941HORATIOYou will lose, my lord.
line 3942HAMLETI do not think so. Since he went into France, I
225line 3943have been in continual practice. I shall win at the
line 3944odds; but thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here
line 3945about my heart. But it is no matter.
line 3946HORATIONay, good my lord—
line 3947HAMLETIt is but foolery, but it is such a kind of
230line 3948gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a woman.
line 3949HORATIOIf your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will
line 3950forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit.
line 3951HAMLETNot a whit. We defy augury. There is a
line 3952special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be
235line 3953now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 273
line 3954now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The
line 3955readiness is all. Since no man of aught he leaves
line 3956knows, what is ’t to leave betimes? Let be.
A table prepared. Enter Trumpets, Drums, and Officers with cushions, King, Queen, Osric, and all the state, foils, daggers, flagons of wine, and Laertes.
KING
line 3957Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.
He puts Laertes’ hand into Hamlet’s.
HAMLETto Laertes
240line 3958Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong;
line 3959But pardon ’t as you are a gentleman. This presence
line 3960knows,
line 3961And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
line 3962With a sore distraction. What I have done
245line 3963That might your nature, honor, and exception
line 3964Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
line 3965Was ’t Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
line 3966If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away,
line 3967And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes,
250line 3968Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.
line 3969Who does it, then? His madness. If ’t be so,
line 3970Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged;
line 3971His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.
line 3972Sir, in this audience
255line 3973Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
line 3974Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
line 3975That I have shot my arrow o’er the house
line 3976And hurt my brother.
line 3977LAERTESI am satisfied in nature,
260line 3978Whose motive in this case should stir me most
line 3979To my revenge; but in my terms of honor
line 3980I stand aloof and will no reconcilement
line 3981Till by some elder masters of known honor
line 3982I have a voice and precedent of peace
265line 3983To keep my name ungored. But till that time
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 275
line 3984I do receive your offered love like love
line 3985And will not wrong it.
line 3986HAMLETI embrace it freely
line 3987And will this brothers’ wager frankly play.—
270line 3988Give us the foils. Come on.
line 3989LAERTESCome, one for me.
HAMLET
line 3990I’ll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance
line 3991Your skill shall, like a star i’ th’ darkest night,
line 3992Stick fiery off indeed.
275line 3993LAERTESYou mock me, sir.
line 3994HAMLETNo, by this hand.
KING
line 3995Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
line 3996You know the wager?
line 3997HAMLETVery well, my lord.
280line 3998Your Grace has laid the odds o’ th’ weaker side.
KING
line 3999I do not fear it; I have seen you both.
line 4000But, since he is better, we have therefore odds.
LAERTES
line 4001This is too heavy. Let me see another.
HAMLET
line 4002This likes me well. These foils have all a length?
285line 4003OSRICAy, my good lord.
Prepare to play.
KING
line 4004Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.—
line 4005If Hamlet give the first or second hit
line 4006Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
line 4007Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.
290line 4008The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath,
line 4009And in the cup an union shall he throw,
line 4010Richer than that which four successive kings
line 4011In Denmark’s crown have worn. Give me the cups,
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 277
line 4012And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
295line 4013The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
line 4014The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,
line 4015“Now the King drinks to Hamlet.” Come, begin.
line 4016And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
Trumpets the while.
line 4017HAMLETCome on, sir.
300line 4018LAERTESCome, my lord.They play.
line 4019HAMLETOne.
line 4020LAERTESNo.
line 4021HAMLETJudgment!
line 4022OSRICA hit, a very palpable hit.
305line 4023LAERTESWell, again.
KING
line 4024Stay, give me drink.—Hamlet, this pearl is thine.
line 4025Here’s to thy health.
He drinks and then drops the pearl in the cup.
Drum, trumpets, and shot.
line 4026Give him the cup.
HAMLET
line 4027I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.
310line 4028Come. They play. Another hit. What say you?
LAERTES
line 4029A touch, a touch. I do confess ’t.
KING
line 4030Our son shall win.
line 4031QUEENHe’s fat and scant of breath.—
line 4032Here, Hamlet, take my napkin; rub thy brows.
315line 4033The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.
She lifts the cup.
line 4034HAMLETGood madam.
line 4035KINGGertrude, do not drink.
QUEEN
line 4036I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me.She drinks.
KINGaside
line 4037It is the poisoned cup. It is too late.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 279
HAMLET
320line 4038I dare not drink yet, madam—by and by.
line 4039QUEENCome, let me wipe thy face.
LAERTESto Claudius
line 4040My lord, I’ll hit him now.
line 4041KINGI do not think ’t.
LAERTESaside
line 4042And yet it is almost against my conscience.
HAMLET
325line 4043Come, for the third, Laertes. You do but dally.
line 4044I pray you pass with your best violence.
line 4045I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
line 4046LAERTESSay you so? Come on.Play.
line 4047OSRICNothing neither way.
