Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, `
` hath sent me to you. `
` `
` Ham. `
` You are welcome. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the 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. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Sir, I cannot. `
` `
` Guil. `
` What, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased: but, sir, such `
` answer as I can make, you shall command; or rather, as you say, `
` my mother: therefore no more, but to the matter: my mother, you `
` say,-- `
` `
` Ros. `
` Then thus she says: your behaviour hath struck her into `
` amazement and admiration. `
` `
` Ham. `
` O wonderful son, that can so stonish a mother!--But is there no `
` sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration? `
` `
` Ros. `
` She desires to speak with you in her closet ere 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. `
` And so I do still, by these pickers and stealers. `
` `
` Ros. `
` Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? you do, surely, `
` bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to `
` your friend. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Sir, I lack advancement. `
` `
` Ros. `
` How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself `
` for your succession in Denmark? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Ay, sir, but 'While the grass grows'--the proverb is something `
` musty. `
` `
` [Re-enter the Players, with recorders.] `
` `
` O, the recorders:--let me see one.--To withdraw with you:--why do `
` you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me `
` into a toil? `
` `
` Guil. `
` O my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe? `
` `
` Guil. `
` My lord, I cannot. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I pray you. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Believe me, I cannot. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I do beseech you. `
` `
` Guil. `
` I know, no touch of it, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` 'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your `
` finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will `
` discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops. `
` `
` Guil. `
` But these cannot I command to any utterance 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 to know my stops; you would `
` pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my `
` lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, `
` excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it `
` speak. 'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a `
` pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, `
` you cannot play upon me. `
` `
` [Enter Polonius.] `
` `
` God bless you, sir! `
` `
` Pol. `
` My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel? `
` `
` Pol. `
` By the mass, and 'tis like a camel indeed. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Methinks it is like a weasel. `
` `
` Pol. `
` It is backed like a weasel. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Or like a whale. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Very like a whale. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Then will I come to my mother by and by.--They fool me to the `
` top of my bent.--I will come by and by. `
` `
` Pol. `
` I will say so. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` By-and-by is easily said. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` --Leave me, friends. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ros, Guil., Hor., and Players.] `
` `
` 'Tis now the very witching time of night, `
` When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out `
` Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood, `
` And do such bitter business as the day `
` Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.-- `
` O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever `
` The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom: `
` Let me be cruel, not unnatural; `
` I will speak daggers to her, but use none; `
` My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites,-- `
` How in my words somever she be shent, `
` To give them seals never, my soul, consent! `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene III. A room in the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] `
` `
` King. `
` I like him not; nor stands it safe with us `
` To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you; `
` I your commission will forthwith dispatch, `
` And he to England shall along with you: `
` The terms of our estate may not endure `
` Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow `
` Out of his lunacies. `
` `
` Guil. `
` We will ourselves provide: `
` Most holy and religious fear it is `
` To keep those many many bodies safe `
` That live and feed upon your majesty. `
` `
` Ros. `
` The single and peculiar life is bound, `
` With all the strength and armour of the mind, `
` To keep itself from 'noyance; but much more `
` That spirit upon whose weal depend and rest `
` The lives of many. The cease of majesty `
` Dies not alone; but like a gulf doth draw `
` What's near it with it: it is a massy wheel, `
` Fix'd on the summit of the highest mount, `
` To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things `
` Are mortis'd and adjoin'd; which, when it falls, `
` Each small annexment, petty consequence, `
` Attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone `
` Did the king sigh, but with a general groan. `
` `
`
` hath sent me to you. `
` `
` Ham. `
` You are welcome. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the 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. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Sir, I cannot. `
` `
` Guil. `
` What, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased: but, sir, such `
` answer as I can make, you shall command; or rather, as you say, `
` my mother: therefore no more, but to the matter: my mother, you `
` say,-- `
` `
` Ros. `
` Then thus she says: your behaviour hath struck her into `
` amazement and admiration. `
` `
` Ham. `
` O wonderful son, that can so stonish a mother!--But is there no `
` sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration? `
` `
` Ros. `
` She desires to speak with you in her closet ere 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. `
` And so I do still, by these pickers and stealers. `
` `
` Ros. `
` Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? you do, surely, `
` bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to `
` your friend. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Sir, I lack advancement. `
` `
` Ros. `
` How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself `
` for your succession in Denmark? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Ay, sir, but 'While the grass grows'--the proverb is something `
` musty. `
` `
` [Re-enter the Players, with recorders.] `
` `
` O, the recorders:--let me see one.--To withdraw with you:--why do `
` you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me `
` into a toil? `
` `
` Guil. `
` O my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe? `
` `
` Guil. `
` My lord, I cannot. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I pray you. `
` `
` Guil. `
` Believe me, I cannot. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I do beseech you. `
` `
` Guil. `
` I know, no touch of it, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` 'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your `
` finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will `
` discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops. `
` `
` Guil. `
` But these cannot I command to any utterance 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 to know my stops; you would `
` pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my `
` lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, `
` excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it `
` speak. 'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a `
` pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, `
` you cannot play upon me. `
` `
` [Enter Polonius.] `
` `
` God bless you, sir! `
` `
` Pol. `
` My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel? `
` `
` Pol. `
` By the mass, and 'tis like a camel indeed. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Methinks it is like a weasel. `
` `
` Pol. `
` It is backed like a weasel. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Or like a whale. `
` `
` Pol. `
` Very like a whale. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Then will I come to my mother by and by.--They fool me to the `
` top of my bent.--I will come by and by. `
` `
` Pol. `
` I will say so. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` By-and-by is easily said. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` --Leave me, friends. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ros, Guil., Hor., and Players.] `
` `
` 'Tis now the very witching time of night, `
` When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out `
` Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood, `
` And do such bitter business as the day `
` Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.-- `
` O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever `
` The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom: `
` Let me be cruel, not unnatural; `
` I will speak daggers to her, but use none; `
` My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites,-- `
` How in my words somever she be shent, `
` To give them seals never, my soul, consent! `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene III. A room in the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] `
` `
` King. `
` I like him not; nor stands it safe with us `
` To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you; `
` I your commission will forthwith dispatch, `
` And he to England shall along with you: `
` The terms of our estate may not endure `
` Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow `
` Out of his lunacies. `
` `
` Guil. `
` We will ourselves provide: `
` Most holy and religious fear it is `
` To keep those many many bodies safe `
` That live and feed upon your majesty. `
` `
` Ros. `
` The single and peculiar life is bound, `
` With all the strength and armour of the mind, `
` To keep itself from 'noyance; but much more `
` That spirit upon whose weal depend and rest `
` The lives of many. The cease of majesty `
` Dies not alone; but like a gulf doth draw `
` What's near it with it: it is a massy wheel, `
` Fix'd on the summit of the highest mount, `
` To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things `
` Are mortis'd and adjoin'd; which, when it falls, `
` Each small annexment, petty consequence, `
` Attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone `
` Did the king sigh, but with a general groan. `
` `
`