Act II, Scene II — ] Pope…

Act II, Scene II — ] Pope

[Enter Ophelia.] As in Singer (ed. 2). Before Farewell! in Qq Ff. Enter Ophelia, hastily. Capell.

[612] O, my lord,] Qq. Alas, Ff.

[613] i' the] i' th Qq. in the Ff.

God] Qq. Heaven Ff.

[614] sewing] Warburton. sowing Qq Ff. reading Q (1676).

closet] Q₆. closset Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. chamber Ff.

[615] Lord] Prince Q (1676).

[616] foul'd] Ff Q₆. fouled Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. loose Q (1676). See note (XI).

[617] down-gyved] F₃ F₄. downe gyved Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. downe gyred Q₄ Q₅. downe gived F₁. downe-gyved F₂. down-gyred Theobald.

[618] horrors, he] Qq. horrors: he Ff. horrors: thus he Pope. horrors there, he Anon. conj.

[619] My lord ... it.] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[620] and held me hard] Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[621] As he] Ff. As a Qq.

Long] Long time Pope.

[622] mine] Qq F₁. my F₂ F₃ F₄. his Pope (ed. 2).

[623] piteous] Q₆. pittious Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁. hideous F₂ F₃ F₄.

[624] As] Qq. That Ff.

[625] that done,] Then Pope.

me] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[626] shoulder] Q₂ Q₃. shoulders The rest.

[627] o'doors] Theobald. adoores Q₂ Q₃. a doores Q₄. of doores Q₅ Q₆. adores F₁ F₂. adoors F₃ F₄.

helps] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. helpes Q₅ Q₆. helpe (Q₁) F₁ F₂. help F₃ F₄.

[628] Come] Qq. om. Ff.

[629] fordoes] forgoes Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[630] passion] Ff. passions Qq.

[631] I am] I'm Pope.

heed] Q₅ Q₆. heede Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. speed Ff.

[632] quoted] Ff. coted Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. coated Q₆. noted Warburton.

fear'd] Qq. feare F₁ F₂. fear F₃ F₄.

did but trifle] trifl'd Pope.

[633] wreck] wrack Qq F₃ F₄. wracke F₁ F₂. rack Upton conj.

beshrew] Ff Q₆. beshrow Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[634] By heaven,] (Q₁) Qq. It seemes F₁ F₂. It seems F₃ F₄.

[635] we] with me Q (1676).

[636] which] wͨ F₁.

[637] than hate] hate, than Hanmer. than haste Anon. conj.

[638] Come.] Qq. om. Ff.

[639] SCENE II.] Scena secunda. Ff. SCENE III. Pope.

A room....] Capell. The Palace. Rowe.

Flourish.] om. Ff.

Rosencratz,] Malone. Rossencraft, (Q₁). Rosencraus Qq. Rosincrane, F₁. Rosincrosse, F₂ F₃. Rosincross, F₄. Roseneraus, Rowe (ed. 2). Rosincrantz, Theobald.

Guildenstern] Rowe. Gilderstone (Q₁). Guyldensterne Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Guildensterne F₁ Q₆. Guildenstare F₂ F₃ F₄.

and Attendants.] Lords and other Attendants. Rowe. Omitted in Qq. Cumalijs. F₁ F₂. cum aliis. F₃ F₄.

[640] Rosencrantz] Malone. Rosencraus Qq. Rosincrance F₁. Rosincros F₂. Rosincross F₃ F₄.

[641] Guildenstern] Rowe. Guyldensterne Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Guildensterne F₁ Q₆. Guildenstare F₂ F₃ F₄.

[642] have you] you have Q₆.

[643] call] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. I call Ff Q₆.

[644] Sith nor] Qq. Since not Ff.

[645] dream] dreame Qq. deeme F₁ F₂. deem F₃ F₄.

[646] sith] Qq. since Ff.

neighbour'd] Ff. nabored Q₂ Q₃. neighbored Q₄. neighboured Q₅ Q₆.

haviour] Q₅ Q₆. hauior Q₂ Q₃. hau r Q₄. humour Ff. 'havour Warburton.

[647] occasion] Qq. occasions Ff.

[648] Whether ... thus,] Qq. Omitted in Ff. If ... thus, Rowe.

[649] open'd] om. Q (1676).

[650] are] is Q₂ Q₃.

[651] gentry] gentleness Q (1676).

[652] expend] extend Q₄ Q₅. employ Q (1676).

[653] shall] should Q₆.

[654] of us] over us Q (1676). o'er us Mason conj.

[655] to] into Keightley.

But we] Qq. We Ff.

[656] service] Qq. services Ff.

[657] To be commanded.] Omitted in Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[658] My ... you,] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[659] these] Qq. the Ff.

[660] Ay,] Capell. I Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. om. Ff Q₆. Amen, Keightley.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz....] Exeunt Ros. and Gui., Attendants with them. Capell. Exeunt Ros. and Guyld. Qq. Exit. F₁ (after him). Exeunt. F₂ F₃ F₄ (after him).

[661] [Aside to the King. Anon. conj.

I assure] Qq. Assure you, Ff.

[662] and] Qq. one Ff.

[663] sure] be sure F₃ F₄.

[664] it hath] Qq. I have Ff.

[665] that; that] Capell. that, that Qq Ff.

do I] doe I Qq. I do F₁ F₃ F₄. I doe. F₂.

[666] fruit] Q₅ Q₆. fruite Q₂ Q₃. frute Q₄. newes F₁ F₂. news F₃ F₄. nuts Hunter conj.

to] of Johnson.

[667] [Exit Polonius.] Ex. Pol. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[668] my dear Gertrude] Capell. my deere Gertrard Q₂ Q₃. my decree: Gertrud Q₄ Q₅. my deare Gertrud Q₆. my sweet queene, that Ff (queen F₃ F₄).

[669] o'erhasty] hastie Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ Q₆. hasty Q₄.

[670] SCENE IV. Pope.

Re-enter Polonius....] Theobald. Enter Polonius, Voltimand, and Cornelius. Ff (Voltumand, F₁), after line 57. Enter Embassadors. Qq, after line 57.

Welcome, my] Welcome home, S. Walker conj.

my] Qq. om. Ff.

[671] Voltimand] F₂ F₃ F₄. Voltemand Qq. Voltumand F₁.

[672] levies] lives Q (1695).

[673] Polack] Polacke (Q₁). Pollacke Qq. Poleak F₁. Polak F₂ F₃ F₄.

[674] three] (Q₁) Ff. threescore Qq.

[675] shown] shone Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[Giving a paper.] Malone. om. Qq Ff. Letter. Collier MS. See note (II).

[676] this] Qq. his Ff. that (Q₁).

[677] therein] herein Q₆.

[678] consider'd] Ff. considered Qq.

[679] Answer, and think upon] And think upon an answer to Hanmer.

And think upon and answer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[680] thank] take F₁.

well-took] well-look't F₂ F₃ F₄. well-luck'd Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[681] [Exeunt Vol. and Cor.] Capell. Exeunt Embassadors. Qq. Exit Ambass. Ff.

well] Qq. very well Ff.

[682] since] Ff. om. Qq.

brevity is] brevity's Pope.

[683] limbs] lines Theobald. conj. (withdrawn).

[684] it:] it? Q (1676).

[685] mad?] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. mad, Q₂ Q₃. mad. Ff.

[686] he is] Ff. hee's Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₆. he's Q₅.

mad, 'tis] mad, is Capell.

[687] 'tis 'tis] it is Ff. it is, 'tis Hanmer.

[688] farewell it] farewell, wit Anon. conj.

[689] the] the the F₂.

[690] remains ... Perpend.] remains: remainder thus perpend. Maginn conj.

[691] thus.] Ff Q₆. thus Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[692] Perpend.] A separate line in Qq. Ending line 104 in Ff. Consider. Q (1676).

[693] while] (Q₁) Qq. whil'st F₁ F₃ F₄. whilst F₂.

[694] [Reads.] Q (1676). The Letter. Ff. om. Qq. He opens a Letter, and reads. Rowe.

[695] and] om. Q₆.

idol] fair idol Capell, reading as verse.

beautified] beatified Theobald.

[696] vile] Qq F₄. vilde F₁ F₂ F₃.

beautified] that beatify'd Capell, reading as verse.

vile] Qq F₄. vilde F₁ F₂ F₃.

[697] Thus: ... these,' &c.] See note (XII).

[698] [Reads.] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

[699] excellent white] excellent-white Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)]

&c.] Qq. om. Ff.

[700] [Reads.] Reading. Rowe. Letter. Qq. om. Ff.

[701] HAMLET.] See note (XIII).

[702] shown] showne Qq. shew'd Ff.

[703] above] F₂ F₃ F₄. aboue F₁. about Qq.

above, hath] about have Q₆. concerning Q (1676).

solicitings] Qq. soliciting Ff.

[704] But ... love?] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[705] think,] Capell. thinke Qq. think? Ff.

[706] this] his F₃ F₄.

wing,--] wing, Q₂ Q₃ Ff Q₆. wing? Q₄ Q₅.

[707] your] you F₂.

[708] play'd] ply'd Keightley conj.

[709] a winking] Ff Q₆. a working Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. working Pope.

[710] my young mistress] Put in parentheses in F₁.

thus] this Q₄ Q₅.

[711] prince, out] prince:--out Steevens.

out of thy star] Q₂ Q₃. out of thy starre Q₄ Q₅ F₁. out of your starre (Q₁). out of thy sphere F₂ Q₆ F₃ F₄. above thy sphere Q (1676).

out of thy star] out of thy soar Bailey conj.

[712] prescripts] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. precepts Ff Q₆.

[713] his] Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆. her Q₂ Q₃.

[714] she took ... And he] see too ... For, he Warburton.

[715] repulsed, a] F₂ F₃ F₄. repulsed. A F₁. repell'd, a Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. repel'd. a Q₄. repel'd, a Q₅. repelled, a Jennens.

[716] Fell into] Fell to Pope.

[717] watch] wath Q₂ Q₃. watching Pope. watch; and Keightley.

thence into] then into Q (1676). and thence into Maginn conj.

[718] into a weakness, Thence to] to a weakness; thence Into S. Walker conj.

[719] a] om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[720] wherein] Qq. whereon Ff.

[721] all we mourn] all we mourne Qq. all we wail Ff. we all wail Collier MS.

[722] this] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. 'tis this Ff Q₆.

like] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. likely Ff Q₆.

[723] I'ld] I'de Ff. I would Qq.

[724] [Pointing ... shoulder] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). om. Qq Ff.

this, if ... otherwise:] this, if ... otherwise; Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. this; if ... otherwise, F₁. this, if ... otherwise, F₂ Q₆ F₃ F₄.

[725] further] farther Collier.

[726] You ... lobby.] As in Qq. Three lines, ending sometimes ... heere ... lobby, in Ff.

[727] four] F₃ F₄. foure The rest. for Hanmer.

[728] does] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. dooes Q₂ Q₃. ha's F₁. has F₂ F₃ F₄.

[729] an arras] the arras Q₆.

Be ... then;] Let ... then Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[730] arras then; Mark] arras then, Marke Qq Ff (Mark F₄). arras; then Mark Staunton. arras then To mark Keightley.

[731] But] Qq. And Ff.

and] of Q (1703).

[732] SCENE V. Pope.

But ... reading.] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending wretch, in Ff.

[733] you, both] Ff. you both Qq. you both, Anon. conj.

[734] [Exeunt.... Enter....] See note (XIV).

[735] Well, God-a-mercy.] Excellent well. Q (1676).

[736] Excellent] Qq. Excellent, excellent Ff.

you are] Qq. y'are Ff. you're Dyce.

[737] lord!] lord? Ff Q₆. lord. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[738] Ay, sir ... thousand.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending goes, in Qq.

[739] man] om. F₃ F₄.

ten] Q₅ Q₆. tenne Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. two Ff.

[740] Ham.] Ham. [reads]. Staunton.

[741] god kissing carrion] Hanmer (Warburton). good kissing carrion Qq Ff. god-kissing carrion Malone conj. good, kissing carrion Whiter conj. carrion-kissing god Mitford conj.

carrion--] Ff. carrion. Qq.

[742] but as ... conceive,--friend] Malone. but as ... conceave, friend Qq. but not as ... conceive. Friend Ff.

[743] How ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

Still ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Steevens. Verse, Maginn conj., ending the lines on ... first; ... he is ... youth ... love; ... again.

[744] at first] at the first Q (1676).

[745] he said ... he] Ff. a said ... a Qq. but said ... he Q (1676).

[746] he is ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Pope, who reads as three lines of verse.

[747] far gone] Qq. farre gone, farre gone Ff.

[748] much] om. Maginn conj.

[749] lord?] Ff Q₆. lord. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[750] who?] F₁ Q₆. who. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. whom? F₂ F₃ F₄.

[751] that you read] Qq. you meane F₁ F₂. you mean F₃ F₄.

[752] rogue] Qq. slave Ff.

[753] and plum-tree] Q₅ Q₆. & plum-tree Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. or plum-tree Ff.

[754] lack] lacke Qq. locke F₁ F₂. lock F₃ F₄.

most] Qq. om. Ff.

[755] yourself] your selfe Qq. you your selfe F₁ F₂. you your self F₃ F₄.

shall grow old] Qq. should be old Ff. shall be as old Rowe. shall be but as old Hanmer. shall grow as old Malone.

[756] [Aside] First marked by Capell.

[757] Though ... lord?] Prose in Qq. Three lines, ending madnesse, ... walke ... lord? in Ff. Two lines of verse, the first ending in't, in Rowe.

[758] there is] there's Rowe.

[759] grave.] Qq. grave? Ff.

[760] Indeed ... you.] Prose in Qq. Eleven irregular lines in Ff: nine in Rowe and Pope.

[761] that's out of the] Qq. that is out oth' Ff.

[Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[762] often madness] madness often Jennens.

[763] reason and sanity] F₂ F₃ F₄. reason and sanitie F₁. reason and sanctity Qq. sanity and reason Pope.

[764] so prosperously be] so happily be Q₆. be So prosp'rously Pope.

[765] I will] I'll Pope.

[766] and suddenly ... him] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[767] My ... humbly] Ff. My lord, I will Qq.

[768] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

[769] will] Ff. will not Qq.

[770] except my life] Three times in Qq. except my life, my life. Ff. except my life. Pope. [Aside] except ... life. Anon. conj.

[771] These ... fools!] Thou ... fool! Maginn conj.

Enter....] As in Capell. Enter Guyldersterne, and Rosencraus. Qq (after line 214). Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne. F₁. Enter Rosincros and Guildenstar. F₂ F₃. Enter Rosincros and Guildensterne. F₄ (after line 217 in Ff).

[772] the Lord] Qq. my Lord Ff. lord Pope.

[773] SCENE VI. Pope.

[To Polonius] Malone.

[Exit Polonius.] As in Capell. Exit. Pope (after line 217).

[774] My] Qq. Mine Ff.

[775] excellent] extent Q₂ Q₃. exelent Q₄.

[776] Ah] Q₆. A Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Oh Ff.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[777] Happy ... button.] Arranged as by Hanmer. Two lines, the first ending lap, in Qq (cap Q₆). Prose in Ff.

over-happy; On Fortune's cap we] Hanmer. over-happy: on Fortune's cap, we Ff. ever happy on Fortunes lap, We Qq (cap Q₆).

[778] On] Of Anon. conj.

[779] shoe] shooes Collier MS. See note (II).

shoe?] shoo? F₁. shooe? F₂ F₃ F₄. shooe. Qq.

[780] waist] Johnson. wast Qq. waste Ff.

[781] favours?] Pope. favors. Qq. favour? Ff.

[782] her] in her Pope, ed. 2.

[783] What's the] Ff. What Qq.

news?] newes? Qq F₁. newes. F₂ F₃. news. F₄.

[784] that] Ff. om. Qq.

[785] but] sure Q (1676).

[786] Let me ... attended.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[787] o' the] o' th' Ff. of the Capell.

[788] Why ... so:] Two lines of verse, the first ending nothing, S. Walker conj.

[789] bad] had Anon. conj.

[790] fay] Pope. fey Ff.

[791] Ros. Guil.] Both. Ff.

[792] friendship,] Qq F₁. friendship. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[793] Elsinore] Malone. Elsonoure Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Elsonower F₁. Elsinooer F₂. Elsenour Q₆. Elsinoore F₃ F₄.

[794] even] Ff Q₆. ever Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[795] a halfpenny] of a halfpenny Theobald. at a halfpenny Hanmer.

[796] Come, deal] Ff. come, come, deale Qq.

[797] Why] Ff. om. Qq.]

any thing, but] Q₆. any thing but Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. any thing. But Ff.

purpose. You] purpose you Q (1676).

[798] of] Qq. om. Ff.

[799] our fellowship] our fellowships Q₆. your fellowship F₃ F₄.

[800] ever-preserved] ever preferred Q (1676).

[801] could] Ff. can Qq.

charge] change Q₅.

[802] no.] Qq Ff. no? Pope.

[803] [Aside to Guil.] Edd. (Globe ed.) To Guilden. Theobald. To Hamlet. Delius conj.

[804] Ham. Nay ... off.] Omitted by Jennens.

[805] [Aside] Marked first by Steevens (1793).

of you.--] of you: Ff. of you? Q₂ Q₃. of you, Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. on you Harness conj.

[806] discovery, and] discovery of Ff.

[807] and your ... moult] Qq. of your ... queene: moult Ff. of your ... queen. Moult Knight.

[808] feather. I] feather: I Q₆. feather, I The rest.

[809] exercises] Qq. exercise Ff.

[810] heavily] Qq. heavenly Ff.

