ACT 1
Scene 1
...them make haste.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
...Who is there?
Friends to this ground.
...is Horatio there?
A piece of him.
...Horatio.—Welcome, good Marcellus.
What, has this thing appeared again tonight?
...speak to it.
Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.
...two nights seen.
Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.
...Mark it, Horatio.
Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.
...to it, Horatio.
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.
...it stalks away.
Stay! speak! speak! I charge thee, speak!
...you on ’t?
Before my God, I might not this believe
Without the sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes.
...like the King?
As thou art to thyself.
Such was the very armor he had on
When he the ambitious Norway combated.
So frowned he once when, in an angry parle,
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.
’Tis strange.
...by our watch.
In what particular thought to work I know not,
But in the gross and scope of mine opinion
This bodes some strange eruption to our state.
...can inform me?
That can I.
At least the whisper goes so: our last king,
Whose image even but now appeared to us,
Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,
Thereto pricked on by a most emulate pride,
Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet
(For so this side of our known world esteemed him)
Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact,
Well ratified by law and heraldry,
Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands
Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror.
Against the which a moiety competent
Was gagèd by our king, which had returned
To the inheritance of Fortinbras
Had he been vanquisher, as, by the same comart
And carriage of the article designed,
His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimprovèd mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes
For food and diet to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in ’t; which is no other
(As it doth well appear unto our state)
But to recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands
So by his father lost. And this, I take it,
Is the main motive of our preparations,
The source of this our watch, and the chief head
Of this posthaste and rummage in the land.
...of these wars.
A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye.
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;
As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,
Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands,
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.
And even the like precurse of feared events,
As harbingers preceding still the fates
And prologue to the omen coming on,
Have heaven and Earth together demonstrated
Unto our climatures and countrymen.
Enter Ghost.
But soft, behold! Lo, where it comes again!
I’ll cross it though it blast me.—Stay, illusion!
It spreads his arms.
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!
Or 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.
The cock crows.
Stay and speak!—Stop it, Marcellus.
...with my partisan?
Do, if it will not stand.
... ’Tis here.
’Tis here.
...the cock crew.
And then it started like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons. I have heard
The cock, that is the trumpet to 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,
Th’ extravagant and erring spirit hies
To his confine, and of the truth herein
This present object made probation.
...is that time.
So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn in russet mantle clad
Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.
Break we our watch up, and by my advice
Let us impart what we have seen tonight
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it
As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
...him most convenient.
They exit.
Scene 2
...hold my tongue.
Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo.
Hail to your Lordship.
...do forget myself!
The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.
...you from Wittenberg?
A truant disposition, good my lord.
...ere you depart.
My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.
...my mother’s wedding.
Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.
...see my father.
Where, my lord?
...mind’s eye, Horatio.
I saw him once. He was a goodly king.
...his like again.
My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.
... Saw who?
My lord, the King your father.
...King my father?
Season your admiration for a while
With an attent ear, till I may deliver
Upon the witness of these gentlemen
This marvel to you.
...let me hear!
Two nights together had these gentlemen,
Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch,
In the dead waste and middle of the night,
Been thus encountered: a figure like your father,
Armed at point exactly, cap-à-pie,
Appears before them and with solemn march
Goes slow and stately by them. Thrice he walked
By their oppressed and fear-surprisèd eyes
Within his truncheon’s length, whilst they, distilled
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 delivered, both in time,
Form of the thing (each word made true and good),
The apparition comes. I knew your father;
These hands are not more like.
...speak to it?
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 vanished from our sight.
...’Tis very strange.
As I do live, my honored lord, ’tis true.
And we did think it writ down in our duty
To let you know of it.
...the watch tonight?
We do, my lord.
...Armed, say you?
Armed, my lord.
...top to toe?
My lord, from head to foot.
...not his face?
O, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.
...looked he frowningly?
A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
...Pale or red?
Nay, very pale.
...eyes upon you?
Most constantly.
...had been there.
It would have much amazed you.
...Stayed it long?
While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.
... Longer, longer.
Not when I saw ’t.
...was grizzled, no?
It was as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silvered.
...’twill walk again.
I warrant it will.
...I’ll visit you.
Our duty to your Honor.
...to you. Farewell.
All but Hamlet exit.
Scene 4
...obey, my lord.
Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.
...is very cold.
It is a nipping and an eager air.
...What hour now?
I think it lacks of twelve.
...it is struck.
Indeed, I heard it not. It then draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.
A flourish of trumpets and two pieces goes off.
What does this mean, my lord?
...of his pledge.
Is it a custom?
... Enter Ghost.
Look, my lord, it comes.
...do? Ghost beckons.
It beckons you to go away with it
As if it some impartment did desire
To you alone.
...go with it.
No, by no means.
...will follow it.
Do not, my lord.
...I’ll follow it.
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
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? Think of it.
The very place puts toys of desperation,
Without more motive, into every brain
That looks so many fathoms to the sea
And hears it roar beneath.
...go, my lord.
They hold back Hamlet.
...off your hands.
Be ruled. You shall not go.
...I’ll follow thee.
