Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
That, open'd, lies within our remedy. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, `
` And sure I am two men there are not living `
` To whom he more adheres. If it will please you `
` To show us so much gentry and good-will `
` As to expend your time with us awhile, `
` For the supply and profit of our hope, `
` Your visitation shall receive such thanks `
` As fits a king's remembrance. `
` `
` Ros. `
` Both your majesties `
` Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, `
` Put your dread pleasures more into command `
` Than to entreaty. `
` `
` Guil. `
` We both obey, `
` And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, `
` To lay our service freely at your feet, `
` To be commanded. `
` `
` King. `
` Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz: `
` And I beseech you instantly to visit `
` My too-much-changed son.--Go, some of you, `
` And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Heavens make our presence and our practices `
` Pleasant and helpful to him! `
` `
` Queen. `
` Ay, amen! `
` `
` [Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and some Attendants]. `
` `
` [Enter Polonius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, `
` Are joyfully return'd. `
` `
` King. `
` Thou still hast been the father of good news. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege, `
` I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, `
` Both to my God and to my gracious king: `
` And I do think,--or else this brain of mine `
` Hunts not the trail of policy so sure `
` As it hath us'd to do,--that I have found `
` The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. `
` `
` King. `
` O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Give first admittance to the ambassadors; `
` My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. `
` `
` King. `
` Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` He tells me, my sweet queen, he hath found `
` The head and source of all your son's distemper. `
` `
` Queen. `
` I doubt it is no other but the main,-- `
` His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage. `
` `
` King. `
` Well, we shall sift him. `
` `
` [Enter Polonius, with Voltimand and Cornelius.] `
` `
` Welcome, my good friends! `
` Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? `
` `
` Volt. `
` Most fair return of greetings and desires. `
` Upon our first, he sent out to suppress `
` His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd `
` To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack; `
` But, better look'd into, he truly found `
` It was against your highness; whereat griev'd,-- `
` That so his sickness, age, and impotence `
` Was falsely borne in hand,--sends out arrests `
` On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys; `
` Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine, `
` Makes vow before his uncle never more `
` To give th' assay of arms against your majesty. `
` Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, `
` Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee; `
` And his commission to employ those soldiers, `
` So levied as before, against the Polack: `
` With an entreaty, herein further shown, `
` [Gives a paper.] `
` That it might please you to give quiet pass `
` Through your dominions for this enterprise, `
` On such regards of safety and allowance `
` As therein are set down. `
` `
` King. `
` It likes us well; `
` And at our more consider'd time we'll read, `
` Answer, and think upon this business. `
` Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: `
` Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: `
` Most welcome home! `
` `
` [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` This business is well ended.-- `
` My liege, and madam,--to expostulate `
` What majesty should be, what duty is, `
` Why day is day, night is night, and time is time. `
` Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. `
` Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, `
` And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, `
` I will be brief:--your noble son is mad: `
` Mad call I it; for to define true madness, `
` What is't but to be nothing else but mad? `
` But let that go. `
` `
` Queen. `
` More matter, with less art. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Madam, I swear I use no art at all. `
` That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity; `
` And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure; `
` But farewell it, for I will use no art. `
` Mad let us grant him then: and now remains `
` That we find out the cause of this effect; `
` Or rather say, the cause of this defect, `
` For this effect defective comes by cause: `
` Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. `
` Perpend. `
` I have a daughter,--have whilst she is mine,-- `
` Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, `
` Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise. `
` [Reads.] `
` 'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified `
` Ophelia,'-- `
` That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile `
` phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: `
` [Reads.] `
` 'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.' `
` `
` Queen. `
` Came this from Hamlet to her? `
` `
` Pol. `
` Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. `
` [Reads.] `
` 'Doubt thou the stars are fire; `
` Doubt that the sun doth move; `
` Doubt truth to be a liar; `
` But never doubt I love. `
` 'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to `
` reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most best, believe `
` it. Adieu. `
` 'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, `
` HAMLET.' `
` This, in obedience, hath my daughter show'd me; `
` And more above, hath his solicitings, `
` As they fell out by time, by means, and place, `
` All given to mine ear. `
` `
` King. `
` But how hath she `
` Receiv'd his love? `
` `
` Pol. `
` What do you think of me? `
` `
` King. `
` As of a man faithful and honourable. `
` `
` Pol. `
` I would fain prove so. But what might you think, `
` When I had seen this hot love on the wing,-- `
` As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that, `
` Before my daughter told me,-- what might you, `
` Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, `
` If I had play'd the desk or table-book, `
` Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb; `
` Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;-- `
` What might you think? No, I went round to work, `
` And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: `
