Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
The glass of fashion and the mould of form, `
` The observ'd of all observers,--quite, quite down! `
` And I, of ladies most deject and wretched `
` That suck'd the honey of his music vows, `
` Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, `
` Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh; `
` That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth `
` Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, `
` To have seen what I have seen, see what I see! `
` `
` [Re-enter King and Polonius.] `
` `
` King. `
` Love! his affections do not that way tend; `
` Nor what he spake, though it lack'd form a little, `
` Was not like madness. There's something in his soul `
` O'er which his melancholy sits on brood; `
` And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose `
` Will be some danger: which for to prevent, `
` I have in quick determination `
` Thus set it down:--he shall with speed to England `
` For the demand of our neglected tribute: `
` Haply the seas, and countries different, `
` With variable objects, shall expel `
` This something-settled matter in his heart; `
` Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus `
` From fashion of himself. What think you on't? `
` `
` Pol. `
` It shall do well: but yet do I believe `
` The origin and commencement of his grief `
` Sprung from neglected love.--How now, Ophelia! `
` You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said; `
` We heard it all.--My lord, do as you please; `
` 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; `
` And I'll be plac'd, so please you, in the ear `
` Of all their conference. If she find him not, `
` 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.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene II. A hall in the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet and cartain Players.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, `
` trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of your `
` players do, I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines. Nor do `
` not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all `
` gently: for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, `
` whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a `
` temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the `
` soul, to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to `
` tatters, to very rags, to split the cars of the groundlings, who, `
` for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb `
` shows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing `
` Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you avoid it. `
` `
` I Player. `
` I warrant your honour. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Be not too tame neither; but let your own discretion be your `
` tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with `
` this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of `
` nature: for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, `
` whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as `
` 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own image, `
` scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his `
` form and pressure. Now, this overdone, or come tardy off, though `
` it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious `
` grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance, `
` o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I `
` have seen play,--and heard others praise, and that highly,--not `
` to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of `
` Christians, nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so `
` strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's `
` journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated `
` humanity so abominably. `
` `
` I Player. `
` I hope we have reform'd that indifferently with us, sir. `
` `
` Ham. `
` O, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns `
` speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them `
` that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren `
` spectators to laugh too, though in the meantime some necessary `
` question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous `
` and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go `
` make you ready. `
` `
` [Exeunt Players.] `
` `
` [Enter Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] `
` `
` How now, my lord! will the king hear this piece of work? `
` `
` Pol. `
` And the queen too, and that presently. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Bid the players make haste. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` Will you two help to hasten them? `
` `
` Ros. and Guil. `
` We will, my lord. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ros. and Guil.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` What, ho, Horatio! `
` `
` [Enter Horatio.] `
` `
` Hor. `
` Here, sweet lord, at your service. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man `
` As e'er my conversation cop'd withal. `
` `
` Hor. `
` O, my dear lord,-- `
` `
` Ham. `
` Nay, do not think I flatter; `
` For what advancement may I hope from thee, `
` That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits, `
` To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd? `
` No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp; `
` And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee `
` Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? `
` Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, `
` And could of men distinguish, her election `
` Hath seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been `
` As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing; `
` A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards `
` Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and bles'd are those `
` Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled `
` That they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger `
` To sound what stop she please. Give me that man `
` That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him `
` In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, `
` As I do thee.--Something too much of this.-- `
` There is a play to-night before the king; `
` One scene of it comes near the circumstance, `
` Which I have told thee, of my father's death: `
` I pr'ythee, when thou see'st that act a-foot, `
` Even with the very comment of thy soul `
` Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt `
` Do not itself unkennel in one speech, `
` It is a damned ghost that we have seen; `
` And my imaginations are as foul `
` As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note; `
` For I mine eyes will rivet to his face; `
` And, after, we will both our judgments join `
` In censure of his seeming. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Well, my lord: `
` If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, `
` And scape detecting, I will pay the theft. `
` `
` Ham. `
` They are coming to the play. I must be idle: `
` Get you a place. `
` `
` [Danish march. A flourish. Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, `
` Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and others.] `
` `
` King. `
` How fares our cousin Hamlet? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Excellent, i' faith; of the chameleon's dish: I eat the air, `
` promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so. `
` `
` King. `
` I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these words are not `
` mine. `
` `
` Ham. `
` No, nor mine now. My lord, you play'd once i' the university, you `
