Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul `
` Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, `
` Giving more light than heat,--extinct in both, `
` Even in their promise, as it is a-making,-- `
` You must not take for fire. From this time `
` Be something scanter of your maiden presence; `
` Set your entreatments at a higher rate `
` Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, `
` Believe so much in him, that he is young; `
` And with a larger tether may he walk `
` Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia, `
` Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,-- `
` Not of that dye which their investments show, `
` But mere implorators of unholy suits, `
` Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, `
` The better to beguile. This is for all,-- `
` I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth `
` Have you so slander any moment leisure `
` As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. `
` Look to't, I charge you; come your ways. `
` `
` Oph. `
` I shall obey, my lord. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene IV. The platform. `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. `
` `
` Hor. `
` It is a nipping and an eager air. `
` `
` Ham. `
` What hour now? `
` `
` Hor. `
` I think it lacks of twelve. `
` `
` Mar. `
` No, it is struck. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Indeed? I heard it not: then draws near the season `
` Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. `
` `
` [A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off within.] `
` `
` What does this mean, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` The King doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, `
` Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; `
` And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, `
` The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out `
` The triumph of his pledge. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Is it a custom? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Ay, marry, is't; `
` But to my mind,--though I am native here, `
` And to the manner born,--it is a custom `
` More honour'd in the breach than the observance. `
` This heavy-headed revel east and west `
` Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations: `
` They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase `
` Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes `
` From our achievements, though perform'd at height, `
` The pith and marrow of our attribute. `
` So oft it chances in particular men `
` That, for some vicious mole of nature in them, `
` As in their birth,--wherein they are not guilty, `
` Since nature cannot choose his origin,-- `
` By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, `
` Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason; `
` Or by some habit, that too much o'er-leavens `
` The form of plausive manners;--that these men,-- `
` Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, `
` Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,-- `
` Their virtues else,--be they as pure as grace, `
` As infinite as man may undergo,-- `
` Shall in the general censure take corruption `
` From that particular fault: the dram of eale `
` Doth all the noble substance often doubt `
` To his own scandal. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Look, my lord, it comes! `
` `
` [Enter Ghost.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Angels and ministers of grace defend us!-- `
` Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, `
` Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, `
` Be thy intents wicked or charitable, `
` Thou com'st in such a questionable shape `
` That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, `
` King, father, royal Dane; O, answer me! `
` Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell `
` Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death, `
` Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre, `
` Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urn'd, `
` Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws `
` To cast thee up again! What may this mean, `
` That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel, `
` Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, `
` Making night hideous, and we fools of nature `
` So horridly to shake our disposition `
` With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? `
` Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do? `
` `
` [Ghost beckons Hamlet.] `
` `
` Hor. `
` It beckons you to go away with it, `
` As if it some impartment did desire `
` To you alone. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Look with what courteous action `
` It waves you to a more removed ground: `
` But do not go with it! `
` `
` Hor. `
` No, by no means. `
` `
` Ham. `
` It will not speak; then will I follow it. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Do not, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Why, what should be the fear? `
` I do not set my life at a pin's fee; `
` And for my soul, what can it do to that, `
` Being a thing immortal as itself? `
` It waves me forth again;--I'll follow it. `
` `
` Hor. `
` What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, `
` Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff `
` That beetles o'er his base into the sea, `
` And there assume some other horrible form `
` Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason, `
` And draw you into madness? think of it: `
` The very place puts toys of desperation, `
` Without more motive, into every brain `
` That looks so many fadoms to the sea `
` And hears it roar beneath. `
` `
` Ham. `
` It waves me still.-- `
` Go on; I'll follow thee. `
` `
` Mar. `
` You shall not go, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Hold off your hands. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Be rul'd; you shall not go. `
` `
` Ham. `
` My fate cries out, `
` And makes each petty artery in this body `
` As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.-- `
` `
` [Ghost beckons.] `
` `
` Still am I call'd;--unhand me, gentlemen;-- `
` `
` [Breaking free from them.] `
` `
` By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!-- `
` I say, away!--Go on; I'll follow thee. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.] `
` `
` Hor. `
` He waxes desperate with imagination. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Have after.--To what issue will this come? `
` `
` Mar. `
` Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. `
` `
` Hor. `
`
` Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, `
` Giving more light than heat,--extinct in both, `
` Even in their promise, as it is a-making,-- `
` You must not take for fire. From this time `
` Be something scanter of your maiden presence; `
` Set your entreatments at a higher rate `
` Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, `
` Believe so much in him, that he is young; `
` And with a larger tether may he walk `
` Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia, `
` Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,-- `
` Not of that dye which their investments show, `
` But mere implorators of unholy suits, `
` Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, `
` The better to beguile. This is for all,-- `
` I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth `
` Have you so slander any moment leisure `
` As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. `
` Look to't, I charge you; come your ways. `
` `
` Oph. `
` I shall obey, my lord. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene IV. The platform. `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. `
` `
` Hor. `
` It is a nipping and an eager air. `
` `
` Ham. `
` What hour now? `
` `
` Hor. `
` I think it lacks of twelve. `
` `
` Mar. `
` No, it is struck. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Indeed? I heard it not: then draws near the season `
` Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. `
` `
` [A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off within.] `
` `
` What does this mean, my lord? `
` `
` Ham. `
` The King doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, `
` Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; `
` And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, `
` The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out `
` The triumph of his pledge. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Is it a custom? `
` `
` Ham. `
` Ay, marry, is't; `
` But to my mind,--though I am native here, `
` And to the manner born,--it is a custom `
` More honour'd in the breach than the observance. `
` This heavy-headed revel east and west `
` Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations: `
` They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase `
` Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes `
` From our achievements, though perform'd at height, `
` The pith and marrow of our attribute. `
` So oft it chances in particular men `
` That, for some vicious mole of nature in them, `
` As in their birth,--wherein they are not guilty, `
` Since nature cannot choose his origin,-- `
` By the o'ergrowth of some complexion, `
` Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason; `
` Or by some habit, that too much o'er-leavens `
` The form of plausive manners;--that these men,-- `
` Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, `
` Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,-- `
` Their virtues else,--be they as pure as grace, `
` As infinite as man may undergo,-- `
` Shall in the general censure take corruption `
` From that particular fault: the dram of eale `
` Doth all the noble substance often doubt `
` To his own scandal. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Look, my lord, it comes! `
` `
` [Enter Ghost.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Angels and ministers of grace defend us!-- `
` Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, `
` Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, `
` Be thy intents wicked or charitable, `
` Thou com'st in such a questionable shape `
` That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, `
` King, father, royal Dane; O, answer me! `
` Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell `
` Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death, `
` Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre, `
` Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urn'd, `
` Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws `
` To cast thee up again! What may this mean, `
` That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel, `
` Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, `
` Making night hideous, and we fools of nature `
` So horridly to shake our disposition `
` With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? `
` Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do? `
` `
` [Ghost beckons Hamlet.] `
` `
` Hor. `
` It beckons you to go away with it, `
` As if it some impartment did desire `
` To you alone. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Look with what courteous action `
` It waves you to a more removed ground: `
` But do not go with it! `
` `
` Hor. `
` No, by no means. `
` `
` Ham. `
` It will not speak; then will I follow it. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Do not, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Why, what should be the fear? `
` I do not set my life at a pin's fee; `
` And for my soul, what can it do to that, `
` Being a thing immortal as itself? `
` It waves me forth again;--I'll follow it. `
` `
` Hor. `
` What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, `
` Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff `
` That beetles o'er his base into the sea, `
` And there assume some other horrible form `
` Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason, `
` And draw you into madness? think of it: `
` The very place puts toys of desperation, `
` Without more motive, into every brain `
` That looks so many fadoms to the sea `
` And hears it roar beneath. `
` `
` Ham. `
` It waves me still.-- `
` Go on; I'll follow thee. `
` `
` Mar. `
` You shall not go, my lord. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Hold off your hands. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Be rul'd; you shall not go. `
` `
` Ham. `
` My fate cries out, `
` And makes each petty artery in this body `
` As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.-- `
` `
` [Ghost beckons.] `
` `
` Still am I call'd;--unhand me, gentlemen;-- `
` `
` [Breaking free from them.] `
` `
` By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!-- `
` I say, away!--Go on; I'll follow thee. `
` `
` [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.] `
` `
` Hor. `
` He waxes desperate with imagination. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. `
` `
` Hor. `
` Have after.--To what issue will this come? `
` `
` Mar. `
` Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. `
` `
` Hor. `
`