[811] brave o'erhanging] brave-o'erhanging S. Walker conj.

o'erhanging] ore-hanged Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. o'erchanging] Jennens.

[812] firmament] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[813] appears] appeares F₁. appeared F₂ F₃ F₄. appeareth Qq.

no other thing to me than] nothing to me but Qq.

[814] What a piece] Ff Q₆. What peece Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

a man] man Q₆.

[815] faculty] Ff. faculties Qq.

[816] faculty!... god!] Pointed as in Q₆ and Ff, substantially. faculties, in ... mooving, how ... action, how ... apprehension, how ... God: Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ (no other stops).

[817] no] om. Qq.

woman] women Q₂ Q₃.

[818] seem] see me F₂.

[819] you] Ff. yee Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. ye Q₆.

then] Qq. om. Ff.

[820] lenten] Q₆. Lenton The rest.

[821] coted] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. coated Ff Q₆. met Q (1676). accosted Rowe. 'costed Capell. quoted Jennens conj. escoted Staunton conj.

are they] are the Q₄ Q₅.

[822] of me] Ff Q₆. on me Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[823] sigh] sing Q₄ Q₅.

[824] the clown ... sere,] Omitted in Qq.

[825] o' the] a' th' F₁. ath' F₂ F₃ F₄.

sere] scene Malone conj.

[826] blank] black Q₂ Q₃.

[827] such] Qq. om. Ff.

[828] in, the] Qq F₄. in the F₁ F₂ F₃.

[829] they] the Q₄ Q₅.

travel] Q₆ F₃ F₄. travaile The rest.

[830] was] were Anon conj.

[831] inhibition ... innovation.] itineration ... innovation. Theobald conj. (withdrawn). innovation ... inhibition. Johnson conj.

[832] the means] means Johnson.

[833] innovation.] innovation? Ff.

[834] Do they] Do the Q₄ Q₅.

[835] are they] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. they are Ff Q₆.

[836] Ham. How ... load too.] Omitted in Qq.

[837] eyrie] ayrie F₁. ayry F₂. airy F₃ F₄.

eyases] Theobald. Yases Ff.

[838] question] the question Capell.

[839] fashion] faction Hughs.

berattle] be-rattle F₃ F₄. be ratle F₂. be-ratled F₁.

[840] stages] stagers Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[841] 'em] them Capell.

[842] players,] players? Pope (ed. 1).

[843] most like,] Pope. like most Ff. like, most, Capell. like most will, Anon. conj.

no] not F₂.

them] them on Pope (ed. 2).

[844] succession?] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). succession. Ff.

[845] load] club Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[846] very strange; for] Q₆. very strange, for Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. strange: for F₁. strange for F₂ F₃. strange, for F₄.

my] Qq. mine Ff.

[847] mows] mowes Ff. mouths Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. mouthes Q₆.

[848] fifty] Qq. om. Ff.

a] Qq. an Ff.

[849] 'Sblood] S'blood Q₆. S'bloud Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. om. Ff.

[850] [Flourish ...] Capell. A Florish. Qq. Flourish for the Players. Ff.

[851] There ... players.] Shall we call the players? Q (1676).

[852] then] Qq. om. Ff.

appurtenance] apportenance Q₄ Q₅.

[853] comply] complement Hanmer.

this] Qq. the Ff.

[854] lest my] Ff Q₆. let me Q₂ Q₃. let my Q₄ Q₅.

[855] extent] ostent Collier conj.

[856] outwards] Qq. outward Ff.

[857] handsaw] Ff. hand saw Q Q₃. hand-saw Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. hernshaw Hanmer. heronsew Anon. conj.

[858] SCENE VII. Pope.

[859] too: at] Ff. too, at Q₆. to, at Q₂ Q₃. to, are Q₄ Q₅.

[860] you see there is] as you see is Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[861] swaddling clouts] swadling clouts Qq. swathing clouts Ff. swathling clouts Rowe (ed. 2).

[862] Happily] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁ F₂ F₃. Happely Q₆. Haply F₄.

he's] F₁ F₃ F₄. he is Qq. hes F₂.

[863] prophesy he] prophecy, he Q₂ Q₃. prophecy that he Q₄. prophecie that he Q₅ Q₆. prophesie. Hee F₁. prophesie, He F₂ F₃ F₄.

[864] it. You] it: You Q₆. it, You Q₂ Q₃. it, you Q₄ Q₅ Ff.

o'] Capell. a Qq. for a F₁ F₂ F₃. for on F₄.

morning;] morning, Q₂ Q₃. morning Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆.

[865] so] (Q₁) Ff. then Qq.

[866] Roscius] F₂ F₃ F₄. Rossius Qq F₁.

[867] was] Qq. om. Ff.

Rome,--] Rome-- Ff. Rome. Qq.

[868] my] Qq. mine Ff.

honour,--] honour-- Rowe. honor. or honour. Qq Ff.

[869] Then ... ass,--] Marked as a quotation by Steevens (Johnson conj.)

came] Qq. can Ff.

ass,--] asse-- Ff. asse. Qq.

[870] pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. pastorall comicall, historicall pastorall Q₂ Q₃. pastoricall-comicall-historicall-pastorall Ff.

[871] tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral] Omitted in Qq.

[872] scene] seeme Q₄ Q₅.

individable] indevidible Q₂ Q₃. indevidable Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. indivible Ff. undividable Rowe.

[873] light. For ... liberty, these] Theobald. light for ... liberty: these Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. light, for ... liberty. These Ff. light for ... liberty; these Q₆ Q (1676).

[874] writ] wit Q (1676) and Rowe.

[875] the liberty] liberty Q (1676).

[876] O Jephthah ... Israel] As a quotation in Pope.

[877] &c. Jephthah] Hanmer. Ieptha Qq. Iephta F₁ F₂. Jephta F₃ F₄.

[878] What a treasure] (Q₁) Qq. Ff. What treasure Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)

[879] Why ... well'] As in Capell. Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff. Marked as a quotation in Pope.

[880] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[881] Pol. If ... not.] Omitted in Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[882] you] thou Jennens.

[883] Why ... wot,] As in Malone. Prose in Qq Ff. Pope prints as a quotation by ... wot.

[884] and then ... was,'] As in Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[885] pious chanson] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Pons Chanson F₁. Pans Chanson F₂ F₃ F₄. pans chanson Q₆. godly Ballet (Q₁). rubrick Q (1676). Pont-chansons Hanmer. Pont chanson (i.e. 'chanson du Pont Neuf') Hunter conj.

[886] abridgement comes] (Q₁) Q₅ Q₆. abridgment comes Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. abridgements come Ff.

Enter....] Ff. Enter the Players. Qq. Enter certain players, usher'd. Capell.

[887] You are] Qq. Y'are Ff.

[888] thee] you Hanmer.

my] Ff. om. Qq.

[889] Why, thy] Qq. Thy Ff.

[890] valanced] vallanced (Q₁). valanct Q₂ Q₃. valanc'd Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. valiant Ff.

[891] By'r lady] Byrlady F₁. Berlady F₂ F₃ F₄. burlady (Q₁). by lady Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. my Ladie Q₅. my Lady Q₆.

ladyship] lordship F₃ F₄.

to heaven] Qq. heaven Ff.

[892] chopine] (Q₁) Qq. choppine Ff. chioppine Pope. chapin Jennens.

[893] e'en to 't] Q₆. ento't Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. e'ne to 't Ff.

French] (Q₁) Ff. friendly Qq.

falconers] (Q₁). fankners Q₂ Q₃. faukners Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. faulconers Ff.

[894] First Play.] I Play. Ff. Player. Qq.

[895] good] (Q₁) Qq. om. Ff.

[896] caviare] Johnson. cauiary. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. cauiarie F₁. cautary F₂ F₃ F₄. caviary Q₆. a caviary Q (1676). caviar Rowe. contrary Long MS.

[897] received] conceived Collier MS. See note (II).

judgements] Qq. judgement Ff.

[898] were no sallets] Qq. was no sallets (Q₁) Ff. was no salts Pope (ed. I). was no salt Pope (ed. 2). were no salts Capell. were no saletés Becket conj.

[899] indict] Collier. indite Qq Ff.

affection] Qq. affectation Ff.

but] but I Johnson conj.

[900] as wholesome ... fine] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[901] speech] Qq. cheefe speech F₁. chiefe speech F₂. chief speech F₃ F₄.

in it] (Q₁) Ff. in't Qq.

[902] Æneas'] Pope. Aeneas Q₂ Q₃. Æneas Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆.

tale] (Q₁) Ff. talke Qq. talkt Q (1676).

[903] where] (Q₁) Ff. when Qq.

[904] th' Hyrcanian] Ff. Th' ircanian Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. th' ircanian Q₆.

[905] It is not so:] Ff. tis not so, Q₂ Q₃. tis not Q₄ Q₅. 'tis not Q₆. 'tis not, Q (1695).

[906] his] he F₂ F₃.

[907] he] his F₂ F₄.

the ominous] (Q₁) Ff. th' omynous Q₂ Q₃. th' ominous Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[908] this] his (Q₁) Q₆.

[909] heraldry] heraldy Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

dismal: head to foot] Pointed as in Ff. dismall head to foote, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. dismall head to foot: Q₆.

[910] total gules] totall Gules Qq. to take Geulles F₁ F₂. to take Geules F₃ F₄.

[911] impasted] imbasted Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

streets] fires Pope.

[912] and a] Qq. and Ff.

[913] tyrannous ... murder] treacherous and damned light To the vile murtherer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[914] their lord's murder] their Lords murther Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. their Lords murder Q₆. their vilde Murthers F₁ F₂ F₃. their vile Murthers F₄. the vile Murthers Rowe. murthers vile Pope. their lords' murder S. Walker conj.

[915] o'er-sized] ore-cised Qq.

[916] carbuncles] carbuncle Q₆.

[917] So, proceed you.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[918] antique] Pope. anticke or antick Qq Ff.

[919] to his] in his Rowe (ed. 2).

[920] match'd] matcht Qq. match Ff.

[921] falls ... Ilium] falls then senseless. Ilium Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

Then senseless Ilium] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[922] this] Qq. his Ff.

[923] base] Qq. Bace Ff.

[924] Pyrrhus'] Apostrophe inserted by Pope.

[925] reverend] Ff. reverent Qq.

[926] painted] Omitted in F₃ F₄.

[927] And like] F₁ F₄. Like Qq. And lik'd F₂ F₃.

and matter] Erased in Long MS.

[928] And ... nothing.] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[929] rack] rackes Q₆. wrack Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[930] winds] wind Q₆.

[931] region, so] Qq. region. So Ff.

[932] Aroused] Collier. A rowsed Qq F₂ F₃ F₄. A ro wsed F₁. A roused Theobald (ed. 2).

a-work] a-worke F₁. aworke Q₆. a worke Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₂. a work F₃ F₄. a' work Capell.

[933] Cyclops'] Apostrophe inserted by Theobald.

[934] Mars's armour] Capell. Marses Armor Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Mars his Armours Ff. Mars his armour Q₆.

[935] strumpet, Fortune] Hyphened in Ff.

[936] fellies] F₄. follies Q₂ Q₃. folles Q₄. fellowes Q₅. fallies F₁ F₂ F₃. felloes Q₆.

[937] too] two F₃.

[938] to the] (Q₁) Qq. to'th F₁ F₂. to th' F₃ F₄.

[939] who, O, who] who, O who (Q₁). who, O who, Ff. who, a woe, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. who, ah woe Q₆. who alas Q (1676). who, a woe! Capell. who, ah woe! Malone (Mason conj.)

[940] mobled] Qq. Moblea F₂ F₃ F₄. inobled F₁. mob-led Upton conj. ennobl'd Capell. mabled Malone. mobiled Becket conj.

[941] queen--] queen,-- Theobald. queene, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. queene. Q₅ F₂ Q₆. queen. F₁ F₃. queen? F₄.

[942] queen?] Pointed as in Ff. queene. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. queene! Q₆.

[943] mobled ... good.] F₂ F₃ F₄. Inobled ... good. F₁. Omitted in Qq.

[944] Run ... flames] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

flames] Qq. flame Ff.

[945] bisson rheum] F₄. Bison rehume (Bison in italics) Q₂ Q₃. bison rhume Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. bisson rheume F₁ F₂ F₃.

[946] alarm] alarme Qq. alarum Ff.

[947] state] Qq. state, Ff.

pronounced:] pronounst; Q₂ Q₃. pronounc'd; Q₄ Q₅. pronounc'd: Q₆. pronounc'd? Ff.

[948] husband's] husband Q₂ Q₃.

[949] move] meant F₃ F₄.

at] om. F₃ F₄.

[950] milch] melt Pope.

[951] passion in] passioned Hanmer. passionate Elze (Collier MS.) passion e'en Taylor conj. MS.

[952] whether] Malone. where Qq Ff. if (Q₁) Pope. whe're Theobald. whe'r Capell. there, if Long MS. whêr Dyce.

[953] has tears] has not tears Hanmer.

Prithee] Prethee Qq. Pray you Ff.

[954] of this] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[955] will] doe Q₆.

abstract] Qq. abstracts Ff.

[956] you hear] ye heare or ye hear Ff.

[957] live] Qq. lived Ff.

[958] desert] desart F₁ F₂.

[959] God's] Odd's Johnson.

bodykins] Ff. bodkin Qq. bodikin Capell.

much] Qq. om. Ff. farre (Q₁).

[960] shall] Qq. should (Q₁) Ff.

[961] hear] here Q₄ Q₅.

[Exit ...] Dyce. Exit Polon. Ff, after line 509. Exeunt Pol. and Players. Qq (after Elsinore, line 520). Exeunt Polonius, and Players. Capell (after not, line 519). Exit Pol. with some of the Players. Reed (after line 509).

[962] [Aside to Player. Staunton.

[963] Gonzago] Gonzaga Johnson.

[964] ha't] Ff. hate Q₂ Q₃. hav't Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. have it Q (1676).

[965] for a need] (Q₁) Ff. for need Qq.

[966] dozen] (Q₁) F₃ F₄. dosen F₁ F₂. dosen lines Qq.

or sixteen] om. Q (1676).

[967] you] Qq. ye Ff.

[968] [Exit First Player.] Exit Player. Reed. om Qq Ff.

[To Ros. and Guild. Johnson.

[969] [Exeunt Players. Collier MS. See note (II).

[970] Good my] Good, my Capell.

[971] SCENE VIII. Pope.

God be wi' ye] God b' w' ye F₄. God buy 'ye F₁ F₂ F₃. God buy to you Qq. Good b' w' ye Rowe. God be wi' you Capell.

[Exeunt....] Edd. (Globe ed.) Exeunt. Q₂ Q₃ Ff (after line 522). Exit. Q₄ Q₅ Q₆ (after line 522).

I am] am I Q₆.

[972] fiction] F₂ Q₆ F₃ F₄. fixion The rest.

[973] own] Qq. whole Ff.

[974] his visage] Ff. the visage Qq.

wann'd] wand Qq. warm'd Ff.

[975] in's] F₁ Q₆ F₃ F₄. ins F₂. in his Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[976] and] an Q₂ Q₃.

[977] conceit?] Ff. conceit; Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. conceit, Q₆.

nothing!] nothing? Ff. nothing, Qq.

[978] For Hecuba!] om. Seymour conj.

Hecuba!] Hecuba? Ff Q₆. Hecuba. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[979] to Hecuba] (Q₁) Ff. to her Qq.

[980] the cue for] Ff. that for Qq. that cue for Anon. conj.

[981] appal] appall Rowe. appale Q₂ Q₃. appeale Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. apale Ff.

[982] The ... Yet I,] Arranged as in Johnson. One line in Qq Ff.

[983] faculties] Qq. faculty Ff.

eyes and ears] ears and eyes Johnson.

[984] Yet I, A dull and] Yet I, a Seymour conj.

[985] Yet I, A dull ... can say] Yet I say Pope, giving the omitted words in the margin.

[986] muddy-mettled] Hyphened in Ff.

[987] John-a-dreams] John a-deames F₂ F₃ F₄. John-a-droynes Becket, after Steevens, conj.

[988] coward?... this?] Pointed as in Ff, and Q₆ substantially. Stops in Qq. Commas in Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[989] Ha!] As a separate line by Steevens (1793). It begins line 552 in Qq Ff (Hah, Q₂ Q₃. Hah! Q₄ Q₅. Hah? Q₆. Ha? Ff), and ends line 550 in Collier. Omitted by Pope.

[990] 'Swounds ... it:] Qq (it, Q₆). Why I ... it: F₁ F₂. Why should I take it? F₃ F₄. Yet I should take it-- Pope.

[991] oppression] transgression Collier MS. aggression Singer conj. (withdrawn).

[992] have] a (Q₁) Q₂ Q₃.

[993] offal: bloody,] offall: bloudy, Q₆. offall, bloody, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. offall, bloudy: a Ff (bloody: F₃ F₄).

[994] Remorseless ... villain!] Omitted by Jennens.

[995] O, vengeance!] Omitted in Qq.

[996] Why,] Why Qq. Who? Ff. om. Knight.

This] Qq. I sure, this Ff.

[997] a dear father murder'd] a dear father murther'd Capell. a deere murthered Q₂ Q₃. a deere father murthered Q₄ Q₅. a deare father murthered Q₆. the deere murthered Ff (dear F₃ F₄).

[998] And fall ... play] Arranged as in Capell. Three lines, ending foh ... heard ... play, in Qq. Three lines, ending drab, ... braine ... play, in Ff. Four lines, ending drab, ... foh!... heard, ... play, in Johnson.