` 'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy sphere; `
`
` `
` Queen. `
` Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, `
` And sure I am two men there are not living `
` To whom he more adheres. If it will please you `
` To show us so much gentry and good-will `
` As to expend your time with us awhile, `
` For the supply and profit of our hope, `
` Your visitation shall receive such thanks `
` As fits a king's remembrance. `
` `
` Ros. `
` Both your majesties `
` Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, `
` Put your dread pleasures more into command `
` Than to entreaty. `
` `
` Guil. `
` We both obey, `
` And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, `
` To lay our service freely at your feet, `
` To be commanded. `
` `
` King. `
` Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz: `
` And I beseech you instantly to visit `
` My too-much-changed son.--Go, some of you, `
` And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Heavens make our presence and our practices `
` Pleasant and helpful to him! `
` `
` Queen. `
` Ay, amen! `
` `
` [Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and some Attendants]. `
` `
` [Enter Polonius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, `
` Are joyfully return'd. `
` `
` King. `
` Thou still hast been the father of good news. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege, `
` I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, `
` Both to my God and to my gracious king: `
` And I do think,--or else this brain of mine `
` Hunts not the trail of policy so sure `
` As it hath us'd to do,--that I have found `
` The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. `
` `
` King. `
` O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Give first admittance to the ambassadors; `
` My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. `
` `
` King. `
` Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` He tells me, my sweet queen, he hath found `
` The head and source of all your son's distemper. `
` `
` Queen. `
` I doubt it is no other but the main,-- `
` His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage. `
` `
` King. `
` Well, we shall sift him. `
` `
` [Enter Polonius, with Voltimand and Cornelius.] `
` `
` Welcome, my good friends! `
` Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? `
` `
` Volt. `
` Most fair return of greetings and desires. `
` Upon our first, he sent out to suppress `
` His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd `
` To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack; `
` But, better look'd into, he truly found `
` It was against your highness; whereat griev'd,-- `
` That so his sickness, age, and impotence `
` Was falsely borne in hand,--sends out arrests `
` On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys; `
` Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine, `
` Makes vow before his uncle never more `
` To give th' assay of arms against your majesty. `
` Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, `
` Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee; `
` And his commission to employ those soldiers, `
` So levied as before, against the Polack: `
` With an entreaty, herein further shown, `
` [Gives a paper.] `
` That it might please you to give quiet pass `
` Through your dominions for this enterprise, `
` On such regards of safety and allowance `
` As therein are set down. `
` `
` King. `
` It likes us well; `
` And at our more consider'd time we'll read, `
` Answer, and think upon this business. `
` Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: `
` Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: `
` Most welcome home! `
` `
` [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` This business is well ended.-- `
` My liege, and madam,--to expostulate `
` What majesty should be, what duty is, `
` Why day is day, night is night, and time is time. `
` Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. `
` Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, `
` And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, `
` I will be brief:--your noble son is mad: `
` Mad call I it; for to define true madness, `
` What is't but to be nothing else but mad? `
` But let that go. `
` `
` Queen. `
` More matter, with less art. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Madam, I swear I use no art at all. `
` That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity; `
` And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure; `
` But farewell it, for I will use no art. `
` Mad let us grant him then: and now remains `
` That we find out the cause of this effect; `
` Or rather say, the cause of this defect, `
` For this effect defective comes by cause: `
` Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. `
` Perpend. `
` I have a daughter,--have whilst she is mine,-- `
` Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, `
` Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise. `
` [Reads.] `
` 'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified `
` Ophelia,'-- `
` That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile `
` phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: `
` [Reads.] `
` 'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.' `
` `
` Queen. `
` Came this from Hamlet to her? `
` `
` Pol. `
` Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. `
` [Reads.] `
` 'Doubt thou the stars are fire; `
` Doubt that the sun doth move; `
` Doubt truth to be a liar; `
` But never doubt I love. `
` 'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to `
` reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most best, believe `
` it. Adieu. `
` 'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, `
` HAMLET.' `
` This, in obedience, hath my daughter show'd me; `
` And more above, hath his solicitings, `
` As they fell out by time, by means, and place, `
` All given to mine ear. `
` `
` King. `
` But how hath she `
` Receiv'd his love? `
` `
` Pol. `
` What do you think of me? `
` `
` King. `
` As of a man faithful and honourable. `
` `
` Pol. `
` I would fain prove so. But what might you think, `
` When I had seen this hot love on the wing,-- `
` As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that, `
` Before my daughter told me,-- what might you, `
` Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, `
` If I had play'd the desk or table-book, `
` Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb; `
` Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;-- `
` What might you think? No, I went round to work, `
` And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: `
` 'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy sphere; `
`