Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy sphere; `
` This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her, `
` That she should lock herself from his resort, `
` Admit no messengers, receive no tokens. `
` Which done, she took the fruits of my advice; `
` And he, repulsed,--a short tale to make,-- `
` Fell into a sadness; then into a fast; `
` Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness; `
` Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension, `
` Into the madness wherein now he raves, `
` And all we wail for. `
` `
` King. `
` Do you think 'tis this? `
` `
` Queen. `
` It may be, very likely. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Hath there been such a time,--I'd fain know that-- `
` That I have positively said ''Tis so,' `
` When it prov'd otherwise? `
` `
` King. `
` Not that I know. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Take this from this, if this be otherwise: `
` [Points to his head and shoulder.] `
` If circumstances lead me, I will find `
` Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed `
` Within the centre. `
` `
` King. `
` How may we try it further? `
` `
` Pol. `
` You know sometimes he walks for hours together `
` Here in the lobby. `
` `
` Queen. `
` So he does indeed. `
` `
` Pol. `
` At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: `
` Be you and I behind an arras then; `
` Mark the encounter: if he love her not, `
` And he not from his reason fall'n thereon `
` Let me be no assistant for a state, `
` But keep a farm and carters. `
` `
` King. `
` We will try it. `
` `
` Queen. `
` But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Away, I do beseech you, both away `
` I'll board him presently:--O, give me leave. `
` `
` [Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants.] `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet, reading.] `
` `
` How does my good Lord Hamlet? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Well, God-a-mercy. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Do you know me, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Excellent well; you're a fishmonger. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Not I, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Then I would you were so honest a man. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Honest, my lord! `
` `
` Ham. `
` Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man `
` picked out of ten thousand. `
` `
` Pol. `
` That's very true, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god-kissing `
` carrion,--Have you a daughter? `
` `
` Pol. `
` I have, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing, but not `
` as your daughter may conceive:--friend, look to't. `
` `
` Pol. `
` How say you by that?--[Aside.] Still harping on my daughter:--yet `
` he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far `
` gone, far gone: and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity `
` for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.--What do you `
` read, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Words, words, words. `
` `
` Pol. `
` What is the matter, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Between who? `
` `
` Pol. `
` I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Slanders, sir: for the satirical slave says here that old men `
` have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes `
` purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a `
` plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: all which, `
` sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it `
` not honesty to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, `
` should be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward. `
` `
` Pol. `
` [Aside.] Though this be madness, yet there is a method in't.-- `
` Will you walk out of the air, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Into my grave? `
` `
` Pol. `
` Indeed, that is out o' the air. [Aside.] How pregnant sometimes `
` his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which `
` reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I `
` will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between `
` him and my daughter.--My honourable lord, I will most humbly take `
` my leave of you. `
` `
` Ham. `
` You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more `
` willingly part withal,--except my life, except my life, except my `
` life. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Fare you well, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` These tedious old fools! `
` `
` [Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. `
` `
` Ros. `
` [To Polonius.] God save you, sir! `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` Guil. `
` My honoured lord! `
` `
` Ros. `
` My most dear lord! `
` `
` Ham. `
` My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, `
` Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both? `
` `
` Ros. `
` As the indifferent children of the earth. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Happy in that we are not over-happy; `
` On fortune's cap we are not the very button. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Nor the soles of her shoe? `
` `
` Ros. `
` Neither, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her `
` favours? `
` `
` Guil. `
` Faith, her privates we. `
` `
` Ham. `
` In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she is a `
` strumpet. What's the news? `
` `
`
` This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her, `
` That she should lock herself from his resort, `
` Admit no messengers, receive no tokens. `
` Which done, she took the fruits of my advice; `
` And he, repulsed,--a short tale to make,-- `
` Fell into a sadness; then into a fast; `
` Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness; `
` Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension, `
` Into the madness wherein now he raves, `
` And all we wail for. `
` `
` King. `
` Do you think 'tis this? `
` `
` Queen. `
` It may be, very likely. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Hath there been such a time,--I'd fain know that-- `
` That I have positively said ''Tis so,' `
` When it prov'd otherwise? `
` `
` King. `
` Not that I know. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Take this from this, if this be otherwise: `
` [Points to his head and shoulder.] `
` If circumstances lead me, I will find `
` Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed `
` Within the centre. `
` `
` King. `
` How may we try it further? `
` `
` Pol. `
` You know sometimes he walks for hours together `
` Here in the lobby. `
` `
` Queen. `
` So he does indeed. `
` `
` Pol. `
` At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: `
` Be you and I behind an arras then; `
` Mark the encounter: if he love her not, `
` And he not from his reason fall'n thereon `
` Let me be no assistant for a state, `
` But keep a farm and carters. `
` `
` King. `
` We will try it. `
` `
` Queen. `
` But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Away, I do beseech you, both away `
` I'll board him presently:--O, give me leave. `
` `
` [Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants.] `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet, reading.] `
` `
` How does my good Lord Hamlet? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Well, God-a-mercy. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Do you know me, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Excellent well; you're a fishmonger. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Not I, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Then I would you were so honest a man. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Honest, my lord! `
` `
` Ham. `
` Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man `
` picked out of ten thousand. `
` `
` Pol. `
` That's very true, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god-kissing `
` carrion,--Have you a daughter? `
` `
` Pol. `
` I have, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing, but not `
` as your daughter may conceive:--friend, look to't. `
` `
` Pol. `
` How say you by that?--[Aside.] Still harping on my daughter:--yet `
` he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far `
` gone, far gone: and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity `
` for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.--What do you `
` read, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Words, words, words. `
` `
` Pol. `
` What is the matter, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Between who? `
` `
` Pol. `
` I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Slanders, sir: for the satirical slave says here that old men `
` have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes `
` purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a `
` plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: all which, `
` sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it `
` not honesty to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, `
` should be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward. `
` `
` Pol. `
` [Aside.] Though this be madness, yet there is a method in't.-- `
` Will you walk out of the air, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Into my grave? `
` `
` Pol. `
` Indeed, that is out o' the air. [Aside.] How pregnant sometimes `
` his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which `
` reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I `
` will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between `
` him and my daughter.--My honourable lord, I will most humbly take `
` my leave of you. `
` `
` Ham. `
` You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more `
` willingly part withal,--except my life, except my life, except my `
` life. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Fare you well, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` These tedious old fools! `
` `
` [Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. `
` `
` Ros. `
` [To Polonius.] God save you, sir! `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` Guil. `
` My honoured lord! `
` `
` Ros. `
` My most dear lord! `
` `
` Ham. `
` My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, `
` Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both? `
` `
` Ros. `
` As the indifferent children of the earth. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Happy in that we are not over-happy; `
` On fortune's cap we are not the very button. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Nor the soles of her shoe? `
` `
` Ros. `
` Neither, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her `
` favours? `
` `
` Guil. `
` Faith, her privates we. `
` `
` Ham. `
` In the secret parts of fortune? O, most true; she is a `
` strumpet. What's the news? `
` `
`