[999] drab, A scullion] Ff. drabbe; a stallyon Q₂ Q₃. drabbe; a stallion Q₄. drabbe; stallion Q₅. drabbe, stallion Q₆. drab--A stallion Pope. drab--A cullion Theobald.

[1000] About, my brain!] About my braine, (Q₁). About my braine. Ff (brain. F₃ F₄). About my braines; Q₂ Q₃. About my braines, Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. about my brain-- Pope (ed. 1). about my brain!-- Pope (ed. 2). about, my brain!-- Theobald. about 't my brains! Hunter conj. See note (XV).

Hum] Qq. om. Ff.

I have] I've Pope.

[1001] sitting] om. Pope.

[1002] struck so to] F₃ F₄. strooke so to Qq F₁ F₂. struck unto Rowe (ed. 2).

[1003] I'll have these players] I'll observe his looks, Pope (ed. 1), corrected in ed. 2.

[1004] tent] Qq F₁. rent F₂ F₃ F₄.

he but] Ff. a doe Qq. he do Q (1676) and Capell.

blench] blink Taylor conj. MS. bleach Anon. conj.

[1005] The] This Johnson.

[1006] be the devil] F₃ F₄. be the divell (Q₁) F₁ F₂. be a deale Q₂ Q₃. be a divell Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

and the devil] and the deale Q₂ Q₃.

Act III, Scene I — A room in the castle.

Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1007]

King. And can you, by no drift of circumstance,[1008] Get from him why he puts on this confusion,[1009] Grating so harshly all his days of quiet With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

Ros. He does confess he feels himself distracted, 5 But from what cause he will by no means speak.[1010]

Guil. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded;[1011] But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof,[1011] When we would bring him on to some confession[1011] Of his true state.[1011]

Queen. Did he receive you well?[1011][1012] 10

Ros. Most like a gentleman.

Guil. But with much forcing of his disposition.

Ros. Niggard of question, but of our demands[1013] Most free in his reply.[1013]

Queen. Did you assay him[1014][1015] To any pastime?[1014][1016] 15

Ros. Madam, it so fell out that certain players[1017] We o'er-raught on the way: of these we told him,[1018] And there did seem in him a kind of joy To hear of it: they are about the court,[1019] And, as I think, they have already order 20 This night to play before him.

Pol. 'Tis most true: And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties To hear and see the matter.

King. With all my heart; and it doth much content me[1020] To hear him so inclined.[1020] 25 Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,[1020] And drive his purpose on to these delights.[1020][1021]

Ros. We shall, my lord.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

King. Sweet Gertrude, leave us too;[1022] For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,[1023] That he, as 'twere by accident, may here[1024][1025] 30 Affront Ophelia:[1024][1026] Her father and myself, lawful espials,[1026][1027] Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,[1028] We may of their encounter frankly judge,[1029] And gather by him, as he is behaved, 35 If't be the affliction of his love or no[1030] That thus he suffers for.

Queen. I shall obey you: And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish[1031] That your good beauties be the happy cause[1032] Of Hamlet's wildness: so shall I hope your virtues[1032][1033] 40 Will bring him to his wonted way again,[1034] To both your honours.

Oph. Madam, I wish it may. [Exit Queen.

Pol. Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so please you,[1035] We will bestow ourselves. [To Ophelia] Read on this book;[1036] That show of such an exercise may colour 45 Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this,--[1037] 'Tis too much proved--that with devotion's visage And pious action we do sugar o'er[1038] The devil himself.

King. [Aside] O, 'tis too true![1039] How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! 50 The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word: O heavy burthen!

Pol. I hear him coming: let's withdraw, my lord.[1040] 55

[Exeunt King and Polonius.

Enter HAMLET.[1041]

Ham. To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,[1042] Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,[1043] And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;[1044][1045] 60 No more; and by a sleep to say we end[1045][1046] The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation[1047] Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;[1048] To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; 65 For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,[1049] Must give us pause: there's the respect[1050] That makes calamity of so long life;[1050] For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,[1051] 70 The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,[1052] The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,[1053] The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make[1054] 75 With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,[1055] To grunt and sweat under a weary life,[1056] But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn[1057] No traveller returns, puzzles the will,[1058] 80 And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,[1059] And thus the native hue of resolution[1060] Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,[1061] 85 And enterprises of great pitch and moment[1062] With this regard their currents turn awry[1063] And lose the name of action. Soft you now![1064] The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons[1065] Be all my sins remember'd.

Oph. Good my lord,[1066] 90 How does your honour for this many a day?

Ham. I humbly thank you: well, well, well.[1067]

Oph. My lord, I have remembrances of yours, That I have longed long to re-deliver;[1068] I pray you, now receive them.

Ham. No, not I;[1069][1070] 95 I never gave you aught.[1070]

Oph. My honour'd lord, you know right well you did;[1071] And with them words of so sweet breath composed As made the things more rich: their perfume lost,[1072] Take these again; for to the noble mind 100 Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord.

Ham. Ha, ha! are you honest?

Oph. My lord?[1073]

Ham. Are you fair? 105

Oph. What means your lordship?

Ham. That if you be honest and fair, your honesty[1074][1075] should admit no discourse to your beauty.[1075]

Oph. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce[1076] than with honesty?[1077] 110

Ham. Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was[1078] sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I[1079] did love you once. 115

Oph. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

Ham. You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it:[1080] I loved you not.[1081]

Oph. I was the more deceived. 120

Ham. Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a[1082] breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more offences at my beck than I have[1083] 125 thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape,[1084] or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between heaven and earth? We are arrant knaves[1085] all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery.[1086] Where's your father? 130

Oph. At home, my lord.

Ham. Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may[1087] play the fool no where but in's own house. Farewell.[1087][1088]

Oph. O, help him, you sweet heavens!

Ham. If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for[1089] 135 thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go: farewell.[1090] Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go; and quickly too. Farewell.[1091] 140

Oph. O heavenly powers, restore him![1092]

Ham. I have heard of your paintings too, well enough;[1093] God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves[1094] another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nick-name[1095] God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance.[1096][1097] 145 Go to, I'll no more on't; it hath made me mad.[1097][1098] I say, we will have no more marriages: those that are married[1099] already, all but one, shall live; the rest shall keep as[1100] they are. To a nunnery, go. [Exit.[1101]

Oph. O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown![1102] 150 The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword:[1103] The expectancy and rose of the fair state,[1104] The glass of fashion and the mould of form, The observed of all observers, quite, quite down! And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,[1105] 155 That suck'd the honey of his music vows,[1106] Now see that noble and most sovereign reason,[1107] Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;[1108] That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth[1109] Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, 160 To have seen what I have seen, see what I see![1110]

Re-enter KING and POLONIUS.

King. Love! his affections do not that way tend;[1111] Nor what he spake, though it lack'd form a little,[1112] Was not like madness. There's something in his soul[1113] O'er which his melancholy sits on brood, 165 And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose Will be some danger: which for to prevent,[1114] I have in quick determination Thus set it down:--he shall with speed to England,[1115] For the demand of our neglected tribute: 170 Haply the seas and countries different With variable objects shall expel This something-settled matter in his heart,[1116] Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus[1117][1118] From fashion of himself. What think you on 't?[1117] 175

Pol. It shall do well: but yet do I believe[1119][1120] The origin and commencement of his grief[1119][1121] Sprung from neglected love. How now, Ophelia![1122] You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said; We heard it all. My lord, do as you please;[1123] 180 But, if you hold it fit, after the play, Let his queen mother all alone entreat him To show his grief: let her be round with him;[1124] And I'll be placed, so please you, in the ear[1125] Of all their conference. If she find him not, 185 To England send him, or confine him where Your wisdom best shall think.

King. It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go. [Exeunt.[1126]

Act III, Scene II — A hall in the castle.

Enter HAMLET and Players.[1127]

Ham. Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced[1128] it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as[1129] many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke[1130] my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your[1131] hand, thus; but use all gently: for in the very torrent, tempest, 5 and, as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you[1132] must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious[1133] periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very[1134] rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who, for the most[1135] 10 part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'er-doing[1136] Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it.

First Play. I warrant your honour.[1137]

Ham. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion 15 be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word[1138] to the action; with this special observance, that you o'er-step[1139] not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone[1140] is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first[1141] and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to 20 nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own[1142] image, and the very age and body of the time his form and[1143] pressure. Now this overdone or come tardy off, though[1144][1145] it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious[1145] grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance[1146] 25 o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be[1147] players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and[1148] that highly, not to speak it profanely, that neither having[1149] the accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan,[1150] nor man, have so strutted and bellowed, that I have thought[1150][1151] 30 some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made[1152] them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.

First Play. I hope we have reformed that indifferently[1137] with us, sir.[1153]

Ham. O, reform it altogether. And let those that play 35 your clowns speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some[1154] quantity of barren spectators to laugh too, though in the[1155] mean time some necessary question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition 40 in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.

[Exeunt Players.

Enter POLONIUS, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1156]

How now, my lord! will the king hear this piece of work?[1157]

Pol. And the queen too, and that presently.[1158]

Ham. Bid the players make haste. [Exit Polonius.[1159] Will you two help to hasten them? 45

Ros. Guil. We will, my lord.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1160]

Ham. What ho! Horatio!

Enter HORATIO.[1161]

Hor. Here, sweet lord, at your service.[1162]

Ham. Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man As e'er my conversation coped withal.[1163] 50

Hor. O, my dear lord,--[1164]

Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter; For what advancement may I hope from thee, That no revenue hast but thy good spirits,[1165] To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd?[1166] No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,[1167] 55 And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee[1168] Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?[1169] Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice,[1170] And could of men distinguish, her election[1171] Hath seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been[1171] 60 As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing; A man that fortune's buffets and rewards[1172] Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those[1173] Whose blood and judgement are so well commingled[1174] That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger 65 To sound what stop she please. Give me that man[1175] That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,[1176] As I do thee. Something too much of this. There is a play to-night before the king; 70 One scene of it comes near the circumstance Which I have told thee of my father's death:[1177] I prithee, when thou seest that act a-foot,[1178] Even with the very comment of thy soul[1179] Observe my uncle: if his occulted guilt[1180] 75 Do not itself unkennel in one speech,[1181] It is a damned ghost that we have seen, And my imaginations are as foul As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note;[1182] For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,[1183] 80 And after we will both our judgements join[1184] In censure of his seeming.[1185]

Hor. Well, my lord: If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing,[1186] And 'scape detecting, I will pay the theft.[1187]

Ham. They are coming to the play: I must be idle:[1188] 85 Get you a place.

Danish march. A flourish. Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, _and other Lords attendant, with the Guard carrying torches_.[1189]

King. How fares our cousin Hamlet?[1190]

Ham. Excellent, i' faith; of the chameleon's dish: I eat[1191][1192] the air, promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so.[1191]

King. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these[1191] 90 words are not mine.[1191]

Ham. No, nor mine now. [To Polonius] My lord, you[1191][1193] played once i' the university, you say?[1191][1194]

Pol. That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good[1195] actor. 95

Ham. What did you enact?[1196]

Pol. I did enact Julius Cæsar: I was killed i' the Capitol;[1197] Brutus killed me.

Ham. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there. Be the players ready? 100

Ros. Ay, my lord; they stay upon your patience.[1198]

Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.[1199]

Ham. No, good mother, here's metal more attractive.[1200]

Pol. [To the King] O, ho! do you mark that?[1201]

Ham. Lady, shall I lie in your lap?[1202] 105

[Lying down at Ophelia's feet.

Oph. No, my lord.

Ham. I mean, my head upon your lap?[1203][1204]

Oph. Ay, my lord.[1203]

Ham. Do you think I meant country matters?[1205]

Oph. I think nothing, my lord. 110

Ham. That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs.[1206]

Oph. What is, my lord?

Ham. Nothing.

Oph. You are merry, my lord.[1207]

Ham. Who, I? 115

Oph. Ay, my lord.

Ham. O God, your only jig-maker. What should a[1208] man do but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within 's two hours.[1209]

Oph. Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord.[1210] 120

Ham. So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for[1211][1212] I'll have a suit of sables. O heavens! die two months ago,[1212][1213] and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year: but, by'r lady, he[1214][1215] must build churches then; or else shall he suffer not thinking[1215] 125 on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is, 'For, O, for, O, the hobby-horse is forgot.'[1216]

Hautboys play. The dumb-show enters.

Enter a King and a Queen _very lovingly; the Queen embracing him, and he her. She kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him. He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck: lays him down upon a bank of flowers: she, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the_ King's ears, and exit. The Queen returns; finds the King dead, and makes passionate action. The Poisoner, with some two or three Mutes, _comes in again, seeming to lament with her. The dead body is carried away. The_ Poisoner wooes the Queen _with gifts: she seems loath and unwilling awhile, but in the end accepts his love_.[1217]

[Exeunt.

Oph. What means this, my lord?[1218]

Ham. Marry, this is miching mallecho; it means mischief. 130

Oph. Belike this show imports the argument of the play.

Enter Prologue.[1219]

Ham. We shall know by this fellow: the players cannot[1220] keep counsel; they'll tell all.[1221]

Oph. Will he tell us what this show meant?[1222]

Ham. Ay, or any show that you'll show him: be not you[1223] 135 ashamed to show, he'll not shame to tell you what it means.

Oph. You are naught, you are naught: I'll mark the[1224] play.

Pro. For us, and for our tragedy, Here stooping to your clemency, 140 We beg your hearing patiently.

Ham. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?[1225]

Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord.

Ham. As woman's love.

Enter two Players, King and Queen.[1226]

P. King. Full thirty times hath Phœbus' cart gone round[1227][1228][1229] 145 Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground,[1228][1230] And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen[1231] About the world have times twelve thirties been,[1232] Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands.[1233] 150

P. Queen. So many journeys may the sun and moon[1234] Make us again count o'er ere love be done! But, woe is me, you are so sick of late, So far from cheer and from your former state,[1235] That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust, 155 Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must:[1236] For women's fear and love holds quantity,[1236][1237] In neither aught, or in extremity.[1238] Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know,[1239] And as my love is sized, my fear is so:[1240] 160 Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear,[1241][1242] Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.[1241]

P. King. Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too; My operant powers their functions leave to do:[1243] And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,[1244] 165 Honour'd, beloved; and haply one as kind[1245] For husband shalt thou--[1246]

P. Queen. O, confound the rest! Such love must needs be treason in my breast: In second husband let me be accurst! None wed the second but who kill'd the first.[1247] 170

Ham. [Aside] Wormwood, wormwood.[1248]

P. Queen. The instances that second marriage move[1249] Are base respects of thrift, but none of love:[1250] A second time I kill my husband dead,[1251] When second husband kisses me in bed. 175

P. King. I do believe you think what now you speak,[1252] But what we do determine oft we break. Purpose is but the slave to memory, Of violent birth but poor validity:[1253] Which now, like fruit unripe, sticks on the tree,[1254] 180 But fall unshaken when they mellow be. Most necessary 'tis that we forget To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt: What to ourselves in passion we propose, The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. 185 The violence of either grief or joy[1255] Their own enactures with themselves destroy:[1256] Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament; Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.[1257] This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange[1258] 190 That even our loves should with our fortunes change, For 'tis a question left us yet to prove, Whether love lead fortune or else fortune love.[1259] The great man down, you mark his favourite flies;[1260] The poor advanced makes friends of enemies: 195 And hitherto doth love on fortune tend;[1261] For who not needs shall never lack a friend,[1262] And who in want a hollow friend doth try Directly seasons him his enemy.[1263] But, orderly to end where I begun, 200 Our wills and fates do so contrary run, That our devices still are overthrown, Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own: So think thou wilt no second husband wed,[1264] But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.[1265] 205

P. Queen. Nor earth to me give food nor heaven light![1266] Sport and repose lock from me day and night! To desperation turn my trust and hope![1267] An anchor's cheer in prison be my scope![1267][1268] Each opposite, that blanks the face of joy, 210 Meet what I would have well and it destroy! Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, If, once a widow, ever I be wife![1269]

Ham. If she should break it now![1270]

P. King. 'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile;[1271] 215 My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile The tedious day with sleep. [Sleeps.[1272]

P. Queen. Sleep rock thy brain; And never come mischance between us twain! [Exit.[1273]

Ham. Madam, how like you this play?[1274]

Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.[1275] 220

Ham. O, but she'll keep her word.

King. Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence in't?

Ham. No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest; no offence i' the world.[1276] 225

King. What do you call the play?

Ham. The Mouse-trap. Marry, how? Tropically.[1277] This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago[1278] is the duke's name; his wife, Baptista: you shall see[1279] anon; 'tis a knavish piece of work: but what o' that? your[1280] 230 majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not: let[1281] the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung.[1282]

Enter LUCIANUS.[1283]

This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king.[1284]

Oph. You are as good as a chorus, my lord.[1285]

Ham. I could interpret between you and your love, if 235 I could see the puppets dallying.

Oph. You are keen, my lord, you are keen.

Ham. It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge.[1286]

Oph. Still better, and worse.[1287]

Ham. So you must take your husbands. Begin, murderer;[1288][1289] 240 pox, leave thy damnable faces, and begin. Come:[1289][1290] the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge.[1291]

Luc. Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing;[1292] Confederate season, else no creature seeing;[1293] Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, 245 With Hecate's ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,[1294] Thy natural magic and dire property,[1295] On wholesome life usurp immediately.

[Pours the poison into the sleeper's ear.[1296]

Ham. He poisons him i' the garden for his estate. His[1297] name's Gonzago: the story is extant, and written in very[1298] 250 choice Italian: you shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife.

Oph. The king rises.

