Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
`
` King. `
` Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage; `
` For we will fetters put upon this fear, `
` Which now goes too free-footed. `
` `
` Ros and Guil. `
` We will haste us. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ros. and Guil.] `
` `
` [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: `
` And, as you said, and wisely was it said, `
` '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: `
` I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, `
` And tell you what I know. `
` `
` King. `
` Thanks, dear my lord. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; `
` It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,-- `
` A brother's murder!--Pray can I not, `
` Though inclination be as sharp as will: `
` My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; `
` 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 `
` Were thicker than itself with brother's blood,-- `
` Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens `
` 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; `
` My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer `
` Can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder!-- `
` That cannot be; since I am still possess'd `
` Of those effects for which I did the murder,-- `
` My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. `
` May one be pardon'd and retain the offence? `
` In the corrupted currents of this world `
` Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice; `
` And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself `
` Buys out the law; but 'tis not so above; `
` There is no shuffling;--there the action lies `
` In his true nature; and we ourselves compell'd, `
` 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? `
` Yet what can it when one cannot repent? `
` O wretched state! O bosom black as death! `
` O limed soul, that, struggling to be free, `
` Art more engag'd! Help, angels! Make assay: `
` Bow, stubborn knees; and, heart, with strings of steel, `
` Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe! `
` All may be well. `
` `
` [Retires and kneels.] `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; `
` And now I'll do't;--and so he goes to heaven; `
` And so am I reveng'd.--that would be scann'd: `
` A villain kills my father; and for that, `
` I, his sole son, do this same villain send `
` To heaven. `
` O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. `
` He took my father grossly, full of bread; `
` With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; `
` 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, reveng'd, `
` To take him in the purging of his soul, `
` When he is fit and season'd for his passage? `
` No. `
` Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent: `
` When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; `
` Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed; `
` At gaming, swearing; or about some act `
` That has no relish of salvation in't;-- `
` Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven; `
` And that his soul may be as damn'd and black `
` As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays: `
` This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` [The King rises and advances.] `
` `
` King. `
` My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: `
` Words without thoughts never to heaven go. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene IV. Another room in the castle. `
` `
` [Enter Queen and Polonius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` He will come straight. Look you lay home to him: `
` Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, `
` And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between `
` Much heat and him. I'll silence me e'en here. `
` Pray you, be round with him. `
` `
` Ham. `
` [Within.] Mother, mother, mother! `
` `
` Queen. `
` I'll warrant you: `
` Fear me not:--withdraw; I hear him coming. `
` `
` [Polonius goes behind the arras.] `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Now, mother, what's the matter? `
` `
` Queen. `
` Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Mother, you have my father much offended. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Why, how now, Hamlet! `
` `
` Ham. `
` What's the matter now? `
` `
` Queen. `
` Have you forgot me? `
` `
` Ham. `
` No, by the rood, not so: `
` You are the Queen, your husband's brother's wife, `
` And,--would it were not so!--you are my mother. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge; `
` You go not till I set you up a glass `
` Where you may see the inmost part of you. `
` `
` Queen. `
` What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me?-- `
` Help, help, ho! `
` `
` Pol. `
` [Behind.] What, ho! help, help, help! `
` `
` Ham. `
` How now? a rat? [Draws.] `
` Dead for a ducat, dead! `
` `
` [Makes a pass through the arras.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` [Behind.] O, I am slain! `
` `
` [Falls and dies.] `
` `
` Queen. `
` O me, what hast thou done? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Nay, I know not: is it the king? `
` `
` [Draws forth Polonius.] `
` `
` Queen. `
` O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! `
` `
` Ham. `
` A bloody deed!--almost as bad, good mother, `
` As kill a king and marry with his brother. `
` `
`
` King. `
` Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage; `
` For we will fetters put upon this fear, `
` Which now goes too free-footed. `
` `
` Ros and Guil. `
` We will haste us. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ros. and Guil.] `
` `
` [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: `
` And, as you said, and wisely was it said, `
` '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: `
` I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, `
` And tell you what I know. `
` `
` King. `
` Thanks, dear my lord. `
` `
` [Exit Polonius.] `
` `
` O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; `
` It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,-- `
` A brother's murder!--Pray can I not, `
` Though inclination be as sharp as will: `
` My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; `
` 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 `
` Were thicker than itself with brother's blood,-- `
` Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens `
` 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; `
` My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer `
` Can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder!-- `
` That cannot be; since I am still possess'd `
` Of those effects for which I did the murder,-- `
` My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. `
` May one be pardon'd and retain the offence? `
` In the corrupted currents of this world `
` Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice; `
` And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself `
` Buys out the law; but 'tis not so above; `
` There is no shuffling;--there the action lies `
` In his true nature; and we ourselves compell'd, `
` 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? `
` Yet what can it when one cannot repent? `
` O wretched state! O bosom black as death! `
` O limed soul, that, struggling to be free, `
` Art more engag'd! Help, angels! Make assay: `
` Bow, stubborn knees; and, heart, with strings of steel, `
` Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe! `
` All may be well. `
` `
` [Retires and kneels.] `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; `
` And now I'll do't;--and so he goes to heaven; `
` And so am I reveng'd.--that would be scann'd: `
` A villain kills my father; and for that, `
` I, his sole son, do this same villain send `
` To heaven. `
` O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. `
` He took my father grossly, full of bread; `
` With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; `
` 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, reveng'd, `
` To take him in the purging of his soul, `
` When he is fit and season'd for his passage? `
` No. `
` Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent: `
` When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; `
` Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed; `
` At gaming, swearing; or about some act `
` That has no relish of salvation in't;-- `
` Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven; `
` And that his soul may be as damn'd and black `
` As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays: `
` This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` [The King rises and advances.] `
` `
` King. `
` My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: `
` Words without thoughts never to heaven go. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene IV. Another room in the castle. `
` `
` [Enter Queen and Polonius.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` He will come straight. Look you lay home to him: `
` Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, `
` And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between `
` Much heat and him. I'll silence me e'en here. `
` Pray you, be round with him. `
` `
` Ham. `
` [Within.] Mother, mother, mother! `
` `
` Queen. `
` I'll warrant you: `
` Fear me not:--withdraw; I hear him coming. `
` `
` [Polonius goes behind the arras.] `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Now, mother, what's the matter? `
` `
` Queen. `
` Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Mother, you have my father much offended. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Why, how now, Hamlet! `
` `
` Ham. `
` What's the matter now? `
` `
` Queen. `
` Have you forgot me? `
` `
` Ham. `
` No, by the rood, not so: `
` You are the Queen, your husband's brother's wife, `
` And,--would it were not so!--you are my mother. `
` `
` Queen. `
` Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge; `
` You go not till I set you up a glass `
` Where you may see the inmost part of you. `
` `
` Queen. `
` What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me?-- `
` Help, help, ho! `
` `
` Pol. `
` [Behind.] What, ho! help, help, help! `
` `
` Ham. `
` How now? a rat? [Draws.] `
` Dead for a ducat, dead! `
` `
` [Makes a pass through the arras.] `
` `
` Pol. `
` [Behind.] O, I am slain! `
` `
` [Falls and dies.] `
` `
` Queen. `
` O me, what hast thou done? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Nay, I know not: is it the king? `
` `
` [Draws forth Polonius.] `
` `
` Queen. `
` O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! `
` `
` Ham. `
` A bloody deed!--almost as bad, good mother, `
` As kill a king and marry with his brother. `
` `
`