` say? [To Polonius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor. `
`
` The observ'd of all observers,--quite, quite down! `
` And I, of ladies most deject and wretched `
` That suck'd the honey of his music vows, `
` Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, `
` Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh; `
` That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth `
` Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, `
` To have seen what I have seen, see what I see! `
` `
` [Re-enter King and Polonius.] `
` `
` King. `
` Love! his affections do not that way tend; `
` Nor what he spake, though it lack'd form a little, `
` Was not like madness. There's something in his soul `
` O'er which his melancholy sits on brood; `
` And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose `
` Will be some danger: which for to prevent, `
` I have in quick determination `
` Thus set it down:--he shall with speed to England `
` For the demand of our neglected tribute: `
` Haply the seas, and countries different, `
` With variable objects, shall expel `
` This something-settled matter in his heart; `
` Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus `
` From fashion of himself. What think you on't? `
` `
` Pol. `
` It shall do well: but yet do I believe `
` The origin and commencement of his grief `
` Sprung from neglected love.--How now, Ophelia! `
` You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said; `
` We heard it all.--My lord, do as you please; `
` 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; `
` And I'll be plac'd, so please you, in the ear `
` Of all their conference. If she find him not, `
` 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.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene II. A hall in the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet and cartain Players.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, `
` trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of your `
` players do, I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines. Nor do `
` not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all `
` gently: for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, `
` whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a `
` temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the `
` soul, to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to `
` tatters, to very rags, to split the cars of the groundlings, who, `
` for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb `
` shows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing `
` Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you avoid it. `
` `
` I Player. `
` I warrant your honour. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Be not too tame neither; but let your own discretion be your `
` tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with `
` this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of `
` nature: for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, `
` whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as `
` 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own image, `
` scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his `
` form and pressure. Now, this overdone, or come tardy off, though `
` it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious `
` grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance, `
` o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I `
` have seen play,--and heard others praise, and that highly,--not `
` to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of `
` Christians, nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so `
` strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's `
` journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated `
` humanity so abominably. `
` `
` I Player. `
` I hope we have reform'd that indifferently with us, sir. `
` `
` Ham. `
` O, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns `
` speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them `
` that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren `
` spectators to laugh too, though in the meantime some necessary `
` question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous `
` and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go `
` make you ready. `
` `
` [Exeunt Players.] `
` `
` [Enter Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] `
` `
` How now, my lord! will the king hear this piece of work? `
` `
` Pol. `
` And the queen too, and that presently. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Bid the players make haste. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` Will you two help to hasten them? `
` `
` Ros. and Guil. `
` We will, my lord. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ros. and Guil.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` What, ho, Horatio! `
` `
` [Enter Horatio.] `
` `
` Hor. `
` Here, sweet lord, at your service. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man `
` As e'er my conversation cop'd withal. `
` `
` Hor. `
` O, my dear lord,-- `
` `
` Ham. `
` Nay, do not think I flatter; `
` For what advancement may I hope from thee, `
` That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits, `
` To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd? `
` No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp; `
` And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee `
` Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? `
` Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, `
` And could of men distinguish, her election `
` Hath seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been `
` As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing; `
` A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards `
` Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and bles'd are those `
` Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled `
` That they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger `
` To sound what stop she please. Give me that man `
` That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him `
` In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, `
` As I do thee.--Something too much of this.-- `
` There is a play to-night before the king; `
` One scene of it comes near the circumstance, `
` Which I have told thee, of my father's death: `
` I pr'ythee, when thou see'st that act a-foot, `
` Even with the very comment of thy soul `
` Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt `
` Do not itself unkennel in one speech, `
` It is a damned ghost that we have seen; `
` And my imaginations are as foul `
` As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note; `
` For I mine eyes will rivet to his face; `
` And, after, we will both our judgments join `
` In censure of his seeming. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Well, my lord: `
` If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, `
` And scape detecting, I will pay the theft. `
` `
` Ham. `
` They are coming to the play. I must be idle: `
` Get you a place. `
` `
` [Danish march. A flourish. Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, `
` Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and others.] `
` `
` King. `
` How fares our cousin Hamlet? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Excellent, i' faith; of the chameleon's dish: I eat the air, `
` promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so. `
` `
` King. `
` I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these words are not `
` mine. `
` `
` Ham. `
` No, nor mine now. My lord, you play'd once i' the university, you `
` say? [To Polonius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor. `
`