Ham. What, frighted with false fire![1299]

Queen. How fares my lord? 255

Pol. Give o'er the play.

King. Give me some light. Away!

Pol. Lights, lights, lights!

[Exeunt all but Hamlet and Horatio.[1300]

Ham. Why, let the stricken deer go weep,[1301] The hart ungalled play;[1302] 260 For some must watch, while some must sleep:[1303] Thus runs the world away.[1304]

Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers--if the rest of my fortunes turn Turk with me--with two Provincial roses[1305] on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players,[1306] 265 sir?[1307]

Hor. Half a share.

Ham. A whole one, I.[1308] For thou dost know, O Damon dear, This realm dismantled was[1309] 270 Of Jove himself; and now reigns here[1309] A very, very--pajock.[1310]

Hor. You might have rhymed.

Ham. O good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound. Didst perceive?[1311] 275

Hor. Very well, my lord.

Ham. Upon the talk of the poisoning?[1312]

Hor. I did very well note him.[1313]

Ham. Ah, ha! Come, some music! come, the recorders! 280 For if the king like not the comedy,[1314] Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. Come, some music!

Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[1315]

Guil. Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.[1316]

Ham. Sir, a whole history. 285

Guil. The king, sir,--[1317]

Ham. Ay, sir, what of him?[1318]

Guil. Is in his retirement marvellous distempered.

Ham. With drink, sir?

Guil. No, my lord, rather with choler.[1319] 290

Ham. Your wisdom should show itself more richer to[1320] signify this to the doctor; for, for me to put him to his purgation[1321] would perhaps plunge him into far more choler.[1322]

Guil. Good my lord, put your discourse into some[1323] frame, and start not so wildly from my affair.[1323][1324] 295

Ham. I am tame, sir: pronounce.

Guil. The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.

Ham. You are welcome.[1325]

Guil. Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the 300 right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do your mother's commandment: if not, your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business.[1326]

Ham. Sir, I cannot.

Guil. What, my lord?[1327] 305

Ham. Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased:[1328] but, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command;[1329] or rather, as you say, my mother: therefore no[1330] more, but to the matter: my mother, you say,--[1331]

Ros. Then thus she says; your behaviour hath struck[1332] 310 her into amazement and admiration.

Ham. O wonderful son, that can so astonish a mother![1333] But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration?[1334] Impart.[1335]

Ros. She desires to speak with you in her closet, ere 315 you go to bed.

Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our mother. Have you any further trade with us?

Ros. My lord, you once did love me.

Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.[1336] 320

Ros. Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? you do surely bar the door upon your own liberty, if you[1337] deny your griefs to your friend.

Ham. Sir, I lack advancement.

Ros. How can that be, when you have the voice of the 325 king himself for your succession in Denmark?

Ham. Ay, sir, but 'while the grass grows,'--the proverb[1338] is something musty.

Re-enter Players with recorders.[1339]

O, the recorders! let me see one. To withdraw with you:--[1340] why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you 330 would drive me into a toil?

Guil. O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is[1341] too unmannerly.[1341]

Ham. I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe? 335

Guil. My lord, I cannot.[1342]

Ham. I pray you.

Guil. Believe me, I cannot.

Ham. I do beseech you.[1343]

Guil. I know no touch of it, my lord.[1344] 340

Ham. It is as easy as lying: govern these ventages[1345] with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your[1346] mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look[1347] you, these are the stops.

Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance 345 of harmony; I have not the skill.

Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me; you would seem[1348] to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the[1349] 350 top of my compass: and there is much music, excellent[1349] voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you make it speak.[1350] 'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a[1351] pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can[1352] fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.[1352][1353] 355

Enter POLONIUS.[1354]

God bless you, sir![1355]

Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently.

Ham. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape[1356][1357] of a camel?[1357][1358][1359] 360

Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed.[1360][1359]

Ham. Methinks it is like a weasel.[1361]

Pol. It is backed like a weasel.[1361][1362]

Ham. Or like a whale?[1363]

Pol. Very like a whale. 365

Ham. Then I will come to my mother by and by.[1364] They fool me to the top of my bent. I will come by and[1365][1366] by.[1366]

Pol. I will say so. [Exit Polonius.[1366][1367]

Ham. 'By and by' is easily said. Leave me, friends.[1366] 370

[Exeunt all but Hamlet.[1368]

'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out[1369] Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood,[1370] And do such bitter business as the day[1371] Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.[1372] 375 O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever[1373] The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom: Let me be cruel, not unnatural:[1374] I will speak daggers to her, but use none;[1375] My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites; 380 How in my words soever she be shent,[1376][1377] To give them seals never, my soul, consent! [Exit.[1376][1378]

Act III, Scene III — A room in the castle.

Enter KING, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1379]

King. I like him not, nor stands it safe with us To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you;[1380] I your commission will forthwith dispatch, And he to England shall along with you: The terms of our estate may not endure[1381] 5 Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow[1382] Out of his lunacies.

Guil. We will ourselves provide:[1383] Most holy and religious fear it is To keep those many many bodies safe[1384][1385] That live and feed upon your majesty.[1384] 10

Ros. The single and peculiar life is bound[1386] With all the strength and armour of the mind To keep itself from noyance; but much more[1387] That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests[1388] The lives of many. The cease of majesty[1389] 15 Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw What's near it with it: it is a massy wheel,[1390] Fix'd on the summit of the highest mount,[1391] To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things[1392] Are mortised and adjoin'd; which, when it falls,[1393] 20 Each small annexment, petty consequence, Attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone[1394] Did the king sigh, but with a general groan.[1395]

King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage,[1396] For we will fetters put about this fear,[1397] 25 Which now goes too free-footed.

Ros. } We will haste us. Guil.}

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1398]

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet: Behind the arras I'll convey myself, To hear the process; I'll warrant she'll tax him home:[1399] And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 30 'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear The speech, of vantage. Fare you well, my liege:[1400] I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you what I know.

King. Thanks, dear my lord.[1401] 35

[Exit Polonius.

O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,[1402] A brother's murder. Pray can I not,[1403][1404] Though inclination be as sharp as will:[1404][1405] My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,[1406] 40 And like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both neglect. What if this cursed hand[1407] Were thicker than itself with brother's blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens 45 To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy But to confront the visage of offence? And what's in prayer but this twofold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall, Or pardon'd being down? Then I'll look up;[1408] 50 My fault is past. But O, what form of prayer[1409] Can serve my turn? 'Forgive me my foul murder?'[1410] That cannot be, since I am still possess'd Of those effects for which I did the murder,[1411] My crown, mine own ambition and my queen. 55 May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?[1412] In the corrupted currents of this world[1413] Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice,[1414] And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself[1415] Buys out the law: but 'tis not so above; 60 There is no shuffling, there the action lies In his true nature, and we ourselves compell'd[1416] Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults To give in evidence. What then? what rests? Try what repentance can: what can it not? 65 Yet what can it when one can not repent?[1417] O wretched state! O bosom black as death! O limed soul, that struggling to be free Art more engaged! Help, angels! make assay![1418] Bow, stubborn knees, and, heart with strings of steel,[1419] 70 Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe! All may be well. [Retires and kneels.[1420]

Enter HAMLET.

Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;[1421] And now I'll do't: and so he goes to heaven:[1422] And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd:[1423] 75 A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send[1424] To heaven.[1425] O, this is hire and salary, not revenge.[1426] He took my father grossly, full of bread,[1427] 80 With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;[1428] And how his audit stands who knows save heaven? But in our circumstance and course of thought, 'Tis heavy with him: and am I then revenged,[1429] To take him in the purging of his soul, 85 When he is fit and season'd for his passage?[1430] No.[1431] Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent:[1432] When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,[1433] Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed;[1434] 90 At game, a-swearing, or about some act[1435] That has no relish of salvation in 't; Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven[1436] And that his soul may be as damn'd and black As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays: 95 This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. [Exit.

King. [Rising] My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:[1437] Words without thoughts never to heaven go. [Exit.

Act III, Scene IV — The Queen's closet.

Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS.[1438]

Pol. He will come straight. Look you lay home to him:[1439] Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with,[1440] And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between[1441] Much heat and him. I'll sconce me even here.[1442] Pray you, be round with him.

Ham. [Within] Mother, mother, mother![1443] 5

Queen. I'll warrant you; fear me not. Withdraw, I[1444][1445][1446] hear him coming.[1445]

[Polonius hides behind the arras.

Enter HAMLET.[1447]

Ham. Now, mother, what's the matter?

Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

Ham. Mother, you have my father much offended. 10

Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

Ham. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.[1448]

Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet!

Ham. What's the matter now?[1449]

Queen. Have you forgot me?

Ham. No, by the rood, not so: You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; 15 And--would it were not so!--you are my mother.[1450]

Queen. Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak.[1451]

Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge;[1452] You go not till I set you up a glass[1453][1454] Where you may see the inmost part of you.[1454][1455] 20

Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me? Help, help, ho![1456][1457]

Pol. [Behind] What, ho! help, help, help![1457][1458]

Ham. [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead![1457]

[Makes a pass through the arras.[1459]

Pol. [Behind] O, I am slain! [Falls and dies.

Queen. O me, what hast thou done?[1460] 25

Ham. Nay, I know not: is it the king?[1461]

Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this![1462]

Ham. A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother.

Queen. As kill a king!

Ham. Ay, lady, 'twas my word.[1463] 30

[Lifts up the arras and discovers Polonius.

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell![1464] I took thee for thy better: take thy fortune;[1465] Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands: peace! sit you down, And let me wring your heart: for so I shall, 35 If it be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not brass'd it so,[1466] That it be proof and bulwark against sense.[1467]

Queen. What have I done, that thou darest wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me?

Ham. Such an act 40 That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose[1468] From the fair forehead of an innocent love, And sets a blister there; makes marriage vows[1469] As false as dicers' oaths: O, such a deed 45 As from the body of contraction plucks The very soul, and sweet religion makes A rhapsody of words: heaven's face doth glow;[1470][1471] Yea, this solidity and compound mass,[1471][1472] With tristful visage, as against the doom,[1473] Is thought-sick at the act. 50

Queen. Ay me, what act,[1474][1475] That roars so loud and thunders in the index?[1475]

Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. See what a grace was seated on this brow;[1476] 55 Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself, An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;[1477] A station like the herald Mercury New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill;[1478] A combination and a form indeed,[1479] 60 Where every god did seem to set his seal To give the world assurance of a man: This was your husband. Look you now, what follows: Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear,[1480] Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?[1481] 65 Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes?[1482] You cannot call it love, for at your age The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble,[1483] And waits upon the judgement: and what judgement 70 Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have,[1484][1485] Else could you not have motion: but sure that sense[1485][1486] Is apoplex'd: for madness would not err,[1485] Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd[1485] But it reserved some quantity of choice,[1485] 75 To serve in such a difference. What devil was't[1485] That thus hath cozen'd you at hoodman-blind?[1487] Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,[1488] Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,[1488] Or but a sickly part of one true sense[1488] 80 Could not so mope.[1488][1489] O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell,[1489][1490] If thou canst mutine in a matron's bones,[1491] To flaming youth let virtue be as wax And melt in her own fire: proclaim no shame 85 When the compulsive ardour gives the charge,[1492] Since frost itself as actively doth burn, And reason panders will.[1493]

Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more: Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul,[1494] And there I see such black and grained spots[1495] 90 As will not leave their tinct.[1496]

Ham. Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,[1497] Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty,--

Queen. O, speak to me no more;[1498] These words like daggers enter in my ears;[1499] 95 No more, sweet Hamlet!

Ham. A murderer and a villain; A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe[1500] Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings; A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,[1501] That from a shelf the precious diadem stole 100 And put it in his pocket!

Queen. No more![1502]

Ham. A king of shreds and patches--

Enter Ghost.[1503]

Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings,[1504] You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?[1505]

Queen. Alas, he's mad![1506] 105

Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by[1507] The important acting of your dread command? O, say![1508]

Ghost. Do not forget: this visitation 110 Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But look, amazement on thy mother sits: O, step between her and her fighting soul:[1509] Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works: Speak to her, Hamlet.

Ham. How is it with you, lady? 115

Queen. Alas, how is't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy[1510] And with the incorporal air do hold discourse?[1511] Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep; And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, 120 Your bedded hairs, like life in excrements,[1512] Start up and stand an end. O gentle son,[1513] Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?

Ham. On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares![1514] 125 His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones,[1515] Would make them capable. Do not look upon me,[1516] Lest with this piteous action you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do[1517] Will want true colour; tears perchance for blood. 130

Queen. To whom do you speak this?

Ham. Do you see nothing there?[1518]

Queen. Nothing at all; yet all that is I see.[1519]

Ham. Nor did you nothing hear?

Queen. No, nothing but ourselves.

Ham. Why, look you there! look, how it steals away![1520] My father, in his habit as he lived![1521] 135 Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal![1522]

[Exit Ghost.

Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain: This bodiless creation ecstasy[1523] Is very cunning in.[1523]

Ham. Ecstasy![1524] My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, 140 And makes as healthful music: it is not madness That I have utter'd: bring me to the test,[1525] And I the matter will re-word, which madness[1526] Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace,[1527] Lay not that flattering unction to your soul,[1528] 145 That not your trespass but my madness speaks: It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, Whiles rank corruption, mining all within,[1529] Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven; Repent what's past, avoid what is to come,[1530] 150 And do not spread the compost on the weeds,[1531] To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue,[1532][1533][1534] For in the fatness of these pursy times[1533][1535] Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,[1533] Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.[1533][1536] 155

Queen. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.[1537]

Ham. O, throw away the worser part of it,[1538] And live the purer with the other half.[1539] Good night: but go not to my uncle's bed;[1540] Assume a virtue, if you have it not. 160 That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat,[1541][1542] Of habits devil, is angel yet in this,[1541][1542] That to the use of actions fair and good[1541] He likewise gives a frock or livery,[1541] That aptly is put on. Refrain to-night,[1541][1543] 165 And that shall lend a kind of easiness To the next abstinence; the next more easy;[1544] For use almost can change the stamp of nature,[1544][1545] And either ... the devil, or throw him out[1544][1546] With wondrous potency. Once more, good night:[1544] 170 And when you are desirous to be blest, I'll blessing beg of you. For this same lord,

[Pointing to Polonius.[1547]

I do repent: but heaven hath pleased it so,[1548] To punish me with this, and this with me,[1549] That I must be their scourge and minister. 175 I will bestow him, and will answer well The death I gave him. So, again, good night. I must be cruel, only to be kind:[1550] Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.[1550][1551] One word more, good lady.[1552]

Queen. What shall I do? 180

Ham. Not this, by no means, that I bid you do: Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed;[1553] Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse; And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses, Or paddling in your neck with his damn'd fingers, 185 Make you to ravel all this matter out,[1554] That I essentially am not in madness, But mad in craft. 'Twere good you let him know; For who, that's but a queen, fair, sober, wise, Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib,[1555] 190 Such dear concernings hide? who would do so?[1556] No, in despite of sense and secrecy, Unpeg the basket on the house's top, Let the birds fly, and like the famous ape, To try conclusions, in the basket creep[1557] 195 And break your own neck down.

Queen. Be thou assured, if words be made of breath And breath of life, I have no life to breathe[1558] What thou hast said to me.

Ham. I must to England; you know that?

Queen. Alack,[1559][1560] 200 I had forgot: 'tis so concluded on.[1560][1561]

Ham. There's letters seal'd: and my two schoolfellows,[1562] Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd,[1562] They bear the mandate; they must sweep my way,[1562] And marshal me to knavery. Let it work;[1562][1563] 205 For 'tis the sport to have the enginer[1562][1564] Hoist with his own petar: and't shall go hard[1562][1565] But I will delve one yard below their mines,[1562] And blow them at the moon: O, 'tis most sweet[1562] When in one line two crafts directly meet.[1562][1566] 210 This man shall set me packing:[1567] I'll lug the guts into the neighbour room. Mother, good night. Indeed this counsellor[1568] Is now most still, most secret and most grave, Who was in life a foolish prating knave.[1569] 215 Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you. Good night, mother.

[Exeunt severally; Hamlet dragging in Polonius.[1570]

FOOTNOTES:

[1007] ACT III. SCENE I.] Q (1676) and Rowe. Omitted in Ff.

A room in the castle] Malone. The Palace. Rowe. Another room in the same. Capell.

Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] Capell. Rosencraus, Guyldensterne, Lords. Qq. Rosincrance, Guildenstern, and Lords. F₁. Rosincros, Guildenstar, and Lords. F₂ F₃ F₄ (Guildenstare, F₄).

[1008] circumstance] Ff. conference Qq.

[1009] confusion] confesion Rowe (ed. 2). confession Pope (in margin).

[1010] he will] a will Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1011] Nor ... state.] Continued to Ros. by Jennens.

[1012] state] estate Q₆.

[1013] Niggard of ... of our ... Most free] Unapt to ... of our ... Most free Q (1676). Most free of ... to our ... Niggard Hanmer. Most free of ... of our ... Niggard Warburton. Niggard of ... to our ... Most free Collier MS.

[1014] Did ... pastime?] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[1015] assay] invite Q (1676).

[1016] To] unto Hanmer.

[1017] so] om. Johnson.

[1018] o'er-raught] ore-raught Qq. ore-wrought F₁ F₂. o're-took F₃ F₄. o'er-rode Warburton.

[1019] about] Ff. heere about Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. here about Q₆.

[1020] With ... delights.] Arranged as by Pope. Five lines ending hart, ... me, ... inclin'd ... edge, ... delights, in Qq. Four lines, ending me ... gentlemen, ... on ... delights, in Ff.