He waxes desperate with imagination.
...to obey him.
Have after. To what issue will this come?
...state of Denmark.
Heaven will direct it.
...let’s follow him.
They exit.
Scene 5
...have sworn ’t.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
My lord, my lord!
... Lord Hamlet.
Heavens secure him!
...my noble lord?
What news, my lord?
... O, wonderful!
Good my lord, tell it.
...will reveal it.
Not I, my lord, by heaven.
...you’ll be secret?
Ay, by heaven, my lord.
...an arrant knave.
There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave
To tell us this.
...will go pray.
These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.
...Yes, faith, heartily.
There’s no offense, my lord.
...one poor request.
What is ’t, my lord? We will.
...have seen tonight.
My lord, we will not.
...but swear ’t.
In faith, my lord, not I.
...Consent to swear.
Propose the oath, my lord.
...remove, good friends.
O day and night, but this is wondrous strange.
...let’s go together.
They exit.
ACT 3
Scene 2
...What ho, Horatio!
Enter Horatio.
Here, sweet lord, at your service.
...conversation coped withal.
O, my dear lord—
...of his seeming.
Well, my lord.
If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing
And ’scape detecting, I will pay the theft.
...cry of players?
Half a share.
...A very very—pajock.
You might have rhymed.
...pound. Didst perceive?
Very well, my lord.
...of the poisoning?
I did very well note him.
...Leave me, friends.
All but Hamlet exit.
ACT 4
Scene 5
...be nothing worth!
Enter Horatio, Queen, and a Gentleman.
...yet much unhappily.
’Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.
...I pray you.
Horatio exits.
Scene 6
...go with me.
Enter Horatio and others.
What are they that would speak with me?
...letters for you.
Let them come in. I do not
know from what part of the world I should be
greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
...bless you, sir.
Let Him bless thee too.
...know it is.
He hands Horatio a letter.
reads the letter
Horatio, when thou shalt have
overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the
King. They have letters for him. Ere we were two days
old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave
us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on
a compelled valor, and in the grapple I boarded them.
On the instant, they got clear of our ship; so I alone
became their prisoner. They have dealt with me like
thieves of mercy, but they knew what they did: I am to
do a good turn for them. Let the King have the letters
I have sent, and repair thou to me with as much speed
as thou wouldst fly death. I have words to speak in
thine ear will make thee dumb; yet are they much too
light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows
will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
hold their course for England; of them I have
much to tell thee. Farewell.
He that thou knowest thine,
Hamlet.
Come, I will give you way for these your letters
And do ’t the speedier that you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them.
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
...I cannot tell.
Enter Hamlet and Horatio afar off.
...sings in grave-making.
Custom hath made it in him a property of
easiness.
...might it not?
It might, my lord.
...might it not?
Ay, my lord.
...no more, ha?
Not a jot more, my lord.
...made of sheepskins?
Ay, my lord, and of calves’ skins too.
...me one thing.
What’s that, my lord?
...i’ th’ earth?
E’en so.
...the skull down.
E’en so, my lord.
...stopping a bunghole?
’Twere to consider too curiously to consider
so.
...awhile and mark.
They step aside.
...Hamlet! Hamlet! Gentlemen!
Good my lord, be quiet.
...wait upon him.
Horatio exits.
Scene 2
...our proceeding be.
Enter Hamlet and Horatio.
...all the circumstance?
Remember it, my lord!
...how we will—
That is most certain.
...be struck off.
Is ’t possible?
...at more leisure.
Handing him a paper.
...I did proceed?
I beseech you.
...what I wrote?
Ay, good my lord.
...shriving time allowed.
How was this sealed?
...Thou knowest already.
So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to ’t.
...Of mighty opposites.
Why, what a king is this!
...In further evil?
It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there.
...a tow’ring passion.
Peace, who comes here?
...know this waterfly?
aside to Hamlet
No, my good lord.
...rawer breath? Sir?
Is ’t not possible to understand
in another
tongue? You will to ’t, sir, really.
...gentleman? Of Laertes?
His purse is empty already; all ’s
golden words
are spent.
...you the “carriages”?
I knew you must be edified
by the margent
ere you had done.
...for ’s turn.
This lapwing runs away with the shell on his
head.
...well instructs me.
You will lose, my lord.
...is no matter.
Nay, good my lord—
...trouble a woman.
If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will
forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit.
...Queen there, ho!
They bleed on both sides.—How is it, my lord?
...To the unsatisfied.
Never believe it.
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
Here’s yet some liquor left.
He picks up the cup.
...O, O, O!Dies.
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
March within.
Why does the drum come hither?
...is this sight?
What is it you would see?
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
...have our thanks?
Not from his mouth,
Had it th’ ability of life to thank you.
He never gave commandment for their death.
But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view,
And let me speak to th’ yet unknowing world
How these things came about. So shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall’n on th’ inventors’ heads. All this can I
Truly deliver.
...doth invite me.
Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more.
But let this same be presently performed
Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more mischance
On plots and errors happen.
...the soldiers shoot.
They exit, marching, after the which, a peal of ordnance are shot off.