330line 4048LAERTESHave at you now!
Laertes wounds Hamlet. Then in scuffling they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.
line 4049KINGPart them. They are incensed.
line 4050HAMLETNay, come again.
The Queen falls.
line 4051OSRICLook to the Queen there, ho!
HORATIO
line 4052They bleed on both sides.—How is it, my lord?
335line 4053OSRICHow is ’t, Laertes?
LAERTES
line 4054Why as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric.
He falls.
line 4055I am justly killed with mine own treachery.
HAMLET
line 4056How does the Queen?
line 4057KINGShe swoons to see them bleed.
QUEEN
340line 4058No, no, the drink, the drink! O, my dear Hamlet!
line 4059The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.She dies.
HAMLET
line 4060O villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked.Osric exits.
line 4061Treachery! Seek it out.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 281
LAERTES
line 4062It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain.
345line 4063No med’cine in the world can do thee good.
line 4064In thee there is not half an hour’s life.
line 4065The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
line 4066Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice
line 4067Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie,
350line 4068Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned.
line 4069I can no more. The King, the King’s to blame.
HAMLET
line 4070The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy
line 4071work.Hurts the King.
line 4072ALLTreason, treason!
KING
355line 4073O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt.
HAMLET
line 4074Here, thou incestuous, murd’rous, damnèd Dane,
line 4075Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?
Forcing him to drink the poison.
line 4076Follow my mother.King dies.
line 4077LAERTESHe is justly served.
360line 4078It is a poison tempered by himself.
line 4079Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
line 4080Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,
line 4081Nor thine on me.Dies.
HAMLET
line 4082Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee.—
365line 4083I am dead, Horatio.—Wretched queen, adieu.—
line 4084You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
line 4085That are but mutes or audience to this act,
line 4086Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death,
line 4087Is strict in his arrest), O, I could tell you—
370line 4088But let it be.—Horatio, I am dead.
line 4089Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
line 4090To the unsatisfied.
line 4091HORATIONever believe it.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 283
line 4092I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
375line 4093Here’s yet some liquor left.He picks up the cup.
line 4094HAMLETAs thou ’rt a man,
line 4095Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll ha ’t.
line 4096O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,
line 4097Things standing thus unknown, shall I leave behind
380line 4098me!
line 4099If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
line 4100Absent thee from felicity awhile
line 4101And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain
line 4102To tell my story.
A march afar off and shot within.
385line 4103What warlike noise is this?
Enter Osric.
OSRIC
line 4104Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
line 4105To th’ ambassadors of England gives
line 4106This warlike volley.
line 4107HAMLETO, I die, Horatio!
390line 4108The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit.
line 4109I cannot live to hear the news from England.
line 4110But I do prophesy th’ election lights
line 4111On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice.
line 4112So tell him, with th’ occurrents, more and less,
395line 4113Which have solicited—the rest is silence.
line 4114O, O, O, O!Dies.
HORATIO
line 4115Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
line 4116And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
March within.
line 4117Why does the drum come hither?
Enter Fortinbras with the English Ambassadors with Drum, Colors, and Attendants.
400line 4118FORTINBRASWhere is this sight?
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 285
line 4119HORATIOWhat is it you would see?
line 4120If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
FORTINBRAS
line 4121This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,
line 4122What feast is toward in thine eternal cell
405line 4123That thou so many princes at a shot
line 4124So bloodily hast struck?
line 4125AMBASSADORThe sight is dismal,
line 4126And our affairs from England come too late.
line 4127The ears are senseless that should give us hearing
410line 4128To tell him his commandment is fulfilled,
line 4129That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
line 4130Where should we have our thanks?
line 4131HORATIONot from his
line 4132mouth,
415line 4133Had it th’ ability of life to thank you.
line 4134He never gave commandment for their death.
line 4135But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
line 4136You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
line 4137Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
420line 4138High on a stage be placed to the view,
line 4139And let me speak to th’ yet unknowing world
line 4140How these things came about. So shall you hear
line 4141Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
line 4142Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
425line 4143Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
line 4144And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
line 4145Fall’n on th’ inventors’ heads. All this can I
line 4146Truly deliver.
line 4147FORTINBRASLet us haste to hear it
430line 4148And call the noblest to the audience.
line 4149For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune.
line 4150I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
line 4151Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.
HORATIO
line 4152Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 287
435line 4153And from his mouth whose voice will draw on
line 4154more.
line 4155But let this same be presently performed
line 4156Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more
line 4157mischance
440line 4158On plots and errors happen.
line 4159FORTINBRASLet four captains
line 4160Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,
line 4161For he was likely, had he been put on,
line 4162To have proved most royal; and for his passage,
445line 4163The soldier’s music and the rite of war
line 4164Speak loudly for him.
line 4165Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this
line 4166Becomes the field but here shows much amiss.
line 4167Go, bid the soldiers shoot.
They exit, marching, after the which, a peal of ordnance are shot off.