[1021] drive ... on to] drive ... on To Ff. drive ... into Qq. urge him to Q (1676).

[1022] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Ros. & Guyl. Qq. Exeunt. Ff.

Gertrude] Ff. Gertrard Qq.

too] Ff. two Qq.

[1023] hither] Ff Q₆. hether The rest.

[1024] he] we Jennens.

here] Q₆. heere Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. there Ff.

[1025] here Affront Ophelia] meet Ophelia here Q (1676).

[1026] Affront ... espials,] As in Johnson. One line in Ff. One line, ending myself, in Qq.

[1027] lawful espials] Omitted in Qq.

[1028] Will] Ff. Wee'le Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Wee'll Q₆.]

unseen] and unseen Q (1676).

[1029] frankly] om. Q (1676).

[1030] no] Qq. no, F₄. no. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1031] for your] Q₂ Q₃ Ff. for my Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1032] beauties ... virtues] beauty ... virtue S. Walker conj.

[1033] shall] om. Pope.

[1034] Will] May Pope.

[Exit Queen.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1035] please you] Qq. please ye Ff.

[1036] [To Ophelia.] To Oph. Johnson.

[1037] loneliness] lowlines Q₂ Q₃. lowlinesse Q₄ Q₅.

to blame] Q₆ F₃ F₄. too blame The rest.

[1038] sugar] Qq. surge Ff.

[1039] [Aside] First marked by Pope.

'tis too] Qq. 'tis Ff. it is but too Hanmer.

[1040] Pol.] Erased in Collier MS. See note (II).

let's] om. Qq.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt. Ff. om. Qq. Exeunt all but Ophelia. Rowe.

[1041] SCENE II. Pope.

Enter Hamlet.] As in Ff. After burthen, line 54, in Qq. Enter Hamlet, with a book in his hand. Hunter conj. He would transfer the soliloquy to II. 2. 169.

[1042] slings] sling Campbell. stings Fleischer (S. Walker conj.)

slings and arrows] stings and harrows Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). stings and horrors Anon. MS.

[1043] a sea of] a siege of Theobald conj. (withdrawn). th' assay of or a 'say of Theobald conj. assailing Hanmer conj. assail of Warburton. assays of Keightley conj. the seat of Bailey conj. assay of Brae conj.

[1044] opposing] a poniard or deposing Bailey conj.

them?] Pope. them, Q₂ Q₃. them: Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆. om. S. Evans conj.

[1045] die: to sleep; No] die to sleepe No Qq (dye Q₆). dye, to sleepe No F₁. dye, to sleepe: No F₂. dye, to sleep No F₃ F₄. die,--to sleep--No Pope.

[1046] more;] F₁ Q₆. more, Q₂ Q₃. more: Q₄ Q₅ F₂ F₃ F₄. more? Capell.

say we end] straightway end Bailey conj.

[1047] to,] to; Qq. too? F₁. to? F₂ F₃. {to.} F₄.

[1048] wish'd. To] Ff. wisht to Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. wisht, to Q₆.

[1049] we have] he have F₂. he hath F₃ F₄.

shuffled] shuffel'd F₁ F₂.

coil] spoil Mason conj. vail or clay Elze conj.

[1050] Must ... life;] As three lines ending pause ... calamity ... life; S. Walker conj.

[1051] whips ... time] quips ... time Grey conj. whips ... th' time Warburton conj. whips ... tyrants or quips ... title Johnson conj. whips ... o' the times Steevens conj. scorns of weapon'd time Becket conj. scorns of whiphand time Id. conj. (withdrawn).

[1052] proud] Q₅ Q₆. proude Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. poore F₁ F₂. poor F₃ F₄.

[1053] pangs] pang Pope.

despised love, the] despiz'd love, the Q₂ Q₃. office, and the Q₄ Q₅. dispriz'd love, the Ff. despised love, and the Q₆. mispriz'd love, the Collier MS. (erased). See note (II).

[1054] When he] When Q₄ Q₅. When as Q₆.

quietus] quietas Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1055] who would fardels] who'd these fardels Grant White (S. Walker conj.)

fardels] Qq. these fardles Ff.

[1056] grunt] groan Q (1676) and Pope.

[1057] The undiscover'd] Qq. The undiscovered Ff. That undiscover'd Pope. In the undiscover'd Keightley.

bourn] Capell. bourne Pope. borne Qq F₁ F₂. born F₃ F₄.

[1058] returns, puzzles] returnes. Puzels F₁.

[1059] of us all] (Q₁) Ff. om. Qq.

[1060] hue] F₃ F₄. hiew Qq. hew F₁ F₂.

[1061] sicklied] Ff Q₆. sickled The rest.

[1062] pitch] Qq. pith Ff. See note (XVI).

[1063] awry] Qq. away Ff.

[1064] [Seeing Oph. Rowe.

[1065] Ophelia!] Ophelia? Ff. Ophelia, Qq.

orisons] Theobald. orizons Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁. horizons F₂ F₃ F₄. orizons? Q₆. oraisons Rowe.

[1066] remember'd.] remembred? Q₆.

[1067] you: well, well, well.] Ff. you well. Q₂ Q₃. you: well. Q₄ Q₅. you, well. Q₆.

[1068] long] om. Q (1676). much Pope.

[1069] No, not I] Qq. No, no Ff. No Pope.

[1070] No ... aught.] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[1071] you know] Qq. I know Ff.

[1072] the things] Ff. these things Qq.

rich: their perfume lost,] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. rich, their perfume lost, Q₂ Q₃. rich, then perfume left: F₁ F₂ F₃. rich, than perfume left: F₄. rich: that perfume lost, Rowe.

[1073] lord?] Capell. lord. Qq Ff. lord-- Rowe.

[1074] your honesty] Ff. you Qq.

[1075] your honesty ... beauty.] you should admit your honesty to no discourse with your beauty. Johnson conj.

[1076] commerce] Q₅ Q₆ F₄. comerse Q₂ Q₃. comerce Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. converse Anon. conj.

[1077] with] Qq. your Ff.

[1078] into] in Q₅ to Q₆.

his] its Pope.

[1079] sometime] sometimes F₃ F₄.

[1080] inoculate] innocculate F₁. inocculate F₂ F₃. inocualte F₄. euocutat Q₂ Q₃. euacuat Q₄. euacuate Q₅. evacuate Q₆.

[1081] I loved you not.] I did love you once. Rowe (ed. 2).

[1082] to] Ff. om. Qq.

[1083] at my beck] on my back Long MS. at my back Collier MS.

[1084] in, imagination to] Qq. in imagination, to Ff. in name, imagination to Warburton.

[1085] heaven and earth] (Q₁) Ff. earth and heaven Qq.

[1086] all] (Q₁) Ff. om. Qq.

[1087] Let ... house.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending him, in Qq.

[1088] no where] Qq. no way Ff.

[1089] plague] plage Q₄.

[1090] go] Ff. om. Qq.

[1091] too] Ff Q₆. to The rest.

[1092] O] Ff. om. Qq.

[1093] paintings] (Q₁) Qq. pratlings F₁. pratling F₂ F₃ F₄. painting Pope.

too] Ff. om. Qq.

[1094] God] Nature Q (1676).

hath] Qq. has Ff.

face] (Q₁) Qq. pace Ff.

yourselves] your selves Q₅ Q₆. your selfes Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. your selfe F₁ F₂. your self F₃ F₄.

[1095] you jig] gig Q₆. fig (Q₁).

jig] Q (1676). gig Qq. gidge Ff.

you amble] Ff. and amble Qq.

lisp,] Q (1676) F₄. lispe, F₁ F₂ F₃. list Qq.

and nick-name] Ff. you nickname Qq.

[1096] God's] Heavens Q (1676).

[1097] wantonness your ignorance] ignorance your wantonness Anon. conj.

your ignorance] (Q₁) Ff. ignorance Qq.

[1098] Go to] Q₅. Goe to Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Go too F₁ Q₆. Goe F₂. Go F₃ F₄.

[1099] no more marriages] (Q₁) Ff. no mo marriage Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. no moe marriages Q₆.

[1100] live] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1101] [Exit.] Qq. Exit Hamlet. Ff.

[1102] o'erthrown] othrowne Q₄ Q₅.

[1103] soldier's, scholar's] scholar's, soldier's Hanmer and Staunton, from (Q₁).

scholar's,] schollers, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. scholers, Q₅. scholars, Q₆. scholiers: F₁. schollers? F₂. schollars? F₃. scholars! F₄. om. Jennens.

[1104] expectancy] F₃ F₄. expectansie F₁ F₂. expectation Qq.

[1105] And I] Qq. Have I F₁ F₂. I am F₃ F₄.

[1106] music] musickt Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

vows,] Pointed as by Hanmer. vowes; Qq. vowes: or vows: Ff.

[1107] that noble] Ff. what noble Qq.

[1108] jangled, out of tune] Capell. jangled out of time, Qq. jangled out of tune, Ff.

[1109] unmatch'd] unmarcht Q₅. unsnatch'd Jennens.

form] forme Qq F₁. fortune F₂ F₃ F₄.

feature] Ff. stature Qq. statute Q (1695).

[1110] To have] T' have Qq Ff.

see!] see. Exit. Qq and Elze.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Qq Ff.

[1111] SCENE III. Pope.

Love!] Q₆. Love, Q₂ Q₃. Love: Q₄ Q₅. Love? Ff.

[1112] Nor] For Q₆.

[1113] There's something] Something's Pope.

soul] soule? F₁.

[1114] for to] Qq. to F₁ F₂. how to F₃ F₄.

[1115] it] om. Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1116] something-settled] Hyphened by Warburton. sometime-settled Daniel conj.

[1117] Whereon ... on't?] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending beating ... himselfe ... on't? in Qq.

[1118] brains] F₃ F₄. braines Qq F₁ F₂. brain Collier MS. brain's Grant White.

[1119] but ... grief] Arranged as in Ff. One line in Q₂ Q₃.

[1120] do I] I doe Q₆.

[1121] his grief] Q₂ Q₃. it Q₄ Q₅ Q₆, reading But ... of it as one line. this greefe Ff.

[1122] [Enter Ophelia. Elze.

[1123] [Exit Ophelia. Elze.

[1124] grief] griefe Qq. greefes F₁. griefes F₂. griefs F₃ F₄.

[1125] placed, so please you] plac'd so, please you F₁ F₂.

[1126] unwatch'd] Ff. unmatcht Qq.

[1127] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff.

A hall....] A Hall, in the same, fitted as for a Play. Capell.

and Players.] and the Players. (Q₁). and three of the Players. Qq. and two or three of the Players. Ff.

[1128] pronounced] pronoun'd Q₂ Q₃.

[1129] trippingly on] smoothly from Q (1676).

[1130] your players] (Q₁) Ff. our players Qq.

lief] Steevens (1793). live Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁ F₂. lieve Q₆ F₃ F₄.

spoke] Qq. had spoke Ff.

[1131] Nor] And Pope.

much with your] Qq. much your Ff. much, your Caldecott.

[1132] whirlwind of your passion] Qq. the whirle-winde of passion Ff. whirlwind of passion Collier. the whirlwind of your passion Staunton.

[1133] hear] Qq. see Ff.

robustious] robustous Q (1676) F₄.

[1134] periwig-pated] Q (1676). perwig-pated Qq. Pery-wig-pated F₁. Pery-wig-parted F₂. Perriwig-parted F₃ F₄.

to tatters] Ff. to totters Qq. om. Q (1676).

[1135] split] Ff. spleet Qq.

[1136] would] (Q₁) Qq. could Ff.

[1137] First Play.] 1. P. Capell. Player. or Play. Qq Ff.

[1138] suit] Hanmer. sute Qq F₁ F₃ F₄. sure F₂.

[1139] o'erstep] ore-steppe Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. ore-step Q₅ Q₆. ore-stop Ff. ore-top Long MS.

[1140] overdone] ore-doone Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. ore-done Q₅ Q₆.

[1141] at the first] at first Q₅ Q₆.

[1142] her own feature] her feature Qq.

scorn] sin Bailey conj.

[1143] the very] every Mason conj.

age] face or page Johnson conj. eye Taylor conj. MS.

the very age] the visage Bailey conj.

[1144] tardy] trady Q₄.

off] of Q₆, and Mason conj.

pressure] posture Bailey conj.

[1145] though it make] though it makes Qq.

[1146] the censure] in the censure Long MS.

the which one] Ff. which one Qq. one of which Hanmer.

[1147] o'erweigh] ore-weigh Qq. o're-way F₁. ore-sway F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1148] praise] Ff Q₆. praysd Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. praisd Q₅.

[1149] neither ... nor man,] Put within brackets, as an interpolation, by Warburton.

[1150] accent of Christians] accent of Christian Pope.

nor the] or the Rowe.

[1151] nor man] Qq. Nor Turke (Q₁). or Norman Ff. nor Mussulman Farmer conj. or man Pope. or Turk Grant White.

[1152] men] them Rann (Theobald conj. withdrawn). the men Farmer conj.

[1153] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

[1154] themselves] of themselves F₃ F₄.

[1155] too] to Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1156] [Exeunt Players.] F₂ F₃ F₄. Exit Players. F₁. Omitted in Qq.

Enter ... Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] As in Ff. Enter ... Guyldensterne, & Rosencrans. Qq (after work? line 42).

[1157] SCENE IV.] Warburton.

[1158] too] Ff Q₆. to The rest.

[1159] [Exit Polonius.] Ff. om. Qq.

[1160] Ros. Guil.] Both. Ff. Ros. Qq.

We will] Ff. I Qq.

[Exeunt....] Exeunt they two. Q₂ Q₃. Exeunt those two. Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. Exeunt. Ff.

[1161] SCENE V. Pope.

What ho!] What hoe, Q₆. What hoa, F₁ F₂ F₃. What ho, F₄. What howe, Q₂ Q₃. What how, Q₄ Q₅.

Enter Horatio.] As in Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. After line 46 in Ff. Omitted in Q₆.

[1162] sweet lord] my lord Q (1676).

[1163] coped] copt Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. cop't Q₆. coap'd Ff. met Q (1676).

[1164] lord,--] lord-- Rowe. lord. Qq Ff.

[1165] no revenue hast] hast no revenue Q (1676).

[1166] thee?] Q₆. thee, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. thee. Ff.

Why] om. Pope.

[1167] lick] Q₄ Q₅. licke Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. like Ff.

absurd] obsurd Q₄ Q₅.

[1168] pregnant] begging Collier MS. (in pencil). See note (II).

[1169] fawning.] fawning: Q₆. fauning; Q₂ Q₃. fauning, Q₄. fawning, Q₅. faining. F₁ F₂ F₃. feigning. F₄.

hear?] heare? Q₆. heare, or hear, The rest.

[1170] dear] clear Johnson conj.

her] Qq. my Ff.

[1171] distinguish, ... Hath] Ff. distinguish her election, S'hath Qq (Shath Q₄ Q₅. Sh'ath Q₆).

[1172] fortune's] fortune F₃ F₄.

[1173] Hast] Qq. Hath Ff.

[1174] commingled] co-mingled Ff. comedled Qq. commedled Q (1676, 1683, 1695). commended Q (1703). comêl'd Capell conj.

[1175] stop] stops Q (1676).

[1176] of heart] of hearts Q (1676).

[1177] thee of] Qq. thee, of Ff.

[1178] a-foot] on foot Q₆.

[1179] very] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

thy] Qq. my Ff.

[1180] my] Qq. mine Ff.

his occulted] then his hidden Q (1676). his occult Rowe (ed. 2).

[1181] unkennel] discover Q (1676).

[1182] stithy] Qq. stythe F₁. styth F₂ F₃ F₄. smithy Theobald.

heedful] Q(1676) F₄. heedfull Qq. needfull F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1183] face,] face? F₂.

[1184] judgements] judgement F₂.

[1185] In] Qq. To Ff.

[1186] he] Ff. a Qq.

[1187] detecting] Ff. detected Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. detection Q₆.

[1188] SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE V. Warburton.

They are] They're Pope.

[1189] Danish march. A flourish. Enter ... the Guard ... torches.] Capell, substantially. Enter ... his Guard ... torches. Danish March. Sound a Flourish. Ff (after line 84). Enter Trumpets and Kettle Drummes, King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia. Qq (after line 84).

[1190] our] my F₃ F₄.

[1191] Excellent ... say?] Prose in Ff. Irregular lines in Qq.

[1192] dish: I] dish I Q (1676).

[1193] mine now. My lord,] Johnson. mine now my lord. Qq. _mine. Now my lord,_ Ff.

[To Polonius] Rowe.

[1194] i' the] in the Q₆.

[1195] did I] Qq. I did Ff.

[1196] What] Qq. And what Ff.

[1197] Capitol] F₁ F₄. Capitall Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Capitoll F₂ Q₆ F₃.

[1198] stay] wait Q (1676).

patience] pleasure Johnson conj. patents Becket conj.

[1199] dear] deere Q₂ Q₃. deare Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. good Ff.

[1200] metal] metall Q₆. mettle The rest.

[1201] [To the King] Capell.

O, ho!] Oh, oh, Q₄ Q₅.

that?] Ff Q₆. that. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1202] [Lying....] Rowe. Seating himself at Ophelia's feet. Capell (after line 103).

[1203] Ham. I mean ... lord.] Omitted in Qq.

[1204] upon] in Capell.

[1205] country] contrary (Q₁). contray Singer (ed. 1), a misprint.

matters] manners Johnson conj.

[1206] maids'] maydes or maids Qq Ff. a maid's Rowe.

[1207] lord.] Qq. lord? Ff.

[1208] O God,] om. Q (1676). Oh! Johnson.

[1209] within 's] Qq Ff. within these Pope.

[1210] twice] om. Hanmer. quite Ingleby conj.

[1211] devil] deule Q₂ Q₃.

[1212] for ... sables] (Q₁) Qq Ff. for ... ermyn Hanmer. 'fore ... sable Warburton. for ... sabell Anon. conj. (The Critic, 1854, p. 317).

[1213] have] not have Keightley. leave Lloyd conj. leave him Anon. conj. have ne'er Anon. conj.

a suit] no suit Becket conj.

[1214] by'r lady] by'r-lady F₄. byr-lady F₁. ber Lady Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₆. ber Ladie Q₅. berlady F₂ F₃. om. Q (1676).

[1215] he ... he] Ff. a ... a Qq.

[1216] Hautboys ... love.] Ff, substantially. The Trumpets sounds. Dumbe show followes. Enter a King and a Queene, the Queene embracing him, and he her, he takes her vp, and declines his head vpon her necke, he lyes him downe vppon a bancke of flowers, she seeing him asleepe, leaues him: anon come in an other man, takes off his crowne, kisses it, pours poyson in the sleepers eares, and leaues him: the Queene returnes, finds the King dead, makes passionate action, the poysner with some three or foure come in againe, seeme to condole with her, the dead body is carried away, the poysner wooes the Queene with gifts, shee seemes harsh awhile, but in the end accepts loue. Qq ( ... anon comes ... comes in ... Q₄ Q₅ Q₆). Theobald substitutes 'a Duke and a Dutchess, with regal coronets,' for 'a King and a Queen'.

and a] and Ff.

and he her] om. Ff.

exit.] exits. Ff.

[Exeunt.] Ff. om. Qq.

[During the dumb show King and Queen whisper confidentially to each other and so do not see it. Halliwell conj.

[1217] SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE VI. Warburton.

[1218] Marry] om. Q(1676).

this is] Ff. this Q₂ Q₃. tis Q₄. it is Q₅ Q₆.

miching mallecho] Malone. myching Mallico (Q₁). munching Mallico Qq. miching Malicho Ff. miching Malhechor Warburton. miching Malbecco Grey conj. munching Malicho Capell. mimicking Malbecco Farmer conj. mucho malhecho Keightley (Maginn conj.)

it] Qq. that Ff.

[1219] Belike] Be like F₂.

play.] Qq. play? Ff.

Enter Prologue.] As in Theobald. After fellow, line 132, in Qq. After play, line 138, in Ff.

[1220] this fellow] Qq. these fellowes Ff.

[1221] counsel] Omitted in Qq.

[1222] he] Pope, a Qq. they Ff.

tell us] shew us Q (1676).

[1223] you'll] you will Qq.

not you] not Q (1676).

[1224] mark] make F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1225] posy] posie Qq F₄. poesie F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1226] Enter ...] Enter King and Queen, Players. Pope. Enter King and Queene. Qq. Enter King and his Queene. F₁ F₂. Enter King, and Queen. F₃ F₄. Enter Duke, and Dutchess, Players. Theobald, from (Q₁).

[1227] P. King.] Steevens (1778). King. Qq Ff.

[1228] Phbus' ... Tellus'] Apostrophes inserted by Pope.

[1229] cart] carr Q (1676). car Rowe.

[1230] orbed] Ff. orb'd the Qq.

[1231] borrowed] Qq Ff. borrow'd Q (1676) and Capell.

[1232] times twelve thirties] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁. time, twelve thirties F₂ F₃ F₄. twelve times thirty Q₆. times twelve thirty Hanmer.

[1233] commutual in most] infolding them in Q (1676).

[1234] P. Queen.] Steevens (1778). Quee. or Que. Qq F₂ F₃. Queen. F₄. Bap. or Bapt. F₁.

[1235] from cheer and] different Q (1676).

your] our Q₂ Q₃.

former] forme F₁.

[1236] must: For] Ff. must. For women feare too much, even as they love, And Qq. See note (XVII).

[1237] HOLDS] Ff. HOLD Qq.

[1238] IN NEITHER AUGHT] In neither ought Ff. Eyther none, in neither ought Qq. 'Tis either none Pope. In neither: aught Hunter conj. Either in nought Anon. conj.

[1239] love] Lord Q₂ Q₃.

is, proof hath made] has been, proof makes Q (1676).

[1240] sized] ciz'd Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. ciz'st Q₄ Q₅. siz'd F₁. siz F₂. fixt F₃ F₄. great Q (1676).

[1241] Where love ... there.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1242] littlest] Q₆. litlest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. smallest Q (1676).

[1243] operant] working Q (1676).

their functions] Qq. my functions Ff.

[1244] fair] fare Q₄.

[1245] kind] Q₆. kind, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. kinde. F₁. kind. F₂ F₃ F₄. a kind Rowe (ed. 2).

[1246] thou--] Ff. thou. Qq.

[1247] kill'd] kill Theobald.

[1248] [Aside] Capell.

Wormwood, wormwood.] Ff. O wormewood, wormewood! (Q₁). That's wormwood. Qq (in the margin).

[1249] P. Queen.] Bapt. Ff. om. Qq.

[1250] thrift] Trift F₂.

[1251] husband dead] lord that's dead (Q₁) Staunton.

[1252] you think] Pointed as in Qq. you. Think Ff.

[1253] but] and Q (1676).

[1254] like] Ff. the Qq.

fruit] fruits Q (1676) and Pope.

[1255] either] Q₅ Q₆. eyther, Q₂ Q₃. either, Q₄. other Ff.

[1256] enactures] Q₆. ennactures Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. ennactors F₁. enactors F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1257] joys] F₄. joyes F₁ F₂ F₃. joy Qq.

grieves F₃ F₄. greeves F₁ F₂. griefes Qq.

[1258] nor] and Pope.

'tis not] is it Q (1676).

[1259] lead fortune] fortune lead Pope. leads fortune Theobald.

else] om. Pope.

[1260] favourite] favourites F₁.

[1261] hitherto] hither to F₂.

[1262] friend,] Qq. friend: F₁. friend? F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1263] seasons him] sees in him Anon. conj.

[1264] So think] Think still Q (1676).

[1265] die thy thoughts] thy thoughts dye Q (1676).

[1266] to me give] Qq. to give me Ff. oh! give me Hanmer. do give me Seymour conj.

Nor ... give] Let earth not give me Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[1267] To desperation ... scope!] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1268] An anchor's] Theobald. And anchors Qq. And anchors' Jennens. An anchoret's Anon, apud Rann conj.

cheer] chair Steevens conj.

[1269] once ... wife] (Q₁) Ff. once I be a widdow, ever I be a wife Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₆ (bee Q₄. widow Q₆). once I be a widdow, ever I be wife Q₅. once I widow be, and then a wife Q (1676). once I be a widow, 'ere a wife Anon. MS.

[1270] Ham. If ... now!] Ham. If ... now. Qq (in the margin) Ff. Ham. If ... now-- Pope. Ham. [to Oph.] If ... now,-- Capell.

it now] her vow Elze (Collier MS.)

[1271] 'Tis ... awhile;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

here] heare Q₄ Q₅ F₂.

[1272] [Sleeps.] Ff (after brain). om. Qq. Lays him down. Capell.

[1273] betw 'en] betwixt Q₄ Q₅.

[Exit.] Ff. Exeunt. Qq. Exit Lady. (Q₁). Exit Dutchess. Duke sleeps. Capell.

[1274] this] the F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1275] doth protest] Qq. protests Ff.

[1276] i' the world] om. Q (1676).

[1277] how?] Ff Q₆. how Q₂Q₃Q₄Q₅.

[1278] Gonzago] Gonzaga Johnson.

[1279] wife] wife's Theobald.

[1280] o'] Ff. a (Q₁). of Qq.

[1281] that have] shall have Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

us not] not us Q (1676).

[1282] wince] (Q₁) Steevens. winch Qq Ff.

unwrung] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆ F₃ F₄ unwrong Q₂ Q₃. unrung F₁F₂.

[1283] Enter Lucianus.] Ff. After king, line 233, in Qq.

[1284] king] duke Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[1285] as good as a] (Q₁) Qq. a good Ff.

[1286] my] Ff. mine Qq.

[1287] better,] worse Q (1676 and Rowe).

[1288] must take your husbands.] Pope. must take your husband (Q₁). mistake your husbands Qq. mistake husbands Ff. most of you take husbands Hanmer. must take husbands Long MS.

[1289] murderer] murther Ff.

[1290] pox,] Ff. om. Qq. a poxe (Q₁.)

[1291] the ... revenge.] Printed as a quotation in two half lines, the first ending raven, by Steevens (1793).

[1292] Thoughts ... agreeing;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1293] Confederate](Q₁) Ff. Considerat Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Considerate Q₅ Q₆.

else] and Q (1676) and Theobald.

[1294] ban] bane (Q₁) Q₆ F₄.

infected] invected Q₂ Q₃.

[1295] Thy] The F₄. Thou Pope.

[1296] usurp] F₃ F₄. usurpe F₁ F₂. usurps (Q₁) Qq.

[Pours ... ear.] Capell, substantially. Powres the poyson in his eares. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1297] He] (Q₁) Ff. A Qq.

for his] (Q₁) Qq. for's F₁ F₃ F₄. fors F₂

[1298] name's] F₁ Q₆. names The rest.

written in very] Qq. writ in Ff.

[1299] Ham. What, ... fire] Ff. Ham. Frighted ... fires (Q₁). Omitted in Qq.

[1300] Pol.] Qq. All. Ff. [Exeunt ...] Exeunt all but Ham. & Horatio. Qq. Exeunt. Manet Hamlet & Horatio. Ff (Manent F₄).

[1301] SCENE VIII. Pope. SCENE VII. Warburton.

stricken] (Q₁) Hanmer. strooken Q₂ Q₃. stroken Q₄ Q₅. strucken Ff Q₆.

[1302] hart] heart F₂ F₃.

[1303] while] whilst Q₄ Q₅. whilest Q₆.

sleep:] sleepe? F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1304] Thus] (Q₁) Qq. So Ff.

[1305] two] Ff. om. Qq.

Provincial] Provencial Capell (Warton conj.) Provençal Warton conj.

[1306] razed] raz'd Qq. rac'd Ff. rack'd Rowe (ed. 2). rayed Pope. rais'd Jennens (Theobald conj.)

cry] city Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

players] player Q₅.

[1307] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

[1308] A whole one, I.] Ay, a whole one. Hanmer. A whole one;--ay-- Malone conj. A whole one, ay, Grant White.

[1309] This ... himself] Arranged as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[1310] pajock] F₃ F₄. paiock Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. paiocke F₁ Q₆. pajocke F₂. paicock Q (1676). pecock Q (1695). peacock Pope. paddock Theobald. puttock or meacock Id. conj. (withdrawn). baiocco Anon. conj. (1814). hedjocke (i.e. hedgehog) S. Evans conj. padge-hawk Id. conj. (withdrawn). patokie (i.e. pataicco or pataikoi) E. Warwick conj. Polack Anon. conj. [hiccups. (as a stage direction) Leo conj.

[1311] pound] pounds Rowe (ed. 2).

[1312] poisoning?] poysoning? Ff. poysning. Q₂ Q₃. poysoning. Q₄. poisoning. Q₅ Q₆.

[1313] Ah, ha!] Ah ha, Qq. Oh, ha? F₁ F₂ F₃. Oh ha! F₄.

[1314] like] likes Q₆.

[1315] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter.... Qq. Enter.... Ff. (after line 278).

[1316] vouchsafe] Ff Q₆. voutsafe Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1317] sir,--] sir-- Rowe. sir. Qq Ff.

[1318] him?] Qq F₁. him. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1319] rather] Ff. om. Qq.

[1320] more richer] Qq F₁. more rich F₂ F₃ F₄. richer Q (1676).

[1321] the doctor] Qq. his doctor F₁. F₂ F₃. this doctor F₄.

for, for] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. for for F₁ Q₆ for F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1322] far] F₄. farre F₁ F₂ F₃. om. Qq.

[1323] Good ... affair.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending frame, in Qq.

[1324] start] Ff. stare Qq.

from] upon Q₆.

my] the Collier MS.

affair] business Q (1676).

[1325] [with great ceremony. Capell.

[1326] of my] Ff. of Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. of the Q₆.

[1327] Guil.] Guild. Ff. Ros. Qq.

lord?] Ff Q₆. lord. The rest.

[1328] wit's] Q₆ F₄. wits The rest.

[1329] answer] Q₅ Q₆. answere Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. answers Ff.

[1330] as you] Qq. you Ff.

[1331] say,--] say-- Rowe. say. Qq Ff.

[1332] struck] F₄. strooke Qq. stroke F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1333] so] thus Q (1676).

astonish] Ff Q₆. stonish Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. 'stonish Capell.

[1334] mother's admiration] mother admiration F₃. mother-admiration F₄.

admiration?] admiration, Q₂ Q₃.

[1335] Impart.] Qq. om. Ff.

[1336] So I] Ff. And Qq.

[1337] surely ... upon] Qq. freely of Ff. surely ... of Grant White.

bar] but bar Reed (1803).

[1338] sir] Qq. om. Ff.

grows,--] grows-- Pope. growes, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. grows, Q₅ F₄. growes; Q₆.

[1339] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter the Players with Recorders. Qq (after line 326). Enter one with a Recorder. Ff.

[1340] recorders] Qq. recorder Ff.

see one. To] Pope. see one, to Qq. see, to F₁ F₂. see to F₃ F₄. set one. To Rowe. See note (XVIII).

To ... you:] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

you:--] you; Q₆. you, The rest.

[1341] love is too unmannerly.] love is not unmannerly. Tyrwhitt conj. love too unmannerly.... Keightley.

[1342] Guil.] Ros. Nicholson conj.

[1343] do] om. Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1344] Guil.] Ros. Staunton conj.

[1345] It is] Qq. 'Tis Ff.

ventages] Qq. ventiges Ff.

[1346] with ... thumb] and the umbo with your fingers Becket conj.

fingers] Qq. finger Ff.

and thumb,] F₄. and thumbe F₁ F₂ F₃. & the vmber, Q₂ Q₃. and the thumb Q₄ Q₅. and the thumbe, Q₆.

[1347] eloquent] Qq. excellent Ff.

[1348] make] would make Johnson.

[1349] the top of] Ff. om. Qq.

[1350] speak] om. Ff.

[1351] 'Sblood] s'bloud Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. s'blood Q₄ Q₅. Why Ff. om. Q (1676).

I] Qq. that I Ff.

[1352] can fret me] (Q₁) Ff. fret me not Qq.

[1353] yet] (Q₁) Edd. (Globe ed.) om. Qq Ff.

[1354] Enter Polonius.] As in Capell. After sir!, line 356, in Qq Ff.

[1355] you] your F₂.

[1356] yonder] Qq. that Ff.

[1357] cloud ... camel?] Pointed as in Qq. cloud?... camell. F₁ F₂. cloud, ... camell. F₃. cloud, ... camel? F₄.

[1358] of] Qq. like Ff.

[1359] camel ... camel] weasel ... weasel Capell.

[1360] By the mass] By'th masse Qq. By th' mass F₄. By 'th' misse F₁ F₂. By th' misse F₃.

'tis like] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. tis, like Q₂ Q₃. it's like Ff (its F₂). 'tis--like Jennens.

[1361] a weasel ... a weasel] an ouzle ... an ouzle Pope, reading black in line 363. a camel ... a camel Capell.

[1362] backed] back'd Ff. back't (Q₁). backt Q₂ Q₃. black Q₄ Q₅. blacke Q₆. beck'd Tollet conj.

[1363] whale?] Ff. whale. Qq.

[1364] I will] Qq. will I Ff.

[1365] They fool me] They fool me [to Hor. Capell.

They ... bent.] A separate line in Ff.

[1366] See note (XIX).

[1367] [Exit Polonius.] Exit. Ff. om. Qq. After said, line 370, in Dyce.

[1368] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Ros. and Gui. Horatio, and the Players, withdraw. Capell. Exe. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1369] breathes] Q₆ F₃ F₄. breaths F₁ F₂. breakes Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. breaks Q₅.

[1370] this] the Q₆.

[1371] bitter ... day] Ff. busines as the bitter day Qq. business as day it self Q (1676). business as the better day Warburton. business as the bitter'st day Heath conj. business as the light of day Cartwright conj.

[1372] Soft! now] soft, now Qq. Soft now, Ff.

[1373] lose] Q₆. loose The rest.

[1374] not] but not Johnson.

[1375] daggers] Ff Q₆. dagger Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1376] How ... consent!] Omitted by Pope.

[1377] soever] Q₆. somever The rest.

[1378] never, my soul, consent] Pointed as by Capell. never my soule consent Qq Ff.

[Exit.] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. om. Q₅ Ff Q₆.

[1379] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE VII. Warburton. om. Ff.

A ... castle.] Capell, substantially.

[1380] range] rage Pope.

[1381] estate may] estate, may F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1382] near us] neare us Q₆. neer's Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. dangerous Ff.

[1383] lunacies] Ff. browes Qq. lunes Theobald. frows Johnson conj. braves Anon. conj.

ourselves provide] provide our selves Pope.

[1384] To keep ... live] One line in Rowe, reading many.

[1385] many many] many F₂ F₃ F₄ and Q (1676). very many Collier (Collier MS.) many-many Staunton.

[1386] The ... bound] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending single, in Ff.

[1387] noyance] 'noyance Hanmer.

[1388] upon] on Pope.

weal] weale Qq. spirit Ff.

depends and rests] depend and rest Hanmer.

[1389] many. The] many: the Q₆. many, the The rest.

cease] Ff. cesse Qq. decease Pope.

The cease of] Deceasing Bailey conj.

[1390] it is] It is Ff. or it is Qq. It's Pope.

[1391] summit] Rowe. somnet Qq Ff and Q (1676).

[1392] huge] hough Q₂ Q₃. hugh Q₄.

[1393] mortised] morteist Qq. mortiz'd Ff.

[1394] ruin] ruine Ff. raine Qq.

Never] Ne'er Pope.

[1395] with] Ff. om. Qq.

groan] F₃ F₄. growne Q₄ Q₅. grone The rest.

[1396] voyage] viage Q₂ Q₃. voiage Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1397] about] Qq. upon Ff.

[1398] Ros. Guil.] Steevens (1793). Both. Ff. Ros. Qq.

haste us] make haste Q₆.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt Gent. Qq Ff.

[1399] warrant] warnt Q₆.

[1400] speech, of vantage] Theobald. speech of vantage Qq Ff.

[1401] know] heare Q₆.

[Exit Polonius.] Capell. Exit. Qq Ff (after know).

[1402] upon't] Ff Q₆. uppont Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1403] A] That of a Theobald.

murder] murderer S. Walker conj.

can I not] I cannot Q (1676) and Rowe. alas! I cannot Hanmer. can I?--No! Jackson conj. that can I not Seymour conj.

[1404] not, ... will:] Pointed as in Ff. not, ... will, Qq.

[1405] will] 't will Hanmer (Anon. ap. Theobald conj.) th' ill Warburton.

[1406] guilt defeats] guilt, defeats F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1407] neglect. What] neglect: what Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. neglect; what Ff. neglect, what Q₂ Q₃.

[1408] pardon'd] Ff. pardon Qq.

[1409] fault is] faults is Q₄ Q₅.

[1410] murder?] murther? Q₆. murther, Q₂ Q₃. murther: Q₄ Q₅ F₁ F₂ F₃. mother: F₄. murther! Pope.

[1411] effects] affects Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1412] pardon'd] pardoned Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

offence] effects Warburton.

[1413] corrupted currents] Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ Q₆. conrupted currents Q₄. corrupted currants Ff. corrupt occurrents Anon. conj. MS. and Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752. corrupted 'currents Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)

currents of this world] courts of this bad world Long MS.

[1414] gilded] F₁ F₄. guilded Q₂ Q₃ F₂ F₃. guided Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

shove] Ff. showe Q₂ Q₃. show Q₄ Q₅. shew Q₆.

[1415] prize] purse Collier (Collier MS.)

[1416] his] it's Long MS.

and] om. Pope.

[1417] it] aught Hanmer.

can not] can but Warburton.

[1418] angels] angles Q₄ Q₅.

[1419] heart] hearts Q₆.

steel] steale Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1420] [Retires....] Malone. hee kneeles. (Q₁). The King kneels. Rowe. Remains in Action of Prayer. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1421] SCENE X. Pope. SCENE IX. Warburton.

it pat, now he is] Ff. it, but now a is Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ Q₆. it, bot now a is Q₄.

praying] a praying Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1422] so he goes] Ff. so a goes Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ Q₆. so goes Q₄.

[1423] revenged.] revendge, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. revenged, Q₅. reveng'd: F₁ F₂ F₃. reveng'd? Q₆. revenged: F₄.

[1424] sole] Qq. foule F₁ F₂ F₃. foul F₄. fal'n Warburton. fool Heath and Capell conj.

[1425] To heaven] A separate line in Qq. Joined to line 79 in Ff.

[1426] O,] Oh Ff. Why Qq.

hire and salary] hire and salery Ff. base and silly Qq. a reward Q (1676). reward Q (1703).

[1427] He] Ff. A Qq.

bread] blood Mason conj.

[1428] as flush] Qq. as fresh Ff. and flush Warburton.

[1429] and] om. Pope.

[1430] season'd] seasoned Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1431] No.] A separate line in Qq. Ends line 86 in Ff. Omitted by Pope.

[1432] hent] bent F₄. time Q (1676) and Rowe. hest Warburton conj. (withdrawn). hint Capell (Theobald conj.)

[1433] drunk asleep] Pointed as in Ff. drunke, asleep Qq. drunk-asleep Johnson.

[1434] incestuous] incestious Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

pleasure] pleasures Q (1676) and Capell.

[1435] game, a-swearing] game a swearing Q₂ Q₃. game swaring (Q₁). game, a swearing Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. gaming, swearing Ff.

[1436] heels may] heele mas Q₄ Q₅. heele may Q₆.

[1437] [Rising] Rises. Capell. The King rises, and comes forward. Theobald om. Qq Ff.

[1438] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE XI. Pope. SCENE X. Warburton.

The Queen's closet.] Steevens. The Queen's Apartment. Rowe.

Enter Queen....] Ff. Enter Gertrard.... Qq.

[1439] He] Ff. A Qq.

He.... him:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1440] bear] berre F₂.

[1441] screen'd] scree'nd F₂ F₃.

[1442] sconce me even] Hanmer. silence me even Qq. silence me e'ene F₁. silence me e'ne F₂ F₃ F₄. 'sconce me e'en Warburton. silence me in Long MS. See note (XX).

[1443] with him] Ff. om. Qq.

Ham ... mother!] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1444] Queen.] Qu., Que. or Queen. Ff. Ger. Qq (and throughout the scene, except line 51).

[1445] I'll ... coming.] Prose by Edd. Two lines, the first ending not, in Qq Ff.

[1446] warrant] Ff Q₆. wait Q₂ Q₃. waite Q₄ Q₅.

not. Withdraw] not: you withdraw Hanmer, ending the previous line warrant you.

[1447] [Polonius hides....] Polonius hides himself.... Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

Enter Hamlet.] Ff. After round, line 5, in Qq. Enter Hamlet, abruptly. Capell.

[1448] a wicked] Qq. an idle Ff.

[1449] What's the matter now?] Continued to Queen, S. Walker conj.

[1450] And--would ... so!--you] Pointed as in Pope, substantially. And would it were not so, you Qq. But would you were not so. You Ff. But 'would it were not so!--You Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[1451] set] send Collier MS.

[1452] budge] Q₆ F₃ F₄. boudge The rest.

[1453] go not] go not hence Long MS. reading with F₂.

set you up] set up F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1454] glass Where ... you.] glasse. Where ... you? F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1455] inmost] Ff. most Qq. utmost Q (1676).

[1456] Help, help, ho!] Helpe, helpe, hoa. F₁ F₂. Help, help, hoa. F₃ F₄. Helpe how. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Helpe hoe. Q₅. Helpe ho. Q₆.

[1457] Help, ... rat?] As one line in Capell, reading What, ho! help!

[1458] [Behind] Capell. Behind the arras. Rowe. on. Ff.

What, ho!... help!] Ff. What how helpe. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. What hoe helpe. Q₅ Q₆.

[1459] [Drawing] Draws. Malone, after rat? om. Qq Ff.

[Makes ... arras.] Capell, substantially. om. Qq Ff.

[1460] [Behind] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[Falls and dies.] Falls forward, and dies. Capell. Killes Polonius. Ff. om. Qq.

what hast] hast F₃.

[1461] Nay ... king?] As in Qq Ff. Capell ends line 25 at know not.

[1462] is] was Q (1676).

[1463] kill] Qq F₁. killd F₂. kill'd F₃ F₄.

king!] king? Ff Q₆. king. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

'twas] F₁ F₃ F₄. twas F₂. it was Qq.

[Lifts ... discovers....] Lifts ... sees.... Dyce. Lifts up the arras, and draws forth Polonius. Capell (after line 26). om. Qq Ff.

[1464] [To Polonius. Pope.

[1465] better] Qq. betters Ff.

[1466] brass'd] brasd Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. bras'd Ff Q₆.

[1467] be] Qq. is Ff.

sense] thy sense Q (1703).

[1468] hypocrite] hippocrit Q₂ Q₃. hipocrit Q₄.

off] Ff Q₆. of The rest.

[1469] sets] Qq. makes Ff.

[1470] rhapsody] F₄. rapsedy Q₂ Q₃. rapsody Q₄ F₂ F₃. rapsodie Q₅ Q₆. rapsidie F₁.

doth] Ff. dooes Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. does Q₅ Q₆.

[1471] glow; Yea,] glow, Yea Ff. glowe Ore Q₂ Q₃. glow Ore Q₄ Q₅. glow Yea Q₆. glow; Yet Smyth conj. MS.

[1472] solidity] solidiry Q₄ Q₅.

[1473] tristful] F₄. tristfull F₁ F₂ F₃. heated Qq.

as against] and, as 'gainst Warburton, reading O'er in line 49.

[1474] act.] act. Ah me, that act! Q (1676).

[1475] Ay ... index?] Prose in Ff. See note (XXI).

[1476] was] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

this] Q₂ Q₃. his The rest.

[1477] and] Qq. or Ff.

[1478] New-lighted] New lighted Qq F₁. Now lighted F₂ F₃ F₄.

a heaven-kissing] Ff Q₆ (Ingleby's copy). a heaue, a kissing Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆ (Capell's copy).

[1479] and a] and Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1480] mildew'd] Ff Q₆. mildewed Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. mil-dewed Q₅.

ear] eare Qq F₁. deare F₂. deer F₃ F₄.

[1481] brother] Qq. breath Ff.

[1482] batten] batter Q (1676).

[1483] in the] of the Q (1676).

it's] its F₂.

[1484] step] stoop Collier (Collier MS. and Anon. MS.) See note (XXII).

[1485] Sense ... difference.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1486] motion] notion Warburton.

[1487] cozen'd] F₃ F₄. cosund Q₂ Q₃. cosond Q₄ Q₅. cousend F₁ F₂. couzen'd Q₆.

hoodman] Ff. hodman Qq. hobman (Q₁).

hoodman-blind] Hyphen omitted in Q₂ Q₃.

[1488] Eyes ... mope.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1489] Could ... blush?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[1490] hell] heat Hanmer.

[1491] mutine] mutiny Q (1676) and Rowe.

[1492] ardour] Pope. ardure Qq Ff.

[1493] And] Qq. As Ff.

panders] Ff. pardons Qq. guerdons Anon. conj. MS.

[1494] eyes into my very] Ff. very eyes into my Qq.

[1495] grained] Ff. greeued Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. grieued Q₅. grieved Q₆.

[1496] not leave] Ff. leave there Qq.

[1497] enseamed] Ff. inseemed Q₂ Q₃. incestuous Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1498] sty,--] sty;-- Theobald. stie. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. stye. F₁ F₂ Q₆ F₃. sty. F₄.

to me] om. Pope.

me no] Qq. me, no Ff.

[1499] in] into Q (1676).

my] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. mine Ff Q₆.

[1500] that is not] that's not the Q (1676). that is not a Keightley.

tithe] tythe Ff. kyth Qq.

[1501] the rule,] a rogue Anon. apud Rann conj.

[1502] pocket!] pocket, a-- Seymour conj.

Queen. No more!] Omitted in Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

No] Oh! no Hanmer.

[1503] patches--] Rowe. patches, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. patches. Ff Q₆. patches, all unseemly. Seymour conj.

Enter Ghost.] As in Dyce. Before line 102 in Qq Ff. Enter the Ghost in his night gowne. (Q₁). Enter Ghost unarmed. Collier MS.

[1504] [Starting up. Rowe.

[1505] your] Qq. you Ff. you, Knight.

[1506] Queen. Alas, he's mad!] om. (Q₁) and Seymour conj.

he's] hee's Qq. hes F₂.

[1507] time] fume Collier MS.

[1508] O, say!] As in Theobald. At the end of the previous line in Qq Ff.

[1509] fighting] sighting Q₄. sighing Q₅ Q₆.

[1510] you do] you doe Qq. you F₁. thus you F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1511] the incorporal] th' incorporall Qq. their corporall F₁. the corporall F₂ F₃. th' incorporeal Q (1676). the corporal F₄.

[1512] bedded] Q₂ Q₃ Ff. beaded Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. om. Q (1676).

hairs] Rowe. haire Qq F₁ F₂. hair F₃ F₄.

like ... excrements] om. Q (1676).

[1513] Start ... stand] Q₂ Q₃ Ff. Starts ... stands Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

an end] Qq Ff. on end Q (1676) and Pope (ed. 2).

[1514] glares] gleres Q₅ Q₆.

[1515] conjoin'd] conioyned Q₄ Q₅.

[1516] upon] on Pope.

[1517] effects] affects Singer.

I have] have I F₃ F₄.

[1518] whom] who F₁.

[Pointing to the Ghost. Rowe.

[1519] that is] that's here Q (1676).

is] is there Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[1520] steals] stalks Anon. conj. MS. and Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752.

[1521] father, in his habit as] father--in his habit--as Steevens conj.

lived] lives Q₄.

[1522] [Exit Ghost.] Qq. Exit. Ff.

[1523] This ... in.] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[1524] Ecstasy!] Extasie? Ff. om. Qq. What ecstasie? Pope. How! ecstasy! Seymour conj.

[1525] utter'd] uttred Qq. uttered Ff.

[1526] And I the] Ff Q₆. And the Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

re-word] re-ward Q (1703).

[1527] Would gambol from. Mother,] Cannot do mother, Q (1676).

[1528] that] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. a Ff. this Q₆.

[1529] Whiles] Qq. Whilst Ff.

mining] running F₃ F₄.

[1530] what is] what else Seymour conj.

[1531] on] Qq. or Ff. o'er Knight.

[1532] ranker] Q₅ Q₆. rancker Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. ranke F₁ F₂. rank F₃ F₄.

[1533] Forgive ... good.] Marked as 'aside' by Staunton.

[1534] me] om. Pope.

[1535] these] this F₁.

[1536] curb] F₄. curbe Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₃. courb F₁ Q₆. courbe F₂.

him] it Pope.

[1537] O Hamlet] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

in twain] om. Q (1676).

[1538] O] Then Q (1676).

[1539] live] Ff. leave Qq.

[1540] my] Qq. mine Ff.

[1541] That ... put on.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1542] eat, Of habits devil,] eat, Of habits divell, Q₆. eate Of habits deuill, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. eat Of habit's devil, Rowe. eat, Of habit's devil, Pope. eat Of habits evil, Theobald (Thirlby conj.) eat Of habit's evil, Grant White (Theobald conj. withdrawn). eat Of habits, devil, Johnson. eat, Or habit's devil, Steevens conj. eat, If habit's devil, Becket conj. ape, Oft habits devil,, or ape Of devils' habits or ape, Of habits evil Jackson conj. eat, Oft habits' devil, Staunton. create Of habits, devil Keightley. eat,--O shapeless devil!-- Bullock conj.

[1543] on. Refrain to-night] on: refrain to night Q₆. on to refraine night Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

Refrain to-night] Put at the end of line 160 in Ff.

[1544] the next more ... potency.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1545] almost can] can almost Rowe.

[1546] And either ... the] And either the Q₂ Q₃. And Maister the Q₄. And master the Q₅ Q₆. And master ev'n the Pope. And master even the Capell. And either curb the Malone. And either quell the Singer (ed. 1). And either mate the Anon. conj. And wither up the Bullock conj. And either lay the Cartwright conj.

And either house Bailey conj.

[1547] [Pointing to Polonius.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1548] heaven hath] the heavens have Hanmer.

[1549] me ... me] him with me, and me with this Hanmer. this with me, and me with this Johnson.

[1550] I ... behind.] Aside. Delius conj.

[1551] Thus] Ff Q₆. This The rest.

[1552] One ... lady.] Qq. Omitted in Ff. Hark, one ... lady. Capell. But one ... lady. Steevens (1793). One ... good my lady. Keightley.

[1553] the bloat] Warburton. the blowt Qq. the blunt Ff. not the Q (1676). the fond Pope.

again to bed] to bed again Q (1676).

[1554] to ravel Q (1676) and F₄. to ravell F₁ F₂ Q₆ F₃. rouell Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1555] gib] Qq. gibbe Ff. gib-cat Keightley.

[1556] concernings] conceruings Q₄. conseruings Q₅.

[1557] conclusions, in the basket] F₃ F₄. conclusions in the basket Qq. conclusions in the basket, F₁. conclusions, in the basket, F₂.

[1558] breathe] F₃ Q₆ F₄. breath The rest.

[1559] that?] Ff. that. Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. that, Q₄ Q₅.

Alack,] om. Seymour conj., ending lines 196-199, assured ... life ... said ... that?

[1560] Alack ... on.] As in Capell. Two lines, the first ending forgot, in Qq. One line in Ff.

[1561] on] om. Hanmer.

[1562] There's ... meet.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1563] knavery] naiveté or naiverie Becket conj.

[1564] the sport] true sport Anon. conj.

enginer] Qq. engineer Q (1676) and Pope.

[1565] petar] Qq. petard Johnson.

and't] Theobald. an't Qq. and it Steevens.

[1566] meet.] Q₆. meete, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. meet, Q₅.

[1567] shall] will Q (1676).

packing:] packing: I'll pack him: Anon. conj.

[1568] good night. Indeed] Pointed as in Ff. good night indeed, Qq.

[1569] in life] in's life Q₆.

foolish] (Q₁) Ff. most foolish Qq.

foolish prating] foolish-prating S. Walker conj.

[1570] [Exeunt....] Malone, after Capell. Exit. Qq. Exit Hamlet with the dead body. (Q₁). Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius. Ff.

Act IV, Scene I — A room in the castle.

Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1571]

King. There's matter in these sighs, these profound heaves:[1572] You must translate: 'tis fit we understand them. Where is your son?

Queen. Bestow this place on us a little while.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1573]

Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen to-night![1574] 5

King. What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?[1575]

Queen. Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend[1576] Which is the mightier: in his lawless fit,[1577] Behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries 'a rat, a rat!'[1578] 10 And in this brainish apprehension kills[1579] The unseen good old man.

King. O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there:[1580] His liberty is full of threats to all, To you yourself, to us, to every one. 15 Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd?[1581] It will be laid to us, whose providence Should have kept short, restrain'd and out of haunt,[1582] This mad young man: but so much was our love, We would not understand what was most fit, 20 But, like the owner of a foul disease, To keep it from divulging, let it feed[1583] Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?

Queen. To draw apart the body he hath kill'd: O'er whom his very madness, like some ore[1584] 25 Among a mineral of metals base,[1585] Shows itself pure; he weeps for what is done.[1586]

King. O Gertrude, come away![1587] The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed[1588] 30 We must, with all our majesty and skill, Both countenance and excuse. Ho, Guildenstern!

Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[1589]

Friends both, go join you with some further aid:[1590] Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain, And from his mother's closet hath he dragg'd him:[1591] 35 Go seek him out; speak fair, and bring the body Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1592]

Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends; And let them know, both what we mean to do,[1593] And what's untimely done....[1594] 40 Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter[1594] As level as the cannon to his blank[1594] Transports his poison'd shot, may miss our name[1594][1595] And hit the woundless air. O, come away![1594] My soul is full of discord and dismay. [Exeunt. 45

Act IV, Scene II — Another room in the castle.

Enter HAMLET.[1596]

Ham. Safely stowed.

Ros. } [Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet![1597] Guil.}

Ham. But soft, what noise? who calls on Hamlet?[1598] O, here they come.

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[1599]

Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? 5

Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.[1600]

Ros. Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence And bear it to the chapel.

Ham. Do not believe it.

Ros. Believe what? 10

Ham. That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what replication[1601] should be made by the son of a king?

Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

Ham. Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance, 15 his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the[1602] corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. 20

Ros. I understand you not, my lord.

Ham. I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.

Ros. My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with us to the king. 25

Ham. The body is with the king, but the king is not[1603] with the body. The king is a thing--[1604]

Guil. A thing, my lord?[1605]

Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and[1606][1607] all after. [Exeunt.[1607] 30

Act IV, Scene III — Another room in the castle.

Enter KING, attended.[1608]

King. I have sent to seek him, and to find the body.[1609] How dangerous is it that this man goes loose! Yet must not we put the strong law on him:[1610] He's loved of the distracted multitude, Who like not in their judgement, but their eyes; 5 And where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd,[1611] But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even,[1612] This sudden sending him away must seem Deliberate pause: diseases desperate grown By desperate appliance are relieved, 10 Or not at all.

Enter ROSENCRANTZ.[1613]

How now! what hath befall'n?

Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord, We cannot get from him.

King. But where is he?

Ros. Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure.

King. Bring him before us. 15

Ros. Ho, Guildenstern! bring in my lord.

Enter HAMLET and GUILDENSTERN.[1614]

King. Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?

Ham. At supper.

King. At supper! where?

Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a[1615] 20 certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your[1616] worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: your fat[1617] king and your lean beggar is but variable service, two[1618] dishes, but to one table: that's the end.[1619] 25

King. Alas, alas![1620]

Ham. A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of[1620] a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.[1620][1621]

King. What dost thou mean by this?

Ham. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a 30 progress through the guts of a beggar.[1622]

King. Where is Polonius?

Ham. In heaven; send thither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself. But indeed, if you find him not within this month, you[1623] 35 shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.

King. Go seek him there. [To some Attendants.[1624]

Ham. He will stay till you come. [Exeunt Attendants.[1625]

King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,[1626] Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve 40 For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence With fiery quickness: therefore prepare thyself;[1627] The bark is ready and the wind at help,[1628] The associates tend, and every thing is bent[1629] For England.

Ham. For England?

King. Ay, Hamlet.

Ham. Good.[1630] 45

King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.

Ham. I see a cherub that sees them. But, come; for[1631] England! Farewell, dear mother.

King. Thy loving father, Hamlet.

Ham. My mother: father and mother is man and 50 wife; man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother.[1632] Come, for England! [Exit.

King. Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard;[1633] Delay it not; I'll have him hence to-night: Away! for every thing is seal'd and done 55 That else leans on the affair: pray you, make haste.[1634]

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught-- As my great power thereof may give thee sense, Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red After the Danish sword, and thy free awe 60 Pays homage to us--thou mayst not coldly set[1635] Our sovereign process; which imports at full, By letters congruing to that effect,[1636] The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England; For like the hectic in my blood he rages, 65 And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done, Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun. [Exit.[1637]

Act IV, Scene IV — A plain in Denmark.

Enter FORTINBRAS, a Captain and Soldiers, marching.[1638]

For. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish king;[1639] Tell him that by his license Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promised march[1640] Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.[1641] If that his majesty would aught with us, 5 We shall express our duty in his eye;[1642] And let him know so.

Cap. I will do't, my lord.

For. Go softly on.[1643]

[Exeunt Fortinbras and Soldiers.[1643]

Enter HAMLET, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and others.[1643][1644]

Ham. Good sir, whose powers are these?[1643][1645]

Cap. They are of Norway, sir.[1643][1645][1646] 10

Ham. How purposed, sir, I pray you?[1643][1645][1647]

Cap. Against some part of Poland.[1643][1645][1648]

Ham. Who commands them, sir?[1643][1645]

Cap. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.[1645][1649]

Ham. Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,[1645] 15 Or for some frontier?[1645]

Cap. Truly to speak, and with no addition,[1645][1650] We go to gain a little patch of ground[1645] That hath in it no profit but the name.[1645] To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;[1645][1651] 20 Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole[1645] A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.[1645][1652]

Ham. Why, then the Polack never will defend it.[1645]

Cap. Yes, it is already garrison'd.[1645][1653]

Ham. Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats[1645][1654][1655] 25 Will not debate the question of this straw:[1645][1655] This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace,[1645] That inward breaks, and shows no cause without[1645] Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir.[1645]

Cap. God be wi' you, sir. [Exit.[1645]

Ros. Will't please you go, my lord?[1645][1656] 30

Ham. I'll be with you straight. Go a little before.[1645]

[Exeunt all but Hamlet.[1645][1657]

How all occasions do inform against me,[1645] And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,[1645] If his chief good and market of his time[1645] Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more.[1645] 35 Sure, he that made us with such large discourse,[1645] Looking before and after, gave us not[1645] That capability and god-like reason[1645] To fust in us unused. Now, whether it be[1645][1658] Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple[1645] 40 Of thinking too precisely on the event,--[1645] A thought which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom[1645] And ever three parts coward,--I do not know[1645][1659] Why yet I live to say 'this thing's to do,'[1645][1659] Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means,[1645] 45 To do't. Examples gross as earth exhort me:[1645] Witness this army, of such mass and charge,[1645] Led by a delicate and tender prince,[1645] Whose spirit with divine ambition puff'd[1645] Makes mouths at the invisible event,[1645] 50 Exposing what is mortal and unsure[1645] To all that fortune, death and danger dare,[1645] Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be great[1645][1660] Is not to stir without great argument,[1645][1660][1661] But greatly to find quarrel in a straw[1645] 55 When honour's at the stake. How stand I then,[1645] That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd,[1645] Excitements of my reason and my blood,[1645] And let all sleep, while to my shame I see[1645] The imminent death of twenty thousand men,[1645][1662] 60 That for a fantasy and trick of fame[1645] Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot[1645][1663] Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,[1645] Which is not tomb enough and continent[1645] To hide the slain? O, from this time forth,[1645][1664] 65 My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! [Exit.[1645]

Act IV, Scene V — Elsinore. A room in the castle.

Enter QUEEN, HORATIO, and a Gentleman.[1665]

Queen. I will not speak with her.

Gent. She is importunate, indeed distract:[1666][1667] Her mood will needs be pitied.[1667]

Queen. What would she have?

Gent. She speaks much of her father, says she hears[1666] There's tricks i' the world, and hems and beats her heart, 5 Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt, That carry but half sense: her speech is nothing, Yet the unshaped use of it doth move The hearers to collection; they aim at it,[1668] And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts;[1669] 10 Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,[1670] Indeed would make one think there might be thought,[1671] Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

Hor. 'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew[1672] Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.[1672] 15

Queen. Let her come in. [Exit Gentleman.[1672][1673][1674] [Aside] To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is,[1674][1675][1676] Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss:[1676] So full of artless jealousy is guilt,[1676] It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.[1676][1677] 20

Re-enter Gentleman, with OPHELIA.

Oph. Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

Queen. How now, Ophelia![1678]

Oph. [Sings] How should I your true love know[1679][1680] From another one?[1680] By his cockle hat and staff[1680] 25 And his sandal shoon.[1680][1681]

Queen. Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

Oph. Say you? nay, pray you, mark.[1682] [Sings] He is dead and gone, lady,[1683][1684][1685] He is dead and gone;[1684][1685] 30 At his head a grass-green turf,[1685][1686] At his heels a stone.[1685] Oh, oh![1687]

Queen. Nay, but, Ophelia,--

Oph. Pray you, mark. [Sings] White his shroud as the mountain snow,--

Enter KING.[1688]

Queen. Alas, look here, my lord. 35

Oph. [Sings] Larded with sweet flowers;[1689] Which bewept to the grave did go[1690] With true-love showers.[1691]

King. How do you, pretty lady?[1692]

Oph. Well, God 'ild you! They say the owl was a[1693] 40 baker's daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know[1694] not what we may be. God be at your table![1695]

King. Conceit upon her father.

Oph. Pray you, let's have no words of this; but when[1696] they ask you what it means, say you this: 45 [Sings] To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,[1697][1698][1699] All in the morning betime,[1698][1700] And I a maid at your window,[1698] To be your Valentine.[1698] Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,[1701][1702] 50 And dupp'd the chamber-door;[1701][1703] Let in the maid, that out a maid[1701][1704] Never departed more.[1701]

King. Pretty Ophelia!

Oph. Indeed, la, without an oath, I'll make an end on't:[1705] 55 [Sings] By Gis and by Saint Charity,[1706][1707] Alack, and fie for shame![1707] Young men will do't, if they come to't;[1707] By cock, they are to blame.[1707][1708] Quoth she, before you tumbled me,[1709][1710] 60 You promised me to wed.[1710] He answers:[1711] So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, An thou hadst not come to my bed.[1712]

King. How long hath she been thus?[1713]

Oph. I hope all will be well. We must be patient: but 65 I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i'[1714] the cold ground. My brother shall know of it: and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies; good night,[1715] good night. [Exit.[1715][1716] 70

King. Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you. [Exit Horatio.[1717] O, this is the poison of deep grief; it springs[1718] All from her father's death. O Gertrude, Gertrude,[1719] When sorrows come, they come not single spies,[1720] But in battalions! First, her father slain:[1721] 75 Next, your son gone; and he most violent author Of his own just remove: the people muddied, Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers,[1722] For good Polonius' death; and we have done but greenly,[1723] In hugger-mugger to inter him: poor Ophelia[1724] 80 Divided from herself and her fair judgement, Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts:[1725] Last, and as much containing as all these, Her brother is in secret come from France, Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,[1726] 85 And wants not buzzers to infect his ear[1727] With pestilent speeches of his father's death; Wherein necessity, of matter beggar'd,[1728] Will nothing stick our person to arraign[1729] In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this, 90 Like to a murdering-piece, in many places[1730][1731] Gives me superfluous death. [A noise within.[1731]

Queen. Alack, what noise is this?[1732]

King. Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door.[1733][1734]

Enter another Gentleman.[1734]

What is the matter?[1734]

Gent. Save yourself, my lord:[1734][1735] The ocean, overpeering of his list, 95 Eats not the flats with more impetuous haste[1736] Than young Laertes, in a riotous head, O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord;[1737] And, as the world were now but to begin,[1738] Antiquity forgot, custom not known,[1738] 100 The ratifiers and props of every word,[1738][1739][1740] They cry 'Choose we; Laertes shall be king!'[1739][1741] Caps, hands and tongues applaud it to the clouds,[1742] 'Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!'[1743]

Queen. How cheerfully on the false trail they cry! 105 O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs! [Noise within.[1744]

King. The doors are broke.

Enter LAERTES, armed; Danes following.[1745]

Laer. Where is this king? Sirs, stand you all without.[1746]

Danes. No, let's come in.[1747]

Laer. I pray you, give me leave.

Danes. We will, we will. 110

[They retire without the door.[1747][1748]

Laer. I thank you: keep the door. O thou vile king,[1749][1750] Give me my father![1749]

Queen. Calmly, good Laertes.

Laer. That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard;[1751] Cries cuckold to my father; brands the harlot Even here, between the chaste unsmirched brow[1752] 115 Of my true mother.

King. What is the cause, Laertes, That thy rebellion looks so giant-like? Let him go, Gertrude; do not fear our person: There's such divinity doth hedge a king, That treason can but peep to what it would,[1753] 120 Acts little of his will. Tell me, Laertes,[1754] Why thou art thus incensed: let him go, Gertrude:[1755] Speak, man.

Laer. Where is my father?

King. Dead.

Queen. But not by him.[1756]

King. Let him demand his fill. 125

Laer. How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with: To hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil![1757] Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit![1758] I dare damnation: to this point I stand,[1758] That both the worlds I give to negligence, 130 Let come what comes; only I'll be revenged Most throughly for my father.

King. Who shall stay you?

Laer. My will, not all the world:[1759] And for my means, I'll husband them so well, They shall go far with little.[1760]

King. Good Laertes,[1761] 135 If you desire to know the certainty[1761] Of your dear father's death, is't writ in your revenge,[1762] That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,[1763] Winner and loser?[1764]

Laer. None but his enemies.

King. Will you know them then?[1765] 140

Laer. To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms;[1766] And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,[1767] Repast them with my blood.[1768]

King. Why, now you speak Like a good child and a true gentleman. That I am guiltless of your father's death, 145 And am most sensibly in grief for it,[1769] It shall as level to your judgement pierce[1770] As day does to your eye.

Danes. [Within] Let her come in.

Laer. How now! what noise is that?

Re-enter OPHELIA.[1771]

O heat, dry up my brains! tears seven times salt, 150 Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye![1772] By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight,[1773] Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May![1774] Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia! O heavens! is't possible a young maid's wits 155 Should be as mortal as an old man's life?[1775] Nature is fine in love, and where 'tis fine[1776][1777] It sends some precious instance of itself[1776][1777] After the thing it loves.[1776]

Oph. [Sings] They bore him barefaced on the bier;[1778] 160 Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny:[1779] And in his grave rain'd many a tear,--[1780] Fare you well, my dove![1781]

Laer. Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,[1782] It could not move thus.[1782][1783] 165

Oph. [Sings] You must sing down a-down,[1784] An you call him a-down-a.[1785] O, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward, that[1786] stole his master's daughter.

Laer. This nothing's more than matter.[1787] 170

Oph. There's rosemary, that's for remembrance: pray[1788][1789] you, love, remember: and there is pansies, that's for[1789][1790] thoughts.

Laer. A document in madness; thoughts and remembrance fitted. 175

Oph. There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue for you; and here's some for me: we may call it herb[1791] of grace o' Sundays: O, you must wear your rue with a[1791][1792] difference. There's a daisy: I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died: they 180 say a' made a good end,--[1793]

[Sings] For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.[1794]

Laer. Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,[1795] She turns to favour and to prettiness.

Oph. [Sings] And will a' not come again?[1796][1797] 185 And will a' not come again?[1797] No, no, he is dead,[1798] Go to thy death-bed,[1798][1799] He never will come again.

His beard was as white as snow,[1800] 190 All flaxen was his poll:[1801] He is gone, he is gone,[1802] And we cast away moan:[1802] God ha' mercy on his soul![1803]

And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi' you. 195

[Exit.[1804]

Laer. Do you see this, O God?[1805]

King. Laertes, I must commune with your grief,[1806] Or you deny me right. Go but apart, Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will, And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me: 200 If by direct or by collateral hand[1807] They find us touch'd, we will our kingdom give,[1808] Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours, To you in satisfaction; but if not, Be you content to lend your patience to us,[1809] 205 And we shall jointly labour with your soul To give it due content.

Laer. Let this be so; His means of death, his obscure funeral,[1810] No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,[1811] No noble rite nor formal ostentation,[1812] 210 Cry to be heard, as 'twere from heaven to earth, That I must call't in question.[1813]

King. So you shall; And where the offence is let the great axe fall.[1814] I pray you, go with me. [Exeunt.

Act IV, Scene VI — Another room in the castle.

Enter HORATIO and a Servant.[1815]

Hor. What are they that would speak with me?[1816]

Serv. Sea-faring men, sir: they say they have letters for you.[1816][1817]

Hor. Let them come in. [Exit Servant.[1816][1818] I do not know from what part of the world I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.[1819] 5

Enter Sailors.[1820]

First Sail. God bless you, sir.[1821][1822]

Hor. Let him bless thee too.

First Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a[1821][1823] letter for you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was[1824] bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am let 10 to know it is.

Hor. [Reads] 'Horatio, when thou shalt have over-looked[1825] 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. 15 Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled valour: and in the grapple I boarded them: on the instant[1826] 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[1827] 20 for them. Let the king have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest[1828] fly death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make[1829] thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of[1830] the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I[1830] 25 am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.[1831] 'He that thou knowest thine, HAMLET.'[1832]

Come, I will make you way for these your letters;[1833] And do't the speedier, that you may direct me 30 To him from whom you brought them. [Exeunt.[1834]